My mini AAR: The Rising Glory
This session was short but very eventful, culminating in the biggest war we ever had.
It all started when the Eastern Alliance composed of Poland, Hungary and Venice decided to dismantle the structures of the HRE. As those kinds of wars go it was a long battle against many minors, but we came close with only 2 electors remaining independent. And then it all began.
Using a casus belli for Livland Sweden and Utrecht declared war on Poland. They soon have been joined by France and Aragon, forming the Grand Alliance (together with many minor AI nations). Hungary immediately peaced out of war, not providing any assistance to its ally in need. Fortunately Venice remained steadfast, and Venetian soldiers too had the opportunity to bask in the glory of this victory.
The Grand Alliance started with initiative and its great armies moved into Northern Germany, quickly covering territories up to Brandenburg. Polish troops seemingly couldn't stop them and even one Polish army of 14 000 was completely annihilated. Things started to look bleak, but then reinforcements withdrawn from the HRE started pouring in.
Polish armies single-handedly stopped the advance of Swedish-Utrechtian-French coalition, despite being outnumbered and outgunned. With a quick counter offensive all those armies were killed in battle, Pommerania and Jutland occupied, Sweden and Utrecht effectively neutered.
But then the southern flank opened and required Polish assistance. Venetian troops got swamped by French and Aragonese hordes and beat back into Veneto. I dispatched one army, then aided by another, quickly occupied allied Acquilea and proceeded to destroy French armies, I finally did it after a long chase up to the French border.
War quieted a little with both sides quite exhausted, my manpower dropped down to 30 000 and money reserves were strained. War exhaustion also was growing and dangerous, I completely abandoned any thoughts of further offensive and patiently waited.
There came the second wave of the Grand Alliance attacks. Both in the northern Germany and in the northern Italy, newly rebuilt armies moved in to defeat me. Alas it was not to be. In a few decisive battles I obliterated once again all of the northern armies, my counter attack this time occupied Utrecht knocking it out of war. In the south the Grand Alliance merely suffered a big defeat in a battle of over 50 000 versus 50 000, with 100 000 on both sides, a battle not seen before. This is where the Grand Alliance asked for peace.
I didnt wish to antagonize them any further so my terms have been extremely lenient (compared to what both Sulimo and Erz had to suffer). I got three provinces, Venice was cemented as a ruler of northern Italy, reparations were promised (but not paid as of yet). The war ended.
A glorious victory for me and Venice, defeating stronger, richer and more numerous enemies.
I guess I'll root for potato.
