Preview: Winter 1530
Augsburg January 4th 1530
The roaring fire in Nicholas’ study took the wet winter chill out of the room. Around the large, dispatch-covered table he sat with his son Pietro and a close friend he never addressed by anything other than “Joe”. Winter was supposed to be a quiet season spent indoors repairing and getting ready for the rush of spring and planting. But it was different this winter. Verner’s agents had reported that all over Europe kings and princes sought troops and they wanted them for campaigning as soon as the roads were dry enough for marching. Pietro had advised him to invest in one of the local troops, but alas he hadn’t. Money would be made this year in armies. Though, it might not be too late to buy some recruits and hold them until he could get a skilled commander.
Clearly war was afoot. Bavaria had set 5 divisions of fast horse on the muddy roads, They had left Munich two days ago headed north and 11 divisions of infantry would soon follow. Joe was worried. And this move by Bavaria was not what he had expected. Was it a change of plans or the unveiling of a previous deception? He wasn’t sure. The Princes of prominent Protestant duchies in Germany were gathering in a secret enclave called by the King of Bavaria himself. While he was not invited nor even expected at the private gathering, he would know all of what transpired within hours. So what was really going on? They would know soon enough; even now his and Nicholas’ agents were carrying the news of war north ahead of the Bavarians. There was other money to be made beside renting armies.
Berlin: Kings Day, January 1530
Joachim I Nestor, the aging Elector of Brandenburg and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire set out with a small entourage for Brunswick. His world was rapidly falling apart and he felt a duty to try and salvage what he could of Catholic Germany before death overtook him. He planned a few private visits to neighboring princes to gently pressure them to remain true to Rome and Germany. He expected to be home by the end of February and the start of Lent. His son, Hector was “hunting” on the Polish border, but more likely he was just avoiding his sickly wife Magdalena of Saxony. She had not been well and all feared that her death might be soon.
Wittenberg January 14, 1530
In an alley behind the cathedral two shady fellows met briefly and for a bag of coin given to the other, the first received a sheaf of papers. They departed; one packed his spare possessions at an inn and rode north, the other took his money to a brothel, got drunk and laid. A week later he passed an exhausted Bavarian army stopped along a Saxony road. He made polite inquires genial conversation around a campfire and then rode south, killing two horses before he reached his destination.
Brandenburg & Munich: February 1, 1530
The Bavarian cavalry were 15 days ahead of the infantry and before them lay the borders of Brandenburg. Their elaborate message from the King of Bavaria to the Elector of Brandenburg was impressive and persuasive, but it was not enough. They could not pass. The King was not at home in Berlin, and no they did not know where he was or when he would be back. And no they were not expecting the need for any “special protection” from Bavaria. The Spring muster was already underway and the King’s commanders were rousing themselves out of where ever they spent the winter. Thank you very much you can leave now. Unknown to the Bavarians, halfway to Berlin at the Royal estates surrounding Brandenburg Castle, four hastily organized divisions of Commander Knute Miller were alert and ready should the border be breeched. More were on the way.
Wilhelm I of Bavaria waited. It had been a month and none of the news had been what he had expected. Yes, the German Princes had supported him in Augsburg and were organizing their armies for a war on Brandenburg and any other Catholic Princei n the HRE. But he needed the Emperor in his hands before he could move. How could he have not been in Berlin this time of the year? Apparently he was traveling without fanfare or ceremony and few had noticed. His cavalry had orders to find him. At least when they found him he would be poorly protected.
Berlin: February 12, 1530
Joachim II Hector, heir to the throne of Brandenburg was awakened early. Urgent dispatches had come from Bavaria. As expected with all “urgent” notices, this one had bad news. The Emperor, his father, had been captured by Bavarian troops and would be tried for crimes against, Catholics, crimes against Protestants and even a few civil crimes. The expected sentence was imprisonment and forfeiture of his kingdom to Bavaria. Hector laughed and called for his councilors to be gathered immediately. How timely.
Later that morning he told his assembled notables that the Elector was dead. He displayed a bloody tunic with dagger holes through the royal crest. It was the King’s, given to him by his wife a decade earlier. Her handiwork adorned the edges. The Bavarians were responsible and had an army approaching Brandenburg. Brandenburg had to act. Act now. Coronation and ceremony would have to wait as would mourning. Later that afternoon as the orders were being prepared, Joachim stood in his study before the fire. He looked the dispatches he had received earlier that day. They were as pretty a piece of forgery as he had ever seen. Too bad none but he could appreciate them. He tossed them into the fire and thought through his plan. He would declare for Luther once the first blows against Bavaria were struck; then the German princes would declare for him and Wilhelm would be brought to heel like the traitorous dog that he was.
Two days later on Valentine’s:
Outside of Wittenberg the eager troops of the new King of Brandenburg took the few remaining divisions of Bavarian cavalry by surprise just as the first of the exhausted infantry began to arrive in camp. It was winter war at its worst, cold and unforgiving for those tired and unprepared. Mostly, the Bavarians broke and ran. The effect rippled right down the long line of divisions still on the road. Discretion was the better part of valor and the captains put up token defense and then melted away south or east or west which afforded the best escape.
For now the "war" was paused. “Fewer troops for more money” was the watchword all spring as everyone prepared for the war that was to roll across the land with the coming of summer.
Spring 1530
Vienna:
The news from Germany was unsettling. The death of the Emperor by Bavarian assassins was troubling, to say the least, even if it meant a new one would be selected. Ferdinand I put his own plans on hold to see how the war would go. Upstart Bavaria may have opened a hornet’s nest. He would get his armies gathered just in case. The announcements from Buda did not make him feel better.
Buda:
As the troubles of Germany became known across Bohemia in the spring, the king made formal announcement that Bohemia-Hungary had allied with Muscovy, Poland, Greece and France to make war on Austria and Venice. Now, at his command, the forces of Catholic and Orthodox vengeance were gathering to fall heavily upon those who would attack Rome. And the Turk, how would he react to the internal squabbling of European Kings?
Moscow:
Vasili III was not well, but he was well enough to honor his pledges and so when the roads were thawed and dry he sent 15 divisions west to Hungary. They should arrive in time for fall campaigning along the Danube. He released his five divisions in Greece to Basil. Even if the plunder of Europe turned out to be a false promise, his army would provide protection for the fledgling, Orthodox Greece. His fleet also sailed to Greece.
The Topkapi, Istanbul:
The Turk listened. Could the rumor of a new Polish crusade be true? He waited, and when he was sure that Europe was consumed in its own internal mad grab for power, he acted and sent orders to his generals. With one flank well anchored to fend off any attack, he turned 12 divisions and his fleets toward those who might not suspect he would even join their struggle, but he was on his own side in this one.
Paris:
The King had set his plans in motion the moment he had word that Bavaria had gone to war. While all of Central Europe was focused on the German wars, yes there would be at least two he was confident, he would take what was rightfully his: Venice. And take it from under the nose of Rome and Austria. Ships sailed and soldiers marched as summer turned ever so lightly towards fall.
The Doge’s Palace Venice:
Venice was in trouble and the Doge knew it. His attack on Rome had made him enemies and then there was the whole Greek failure. The trading empire was crumbling before his eyes. He might not win, but for sure he would not lose. He would be ready for any attack. He had called up what troops he could; it seemed that few were even in Italy this spring. The impending wars in Germany must have taken them all.
Corinth, Greece:
Basil’s predicament was getting dicey. He was part of a great alliance that he wasn’t sure would all hang together for long and he would have to make sure he took advantage of it as best he could. His resources were very limited and had to be guarded. Yet he had to strike and strike quickly in as many places as he could. Cyprus, Athens, Venice itself all were in his sights; as the winter storms subsided, his fleet moved east and his troops were called to arms. He sent a thank you to the Prince of Muscovy for the five divisions.
Kaffa: a city on the Black Sea
"I stand where the Pope stands"; was Michal's new motto, especially in foreign and ecclesiastical matters. He only waited for dry roads to send his troops into motion. Eight divisions had volunteered for a crusade to aid Spain in the Holy Land; another eight were already in Danzig prepared to aid his longtime ally, Brandenburg, should it be needed; and lastly, his own command, a contingent of 16 crack divisions would march for Central Europe to support the Pope. If the Russians arrived in time, perhaps they would march together. Ha! Not likely!
Rome:
Everyday now the Pope wore hair shirts underneath his Papal robes, and poured ashes on his head. He spent hours in prayer; he fasted often and spent one on one time with the cardinals counseling them and praying with them; and in what appeared to be a further step to find peace, he personally heard confessions from anyone on Sunday afternoons. Like his church, he was in crisis.
Madrid:
King Ryan was obsessed with two things: Jerusalem and his daughter’s wedding. At the moment he was focused on Jerusalem. He would hold that city. He would take the war to the enemy. He would slay those who opposed his will. Before the summer heat set in, the city’s defenses were improved and then 15 divisions headed south towards Egypt. 10 would remain behind.
Isfahan, Persia:
The Shah was ambitious and he had done well for his nation. But he wanted more. The trouble to his west beckoned like a siren’s call. He would support his Islamic brothers in Egypt with gold, but he would spend more on his own army and navy. Perhaps the jihad would survive without his help and that might be a good thing. He would wait and watch, but be ready when opportunity knocked. In any case war with Portugal was inevitable.
Lisbon:
The news of February from Germany was blithely ignored as King John and Queen Catherine doted over their new born son, Sancho. Likewise the terrible military situation in Egypt was set aside by the king for tender moments with his family, but not for too long. His duty called and he responded. The “Alexandria” problem was taking him away from more pressing and promising endeavors. He had an empire to run. The Spanish king was more trouble than he was worth and it was with great reluctance that he again agreed to help the upstart monarch. Brute force had failed in Egypt; he would take a different tack to deal with the rancorous Muslims.
Ayutthaya City:
Like he strode boldly across the courtyards of his palace, the young king would now step forth upon the world stage.
He would arbitrate the affairs of South Asia and its rich water ways. He did not need nor need to fear such interlopers as the Portuguese. In time they and the other nations of the west would seek him out, would ask permission and bow low before the Elephant Throne. There was much to be done, but the first order of business was to shut down all contact between Portugal and the nations of the East. Ayutthaya would swallow their ships whole just as if they had never been.
I'm a peacemonger for pete's sake!
But I'll stop spamming 
So I congratulate you on your autonomy, and whatcha think about my story?
