Occasionally the tangled webs of alliance and conflict turn an otherwise ordinary action into something legendary. The figures that participate will loom large in the histories. Great leaders will step forward and etch themselves into history, permanently.
This is one such story. A story about how a war for a single province on the far reaches of Europe swallowed the whole of the continent into a bloody and protracted war. One which very nearly saw the Ottoman tide stymimed for a generation. One which will cause the names Ibrahim Rumi and Henri Hapsburg IV to take their place beside Scipio and Hannibal.
The origins of this conflict lie with the Ottoman SultanOrhan Osmanoglu II seeking to further his domination of the Sevillian trade. This rich node, stuffed with the bounty of New World gold, was the most valuable trade center outside of Constantinople itself. A series of wars over the last 150 years had led to the southern third of the peninsula being under his empire already, but there was always a desire for more. Most recently he had been eyeing Portugal. Already during his long and successful reign had Algarve, Alejento, and Beira been added to his lands, and once more he saw an opportunity to add. Braganca, a land his empire laid some claim to, was ripe for conquest. Portugal had been left without an heir, and so the French and Spanish were fighting a war over who would take the Portuguese crown. Much of Europe considered the Ottoman Sultan worse than the devil himself, to use their parlance, but the Sultan cared not. If he struck now, while Spain was at war with France, he could eliminate several potential rivals. Spain would be unable to join, partly due to being nearly occupied by France, leaving his desire geographically isolated. A quick siege and he could use Spanish neutrality to ensure no challenge would come to his claim. So the order was given out to his armies in Moscow, Ethiopia, and Persia to return home. The Italian armies would be shipped to Spain, 2 armies to be precise, while the other 4 would be used to block the Alps.
Some months passed while his armies trekked the long miles across the empire. Eventually they arrived home, the fleets were assembled, and the invasion ready.
Then Spain ceded to Frances claim. Just a mere month before the Empire was ready, Spain now would no longer be a strategically placed neutral. No matter, a new plan could be forged, one already ready to implement. There were two armies in Iberia now, perhaps this could be salvaged. A quick shuffle put Numan Pehlivan in charge at Beira. An excellent siege general (4/3/4/4) with 20k cannons, perhaps a quick strike could take the war goal. The second army, and the larger, would seek out the quickly reconstituted Spanish army, and crush it utterly (in a month they had gone back up to 35k troops).
Additionally there would be some minor skirmishes in the far east. Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Indonesia bordered Ottoman ones, and so they could be a nice source of additional pressure. 15k troops would be deployed there to island hop to colonies.
The rest of the Ottoman strength would sit in the Alps, making no move to enemy territory, rather blocking the mountain passes hoping to draw in enemy armies.
And so on that fateful day in February of 1679 the Sultan gave the command to go to war. At first it looked like the plan might work. A few quick battles and the Spanish army was eliminated. The siege, despite the best fortifications in Europe (level 4), was moving along well. Another 2-3 months and it would fall. The coalition armies, outnumbering the Ottomans heavily, pushed into Italy, but this was acceptable. The combined Ottoman and vassal strength was 180k infantry, 80k cavalry, and 95k cannon versus a coalition force of 350k infantry, 85k cavalry, and 150k cannon. Fortunately much of their power lie in their colonies in the Americas. Their strength would be meaningless. Still, the European powers held a numbers advantage on the continent, they also had better guns, and cheated to get the best generals (France’s king Henri was one of 3 6/6 generals in the coalition, my best, Ibrahim Rumi, was 5/4/4/2).
Then things started to fall apart. While the second army in Iberia was finishing off the Spanish army in Barcelona, 60k French and Austrian troops arrived out of the fog near Madrid. Despite a strong effort Numan could not hold. The siege was broken, and so too was the hope for a quick victory. Ottoman troops would not step foot into enemy land, outside of Indonesia, for another 3 years. By the time the wave was over nearly 100k troops were in Spanish lands, and bearing down on the Ottoman position. Both armies retreated to Gibraltar and Andalucia, using the mountains to shield themselves against a superior foe.
Things went little better to the East.The size of the coalition proved too much. So who was this mysterious force?
So the coalition was:
Portugal and Spain. I had been focused on them lately. Yeah, makes sense they don’t like me.
France. Portugal’s partner, also long time rival. Hadn’t taken anything from them, yet, but sure, be mad.
Austria. Really mad about Italy. Also Karenten and Leinz. And Hungary. 150+ agressive expansion.
Hungary. Dude, I’ve left you alone for about 50 years, why are you over 200 AE?. Are you mad about Poland?
Milan. Ok I basically fed most of you to Genoa.
Venice. Ditto, except to Ferarra.
Bohemia. Austrian vassal. I aim to rectify soon.
Scotland, Netherlands, Pommerania, Hesse, and other HRE minors, WHY?! I’ve not bothered you, why are you messing with me?
Norway. Lolwut?
Detail on Europe:
So, as you can see, most of Europe is either my vassal, or against me in a coalition war. Yeah. Anyhow, back to the story.
continued…
