Battle of Lausitz

[thrashing_mad]

Again - Rip off from my CK-EUIII AAR:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...d.php?t=278786

HISTORY OF THE WHITE EAGLE



Konrad II
1449 - 1458




Part I

Bezprym II the Great chosen his eldest son Konrad as heir to the throne. Konrad was raised and educated by his father, while his younger brother - Wladyslaw - was sent to trusted noble family, to be raised as a knight. Since reign of his grandfather - Henryk IV the Stern - king had almost unbounded power, thus Bezprym carefully taught his son all necessary knowledge and skills. New king had great ambitions, wanting to reach borders from before Henryk I`s reign. But being ambitious, he wasn`t fool - he knew that he have to vigilantly watch discontented nobles. So far Questioners managed to nip their intrigues in the bud.

At the beginning of year 1450, Konrad started to materialize his ambitious plan. King declared war upon Duchy of Lithuania, which was driving wedge in the middle of Polish lands. Without allies, defeat of Lithuanian Duke was formality, and after six months he accepted terms of peace.

Next year, king Konrad made very controversial decision. Because he saw nobles as a constant threat to him, he decided to decrease their power. King ordered to demolish several castles of noble families he mostly suspected of plotting. This caused outrage in whole kingdom, but actions of Questioners, and king`s promises for some most greedy nobles, managed to calm down stirred feudal lords for a while.

Unfortunately, instability and turmoil caused by Konrad, was used by his western neighbors. On Spring 1452 wealthy duchy of Mecklemburg, allied with powerful kingdom of Germany declared war. Faithful vassals of Poland - duchies of Ukraine and Bohemia - joined war in several weeks. Western invaders had an army of comparable size, which was also more technically advanced. King`s call for knights and noble lords was executed reluctantly. Finally, after two months Polish king and his army marched to face enemy.

Germans, besides key formations of knights, had many professional soldiers in their ranks. They also had new dreadful weapon - gunpowder handguns and bombards, which despite being unreliable and inaccurate, caused fear. Polish armies consisting of peasant levies were no match for such enemy, only knights were able to equal fight. After three months of skirmishes, two largest armies - Polish and German - began pitched battle in hilly county of Lausitz.

German king deployed his forces on a hill. Polish forces would have to pass through open field under bombards fire, to reach enemy. Konrad suspecting that he could be stabbed in a back while leading his knights, passed command to his brother Wladyslaw, and stayed at the camp. According to king`s plan both - infantry and knights - had to engage enemy frontally as fast as they could, to avoid enemy`s fire.

However, Wladyslaw disobeyed his brother. Being excellent knight and strategist he decided on another plan. While infantry advanced north, he and his knights moved behind forest to the east, beyond sight of the enemy, in attempt to flank Germans.

Peasant levies and spearmen marched towards enemy with fear. They saw only powerful army arrayed on the hill, and fact that they were unable to see Polish knights, only cemented their doubt. Soon, powerful rumble echoed across the battlefield, and cloud of white smoke appeared among German banners. In an instant, ground exploded several paces from infantryman. Then, another explosion in front of them. Some of peasants were ready to run, but their commanders managed to discipline them after a while.

Once infantry gained steady pace once again, German bombard hit directly in the middle of peasant`s regiment, killing many of them on spot. This time few of them started to flee, however two other regiments proceeded north. At the same time, Wladyslaw and his knights were halfway on their destination.

Finally demoralized peasants regiment was rallied, and moved back northwards. When Polish infantrymen could almost distinguish faces of the enemies, German crossbowmen started to rain bolts upon their ranks, causing heavy causalities. Soon after that, handgunners began to fire. Leftmost peasant`s regiment finally routed, afraid of 'thunder and smoke'. Two other regiments moved further - they could see Polish knights in the distance now.

Seeing their knights galloping upon the flank of the enemy, infantrymen charged immediately. Before surprised Germans could reform to face new enemy, they were crushed by powerful charge of Wladyslaw`s knights. After few minutes of deadly combat, enemy was defeated and routed.

Battle of Lausitz was key battle of this campaign, and defeated king of Germany finally agreed on Konrad`s offer of peace. County of Lubusz - named Neumark by Germans - returned to the kingdom.

However, Konrad hasn`t much time to celebrate victory. Soon delegation of all major noble houses approached him in his camp, with his brother - Wladyslaw - as their leader. They requested immediate return to old laws, which granted rightful power and freedom to nobles, because it`s noble lords and their knights, who fight for victorious wars of Polish kings. There was clear message between the lines - old laws, or rebellion. Konrad started to think what to do...

[bomberboy]

Wow good AAR are you using a mod. The battle plan screenshots were good

[Aeneas Veneratio]

Awesome one! How did you do the battle scenes? I am very puzzled in how you did this AAR.

Rep'ed

[Yoda Twin]

I think that looks like Europa universalis but i dont know.

[zerathule]

It is Europa Universalis 3, the op mentioned it
That would be my dream game : Diplomatic, strategic and commercial aspect of EU, Tech tree of Civilisation, battles of total war

[thrashing_mad]

Yep it`s Europa Universalis III, I`m making an huge AAR, one continuous game : Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis III, Victoria, Hearts of Iron - stretching from year 1066 to 1956 - currently in 1460.

To add some flavor to the story I`ve added M2TW videos and battle reports like one shown above. To make it, I used just MSpaint and then converted it into gif animation.

[Chola_Kingdom]

why not non of the medieval generals learned from the past..
for example if peasants charging against the swordsmen, swordsmen should know that, it's kind of ambuse.. or something..

[thrashing_mad]

I gonna post part II cause there is another element from W2TW - small video

HISTORY OF THE WHITE EAGLE



Konrad II
1449 - 1458




Part II

When most powerful nobles presented their ultimatum to Konrad, right after war with Germany in 1454, he declined and commanded his men to arrest them. However after short fight with Questioners, brother of the king -Wladyslaw - and most nobles managed to escape. Konrad immediately started his journey back to Krakow, and both sides begun war preparations.

In a matter of months, most nobles and lesser knights joined revolt. Wladyslaw promised them wealth, land and rights of old times, once he get the crown. Konrad`s situation wasn`t bright - key military power of the kingdom - knights and their lords where fighting him. Thus royal forces consisted mainly of peasant levies - which escaped from their lords, and urban militiamen - which were happy with current laws. King also brought some handguns and bombards from Austria, and hired foreign instructors to train his men in usage of these new dreadful weapons.

Despite fact that countryman fought with countryman, war was very violent. Peasants mercilessly tortured and murdered each noble they caught, burning their estates and slaying families. On the other hand, nobles razed and looted each city they captured - seeing wealthy cities as a source of loosing of their influences.

Barbarous civil war, in which men died in thousands and land became burned wastelands, was very matched. However, since the end of year 1457 superb training, equipment and tactics of nobles began to slightly lent the scale. Royalists were loosing city after city, and at the beginning of 1458 large rebel army were marching at capital city of Krakow. Desperate Konrad thought that only decisive victory over concentrated rebel forces could give him victory.

Thus came to battle near city of Lublin, where royalist forces commanded by Konrad himself, made an attempt of stopping approaching rebels. King deployed his forces on low hill, placing handgunners and peasants in first line, archers in second line. Flanks were protected by spearmen, and sharpened stakes were placed before first line. Konrad also had four bombards placed on higher ground. Approaching army commanded by Wladyslaw, consisted entirely of knights. His scouts informed him about enemy position, and to effectively strike at enemy center protected by stakes, he commanded minor knights to fight dismounted. Thus rebel cavalry was advancing on flanks, while knights on foot was marching at the front of enemy. They were suffering heavy losses under fire of bombards, handguns and bows, but their discipline, and training prevented them from routing. Soon two armies clashed in battle.

Watch battle of Lublin movie

After long combat, superior skills and equipment of knights overcame royalists. Peasants began massive retreat, in which they were slaughtered and trampled by pursuing knights. Konrad II was dropped from his horse, and after unsuccessful attempt to rally his men, he was impaled by lance of charging rebel knight.

With Battle of Lublin civil war finally ended, Wladyslaw became king - his greatest desire came true. He immediately announced return to 'civilized laws' and he granted land and autonomy to his most trusted allies. Not that he wanted to share power with them - he simply had no choice.

Deeds:

- Successful wars with Lithuania and Germany
- Disastrous Civil War ended by his defeat




Map of Poland at start and end of his reign:

# Land at start
# Land at end
# Country borders at end