JosefStalinator-Stormbringer English AAR

[Stormbringer]

The Crown of St. Louis​

In the early months of 1427 England had prepared a large offensive into central France. The Duke of Salsbury was given command of the operation and in July England had once more invaded the Dauphine. The city of Orleans fell quickly, and England was ready to move on to the heart of the Kingdom of Borges

In April Bedford and Salsbury attacked a massive French army near the city of Tours. The battle lasted almost a week, and thousands died on each side. Eventually the English prevailed, but with heavy losses, and Bedford was forced to retreat back to Orleans.

Following the obvious weakening of the English positions in France the Duke of Burgundy, seeking the crown of France for himself, declared war on England, hoping to drive the English from the continent. Bedford rushed back to Paris to defend the city from the Burgundian attack.

The Dauphine aproached Bedford of a possible cease fire, and it was signed in September, allowing both the French and the English to focus on the Burgundian threat that has emerged. The English forces, however, were severely weakened by the great battle at Tours, and until the end of 1428 Bedford remained in Paris, defending the city.

In the beginning of 1429 the Dauphine saw the English weakness and broke the previous agreement he had made with Bedford, declaring war on the English. The situation looked dire, but then a surprise came. Burgundy responded to the situation by declaring war on the Dauphine. Now Bedford had to sit back and allow the two sides to fight each other.

By June of 1429 Bedford had moved his positions south and annexed the city of Orleans into the English lands. This marked the turning point in the war, as Bedford, Warwick and Salsbury begun a major offensive against both the French and the Burgundians. Both sides, weakened by the fighting with one another, provided little resistance.

Dijon and Tours both fell to the English before the end of the year. Flanders proved to be a lot more difficult. Here Bedford pressed for a peace with Burgundy, but Glouster, the regent of England, demanded that Bedford press on and force Burgundy to recognize his inheritance in Holland. And Bedford pressed on.

It took Bedford two years to slowly advance into Flanders, but then internal revolts have gripped France. Bedford and the rest of his commanders had to return to France proper to aid in the rebel fighting. A new experienced general, Tolbot, took the place of Salsbury and Warwick, both of whom were killed.

But the situation was not looking any better for Burgundy and the Dauphine. While the two countries could have used the opportunity to strike at England, they resumed the warfare between themselves, allowing England to quickly deal with the rebel problem. By 1432 Bedford and Tolbot were again pressing into France and the Flanders.

Bedford was the first to reach his goal in France. First Lyons fell in late 1433, and then, a year later, the Kingdom of Borges collapsed. As the Dauphine fled he had little choice but to recognize Henry VI as the King of France. International recognition followed quickly and on November 12th Henry VI was crowned King of France in Reims.

Tolbot continued his campaign in Flanders a little longer, but it too was coming to an end. Less than a year after the surrender of the Dauphine Burgundy signed a humiliating peace with England, and acknowledged by the Treaty of Amsterdam the inheritance of Glouster.

Only a month after the signing of the Treaty of Amsterdam the Duke of Bedford died in Paris. The Hundred Year's War was over.

Western Europe After the Hundred Years War​

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

This is a most novel idea. Good luck to the two of you. Though Stormbringer may not need it, seeing as he's pretty much unified England and France.

Now, the most important question: What are you going to do with poor Scotland?

 

[Stormbringer]

A Shaky Future​

Following the coronation of Henry VI the Duke of York, Henry's uncle, was sent to France to restore order. After a few months he brutaly crushed all the rebels, but due to his policies the English were seen more as occupiers than as fellow countrymen.

But York faced more challanges than just French rebels. A coalition, led by Dauphine, launched a war against England with the goal of re-instating the Dauphine on the French throne. Savoy, Provance, Bourbonians, and Aragon all joined the Dauphine in fightin York.

Tolbot slowly advanced south against all of his enemies, but England's forces were small and he needed to act carefully. The goal in the war was not to win, but to sign seperate peace with some of the enemies, to make the war easier. The first to budge was Savoy, after one of its provinces fell to Tobolt. A peace treaty was signed and the enemy alliance weakened.

Provance and the Bourbonians appeared to be ready to fight to the death, both constantly attacking English holdings in the south of France, and Tobolt did not have enough forces to contain both of them. He tried to outmanouver them, but could not gain the advantage he needed. The victory came not on land, but on sea, where, after a number of defeats by the English navy, Aragon chose to sign peace, severely weakening the enemy alliance. Both Provance and the Bourbonians signed peace immediately after, leaving the Dauphine allone to face the armies of Tobolt. The last of the Dauphine's holdings were annexed in 1440.

In the meantime the Duke of York was recalled to England. He was accused of mismanaging the French posessions and of spreading corruption. Henry and his advisors wanted to make sure York remained under their control, and so he was removed from his position in France.

An English army then landed in Ireland, where a rebel duchy was trying to force the English out of the island. By 1442 the island was pacified and England at last was at peace.

The next decade of England's history is a period of serious economic buildup. Constant wars have left the country drained and it was in debt. The French posessions were underdeveloped and badly needed attention. By the end of the decade the economy of both England and France was begining to recover.

During the decade the Duke of Glouster died (or was killed). It is not clear which theory is correct, but the fact remaines that with Glouster out of the way the Duke of York is the heir apparant to the crown, and with his influence growing he may make a move and attempt to seize the crown. In an effort to prevent that Henry sends York to Ireland, but York succeeds there and pacifies the whole island with the same methods he used in France.

Finally, in 1450, revolts break out across the country. Henry's mismanagement of the post-war period has caused many to resent the current government, and the popularity of the Duke of York fueled furhter anger. The only way to prevent a complete civil war was to invite York to rule as a new Regent, which Henry did grudgingly in 1452.

 

[JosefStalinator]

This is a most novel idea. Good luck to the two of you. Though Stormbringer may not need it, seeing as he's pretty much unified England and France.

Now, the most important question: What are you going to do with poor Scotland?

Why, depopulate it and fill it with Englishmen, silly

 

[IronMan2055]

aww the scottish have a cooler accent.

 

[JosefStalinator]

And so, from 1454, I continue my quest for English dominance.

I am still waiting, as my Badboy value is at about 14, but things continue to make my rule miserable and unstable;

Years pass, and little occurs, but I am promoted to Marquis

Then suddenly, I finally get rid of the fat loser, Henry VI! (for now, at least).

Note that I lose Desmond, for which I am having to sit here and do nothing for decades :-/. Regardless, time passes, more sliders are adjusted, as aristocracy goes down while centralization goes up. Amsterdam declares independence from Burgundy, and shortly thereafter Cleves asks me to honor my alliance and declare war on Burgundy's alliance. Seeing absolutely no gain for myself in the matter, I decline, and take the small hit in stability.

I find a much nicer alliance with Portugal and Castille from my old crappy one with some northern German states, and decide this is the perfect time to plot war with someone... but who... France, Brittany, or Scotland? Whoever posts first decides

 

[jalapeno_dude]

Scotland!!!

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

France or Brittany. Don't want them to grow too powerful.

I mean, come on....it's Scotland. What the devil are they going to do?

 

[Dell19]

I once took over Scotland with Brandenburg although the main point of that game ended up being the colonisation of most of North America.

 

[jalapeno_dude]

France or Brittany. Don't want them to grow too powerful.

I mean, come on....it's Scotland. What the devil are they going to do?

Speak Scottish. Duh.

 

[Stormbringer]

I will be picking this up tonight. Any suggestions anyone?

 

[tommy_toon]

An update, so I can enjoy more of this =D

 

[Stormbringer]

A very quick update on what is going on

By mid march of 1454 we have managed to defeat the rebels that have been plaguing our English provinces. The next month however the Yorkist and Lancaster factions in our court came to a clash as York fled and prepared an army of his own. The battle came soon, and many were left dead. England was now in a Civil War.

The war quickly spread to France where the Yorkist and the Lancaster factions fought for power, and some local nobles attempted to re-install the Valois to the throne of France. It took all our forces there to hold down the constant rebellions.

In 1460 York died in one of the battles of the war, but sadly that did not prevent the war from going on. His son took over and continued the effort just as well as his father did.

Finally in March of 1461 the Yorkists were soundly defeated at the battle of Tawton, leaving the Lancasters in control of most of the kingdom. In 1464 the Yorkists launched a lst-ditch effort from Scotland to seize the throne, but were defeated, and by the end of 1465 most rebels were defeated.

In the few years of peace that followed England concentrated on rebuilding and developing its French posessions. By May of 1467 all loans that the country has taken out were paid in ful, and in 1471 the Dutchy of Orleans was re-incorporated into the Kingdom, solidifying English control over northern France.

Truth be told, the only reason England was able to hold on to its French posessions throughout the War of the Roses was the fact that no one attacked it. Had the Southern Coalition (Provance + Aragon) or the Central Coalition (Burbonians + Brittany) attacked and tried to restore France, England would be hard pressed to defend its French posessions. But it would appear that both thought England to be tougher than she was, and now, that there is some quite in the country, England can finally solifify her rule in France.

 

[Maniacal]

Go England!

Also, when you have time, more pictures please.

 

[Stormbringer]

End of the War​

In early 1476 Marie of Burgundy married the Austrian Duke, binding the largest French duchy to Austria. While the inherently French lands of Burgundy will remain English most likley, it is usettling to think that all the Burgundian low lands posessions will become Austrian, as it will most certainly lead to a confrontation between England and Austria.

Finally coming out of my diplomatic isolation (my BB points are pretty low now, after decades of peace) I have managed to sign an alliance with Castile, which should help be greatly in consolidating the south of France as my own.

In June we activate the alliance with Castile and attack Provance. Within two years of fighting Provance has been defeated, its pocessions in France handed over to England and the Duchy made into a vassal of the English crown. Her other allies dispearsed quickly, and the war was won.

Right after the war I gain a manufactury in Mons. I have my sliders set to very innovative, very free subjects, and so this event is likley to happen and is very beneficial.

In 1480 I ally with Portugal, creating a massive western European alliance system as Spain is now a single country. We are by far the most powerful alliance, and I begin to pick my next target.

Spain attacks Granada, I keep my alliance but do not assist Spain, she is perfectly capable of fighing the war herself. As I was right, within a few years Granada is annexed by Spain.

In 1481 I gain a weapons manufactury in Gremable, very useful, as I am a little behind in military tech. Hopefully this will help me catch up.

Finally in 1485 the War of the Roses comes to an end. Henry VII assends to the throne and the challangers from the Yorkist faction lose any legitimacy they may have had. A few desperate nobles in France try to re-instate the Valois one more time, but fail quickly.

In 1488 Henry VII begins his reforms, instituting both the justices of peace and the Court of the Star Chamber, weakening the authority of the aristocracy.

Late the same year Mary of Brittany marries the son of the Duke of Austria, denying our claim to the Duchy. While I had to let Burgundy go there is no way I will give up Brittany, and I immedatley declare war on her, dragging me into a war with the Burbonians, Brittany, Scotland, and a few small German states. Spain and Portugal promptly come to my aid.

The war was relatively slow, but with Spanish and Portugese help it ended with our desicive victory. Burbonians lost their lands and were forced into a vassalization, as was Brittany. Scotland had to pay reparations. And now, in 1494, it seems as though England has defeated all of her immedate enemies on the continent. Where to turn to next?

 

[dimaliok]

Is the game over

 

[Stormbringer]

No, I kept playing, but since nobody posted anything I did not bother to write it up here. It takes a while to write all of this, and if nobody reads it I don't really see the point. Maybe I could start a EU2 cooperative AAR, like the HOI2 one going on...

 

[Gelion]

What would a cooperative AAR imply?

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

What would a cooperative AAR imply?

I presume it means he uses other members in the forum to become 'advisors', or hold fictional ranks in his game. He'll take their advice and attempt to put it into game terms.

 

[IronMan2055]

like he's emperor of germany and i was the marshall of africa which reminds me to change my sig for my new position when i get home.