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**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 19:20

The Birth of a Lion

The best, most compelling stories often rise from the humblest of beginnings, and thus, the focus of a small backwater Duchy in Europe, in a world on the verge of vast, sweeping changes larger than any nation....more powerful and irresistable than any force imaginable.

All of the nations in Europe will be caught up in its current. Nations that have existed for centuries will wink out of existence when faced with the fury and power of these changes, and new empires will be born.

And this is the backdrop of history upon which we will strive to build an empire of our own....from the humblest of beginnings indeed....a tiny nation with little to recommend it, save for its superb blending of French and Germanic culture, and men of stout heart and conviction.

Will we create a nation that cannot resist the tides of change, and simply cease to be, or will we forge a lasting, enduring Empire of astounding strength and resiliency?

As I put pen to paper and write these words, I cannot rightly say....that chapter of our history has not yet been written, and it falls to each of us who choose to participate in the guiding of our nation, to help determine her ultimate fate.

What I give you then, is the beginning. The story of Lorraine's initial rise above that which she once was.

Where we go from here, is anyone's guess.....

-=Velociryx=-
Humble Servant of Lorraine's Ruling Council

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 19:30

Letter to Charles, the Dauphin of France

Great Cousin,

Long have we admired your struggle against your English oppressors. Your courage in that fight is both inspirational and courageous. I am writing to you this day, to pledge myself and the service of my lands and my stout-hearted men to the future of France. Quite simply, we wish to see France born. We wish to see France be. Free, independent, and not dictated to by a haughty and arrogant English dog of a man.

Having made this pledge, know that I expect nothing in return from you. This is a worthy and Noble fight, and one we stand ready to make with you....as peers fighting separately if we must, as faithful members of the French alliance if it pleases you. Either way, however, know that we intend to make your struggle our own.

With deep respect,
Charles II, of Lothrengen

And with the penning of that now famous letter, Lorraine's place in history was forever changed. A tiny Duchy pledging herself to the cause of France, without knowing, and apparently without caring whether or not the French accepted, or even wished for their aid. The Duke of the tiny Duchy apparently had it in his head to fight the English and their Burgundian allies alone if needs be, in order to prove his loyalty to the French cause. (centralization +1, as the Duke writes without consulting his Council of Lords)

On All Fool's Day, in the year of our Lord 1419, tiny Lorraine shocks the whole of the known world by declaring a war on behalf of France, against the English. English ally, the House of Burgundy promptly declares their support for their English Masters and vows to see personally to Lorraine's destruction.

For his part, the King of England, Henry the Fifth, is not amused, but our ruling lord and leige stands firm in his resolve. Lorraine will make this fight, and our Duke will see it through, or he will lose both his head and his lands.

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 20:13

Opening Gambit

It would be exquisite if we could claim that our ill-advised war against both England and Burgundy (arguably, the most powerful alliance the world knew in 1419) was a lesson in precision and strategic mastery and finnesse.

Alas, that would be a blatant lie, as a great many mistakes and miscalculations were made in the prosecution of this war, as you will soon discover, however....we fought with faith and heart and skill, and the firm belief in the rightness of our cause.

January 1419
In an attempt to standardize taxation in our singular province, a Tax Collecting Supervisor is appointed in the land to oversee all efforts to raise money for our Duke. This appointment is vastly expensive, and takes fully half our treasury, but it is a thing important to our long-term growth, and so it is done, despite the rumblings of our peasantry (who are never overly fond of such things).

Military maintenance to 100%, full minting of coin (1% inflation per year)

April - 1419
Our Duke issues a formal Declaration of War against England - Burgundy joins the English in their fight against us.

The "Army" of Lorraine is little more than a toy, but it is what we have to work with (9000 Infantry, and 1000 Horse).

These are divided, and the bulk of our forces are ordered to remain in Lorraine, while neighboring Comte is invaded by a force of 2,000 of our infantry.

Shortly after arriving, this force encounters some 1300 Burgundian cavalry that have been routed by France and her allies out of Burgogne, and Lorraine gives these forces battle, killing some 100 enemy horse troops with no losses of their own, and driving them into the French province of Lyonnais. Thus, Lorraine wins her first military victory against her much larger neighbor on April 19th, 1419.

A personal gift is sent to the Dauphin of France, a fine tapestry bearing the Dauphin's likeness and crafted by our own artisans. (relations with France rise to +126)

July 28th
A massive force from Provence, more than 19,000 strong arrives in Comte to assist us with our siege operations there.

August 1
Although we are not formal members of the proud French alliance, we share a common foe, and so diplomats spend time riding between our capitol of Nancy and Ile de France, in an effort to secure French permission to march our soldiery through their lands, and in August, this permission is duly granted! We now have the means at our disposal to prosecute this war to the best of our abilities!

Having been granted this boon by the Dauphin of France, the balance of our army, 7000 Infantry and 1000 Horse marches to Champagne.

August 13th, France and England sign a peace treaty, with England paying 52d to the French in Indemnities. For our part, we raise War Taxes (which again, is a thing that does not make our peasantry happy, stab drops one point), and begin training 2,000 new infantry recruits in Lorraine. With French peace, the Army of Provence in Compte, moves off, denying us the help they had pledged....

September
French peace with the English and Burgundians has complicated matters for us greatly. Our 2k garrison in Compte invades Bourgogne to lock the Burgundian capitol down and prevent recruitment from occuring there, meanwhile, attrition has taken its toll on our main army in Champagne (large numbers of French troops passing through), and leaves our main force at 6400/880....these raid into Burgundian-held Artois.

OoO

Colonel Jaeger looked out over the city of Arras from his command tent in disgust. They had more then enough men to lock down this singular province (Artois), yes, and even lay in a siege here, but looking northward, he envisioned the rest of the countryside...all the vastness of the lands north of his position firmly under Burgundian control. He had been given an impossible task, and he knew it full well.

"How in the name of all the saints and angels does our Duke expect me to conquer the bulk of the low countries with this force?"

His aides had no ready answers for him....nor did he expect any. He was the commanding officer. The decison was his to make, and the future of Lorraine rested firmly on those decisions.

"Any word from our southern flank? I have no wish to press further north if we are exposed to possible incursions from Comte and Burgogne."

For that, the aides did have an answer. "Yes milord! Your cousin, Erich has led a force of some two thousand infantry into Burgogne to keep the ruling Lord occupied, and has requested an additional three thousand infantry to assist in that cause, and prevent Compte from being troublesome."

Jaeger nodded. "Well and good, and he has my blessings...I know he needs more men for his task as well, and that I hold the bulk of Lorraine's army, but God's Teeth, we do not have enough men to perform the task which has been demanded of us!"

Nonetheless, the men awaited his command.

He sighed heavily. "Send riders to Lorraine and tell them that Arras, and in fact, all of Artois is under guard and we are advancing on Flandres where a small train of enemy soldiers lays in wait....we humbly request any additional forces that can be raised....if we are to win this fight, then all efforts must be made to secure the north....the southern flank needs only minimal attention until the larger cities we face are brought under our control."

"It shall be done!" His aids barked in unison as they left on swift steeds for Nancy.

OoO

October
We leave behind a covering force in Artois and strike at Flandern with 5346/847, where the Burgundians have stationed a small garrison of 940 men.

In mid-October, we formally join the French alliance

By the 22nd of the month, we destroy the small cavalry garrison at Flandern in a two day battle with that force, losing 488 of our own infantry, and 112 horsemen (still have 4858/735 in the Army of Lorraine....such as it is.

November
3000 Freshly trained recruits from Burgundy (Zeeland) march immediately to try and route us out of Flandern. Our own newly trained recruits stand ready to serve in Lorraine, and these march south, invading Compte and locking down Burgundy's two southern provinces, securing that flank for us, most handily.

On the 16th, our main force defeats the raw recruits from Zeeland and we send them packing back to their home province, our losses, however, and relatively heavy (1311 Infantry and 437 Horse), leaving us with 3547/186 in Flandern.

Our finance minister arranges a loan from whatever moneylenders will take a chance on such a tiny nation as ours (200d), and we use a portion of that money to raise a staggering 8000 additional infantry in Lorraine.

OoO

Jaeger shook his head and spat upon the body of one of the fallen Burgundian horsemen.

Miserable land, and a cursed business this was.

His army had taken some serious hits, and without additional reinforcements soon, there was no doubt that this would be a short war indeed.

"What's the latest on those damnable reinforcements?" He barked.

The answer was not the one he wanted. "They should be ready to march north and join us by the dawning of the new year, milord!"

He spat again. "If any of us still live by then, I am sure they will be a welcome addition....if not, then they can come to collect our corpses.....but....since they're not coming for a time yet, then we shall do our best....let us take the fight to that rabble we chased out of here last eve....your report is that they have made back to Zeeland?"

"Yes milord!"

"Then to Zeeland we shall go in pursuit of them!"

December
Leaving a covering force to guard against recruitment in Flandres, we send 2407/127 to invade Zeeland and hit the demoralized Burgundian troops before they can rally and come at us again.

all stop with the minting of coin....only when we absolutely need it...we needed it initially, as we pillaged...and now, we need to guard against the long-term dangers of inflation

So ends Lorraine's first year in an impossible war.....

-=Vel=-

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 20:34

1420

January 28th

"Can someone please tell me anything! Anything at all useful about the disposition of the enemy?"

It had been a hard week's fighting, and Jaeger's temper was short. He had lost a great many men in the battle for Zeeland, and barely had enough force left to keep the province under guard. An advance to Holland was impossible at this point, much as he would have dearly loved to once more give battle to the enemy. Each day was precious...each day they delayed in locking down all Burgundian lands was another day in which their fate could be sealed. If even one Burgundian province was allowed to remain free....he shuddered to think at what fate the Army of Burgundy would have in store for he and his men. The Duke of Burgundy was well known for his temper and his malice, NOT for his gentle nature, and he had no illusions.

No illusions at all.

"No firm word on the disposition of the enemy, milord Jaeger, but our own casualty reports are in."

He rolled his eyes and bit back a groan. "What's the bad news then?"

"Our force stands at 1875....Infantry all."

"We have no more horse? Not a single cavalryman remains alive?"

"I fear not milord." The aide said sadly. "Total losses amounted to 532 infantry, and all 127 of our remaining cavalry."

"Sweet Mary, Mother of God....no horse troops whatsoever....and you can bet the Duke of Burgundy still has his."

A bitter pill. Not that his scant cavalry force would have provided much protection, but some was better than none at all.

"Very well." He said wearily. "Have the men form pickets and closely watch the northern approaches. We don't need any nasty surprises riding in from Holland."

National Stability at +3, 150d in our treasury, and our economy stands at 17.6 --> 17.4 from taxation and pillaging, + 0.2 in goods production

In January, the southern flank is reinforced, as 2000 infantry recruits march to Compte, and thence to Burgogne, and 6000 march to Champagne in an attempt to reinforce our embattled main army.

The force currently IN Compte is itself divided, with a covering force only left in that province, and the bulk of our southern forces consolidating in Burgogne, giving us just enough to initiate a siege there.

An additional 1000 infantry are raised in Nancy

By March, our northern reinforcements make Artois, Flandern by April, and Zeeland by May.

OoO

"Good of you to join us at last!" Jaeger said in disgust as the long lines of infantry at last made their way to his small encampment in Zeeland. "And how many men under arms?"

"Six thousand, milord Jaeger!" Came the swift reply. "Six thousand men and the blessing of our Duke!"

"No horse troops?" He asked, clearly disappointed.

"None milord...it was deemed too expensive at this time."

"Penny pinching accountants....no place in a war for thier kind." He grumbled. "Nonetheless, we have enough to make for Holland, so let us not keep the enemy waiting!"

OoO

Jaeger take command of the 6000 new recruits and marches them into Holland, where the remnants of the Burgundian army lays waiting (1286). He hands them a stinging defeat on July 3rd, and sends the survivors fleeing into Geldre, but lacks sufficient manpower to maintain a siege where he is (4918 left in his command).

By September, thanks to some creative maneuvering and re-position of troops, he gets just enough (5588) men to begin a siege there, and when the Burgundian remnants strike him again in late September, he defeats them with no losses to his command....the Army of Burgundy is no more, and all Burgundian lands are under the control of Lorraine.

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 20:35

The southern front

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 20:44

September 22nd, Provence declares a war against Savoy, and we honor our obligations, although we are stretched far too thin to commit in any great way to that fight.

December 17th sees progress in the southern front as Burgogne is captured and the Duke of Burgundy is forced to flee to England. Our siege force there makes plans to march to Compte at the dawning of the new year.

1421
National Stability +3
Treasury 123d

February sees an army of 6905 of our troops in Compte and a formal siege is begun there!

April, progress in the siege of Holland (walls at -3)

May sees a bit of good news not directly related to the war, with Lorraine experiencing an agricultural revolution! (+1 manpower)...muchly needed indeed! And in May, a number of strategic Royal Marriages are arranged (Pfalz, Cologne, Kleves, and Munster), as we do our best to improve relations with nations we hope to soon be neighbors with!

By August, the defenders behind Holland's stout walls give in, and that province is captured! Our siege crew marches south to Zeeland as our efforts against the House of Burgundy gain steam.

September 21st, Compte falls to the Southern Army of Lorraine, and that force makes plans to march to Lyonnais in October!

November - Lorraine's Southern Army marches to Languedoc, and December, to Guyenne, where we discover a 2000-strong English garrison in Gascogne. That settles the matter then....we shall invade Poitou come January!

"Gotta hand it to them...the men of Lorraine have balls of solid rock!"
~Overheard in the Court of the Dauphine, Ile de France

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:01

1422 - Lorraine's Impossible War enters its 3rd year
National stability is at +3
Treasury is 101d
Economy: 18.7 --> 18.1 pillaging and taxation + 0.6 goods production
plans made to spend the next two years at full minting, to bulk up our treasury for loan repayment - target inflation = 3%

Zeeland's walls are at (2)

April sees us make a variety of general improvements to our national infrastructure (Inf 2), and we begin thinking in terms of paying off our loan!

September - Poitou is captured in a short (9-month) siege! The 2k English garrison from Gascogne invades, but is hampered in their efforts by having to attack our tenacious defenders cross-river.

Our victorious army counter-invades, following them back into Gascogne and destroying them utterly, and still has sufficient force to lay in a siege there! (5337 remaining)

In October, we gain a better understanding of regional market fluctuations and investment patterns (Trade 2), and otherwise, the rest of the year passes quietly.

1423 - Our war's 4th year
National stability is at +2
Treasury = 121d, Economy = 3.3 --> 2.3 in taxation, 1.0 in goods production

June - 4,000 additional infantry raised in Nancy in an effort to bring this war to a conclusion.

August - Sale of Offices - Accepted! (tax value in Lorraine -1, but it puts 100d in our treasury in the here and now!)

September - our new recruits arrive in Artois and begin a proper siege.

October - A setback in the form of a revolt in Artois smashes our siege force, reducing it to 2938/145....

That the rebels were put down is small consolation....

1424
Stability +2
Treasury 246d
Economy = 1.7

January - The English land some three thousand troops in Poitou...not enough to begin a siege, but enough to give our tiny army pause.

February 7th, Zeeland finally falls! Our forces there march triumphantly to Flandres, sending a detachment of their swelling ranks to bolster the siege group in Artois.

By May, the English forces in Poitou have swelled to some seven thousand, under Gloucester.

August 21, Artois is captured, and the siege crew marches to the English province of Caux, by way of French lands.

October 19, Flandern falls, and Provence Declares a war against Brittany. None of Frances other Vassal states comply with the wishes of the House of Provence, and we sense a golden opportunity, but alas, our dance card is quite full at the present time....

The Flandern siege crew marches on to Calais!

December: Our loan is repaid and we have 75d to spare! Lorraine's worth in the eyes of her creditors has been well and duly proved!

On Decmeber 5th, in control of every Burgundian province, we impose a harsh peace with them, claiming Comte, Artois, Flandern, Zeeland, and 275d. They have little choice but to accept our terms, and we promote Tax Collectors to streamline taxation in these new holdings!

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:05

1425
Stability +2
Treasury 173d
Economy = 18.4 --> 17.2 (taxation) + 1.2 (goods production)

March - Caux is captured
May - Calais is captured. The English offer us 369d for peace....a generous offer, but we must decline....we need land, not money!

In late May, Gascogne falls!

And on June 20th, 1425, the English King sends an emmissary to our Duke of Lorraine....

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:08

Of course, we have no choice but to accept this peace...it is far more generous than even our wildest imaginings, and so, in six years of hard, daring fighting, Lorraine grows from a tiny backwater Duchy to a strong regional power with as much territorial sway as France!

We have, however, been marked, and have made some powerful enemies.....

Tax collectors are promptly promoted in all our new holdings, and we ride the rest of the year out quietly.

Thus, the opening ends, and this is our initial situation.....a staggering victory over England and Burgundy, a vastly expanded realm, but....not without some problems.

Situation screen shots to follow, showing details of our current position!

-=Vel=-

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:09

The Lands of Lorraine, 1426....

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:24

Situation shots of 1426

#1

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**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:25

Disposition of the army

Attached Files

**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:26

Fleet capacity

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**Velociryx** · September 4, 2003, 21:26

Our greatly expanded economy!

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