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Deus Vult! - War of Four Margraves

Turn 004

Matilda continues to influence the nobility to commit to a full-scale war against Burgundy. In 1116, Matilda faints during a dinner entertaining a high ranking merchant from Cardo. She never recovers. For his part, the merchant enrolls 900 mercenary units to the Margrave's cause, committing the contract for 15 years. Godfrey takes rulership of the nation, and continues where his mother left off though now proclaiming the war should be undertaken as her last wish. In preparations, he appoints his brother Lorenzo to a position at court, then begins training for the eventual military campaign. He receives a minor wound during one of the combat practices, which sadly grows infected enough to take his life. Ceaseare, the last remaining leader to be arguing for war is killed when his carriage goes out of control and overturns, crushing him. Lorenzo now assumes the throne convinced that the path to war is cursed by god. He spends his nights praying for forgiveness and drowning his sorrows. His body gives out in exhaustion three months later. This leaves no male heirs present to assume the Margravate. Conrad of Pisa is quick to gain support, however, and assumes the role of leadership. The nobles rally behind him, and at the same time commit to the war with Burgundy.

Conrad takes command of another thousand infantry and cavalry in preparation for the fighting.

Turn 005

Henri concentrates on the defense of Burgundy, with another three field forts brought to bear. Prince Guy of Burgundy quickly trains another 1200 Cavalry, but Swabian assassins manage to lodge a crossbow bolt just above the general's heart. He is rushed to receive aid, and surprisingly recovers from the wound enough to lead his forces into Provence and set up a defense of the region. However, a pair of Venetian murderers ambush him one evening, and finish the job the Swabians began. Lieutenant Roubad then steps up to command the forces.

In Tuscany, Ludovico takes command of 2700 Cavalry, 3900 Infantry, 400 Engineers and 900 Mercenaries. He and Mario Vitelli march into Provence, with strict orders only to engage Burgundy if numbers are massively on the Tuscan's side. When they encounter Roubad's defending army, they are quick to Evade back across the border. At the same time, more assassins strike at Roubaud, wounding him and allowing the Tuscans to escape. Roubaud's wound would fester, and claim his life in 1124.

Turn 006

Conrad begins a dual march into Burgundian Territory. He takes Prince Ludovico and 3100 Infantry, 2100 Cavalry and 400 Engineers to trek across the heavy mountains into Lyonnais. Shortly after the movement begins, French assassins cause a small rockslide to fall upon the Margrave's convoy. Conrad is brutally crushed and killed. Ludovico takes command and finishes the march. Claude-Louis of France reacts into the region to protect his Burgundian Ally, bringing 2300 Cavalry and 400 Engineers. The Tuscan troops are tired after the long march over the mountains, and their supply is stretched thin with the distance so great back to Genoa. Finally, the elite forces of the French show their colors, and make short work of the Tuscans. Ludovico is killed in an early press, and the Tuscan army completely routes. Nine-hundred of them make it back to Savoy. France loses only four-hundred.

Meanwhile, Duke Henri of Burgundy had set up a defense in the region of Provence. Calling 200 Infantry, 4800 Cavalry, 500 Engineers and 3 Field Forts to his banner. Lords Leopold and Guido, one of the highest military minds in Italy, cross the mountains with 2500 Infantry, 1600 Cavalry and 900 Mercenaries. Guido quickly realizes the situation is grim for his forces, being outnumbered and in hostile territory. And again, the Tuscans are tired from crossing the mountain border. But Guido was confident in his drastic advantage in tactics, as the Burgundian Duke had little battle experience. As fate would have it, this would decide the conflict. Once the battle was met, Guido found a highly defensible position in the eastern hills to encamp, then set about directing the Italian forces to intricately flank the Burgundians. Duke Henri simply ordered his men to suicidally charge the center. No general in his right mind would ever commit this order, but as noted, Henri had little battle experience. And this is where Guido lost the war. Knowing that any general would see the folly of attacking the center, he could only watch in horror as the Duke did the unthinkable. The light Italian center was swept aside, with Guido and Leopold cut off from all contact with the army. In an instant the morale of the Italians broke, and the entire army scattered. Henri would spend the next year scouring Provence for pockets of Italian soldiers to isolate and destroy. None returned to Liguria but the two ignoble generals.

With two seemingly major victories under his belt, Duke Henri sues for peace. He sends the Tuscans 15,000 crowns, 15 tons of goods and foodstuffs, a map of the Rhine River and young Prince Laurent as a Royal Hostage. The Appeasement is accepted by the battered nobles of Tuscany, and the war comes to an end.