Part 36: Europa Universalis III: Chapter 6 - The Rise and Fall of Empires: 1421 - 1434
1421 - 1434: The Rise and Fall of Empires
In winter of 1421, war breaks out between England and Scotland. The new Queen of England Jane I has vowed to unite the British Isles under her rule. England's vassal Ireland joins the war on her side, while Scotland and Munster stand in opposition.
Sporadic revolts across Swabia continue, as large peasant armies rise against Konrad and are put down by the disciplined troops of the Imperial Army.
News reach Mainz that Lithuania, which attacked and subjugated the Teutonic Order while Swabia was too busy fighting France, has fully annexed its germanic vassal. Konrad issues a protest, but is otherwise powerless to do anything about it.
In March of 1422, Hungary declares war on Bulgaria, sparking yet another war with Austria. Neither ready nor inclined for a war with the Ortenburgs, Konrad refuses to join in the war, dishonouring the alliance and causing a loss of face for Swabia.
Concerned by aggressive overtures from England, the Prince of Iceland offers Scandinavia vassalage, becoming a part of its empire.
Not one to be outdone by Scandinavians, Konrad has been in negotiations with the Dukes of Trier and Alsace since the end of the war, and an agreement that makes both duchies into direct vassals to the Emperor is signed in June of 1423.
With the alliance with Hungary in tatters, Konrad approaches Queen Jane about the possibility of forming an anti-French alliance. The militaristic Jane is enthusiastic about the idea, and a marriage alliance between Konrad's daughter and Jane's brother is formed in August of 1423.
France has held the curia in its grip since the very beginning of the Golden Bull Wars, and has abused that power to arrange for the excommunication of a number of its neighbours and enemies. Next in line for this is the Duke of Holland, a clear indication that France still nurtures plans to seize control of Antwerpen.
The war in the british isles ends in autumn of the next year, with total defeat for Scotland and Munster. Munster is forced to cede a full half of its lands, while Scotland loses the entirety of their lands save for Orkney and their capital.
After defeating Scotland, Queen Jane next turns her attention to Rome. Pope Clemens VII has just died. She skillfully outmaneuvers France through bribes and favors, winning the support of enough cardinals to have a Pope that is more friendly to England and her allies elected. She sends a letter to Konrad where she urges him to reconcile with the new Pope Innocentius VII, but Konrad stubbornly refuses.
Aingeru Henku, the brilliant protege of a famous Saxon statesman, arrives in Swabia and offers his services to Konrad in spring of 1425. Konrad accepts, replacing the aging military advisor Ludwig Wieland.
In autumn of the same year, a rebellion in Aquitaine succeeds in overthrowing its rule in Aragon, which promptly declares independence.
A weakened Aquitaine looks around for new allies, and finds Queen Jane willing to incorporate it into the anti-French league. A three-way alliance between England, Swabia and Aquitaine is formed in February of 1427, surrounding François I of France with hostile rulers on all sides.
Konrad's attention, meanwhile, has been turned to his vassal Modena. Modena has proven itself unable to defend its borders in the last few wars, and Konrad is eager for direct control of a large mediterranean port. The provinces of Parma and Modena are formally annexed by Swabia in December of 1429.
The effects of integrating Modena are not all positive, and Konrad is forced to make some concessions that loosen his grip on the country somewhat.
These concessions largely placate the population of Parma, and little more than weak protests are heard over this expansionistic move on Konrad's part.
The city of Modena on the other hand has a number of special privileges dating back almost a century, when Emperor Francisco made the city an Imperial City in exchange for its allegiance. Incorporation into Swabia would result in the loss of its privileges and semi-independence, and its discontent population leads a revolt against Konrad, which Karl Breitmayer swiftly crushes.
The cause of Modena has gained the sympathetic ear of the Electors, however, and Konrad is swarmed with demands to restore Modena's Imperial City status by making a part of the Demesne. Not wishing to undermine his already brittle support in the Reichstag, Konrad caves in to the demands.
The offensive focus of Swabia's military is resulting in neglected fortifications, a consequense that could be disasterous in another war with a great power. Konrad decides to moderate his military policy somewhat and increase the funding for defense.
Karl Breitmayer dies in September of 1431, and command of the second half of the Imperial army passes over to Baron Karl Weber.
The next month, the Duchy of Holland secedes from the Empire, citing a number of grievances against Konrad's ally Queen Jane, who has been using blockades and strong-arm tactics to open up Antwerpen further to british traders.
France is quick to use Holland's newfound vulnerability to make another grab for Antwerpen. The King of Aquitaine, a close friend of the Duke of Holland, joins the war on his side. Konrad attempts to gain support for an intervention, but is overruled in the Reichstag, who proclaim such an intervention to be against the currnet foreign policy of the Empire as set down at the Reichstag of 1400.
The war goes badly for Aquitaine and Holland, and France takes the Aquitainian territory of Champagne as well as Antwerpen, adding the world's wealthiest center of trade to its already prosperous lands.
Aquitaine's troubles are far from over, however, as it has involved itself in a second war in defense of Galicia against the Hammadid Caliphate, a war that it has no chance of winning. Konrad's pleads for funds to intervene are, once again, overruled.
As Aquitaine burns, an embittered Konrad turns his attention instead to the Duchy of Silesia, which has with Hungarian help fought itself free of Lithuanian overlordship. With gifts and promises, Konrad succeeds in bringing Silesia into the protection of the Holy Roman Empire, further extending its borders.
Ill news arrive at the court in July of 1433. East Rome, the Byzantine Empire, has declared war on Naples, whose allies have melted away rather than face the massive eastern power block of Byzantium-Hungary-Lithuania. The Reichstag and his court advisors plead with Konrad to leave Naples to its fate, but Konrad refuses. His father died acquiring Naples for the Empire, and he has no plans of losing it to the greeks, despite the fact that this war poises him against his distant cousin King Adalbert of Jerusalem.
Konrad and Karl Weber move their armies into position to defend Modena and east Swabia. Though woefully outnumbered, the distance between Swabia and its attackers is considerable, resulting in stretched supply lines and a slow trickle of reinforcements for any attacker, a fact that Konrad intends to put to considerable advantage. He marches out to meet a small hungarian scouting force moving through Austria, encircling and destroying two regiments of Hungarian cavalry.
A large Lithuanian force enters Niederbayern a few months later, and Konrad engages it, inflicting punishing casualties on the attackers before withdrawing.
A large Hungarian force arrives in Modena, where it is outmaneuvered, defeated, and run down by Karl Weber.
The Byzantine Empire, meanwhile, has yet to even show up to its war, the coasts of Naples remaining free of enemy ships and troops.
Karl Weber begins pulling his troops back up towards Swabia, joining Konrad in a counterattack against the Lithuanian and Hungarian forces besieging Niederbayern.
The invaders are broken and run down as they attempt to escape in different directions, adding further to the massive losses suffered by the Orthodox armies.
The war in Aquitaine ends in August of 1434 as Aquitaine is forced to cede a third of its territory to the Caliphate. The muslims now have a strong foothold in Occitia, and seem poised to continue their holy war into a divided latin europe.
The war against Byzantium ends with a palace coup, as the reasons for its passivity turn out to be infighting between the Byzantine Emperor Konstatinos and his bastard brother Andronikos. Andronikos seizes the throne in March of 1435, having his brother executed shortly after being crowned, and plunging Byzantium into civil war as numerous Princes loyal to Konstantinos refuse to swear allegiance to the bastard Emperor. With a civil war to deal with and facing increasing complaints from his allies about their losses in Swabia, Emperor Andronikos agrees to peace in exchange for a symbolic tribute payment from Konrad. Though not happy to have to pay for peace once again, Konrad is wise enough to know a good peace deal when he sees one.
With Naples safe and Silesia added as a member state, the borders of the Holy Roman Empire now extend further than they have for some half a millennia. It may be an empire divided among itself, with an Emperor that is largely a figurehead, but it is an impressive sight nonetheless.
A decision for the Reichstag!
Swabia is starting to recover from its wars, and with France held in check for the moment, now is the time to determine the Empire's future policy towards its aggressive neighbour.
Diplomatic Solution
A diplomatic solution would mean attempting to repair relations with France, and maintaining a neutral if not friendly attitude. While this means we can likely keep France from attacking Swabia and the Empire, it also means that we must break our alliance with Aquitaine and cannot intervene if they decide to expand outside the borders of the Empire.
Defensive Solution
A defensive solution would mean maintaining the balance of power against France through alliances and by guaranteeing the independence of its neighbours to keep it from expanding unchecked. Under this solution, if given the chance, Swabia would set up a buffer zone in the Rheinland by forcing France to release Trier.
Aggressive Solution
An aggressive solution is exactly what it says - an attempt to conquer and divide France through espionage and war. Under this solution we would incite rebellion in its conquered lands, attempt to push it into drawn-out wars with other great powers, and attack France when a favorable opportunity arises. This solution is a significant gamble, as our allies may prove unreliable and Swabia can presently not stand against the French alone.
Honored Lords and Mayors, Princes and Doges: Cast your votes.