Part 39: Europa Universalis III: Chapter 9 - Holy Wars: 1465 - 1480

1465 - 1480: Holy Wars

Waldemar IV's aggressive policy towards his vassals and Electors has damaged the reputation of Swabia and the dynasty and soured relations somewhat with the electors. Regaining the respect of the world and calming the upset Electors will take time.


Fortunately, Waldemar has only lost the vote of Austria. While clearly unhappy about Waldemar's behaviour, the Electors still fear France too much to withdraw their support.


A military comparison between Swabia and its belligerent neighbour is not encouraging - fueled by the income from their new provinces, France has expanded the size of its army to 80,000 men, more than the combined forces of Swabia and England.


While the West is fraught with war, it is still reasonably stable compared to the volatile East. The Byzantine Empire has begun aggressive meddling into the affairs of the Rus Principalities, even going so far as to contest Chernigov's inheritance of Muscowy's throne, forcing Chernigov to recognize its own claim to the throne via force of arms.


Georgia has long been torn apart by rebellions and internal strife, and in May of 1465, a popular rising in its Russian provinces succeeds in overthrowing local Georgian rule and proclaiming the free Principiality of Yaroslavl, triggering a palace coup against Georgia's despised ruler, King Archil I. Archil is forced to abdicate and is replaced with his cousin, Giorgi VIII, who immediately recognizes the independence of Yaroslavl to put an end to the revolts.


Russia is a patchwork of principalities, fighting each other for supremacy and being preyed on by its larger neighbours. Lithuania is beginning to emerge as the dominant power in the region, and with the Byzantine's Empire renewed interest in the area, the scene is set for many more years of war and chaos to come.


Waldemar sets his mind to the matter of restraining France, preferably in a way that does not lead to war. France's influential status in Rome has resulted in a number of Papal excommunications and 'crusades' tailored to justify its wars of aggression. Desiring to deprive France of its influence, Waldemar funnels a large amount of gold and agents into the curia, succeeding in winning over not only numerous Cardinals to his sphere of influence, but even the Pope himself.



His next step is the vassalisation of Utrecht and the remnants of Holland, against whom France has been beating the war drum, once again. As Swabian vassals, an attack on them is an attack on Swabia, meaning that Swabia's allies would be bound to intervene.


Waldemar's measures succeed in restraining France for the moment, and five years of peace follow. Waldemar IV falls ill and dies in February of 1471, merely 32 years old. As his wife bore only daughters, the throne passes to his younger brother Werner, crowned Werner II, the Duke of Naples.


Using his influence as Duke and a number of dubious dynastic and legal claims, Werner succeeds in being recognized as direct ruler of Naples, integrating its lands and people into Swabia.



Henry IV continues his distasteful policy of naked aggression against the Crusader states, annexing the crown of Alexandria and seizing the ancient trade port for himself.


In autumn of 1472, news arrive that Cathari sects are blooming up in Milan, founded by evangelising Cathari preachers from the neighbouring Piemonte. The Pope demands that Werner do something about the heretics, and Werner sends in the Imperial army, hunting down and burning the sect leaders.


In April of 1473, sixteen years of peace for Swabia come to an end, as news reach Mainz that the Hammadid have declared Jihad against Provence. Werner immediately mobilizes the Imperial Army, having no intention to cede a single inch of Imperial soil to the Muslims.


The Pope declares a Crusade, giving Werner the questionably achievable task of reconquering Iberia and Aquitaine for Christianity.


The Imperial Army marches into Provence in June, attacking the large Hammadid army besieging the city.


Though numerous, the Hammadid and Maghreb forces are disorganized and technologically behind those of the Imperial Army. The battle turns into a rout, and the rout turns into a massacre. Over half of the Muslim army is killed, wounded or captured.


Swabian forces enter Hammadid lands a few weeks later, but are much too late to save Aquitaine. Occupied by a large Hammadid army, Aquitaine surrenders and is forced to cede all land outside Armagnac.



Apparently losing heart at this defeat, Genoa and Provence sue for peace, paying large sums of gold in tribute to the Caliph.


Left in the war is only Swabia, spurred on by its victories. Lyonnais and Auvergne fall in summer of 1475


Swabia's offensive is temporarily diverted as Hammadid and Maghreb troops land in Swabian Italy, besieging Parma and Modena.


The Maghreb have taken the brunt of casualties in recent fighting, and are beginning to feel the effects of manpower depletion and war exhaustion. Werner succeeds in negotiating a separate peace in exchange for a token tribute.

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Even amidst the height of the war, the manuevering in Rome continues, as Swabia and France fights for influence in the Curia.


The Hammadid offensive in Italy is thwarted, and the enemy army is run down and wiped out while retreating across Genoa. The Imperial Army returns to Aquitaine, continuing its steady march across Hammadid territory.


As the year turns to 1480, the war has progressed considerably, with most of Hammadid's non-Iberian holdings in Swabian hands. The Hammadids continue to stubbornly refuse any peace deal, however, and have launched a major offensive into Languedoc, defeating the Imperial army through sheer numbers. The war is far from over.


Life does not stop to wait for peace, and neither do the processes of Government. The Reichstag convenes in January to discuss the future governance and policies of the Empire as a whole. Once again, three propositions are selected to be put before vote.


Returning once more to the table, the Imperial Army Standards Act has gained considerable support through the many threats and wars that the Empire has been through in the last eighty years. A large number of states are calling for Emperor Werner to more aggressively defend their rights and independence, and together with its unparallelled officer corps and technological superiority, this act would allow the Imperial Army to punch way above its size.


The moderate faction have their own proposal, the Establishment of the Imperial Mint, Under this proposition, the disparate member states would all adopt the Swabian Mark as their currency, smoothening trade between them. An Imperial Bank would be established in Swabia to oversee minting in all of the Empire, having the added benefit of helping combat inflation, something that is badly needed in a Swabia burdened by the need to finance its oversized army.


Finally, the hanseatic and mercantile forces of the Empire have put forward the Proposition of Sound Revisions to Imperial Tolls and Tariffs, shorthanded the 'Toll and Tariff Act'. In addition to a long list of protectionist measures, this act would imbue the Emperor with the power to declare Imperial Embargos against foreign states, a tool that could be used to pressure the various merchant powers into giving Swabian merchants greater privileges. Used properly, this act could bring in much needed funds for increasing the size of the army and keeping the Curia under Swabian influence.


Cast your votes!