The Indian Subcontinent 1512
There was a peace of sorts, but little trust. Preparations for war did not stop. The weapons smiths of Vijayanagar mastered the art of making the Harquebus early in 1511 and went right into production. Ahmadnagar, Malwa, Gujarat all seemed to get the weapons too, but no one knew for sure whether they moved south to north or north to south. In any case harquebus units began training throughout the subcontinent. The newly minted peace with Kandy & the Emperor of China allowed King Raya to move his troops closer to home. He was quite proud of his army. It topped 15,000 men and 10 cannon. He was sure it was larger than that of Delhi. Plus he could raise levies if needed. But he was at peace with Delhi and it was Ahmadnagar he was after.
To the north Sikander Shah of Delhi was also counting his troops. He figured on 17,000 plus and 13 cannon in total, not including his mercenaries. Of course such a large army would not be needed. He was at peace with the Hindu south, so he spent his money of fixing weapons improvements and road building. His ultimatum to Kandahar to turn over Rana Sanga had not produced any results yet, but he was hopeful. He was also hopeful that the marriage of his son Ibrahim Lodhi to that Gujarat Princess, whatever her name, would strengthen his hand even more.
Burhan Nizam Shaha was a child of seven years when his father died and he ascended the throne of Ahmadnagar in 1508. Mukamil Khan Dakhani, regent of Ahmadnagar, made his decision. He had little faith in the Sultan of Delhi whose appetite for land seemed insatiable and even less for the Hindu lords of the south with their blasphemous ways. There was no telling if the young king would survive let alone his nation when war came. He would make a deal with the devil to save his kingdom. He could raise over 10,000 men. They might well tip the balance. Few would know of this decision, only the most trustworthy.
Augsburg Revisited
Both Helene and Claire were excited to get back to the Cortez expedition story and brought extra candles to the table so they could read as far into the night as they needed to get to the end. With a welcome denied him, Cortez planned an assault on the town. It would be immediate before they had time to get an organized defense ready. This town had walls. He ordered his ships to sail into the beaches along the riverfront and on the ocean side to the east. His plan was simple: land, attack, capture the city and at least some of the natives. It worked quite well. Stone edged clubs, and glass tipped arrows did little damage to their steel armor and the quilted cloth armor of the natives was no match steel swords, cross bows and a few harquebuses. By nightfall the city was theirs. Cortez took a week to settle in and prepare for whatever might happen next. From captives they learned a bit about this place. It was the land of the Michuan whose king ruled lands far up the river even into the mountains. Far across the warm green sea to the south lay the land of the jade warriors. The captives were terrified and expected their king Chicomecoatl to sweep down with more warriors than leaves on the trees and put all the Spaniards to death. And he did. For two weeks an uneasy quiet held sway all around the Spanish held town. Cortez used it well and prepared his defense. Then five thousand Michuan warriors stormed the city for three straight days. In the end Cortez survived and held the city. Chicomecoatl had lost thousands of his best warriors and had decided to settle for a cautious truce rather than continue his assault. By the time Christmas arrived the language barrier had been broken and The Spaniards had fully established themselves in their tiny enclave with 225 men still fit for battle. Three of the original 10 ships remained and as the New Year turned, one was sent to New Spain and then home. Men and supplies were desperately needed if the expedition were going to survive. With his story, Cortez sent a small chest of finely wrought gold trinkets and jewelry that seemed commonplace among the warriors he had killed. There was a bit more about diseases spreading among the heathens, their barbaric sacrifices, vile customs and devil worshipping religion. The tale exhausted them both, but they couldnt wait to share it with their husbands when they returned.
War in the North of Italy 1512-1513
Genoas war against Milan continued. The 750 Dutch Arquebusiers, 2000 Germans pikemen and 5 cannon that were hired to support the cause were offset by the arrival of troops from Austria: 1000 Swiss Pikemen 500 Polish Hussars that leavened the Milanese army to over 3500 skilled fighters, a number equal to those fielded by Genoa. The attack was against the Milanese troops (mostly the Austrian hired mercenaries) around Verona who were outnumbered. The battle was short lived when the Austrians broke it off and retreated behind the city walls. Rash action by the Genoese general brought about his untimely end before the gates of the city. The Genoese went home and the Mercenaries kept order in the conquered lands and plundered additional compensation at their leisure.
Milan -325 men
Dutch Arquerbusiers -175 men
German pikemen -350 men
Swiss Pikemen -175 men
Polish Hussars -25 men
In the summer of 1513 the Milanese struck back. The offense was timed to catch the Genoese mercenaries on the north side of the Po on a raid and place the Milanese army between them and Genoa and in command of the crossings. As the mercenaries worked their way east to alternate crossing points, The Milanese sped towards Genoa. The city panicked, Andrea Doria left the city and took his small army west towards the safety of France. Any defense collapsed and Genoa capitulated as soon as the Milanese appeared at their gates. The city was spared, but occupied by its northern neighbor.
Central Europe
Peace was a welcome part of the warm, early spring of 1512. As the implications of the Treaty of Prague revealed themselves, the foundation for the future became clear. Hostilities ceased and farmers planted in anticipation of being able to harvest in the summer and fall. Most borders reverted to those of the prewar days and peasant knew to whom they belonged once again. Buda was restored as the capital of Hungary. There were a few exceptions though. Moravia became Austrian and Bohemia gained its independence under the child king Louis Jagiellon, son of the dead Ladislaus. He was crowned King of Bohemia and Elector in late 1511. Maximilian would, of course, be regent until the young king turned 16. Order was restored to the issue of kingship too. Maximilian I abdicated his position as King of Hungary and recognized Janos Corvinus as the rightful King of Hungary from this point on. Janos Corvinus recognized Bohemia as a separate kingdom, owing no allegiance or money to Hungary. Janos further cemented his crown by marrying Catherine of Aragon, tying him to Spain. Maximilian was also busy, twins Charles & Eleanor were born 1511 and Joseph in 1515. And in a bit of surprise, Austria agreed to militarily assist Hungary in expelling the Turk from the rightful lands of Janos.
Once the game of thrones was settled the wars began. Hungary threw 10,000 men and 50 cannon into the war while Austria put forward an astonishing 17,257 men and 32 cannon. The Ottoman forces were far fewer, but reinforced by local levies in substantial number. In three campaigns (1512, 1513, 1514) the Catholic armies drove hard for Belgrade and Sarajevo and even further east to Nis. The Hungarians were less ambitious and fully secured the river borders they desired. Austria enveloped large swaths of territory all the way to Nis and close to Mostar. By 1515 the Muslim population that had not been pacified was dead or fled. Brutality marked all aspects of the Christian advance especially when the defenders were tenacious.
Losses:
Austria -6,075 men, 14 cannon +3000 gold plunder
Hungary -4,125 men, 16 cannon +2750 gold plunder
Ottoman -8,250 men, -levies, -8 cannon
Kiev and Warsaw 1512-1514
The Tsars campaign plans called for even more conquests in eastern Poland and Lithuania. His army of just over 5000 men and 5 cannon would strike west from Kiev towards Lutsk and then north as called for by events. Obolenskly would hold the line at Smolensk with 3,500 men and 5 cannon. Prince Yaroslavskiy would have about 1700 men as reserves in Chernigov. Close to 5,000 levies were distributed among the three armies.
If successful, the Tsar expected Minsk to fall into his hands before they were done. He was disappointed that the Teutonic Knights had not been more enthusiastic about supporting his efforts, but he hoped for the best without counting on their involvement.
In Warsaw Michael Glinski had his own plans. He had raised another 4,500 troops of which 2,000 were excellent cavalry and he fielded over 13,000 men and 33 cannon in total. That didnt count his still massing levies. He was tired of the Muscovite campaign tactics that kept them out of pitched, winner take all battles. He would bring them to battle one way or another. To begin his goal was Smolensk and he would strike for it immediately. Word that the Tsar was in Kiev added to his confidence. For the moment Kiev was lost.
Once the rivers slowed and the roads dried out both nations armies began to move. The Tsar moved west in a broad sweep that faced little real resistance beyond local lords with hastily recruited troops. By summers end he was on the outskirts of Lutsk and awaiting news from the north. When it came it was ugly. Glinski has quick marched west and Obolenskly had fallen back into the Smolensk defenses to save his army from complete destruction. Prince Yaroslavskiy had been moving north in support for a couple of weeks and collecting garrisons along the way. The Tsar turned north to either draw the Poles away from Smolensk or to break the siege. He wasnt sure which yet. Hold on! Im coming. Was the message he sent. While the Tsar marched Glinski was reducing the citys fortifications in preparation for an assault.
Three weeks later as the Muscovites approached the environs of Smolensk they heard the news: the city had fallen and the Polish army was waiting. South of the city Prince Yaroslavskiy joined him with 1,700 regulars and 3,500 irregulars. He had just over 10,000 men and 5 cannon against at least that number commanded by Glinski. The Tsar was not keen on a pitched battle for Smolensk when it also put his life and rule at risk. He turned his army west and made for Minsk. This bold move did nothing to stir Glinski out of Smolensk and by the close of the season, Minsk was in Russian hands.
Losses:
Muscovy -2125 men, -5 cannon and levies
Poland -3275 men, -2 cannon and levies
Other news from Moscow
1511: the Tsar recognizes the sovereignty of Kalmar over Finland and withdraws from Finnish lands.
In 1513 Metropolitan Gennadius was finally acknowledged as Patriarch, but soon thereafter he was felled by a stroke during an Easter Mass. His replacement was non descript.
For those who paid close attention to the affairs of Muscovy, there was one more interesting trend. The Boyar Duma was slowly evolving and was now being led by competent military commanders. This bode well for Russias future on the battlefield and the growing authority of the Tsar.
India
After the monsoons of 1513 and the roads were dry and passable, the Sultan of Delhi marched his army south: 14,000 men and 13 cannon. In Gujarat he picked up another 11,000 men and 5 cannon and the coast road south. 5,000 more from Malwa would meet him in Ahmadnagar where the last contingent, 10,000 men led by Mukamil Khan Dakhani, the Regent of the young King of Ahmadnagar, waited. By the time he crossed into Ahmadnagar he was sure that King Raya would know of his coming. He would have to move quickly once the armies were united.
King Rayas spies brought him word of the massing of the Delhi troops and their advance into allied Gujarat. He would be prepared. His newly equipped harquebus troops were massed and thousands of levies had been called up to be ready if needed. He would set up his defense south of the Malaprabha River at Asoga. A well-fought battle would bring him victory.
As Sikander Shah approached Asoga he saw the long lines of Rayas army camped across the river on a low ridge. They were ready to deploy. The cannon were in the center and the camp fires said the right flank was stronger than the left. He planned his own deployment for the morning. He knew that cannon fire would greet their river crossing. Ahmadnagar would be on the right and advance first, but stop short of actually engaging; Gujarat would pin the Vijayanagarian center while his army crushed the left and swept down the line driving the enemy into the waiting Ahmadnagar troops. At dawn his army made their approach and maneuvered across the river: Ahmadnagar first, Gujarat second and finally Delhi. The small contingent of Malwa would stay back and function as a reserve. Cannon fire took aim at the troops from Delhi. His own cannon fired at the Rayas center trying to dismantle his guns.
As planned Ahamadnagar advanced and stopped outside of effective range of guns and arrows. Gujarat pushed forward and to fully engage the enemy center. It was then that the Sultan loosed his own troops in an all out attack upon Rayas right. Throughout the morning the Delhi troops ground their way forward against a determined enemy who paid dearly for their stubbornness. As Rayas right was reinforced with bands of levies, Sikander felt confident.
Across the field Raya too felt confident. His center was secure against the less than effective attack on his center and his right was holding better than expected. He gaze though kept going to the left flank. There, 10,000 troops from Ahmadnagar stood, poised to turn the tide one way or the other. They had come to him after all. A month ago he was fully prepared to wipe Mukamil Khan Dakhani and his under-aged king from the pages of history; today, now, he was committed to a royal engagement and the associated alliance. He had promised Ahmadnagar independence too. Raya watched as more and more of his reserves were fed into the gaping maw of battle against the troops of Delhi on his right. If Ahmadnagar kept its word and sounded its betrayal of the Sultan, then he could shift his own left to the center and break Guhjarat and roll up upon the soon to be crushed Sultan. But Ahmadnagar merely stood in silence. Raya prayed he had not been played a fool. If so, then the battle would soon turn against him and severely so.
Just after two oclock in the afternoon, Raya could wait no longer. He needed to reinforce his right with more than the levies. Raya ordered half of his left flank to march in support of his failing right. As they moved a breeze stirred and cleared the field of the heavy smoke and dust. Banners everywhere stiffened and with drums and trumpets Ahmadnagar moved.
Venice 1515
The land defenses for the city were completed using the most modern techniques to solve the problem of artillery attacks and siege tactics.
Naples
Alfonso II was pleased with himself. He was secure on his throne, building a navy and perhaps even influencing the affairs of Italy. Ferdinand was comfortable and well observed in his gilded cage overlooking the renovated harbor of Naples where newly build caravels bobbed at anchor ready for some future voyage of adventure and daring. The economy had taken a downturn, but he was sure that the treasury would weather the dip and tax collections continue to grow.
London 1515
In the House of Lee the years had been good ones. All the markets except Lisbon had been up, not huge amounts, but up. The new troops raised were out fighting adding to the revenue and best of all, they had successfully produced match lock small arms from the ones brought in from Russia and were ready to equip their troops with them. The shops in Antwerp might even be able to sell the improvements to others. It certainly was an improvement that could tip the scales of battle in ones direction.
Asoga Aftermath
Mukamil Khan Dakhani met King Raya as dusk fell over the battlefield. They had won a great victory today even if costly. When Ahmadnagar turned its guns on Gujarat, they broke and ran. As this new enemy reformed to face the Sultans troops directly, Sikander Shah saw what was about to transpire. He threw his Malwa troops directly at the flank of the traitors and forced them to fight. He then was able to pull his own army soldiers back across the river to a protected position. By morning they were headed north plundering as they went. The victors had little strength to follow and licked their wounds with a watchful eye.
Ahmadnagar: -2,425 men
Malwa: -3,250 men
Gujarat: -3,150 men
Vijayanagar: -5,750 men and -6 cannon
Delhi: -2,675 men and -10 cannon
Elsewhere
In the great north woods Donacona was pleased. His empire was growing and his neighbors were afraid to cross him and now he knew more about the distant lands than any chief before him.
You can't be a young free spirit forever. 
We wait with patience.
