A.E.I.O.U. [Finished]

[Alwyn]

An exciting sea battle with brilliant pictures! I like the way that you use the Bora to explain how the two groups of Austrian ships had to fight a much larger French fleet. I wonder what the destruction of the fleet will mean for Austria - will the French or Venetian navies cut off Austria's sea trade? Will Fabricco and other survivors build a new Austrian navy? I look forward to finding out.

[theSilentKiller]

Thanks Alwyn^^ Hehe you'll see

Chapter II Part VI - Das Treffen

(A bagage of the Austrians marching through Poland)


"You know what", said Thomas bugged, "I just decided that I hate rebels."


The sides of his floppy hat were hanging down and his shoes were filled with water and mud. He could not feel his feet.


"Can't they at least start a rebellion when it doesn't rain. Is that too much to ask for? Now we have to march through rain and on slimey...roads if you could call them so"


"Come on! Your constant nagging is annoying as hell!"


"Well, you have a warm coat and some robust shoes. Of course you wouldn't know gow cold and wet it is. Where did you even get the money for this stuff?"


"Most of it was in the house we got after the plundering of Warsaw..."


"Oh yeah, that's also unfair. Why did you even get this nice warm home while we had to sleep in the destructed buildings? I mean you are only a company commander. Nothing really high...."


"Hehe you know, I have my ways," said Matthias cackling.


"Hmpf...but you still have a lot of money left. You never told me what you looted during the days after the assault."






Matthias anwered with silence. He didn't want to think about the things he did during these three days after the capturing of the city.
Besides he always was someone who prefered to think about the present.
Moreover he had to concentrate on the ground not to slip. His new shoes with a harder sole and a little bit of tread helped him a lot. But still he could not prevent it always which left some dark brown stains on his - fortunately dark red coat. Wrapped into this coat and layers of linen he marched almost untouched by the rain for days.
Whenever a camp was built for the night he had to drill his company. Training the various formations, attacking together and marching in lock step.


Days of training, waiting and fortifying a camp alternated with days of marching. There was no clear destination only waiting until the scouts would finally sight a rebell force.


Most of the time did nothing happen. Only once one evening.




The men were sitting laughing at a fire, most of them were drunk. It hadn't rained, so the ground was more or less dry.
"Erm, I'm gonna take a piss," said Matthias and stood up. While he walked through the camp he could see that many people were still working, checking their gear or repairing some of the broken waggons. Many had damaged wheels, some even a broken axle. Close to the rim of the camp was the area for gambling. Many drunken men were fighting over the results of mostly bad games. These fights often ended deadly.




When Matthias eventually left the camp he found himself in a dark forest. Some crickets were chirring together with the tweeting birds.
Matthias walked close to a bush and opened his trousers.
He said relieved: "Ahh that's way better"
After he finished his business he turned around and wanted to walk back to the camp but a beating noise attracted his attention.




Matthias turned around and slowly grabbed his dagger. Carefully he walked in the direction the noise came from. If it was an enemy scout he had to eliminate him.
Now a whimpering! Matthias sneaked though the trees trying not to fall over one of the many roots or not getting cought by the thick bushes with thorns. With every step the noise got louder. Now it changed into a hysterical crying of a women. Matthias increased his speed. He reached a gigantic tree which stood in front of him blocking his field vision. He was sure that the sound source was behind this tree. Ready to strike with his dagger he jumped past the tree.




Now he was on a small glade. In the middle of it a campfire. Three horses were tied to a tree on the rim of the glade. A young male person, about twenty years old was lying on the ground, being beaten by two bulky men. Their victing showed no response. Close to the fire was a girl pressed down by an old man. He was not wearing any trousers. The girl was screaming.




Matthias was thinking if he should interfere or walk back to the camp. Until now nobody notice him. But he decided to help the two people. They looked rich and maybe he would gain somethin out of it. He ran to the old man and before anyone could act Matthias thrusted his dagger into the neck of that man. Gurpling he deserted from the girl. The two bashers grunted angry and each of them pulled out a knife.
Slowly the fighters walked to each other.
Matthias made the first move. He jumped forward and aimed with the point of his dagger to one of the ruffians throat. In the last second the ruffian
managed to block and countered with a kick which almost hit Matthias. He heared a whistling sound from behind. By an inch he managed to evaded the knive of the other ruffian. Matthias threw himself onto the one in front of him and before this one could react he pressed his dagger against the throat of his enemy. The bulky men fell with an suffocating sound to the ground. Matthias tunred around and blocked an attack of the remaining ruffian. With ease he managed to evade the slow attacks of the untrained enemy. With a thrust to the chest Matthias killed his enemy.




"Oi, man! You okay?" Matthias was shaking the young man who still lay on the ground. His head was bleeding and bruises were all over his body. Slowly the manregained his cosciousness.


"Wha-? Who...who are you", the injured said coughing.


He tried to stand up but kanded on his hands and knees. Now Matthias could see that the guy was wearing fine but dirty clothes. He was definitely someone rich!


"Wait, I'll help you, Sir!" Matthias grabbed the man's arm and with this help the man managed to stand up.


Then the man seemed like he woke up from a bad dream and shouted:


"Cecilia! Where is she?!" He looked to the girl who was close to the fire her face facing towards it.


With Matthia's help he managed to hobble to the girl. He threw himself on her and wanted to check if she was ok.
"Ahhh!" He began to shout. Matthias kneed down and was finally able to see her face. Eventough it was swolled he could see that she was probably abound thirteen years old. And he could see her lifeless open eyes. The young man began to sober.


"No...no this was not how it supposed to be!!"


Matthias lay his arm around the mourner's shoulder. In this position the two hold out for almost an hour.


"Tell me, what is your name", asked the man looking into Matthias's face.


"Matthias, Matthias Marterstein my name is good Sir."


"Okay, Matthias. I am Friedrich von Mannenburg and very grateful for your help. Not only did you save me, you also were with me in this hour of sadness. I will show myself appreciative one day just say when you need something, I won't forget!. Now, by your looks I assume you are a soldiers. Could you bring me to your commander or something like that? I need to arrange a burial for her and I need to reach Warsaw soon as possible."


Matthias noded and led Friedrich to the camp. There he reported his commanding officer who brought the two men to the general, Florian Frey. It was the first time Matthias saw his general up close. Florian resided in a degradable cabin. Inside of it it was warm cramped with tables and chairs. Through a window one could see the night sky.




After Friedrich told the general who he was Frey said:
"Hmm I will arrange a proper burial for your dead-?"


"Sister"


"Ahh okay sister, sincere condolences. and I will get some men to escort you to Warsaw. For this night, be my guest. There is a small room with a bed upstairs, feel free to use it."


"Thank you very much." Friedrich bowed down and began to climp up the stairs.


"And you- what was you name again?"


"Matthias Marterstein, Sir!"


"Right, so Matthias...very well done. Saving a noble from death. If I am not mistaken you are somewhat prominent in this army. Your valiant stance at Warsaw is quiet famous also you are considered as someone with a sharp mind. Defeating many high ranked officers in chess."


Florian stepped aside and pointed with his hands at a small table with a chess board. Several glasses filled with -probably alcoholic- liquid were placed around the bord.


"Join me for the night to some games of chess."


Both men smiled.

[Alwyn]

Intriguing developments - it sounds like Matthias has impressed senior officers with his courage and intelligence.

[theSilentKiller]

@Alwyn as Margaret Mitchell once stated: "With enough courage, you can do without reputation"

Chapter II Part VII - Schlacht von Brandenburg

In november 1611 Brandeburgian armies threatened the northern borders of the Habsburgian Monarchy. Smaller skirmishes were to be a daily occurrence but the stream of Brandburgian men never stopped. The Habsburgian Monarchy needed the troops that defended the northern territories in the south to fight off Ottoman rebels and in the east to catch the Polish rebels and then push towards Königsberg.
To make an end to the constant attacks and raids the Monarchy decided to send a small but powerful army towards Berlin. If this army could conquer the Brandenburgian capital the attacks would stop and some troops could reinforce the other two fronts. Thus in december 1611 the Austrians lay siege to the big city. The abscence of walls made it possible to attack the city after only a short while.




Martin Löhens stood on top of a high, overviewing the battle field. The snow which reflected the bright forenoon sun made it hard to see much but some darker places were visible. These spots on the landscape were cluster of trees. He had problems estimating the distance and terrain.
His men were deployed on a small ridge. Halberdiers and pikemen defended the flanks of the line of gunners. Cannons were placed in front of Martin. He could not allow himself to loose this battle. When the sovereigns chose him for this mission he could not belief his luck. As a low born citizen he could have never imagined to command a whole army one day. This was his maiden trip so to say and if he looses he looses everything.
Martin reached for his telescope in his pockets and tried to get a glimpse at the enemy troops. He could only identify the artillery, everything else was too hard to recognize in the glaring snow.




"Shoot at their formation", Löhens said to the man next to him.




Trumpets were blown.
Only a few minutes after the first cannon balls flew through the air and hit the ground somewhere in the distant. Through his telescope Martin could see that the line of Brandenburgians began to march forward.




"Send the left flank to the trees on the left there there and the center together with the right flank about fifty paces forward."




Again some trumpets sounded and everything happened as Löhens commanded.
Close to the trees two regiments came under fire by troops which were covered by the trees. Soon after, the center began to attack the enemy center. The Austrian right flank defeated the Brandenburgian cavalry and began to attack the flanks of the center. At the same time began the Austrian horsemen to charge at the artillery. The Burgundian infantry managed to break through the center line and marched towards the Austrian cannons.
Martin began to sweat, seeing the hundreds of men walking towards his position.




"Canister shots! Shoot damn it!"




Just as the enemy troops reached the cannons the first shots were fired. The douzens of small projectiles teared through their line. Too much for them! and the first began to run but some stayed and shoot. One bullet almost hit Martin. He could feel the hot lead almost touching his right cheek. Distressed he touched it just to be sure that he was not hit.
He looked around desperate. Three regiments were still occupied with the troops in the trees and one unit of halberdiers fled, shot to pieces by cannons. His cavalry was cought up with the enemy cavalry.
Only one unit of pikemen was free and and charged at the opponents which attacked the cannons. Some canister shots hit their allies but big casualties were avoided. Eventually the enemy cavalry was defeated and the Burgundian artillery silenced. The troops close to Martin ran, defeated by pikemen. Now only the men in the trees remained!
Martin was certain of his victory. Not even the fleeing troops which charged at the Burgundians in the trees could made him feel otherwise. The tree battle lasted for hours but in the end the defenders ran home. Only a few managed to survive the fligh. Berlin was conquered!




After the battle Martin got a battle report. Half of his men died. Most of them during the fights in the trees. His face went pale as clay. This was not how he imagined his maiden trip; this will have consequences! Nonetheless he was victorious.

[Alwyn]

This battle clearly mattered a lot, both to Austria and to Martin Löhens. I wonder if these events will improve or damage his reputation.

I also wonder what the consequences of this battle will be. Austria is becoming more powerful, but will other European countries feel threatened and attack Austria?

[theSilentKiller]

Chapter II Part VIII - Probleme, immerzu Probleme

A babble of voices filled the room; one could not think clearly. About fifty men were arguing with each other, shouting through the big room. After some time swearwords flew through the air.
Lord Kornbluth sat in his chair and was camly regarding the scnenery.
Minsters and Lords stood behind der desks with angry red faces waving there hands. Whe the first one had to leave the room, holding his bleeding nose Kornbluth stood up, grabbed a hammer and startet hitting his desk with it. Suddenly everyone turned silent; 48 pairs of eyes looked at him. He harrumphed.




"Good now everyone is silent. To get back to our topic let me give a résumé; The ports are blocked by the french, and we have rebels in three regions. Furthermore is our treasury emptying. We have no fleet and our armies are tired and weakened. Instead of shifting the balme on each other I would recommend to actually thinking about an solution, I know I knwo - this is hard for the most of you, thinking I mean but let us all guve our bist." Kornbluth blinked playful, "First of all, we should ask Lord von Starhemberg about the finacial affair."




Kornbluth turned to the person next to him. The man, small with a round face, tine eyes a black periwig. Von Starhemberg stood up and looked at a small book in his hands.




"As our First Lord said, we have very little income but many expenses. If we continue like this we will be bankrupt by the end of this year. I think we should do is stopping to not tax Brandenburg and Poland. Even though this would cause uprising and nullify a push further east, it would save us from the fanincal ruin. Also, it is important to regain our trade income. This is why I recommend a peacy treaty with France!"




Many angry and shocked voices rose, a peace treaty with an arch enemy! The First Lord managed to silence the minsters by striking his hammer at the table.




"Thank you, Lord Kornbluth. Anyway, with more money we could focus on the rebels and then reinforce our armies. Then we can push further east and north. But I think about this matter we should ask our Lord of the Army."




A tall skinny guy with wrinkly and lean face stood up.




"Yes! As you all know we have currently three armies, as well a small groupe of troops close to our border to Venice. In Brandenburg the men prepare for an attack of the rebels, in Poland our troops found out the location of the rebels and in Serbia our army succesfully defeated some rebellious subjects.
This army in Serbia will march towards Klausenburg, which is currently held by rebel forces and then after it is conquered will go to the west and attack Venice. But for an attack we need to weaken the vencians, unfortunately we can't do that due to our - non existing - fleet. We have plans to build a new one but the French still controll the Adriatic sea. Thus, I think von Starhemberg' idea is smart. Without the French interfering in our trade we will gain more money and might prevent a bankruptcy."




A vote was done.
Peace was made with France. In exchange Alcasse-Lorraine was given to France and one port of Austria would be blocked by a French fleet but trading ships would be allowed to pass.




With more money the Habsburgian Monarchy put money into a new fleet, reinforced the three armies and marched towards Klausenburg where they defeated the puny rebel forces.
But the Monarchy was not able to prevent a bankrupt, thus in march 1612 the treasury was empty!








The current political 'balance'

[theSilentKiller]

Chapter II Part IX - Taktik gewinnt

Martin Löhens woke up drenched in sweat, even tough it was ice cold in his room. The small fireplace close to his bed was dark and empty. Martin starred at the ceiling, then stood up and while he walked to the door he saw the opened black letter on the table next to the window. He had to come up with a solution!
He walked through the deserted streets Berlin for the hundredth time, carefully observing every alley and court. His head started hurting. Event tough it was cold, dark and he wore only a thin coat, Martin sweated. On his way back to his house he was even more in despair than before.




In the morning he called for a meeting with all of his commanders.
When they walked into the big meeting room they saw a tired over - worked Martin Löhens slumped down in his chair.




"Thanks for your coming. I guess you all know what this is about. Since I don't know what to do, please feel free to speak if you know a solution."




He looked around but only saw shifty eyes. None of these seven people knew what to do. Suddenly a cloddy man with a red face stepped forward.




He spoke: "Actually, I have an Idea. I have carefully studied the road scheme of this city and came up with a solution."




Löhens looked at that man. "What is your name?"




"Sebastian Huxley, Sir."


"Englishman? Well then, mister Huxley tell us you solution."


"Now, as I said, I have looked into the street schemes and came up with a plan."


Sebastian took out a map of Berlin, placed it on a tablle and pointed with a finger at a location


"Here we have a big square connected to several roads. We can fortify this place and deploy our cannons there. Then we would lure them into this position and keep them in the streets with our few pikemen. While they are fighting, our cannons would shoot with canister shots into then. And our shooters could hide inside the houses and surprise the enemies as they pass by. That way, their superior numbers wouldn't mean anything."




Proud, with a big smile looked Huxley around.




"Hmm that way we would hit our own troops and the city would most certainly be damaged, and we do not have many recources for repairing", asked someone.




Sebastian replied: "Yes but since we already have only a quarter of the enemy's troops we woulnd't take as many casualties and the streets the enenmy's is most likely going to take are part of the poor district, so no big loss. Also, do we have a choice?"




All eight men in the room agreed that this was their best bet.

The battle

Martin Löhens rode around the square. Everthing seemed ready. The cannons were deployed, protected by, with stones filled baskets and several chevaux de frise blocked the streets.



Behind the windows of the buildings he could see some men preparing to surprise the approaching enemies.


As soon as some Arquebusier walked by the small shop for dried food and imported fish the windows were burst apart and shots were fired into the surpised men on the ground. On an attempt to storm into the building the Brandenburgian rebels lost many men.


(Storming the building)


The pikemen arrived and marched towards the Austrian defended square. The Brandenburgians were kept in the streets by the enemy pikemen.
A bloody street battle emerged.
Martin stood behind the artillery, his left arm raised into the air.




"Wait - wait --- now fire!!"




He put his arm down.
Two bangs!
Hundreds of small lead balls tear thorugh the air and men alike. Twp pf this devastating shots were fired; hundreds lay down dead or wounded on the ground. The cavalry rear charged the Burgundians which was too much for them. They fled. 1500 pikemen dedeated by 256, an artillery regiment and some horsemen.
Victory was possible!




In the streets a unit of arquebusiers tried to approach the square but they faced the same fate as their comrades. The canister shots hit the surrounding buildings; windows broke and the walls had many little bullet holes.


The attackers ran; the city was safe! Löhens was victorious. Now nobody would dare to challenge his skills.


Later in the evening he appointed Sebastian Huxley his vice general.

[Alwyn]

Two good chapters, I like being able to see the strategic situation as well as what happens on the battle-field. A naval blockade of your main (or only) trading port can ruin a country's economy - even after the negotiations with France, it sounds like Austria's leaders will struggle to maintain their armies and navy. The battle to defend Berlin looks like a challenging fight, against to many enemy pikemen.

[theSilentKiller]

Thanks Alwyn^^Yeah this mod actually makes economy hard in this game. Money is really tight. Funny thing is that France has no enemies currently so they don't need their fleet. Now after the treaty I have a free port but can't bring out any fleets becuase their fleet is in the way But this is not really a problem yet concidering I don't really have a strong naval force. Yeah I really had to think about what to do, the rebel armies are enormous...

Chapter II Part X - Bauern und Gesindel

The land, the six men prambulated was meager, almost dead. Any kind of color seemed to avoid the hilly lands of Poland. 'Scorched earth', the rebels call it, a technique they learned from some of the russian and swedish mercenaries. In some placees rose the smoke high into the air, where it mixed with the bright winter sky that it seemed like a battle between the forces of heaven versus Satan's servants. In some villages were more gravestones rammed into the ground than actual people living there.
The country is dead.


"Revolt: The cure is worse than the desease", muttered Matthias philosophical.

For almost a week he hasn't seen a living soul except his companions.

"Oi, when will we pass by a town or somthing, already?"

"Hmm," Friedrich von Mannenburg looked at his map, "we should be able to stay at an inn this night if we hurry."


This improved the bad mood a little bit and with a bed in foresight the travellers walked even faster, despite their lassitude.
When the sun began to set they could see the inn. Like a lifeboat on a stormy seas, stood the big wooden building in the midst of hills and forests.
Gladly looked the men into each other faces.


Inside the inn was a big dining room with many tables. Several other travellers sat in the old, rickety chairs and ate mash, thin soups or old bread. The mood was good, musicians played on their instruments and the guests clapped with their hands or danced to the music. A small fire burned behind the counter, but was too weak to heat the big, cold room. Left of the entrance door were stairs, that led to the next floor, probably the chambers.


"I will get us a room and something to eat, you just sit down", said Matthias and walked to the man who looked like the owner. A beefy guy with a dirty, long shirt.

"Oh, hello friend! Do you need food, a room or only some strong drinks", asked the men overly enthusiastic.

"He, yeah, one or two rooms for six and bread. Strong drinks? For example?"

"Okay, sure I have two rooms! Hehe imported beer from Bavaria. Compared to that is our beer like water. Hahaha. Six mugs I assume?"

"Sounds nice, good ol' brew from monstries, eh? Make it sevem, I am thirsty." Matthias smiled.

"Sure, so two rooms, bread for seven and beer, that would be hmm, one guilder and three silver coins."

"Wha-? That much? You gotta be kidding!"

"Do you think it's easy to get beer from Bavaria to here during war times, huh?"

"Yeah yeah, still-" Matthias rummaged in his bag and took out some coins. The Haburgian insignia was die-cut in it.
Wary the owner took the coind and checked them. His eyes tunred into slits but Matthias didn't recognise that.

"Thank you, if you need something else, feel free to ask."

Matthias walked to a table, where his friends sat at. The food and drinks were brought.



"You know what", said Mateusz a bit drunken, "this almsot makes up for the days of wandering around. Haha."

"But still, I wonder if we won the battle. Those damn rebels! Wish I had the chance to beat the out of them", shouted Thomas.

"You should be happy that I chose you for this escorte job", muttered Matthias dozened.

Dark glances were aimed at the seven men on the table.


"Haha but without Matthias here", Michael backslapped his friend who almost fell asleep, he finished the two mugs before anyone else finished his one, "how would we win a battle? Haha, our hero of the army, eyh?"

"Hey, keep it down a little bit, would you?" Friedrich looked around worried. He seemed to be the only one who noticed the glancs.

"Puuh, it's kinda late, ne? We should go to sleep, after all we need to wake up early-"

"Thomas is right, can someone help me with Matthias?"

Mateusz, Thomas and Michael helped Symon to carry their sleeping friend into one of the rooms. Tired went the rest of the group into their beds.




The sky was gray, the sun still hid behind the mountains in the east, when the nine men, most of them were old, sneaked to the doors of the rooms the strangers used. Due to the old, creaky, wooden floor they had to slowly creep forward. In front of one door were five, in front of the other four men. They opened the doors simulatniously and checked if everyone was asleep. Snore was to be heared. Again, the intrudors slowly sneaked up, each to one of beds and reached for their weapons; daggers, knives and clubs.
One of the men starled; the bed he looked up eas empty!
The door closed cracking, the five intruders and the two sleeping men woke up. A man stood in the corner next to the door. None of the burglars could see his face, it was too dark.


"You really aren't the smartest, huh", said the guy in the corner.


Fighting noises percolated through the walls, from the other room. Two of the burglars raised their clubs and charged at the men who spoke. The other three fought with the people in the beds.


The guy in the corner raised a dagger, evaded the first attack, rammed his elbow into the back of one of the attacker and cut the belly open of the other. Shouting fell the bleeding man to the ground. His companion managed to hit the stranger with his club in the back. He wobbled but managed to regain his balance and thrusted his weapon into the throat of his attacker and at the same time crushing the wounded ones face with his right foot.
When both of his opponents were dead he checked if his friends needed help, but they managed to defeat the burglars.
The three men left the room and stormed into the other rom. One attacker and two of the attacked lay on the ground. The remaining two attackers slowly approached the last defender, who stood in a corner. He raised a gun, golden with ornaments and aimed trembling at both opponents.
The four of the other room charged at the two burgars and managed to overwhelm them.


"Symon needs help! He was hit on the head and Mateusz slipped and fainted."


From outside and downstairs arose tumult. Soon the seven men, two unconcious and five ready to fight found themselve empocket into the small room. About fifteen men stood in front of the closed door, which the people inside barricaded with the beds. Friedrich and Michael tried to treat the wounds of their comrades.


"What do you want. Why do you attack us", shouted Thomas through the door.

Someone answered muffled:

"We don't like people like you here. People like you should just get out of our country, or die!"

"Wait, you are rebel supporters?"

"And you are Austrian soldiers! You only deserve death."

"Hey, Michael. Try to occupy them for some time longer. We can escape through the window", whispered Matthias who tied together blankets. Michael nodded and began again to talk to the men who stood in front of the door.

"But the Monarchy gave you safety and many freedoms. Why would you want anything different?"

"Safety? Freedoms? Don't bull**** me! After all the Austrians have done? How many men have died because the soldiers took their food or were bored? How many girls and women have disappeared without a trace - "


Somene bashed against the door angrily.


" - No! Everything worsened and you people are the reason for this - "


Again a bash. The speakers voice turned into a mix of angry shouting and sobbing.


" - just die, die, die!"


With every word trembled the door. Michael saw that Matthias finished tying an escape rope. Friedrich and Thomas already climbed down. Matuesz, who just woke up was next.


"What about Symon", he asked while he climbed down.


Matthias just wag his head. Mateusz old and dead friend lay on one of the beds, his fingers clutched his old dagger and the blood dyed his black hair into a dark red thatch. But there was no time for grief and the ramaining three men clumbed escaped through the window and managed to ran away unseen.


"Now we lost our baggage", complained Friedrich.


"Gonna be hard to survive without food, money and any kinds of papers", said Michael. His voice made it sound like a playful challeng than an actual problem.


"Even harder considering that maybe some rebels are nearby - and we won't reach Warsaw in the next five days -"


Thomas scratched his head and tried to remeber the map of the area.


" - but if we take this route there " He pointed at a small path that lead into a forest. " we can make it. Berries and nuts should be findable."


The six men followed the path into a uncertain future.

[Alwyn]

That's a good action scene, involving the mysterious intruders, and the conversation through the door is done well. With dangerous rebels all around, these six men face an uncertain future, indeed - I hope they make it!

[theSilentKiller]

Chapter II Part XI - Letzter Widerstand

Humbert Dreux sat at his small table, writing a letter in the light of the candle. Outside of his tent was everything still even tough the sun just set. Muggy air entered his tent through the opening behind Dreuxs's back. After he finished writting the letter, in an old medieval font, Humbert stood up and walked to his armour that hung on a mounting. He started to polish it with an oiled rag until the armour reflected the surrounding warped. After that he opened a small chest, which stood next to his bed and grabbed an old scroll, placed it the table next to the candle, and unreelled it.
It was a rite in his family to pray in front of the genealogical tree in the night before a battle. For hours, he prayed for a victory and renown. He also prayed that his family would be able to return to their old glory. Though his branch of the house of Bourbon lost their county in France, was chased out of France and lost all their posessions in the Knight's Revolt 1522 and fled to Austria afterwards, Humbert would always try to regain their lost power. But he wasn't even allowed to call himself 'de Bourbon', so he chose the name Dreux, for this was the house that ruled first in Dreux and started a long lasting sovereignity.
But for now he had to fight as a cuirassier in the Austrian army, though he would rather be called a knight.
Humbert stood up and went to bed. he needed all his strength to defeat the rebels tomorrow; those damn peasants that don't know their place in the world.

Inside the log house of Florian Frey, the general

Several candles and oil lamps lighted the room up, through the windows one could see only pitch black. Five men leaned on the only table in the middle of the room looking at a map. Nine more men surrounded the five men. Every one had a concentrated expression on their face.


"So every one agrees to that plan", asked Florian Frey seriously his commanders and officers.


Thirteen heads nodded.


"Good, now that every one knows what to do, please - go to sleep. I need well rested men for tomorrow."


The men left the room, visibly eased. But after the door closed Florian saw that one of his commanders still leaned on the table.


"What is it, mister Lütrich?"


"I am concerned about tomorrow. These mercenary pikemen the rebels hired are supposed to be quiet good. They gained a lot of experiences in the new world. They probably will know the tactic we will use-"


"And so? Most certainly they will know it. Spanish mercenaries knowing a tactic called the 'spanish tercio', - not that absurd, isn't it? I understand your concerns - but our men had a lot of time to lern this formation. Tomorrow we will show what we do with rebellious scum! So, mister Lütrich, do not be concerned for they have no strong reason to fight. What greater reason could there be, than fighting for the Monarchy? In regard of this - go to sleep Bernhard, may I call you by your first name? I need one of my best commanders fresh and sprightly."


Bernhard Lütrich had nothing more to say and left the room.

The battle of Poland

The sky turned grey as the two armies deployed. The sun just stated to fend off the night and revealed a dry morning.
The Austrian general stood on a small ridge and overview the battlefield while his meen formed the 'spanish tercio'.
One or two lines of musketeers stood in front of several lines of pikemen.



While the enemy advanced the musketiers would shoot and the pikemen would intercept charges.




The Austrians formed four tercios and kept one pike unit in the rear for reserve, behind them waited the cannons. The cuirassiers were deployed on the right flank.


The sun was already above the hoizon when the move order was given. In time with the drumms moved the tercios forward ontop of a ridge. In the meantime moved the cavalry into some woods in the far right of the main body of the army. Between the first and fourth tercio unlimbered the artillery and prepared for the shoot orders.The enemy attacked with their mercenary pikemen the Austrian center and moved their Arquebusiers to the flanks. While the polish pikemen advanced they were shot at by the Austrian musketeers and when the pikemen reached the 2nd and 3rd tercio, they were attacked by the Austrian hablerdiers. A bloody emerged between the pikemen from spain and the Habsburgian halberdiers.




In the meantime was the 1st tercio put under pressure by two pike units and several Arquebusiers, who stood on a small hill. The 1rst tercio's mesketeers managed to move up onto a ridge and fire at the Polish shooters.

At the same time on the Austrian right flank:

Humbert Dreux sat on his horse between his comrades; through the trees he could see a battle between the 3rd tercio's halberdiers and some of the opponents pikemen. His commander gave the order to charge into the back of the Polish. With clamour clashed the cuirassiers into the rear of the pikmen. Dreux speared one men, dragged out his lance and thrusted it into the shoulder of someone, then his unit disengaged and rode back into the woods. Again they charged into the fighting men and disengaged. The cuirassiers repeated this several times until the regiements commander said that the enemies were too numerous and waited for reinforcements. Humberts armour was covered in blood and the top of his lance was broken off. Through the eye slits he could see the halberdiers running from the battle, but the reserve arrived and pinned down the now free pikemen and the reapetedly charges began anew.







The conter of the polish broke first and the 3rd tercio moved in to help the reserve unit on the right flank and the 2nd helped the 1st tercio on the left. From there they crushed though the pikemen to the Arquebusiers on the hill. The cuirassiers defeated a regiment of polish musketeers and charged for the artillery.



At noon were the rebels defeated. That day would be a grim reminder what the Monarchy does with people who do not follow, but still - it would not be the last battle against rebels.




Next to Florian Frey stood Humbert Dreux.


"I hope these peasant know now their place", said Dreux cold.


"If not, we will help them-" The two men laughed.

End of chapter II

Note:

This battle is not he original one. I forgot to save the original battle I fought, so I had to fight a new one. In the campaign battle I still one but the terrain was different (the map for this map is somewhere tropical) and the units were way more depleded.

The spanish tercio was an actual tactic. It was widely used and there are many variations of it. The real spanish tercio looked a little bit different but Empire TW has its limitations...

[Alwyn]

Good chapter! The map is a nice touch and helps to illustrate the tactics used. I like the way that you use historical tactics (the pikemen and musketeers working together and the use of the Spanish tercio) and the images are impressive.

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

I like the map, too.

That's a nice focus on the tactics, while still letting the individual personalities of your main characters show through. That bit at the end about helping the peasants to "know their place" is quite chilling!

[theSilentKiller]

@Alwyn Thanks ^^ read some more literature about this time more in depth, and I try to make it more historical
@Caillagh Thanks for the nice comment.

Chapter III - Vanitas

Everything is vain


You see, wherever you look, only vanity
What someone built, tears down someone
A grassy mound is, where once was a city
A playground for the shepherd' child with its herd


What now blooms so fairly, will soon be scrunched,
What today knocks and defys, is ash and bones tomorrow
Nothing exists forever, no ore, nor marble
Now our fortune smiles, soon pain begins to warble


The glory of mighty deeds, like dreams must fade away
Has the play of time, the easy men, to stay
Oh, what is all this, what we hold in respect every day


Qua bad tidings, qua shadows, dust and wind
Qua a greenfield of flowers, one never will find
For now, no one seems to care, for lasts forever


-Andreas Gryphius (1616 - 1664)

Chapter III Part I - Überfall

The calamity heralded itself in a ground-shaking storm, as 200 horsemen, armed with rapiers and pistols rode through the fields and farmland, that surrounded the small town of Żyrardów. Men, women and children ran to their houses and tried to grab what they could, than fled the entrances of the burrows. Those who where too slow were pierced by the rapiers, shot dead or trampled to death. After the wave of cavalry began hundreds of, with muskets and halberds armed men charge at the small town. They broke into the houses, took everything of value or usable, even simpel clothes and small pieces of wood. People who tried to hide in their houses were killed, no one was spared expect some of the young women.
Soon after the town was plundered the marauders began to light the houses and fields on fire. One of the marauders found the entrance to one of the burrows. With fire and smoke were the farmers, workers and their wifes and children driven out of their hide-out. Leaving the dark, low and wet caves they saw their town being on fire - after they were hit by the bullets. Twenty musketeers stood in two rows in front of the entrance and shot at every one who came out. Soon dead bodies began to cover the ground. The dead were plundered too, even their clother were taken from them. Some of the marauders fought over the loot.



Those who did not want to die surrendered but everyone who had nothing to offer was killed. On a tree hung about twenty men.




Just for fun, maybe due to the brutalisation, forced some of the marauders some of the farmers to drink liters of 'Schwedentrunk', a combination of old water, urin, excrements and liquid manure. Then they would trampel on the bellies of their victims.
This all lasted only four hours but left a razed town, hundreds of dead people and destroyed existences.


"And was your loot good, too", asked Walter Leslie, looking at the havoc, the men next to him

A guy with a scar on his left cheek and a missing ear. His eyes had two different colours. Overall he looked like someone who would kill your sister and indecently assault your bread, just for fun. He leaned on a halberd, which stuck in the ground.


"Yes I did - ", Matthias Marterstein touched a bag with his loot, "this will be enough for the rest of the way."


"So I guess our contract is fulfilled?"


"Yes, it is", Matthias unfolded a paper, "My companions and I made our way safely close to Warsaw and we have enough food to reach the city without starving. And in exchange I will put in a good word for you by one of the generals You scotts are supposed to be quiet good in battle. - Well - I say good-bye and all hail the king Ja - Ja- Jakob? James? Jebediah? Whatever-his-name-was."



Matthias walked away, leaving the burning town and met his four friends under a tree behind a hill, so that they could only see the smoke columns. Looking around, Matthias could see the clear difference between the common folk, or better a soldier and a man of noble birth.
While his comrades looked rather refreshed, loot filled their pockets and sacs, looked Friedrich, a young, noble man terrified. Dispite not being part of the raid- he hid under a tree and could only hear the events - was his face pale, with wide-open eyes.



But Matthias could also see friction.


"Where is Michael", asked Matthias as he noticed, that his new friend, whom he began to rate highly during their journey was missing.


Thomas anwered: "Dead, he fought with one of the scotts over some loot. A bullet went right through his head."


Matthias was not surprised. It was the harsh reality he learned to know in the war, especially during the last weeks, as he walked though a war-torn country, not as a conquerer, or soldier in an army, but as a traveller. This time it was him who got robbed, this time it was him who had to pay to not get killed. He saw people die for the slightest reason, he killed people for some nuts, cooked cones and possibly poisonous bread. One day you get to like a person and the next they he is dead.
Nothing unusual.



The travellers arrived only two days later in Warsaw. The city has changed a lot. Buildings have been repaired, the garrison has been increased and the cemetery got bigger. Matthias brought Friedrich to the authorities and returned to his guard duty. A few days later the two men met again.



"No, please not again", began Matthias, while he sat down at the wooden table, " you don't have to thank - again. But do you remember that you granted me one wish?"


"Yes, I do. Would you like to redeem that now?" His face got the thinking expression it always had when Friedrich tried to read what other people might plot.


"You see, the thing is, my wife is pregnant - and want you to take the child with you to the capital."


"What?! W-Why that?"


"Hmm, one question: What life do you think the child would have? If it's a girl, she will most likely be a whore in one of the baggages. And as a boy of a soldiers he will, most likely be a soldier as well. And that only if the child doesn't die before the 13th birthday."


"I can see your point, but is your wife ok with it?"


"Yes we talked over it. She will most likely give birth in one month. I want you to take the child with you. You said you will leave in about one month, right?"


"That's right -" Friedrich sighted "I guess I have no option. Tell me when and I will take the child with me. I shall raise it as if it was my own."


"Good", Matthias was relieved, "I will consult you. Give the child a future worth living."




Some Notes:

Schwedentrunk (Sweden's drink) was used for torture and interrogation (mostly to know where valuable things are hidden) It was originally used by the swedish on HRE prisoners and later used by them. Though it was mainly for getting information it was sometimes done for pure pleasure, especially in the last few years of the 30 years war.

Walter Leslie (1607 - 1667 [at the time this chapter plays he technically was still in scottland ]) was a scottish marshall on the side of the HRE (He joined the army under Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1631). He later played an important part in the murder of Wallenstein. If you want to know more about him, here

[Alwyn]

Great update, I like the way that you use the poem, the image and other historical sources. Schwedentrunk sounds like a form of torture, indeed! There is no problem with bringing a historical character such as Walter Leslie into the action earlier than he arrived historically (I have made similar changes to history in my Haiti AAR). Matthias' new perspective, walking through the country as a traveller not a conqueror, presents a powerful picture of a country at war. I wonder how this experience will affect Matthias and what will happen to the child.

[theSilentKiller]

Thanks Alwyn for the nice comment. Right? When I heard of it for the first time I had to choke

Chapter III - Part II Zeit vergeht

The years from 1614 to 1620 are considered the more peaceful years (except for smaller skirmishes) of the Austrian agression of the early 17th cenury. During this time several reforms in military and politics were made.
The historian Gregor Förster describes it as follows :
"With the crushing defeat of the Polish rebels in the battle at Koper did the general status improve but this battle did not, as originally expected, break the will of the citizens. Several 'almost-rebellion' prevented the Austrian armies from pushing toward Königsberg. One important person at this time was the Polish philosopher Stanislaus Leśniewski. With his speech at the Warsaw main square in may 1617 Stanislaus prevented a second rebellion. Though there are not many reliable documents about this speech, the most famous famous version is:

'Przyjaciele plus Bracia, I, one of you, am saddened by the hatred and anger you show here. I cannot deny, I feel the same but this way is not the right one, the one god wills. Because of this, if I ask you all, will you take up arms and fight for your freedom, the answere mustn't be yes! For war and violence, rebellion and revolution does not breed true freedom and peace. I wish this country, our homeland to return to old grateness but rebellion and war does only create a country -, a nation of war and ignorant, mindless people. Our country deserved better, so we have to be better. Words and ideals defeat swords and guns, unity and justice defeats opression and war!' ¹

As per the documents, this speech was soon to be known and copied through out whole Poland. This led to stablisation and enabled the many refoms, the Monarchy did. At this point it is important to point out that the actual Monarch, Matthias I. had no more factual power. His minsters, the First Lord Erich von Kornbluth, the Lord Treasurer, Joachin-Christian Albrecht von Starhemberg and the Lord of Military Ferdinand Maria-Steinhart von Österreich-Tschechen took over the control. They fed Matthias I. with false information and whenever the Monarch gave a command, the three men made up stories, that they executed these command (which they never did), to satisfy Matthias I.. It certainly was dangerous. They were almost covered up several times but managed to eliminate every potentional threat. A list, that was found in 1897 revealed how many people they had killed:

'Maria Störchens (1615)
Karl-Heinz von Strachens (1615)
Heinerich von Lassburg (1616)
Anna-Lauda I. Marktgräfin von Klausenburg (1616)
Klaus von Mannenburg (1617)
Maria-Streicher von Mannenburg (1617)
Christopher Bürgler (1617)
Dragov Krypnik (1617)
Franzens von Hohlstein, Lord of the Navy (1618)
Karkyvksis Brakyik (1618)

And 27 more, whose name are not listed.'²

In sptember 1619 had the three men control over almost everything inside the Monarchy. Under their rule several important reforms were made, such as:

Spanish Tercio as standard infantry formation (1616)
Lowering of the Tax rate (1617)
Compulsory Military Service for men between 16 - 20 (1617)

They (especially Starhemberg supported this idea) also introduced general compulsory education in 1618, tough. When in 1619 Ferdinand II. ascended to the throne the 'almost-dictature' nearly ended but it is assumed that the three 'éminences grise' blackmailed the new emperor.
Also it is during these years of ease that the first entry of the famous diary of Matthias Marterstein was written. Up to today it is one of the most pragmatic writings of this time and gives a deep insight into the life of a soldier/citizen at this time. Written down on 20 pieces of paper (several parts are not readable) it documents the author's daily life in irregular intervals. From precise battle description to mundane things, like lists of his lootings. The diary also covers more intimate issues, like the death of his first and only wife, Maria Marterstein (? -1614):

'[...] And I lay down with a girl young a swet for I do not hav a wife to lay down with [sic] [...] a life was taken as sacrifce for others[sic] [...]' (Matthias was probably not too proficient with writing)

Matthias any information the historians have from this time stemmed from Marterstein's diary."
Gregor F., 2004, History of the Habsburgian Monarchy Part III (1599 - 1650), Munich: C.H.BECK)

During the 'break' the Monarchy formed an alliance with Sweden (1618), one of their few allies.
The years of rest ended in 1620. Florian Frey marched with his army towards Königsberg, to conquer Pommern. After they defeated a small Brandenburgian partol, the army began to besiege the city in july 1620.




Notes:

Matthias I. was Archduke of Austria from 1612 - 1619 and emperor of the HRE. From 1608 on he was King of Hungary (known as Matyas the II.)

Ferdinand II. was emperor of the HRE from 1619 until he died (1637), king of Bohemia from 1617 - 1619 (he was driven off) and from 1619 on the Archduke of Austria.

C.H.BECK is a real publisher. They release books about law, science, literatur and history.

[Beckitz]

Excellent update SilentKiller! I love AARs where the king or faction leader is played as a reformer. It's cool to see the different structural changes people come up with for their societies.

Great job!

[theSilentKiller]

Thank you Beckitz^^ Though it often takes a while until the changes begin to appear

Chapter III Part III - Königsberg

Winter 1620: For months has Königsberg been besieged by Austrian forces, famine and disease spread through both, the city and the camp of the attackers. Sleet and accasionally snow fell and turned the otherwise green landscape with it's many hills and forests into a white, dead and muddy region. Many a man sunk into the ground, when they didn't notice that the frozen ground changed into a deadly slough, covered by snow.


The raids of the Austrians throughout the province were everytime less fuitfull and soon even the general and his officers suffered fom hunger, but they could not attack until the first breach has been shot into the walls of the city.


It wasn't until the early november, that the first hole in the defence of the Brandenburgians appeared. Florian Frey immediately ordered the attack, which he planned for weeks.

"Men, " , he said to his officers, " do as ordered and we will be victorious."
And thus began the assaults.




It was the 20th of november 1620, black clouds darkened the sky, but it did not rain, as the defenders noticed shouts and disquietness in the, otherwise, silent caps in front of the south wall, the wall where the only breach was. Immediately began the citizens and soldiers to man the walls. 2 Austrian Tercios deployed close, but not in reach of the Brandeburgian muskets, to the hole in the wall and waited for orders. After a few hours, now it was almost midday, were all the men in position.
In the far south lightened the sky, one could even see the sun for some minutes.




Matthias was leading his regiment of foot closer to the walls, as he noticed, that some armed men left the city through the west gate. He immediately ordered his line to change sides and shoot at the sortie unit, after an almost half an hour long skirmish ran the defenders, most likely only armed citizens, and Matthias could now procede as ordered by the general.




Again, like the weeks before, began the rain to pour down out of sinister clouds. One could hear blickering water and the drumming of the rain, when it hit the buildings, armours and cannons.


The attackers managed, during early afternoon to open up yet another hole, left of the south gate in the wall and moved their troops there.


While the two tercios still were forming up charged a cavalry unit out of the city, but got into cross fire. Horse screams and the sniveling of dying men echoed through the city. More and more citizens, even some of those, who volunteered, to defend their home, tried to search for safety in the building. Now, all four Tercios, two on each breach, one left and one right of the south gate, moved closer and finally made contact with the defenders, which were inside behind the walls. A long shootout flared up.



While his men distracted the defenders charged Floria Frey at the small cannons,which the defender deployed secretly in the woods to the east of the city. Without a single casualty managed the famous general to seize the two pieces of artillery; he could use some more fire power.



"Sir,", shouted Humbert Dreux, now a cuirassier in the general's body guard, at his master, as he heard him groam "are you wounded?"
"No no, it's okay. I just need t- *- Dreux, you need to take over the control of the battle, for now! I will return to the camp."

Holding his right arm, Florian rode away and disappeared behind the hills.



Shouting men charged out of the city, right at Matthias' regiment! He realised what was happening as he saw a gigantic smoke cloud, right in front of the breach.

"Fall back!" The regiment's leader wasn't heard through the bangs and screams. He blew his trumped, finally began his men to move and changed position with the pikemen behind them. Trained soldiers with pikes fought versus civilians with outdated arquebus'.
The trained soldiers drove the defenders into a corner, where the cornered managed to put up a long fight, but eventually were slaughtered to the last man. Like hundreds of bees with long, deadly stings, desisting from a carcass, dispersed the pikemen and returned to their positions.



After the some time began the 9th regiment of food to scale the walls. One hundred and twenty men grabbed the four ropes and began to scale the high walls of the city, walls that have been unscaled since their building.


Sneaky, like a cat, which slimbs on a tree to catch a bird, jumbed the man over the battlement, creeped to the onther side of the wall, where they had a good view to the city and raised their guns.



The white smoke and many bangs where only the vanguards of death. The one hundred and twenty bullets, that descended in a vast speed on the defenders behind the fall. The projectiles, which missed stinged into the cobble stone, deformed and jumped a few centimiters into the air.





Whilst the men were still scaling the east wall two more Tercios moved into position, close to the rigth side of the south wall. It was this time of the asault, about 2 post meridiem orderd the mayor of the city, a military utterly ungifted man, to charge out their cavalry. The men on the horses, mostly impoverished nobles on ahungered, shaky hacks, weren't able to even get twenty feet close to the men outside the wall; two regiments of trained musketeers shot at them. The few surviving ran and disappeared in the heavy courtain of rain, like the white snow under the red, warm blood of the many dead.




"Hurry, hurry", ordered Marteus, fro his horse, his men. The heave cannon slowly rolled over the partly frozen, partly muddy ground. After two hours managed his regiment to move the artillery into position.
With a good line of sight and with only sixty feet between them and the hole in the left side of the south wall, ordered Mateusz his me to unlimber and load canister shots. And that not too late. Just as they were able to fire the first volley, ran about two hundred armed men out of the city and began to shoot at the pikemem, to the far left of the breach. The first shot mainly hit hit the ground, only a few men were hit. The second cannon's shot was a direct hit. The shooters close to the breach were knocked down by the lead balls, like angrily capsized chess pieces.




Now began the slaughter of the armed citizens by the pikemen again; the outcome was the same. It never changes. On the left breach emerged two other vile melee battles.



In the end, the defenders were overrun. The last, decisive charge, one could say the nail in the coffin, was led by the leader of the 12th regiment of pikemen, Thomas Schwägen, inside the city.

If a child would have asked Matthias 'why?', he would not have been to answer, but 'why not?'

[Alwyn]

Excellent chapter! Your writing and images work well together.

[theSilentKiller]

Thank you Alwyn^^

Chapter III Part IV - Prävenitvschlag

For some reason, no one could explain why, was the big throne room warm, without even a single source of heat. Only some oil lamps guttered here and there, without emitting any actual warmth. It was, again, one of the days where almost total silence reigned in the room. A few men talked silently, trying not to drag too much attention at them, but it was useless considering the reverberation, which intensified every voice. Michail Fjodorowitsch Romanow, the first of his line to sit on the tsar's throne, was engrossed in thought. His head rested on his left hand and his eyes were closed. He opened them slowly and looked down on the emissary, a young boy, not older than seventeen. The tsar said:
"So, what exactly do you expect me to answer, but yes? Speak!"
"Well - huh - maybe yo..."
"Shut up! Of course I have no other choice but to say yes. Now get lost and tell this your king."


Frightened left the boy the room as fast as possible, trying to be as submissive as his haste allowed.
"So, ", began Artyom, the adviser " we have no other choice?"
"Yes. If we do not help now, we have no hope for a lasting alliance.
"But the truce does not compel us to help them."
"Indeed, but there is reason why we made this truce, if we don't intend to form a bond. We need a strong ally."
"Hmm - so, should I ready the army?"
"Yes. Order Petrovsky to march towards Warsaw!"


Only three months later crossed an army of five thousand men the Narrow River close to Białystok, a dangerous undertaking, but necessary, since the general wanted to reach Warsaw before an Austrian reinforcement army arrives.
In Vienna, Ferdinand Maria-Steinhart von Österreich-Tschechen, the minister of military was enraged. He sat with the First Lord and the Lord Treasurer at a small table, drinking tea. The carrier, who delivered a note to Ferdinand, which seemed to be the cause for his rage, thought when he entered, that these three men were only having some tea and a small chat. He could not have known, that these three men, -these eminences grise- , were controlling the whole country from this small table.
"Lord von Österreich-Tschechen! What does this letter say, that it enrages you so much", asked Erich von Kornbluth, the First Lord.
"Sir. I do not know how, but Klausenburg has been overrun."
"What? By whom? And why did it fall so fast, that it was easily overrun? And how can you not know this, you are responsible for the garrisons, and you should know when an enemy army crosses the border."
"The Polish. They managed to get a small army over the Carpathian Mountains. Well - I moved several units to Warsaw, I- I thought they might be needed there."
"And you did not care to tell me this? This will have consequences. I..."
"The letter tells more-. The outposts in Poland say, that a russian army marched into our lands. It is supposed to be strong enough to seize Warsaw. Should I inform general Frey?"


In May 1621 Florian Frey, stationed in Königsberg, received a concerning letter. A russian army crossed the Narew close to Bialstock and now marched towards Warsaw, leaving a grey, meagre land. Frey ordered to leave without hesitation, to reinforce the men, a small but veteran army, that gained a lot of experience in the east, inside Warsaw. Frey's army and the Russian's met in november 1621 close to the small town of Czyżew. After a few days of negotiations, a formality, everyone knew a conflict was inevitable, ordered the generals their troops to prepare for battle.

November 26th, Battle of Czyżew

Frey is a general, who never doubed his abilities, but when he saw the might of the Russian army he began to realise his precarious situation. Even with the reinforcement of the defenders it would be a tough battle, maybe his toughest, so far. But this was the chance he waited for so long, a challenge to prove his worth, to make 'Frey' a name worth notable.


The weather was dry, the sky clear, some clouds floated above the heads of the thousend men, that were about to kill each other. The first hours, from about 5.m. to 8 a.m., were used for deploying the men. During this rather tedious activity were the soldiers shot at by cannons, but the heavy, iron balls mainly hit the evacuated buildings. With moanings and roars collapsed some of them. The Russian general, a battle-tested warhorse, did not notice the austrians, parts of the Warsaw army, behind his back because he ordered an early cavalry charge, his usual tactic, which demanded all of his attention. The eighty proud horsemen were riddled with bullets and those that survived were impaled by pikes.



While the russians were distracted by their disastrous charge sneaked several Austrian units through the town to surprise the enemy. Slowly, they creeped between the dark, empty building, while hearing the cannons raging.


By then, the sun reached the zenith, began another russian cavalry unit to attack. Their targets were the reinforcements, which Petrovsky noticed by now. Repeatedly, they charged at the musketeers, but their square , an advancement of the hedgehog formation, held up. Everytime the men on their horses reached the square, they were stopped by the mass of men, and when they disengaged, the horses were hit by bullets. Assisted by the halberdiers, the austrian managed to fend of the cavalry, but many losses were later to be counted.



While the square was still fighting was the Austrin right flank dragged into an extraordinary situation. Hundreds of arrows rained down on the bare men. The musketeers tried to answer this, but the enemy's arrows found their targets better than the lead balls, fired by muskets. For every volley rained two torrents of arrows down. After almost thirty minutes of battle, most of the Austrian musketeer from the right flank were dead. It was then, that Matthias, now captain of the Fourth Tercio, decided to move in the pikemen. Swiftly retreated the archers, unreachable for the heavy armoured men.


Frey was frustrated as he saw the many losses on the right flank, the unsuccesful chase after the primitve men, who reminded him of these native people in the new world, who he heard of. His left flank was still trying to get into position and moving the center in would not be the smartest brightest, but just waiting was not that smart too; his mukseteers began to loose the battle against the Russian line. And he still had no contact with the Walther Störchens, the general of the reinforcements. But it was this moment, the moment where Matthias decided to move in his pikemen, where Frey had the idea.
"Move in all of the pikemen. We need to pin them down. Now!"


The experienced Austrian men began to battle with the fresh recruited, but numerous russians. At the same time charged the a cavalry unit the still retreating archers. With help of the cuirassiers, led by Humbert Drieux, were the 'primitives' annihilated.


Another archer unit was engaged into a ferocious melee with some of the reinfocement's musketeers. With their small axes tried the russians to defend themselves, but had no chance against the professional soldiers of the Habsburgian Monarchy.



By then, hundreds of men fought in a gigantic brawl in the center of the battlefield. Those, who stood outside of the fighting looked at it terrified. Most of the fighters lost their weapon somewhere and had to strangel or batter their enemies to death. Screaming men, with crushed faces or broken limbs lay on the ground or tried to crawl away, escaping this madness. Matthias, who stood with his men about a hundred meters away had to witness these lugubrious sights without being able to help; he dared not to join the fight.


He would later describe it in his diary as 'the most attrociously fight between men, than my eyes had ever witnessed'



This fight, that left many crippled and traumatized men, lasted almost an hour and in the end the austrians were victorious; the russians fled, for one silver coind a day is not worth anticipating in such brute kill off.


The last russian standing on the field were only one unit of line infantry, which devastated two regiments of foot. Matthias never saw such a discipline and tactic. While the first row was reloading shot the second line and all of them pulled the trigger at almost the same time. These volleys had an obliterative effect. Only with the help of the pikemen from the center were the last russians killed, caught or driven off.


The battle of Czyżew was later to be known as the 'slaughter of poland'





Notes:

Michail Fjodorowitsch Romanow I. (1596 - 1645) was Tsar from 1613 - 1645. He ewas the first Tzar from the house of Romanow. The Romanows would reign until the last Tzar (though later called Emperors of Eussia after Peter the Great)

'The Truce' was the the 'Truce of Deulino'. It gave the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth several prrovinces in russia, but they also had to give up the claims on the crown. In reality, the russian and polsih would later fight again, over some land. ( 1654 - 1667) The Commonwealth lost all of the gaines provinces.