[M2TW AAR] To Conquer a Continent) Denmark

**Ricky656** · August 04, 2009, 11:55 AM

Ok so, this is my very first AAR so i will apologize if it isn't up to the desired standerds. I was inspired by reading several Empire total war AAR's to write my own, unfortunately none of my pc's are up to playing empire so all I have is every previous total war, latest being the one im using the retrofit version of Medieval II total war (which lags quite badly too

)

The style im using shall be light (hopefully

), not too much writing but enough to understand the story perfectly well, Feedback and suggestions are more than welcome

To Conquer a Continent) Denmark

Rules of Campaign

No Cheats of course
No sellings cities and then taking back straight after
No merchant glitch (or any other glitch)
Always declare for the defender in the incident of allies turning against each other
Il fight as many battles as i can excluding overwhelming insignificant battles or certain sieges (sieges really lag badly)
Very Hard Campaign Difficulty
Very Hard Battle Dificulty
No reloads

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Ricky656** · August 04, 2009, 12:27 PM

Act 1 - The Awakening

1080 AD - Stepping Stones

King Knud of Dennmark was troubled, he had recently recovered from a near fatal illness which had drastically changed his view on life in general. His country, although now christian, had not grown in several generations of his forefathers. This he decided could destroy their freedom forever, the expanding countries of Europe were absorbing smaller towns, villages and fiefdoms one by one and slowly gathering pace. His people would not remain independant if any of the great powers turned to them next, and so his only solution; expand, grow, conquer. He would make Dennmark the most powerful and rich country in all of Europe and then take it by storm.

He called all commanders in his charge to him personally and with a new energy never before seen in the king he layed down his plans for the future. Backed even more enthusiastically by his son, Prince Charles, taxes were raised in Arhas and the surrounding villages to pay for the upcoming campaigns, new recruits trained and new buildings constructed.

The kings first objective that was to be met by himself and his commanders, to take control of the majority of the baltic, if not all of it. So the king himself marched out with his bodyguard to meet up with troops under captain Hakkon an began their march north-east.

The people of Hamburg were also local trade partners with the Danes, however when Kolbein, a danish spy, was captured and interrogated sneaking into Hamburg, it was revealed to the people of Hamburg that the danes were on the move and were likely to annex Hamburg and the area for themselves. This drove their people to take up arms against the Danish an cease trade with Dennmark. Prince Charles and his men headed south to lay seige to the castle, although it was far too formidable to assault he could starve them into submission.

**Ricky656** · August 04, 2009, 01:46 PM

1090 AD - Suspisions

Ingrid, the kings daughter, was sent to talk with dignitaries from the Holy Roman Empire in order to secure trade rights, this deal was successful. However during her stay in their territory an assasin sent by the Empire was captured during his attempt to assasinate Ingrid. Fortunately she escaped back to Denmark to be married to Fredrik of Vorde, a man of chivalry, a trait the King personally admires. This transgression by the Empire could not be forgotten, an attempt on those of Royal blood should not go unpunished.

The king pushed northwards towards stockholm, learning that the region was controlled by a minor family based in the city. If stockholm was taken the rest of the region would be annexed easily into Denmark.

On his arrival, Knud instantly prepared for battle and attacked without much delay, it was winter and his troops would not apreciate a long seige.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Stockholm was occupied and taxes lowered to encourage growth in the underdeveloped areas of and around Stockholm. However his job was not yet done, one area west of Stockholm was resisting Danish rule and had taken up arms against the 'invaders' so the king decided to crush this resistance quickly in order to stop further uprisings.

**Ricky656** · August 04, 2009, 04:42 PM

1096 AD - Calm before the Storm

Hamburg falls to Prince Charles' forces, the defenders surrender as the city is occupied, construction begins to connect the city to Arhus' road network. Unfortunately rebel raiders from the region west of the Prince were thought to have been spotted taking up positions in a forest on the border between the newly annexed province and Denmark itself but had disappeared from the scouts amongst the densly packed trees. They would have to be dealt with at some point.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The danish rulers made sure their cities grew loyal, large and rich, slowly the Prince and his father the King were gaining reputations to be chivalrous and noble both in battle and government.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

King Knud, after his occupation of Stockholm, was eager to face the rebels west of his position, his men were resupplying with all haste and villagers being trained to fight as militia in the unliekly case of a surprise attack during the armies absence. On the day they planned to move out some ominous news arrived from the royal court;

Admiral Jon, who had been scouting in the british channel, has reported an unusually large amount of british troops and transports ammasing near London yet there was no indication of any hostile action being taken towards France or the rebels near Normandy. Also not long before this report, an english princess by the name of Cecilia has arrived in Denmark and had presented to the Danish court but had given no diplomatic offer. The news was greatly unnerving some Danish nobles and so the king sent back a dispatch reassuring his countrymen that the english wouldnt dare move against Denmark. His plans to reafirm his position in the Catholic church were accelerated as well, being only christian for little more than a year meant that the other kingdoms in Christendom held Denmark in great contempt, so as to strengthen his position politcally the order was sent for a diplomat to travel to Rome and present gifts to the Pope and hopefully the king could use this newfound favour to defend Danmark from the other European Catholics.

**Ricky656** · August 04, 2009, 05:42 PM

1106 AD - Pacifying the Locals

King Knud was finally able to march for the final rebel castle in the area, there had been minor skirmishes with small bands of rebels which had delayed his progress, much to his great annoyance. News had reached him of a recent military alliance formed between the Moors and the Portugese, most likely against spain surmized the messenger.

At Hamburg there was a further developement with the Rebels in the forests, they had marched south to challenge the Danish troops in Hamburg. Compelled by his sense of honour and fair play, Prince Charles rode out to meet this challenge head on, in the 1st Battle of Hamburg:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Once rearmed and rested the Prince was now free to move against another of the rebel regions in the area, he could head west to strike at the Rebels which invaded before or he could head east to secure another city bordering the Baltic and bring Denmark closer to its current short-term goal.

**Ricky656** · August 04, 2009, 06:25 PM

1118 AD - It all Blows Open!

Prince Charles was livid, a few months prior to this a Jihad had been called upon bagdad, so his split plan was executed. Fredrik of Vorde, now married to the Prince's sister Ingrid was ordered south where he joined up with troops raised in Hamburg and was sent west to take antwerp and show justice to the rebels that invaded earlier. Meanwhile Charles was to retrain his men in Hamburg before marching east to secure stettin with encouragment from the council of nobles. However now the Pope had called a crusade just as the Prince was about to leave for Stettin, it also commanded Prince Charles himself to join the crusade for the glory of Christ and take Cairo from the Egyptian Infidel. This put Danish plans behind schedule by quite a while.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Regardless Fredrik moved to antwerp and lay seige as did the King to Oslo.

**Ciaren113** · August 05, 2009, 07:03 PM

Still very good and i want to kno wat happens next

**Ricky656** · August 06, 2009, 07:49 AM

If any one wants to suggest an idea for what I could do with the Danish, im looking to expand into the most interesting places where most Danish players wouldn't go

**Ricky656** · August 06, 2009, 08:22 AM

1130 AD - Diplomatic Relations

The messenger held out his hand to the King and revealed the scrap of partchment, knud stared at him bleakly as he picked it up and read the German script;

Töten Sie Ingrid, der Kaiser will es getan

It read: Kill Ingrid, the Emperor wants it done

The orders had been picked off an assasin that was believed to have been sent by the Holy Roman Empire. He was captured during the night as he attempted to gain entry to Ingrid's chambers in Antwerp, after being swiftly executed this note had been found.

The messenger hesitated before asking 'Shall I cancel all trade with the Empire?' The king stared motionless at the writing before he shook his head, 'We need more evidence, they may have been set up'

The kings army were based in Oslo after their recent conquest, but as Charles his son was sent to Cairo, Knud decided to move on Stettin himself, while keeping an eye on the Empire of course.

Meanwhile Prince Charles' army had arrived at Thessalonica and after they rested outside the city under watch from the Byzantium troops they hired several ships to take them across to Cairo. However although they were not far off Cairo now, another army had joined the crusade, as the army rested a dispatched arrived from his rearguard scouts that a second hungarian column flying the Crusading banner had been sighted just north of Byzantium territory. This was now the fourth entry to the Crusade.

There were also several changed in the Danish court, news had arrived from Admiral Jon of the English's dealings and what was revealed only worried the Nobles even more. England had declared an Alliance with not only Milan, but more importantly the Holy Roman Empire. The Empire had also allied itself to Venice in return for a 'trifle' of gold. Emund of Tvoyoyri, whos was currently moving with the Kings army recieved news that his wife had given birth to a new son, Erik, may he serve Denmark well.

The Emmisary sent to the Papcy had finished his dealings, and although the gifts were happily accepted the Pope was not yet ready to put his complete trust in Denmark, however the King had a second plan; The Cardinal Halstan had risen among the ranks of the priests and not only had he been admitted to the College of Cardinals but he had also become the top Ranked 'Bishop Preferati' and was the most likely to be elected as the next Pope. This would make Denmark one of the Influential factions in Christendom if it were the next Popes home country.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Ciaren113** · August 06, 2009, 08:44 AM

I have a place u can go The moon or Antartica

**kasrkin** · August 07, 2009, 05:31 AM

One small step for a Dane, one giant leap for Scandanavian Kind

.

I personally think you should raid Constantinople! burn their heathen palaces, raid Novgorod, Raid Cairo, raid everyones Capitals!

**Ricky656** · August 07, 2009, 11:47 AM

Its an idea, I'm sure either Charles or Knud will consider it

**Ricky656** · August 07, 2009, 01:09 PM

1132 AD - Politics, arn't they a bore?

King Knud has just returned from his glorious conquest, to prove his might, his wisdom, his supreme power! Yet here he was sitting on the throne being given a lecture by a select number of his Nobles, aparently he had 'lost control of the situation' Fredrik, after securing Antwerp had decided orders would take too long to arrive so he moved west and had lay seige to Brudges. This had made the council most disgruntled as they would have used the city as a buffer against the English and French.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

At the same time, another report had arrived from Admiral Jon, the English had secured another city just west of Caen, Rennes. Knud racked his brains while ignoring the constant drone coming from his council. Suddenly he looked up, his face had lit up, 'Gentlemen I had the solution' the king announced, quite beside himself, 'We shall let Fredrik continue....' The king was inturupted by a mutter of disagreement and one noble asked if the king had been listening to them at all. Raising hsi hand the king continued 'and once is had been subdued we shall sell it to the Papcy, this, gentlemen, would not only me we would gain some well earned profit, but also favour with Pope Gregory and a buffer between us and England/France' There was a short duration of silence before many of the Nobles nodded and exclaimed Aye!

Most unknowning to these going's on, Fredrik wondered if what he was doing was right.

**Ricky656** · August 08, 2009, 04:34 PM

1142 to 1143 AD - Sands of Time

Knud and his army were reaching the borders of Stettin when the messenger from the Holy Roman Empire arrived, he stated blankly that Stettin had been taken over by the Empire and that their mighty armies could easily destroy those under the command of the Danish Nobility. With that he pulled out a scroll signed by the Kaiser of the Empire that if Denmark did not send tribute in Florins within the next few months his armies would crush Denmark quickly.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

The king sternly rejected the command and swiftly returned to Denmark where he informed the Council and prepared for all out war.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

Other incidents of Note: Milan had been excommunicated
The French had failed attempting to take control of English lands west of Caen

**powellinthesouth** · August 08, 2009, 10:17 PM

awesome, please continue

**Ricky656** · August 09, 2009, 04:27 PM

Thanks :] I shall keep updating as often as Possbible

**Ciaren113** · August 11, 2009, 08:50 AM

Poor King Knud still life goes on

very good so far keep it up

**Ricky656** · August 14, 2009, 06:52 AM

Lil anouncent here, I'm going down to Torquay fer a week (yes im english) So im not gonna be able to update the Story and unfortunately neither do I have time fer a lengthy update right now, i can however give a few details on whats happened recently, but i do not have enough time to edit loads of screenshots an upload them etc... so il convert it into a more story like fashion when I get back:

1146 AD

Sain has declared war on England
Stockholm has recently had a population boom
Knud and his army have marched down to Hamburg due to increased Imperial activity on the Border
Cairo was offered as a gift towards the Pope who accepted it happily
France offered Danmark an Alliance and trade rights which was accepted
The Council gives some of their private warships to the Danish crown for forfilling their wishes of blockading Egypt held Jerusalem.

Sorry about this but when I get back il repost this year in a more story-like fashion