stGMNES2: The Middle Ages

French Story

The French King, King Louis VIII, had passed away, leaving the throne to Philip Augustus, his only son, had decided to strengthen the French Crown’s revenue and free the serfs whose suffering he had witnessed first hand. To increase the Crown’s revenue, in the past the Kings had just increased the peasant’s taxes. But Philip had another idea, why not start taxing the nobles and clergy? This way, the Crown would gain more income and lower the peasant’s taxes.

The government of France was mostly based on the King. He decided to start a limited monarchy like in England, with a governing council by the name of the Estates-General. It would include the representatives of the Nobles, Clergy, Artisans, and the Peasants. They would have equal power as the King.

The Royal Might began by his father, was near completion. French Royal Might was supreme, but a weak monarch could bring everything down. And that was why the Estates-General were started. They would have equal power to the King unlike the English Parliament.

The English King a.k.a Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, had dared put a tax on all goods entering Normandy and Aquitaine. The King will not allow this to happen! Certain measures must be taken…

Orders
Withdraw from Sardinia and to Corsica
Free all serfs
Place a VERY small tax on nobles and the clergy, lower the peasants tax a bit
Spend 3 credits on Crossbowmen
Spend 3 credits on Pikemen
Begin Estates-General with reps. from the classes in the story
Put a tariff on all English Goods and Merchants, however, any non-English merchant with English Goods are still more then welcome to trade in France
Finish Wonder
 
Venice

The Venitian republic- jewel of God, sturdy and strong, friend to many, enemy to few.

the republic had thus far withstood the ravages of war, and while at first slowlly loosing terrtirtor and troops, a short lived allianced had turned the tide in venice favor- Vebice would reclaim the lands of Sicilly for god!

It was true that tejh old king had "dissapered" and his son had assumed the throne, and while the staus of heritic had been lifted from the monarchy itself, were not the nobels who had supported the heritic still in power? were not the soldires who supported the heritic still fighting? the answer was a reosunding yes, and venice knew what it must do- It would have to fight the Sicillians in the name of God.

To this end, several holy fighting orders had rallied to venice call, but the group known as the templars was a magnificent force indeed- fighting with the stregth of lions in name of venice, the pope, and then glory of god, it was thier order that had grown closest ot he venetians, and once the war was over, would be supremelly rewarded for it.

what would be the reward? the Templar order was to be merged with the nation of Venice- the holy order would be gaining the full support of nation, with the many thousands of inhabitiants of it, and the great resources and finaces behind it, th ekind of resources and finances that only Venice, master of the trade in europe could muster- with trade routs strtching from the black sea to scandinavia, Venitian goods were almost as common as Veneitian merchants, who would often assume the role as middle man between two nations transactions- take the current embargo of english merhcants by the French nation- France was large nation, and its nobels were demanding the high quality english wool, amoung other good the nation had to offer, and England had turned desperate to sell those good in turn- and the resourceful Venitian merchants were making the best of that situation in full- it was venitian merchants who were nowing buy the traded goods of England at bargin prices- and moreover, sellign them at profit to the french people, desperate to get those goods- England got money, france got goods, and venitian wealth and influence faorwarded by great strides in the region- everyonw was happy with the arrangment.

though back to the reward of the templars ;)

the new adminstration was to look somthing liek this- Vneice was to still be a republic, but the new structure of the republic was designed to offer fairness ot the local populace, but also ensure that vneice had its national will worked over all of its lands.

each Province would have a council of 12 men centerd in the largest city of the province, 6 of these men would be local officals, elected to the coucli by the populace, 6 others would be elected by the venetian senate to go to the province, and forward the policies of Venice, more over, there was technically a 13th member, agian electe dby the local poipulace to go serve inthe national senate of Venice (Venice would have two senates, the peoples senate AKA Peoples assembly, and the national senate both would be presided by the either the top official of the republic, who current tile would be that of Doge) but thw reward for the templars? it would be a prominat member of the templars whou would be the military commander of the each province, and moreover, troops recruited in each province would abide by the templar creed and ethos, and so would count fully as soldires of the order, and be fullyfledges soldires of Veneice as well, gaining the pioty and holyness of the order, and retianing the mightyness of the lone republic.

In Ventian society, Vneice was undergoing a great rebirth! Years ago Vbeice had claimed it was to be the reignited flam of civilization in the west, a beacon for all nations to the civilized might of ancient Rome- abnd to that end, the people of Vneice had set out to make a completely new lifestyle for themselves, based on the model of classical greece, and Imperial Rome- scholars long went abroad to Roman, and to Constantinople, some even perilingthe dangers of the islamic world to visit alexandria, and the other great cities now occupied by the hethens, all gethering long forgotten knowldge, the old epics, technology, architecture, legends, histories, books, artifacts of the ancient ways, bringing them to Venice, to re-ignite the flames of old, and to that end, it was working, Vebice was under going a renaissance that could only be described as the "classical rebirth", and it was over taking Venice by storm, people strived to do things the classicla manner, and in no way was this more blatantlly visible then the art, and architecture of venice- everyhting from soldires armor to massive buildings of the church or of the state all had a classical twist to them, wehter it be the great palace of the dige, or the mighty Venetian cataphract...

Venetian_Cataphract.jpg

The fearsoem venetian cataphract, weel armed, armored, rianed and motivated, they are ready to tak eon all threats to Venetian security, and the threats Venice deems it worthy to fight for
 
Orders:
Recruit 1500 Crossbowmen
Build large castles near the Danish controlled "Skåne" for defence.
*Secret*
Invade Norway with 7500 Swordmen, 3000 Crossbowmen (+400 Pikemen to defend this) and 1000 Knights. The Invasion will start by 5000 Swordsmen, 1500 Crosbwomen and 750 Knights assult Oslo. At the same time, rest of the army will attack Norway from occupied Finland into northen Norway and secure this area.
Navy will sail around in the baltic, if the norwegain navy shows off it will try to lure them into the defence around Stockholm.

Tactics used under this attack:
If meating Pikemen: Attack with Crossbowmen and Swordmen, while the crossbowmen fire at them the swordsmen will move forward and kill them.
If meating Archers: Charge at them with cavalry. While they are confused attack with swords to take out rest of them.
If meating Swordsmen: Charge with them with cavalry and fire at them with crossbowmen.
If meating Knights: Attack with swordsmen.
 
The Kingdom of England, Wales, Normandy and Guyenne.


King Richard Lay on his deathbed. The Lionhearted king, had acheived much in long regin over the English Kingdom, his regin came to be known as the first Pax Britannica. Wales had been aborsbed into the Kingdom and Richards first son, Henry had been created Prince of Wales. He had secured England's border to the North with Scotland, througha diplomatic coup. In the border town of York a great marriage had occured betweem Henry and the eldest daughter of the King Scotland.

Yet this was not his greatest diplomatic tripumh of his long and glorius regin. Soon after the wedding in a meeting between the two Kings of the English Isle, a alliance had been signed forever committing each other to mutual defence. Another clause of the treaty of Edinburgh contained the free trade and tariff union provision, which would bind the two countries toghter economically and in defense.

The English economy which had increased by huge strides over the regin of Richard was overheating and dangerous inflationiary tendecines had been spotted. Richard several weeks before catching the fever that had led him onto his deathbed had ordered the creation of a new concept; a central bank, no longer would the King have direct control over monetary policy, a gorup of experts will from now on.

In the summer of 1241, Richard Couer-de-lion passed away, the whole nation mourned the loss of the great King. THe funeral at Westminister abbey was the greast the young nation has ever known.

That fall, Henry, Prince of Wales was crowned King of England, overlord of Wales, Duke of Normandy and Gyuene. The coronation of the young King and Queen was said to be worthy of an Imperial Emperor so lavish was the cermony. All the nobles of England and the French duchies sworn vassalage to the young King.

King Henry III passed the title of Prince of Wales to his son Edward, a boy of four borne of the Scottish Queen. On the advice of his adivsors he contiuned the policies of his late father with one great exdeption.

He signed a Manga Carta or great charter.
Saying:
This means that now the Monarch is not above the law.
The right of Habeus Corpus is established.
Everyman is entitled to trial by jury of his peers.
A Parliment must be called every five years.
Parleiment is strictly an adviosry thing.
But the ancient rights of the nobles and towns are still inforced.

Meanwhile over in France, discontent over the new Kings reforms had caused discontent in the ranks of the French nobles, how this was going to affect England was not yet known.
 
OOC If I was the pope I would start being angry at Venice thinking their the country of god and not his country ;)
 
OOOc- in the middle ages ALL NATIONS were the "nations of God" to the Pope(if they where christian), the papal states were only the personal property of the Pope/Church
 
orders sent
 
Probably monday, or so Grandmaster said
 
Mongols
The Indo-Khanate was growing. It's leader respected the great Khan. But the Mongols have not yet stopped...

The reletions with the Persia went down with every passing day until one day The Khan understood! His Empire controlled almost all of the Silk-way! Maybe there are other ways to grow rather than invading others?

Expansions to the North slowed down latly but now with the ready south the Mongols hordes swarmed into the North in thousands rappidly expanding the Khan lands. New neighbore were found called Turks. The Mongols knew the Turks in the past were very similar to the Mongols in their way of lives. But this Turks took Islam as their religion and settled down. The Khan also heard they were at war in the west against a very old empire called Byzantium. No one could denied the many times a Byzantine merchant came suddenly to the Khan himself asking from them to attack the Turks. But the Khan had other plans in mind.
The Mongols send an emisary to Persia, and a long trade caravan trail after it. The khan tought he could take advantage of his rulership on the Silk-way and bring the Mongols into becoming also a rich country.

to the North the Mongols found Christians, settled in small cities. They Christians were not aware of the Mongols until they came pillaged and conquered... It was a shoke to the Khan that another religion was found! He cared nothing about religions. In the main capital in China itself stood every religion building available. The Khan himself was a naturalist-Budhist. He was religiously open and accepted all religions into his country.

to Persia:
We are sending trade caravans and wish to create an embbasy in your country.

Orders
Continue calling for more horsis.
Continue wonder
MASSIVE expansion northward, ofcourse keep somthing to defende and continue take tribute from cities and India.
INDIA ORDERS
Continue expand into India taking more gold and growing economy. Half of economy is turned as always to the Khan himself. They are also truly welcome to build armies that could serve the hordes.
From now on they are vassals only on paper. The only thing main mongols expect is full aid in wars and lots of tribute to keep the main tribe growing. They will do orders alone from now
 
The travels of John.


John had been born in London, capital of England around 1170. This was a great time to be living in England, Henry II had just began his glorious reign, and with his marriage to Eleanor of Aquanatine, Guyene, Anjou and Brittany had been added to the English realms in France. Alas now only Normandy and Bordeaux remained rightfully English.

John grew up in the small neighborhood of West Cheap, this is where the rich merchants and city dwellers lived. These men were not titled but immensely rich. John grew up among other small children who fathers were also merchants. John loved to listen to his father talk business with partners and by age 10 he was surpassing the monk, who was his tutor at math.

John’s father was a wine merchant. Every year a great convoy would assemble in Thames and then set sail for the English Duchy of Guyene and its rich wine fields. The profits to be had in this venture were innumerous. It was said that the exchequer made as much money from the penny tax on Bordeaux wine also known as Claret, as it made from all the land taxes in the whole realm of England. This is how John’s family was so rich.

It was the year 1185 when John first went on the great voyage to Bordeaux along with his father. He boarded the ship and waved goodbye to his mother and friends, who had come to the dock to wish him good bye. The ship sailed on the evening tide. By the next morning the ship reached the mouth of the English channel having passed the North Sea the night before.

As they rounded the Dover cliffs, the highest sheer white cliffs anywhere in Europe, John was in awe. The cliffs appeared to shine in the morning sun and continue forever up. The convoy was making for the Norman city of Le Harve. The sun set on another day while the convoy sailed down the channel. They expected to make it to Le Harve early the next day.

When they arrived in Le Harve, John and his father could hear several tongues spoken at once. English, French and Breton all mixed together in this bustling port city in Normandy. Today was the local market day, many farmers brought in their foodstuffs from the country side. John and his father ended up buying flour, beef, pork and wine for the ship.

They re boarded their ship later that day, around noon and the convoy re supplied set sail on the noon tide. From here it was a long journey around Brittany to the coast of the English duchy of Aqauniatne.

Several days later the great convoy reached the port of Bordeaux. On the hill beside was the citadel and Dukes residence. While the Duke was not here the Viceroy of Bordeaux held court. John and his father wandered around the town for a few days. They stayed with cousins of the mother who were wine growers. John walked around the quiet vineyards and thought to himself someday I’ll own all this.

After several days in Bordeaux the convoy was filled to the brim with good claret. This will fetch a fortune in the London markets thought everyone. The convoy sailed under English naval escort as far as Le harve, where they stopped to resupply again. Some wine was sold in the marketplace there but the vast majority stayed on board for London.

As the convoy rounded the last bound of the Thames, the whole of London was in view including Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. The ships unloaded their cargo and the convoy of 1185 was complete as well as Johns first voyage as a merchant.
 
ANIMO ET FIDE!

"COurage and faith!" bellowed Milliarii, the master of horse in th eVenitian amry, and more over a templar knight- a member of both jobs from even before Venice and the holy order had begun to merge for greater good.

rallying his troops, he prepared for the skirmish ahead- his quater had been silent latelly, his troops were fresh re-infocement in the area, saying that now that venice had the land, it would no tbe letting it go- not now, or ever...

-Thunder clapped-

The Maste roh Hoirse rallied his troops by carrachio- it was surelly a blessing from god, and a curse uponthier foe that made the night as it was, they Vneitians were prepaering for a daring- byt tricky- riad by the dark moon, nothign major, just a littl eosmthing to tell the heritic on the throne of Sicilly that the rightious venitians were here- and they werent going away-

Looking at miliarii, you woulnd expect to much more then what you say- he looked liek a soldire- tall and strong, he had the name of a soldire- milliari meant military in latin- and he had the career of a soldire, but there was more to the dark haird man called war, few knew to the exact extent, but it was this man who was greatlly responsible for bridging the relation between the good ole' ordo templar, and the Venitian republic, and while born of a modest birth by any nations means, he had gradually worked- through real work, ands perhaps sheer- and somtimes defintaelyl divinelly given luck, to many it was assumed that he would he would be the new Master of of the military for Venice, as he was certianlly popular enough to win the vote,a nd had more then the right credentials to be a candidate for it, and inthe order too his fame was known, and it was known he was going places...

-the night wore on, the small band of 20 cavalry (not including Milliarii) and 40 soardm curentlly all on foot, crpe t closelly to the Sicilliot stock aid- it wasnt a fort, but it was somthing that would hurt the Sicillians just as bad...

Great changes were afoot in the republic, changes fo rthe glory of the republic, and for god, and it seemed that Milliarii the blessed would be one of the grand architects of this new fututur- on the track he was, he may even be honoured by the pope!

- the clash of arms began,if was merelly a few druken sicilliot soldires, dispatached with a quick blad- more then lieklly not even offial troops, but no mater, a tourch was lit, and thrown into the empty celler- with a shout to "get back", every onedid, as ahuge flam caught- what had happend? the Venitians had just tourched the Royal sicilliot storage for alchohol fo rthe area, somthignt hat while not harming the sicilliot physically, would certianlly demoralize them...

th eVenitians made thier way wth haste back to the coast, to a waiting ship to take them back, a short distance really, to Venitian teriutory- oh yes Milliarii thought, this is but a shallow prelude to what venice has instore for you Sicilly...
 
Agh, I have some urgent business to attend to. Could you please postpone my part of the update for a little bit? I'll definetly be back home by 7 and orders and story should be in by 7:10.
 
The Battle of Manzikert II, fought on the same plain as the battle in 1071 which resulted in the Empire's decline. When Emperor Alexander had rise to the throne in 1200, his father was now dead, the restorer of Byzantine Glory, lied dead in his coffer, may his soul rest in peace. The new Emperor, his brother, Emperor Gilad had commanded him to take a army and assault the Turks here, where Byzantine Military Might had been broken.

The orders were even more important since the Emperor was dead, his last wishes must be honored. And that was why he, Lord Manuel the loyal brother to the Emperor, had been sent to fight the Turks here. And the soldiers, how many times they whispered among themselves that the Turks were infidels even more then before since they had signed a deal with the Devil to Kill Emperor Alexander. The Turks approach, by horsemen, followed by swordsmen. The horsemen were firing arrows already, God save us!

The fighting was harsh, and he could remember how the battle began...

The horsemen had shot their first volley of arrows. The Byzantine Army rose it's shields, and the battle went on. The horsemen charged the Cataphracts full on, as in the ancient battle, arrows fired, he felt a sudden pain in his arm. He had been shot, he commanded his orderlies to not care about him, and fight the Turkish Army. The Cataphracts slowly left him, he ordered the Pikemen to advance. When the Turks thought they were going to charge the Cataphracts, they met a wall of Pikemen. They were quickly killed by the pikes, the ones that were left were killed by swordsmen... Then he heard a sound...

"Lord Manuel, the day has begun, wat are your orders?"

It was just a dream, and he hoped the dream would come true...
 
OK, I'll delay the update until about 8:30 to let aaMinion get orders in. Sorry to anyone who might think that you're waiting too long, but he did give a heads-up, so its only fair to wait.
 
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