[M2TW AAR] Rawghi's AAR - Milanese Campaign - Warning 56K: Heavy images

[rawghi]

Hi to all,
I'm playing M2TW since friday, and now I'm ready to enjoy making this AAR, I hope to add some image further, bu tfor now only text! hope you enjoy it anyway. (I unlocked Milan to play with it... my home city, and changed the turn ratio to 0.50).
I made this mainly for myself, to enhance the roleplay, it's very long, I don't think that anyone can read it entirely!!!
Excuse me for grammatical errore or mispelling.

The History of the Duchy of Milan

A M2TW AAR by Rawghi

Searching alliances
Duke Giorgio Rossi was at the head of the milanese duchy, it was year 1080, and his son Count Bernardo was the commander of the milanese army.
The first objective of Giorgio was to estabilish good and stable relationship with his neighbour. He sent his diplomat Frolio Carcano to the near city of Bologna to sign a trade agreement and an alliance with the emissaries of the Holy Roman Empire. After completing his task, he goes to Venice and signed with Doge Domenico the same pact.
Happy about these great results, the focus for the city of Milan and Genova (both under the duchy) was to build up a strong economy, even with the efforts of the wealthy milanese merchant, Lerino Matarrese, who controlled the textile production of the po valley.

Taking the island
The city council asked Duke Giorgio to show to other factions that Milan have also a strong army, so Giorgio decided to take the island in front of Genova, the Corsica, capturing his biggest castle, Ajaccio. After six months of preparation, an army of italian spear militia plus mailed knights and mercenary crossbowmen, sailed from Genova with eight galleys under the command of Giorgio's son Bernardo.
The army disembarked south of Ajaccio and immediately they sieged the castle.
While Count Bernardo is engaged in the siege, Cristoforo, the second son suggested his father to send a spy to the near Tuscany biggest castle, Florence. Giorgio agreed, seeing Florence as the next objective in a plan for a future expansion and send Chimenti Bossi to the castle. He entered without be seen and waited for instruction.
After 6 months of siege, Bernardo launched his men to Ajaccio walls. Using rams the milanese army broke the gates and after a little fighting they took the city.

Quiet before the tempest
At this point the duchy of Milan was composed by three cities, Milan, under the command of the Duke, Genova, under Cristoforo, and Ajaccio, under Count Bernardo.
During two year of relative peace, Milan strenghten his army (in view of the attack of Florence) increasing the navy from the Genova docks, and recruiting new company of Mounted Sergeants and Mailed Knights for Ajaccio, and Italian Spearman from Milan. They also built a wooden tower, bearing the standerd of the duchy and a bell, and they called it "Carroccio", it will be the symbol of Milan during battles. The Po valley become more flourish increasing the farming land.
Cristoforo was charged for leading the project of border towers near the Alps, to control the movement of the near power, France. Milan become also a big centre for christianity, due to the effort of the new elected Bishof Preferati Evio Perego that, with the help of local priest, totally crashed an eretical movement born into the ligurian coast.
Near the end of this period, Bernardo returned to Milan, leaving Ajaccio garrisoned with the half of his loyal soldiers, and here his son and his heir Puccio, become of age.

--- War against Venice ---

Bad moves
Puccio was anxious to show his father that he can become a great commander like him, so he asked his Grandfather, the Duke, Giorgio, to assing him a small army, to fight the incoming threat of rebel in the northwestern part of the duchy. Giorgio agreed and dispatched a bunch of knights supported by spearman near the Alps, under Puccio's command. Meanwhile, the army assembled during the last years to attack Florence is ready and assigned to Bernardo that departed immediately bringin the Carroccio with him.
Near the castle (Florence) Cristoforo and his cavalryman from Genova joined Bernardo and they laid down siege equipment in front of the wooden wall of Florence.
But a shocking news arrived to them, an army of Venice sieges Milan, the Doge seeing the army movement, take the moment to whipe out the near duchy, betraying the alliance and making a new one with France.
Suddenly Bernardo left the siege of Florence and bring his men in aid of his father and of the city. Meanwhile, Cristoforo returned to Genova worried about a possible attach from France.
Bernardo arrived and launch an attack to the army of Venice, lead by the son of the Doge, the Chancellor Bartolomeo. The Venetian army left the siege and prepare for the attack of Count Bernardo's army, that flank left the army of Bartolomeo and joined Duke Giorgio with his mens. The two armies together crushed the Venetian army in the hills east of Milan, Bartolomeo died in battle and seven hundreds of men was captured by Milan.
Duke Giorgio ordered to execute all the prisoner to punish Venice for its betrayal. This is the first battle of the war between Milan and Venice.

Aftermath
The pope sent a letter to Duke Giorgio, where he said that such a treatment of war prisoner will not be tolerated in future, Giorgio aswered that Milan is a peaceful city, but traitors are not tolerated. The Doge, anger about the outcome of the battle sent an army of knights supported by archers and spearman to revenge his son but they are stopped by Bernardo's army that leave Milan immediatly after the fights. In the meantime, Puccio and his company defeated the rebels commanded by captain Soderino near the alps, and returned to Milan.

The Battle of the Po River
The new venetian army moved an assault to Bernardo's positions. The army of Milan was weakened due to the last fights, Bernardo's placed his army on a hills in three lines, on the first he placed italian spearmen, on the second he put a line of archers, and he with his cavalry and the "Carroccio" on the third. On the flanks of his army there was two forests, he used these to place the big of his cavalry, both left and right wings.
The venetian army came near the position of Bernardo's and the milanese archers started to fire in the center of the enemies. After some casualties, Venice attacked unknown of the milanese cavalry hidden in the woods. When the armies met and started to fight, the italian spearman concentrate their efforts in the center of the venetian line, making a spearhead through the lines, in this way the flank of the venetian army (mailed knights fresh and at full of strenght) curved assuming an U form, sure that they wil butchered milanese army. But form the forests the two wings of knights attacked the venetian wings from the back, and soon the battle was decided. Milan won another battle, this time the ability of Count Bernardo prevailed over the number of soldier.













The first siege of Milan
After the battle, Bernardo was received with honor in Milan, and then Giorgio sent and emissary to the Doge to ask for a ceasefire. The Doge denied the proposal but didn0t make any move in the next year. Bernardo depart to achieve his objective, the capture of Florence, and he bring Puccio with him. As soon as they cross the Po another Doge's army advance to Milan. Bernardo know how to force the enemy to retreat, and after he change direction (returning to Milan) the venetians drive back to Venice.
Count Bernardo re-cross the Po and attacked Florence. Thanks to the infiltrated spy, Chimenti Bossi, the gates are opened and Bernardo and Puccio capture quickly the castle. Suddenly another venetian army attacked Milan and as Milan did with Florence, a venetian spy opened the gate. Duke Giorgio himself fought with Milan garrison in the streets near the gate, successfully repelling the attack. At the battle end, Giorgio ordered immedialtely to search for the spy, wothout results. The emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Heinrich, honour the alliance with Milan and declare war on Venice.
In the folowing weeks Count Bernardo and his sons Puccio plan the construction and reinforcement of the castle of Florence, Bernardo want to transform Florence in a fortress.
In Milan, Duke Giorgio started the celebration for the victory over Venice, and during the event his daughter, Fiora, married the noble Cesare Di Livio, who became part of the Duke's family.

The second siege of Milan
After some years, Bernardo laid Florence in the hands of his son, Puccio, and returned to Milan. Cristoforo, the governor of Genova and second son, build a strong naval force and Giorgio gave him the task to govern also the Ajaccio castle and to plan the same watchtower opera of the western alps even in the south of Tuscany.
While Bernardo was on route to Milan, another Venice army, led by Cristiano Selvo the second son of the doge, composed mainly of knights and slavs mercenaries attack for another time Milan, the same spy reopened successfully the gates of the city, but this time the Duke and Cesare Di Livio at first blocked with their spearmen the venetians on the gate, then repelled an attack to the walls, and finally crushed the venetian cavalry outside the city, killing Cristiano Selvo.
After the attack, the pope excomunicated the Doge and Venice, to the repeated attack at the Duchy of Milan.

--- End of the war with Venice ---

Returning to peace
Even if the two cities, Milan and Venice, are "officially" yet at war, for two years nobody moved. Neither the Imperial forces moved, laid the declaration of war on Venice only a sheet of paper.
Duke Giorgio, whom expand the duchy annexing two cities, and defending it from the mighty army of the "Serenissima", died in peace, leaving his title to Bernardo, now claimed Duke of Milan, and his son Puccio became Count and next heir. In these years, the second son of Bernardo, Catelano, came of age and gained the rank of general in the Duchy.

The organization of the Duchy
The Duchy was now under the command of Duke Bernardo, that remain in Milan with his second son, Catelano. Genova and Ajaccio were administered by Bernardo's brother, Cristoforo, who continue to strenghten the navy and to provide trained knights from Ajaccio. The castle of Florence is governed by Count Puccio, Bernardo's son, who transform it in a fortress, and continued to recruit soldier for the Duchy army. Cesare Di Livio, husband of Fiora, shown Bernardo extreme loyalty and was granted with the title of general, he with Catelano stay in Milan to assist the Duke. Emissaries from England and Spain signed an alliance with Milan, impressed on how the Duchy win the war with Venice. Now the Duchy was a link between the northern europe (England), the western (Spain) and the Central (Holy Roman Empire), and was growing in strenght due to the abilities of Bernardo.

to be continued tomorrow... after another session at M2TW....

[Favre]

Awesome so far I dont get the game for 2 more days so this is how i live.

[rawghi]

ahahah Favre! it's real! when you didn't have a game usually the best method to kill some time is to read others AAR!!

[rawghi]

The rise of Sicily
During the peaceful years that follow, the sicilians grown in strenght, and at that time they controlled all the southern part of Italy apart from the city of Rome, owned by the Papal States.
The Milanese council ask Bernardo to take the overalps city of Berna, to create a stronghold that can block any incursion from the northern alps. Bernardo initially disagree, but after some weeks he decided to move his man. The task fall on his son Puccio, that depart from Florence with a strong army of feudal knights supported by crossbowmen and armoured sergeants. Meanwhile, Cesare di Livio was ordered to attack a brigand group near the French-Milanese border. Cesare won the battle with minimal losses, this will be called The Battle for the Pass, because the fight started in a streight mountain pass. Puccio, near Berna found that the city was already sieged by an imperial army, and drive back to Florence. When the council known the news, they accused Bernardo of losing precious time, and Bernardo pronounce in this time a phrase that will become famous "What protection we need also when we are protected by a wall of mountains?". An army of Sicily attacked Bologna, controlled by the Holy Roman Empire, they crush the imperial reistance and drive the imperials over the alps. The Duchy did't interfere with this war, mainly because they don't want to transform the northern italy in a battlefield and even because of the attack of the Imperial army to Berna, a clear Milanese objective.
But now with Venice regroqing and Sicily so near (and in good relations with Venice) the security of the Duchy was in danger.

The Battle for the Pass

Assassins attacks
Months later, two assassins were found in Milan, both were executed, but both attempted at Bernardo's life. Before the execution, the guards found that they worked for Sicily. This induced Bernardo to call an emergency council with his family members and the city council. They decided to wait and see what will be happened next, meanwhile raising the security measures of all the Duchy cities and castles. Simona Rossi, daughter of Cristoforo, married a noble, Adelmo Bombello, and they both was sent to Ajaccio, to govern the castle.
During this period, an underground war started, assassins and agents are killed in both factions, Bologna and Milan are fighting a cover war, made by executions and assassinations. The first son of Cristoforo, Agostino became an adult but for the moment he remained at Genova with his father. After one year, news of a reassembling Venetian army reach Milan, immediately Bernardo decided to gave the ultimate blow to the city.
Thanks to the death of the Pope and the election of Gregory, a secret supporter of the Milanese cause, as new Pope, Bernardo meets him at Rome, and thanks to the excomunication of Venice by the last pope, the drop of a great amount of florins convinced Gregory to call a crusade against the "Serenissima". This tricky move of Bernardo shows how he would do everything to reach his purpose. The other christian faction, acknown of the possible "secret agreement" didn't move a finger against Venice, but as soon as Bernardo returned to Milan, he gave the order to Cesare Di Livio to prepare to move towards Venice.

The battle for Venice
Di Livio assemble and army composed half of Milanese soldiers and half of last recruited christians fanatics and crusader spearman. He move through the Po valley and when he had to cross the Adige river, he stopped seeing the incoming Venice garrison lead by Alessandro, son of Doge Domenico.
He waited for two days a movement from the other side of the river, but both armies stand still, leaving the bridge connectiong the two shores empty. But at midday of the third day, an army lead by the Doge himself attacked the back of the Milanese army, in the same time, Alessandro lead his men through the bridge to attack the front. The fighting was furious, in the back the crusaders trample the venetian soldiers aided by cavalry, while on the bridge the Milanese archers and crossbowmen shooted at the men crossing the bridge. At the end of the bridge Di Livio form a sack with his men where the crossing venetian soldiers stuck and being slaughtered by milanese infantry. One hour later all the army of Venice lay down killed or captured, both Alessandro and the Doge were captured. Bernardo recalled from Milan, talk to Doge Domenico, now a prisoner of war. Bernardo ordered to treat him, his son, and all the remaining men with honour, due to the courage they shown on the battlefield. Duke Bernardo tells Doge Domenico that he will let al the Venetian forces to return to home and let both Doge and Alessandro to flee to Ragusa if Doge give him the key of Venice. The Doge agreed and Di Livio enters peacefully in the city, estabilishing the law of the Duchy.

The Milanese formation at the Battle of Adige

The victorious milanese army crossing the bridge

The Duchy of Northitaly
Agostino Rossi, son of Cristoforo leave Genova and as ordered by his father, build a net of watchtower on the Northeastern part of Italy, now the Duchy of Milan controls all the North of the peninsula, leaving only Bologna in sicilians hand. In Venice, Cesare Di Livio was honoured by Bernardo with the rank of Protector of the Duchy, and between both was estabilished a relationship of brotherhood, due to the loyalty shown by Cesare to Bernardo. Cesare govern the city with soft hand, to prevent any rebellion, and for the coming years the city started to accept the new government. The tax rate was also decreased and this bring the major part of the population on milanese side. But the Doge at Ragusa was still in search of a revenge, and Bernardo ordered Agostino (now stable at Venice) to watch the borders. Agostino formed a new army with the crusader veterans of the Venice battle, whom mantain their crossed insigna in remember of the great battle.
Now the threat come only from Sicily, their armies stationed near the border of the Duchy, and the situation heaten up.

The war for Italy
In the ligurian sea, the Venice navy try to attack the milanese near the Elba Island, here the navy of Milan repel the attack, but when they try to engage the enemies for the final strike, a navy of the Kingdom of Sicily interpose between the two armies. Cristoforo, also commander of the milanese navy, ordered the sicilians to let his galleys to pursue the venetians but after the refusal he ordered his navy to attack the sicilians.
This is the first fight of the upcoming milano-sicilian war. The milanese navy crushed the sicilians and destroying the fleeing venetian forces.
Bernardo, suddenly ordered his son Puccio, to attack a sicilian army marching towards Bologna on the Adriatic coast, Puccio attack the enemy, and even with inferior forces he beat them hiding behind an hill and taking the enemy with suprise. The lost on both fronts were heavy, but Puccio, without any fathers order, take the moment to attack Bologna from the south.

The milanese army in the battle of the hill

The siege of Bologna
The sicilians army, stationed north of Bologna, immediately fall back to the city to break the siege. As soon as Puccio noticed the sicilian standard coming to him, launch his forces, an army composed by the best milanese soldiers, knights and crossbowmen, armed with fine steel armours and weapons, veterans of the battle against Venice.
In thirteen minutes his men climb the wall of the city with siege towers and ladders, beat the forces on the wall, and opened the gates to allow cavalry to charge the remaining garrison forces. After this brillant action, he ordered his men to let the remaining enemy soldiers flee, and prepare for the countersiege of the incoming sicilian armies. The milanese army stay behind the wall but let the gate opened. As soon as the incoming sicilians army entered the gate they were sorrounded and killed by Puccio's men. Thanks to the tightened given by the gates, the superior in number sicilians were destroyed by the veteran milanese soldiers, with less than half soldiers than the enemies. Puccio shown that he inherited the ability of his father, his trick save the life of his men and gain the Duchy an heroic victory that will be remembered in the years to come.

The army at the gates of Bologna

Pacifying the North
After the battle of Bologna, Puccio returned to Florence, and the city were assigned by Bernardo to the husband of Cristoforo's daughter, Rigarda, the noble Pietro De Tortona.
The Pope sent an emissary to Bernardo, ordering to stop the conflict with the sicilians.
At this point of the Milan history, the Duchy is yet at war with the beheaded Republic of Venice and the beaten sicilians that drove back to the south of Italy. Duke Bernardo plan was now to get a ceasefire with sicily and Venice and to reestabilish good relations with the Papal States and the alliances with Spain, England and the Holy Roman Empire had to become more important than a written paper. Duke Bernardo had conquered now all the northern Italy with all the weapon in his hand, this was tha main cause of the worsening of the relation with the Pope. His hope is that the milanese Evio Perego, the highest bishop of the college of the cardinals, will become the next Pope. The christianity anyway increased in the Duchy, in every city an high priest is the voice of the church. And with the command ability of Count Puccio and of Cesare Di Livio, the security of the Duchy was in good hand.

[Kroz]

I really liked the maps of the battle of the Po river. Those were pretty awesome and in my opinion allow us to see better what the battle entailed.

[rawghi]

Thank you Kroz!

[rawghi]

A new Pope
A new priest entered the college of cardinals, his name is Cataldo Nichetti. He spreaded the faith in the povince of Corsica, where the pagan and islamic presence was moderate. Nichetti was only thirty-four years old when he was elected as cardinal. In Milan, a great cathedral was built, and Duke Bernardo entered in the grace of Pope Gregory.
Bernardo, in one of his underground action, sent an assassin in the sicilian territory, he killed Prince Uberto, the son of the Sicilian King. This gave semi-explicit casus belli to Sicily that move an army always on the adriatic road to reach Bologna. Count Puccio depart immediately from Florence and intercept the army, destroying it. The prisoner was relased upon ransom payed by the Sicilian king. Lagia, daughter of Duke Bernardo marry a milanese army general, Gian Rugiero. In 1101 AD, Pope Gregory died, and a new election was taken. Thanks to the support of Hungary and England, Evio Perego, the milanese Bishop, was elected. He was named Pope Pierus of Milan, and he took seat in Rome.

Evio Perego became Pope Pierus

The First Great Crusade
Immediatly after the election, the Turks catched the moment and launch a Jihad against the christian city of Costantinople. During 1 year of siege, they take the bizantine city. Duke Bernardo immediately call an audience with Pope Piero, and they decided to call a crusade on the city to liberate it. Bernardo ask if Agostino, the second son of Cristoforo, want to lead the crusade. His selection was made upon may factor, the first is that the loyalty shown by Agostino at the moment was really little, Agostino was anxious to shown what he can do, and he hadn't any occasion. then "losing" Agostino was acceptable against a loss of a leader like Puccio or Cesare Di Livio. At the crusade joins Milan, Poland, France, Venice, Spain and Hungary. Agostino assemble a crusader army and start to march towards the Balkans. While the eyes of the world looking at Costantinople, the tension in Northern Italy arise. French spies and assassins infested the court of both Milan and Genova, Duke Bernardo capture and killed all the french infiltrated agents. Using mainly the ability of a Milanese assassin, Piccardo de Isoleta. His man killed brutally all the agents, and he became a relevant figure in the Milanese court. In the Adriatic sea, two naval battles were fought, one near Ragusa, with the blockade of the Venetian port suggested by the city council, and one near the Croatian shores. In both the Milanese navy prevail.

The Battle of the Bosphorus
In 1103, two years after election, Pope Pierus died, and a new election take place, this time the elected was Pope Pisanus. Meanwhile, the crusader army, grown under Agostino command reach the plains west of Costantinople. An Hungarian army, lead by Captain Cziriak ask for assistance Agostino, because the encounter the mighty army of Ekmel, called "the Holy Warrior" in Turks territory. Ekmel was the conqueror of Costantinople, and a guide for all the islamic people. The armies clash near the walls of the city. Ekmel engaged the Hungarian troops hoping to demoralize the Milanese crusader army, but the Hungarian keep their position, and the incoming Milanese charge the saracen army. Ekmel was killed and the turkish army routs. The news of the victory reach the Duchy, here Bernardo order to prepare public celebrations for his nephew return. Costantinople was later taken by Polish troops who liberate the city. But Doge Domenico himself join the crusade, and after the christains victory, Agostino and Domenico were divided only by a dozen of kilometers. Neither Agostino nor Domenico engaged the other in hostile actions, even if Domenico had a stronger army rather that Agostino. they simply take the way back to their lands.

The Battle of the Bosphorus

Short term ceasefire
This event was maybe a light in the decennial war between Venice and Milan, Pope Pisanus ordered Sicily, Venice and Milan to stop the fightings, to prevent excomunication. Duke Bernardo at that time was very worried: the strenght of Venice, even without its capital grown everyday, and on the border the Venetian armies seems ready to invade the Italy and Sicily aws assembling an army always on the Adriatic coast, ready to enter the territory of the Duchy. Fortunately, the french infiltration of agent hadn't a sequel, when the agent died, the situation was normalized, and no other hostile action was taken by France, but certainly this was an assurance of the pro-Venetian inclination of the French. Undoubtely the Duchy territory was the richest of the europe, all the commerce between west and east pass through the Po Valley, and through the two commercial cities of Venice and Genova. In 1105, Cesare Di Livio, the Milanese conqueror and governor of Venice died, his loss was an hit for Duke Bernardo, because Cesare was a great figure in the Duchy, his charisma pacify the conquered people of the city of Venice, and now a new governor must be selected. Meanwhile, the Pope excomunicated Spain, and ordered the Duke to blockade the port of Zaragoza. Bernardo, angrying the Pope, refuses to take this military action against his ally.

The great change
In 1106 the Duchy was hit by a great loss, Duke Bernardo, the man that transform a little Duchy in a strong power, died, and after two months his brother Cristiano, the builder of the strongest navy of the mediterranean and the commercial city of Genova died. The Duchy in two months remained beheaded of his most authoritarian figures, the two men that made the history died, and their heirs aren't yet ready to assume the command of the Duchy. While the enemy surroud the borders, the Venetians on the east, the Sicilians from the south and the French (that wasn't declared enemy but their actions shown hostility), Count Puccio became the Duke of Milan, assuming the power of the entire Duchy. His son was too young to became heir, so Adelmo Bombello was named Count, because he was the fist "first son" (even if it was the husband of the first daughter) of the royal descendancy. The Duchy changed, now Duke Puccio estabilish in Milan, Count Adelmo in Genova, and take the duty of Cristoforo, Catelano controls the heavy fortified Florence castle, Pietro de Tortona still govern Bologna, Gian Rugiero take the duty of the passed Cesare Di Livio, at the head of Venice while Agostino is still on the road to home from the crusade. The Ajaccio remains in the hand of the local army captain, due to the relative peace in the island. Brunaccio Biraghi, a young priest from Venice, become bishop, and was moved to the cathedral of Milan, he and Bishop Nichetti fought an hard battle against witch that infested the Istria region and the Delta of Po, they condemned some of these women that was burned alive.

The funeral of Duke Bernardo

Prelude to an end
At the end of the 1107, Pope Pisanus died, as his precursor fate, he remained Pope for a very short period, the relationship between the Duchy and the Papal States was turbolend, Pisanus reached to freeze the war, but this play negatively against Milan, in fact, his enemies had replenish their rank, Venice become more stronger and prepared to retake the city of Venice, while the Sicilians assemled a great army ready to retake Bologna. Pisanus also try to start a war between Milan and his ally Spain, but without result. But the threat of an excomunication were always a Damocle's sword upon the passed Duke Bernardo. Now with the dead of Pisanus and the election of the spanish Pope Alexander, the relation take a positive boost. As soon as Pope Alexander was alerted by Duke Puccio about the sicilian army he excomunicated them, leaving Milan free to attack the sicily, on the other hand he didn't want to interfere in the Venetian politics, so the period of peace in Italy was soon to be ended. Venetian army cross the border and moved towards Venice, while the sicilians move towards the coast to Bologna. With Agostino still in travel, Duke Puccio have to face two assault at the same time, with the morale of all the Duchy very low due to the death of their best leaders.

The Ducal Family

[Legion of Hell]

Hi, first post for me

Wonderful, mate. Just great. Could you put maps of the campaign map just to see the situation properly.
You don't have to but it would make this thread a little bit easier for people who don't have the game.

Thanks.

[DavidtheDuke]

Nice battle graphics, most people don't bother to actually show a tactical picture of what happened

[rawghi]

Thank you! I post map pics asap

[therussian]

Wow, great AAR, I love the tactical battle maps, they're great! I'll be looking forward to reading this again.

[rawghi]

Giorgio Rossi

¤ 1026 † 1092

Duke of Milan (1059 - 1092)

Bernardo Rossi

¤ 1044 † 1106

Duke of Milan (1092 - 1106)

[monoxism]

Awesome AAR you've got going here man, can't wait for the next installment

[rawghi]

The situation in the 1113

The unexpected happens
Incredibly, the incoming Venetian army retreat, and the Sicilian amry stand still, returning to behing the border. Duke Puccio immediately call the city council to talk about the next move. Having to face a war on two front, they decided to concentrate on one enemy at a time. The first who will be attacked will be the Sicilians. In fact, apart of a strenght army in the adriatic coast, the city and the castles in southern Italy wasn t heavy garrisoned. But thanks to an advice from Count Adelmo Bombello, they decided to wait until Agostino return from the crusade. Agostino was in trouble, his army remained cut-off from mayor road, and have to cross the transilvanian mountains to return to Italy, the travel was estabilished that have to last for one year, but adversity, illness and military access treaty delayed it of three years. So Agostino, alerted of the situation in the Duchy, decided to depart form the main column and take a ship from the Bizantine Greece to arrive at Venice as soon as possible. Agostino arrives three months later and estabilished at Venice, supporting Gian Rugiero in the government of the city.

The second Milanese Pope
In 1109, Pope Alexander the Peaceful died, and a new election take place. The College of Cardinals was dominated by the Milanese presence: Cataldo Nichetti, Bishop Preferati of Venice, Baldassarre de Brunec, Bishop of Bologn and Brunaccio Biraghi, Bishop of Milan. The election started and Cataldo Nichetti was elected Pope with the name of Ubaldus of Milan. He was the second Pope of Milan, after pope Pierus. He want to stabilize to Italian peninsula, starting immediately to mediate through the various faction. But unfortunately without results. Noddo Rossi, son of Catelano, become aged eough to be elected as governor of the castle of Ajaccio by Duke Puccio. During this events, french agents was caught in Milan. The French threat grown everyday, and Duke Puccio feels now really surrounded by enemies.

The military reform of the Duchy
One year later Agostino was elected Magister Militum or Commander of the Army, by Duke Puccio who assign him all the military task in case of Puccio absence. Unlike Duke Giorgio and like Duke Bernardo, Puccio remained at the head of the Ducal Army even if it is became Duke. Agostino son, Fantino, became of age, and thanks to his father s fame, was immediately dispatched to florence, and assigned at the head of a Ducal Army. During this period, there where a standardization in the Ducal armies, Puccio, with Agostino efforts, subdiveded the armies in three groups: the First Ducal Army, composed mainly by citizen of Milan and guided by Duke Puccio, the Second Ducal Army, composed by various veteran from Italian cities, guided by Fantino and stationed at the castle of Florence, and the last group, the Crusader Ducal Army, led by Agostino, composed by veterans of the Bosphorus battle and stationed in Venice. Apart from these three groups there were the local garrison, one for each city and guided by the governor of the city. Puccio subdivided even the navy in two groups, the Ligurian Navy, guided by Count Adelmo named also Commander of the Navy, with the baseports of Genova, Ajaccio and Florence, and the Adriatic Navy, guided by Gian Rugiero with the baseports of Bologna and Venice.

The Battle of Fano
The year 1112 was dominated by war, the period of relative peace ends when Duke Puccio ordered the start of the operations for the conquest of the South Italy and the annihilation of Sicily. Puccio sent the Second Ducal Army, led by Fantino, to attack the Sicilian army near the city of Fano, guided by Nene di Galeata. The Armies crushed violently, and the Milanese army used even trebuchet to crush Sicilian lines. After a great charge, the Sicilians broke the lines and the great part of them where killed or captured. Nene himself was captured, and Fantino in a merciless act ordered to kill all the prisoner, even Nene. The remains of the Sicilians was guided by Rino de Medici. After a negotiation with a milanese diplomat, he surrender, sparing the life of his mens. Rino was conducted to Milan to met Puccio, who honoured him for the battle and allowing him to become a Duchy General. The Carroccio another time prevail, and in the battle of Fano was the sign of the final victory.

The Carroccio at the end of the Battle of Fano

The worst return
But there wasn t any time for celebrations, Fantino moved immediately versus the city of Naples, while a two great venetian armies entered in the Duchy territory form the east. The Venetians take time to reinforce and now are again a great threath to the Duchy seurity. While the venetians move, the crusader army returning from Bosphorus, without Agostino, enters the venetians territory, to reach the Duchy, but an enemy army led by Captain Martino Sartor attacked them. In a bloodbath, the crusaders exit victorious, but the two armies were decimated. This was called the battle of Simerie, named by a local town near the plains where the two army mets. The crusader army was lead by Captain Giovanni, himself said - I entered the battle with the emblem of the Cross, and I exit with red piece of clothes-. The venetian army was near to a total annihilation, while the crusaders loss circa the nineteen percent of soldiers and all the cavalry.

The Battle of Aquileia
Duke Puccio moved towards the two ncoming venetians armies and stopped facing them. The venetians were guided by Captain Tomaso and Coucillor Saraceno. Tomaso engeged Puccio on a ridge near Aquileia, thanks to the strategic position of the Milanese army, Duke Puccio won easily, vanquishing the venetians that retake thier men upon ransom. Councillor Saraceno not entered the battle with his army, afraid of losing and retreated to venetian territory. Puccio returned to Milan, and mets the council of the city. They decided to move aggressively now, while Fantino is attacking the south, Duke Puccio must attack the venetians, giving them the final blow conquering Ragusa. The Duchy had anyway no chance, because the venetians armies was superior in number, and its only opportunity was to shift the attention of them from the Duchy itself to the defence of their territory. Meanwhile Rino de Medici was sent to Bern to negotiate the acquisition of the city from the Holy Roman Empire. The milanese council see now Bern as an outpost to control the French movement, and unlike the failed attampt to capture it when Bernardo was Duke, they option for the diplomatic way. The ally of Duchy, the Holy Roman Empire agreed upon a sum of thirteen thousand of fiorins, and Rino became the governor of the city.

The ridge of the Battle of Aquileia

The Gates of Bern

Total war
In 1113 finally Duke Puccio moved toward Ragusa, aware of the difficult of this task, he known that this is a nearly desperate duty, but this was necessary to save the eastern part of the Duchy form a great invasion. In this way Duke brings finally the war into the Republic o Venice territory, with the inevitable damages. But as soon as Puccio cross the border, terrible news came from Italy. French declared war on the Duchy and ally with Venice and Sicily. Thei moved an army through the alps in the Piedmont region and with another army besieged Bern. Rino de Medici sally forth the siege and successfully destroy the french army with the charge of all the cavalry of Bern, while Count Adelmo and Gian Rugiero moved their men to intercept the other french army. This time the Duchy is in the edge of the hurricane, it's now total war against their enemies, engaging them on all fronts.

[Pelican Man]

I NEED MORE!!!!!

wow, this is great. Im loving every word of this aar.

THE P-MAN

[Kroz]

This AAR rox!@!!!

[MasterAdnin]

Wow dude, this is awesome, all this action, yet the empire, compared to Rome's, is pretty small. this is really action packed and awesome, can't wait till I get my copy today.

Salaam,
Adnan

[rawghi]

Men, I'm very happy you like it! But I'm thinking to stop... unless I risk to get fired!!! In these days I had nothing to do at work.. but next week will be on fire... But Tuesday I'll post a link to the final PDF, that contained all the AAR plus the screenshot modified with photoshop to resemble paints, I'll hope you enjoy it!

[theblitz]

Please dont stop, this is awsome.

March forward and crush Sicily, Venice and those French bastards.

[rawghi]

Men I really appreciate your feedbacks, but I've restarted a new game. But I formatted the AAR in a "Medieval book" way look ant tell me if you like it!

My Milanese AAR (PDF File, right click "save as...") --> Download

But as soon as I finish to re-play my new campaign with milan and I start a new one with another faction, I'll remake a new AAR