[RTJ AAR] Heiliges Römisches Reich

[~Beren~]

The Holy Roman Empire, a conglomeration of lands and Germanic states, would soon be led to ultimate greatness with rulers who would dare conquer all the known world. Emperor Heinrich the Champion, one of the first of these rulers, sees great potential with his German subjects. The year is 1098, Heinrich rules with an imperialist fist. To make his empire great, he would need to establish a firm foundation by acquiring certain trade agreements with several other factions. From the Iberian Peninsula to the merchants of Venice and to the exotic traders of Russia, the Kaiser managed to gain trade rights with almost all the European powers. While the Reich's treasury fills with gold, the Kaiser plans to raise a powerful army to continue his conquest in Northern Italy. His first obstacle, is the Italian state of Milan. There has been a resentment of German rule by the Milanese people, and so they also prepare for an inevitable assault. The two armies agreed they would face each other on one of the plains of Northern Italy.

September 17th, 1100, Emperor Heinrich's forces rallies up and waits for the arrival of the Milanese army:


As the Milanese finally come into view, the Kaiser orders his missile troops to fire-at-will:


The crossbowmen managed to inflict some casualties within the Milanese ranks, but that didn't stop them from initiating a full frontal assault:


After countless hours of intense fighting, the Milanese soldiers rout in blind panic. Most were either captured or killed:


A group of knights managed to capture the enemy general, Armando, a nobleman of high reputation. The Kaiser, knowing this, shows unheard-of mercy. Letting the young general live and even releases him and his men back to Milan:


This is just one of many victories the Reich will experience in the years to come: