Land of the Free (XVII century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Quest)
- Thread starter Sertorius
- Start date
- Alt. History Historic
[X]Plan: Murderhoboing with Friends!
-[x] Conan O'Connor
-[x] Companions
-[x] Polyglot
-[X] Tactician
-[X] Easily Frustrated
-[X] In Debt
-[x] Mortal Enemy
-[x] Conan O'Connor
-[x] Companions
-[x] Polyglot
-[X] Tactician
-[X] Easily Frustrated
-[X] In Debt
-[x] Mortal Enemy
Last edited:
[X] Plan: Raging Genius
- Location
- Europe
Thankfully no one has the Liberum Veto.
Introduction
Sertorius
Rebellious Legate
- Location
- Roma Invicta
[X]Plan: Veni, Vidi, Vici... at a price
-[X] Liam O'Donnel
-[X] Polyglot
-[X] Tactician
-[X] Mortal Enemy
-[X] In Debt
-[X] Liam O'Donnel
-[X] Polyglot
-[X] Tactician
-[X] Mortal Enemy
-[X] In Debt
"...enough." you said finally after the unknown Polish noble was bombarding you with questions and self-righteous accusations all night.
"Huh, what's that, Mr Lajam Odonel? You had enough? Ha! I told ya! I knew ya couldn't outdrink a true Polish knight, yesssir!" the nobleman said, heavily intoxicated. He looked like he was about to fall down on the floor into Morpheus's embrace.
"You had your fun, sir. And your meal. And your drink. Many times over. I have more important things to do, than to drink myself to death in some second rate tavern in the middle of nowhere. Good night, sir." and with that, you raised yourself from your seat, made a curt bow, turned around and exited the building, leaving the noble already snoring on the table.
It seems he will wake up in the mud today as well.
While you were riding out into the morning sun, you had no time for sleep. You'll sleep, when you're dead. Right now you had less than a day's ride away from your destination and you intended to reach it as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, old memories started to come back.
You were born on the 22nd of August Anno Domini 1603 to Patrick O'Donnell and his wife Martha O'Donnell, née Sweeney in a small hamlet called Alleen, County Donegal, Ireland. While you had siblings, 2 older brothers and 1 younger sister, none if them survived past childhood. Your father, a poor noble from a proud, ancient clan was as stern and distant as people go, yet he still was your father and you remember him with affection. Or rather, whatever tales mother told you regarding him, since your own memories are a bit hazy. He took part in the great war against the English, known now as the Nine Years' War. As all clansmen sworn to their leader, your father joined the forces of Red Hugh O'Donnell, the king of Tyrconnell from a very old line of kings, the same that ruled Donegal for centuries. It was a bloody and destructive conflict, your mother told you. The O'Donnell's, along with Hugh O'Neill and his men, who were the only ones with more influence in Ulster, than your own clan, waged a gruesome struggle. Yet the war turned for the worse, and 2 years before you were born, the English captured and burned Donegal Castle, along with the Franciscan abbey nearby. Having finally secured Spanish aid, the combined forces of the Irish rebels and their allies from Iberia were defeated in the decisive siege of Kinsale. The war dragged on for another couple of months, but its outcome was by now inevitable. The once great and powerful Rory O'Donnell (his brother Hugh died in exile in Spain) and O'Neill submitted to the English king James I Stuart, and that was that. For them, nothing changed. Under the surrender and regrant policy, they kept their lands and possessions, became Earls and still were politically important.
Your family however?
With your lands burned out, home destroyed, animals slaughtered and servants killed, you were forced into a pitiful existence. You remember your childhood being full of hardship and of worried looks on your parents' faces. Father worked like a slave to provide for you and your mother, labouring all day despite the weather, tending to whatever meagre holdings you had left.
And them it happened.
News broke out, that the Earls of Tyrconnell and Tyrone, along with a couple of dozen supporters, fled to the continent, leaving the rest at the mercy of the English. Needless to say, this Flight of the Earls, as it was to be known, became the downfall of many Irish families. The English began a large scale colonization scheme of Ireland, known as the Plantation of Ulster. Thousands of English and Scottish settlers came to the country and were given lands, either confiscated or otherwise extorted from their former owners. When Cahir O'Doherty began his rebellion in 1608, your father was quick to join him. Unfortunately for them, this struggle was crushed much faster than the previous uprising. O'Doherty was killed at Kilmacrennan on the same year and the rest of the rebels at Tory Island not long after. Your father was among those, that perished in the latter and it's a tale your mother was never anxious to tell you. In order to save his skin, a rebel had to kill another rebel of a higher rank than his own. This rule, known as "Pelham's Pardon" was the reason why the last of the insurgents started killing each other. Among those slaughtered was your father. Killed by an Irish sword of a coward, while the English stood there and watched with amusement. You were told that the few survivors of the massacre did receive their pardons, which made your blood boil.
With the rebellion crushed, the colonization process increased drastically. Old friends and neighbours disappeared, were killed, expelled or otherwise removed from their lands. In their place came Englishmen. After a few years of miserable existence, they finally came for you. You were a teenager back then, but you still remember the day like it was yesterday. English soldiers barged into your home, raped and killed your mother, then almost snuffed you out as well. You did manage to kill one of them with their own sword, before making it for the hills. The pain and desperation burns in you still at the mere thought of those horrible moments. You've lost everything: your family, your lands, and your home. All because of those English bastards. You made an oath back then: that one day you will avenge your family, regain your honour and kill every last one of them English dogs. But right now, Ireland seemed to be a bit too crowded by them, so you had to leave. Especially since they would be looking for you. You remembered that some time ago the English were rounding up Irishmen to be sent overseas. Military service in Sweden. While you had no idea where that was, you figured, that any place is better, than this dump. After much searching and pleading, you finally made your way aboard a merchant vessel bound for France.
The year was 1618.
[Service in France: 67/100 + 10 bonus = 77 - good and noticeable service]
Having arrived in France a poor noble without money, your options were quite limited. For a while you survived thanks to the goodwill of certain people, especially Scotsmen, who were much more easier to find, than your fellow Irishmen. Yet you knew that this couldn't last forever. In the meanwhile, you took great pains to quickly learn the French language and since you yourself had talent for this sort of thing, soon you weren't forced to rely on translators, but could even translate yourself.
Then your luck was about to take a turn for the better.
While travelling to Paris, you found yourself in a most peculiar situation. Having encountered a wealthy noble being attacked by a few brigands, you came to his rescue and put those fiends to flight. The nobleman you helped was François Henri Alphonse d'Ornano, lord of Mazargues and a colonel of a regiment of infantry named after him. He was the younger son of Alphonse d'Ornano, Marshal of France and a known commander. While his older brother inherited most of the family fortune, he still got some lands but most of all, his father's regiment. Now being 30, he was pursuing a military career, like his forbearers. Out of gratitude, he took you in and since you showed talent, made you a lieutenant in his regiment. This proved to be a godsend. Not only did you receive a steady income, but you could perfect your military skills and knowledge. As it turned out, you had a chance to prove yourself soon enough.
That same year, 1620, marked the renewal of the French religious wars. A Huguenot rebellion was triggered by the re-establishment of Catholic rights in Huguenot Béarn by Louis XIII in 1617, and the military annexation of Béarn to France in 1620, with the occupation of Pau in October 1620. The government was replaced by a French-style parliament in which only Catholics could sit. Feeling their survival was at stake, the Huguenots gathered in La Rochelle on 25 December. At this Huguenot General Assembly in La Rochelle the decision was taken to forcefully resist the Royal threat, and to establish a "state within the state", with an independent military commandment and independent taxes, under the direction of the Duke de Rohan, an ardent proponent of open conflict with the King. In that period, the Huguenots were very defiant of the Crown, displaying intentions to become independent on the model of the Dutch Republic.
Obviously, the King would have none of it and come spring next year, Louis XIII gathered an army and marched with it to the south of France to pacify the rebellion. Your regiment took part in this campaign and so did you. The first of the Huguenot fortresses, Saumur, was taken without a fight thanks to the quick wits of the monarch and its loyal population. The real fighting began during the next investment, at Saint-Jean-d'Angély. This city was under the command of Benjamin de Rohan, baron de Soubise, the Duke's brother and would not be so easily swayed. Thus, trenches were dug, the siege set. Several assaults took place and you fought in one of them, the very first one in the suburbs, the day after arrival. This was your first taste of battle and you remember how scared you were. It turned out to be a huge failure. Both regiments leading the attack took heavy losses, including a regimental commander and 3 captains. Finally, after 26 days de Rohan surrendered. You remember him kneeling down before the king and taking an oath not to take up arms against him again. As it turned out, he was back in the fight just a month later. The King detached a part of his army to block to largest Huguenot fortress in France, La Rochelle, since he did not have the manpower or fleet to invest it completely, while he and most of the force, you included, went for his next target, which was Montauban. This 2 month siege turned out to be a bloodbath. 6 000 defenders under François de Béthune, Duke de Orval and Jacques Nompar de Caumont, Duke de La Force proved to be well motivated and utterly impossible to beat. The King's army, despite having 25 000 men at the beginning of the siege could not take the city. Worse, by its end Louis XIII has lost half his men due to fighting and disease. You were storming the ramparts of the city along with your men, yet each time you had to pull back with heavy losses. Huguenot defenders periodically made sorties, with successes. Worse, winter was coming and no end was in sight. Finally, King Louis XIII ordered to abandon the siege and withdrew to Bordeaux. On the way there, the army captured and plundered the town of Monheurt as well as tore down its walls. The campaign was done for the year.
Next year turned out to be more decisive. Come spring, Benjamin de Rohan came back with a vengeance and invaded the territory of Nantes, stirring up a rebellion there. Louis XIII immediately sent his troops and arrived from Paris in person once more. The Huguenots entrenched themselves on a small island near Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez. Unfortunately for them, the tide receded and the royal army went straight for them through the ford. Rohan and a few of his men immediately ran for their ships, while the army, 7 000 soldiers abandoned by its commanders, tried in vain to surrender. No pardon was given, 4 000 men were slain and the rest shackled to the galleys. It was the first major victory of the war and you had hoped many more will follow. The army then marched on Royan and took if without too much problems after a week's siege. While the defenders were allowed to retire to La Rochelle, they had to leave their cannons and ammunition. That bloody fortress was really getting on everybody's nerves. During the fighting, ships harboured there arrived and took some pot shots on the advancing infantry. The king detached more men for the investment of La Rochelle, which was underway since last year and moved towards Languedoc. Having arrived at the gates of Sainte-Foy, the army made preparations, yet it was not through the force of steel that the city was taken. The well known Duke de La Force was in command and despite it being a small fortress, the king wanted to have it done as soon as possible. So, he bribed the Duke with a Marshal's baton and a huge amount of money, among other things. After that came the capture and sack of Nègrepelisse. The small city fell after one day, then was given to the soldiers by the King. Orders were to kill every single Huguenot male. You still remember the screams of raped women and the mechanical commands you were giving out to the platoons, as they shot the next line of prisoners. After which you had to finish off any survivors. The whole city was burned to the ground, its population exterminated.
The next fortress, Saint-Antonin, surrendered after a week's fight. You clearly remember seeing lots of women among the defending troops, an uncommon sight. The poor sods had to pay a huge ransom and accept a royal garrison to avoid ending up like Nègrepelisse. Finally, there was the siege of Montpellier, dear God. It was like Montauban all over again. Despite having 20 000 men at its peak, the King couldn't take the city. While technically a deal has already been made, the defenders didn't want to let Louis XIII inside the city, fearing a massacre. During the fighting, you managed to distinguish yourself while capturing the bastion of Saint-Denis from the rebels. When your captain fell, you personally took command of the unit and held the captured ground. While you did have to abandon the bastion next day due to overwhelming enemy superiority, your actions were noticed and you had been promoted to captain, taking the place of your dead superior. During the siege, the royal army undertook a number of major assaults, yet none could break through. Unfortunately your colonel, François Henri Alphonse d'Ornano, was shot and killed while leading one of the assaults. Soon after, the King signed a treaty with the Huguenot leader, the Duke de Rohan and peace arrived.
The subsequent 3 years were calm and without any major incidents. You used this opportunity to study the art of war, as well as Latin. After some time, you gained proficiency in it as well. This really helped with all those training manuals and campaign descriptions. The problem was of another matter. With your patron gone, his older brother had no interest in maintaining the regiment. Fearing, that it could be disbanded any day, leaving you without work, you started to think about your perspectives. Then you've heard about the need for soldiers in the East. The Holy Roman Empire was ablaze and there were wars to fight in the north as well. Feeling, that you won't rise any higher in French service, despite your talent, you decided to change employers. You've learned from some Scotsmen, that Sweden was in desperate need of good soldiers and will pay well enough. True, Swedes were Protestants, but that did not discourage you. After all, this was no religious affair, like the one in France. Having contacted a Swedish agent recruiting soldiers for his master, you worked out the details and soon left France.
[Service in Sweden: 97/100 = outstanding and illustrious service]
Come spring, in 1626 you arrived on a ship in Riga in Livonia, which has been under Swedish control for some time now. The war with the Commonwealth in Lithuania was at an impasse by this point, yet the king, Gustavus Adolphus had other plans. He was gathering troops for another operation, so recruits were welcome. You have been accepted in your rank as captain and assigned to one of the German regiments. This meant yet another linguistic challenge, yet you relished the chance and surely enough, soon your German was enough to keep you going. When July came, the army was transported on an impressive fleet of 125 ships and landed in Royal Prussia in Poland. The upcoming month was a string of successes. The Swedes took 20 major towns without much opposition, yet could not secure Gdańsk, the most important Polish port. The city had a string of mighty fortifications and was reinforced by 5 000 mercenaries hired from abroad. Likewise, the Polish fleet was safe within the city's port.
It was during this crucial month, that you made your acquaintance with the Scot, John Hepburn. He was a rising star within the Swedish army and was promoted to colonel just a year ago, yet was only 5 years older than you. He took a liking to you and upon hearing your sad story from back home, was really touched. Hepburn was a Catholic, much like yourself and understood very well what's it like to be prosecuted. He even was in France at some point, just like you! Soon after that, the colonel pulled some strings and had you transferred to his regiment. You quickly learned that Irishmen were considered sub par soldiers. Those Irish soldiers send here by the English years ago? Most of them deserted or switched sides to the Polish camp in Lithuania. Religious reasons. So, to keep your chances of proving yourself, you were better off serving under him and his Scots. You had to admit, serving with people knowing your native tongue was a huge relief. Hepburn commanded a whole Scottish regiment in Swedish service and you were made one of its captains.
The first major action of the Prussian war was to be the battle of Gniew in September. Up until then, you were mostly used to fighting sieges. Polish forces lead by their king Sigismund III numbered around 14 000 soldiers, mostly cavalry. They laid siege to Gniew, captured during the summer offensive. Gustavus Adolphus lead a relieve effort of about 10 000 men, you among them. The battle took about 10 days, mostly because both sides remained in their fortified positions for most of the time. After some initial fighting and skirmishing the real battle took place during the last 2 days. The Poles had built a string of earthworks barring the Swedish army from relieving Gniew. Initial infantry attacks were repulsed, so the King ordered a stealth approach. A few regiments, yours included, managed to reach the position and take it after some heavy fighting. There you remember repulsing an attack from the fearsome Winged Hussars. They had to charge uphill in difficult terrain and you shouted for your men to pour fire into them. After that they withdrew, leaving many dead. Their infantry couldn't dislodge you as well. Finally the Polish King called it quits and withdrew during the night, leaving the field in your hands. Hepburn received much praise for the conduct of his men in that battle.
However, the Swedish position remained a precarious one. Polish forces were receiving reinforcements each day, while your army was cut from home. Soldiers from Gdańsk were fortifying the crossings on the Vistula and the Baltic was ravaged by storm, which made sending supplies and troops impossible. Gustavus Adolphus soon left the army and went back to Sweden to personally organise new forces, leaving the command in the hands of Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. In the meantime Field Crown Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski arrived with his battle hardened soldiers from Ukraine and took command. Not having the strength to dislodge the Swedes, he began to use hit-and-run tactics. His cavalry was everywhere, moving at a blistering pace. Communication lines were cut off and the Swedish army spent the following months locked away in various cities and garrisons, unable and unwilling to leave. You remember your men being afraid of moving out, fearful that they'll be found and cut down. One thing that was a constant problem was attrition. At least a quarter of the army died due to diseases, cold and hunger. That was a harsh winter indeed. Having much time on your hands, you continued your studies, having started to learn Polish from the locals.
Gustavus Adolphus finally returned with fresh troops on the 18th of May 1627. The situation was a stalemate. While the Swedish army had numerical superiority and total domination in artillery, it was bottled up in various garrisons because of Polish cavalry tactics. Some cities were taken back by Commonwealth forces, including Puck. An envelopment plan proved ineffective, when mercenaries arriving from Pomerania were defeated by the mobile Koniecpolski at Czarne and surrendered. This battle was a turning point from a political point of view, because the Brandenburg Elector as Duke of Prussia, a Polish vassal, declared his support for the Commonwealth. Up until then he was neutral in the war and allowed Swedish armies and supplies to move freely through his territory. In May the King of Sweden tried to cross the Vistula near Kiezmark by night, along with you and other troops. The ruse failed and in the ensuing chaos he was shot in the hip and the plan was abandoned. Hepburn and his men once more proved to be an effective fighting force, having formed up and covered the retreat. That was a bizarre fight to be sure. By this time it became known, that the Poles were expecting Austrian reinforcements. Not wanting to wait for their arrival, 3 months later, the King repeated the crossing and this time he was successful. The target could be only one: Gdańsk. Koniecpolski, to prevent the Swedish army from reaching it, had to give battle.
The ensuing battle of Tczew proved to be another surprise. During the first day, you were with the rest of the infantry in the centre behind earthworks, firing at anything that approached. Gustavus barely escaped an unexpected meeting with some Polish horsemen during reconnaissance. After some skirmishing and cavalry fights, the Poles were not stupid enough to attack you head on and you had no inclination to leave your fortified position. Then the Swedish cavalry charged and defeated the Polish riders in open combat. First time in history, you were told. Koniecpolski barely survived, having been among them. Yet it was the second day that decided it all. The Swedish King, knowing about money problems in the Polish camp and that it's bad for morale, planned an all-out attack. Soldiers were promised the whole enemy camp as loot and a one time bonus of a quarter of a years' pay for this risky gamble. The attack was preceded by an intense artillery bombardment. You remember its devastating effects. When you ordered the advance, the infantry managed to capture some of the earthworks of the enemy and a local village. All was going well and victory was at hand, when the King was shot and fell from his horse. He survived, but was out of the battle. Thus, the advance was halted and the army retreated back to its positions. Not long after, the order was given to withdraw back across the Vistula. The whole operation turned out to be a waste of time and resources.
While the King recovered, no more military operations were conducted for the rest of the year beyond occasional skirmishes... The only notable event during that time was the knighthood granted by the Swedish monarch to John Hepburn and 3 others Scottish colonels, Patrick Ruthven, Alexander Leslie and David Drummond. Their services were a big part of recent successes and Hepburn himself assured you, that if you serve equally well, rewards won't be far behind. When autumn came Gustavus felt better and he once again returned to Sweden to gather more men, leaving the army in Prussia in the hands of Oxenstierna. Once more, cold, starvation and desertion took their toll on the army. By this time your Polish was satisfactory and you could communicate without problems using that language. While you enjoyed spending your time among the Scots, you were yet to meet your own countrymen. You did knew of an Irish colonel in Polish service leading a regiment of dragoons going by the name of James Butler, from Ormond no doubt. He was present in the recent battles and engagements, leading Irish soldiers. While this revelation was grim news for you, nothing could be done about it. Through Hepburn, who had an excellent relationship with the Swedish King, you learned that he had some personal hatred towards Butler.
When the campaign resumed next year, Gustavus returned with a sizeable force, increasing the army's strength to about 40 000 men. Still, most of the soldiers were kept on garrison duty and the King did not seek a general engagement like in previous years. When during summer he finally made a move and took the city of Brodnica, Koniecpolski immediately laid siege to it, while harassing the retreating main body of the army with his hit-and-run tactics. This alone cost the Swedish forces 5 000 men, desertions included, without any major battle being fought. Understandably, Gustavus was very crossed. His rage was focused on Butler specifically, because he used this opportunity and took the town of Kętrzyn. You couldn't tell if this was because of a bad year of campaigning or if simply the Irishman was really annoying him. What's more, the waste your army laid to the lands you were passing through meant, that finding food or a place to rest was impossible, which only made the matters worse. Because of constant harassing and no major battle, the Swedish forces couldn't achieve much in 1628, despite having twice the manpower and many times more artillery, than Koniecpolski. It was a grim year. The King, as was his custom, once more returned home to gather more men, leaving Oxenstierna in command. By the end of the year, Colonel Hepburn had you promoted to major and took you in as part of his staff.
The Swedish Chancellor didn't want to wait for Brodnica to fall, so in February 1629 he sent a relief force under Field Marshal Herman Wrangel. You were not part of this army, since Hepburn's men remained in their winter quarters. What matters, is that Wrangel was able to defeat the Poles at Górzno and save Brodnica. Unfortunately, Koniecpolski was not present and commanding was a certain colonel Stanisław Potocki in his absence. After that fight, a truce was signed till the end of May. During this lull in the fighting colonel Hepburn was send to Ostróda to oversee transportation of powder back to Elbląg and chose you to accompany him. It was there, where you met Colonel Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul, another Scot in Swedish service. Of course, this was not the Leslie that was granted knighthood back in 1627 with Hepburn, but a different one. During a bout of drinking with Hepburn and you, Leslie said some unwise words about Catholics and your mother. You responded just like any true Irishman would and smashed his face with a mug. A few sword thrusts later Leslie was held back by some of his men, screaming and raging at you, just like Hepburn held you. He swore that he shall have your head for this grave insult. You called him a few names and told him to bring it. After that unfortunate incident, Hepburn quickly sent you back to your unit. Little did you know that this fight would have major repercussions later on.
Gustavus Adolphus returned and in June resumed operations. The Poles received Imperial reinforcements under Field Marshal Hans Georg von Arnim and the King wanted to crush them before they combine with the main Polish forces. During the march scouts reported, that they have already merged, so a retreat was ordered, as Gustavus didn't want to fight a numerically superior enemy. But Koniecpolski, being himself, caught up with the retreating army at Trzcianna with his cavalry. The battle was fought by Swedish horsemen, who were covering the retreating infantry. A major defeat it was. The King himself barely escaped with his life, but at the cost of many lives they succeeded in protecting the foot troops, that reached the safety of Sztum and later, Malbork. The only thing you remember from that operation is the constant marching back and forth with nothing to do. You spent the rest of the war locked in a garrison.
After 4 years, both sides finally called a truce. A treaty was signed in September that same year in Altmark according to which the Swedes kept in their possession many of the captured cities and had a right to levy a toll on Gdańsk's shipping. This money would prove to be very useful in the coming war, because it was obvious, that Sweden will intervene in the Empire, where the Protestant faction was on the brink of collapse. For you, this war proved to be quite the experience. You not only saw the Polish army in action, but also had a chance to see the reforms Gustavus Adolphus being put into practice. His infantry tactics, organization and the way he started to use his horsemen in an aggressive manner, based on the Polish tactics.
While the Colonel was out conducting diplomatic matters of behalf of Oxenstierna, you trained and readied the men. As it turned out no regiments were disbanded despite the end of hostilities. On the contrary, Gustavus was on a recruiting spree, raising more troops for the upcoming campaign and stocking up on supplies. Where did he get the money for all this, you will never know. What you did know, was that the war which awaited you would be even more bloody and that made you pause. Prussia was utterly devastated during the last 4 years and now the Empire would end up the same. Still, you had your orders.
The new war began in 1630 just like the king liked it, with a naval invasion of Pomerania. Troops from Sweden, Prussia, Livonia and even Stralsund would be ferried by ship and disembarked in Szczecin and other towns. While Duke Bogusław XIV was on the Swedish side, his duchy was full of Imperial garrisons imposed on him by Wallenstein. Gustavus couldn't let his supply route back home be threatened so he undertook an operation to take out any and all threats in Pomerania before marching onward.
While you might have not liked it, this is where your star started to truly shine.
Hepburn rapidly took Colberg and many others towns, even became a governor over one of them. His Scottish soldiers were combined with others regiments to form the feared Green Brigade or Scottish Brigade, as it was sometimes called, with you as its part. This unit became a crack force, full of veterans and was usually tasked by the King to undertake especially dangerous missions. Finally, having secured Pomerania, the Swedish army marched onto the Empire, targeting Mecklemburg first. The Duchy was taken away from its previous rulers by the Emperor and given to Wallenstein for their alleged support for Christian IV during his invasion. By conducting a swift campaign, any resistance was quickly swept aside and the King returned both John Albert II and Adolf Frederick I to their thrones, securing himself new allies. Soon after, the year ended with the taking of Graz and Landsberg, in which the Green Brigade had a prominent part.
In spring 1631 the Swedish army moved down south even more and took the city of Franfurt an der Oder after a 2 day siege. Your regiment once more went into the breach with valour and distinguished itself. One of the prisoners taken was another Irishman, Colonel Walter Butler, a Catholic in Imperial service. You had a long chat with him, having no chance of speaking to one of your own countrymen in years. As one might expect, he was less than happy about your choice of employers and pointed out, that this is a war against the Holy Church, just like the one back home. In the meantime, Hepburn said that the King was disappointed with the campaign so far. By this time he expected to have a 100 000 strong army, yet he had only 20 000 men, because the German Protestant Princes were hesitant to support him. You, on your part, enjoyed the pace of the fighting, because unlike in Prussia, you were not wasting time in cities and waiting in place for months.
Then came the news of the sack of Magdeburg. The large Protestant city was captured and burned to the ground by Catholic forces under Johan von Tilly, its inhabitants killed. This lead many of the Protestants to seek Swedish protection and further boosted their ranks. The Saxons allied with Gustavus and with reinforcements, his army had swollen to about 40 000 soldiers. Likewise, Tilly receive more men and was eager to leave the devastated Magdeburg area and enter fertile Saxony. Both armies met at Breitenfeld. The Green Brigade under Hepburn was stationed in the reserve line and waited for their moment to enter combat. The moment came, when the Saxons on the left flank turned tail and ran. To prevent the Imperial army from outflanking your forces, the reserve was called into action and you fought on the Swedish left with bravery and distinction, pushing back waves of foes. Heavy firing and then bloody hand to hand combat ensured, but your side prevailed. Soon after, the whole enemy army was defeated and you took the field. Not only that, Gustavus reinforced his army with 5 000 prisoners taken from the Imperial army and came out even stronger, than before the battle.
This major victory was exactly what the King needed. Soon, more men and Princes flocked to his banner. The army moved forward south, into Bavaria, sacking and occupying much of its cities. Tilly again tried to stop Gustavus at Rain, yet was beaten once more and he himself died of wounds. Colonel Hepburn was soon a governor of one of the captured cities and promoted you to lieutenant colonel for your conduct so far, especially for your performance at Breitenfeld. Unfortunately something happened between the Colonel and the King. John Hepburn, an excellent leader and administrator, your commanding officer and friend, suddenly announced his resignation. He told you, that it was because Gustavus Adolphus insulted him by calling names his faith. Since he was Catholic, like you, this was quite the surprise, given the fact, that he was on brilliant terms with the King for most of his career. Indeed, when someone wanted to have a chat with the King, Hepburn was the proper man to go. Now he was leaving and, in private, advised you to do the same. You were puzzled by what happened, yet decided to stay on for now. This turn of events gave you an opportunity for promotion, so you wanted to make the best of it. Having said goodbye to your friend, who told you, that he will be returning home and then probably shall make it for France, you wished him luck. He hoped you will be able to meet again.
You took command of Hepburn's old Scottish regiment, by now reduced to about 600 men. The Green Brigade was commanded in turn by Colonel Georg Wolf von Wildenstein, leader of Wildenstein's Black Regiment, the largest contingent of the Brigade. This was the first time you had a regiment under your command, yet you had enough experience to do it well. Soon, the army ploughed through Bavaria and took Munich, its capital. The rich city provided loot and money for the cause, yet the Emperor took notice. Wallenstein was back in the saddle and having organized an army in Bohemia, he moved west to cut the Swedish supply line to Pomerania. King Gustavus rushed back north to intercept him and both forces met in battle at Alte Veste. Despite repeated attacks, your forces were unable to break through. Wallenstein finally retreated north due to sickness crippling his forces as well as lack of supplies. The Swedish army then moved south, intending to go into winter quarters in Swabia, but the Imperials were well aware of the supply lines problem and so moved way north, into Saxony to winter there. Gustavus once more had to rush after them, because it not only cut him off from Pomerania but also endangered his principle ally. Thus, both armies campaigned well into November, when it was already getting really cold.
It would be at Lutzen, where you would win your greatest fame.
It was a foggy day and you remember barely seeing anything. Nevertheless, the King gave his order and the battle commenced. You were fighting with your regiment on the left flank, trying to secure a windmill hill with an artillery battery. The fighting was bitter, but after two hours you had to withdraw with the rest of the men and fire from afar, hoping to weaken the enemy. Colonel Wildenstein was killed in combat, as well as lieutenant colonel Johann Winckler, commander of Bernhard's Green Life Regiment, leaving you in command of the Green Brigade, 2 000 men. At around 1 in the afternoon your artillery batteries forced the windmill hill crews to take cover behind the structure and you, along with the second line and the cavalry on the left made another attempt at crushing the Imperial line. You ordered the men to charge the suppressed battery head on and managed to capture it, then turn the guns on enemy troops further north. This boosted the morale of the rest of the Swedish army, which attacked with renewed vigour. The fighting was very bloody and your men held during the bitter struggle. Yet even this was not enough. Finally, the lines started to pull back and you had to oblige, yet you did so slowly and in formation, covering the retreat of the rest. It was then, around 3 in the afternoon, that the King's body was found. Gustavus was killed while being lost in the fog on the right flank. You remember that moment very well. Being present along with Duke Bernhard von Saxe-Weimar, Dodo zu Innhausen und Knyphausen and a few other colonels and officers, you saw the moment when Gustavus's body was brought back to camp. He was shot in the elbow and in the back. The ball pierced his lungs and killed him. Not only that, he was stripped bare naked of everything he had by Imperial and Swedish soldiers. Knyphausen advised a retreat, but Duke Bernhard and you wanted to continue the battle. What's more, the Duke shot and killed one colonel that didn't want to obey his orders. You personally threatened to do same to anybody else that disagreed. The council was over, another attack commenced. Once again, you charged the guns with your brigade, this time under heavy fire and took them in a single swipe. Afterwards, a gruelling and bitter melee engagement ensued, where no pardon was given. After 2 hours of slaughter darkness arrived and once again you had to disengage. The men were exhausted and fell asleep right there on the field among the dead. You could barely stand on your feet at the end of the day. This was the most intense fighting you ever took part in and it showed. 2/3 of your men were dead, the army lost over 6 000 soldiers. Yet it was Wallenstein that retreated during the night. It could have been called a victory, if not for the death of the King.
Your great bravery at Lutzen was commended. You were promoted to full colonel and given command of the Brigade. However, you had had enough. A few weeks after the battle you tendered in your resignation. While some were surprised, you just couldn't do it no more. This was all too familiar of what was happening back home and deep inside you knew, that you were the English this time. You couldn't stomach that. While your men said their goodbyes respectfully, you already thought of what to do next. You could return to France, but something pulled you to the opposite side. Finally, you decided to go to the Commonwealth, a mostly Catholic country, that you knew well enough after spending time in Prussia and start anew there. They were having some troubles on their eastern borders, far away from all this Protestant-Catholic crap. With a bit of luck, you could prove yourself useful there.
Yet this is where your luck ran out.
Having arrived in Gdańsk, you took a loan from a local wealthy merchant by the name of Adrian von der Linde so that you could jump start your new career. While everything seemed to be in order, you never suspected of what was to happen. By some strange twist of fate, the money never arrived. You checked every possible way, how this could have happened, but found no clue. When you went to von der Linde, he showed a receipt with your signature on it, claiming, that you collected the sum personally. It was your word against his and he not only had proof, but also money and respect. A lost cause. When you were leaving, he said something about their mutual Scottish friend sending his regards. You should have known...
Now, having finally left the inn after a whole nights of drinking away your sorrows, you made your way for the Polish capital.
Your aim: to raise a regiment in Polish service...
"Huh, what's that, Mr Lajam Odonel? You had enough? Ha! I told ya! I knew ya couldn't outdrink a true Polish knight, yesssir!" the nobleman said, heavily intoxicated. He looked like he was about to fall down on the floor into Morpheus's embrace.
"You had your fun, sir. And your meal. And your drink. Many times over. I have more important things to do, than to drink myself to death in some second rate tavern in the middle of nowhere. Good night, sir." and with that, you raised yourself from your seat, made a curt bow, turned around and exited the building, leaving the noble already snoring on the table.
It seems he will wake up in the mud today as well.
While you were riding out into the morning sun, you had no time for sleep. You'll sleep, when you're dead. Right now you had less than a day's ride away from your destination and you intended to reach it as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, old memories started to come back.
You were born on the 22nd of August Anno Domini 1603 to Patrick O'Donnell and his wife Martha O'Donnell, née Sweeney in a small hamlet called Alleen, County Donegal, Ireland. While you had siblings, 2 older brothers and 1 younger sister, none if them survived past childhood. Your father, a poor noble from a proud, ancient clan was as stern and distant as people go, yet he still was your father and you remember him with affection. Or rather, whatever tales mother told you regarding him, since your own memories are a bit hazy. He took part in the great war against the English, known now as the Nine Years' War. As all clansmen sworn to their leader, your father joined the forces of Red Hugh O'Donnell, the king of Tyrconnell from a very old line of kings, the same that ruled Donegal for centuries. It was a bloody and destructive conflict, your mother told you. The O'Donnell's, along with Hugh O'Neill and his men, who were the only ones with more influence in Ulster, than your own clan, waged a gruesome struggle. Yet the war turned for the worse, and 2 years before you were born, the English captured and burned Donegal Castle, along with the Franciscan abbey nearby. Having finally secured Spanish aid, the combined forces of the Irish rebels and their allies from Iberia were defeated in the decisive siege of Kinsale. The war dragged on for another couple of months, but its outcome was by now inevitable. The once great and powerful Rory O'Donnell (his brother Hugh died in exile in Spain) and O'Neill submitted to the English king James I Stuart, and that was that. For them, nothing changed. Under the surrender and regrant policy, they kept their lands and possessions, became Earls and still were politically important.
Your family however?
With your lands burned out, home destroyed, animals slaughtered and servants killed, you were forced into a pitiful existence. You remember your childhood being full of hardship and of worried looks on your parents' faces. Father worked like a slave to provide for you and your mother, labouring all day despite the weather, tending to whatever meagre holdings you had left.
And them it happened.
News broke out, that the Earls of Tyrconnell and Tyrone, along with a couple of dozen supporters, fled to the continent, leaving the rest at the mercy of the English. Needless to say, this Flight of the Earls, as it was to be known, became the downfall of many Irish families. The English began a large scale colonization scheme of Ireland, known as the Plantation of Ulster. Thousands of English and Scottish settlers came to the country and were given lands, either confiscated or otherwise extorted from their former owners. When Cahir O'Doherty began his rebellion in 1608, your father was quick to join him. Unfortunately for them, this struggle was crushed much faster than the previous uprising. O'Doherty was killed at Kilmacrennan on the same year and the rest of the rebels at Tory Island not long after. Your father was among those, that perished in the latter and it's a tale your mother was never anxious to tell you. In order to save his skin, a rebel had to kill another rebel of a higher rank than his own. This rule, known as "Pelham's Pardon" was the reason why the last of the insurgents started killing each other. Among those slaughtered was your father. Killed by an Irish sword of a coward, while the English stood there and watched with amusement. You were told that the few survivors of the massacre did receive their pardons, which made your blood boil.
With the rebellion crushed, the colonization process increased drastically. Old friends and neighbours disappeared, were killed, expelled or otherwise removed from their lands. In their place came Englishmen. After a few years of miserable existence, they finally came for you. You were a teenager back then, but you still remember the day like it was yesterday. English soldiers barged into your home, raped and killed your mother, then almost snuffed you out as well. You did manage to kill one of them with their own sword, before making it for the hills. The pain and desperation burns in you still at the mere thought of those horrible moments. You've lost everything: your family, your lands, and your home. All because of those English bastards. You made an oath back then: that one day you will avenge your family, regain your honour and kill every last one of them English dogs. But right now, Ireland seemed to be a bit too crowded by them, so you had to leave. Especially since they would be looking for you. You remembered that some time ago the English were rounding up Irishmen to be sent overseas. Military service in Sweden. While you had no idea where that was, you figured, that any place is better, than this dump. After much searching and pleading, you finally made your way aboard a merchant vessel bound for France.
The year was 1618.
[Service in France: 67/100 + 10 bonus = 77 - good and noticeable service]
Having arrived in France a poor noble without money, your options were quite limited. For a while you survived thanks to the goodwill of certain people, especially Scotsmen, who were much more easier to find, than your fellow Irishmen. Yet you knew that this couldn't last forever. In the meanwhile, you took great pains to quickly learn the French language and since you yourself had talent for this sort of thing, soon you weren't forced to rely on translators, but could even translate yourself.
Then your luck was about to take a turn for the better.
While travelling to Paris, you found yourself in a most peculiar situation. Having encountered a wealthy noble being attacked by a few brigands, you came to his rescue and put those fiends to flight. The nobleman you helped was François Henri Alphonse d'Ornano, lord of Mazargues and a colonel of a regiment of infantry named after him. He was the younger son of Alphonse d'Ornano, Marshal of France and a known commander. While his older brother inherited most of the family fortune, he still got some lands but most of all, his father's regiment. Now being 30, he was pursuing a military career, like his forbearers. Out of gratitude, he took you in and since you showed talent, made you a lieutenant in his regiment. This proved to be a godsend. Not only did you receive a steady income, but you could perfect your military skills and knowledge. As it turned out, you had a chance to prove yourself soon enough.
That same year, 1620, marked the renewal of the French religious wars. A Huguenot rebellion was triggered by the re-establishment of Catholic rights in Huguenot Béarn by Louis XIII in 1617, and the military annexation of Béarn to France in 1620, with the occupation of Pau in October 1620. The government was replaced by a French-style parliament in which only Catholics could sit. Feeling their survival was at stake, the Huguenots gathered in La Rochelle on 25 December. At this Huguenot General Assembly in La Rochelle the decision was taken to forcefully resist the Royal threat, and to establish a "state within the state", with an independent military commandment and independent taxes, under the direction of the Duke de Rohan, an ardent proponent of open conflict with the King. In that period, the Huguenots were very defiant of the Crown, displaying intentions to become independent on the model of the Dutch Republic.
Obviously, the King would have none of it and come spring next year, Louis XIII gathered an army and marched with it to the south of France to pacify the rebellion. Your regiment took part in this campaign and so did you. The first of the Huguenot fortresses, Saumur, was taken without a fight thanks to the quick wits of the monarch and its loyal population. The real fighting began during the next investment, at Saint-Jean-d'Angély. This city was under the command of Benjamin de Rohan, baron de Soubise, the Duke's brother and would not be so easily swayed. Thus, trenches were dug, the siege set. Several assaults took place and you fought in one of them, the very first one in the suburbs, the day after arrival. This was your first taste of battle and you remember how scared you were. It turned out to be a huge failure. Both regiments leading the attack took heavy losses, including a regimental commander and 3 captains. Finally, after 26 days de Rohan surrendered. You remember him kneeling down before the king and taking an oath not to take up arms against him again. As it turned out, he was back in the fight just a month later. The King detached a part of his army to block to largest Huguenot fortress in France, La Rochelle, since he did not have the manpower or fleet to invest it completely, while he and most of the force, you included, went for his next target, which was Montauban. This 2 month siege turned out to be a bloodbath. 6 000 defenders under François de Béthune, Duke de Orval and Jacques Nompar de Caumont, Duke de La Force proved to be well motivated and utterly impossible to beat. The King's army, despite having 25 000 men at the beginning of the siege could not take the city. Worse, by its end Louis XIII has lost half his men due to fighting and disease. You were storming the ramparts of the city along with your men, yet each time you had to pull back with heavy losses. Huguenot defenders periodically made sorties, with successes. Worse, winter was coming and no end was in sight. Finally, King Louis XIII ordered to abandon the siege and withdrew to Bordeaux. On the way there, the army captured and plundered the town of Monheurt as well as tore down its walls. The campaign was done for the year.
Next year turned out to be more decisive. Come spring, Benjamin de Rohan came back with a vengeance and invaded the territory of Nantes, stirring up a rebellion there. Louis XIII immediately sent his troops and arrived from Paris in person once more. The Huguenots entrenched themselves on a small island near Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez. Unfortunately for them, the tide receded and the royal army went straight for them through the ford. Rohan and a few of his men immediately ran for their ships, while the army, 7 000 soldiers abandoned by its commanders, tried in vain to surrender. No pardon was given, 4 000 men were slain and the rest shackled to the galleys. It was the first major victory of the war and you had hoped many more will follow. The army then marched on Royan and took if without too much problems after a week's siege. While the defenders were allowed to retire to La Rochelle, they had to leave their cannons and ammunition. That bloody fortress was really getting on everybody's nerves. During the fighting, ships harboured there arrived and took some pot shots on the advancing infantry. The king detached more men for the investment of La Rochelle, which was underway since last year and moved towards Languedoc. Having arrived at the gates of Sainte-Foy, the army made preparations, yet it was not through the force of steel that the city was taken. The well known Duke de La Force was in command and despite it being a small fortress, the king wanted to have it done as soon as possible. So, he bribed the Duke with a Marshal's baton and a huge amount of money, among other things. After that came the capture and sack of Nègrepelisse. The small city fell after one day, then was given to the soldiers by the King. Orders were to kill every single Huguenot male. You still remember the screams of raped women and the mechanical commands you were giving out to the platoons, as they shot the next line of prisoners. After which you had to finish off any survivors. The whole city was burned to the ground, its population exterminated.
The next fortress, Saint-Antonin, surrendered after a week's fight. You clearly remember seeing lots of women among the defending troops, an uncommon sight. The poor sods had to pay a huge ransom and accept a royal garrison to avoid ending up like Nègrepelisse. Finally, there was the siege of Montpellier, dear God. It was like Montauban all over again. Despite having 20 000 men at its peak, the King couldn't take the city. While technically a deal has already been made, the defenders didn't want to let Louis XIII inside the city, fearing a massacre. During the fighting, you managed to distinguish yourself while capturing the bastion of Saint-Denis from the rebels. When your captain fell, you personally took command of the unit and held the captured ground. While you did have to abandon the bastion next day due to overwhelming enemy superiority, your actions were noticed and you had been promoted to captain, taking the place of your dead superior. During the siege, the royal army undertook a number of major assaults, yet none could break through. Unfortunately your colonel, François Henri Alphonse d'Ornano, was shot and killed while leading one of the assaults. Soon after, the King signed a treaty with the Huguenot leader, the Duke de Rohan and peace arrived.
The subsequent 3 years were calm and without any major incidents. You used this opportunity to study the art of war, as well as Latin. After some time, you gained proficiency in it as well. This really helped with all those training manuals and campaign descriptions. The problem was of another matter. With your patron gone, his older brother had no interest in maintaining the regiment. Fearing, that it could be disbanded any day, leaving you without work, you started to think about your perspectives. Then you've heard about the need for soldiers in the East. The Holy Roman Empire was ablaze and there were wars to fight in the north as well. Feeling, that you won't rise any higher in French service, despite your talent, you decided to change employers. You've learned from some Scotsmen, that Sweden was in desperate need of good soldiers and will pay well enough. True, Swedes were Protestants, but that did not discourage you. After all, this was no religious affair, like the one in France. Having contacted a Swedish agent recruiting soldiers for his master, you worked out the details and soon left France.
[Service in Sweden: 97/100 = outstanding and illustrious service]
Come spring, in 1626 you arrived on a ship in Riga in Livonia, which has been under Swedish control for some time now. The war with the Commonwealth in Lithuania was at an impasse by this point, yet the king, Gustavus Adolphus had other plans. He was gathering troops for another operation, so recruits were welcome. You have been accepted in your rank as captain and assigned to one of the German regiments. This meant yet another linguistic challenge, yet you relished the chance and surely enough, soon your German was enough to keep you going. When July came, the army was transported on an impressive fleet of 125 ships and landed in Royal Prussia in Poland. The upcoming month was a string of successes. The Swedes took 20 major towns without much opposition, yet could not secure Gdańsk, the most important Polish port. The city had a string of mighty fortifications and was reinforced by 5 000 mercenaries hired from abroad. Likewise, the Polish fleet was safe within the city's port.
It was during this crucial month, that you made your acquaintance with the Scot, John Hepburn. He was a rising star within the Swedish army and was promoted to colonel just a year ago, yet was only 5 years older than you. He took a liking to you and upon hearing your sad story from back home, was really touched. Hepburn was a Catholic, much like yourself and understood very well what's it like to be prosecuted. He even was in France at some point, just like you! Soon after that, the colonel pulled some strings and had you transferred to his regiment. You quickly learned that Irishmen were considered sub par soldiers. Those Irish soldiers send here by the English years ago? Most of them deserted or switched sides to the Polish camp in Lithuania. Religious reasons. So, to keep your chances of proving yourself, you were better off serving under him and his Scots. You had to admit, serving with people knowing your native tongue was a huge relief. Hepburn commanded a whole Scottish regiment in Swedish service and you were made one of its captains.
The first major action of the Prussian war was to be the battle of Gniew in September. Up until then, you were mostly used to fighting sieges. Polish forces lead by their king Sigismund III numbered around 14 000 soldiers, mostly cavalry. They laid siege to Gniew, captured during the summer offensive. Gustavus Adolphus lead a relieve effort of about 10 000 men, you among them. The battle took about 10 days, mostly because both sides remained in their fortified positions for most of the time. After some initial fighting and skirmishing the real battle took place during the last 2 days. The Poles had built a string of earthworks barring the Swedish army from relieving Gniew. Initial infantry attacks were repulsed, so the King ordered a stealth approach. A few regiments, yours included, managed to reach the position and take it after some heavy fighting. There you remember repulsing an attack from the fearsome Winged Hussars. They had to charge uphill in difficult terrain and you shouted for your men to pour fire into them. After that they withdrew, leaving many dead. Their infantry couldn't dislodge you as well. Finally the Polish King called it quits and withdrew during the night, leaving the field in your hands. Hepburn received much praise for the conduct of his men in that battle.
However, the Swedish position remained a precarious one. Polish forces were receiving reinforcements each day, while your army was cut from home. Soldiers from Gdańsk were fortifying the crossings on the Vistula and the Baltic was ravaged by storm, which made sending supplies and troops impossible. Gustavus Adolphus soon left the army and went back to Sweden to personally organise new forces, leaving the command in the hands of Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. In the meantime Field Crown Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski arrived with his battle hardened soldiers from Ukraine and took command. Not having the strength to dislodge the Swedes, he began to use hit-and-run tactics. His cavalry was everywhere, moving at a blistering pace. Communication lines were cut off and the Swedish army spent the following months locked away in various cities and garrisons, unable and unwilling to leave. You remember your men being afraid of moving out, fearful that they'll be found and cut down. One thing that was a constant problem was attrition. At least a quarter of the army died due to diseases, cold and hunger. That was a harsh winter indeed. Having much time on your hands, you continued your studies, having started to learn Polish from the locals.
Gustavus Adolphus finally returned with fresh troops on the 18th of May 1627. The situation was a stalemate. While the Swedish army had numerical superiority and total domination in artillery, it was bottled up in various garrisons because of Polish cavalry tactics. Some cities were taken back by Commonwealth forces, including Puck. An envelopment plan proved ineffective, when mercenaries arriving from Pomerania were defeated by the mobile Koniecpolski at Czarne and surrendered. This battle was a turning point from a political point of view, because the Brandenburg Elector as Duke of Prussia, a Polish vassal, declared his support for the Commonwealth. Up until then he was neutral in the war and allowed Swedish armies and supplies to move freely through his territory. In May the King of Sweden tried to cross the Vistula near Kiezmark by night, along with you and other troops. The ruse failed and in the ensuing chaos he was shot in the hip and the plan was abandoned. Hepburn and his men once more proved to be an effective fighting force, having formed up and covered the retreat. That was a bizarre fight to be sure. By this time it became known, that the Poles were expecting Austrian reinforcements. Not wanting to wait for their arrival, 3 months later, the King repeated the crossing and this time he was successful. The target could be only one: Gdańsk. Koniecpolski, to prevent the Swedish army from reaching it, had to give battle.
The ensuing battle of Tczew proved to be another surprise. During the first day, you were with the rest of the infantry in the centre behind earthworks, firing at anything that approached. Gustavus barely escaped an unexpected meeting with some Polish horsemen during reconnaissance. After some skirmishing and cavalry fights, the Poles were not stupid enough to attack you head on and you had no inclination to leave your fortified position. Then the Swedish cavalry charged and defeated the Polish riders in open combat. First time in history, you were told. Koniecpolski barely survived, having been among them. Yet it was the second day that decided it all. The Swedish King, knowing about money problems in the Polish camp and that it's bad for morale, planned an all-out attack. Soldiers were promised the whole enemy camp as loot and a one time bonus of a quarter of a years' pay for this risky gamble. The attack was preceded by an intense artillery bombardment. You remember its devastating effects. When you ordered the advance, the infantry managed to capture some of the earthworks of the enemy and a local village. All was going well and victory was at hand, when the King was shot and fell from his horse. He survived, but was out of the battle. Thus, the advance was halted and the army retreated back to its positions. Not long after, the order was given to withdraw back across the Vistula. The whole operation turned out to be a waste of time and resources.
While the King recovered, no more military operations were conducted for the rest of the year beyond occasional skirmishes... The only notable event during that time was the knighthood granted by the Swedish monarch to John Hepburn and 3 others Scottish colonels, Patrick Ruthven, Alexander Leslie and David Drummond. Their services were a big part of recent successes and Hepburn himself assured you, that if you serve equally well, rewards won't be far behind. When autumn came Gustavus felt better and he once again returned to Sweden to gather more men, leaving the army in Prussia in the hands of Oxenstierna. Once more, cold, starvation and desertion took their toll on the army. By this time your Polish was satisfactory and you could communicate without problems using that language. While you enjoyed spending your time among the Scots, you were yet to meet your own countrymen. You did knew of an Irish colonel in Polish service leading a regiment of dragoons going by the name of James Butler, from Ormond no doubt. He was present in the recent battles and engagements, leading Irish soldiers. While this revelation was grim news for you, nothing could be done about it. Through Hepburn, who had an excellent relationship with the Swedish King, you learned that he had some personal hatred towards Butler.
When the campaign resumed next year, Gustavus returned with a sizeable force, increasing the army's strength to about 40 000 men. Still, most of the soldiers were kept on garrison duty and the King did not seek a general engagement like in previous years. When during summer he finally made a move and took the city of Brodnica, Koniecpolski immediately laid siege to it, while harassing the retreating main body of the army with his hit-and-run tactics. This alone cost the Swedish forces 5 000 men, desertions included, without any major battle being fought. Understandably, Gustavus was very crossed. His rage was focused on Butler specifically, because he used this opportunity and took the town of Kętrzyn. You couldn't tell if this was because of a bad year of campaigning or if simply the Irishman was really annoying him. What's more, the waste your army laid to the lands you were passing through meant, that finding food or a place to rest was impossible, which only made the matters worse. Because of constant harassing and no major battle, the Swedish forces couldn't achieve much in 1628, despite having twice the manpower and many times more artillery, than Koniecpolski. It was a grim year. The King, as was his custom, once more returned home to gather more men, leaving Oxenstierna in command. By the end of the year, Colonel Hepburn had you promoted to major and took you in as part of his staff.
The Swedish Chancellor didn't want to wait for Brodnica to fall, so in February 1629 he sent a relief force under Field Marshal Herman Wrangel. You were not part of this army, since Hepburn's men remained in their winter quarters. What matters, is that Wrangel was able to defeat the Poles at Górzno and save Brodnica. Unfortunately, Koniecpolski was not present and commanding was a certain colonel Stanisław Potocki in his absence. After that fight, a truce was signed till the end of May. During this lull in the fighting colonel Hepburn was send to Ostróda to oversee transportation of powder back to Elbląg and chose you to accompany him. It was there, where you met Colonel Alexander Leslie of Auchintoul, another Scot in Swedish service. Of course, this was not the Leslie that was granted knighthood back in 1627 with Hepburn, but a different one. During a bout of drinking with Hepburn and you, Leslie said some unwise words about Catholics and your mother. You responded just like any true Irishman would and smashed his face with a mug. A few sword thrusts later Leslie was held back by some of his men, screaming and raging at you, just like Hepburn held you. He swore that he shall have your head for this grave insult. You called him a few names and told him to bring it. After that unfortunate incident, Hepburn quickly sent you back to your unit. Little did you know that this fight would have major repercussions later on.
Gustavus Adolphus returned and in June resumed operations. The Poles received Imperial reinforcements under Field Marshal Hans Georg von Arnim and the King wanted to crush them before they combine with the main Polish forces. During the march scouts reported, that they have already merged, so a retreat was ordered, as Gustavus didn't want to fight a numerically superior enemy. But Koniecpolski, being himself, caught up with the retreating army at Trzcianna with his cavalry. The battle was fought by Swedish horsemen, who were covering the retreating infantry. A major defeat it was. The King himself barely escaped with his life, but at the cost of many lives they succeeded in protecting the foot troops, that reached the safety of Sztum and later, Malbork. The only thing you remember from that operation is the constant marching back and forth with nothing to do. You spent the rest of the war locked in a garrison.
After 4 years, both sides finally called a truce. A treaty was signed in September that same year in Altmark according to which the Swedes kept in their possession many of the captured cities and had a right to levy a toll on Gdańsk's shipping. This money would prove to be very useful in the coming war, because it was obvious, that Sweden will intervene in the Empire, where the Protestant faction was on the brink of collapse. For you, this war proved to be quite the experience. You not only saw the Polish army in action, but also had a chance to see the reforms Gustavus Adolphus being put into practice. His infantry tactics, organization and the way he started to use his horsemen in an aggressive manner, based on the Polish tactics.
While the Colonel was out conducting diplomatic matters of behalf of Oxenstierna, you trained and readied the men. As it turned out no regiments were disbanded despite the end of hostilities. On the contrary, Gustavus was on a recruiting spree, raising more troops for the upcoming campaign and stocking up on supplies. Where did he get the money for all this, you will never know. What you did know, was that the war which awaited you would be even more bloody and that made you pause. Prussia was utterly devastated during the last 4 years and now the Empire would end up the same. Still, you had your orders.
The new war began in 1630 just like the king liked it, with a naval invasion of Pomerania. Troops from Sweden, Prussia, Livonia and even Stralsund would be ferried by ship and disembarked in Szczecin and other towns. While Duke Bogusław XIV was on the Swedish side, his duchy was full of Imperial garrisons imposed on him by Wallenstein. Gustavus couldn't let his supply route back home be threatened so he undertook an operation to take out any and all threats in Pomerania before marching onward.
While you might have not liked it, this is where your star started to truly shine.
Hepburn rapidly took Colberg and many others towns, even became a governor over one of them. His Scottish soldiers were combined with others regiments to form the feared Green Brigade or Scottish Brigade, as it was sometimes called, with you as its part. This unit became a crack force, full of veterans and was usually tasked by the King to undertake especially dangerous missions. Finally, having secured Pomerania, the Swedish army marched onto the Empire, targeting Mecklemburg first. The Duchy was taken away from its previous rulers by the Emperor and given to Wallenstein for their alleged support for Christian IV during his invasion. By conducting a swift campaign, any resistance was quickly swept aside and the King returned both John Albert II and Adolf Frederick I to their thrones, securing himself new allies. Soon after, the year ended with the taking of Graz and Landsberg, in which the Green Brigade had a prominent part.
In spring 1631 the Swedish army moved down south even more and took the city of Franfurt an der Oder after a 2 day siege. Your regiment once more went into the breach with valour and distinguished itself. One of the prisoners taken was another Irishman, Colonel Walter Butler, a Catholic in Imperial service. You had a long chat with him, having no chance of speaking to one of your own countrymen in years. As one might expect, he was less than happy about your choice of employers and pointed out, that this is a war against the Holy Church, just like the one back home. In the meantime, Hepburn said that the King was disappointed with the campaign so far. By this time he expected to have a 100 000 strong army, yet he had only 20 000 men, because the German Protestant Princes were hesitant to support him. You, on your part, enjoyed the pace of the fighting, because unlike in Prussia, you were not wasting time in cities and waiting in place for months.
Then came the news of the sack of Magdeburg. The large Protestant city was captured and burned to the ground by Catholic forces under Johan von Tilly, its inhabitants killed. This lead many of the Protestants to seek Swedish protection and further boosted their ranks. The Saxons allied with Gustavus and with reinforcements, his army had swollen to about 40 000 soldiers. Likewise, Tilly receive more men and was eager to leave the devastated Magdeburg area and enter fertile Saxony. Both armies met at Breitenfeld. The Green Brigade under Hepburn was stationed in the reserve line and waited for their moment to enter combat. The moment came, when the Saxons on the left flank turned tail and ran. To prevent the Imperial army from outflanking your forces, the reserve was called into action and you fought on the Swedish left with bravery and distinction, pushing back waves of foes. Heavy firing and then bloody hand to hand combat ensured, but your side prevailed. Soon after, the whole enemy army was defeated and you took the field. Not only that, Gustavus reinforced his army with 5 000 prisoners taken from the Imperial army and came out even stronger, than before the battle.
This major victory was exactly what the King needed. Soon, more men and Princes flocked to his banner. The army moved forward south, into Bavaria, sacking and occupying much of its cities. Tilly again tried to stop Gustavus at Rain, yet was beaten once more and he himself died of wounds. Colonel Hepburn was soon a governor of one of the captured cities and promoted you to lieutenant colonel for your conduct so far, especially for your performance at Breitenfeld. Unfortunately something happened between the Colonel and the King. John Hepburn, an excellent leader and administrator, your commanding officer and friend, suddenly announced his resignation. He told you, that it was because Gustavus Adolphus insulted him by calling names his faith. Since he was Catholic, like you, this was quite the surprise, given the fact, that he was on brilliant terms with the King for most of his career. Indeed, when someone wanted to have a chat with the King, Hepburn was the proper man to go. Now he was leaving and, in private, advised you to do the same. You were puzzled by what happened, yet decided to stay on for now. This turn of events gave you an opportunity for promotion, so you wanted to make the best of it. Having said goodbye to your friend, who told you, that he will be returning home and then probably shall make it for France, you wished him luck. He hoped you will be able to meet again.
You took command of Hepburn's old Scottish regiment, by now reduced to about 600 men. The Green Brigade was commanded in turn by Colonel Georg Wolf von Wildenstein, leader of Wildenstein's Black Regiment, the largest contingent of the Brigade. This was the first time you had a regiment under your command, yet you had enough experience to do it well. Soon, the army ploughed through Bavaria and took Munich, its capital. The rich city provided loot and money for the cause, yet the Emperor took notice. Wallenstein was back in the saddle and having organized an army in Bohemia, he moved west to cut the Swedish supply line to Pomerania. King Gustavus rushed back north to intercept him and both forces met in battle at Alte Veste. Despite repeated attacks, your forces were unable to break through. Wallenstein finally retreated north due to sickness crippling his forces as well as lack of supplies. The Swedish army then moved south, intending to go into winter quarters in Swabia, but the Imperials were well aware of the supply lines problem and so moved way north, into Saxony to winter there. Gustavus once more had to rush after them, because it not only cut him off from Pomerania but also endangered his principle ally. Thus, both armies campaigned well into November, when it was already getting really cold.
It would be at Lutzen, where you would win your greatest fame.
It was a foggy day and you remember barely seeing anything. Nevertheless, the King gave his order and the battle commenced. You were fighting with your regiment on the left flank, trying to secure a windmill hill with an artillery battery. The fighting was bitter, but after two hours you had to withdraw with the rest of the men and fire from afar, hoping to weaken the enemy. Colonel Wildenstein was killed in combat, as well as lieutenant colonel Johann Winckler, commander of Bernhard's Green Life Regiment, leaving you in command of the Green Brigade, 2 000 men. At around 1 in the afternoon your artillery batteries forced the windmill hill crews to take cover behind the structure and you, along with the second line and the cavalry on the left made another attempt at crushing the Imperial line. You ordered the men to charge the suppressed battery head on and managed to capture it, then turn the guns on enemy troops further north. This boosted the morale of the rest of the Swedish army, which attacked with renewed vigour. The fighting was very bloody and your men held during the bitter struggle. Yet even this was not enough. Finally, the lines started to pull back and you had to oblige, yet you did so slowly and in formation, covering the retreat of the rest. It was then, around 3 in the afternoon, that the King's body was found. Gustavus was killed while being lost in the fog on the right flank. You remember that moment very well. Being present along with Duke Bernhard von Saxe-Weimar, Dodo zu Innhausen und Knyphausen and a few other colonels and officers, you saw the moment when Gustavus's body was brought back to camp. He was shot in the elbow and in the back. The ball pierced his lungs and killed him. Not only that, he was stripped bare naked of everything he had by Imperial and Swedish soldiers. Knyphausen advised a retreat, but Duke Bernhard and you wanted to continue the battle. What's more, the Duke shot and killed one colonel that didn't want to obey his orders. You personally threatened to do same to anybody else that disagreed. The council was over, another attack commenced. Once again, you charged the guns with your brigade, this time under heavy fire and took them in a single swipe. Afterwards, a gruelling and bitter melee engagement ensued, where no pardon was given. After 2 hours of slaughter darkness arrived and once again you had to disengage. The men were exhausted and fell asleep right there on the field among the dead. You could barely stand on your feet at the end of the day. This was the most intense fighting you ever took part in and it showed. 2/3 of your men were dead, the army lost over 6 000 soldiers. Yet it was Wallenstein that retreated during the night. It could have been called a victory, if not for the death of the King.
Your great bravery at Lutzen was commended. You were promoted to full colonel and given command of the Brigade. However, you had had enough. A few weeks after the battle you tendered in your resignation. While some were surprised, you just couldn't do it no more. This was all too familiar of what was happening back home and deep inside you knew, that you were the English this time. You couldn't stomach that. While your men said their goodbyes respectfully, you already thought of what to do next. You could return to France, but something pulled you to the opposite side. Finally, you decided to go to the Commonwealth, a mostly Catholic country, that you knew well enough after spending time in Prussia and start anew there. They were having some troubles on their eastern borders, far away from all this Protestant-Catholic crap. With a bit of luck, you could prove yourself useful there.
Yet this is where your luck ran out.
Having arrived in Gdańsk, you took a loan from a local wealthy merchant by the name of Adrian von der Linde so that you could jump start your new career. While everything seemed to be in order, you never suspected of what was to happen. By some strange twist of fate, the money never arrived. You checked every possible way, how this could have happened, but found no clue. When you went to von der Linde, he showed a receipt with your signature on it, claiming, that you collected the sum personally. It was your word against his and he not only had proof, but also money and respect. A lost cause. When you were leaving, he said something about their mutual Scottish friend sending his regards. You should have known...
Now, having finally left the inn after a whole nights of drinking away your sorrows, you made your way for the Polish capital.
Your aim: to raise a regiment in Polish service...
Last edited:
Duke William of
I really need to finish my quests. :V
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You forgot the emphasized "HELLO" at the beginning.
I have to say, I love the character we have.
- Location
- United States
Well, that was something else. I don't think we've actually managed to create any butterflies but it's still neat to see our character participate in all this history. Who knows where he'll take it from here?
Kir the Wizard
The Sun King
- Location
- Ukraine
So, uh... Totally possible to ecounter adventuring Scotsmen in the Commonwealth. Like, among the Cossack colonels. This guy was a legit popular possibility for being elected the new Hetman in Ukraine, if he didn't die of plague right after some of his hugest victories.
Yes, that means SCOTTISH COSSACKS AROUND!
Yes, that means SCOTTISH COSSACKS AROUND!
iggyfan
Verified Man-Thing
- Location
- Kentucky
I fear to imagine the insults such a being could create.Yes, that means SCOTTISH COSSACKS AROUND!
January 1633 - The Capitulation Part I
Sertorius
Rebellious Legate
- Location
- Roma Invicta
January, 1633.
As you continue your journey throughout the snow-covered Commonwealth, you cannot but think about two things.
The first one is that the roads in this bloody country are nonexistent. Well, at least not to the standards of Western Europe. The fact, that they are all covered in thick snow doesn't help either.
Kind of reminds you of home.
The second thing are your own life choices.
You made a few stupid moves along the way, true, but you are wondering if this whole wandering soldier thing really suits you. Sure, you've gotten good at it, real good and that is what scares you. Killing people and commanding others to kill seem like a far fetched claim to glory and honour. One thing you do know, though. Those, that talk about glory and honour all the time have never seen the "field of glory".
One glimpse at the Lutzen aftermath would be enough for them to throw up.
Such people make you puke as well. What's more, you are quite certain, that you will have to meet them more than once during your career. Especially, if you want to convince a would-be recruit to join your regiment. The mere thought of talking about the glories and wonders of a soldier's life to some poor sod fresh from a farm sickens you. Men you commanded so far were veterans, who knew what they were doing and had no pretentious motivation or any other illusions. Now you will have to mingle with greenhorns and not only to teach them the basics, but also the simple fact, that war is a gruesome business. You were just just like that once, a long time ago. Bloodshed really does change people.
Enough of that.
You have to prepare for what lies ahead.
An important meeting is waiting for you. You are to see the man, who shall sponsor your new endeavour. This whole regiment raising is an expensive business and if you want to do it properly in this country, you need a Capitulation. No, it has nothing to do with surrendering.
A Capitulation is an enlistment permit, that allows you to recruit troops in accordance with the rules set in said document. It stipulates pay, regulations, numbers and recruitment areas, where you can organise and enlist. It's the very backbone of your regiment, the rule of law, upon which it is created. Every unit formed in the Commonwealth legally is raised by Capitulation. The same shall apply to yours as well.
The Regiment has to be formed and ready to march by the end of August 1633.
* * *
CAPITULATION
CAPITULATION
NAME
[X] Write-in - don't forget to name your Regiment!
PATRON
Having been cheated by that bloody prick from Gdańsk, you have not enough money to raise your own private regiment and thus have to resort to finding a sponsor. Luckily for you, the Commonwealth wages war on its eastern borders with the Muscovites, who have attacked and besieged Smoleńsk. Thus a recruiting drive is stirring throughout the country and new regiments are being raised every day. With your experience and recommendations from previous employers, you should be able to find a proper patron to raise a regiment for. You simply have to pick the right one. A favourable acceptance may earn you some form of bonus at the start of your work.
Choose:
[X] Władysław IV Waza – The newly elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, oldest son of the deceased Sigismund III. His election was practically unanimous and was one of the fastest as well, given the fact, that the Russians attacked during interregnum. He undertook decisive action in raising an army to march to the relief of Smoleńsk as soon as possible. While it is true, that the King has little political power, he is still the Commander-in-Chief of all military forces and starting your career with him might be a sound choice. Provided you can reach him. [Chance of being accepted favourably: 40%; regiment in royal service; may recruit anywhere; may earn the King's favour in the future]
[X] Stanisław Koniecpolski – The Grand Crown Hetman, that is, supreme military commander, and one of the most powerful men in Poland. He was Gustavus's great opponent during the Prussian War. An excellent military commander and an extremely rich magnate, starting your career under such a man can only lead to good things. Known to have a stutter and because of that dislikes public speeches. [Chance of being accepted favourably: 60%; regiment in royal service; may recruit anywhere (except in Troki Voivodeship and Ducal Prussia); may earn the Hetman's favour in the future]
[X] Krzysztof II Radziwiłł – Lithuania's Field Hetman and a hugely influential man in the Grand Duchy, plus a protector of the Reformed faith. Keeps the Muscovites on their toes while they are besieging Smoleńsk. An ardent Calvinist, his court and private armies are full of foreigners. Fighting under him can win you support in Lithuania no doubt, yet do you really want to fight for Protestants again? [Chance of being accepted favourably: 50%; regiment in royal service; may recruit in Troki Voivodeship only; may earn the Hetman's favour in the future] [+3 RAGE]
[X] Marcin Kazanowski – The Field Crown Hetman, another rich magnate, who happens to be a military commander. Kazanowski is 70 years old and a bit feeble, yet he still commands in the field, organises forces and serves in whatever capacity he can. Like others, he is recruiting men for the upcoming campaign. Given his age, it's quite obvious, that any favour won with him will not last very long. [Chance of being accepted favourably: 100%; no chance of failure; regiment in royal service; may recruit in Masovian Voivodeship only]
BUDGET
War needs three things: money, money and more money.
Negotiate your budget:
[X] Request 15 000 złotys – a regular offer, your employer believes, that this should be enough to cover your expenses. [Chance of success: 100%; no chance of failure]
[X] Request 20 000 złotys – ask for a larger budget, you do need to prepare your regiment well and that means costs. [Chance of success: 60%; in case of failure you get half: 10 000 złotys]
[X] Request 25 000 złotys – this is war and in war fortune favours the bold; ask for a huge budget with money to spare. [Chance of success: 30%; in case of failure you get half: 12 500 złotys]
As the regimental commander you have a right to 10% of the budget as your pay for the whole job. Will you accept it or ask for a smaller gratification?
[X] Accept 10% - you take what is your due. Nothing wrong with that. [no changes]
[X] Accept 5% - you ask to cut your pay by half; unsurprisingly this will win you some support in other areas. [+10% to chance of having a larger budget and a favourable patron, see above]
UNIT TYPE
Next, you need to select, what type of unit will you be raising:
[X] Infantry Regiment – You are an infantry officer and have lots of experience in training and leading foot troops. It would only be natural for you to raise a regiment of infantry in service of the Commonwealth. Should be easy enough when it comes to regulations and organisation, plus you know exactly what you will need for this to work. One can never go wrong with the tried and tested. A few things will depend on the type of infantry regulations you intend to implement, as well as the recruit profile you wish to target.
If forming an infantry regiment, you will need to decide on its regulations:
[X]Swedish Brigade – You shall pattern your unit upon that of the Swedish army of course. Gustavus Adolphus based his formation on the Dutch model, but added a few innovations. It's main advantage is firepower. Having fought in Poland against its renown cavalry, the Swedish King decided, that the volume of lead pouring out at once is the best solution to the problem. Very mobile and adaptable, it uses linear formations with musketeers having a 2/3 majority over pikemen, with regimental artillery in support. Drawbacks? The formation is complicated, requires a high number of officers and sergeants plus well drilled troops, otherwise it will disintegrate. Adding regimental cannons may also be very costly, should you go for it. Used only by Sweden. [requires 600 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 1 200 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
[X] Dutch Battalion – Maybe it would be wiser to stick with the original reforms of Maurice of Orange? Inspired by the Roman Legions, this type of formation is much simpler, yet just as effective. The Dutch form linear musketeer units stationed on the flanks of pikemen and pour volley fire into the enemy, then counter march away. While not as heavily focused on firepower, as the Swedish model, battalions are well suited for most type of situations and can pack quite the punch. Musketeers still form the majority of troops. Soldiers must be well drilled, but officers don't have to be as numerous for it to work. Easier to form as well. Used by the Dutch, English, Scots and many German states, including Imperials starting but a year ago. [requires 550 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 1 100 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
[X] Spanish Tercio – Old, but gold, yet is this really the case? The tried and tested Spanish Tercio was the formation, that won battlefield victories for more than a century. Invented by Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba, it made Spain a powerhouse and the most dominant military force in Europe. Naturally, most foreign armies tried to adopt this formation. While formidable against cavalry and very effective in melee, its main drawback is a lack of firepower. Only about 1/4 of soldiers in it are musketeers. Thus, artillery and enemy musketeers have a nice and big pike block to shoot at, provided it won't reach them quickly enough to crush the opposition. On the other hand, it needs only handful of good officers and training should be simple enough. Used by the Imperials and their German allies, Spanish, French, Italians and other Western Catholic states. [requires 500 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 1 000 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
Or you can scrap conventional infantry units and try something new:
[X] Dragoon Regiment – Maybe it's time to put some of those reforms and modern battle tactics into practice? Dragoons are a new type of unit, introduced but a few years back in France. They are infantrymen riding horses, that's about it. They are NOT cavalry, nor are classified as one. Horses are used to cover ground quickly and to gain a strategic and tactical advantage. When going into action, dragoons dismount and fight on foot, like regular infantrymen. They do not use pikes of course, only muskets, usually shorter ones for practical reasons. Of course, some men have to stay behind to guard the horses, which depletes firepower. This will require you to do some research into the matter though. With some specialized training, dragoons can become quite a versatile unit and their popularity in the Commonwealth army is steadily rising. [requires 300 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 600 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
UNIT PROFILE
You need to have a general idea about whom will you recruit. Are you planning to form a regiment of natives trained in the Western style or perhaps you shall go for quality over quantity by recruiting foreigners?
[X] Natives – the simplest solution, you shall recruit local peasants and train them to be soldiers according to Western military regulations using foreign officers when possible. [no changes]
[X] Germans – you will train and recruit a German regiment, using locals and foreigners when possible. This of course leaves out a good amount of potential recruits, but will improve the regiments quality. [soldiers will be of better quality; harder recruitment; good chance of not reaching the contracted goal]
[X] Scots – some of the best soldiers in the world and that is what you aim for; you shall recruit a Scottish regiment by enlisting every tartan wearing man you can find. Too bad Scotland is far away. [soldiers of excellent quality; very hard recruitment; reaching the minimum can be a challenge]
[X] Irish – maybe it's because you are homesick or you hit yourself in the head; either way you are going to recruit an Irish regiment without setting foot in Ireland, a high bar for anyone to be sure. [soldiers of exceptional quality and skill; scarce recruitment pool if any; reaching the minimum will be a task in itself]
REGION
Now you need to select your recruitment region.
You have to keep in mind a few things, though:
[X] Write-in - don't forget to name your Regiment!
PATRON
Having been cheated by that bloody prick from Gdańsk, you have not enough money to raise your own private regiment and thus have to resort to finding a sponsor. Luckily for you, the Commonwealth wages war on its eastern borders with the Muscovites, who have attacked and besieged Smoleńsk. Thus a recruiting drive is stirring throughout the country and new regiments are being raised every day. With your experience and recommendations from previous employers, you should be able to find a proper patron to raise a regiment for. You simply have to pick the right one. A favourable acceptance may earn you some form of bonus at the start of your work.
Choose:
[X] Władysław IV Waza – The newly elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, oldest son of the deceased Sigismund III. His election was practically unanimous and was one of the fastest as well, given the fact, that the Russians attacked during interregnum. He undertook decisive action in raising an army to march to the relief of Smoleńsk as soon as possible. While it is true, that the King has little political power, he is still the Commander-in-Chief of all military forces and starting your career with him might be a sound choice. Provided you can reach him. [Chance of being accepted favourably: 40%; regiment in royal service; may recruit anywhere; may earn the King's favour in the future]
[X] Stanisław Koniecpolski – The Grand Crown Hetman, that is, supreme military commander, and one of the most powerful men in Poland. He was Gustavus's great opponent during the Prussian War. An excellent military commander and an extremely rich magnate, starting your career under such a man can only lead to good things. Known to have a stutter and because of that dislikes public speeches. [Chance of being accepted favourably: 60%; regiment in royal service; may recruit anywhere (except in Troki Voivodeship and Ducal Prussia); may earn the Hetman's favour in the future]
[X] Krzysztof II Radziwiłł – Lithuania's Field Hetman and a hugely influential man in the Grand Duchy, plus a protector of the Reformed faith. Keeps the Muscovites on their toes while they are besieging Smoleńsk. An ardent Calvinist, his court and private armies are full of foreigners. Fighting under him can win you support in Lithuania no doubt, yet do you really want to fight for Protestants again? [Chance of being accepted favourably: 50%; regiment in royal service; may recruit in Troki Voivodeship only; may earn the Hetman's favour in the future] [+3 RAGE]
[X] Marcin Kazanowski – The Field Crown Hetman, another rich magnate, who happens to be a military commander. Kazanowski is 70 years old and a bit feeble, yet he still commands in the field, organises forces and serves in whatever capacity he can. Like others, he is recruiting men for the upcoming campaign. Given his age, it's quite obvious, that any favour won with him will not last very long. [Chance of being accepted favourably: 100%; no chance of failure; regiment in royal service; may recruit in Masovian Voivodeship only]
BUDGET
War needs three things: money, money and more money.
Negotiate your budget:
[X] Request 15 000 złotys – a regular offer, your employer believes, that this should be enough to cover your expenses. [Chance of success: 100%; no chance of failure]
[X] Request 20 000 złotys – ask for a larger budget, you do need to prepare your regiment well and that means costs. [Chance of success: 60%; in case of failure you get half: 10 000 złotys]
[X] Request 25 000 złotys – this is war and in war fortune favours the bold; ask for a huge budget with money to spare. [Chance of success: 30%; in case of failure you get half: 12 500 złotys]
As the regimental commander you have a right to 10% of the budget as your pay for the whole job. Will you accept it or ask for a smaller gratification?
[X] Accept 10% - you take what is your due. Nothing wrong with that. [no changes]
[X] Accept 5% - you ask to cut your pay by half; unsurprisingly this will win you some support in other areas. [+10% to chance of having a larger budget and a favourable patron, see above]
UNIT TYPE
Next, you need to select, what type of unit will you be raising:
[X] Infantry Regiment – You are an infantry officer and have lots of experience in training and leading foot troops. It would only be natural for you to raise a regiment of infantry in service of the Commonwealth. Should be easy enough when it comes to regulations and organisation, plus you know exactly what you will need for this to work. One can never go wrong with the tried and tested. A few things will depend on the type of infantry regulations you intend to implement, as well as the recruit profile you wish to target.
If forming an infantry regiment, you will need to decide on its regulations:
[X]Swedish Brigade – You shall pattern your unit upon that of the Swedish army of course. Gustavus Adolphus based his formation on the Dutch model, but added a few innovations. It's main advantage is firepower. Having fought in Poland against its renown cavalry, the Swedish King decided, that the volume of lead pouring out at once is the best solution to the problem. Very mobile and adaptable, it uses linear formations with musketeers having a 2/3 majority over pikemen, with regimental artillery in support. Drawbacks? The formation is complicated, requires a high number of officers and sergeants plus well drilled troops, otherwise it will disintegrate. Adding regimental cannons may also be very costly, should you go for it. Used only by Sweden. [requires 600 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 1 200 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
[X] Dutch Battalion – Maybe it would be wiser to stick with the original reforms of Maurice of Orange? Inspired by the Roman Legions, this type of formation is much simpler, yet just as effective. The Dutch form linear musketeer units stationed on the flanks of pikemen and pour volley fire into the enemy, then counter march away. While not as heavily focused on firepower, as the Swedish model, battalions are well suited for most type of situations and can pack quite the punch. Musketeers still form the majority of troops. Soldiers must be well drilled, but officers don't have to be as numerous for it to work. Easier to form as well. Used by the Dutch, English, Scots and many German states, including Imperials starting but a year ago. [requires 550 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 1 100 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
[X] Spanish Tercio – Old, but gold, yet is this really the case? The tried and tested Spanish Tercio was the formation, that won battlefield victories for more than a century. Invented by Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba, it made Spain a powerhouse and the most dominant military force in Europe. Naturally, most foreign armies tried to adopt this formation. While formidable against cavalry and very effective in melee, its main drawback is a lack of firepower. Only about 1/4 of soldiers in it are musketeers. Thus, artillery and enemy musketeers have a nice and big pike block to shoot at, provided it won't reach them quickly enough to crush the opposition. On the other hand, it needs only handful of good officers and training should be simple enough. Used by the Imperials and their German allies, Spanish, French, Italians and other Western Catholic states. [requires 500 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 1 000 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
Or you can scrap conventional infantry units and try something new:
[X] Dragoon Regiment – Maybe it's time to put some of those reforms and modern battle tactics into practice? Dragoons are a new type of unit, introduced but a few years back in France. They are infantrymen riding horses, that's about it. They are NOT cavalry, nor are classified as one. Horses are used to cover ground quickly and to gain a strategic and tactical advantage. When going into action, dragoons dismount and fight on foot, like regular infantrymen. They do not use pikes of course, only muskets, usually shorter ones for practical reasons. Of course, some men have to stay behind to guard the horses, which depletes firepower. This will require you to do some research into the matter though. With some specialized training, dragoons can become quite a versatile unit and their popularity in the Commonwealth army is steadily rising. [requires 300 men minimum to avoid a firing squad for embezzlement; 600 contracted, anything less will have negative consequences]
UNIT PROFILE
You need to have a general idea about whom will you recruit. Are you planning to form a regiment of natives trained in the Western style or perhaps you shall go for quality over quantity by recruiting foreigners?
[X] Natives – the simplest solution, you shall recruit local peasants and train them to be soldiers according to Western military regulations using foreign officers when possible. [no changes]
[X] Germans – you will train and recruit a German regiment, using locals and foreigners when possible. This of course leaves out a good amount of potential recruits, but will improve the regiments quality. [soldiers will be of better quality; harder recruitment; good chance of not reaching the contracted goal]
[X] Scots – some of the best soldiers in the world and that is what you aim for; you shall recruit a Scottish regiment by enlisting every tartan wearing man you can find. Too bad Scotland is far away. [soldiers of excellent quality; very hard recruitment; reaching the minimum can be a challenge]
[X] Irish – maybe it's because you are homesick or you hit yourself in the head; either way you are going to recruit an Irish regiment without setting foot in Ireland, a high bar for anyone to be sure. [soldiers of exceptional quality and skill; scarce recruitment pool if any; reaching the minimum will be a task in itself]
REGION
Now you need to select your recruitment region.
You have to keep in mind a few things, though:
- You can only recruit volunteer (legally at least) peasants and burghers from the crown lands; privately owned lands and towns are off limits (which is a great shame by the way; this is one of the reasons why the army was never as large as it should be);
- Nobles will not join infantry units as common soldiers no matter how poor they are;
- Nobles may join as officers, yet since infantry was always looked down upon, they may need some convincing... too bad the vast majority has no experience beyond ploughing fields.
[X] Masovian Voivodeship – located north of Warsaw all the way to the Prussian border, this is a region full of small villages populated by poor nobles and a good number of crown lands from which you can recruit. It was affected only slightly by the Swedish war and should be a good spot to form a regiment. Then there's always a chance to nip some Germans from beyond the border. [no changes]
[X] Pomeranian Voivodeship – the Commonwealth's window to the world, where Gdańsk is situated, it used to be one of the richest regions in the country. Too bad, that it is still recovering from the war, that ended but 4 years ago and that you were part of the invading force. People here are quite well off and crown lands are not as numerous. However, there is no better place to look for foreigners. The land is full of them plus both the Empire and Prussia are just around the corner. Countries beyond the sea can add to this as well, provided you have time, money and well… contacts. Which you don't, but that can be arranged. [easier access to foreigners and can import recruits by sea; big penalties to local recruitment and to supplies]
[X] Troki Voivodeship – you can use the opportunity to recruit in western Lithuania, and this is the best place to do so. Close to Prussia, it gives you access to Germans, but most of all, Grodno County is famous for being dominated by crown lands, giving you a big pool of potential natives for recruitment. The Radziwiłłs are powerful here and have a big amount of lands to the north. If you could get into their good graces, you might receive access to their lands, full of Germans and, most of all, Scots. [good pool of native recruits; good potential pool of foreign recruits; Protestant Radziwiłłs dominate the political landscape, can be friends or enemies]
[X] Ducal Prussia – now this one can be a little tricky. You see, the Duchy of Prussia is a vassal of the Commonwealth and thus, should be on your side. In practice, Georg Wilhelm von Hohenzollern does whatever it is he wants. His neutrality during the Prussian War really pissed off certain important people. Now the King wishes to reassert his dominance over the Elector's Prussian lands and recruit soldiers directly. Starting with you. [excellent pool of German recruits and natives; hostile administration; supply problems]
Voting in plan format.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]Plan: Prussian Power
-[X] Regiment Name- The Steel Eagles
-[X] Władysław IV Waza
-[X] Request 20 000 złotys
-[X] Accept 5%
-[X] Dragoon Regiment
-[X] Germans
-[X] Ducal Prussia
-[X] Regiment Name- The Steel Eagles
-[X] Władysław IV Waza
-[X] Request 20 000 złotys
-[X] Accept 5%
-[X] Dragoon Regiment
-[X] Germans
-[X] Ducal Prussia
Sertorius
Rebellious Legate
- Location
- Roma Invicta
This vote will be longer, therefore take your time.
It is a very important decision obviously.
EDIT: Added info, that the regiment has to be ready for war by the end of August 1633.
Months will take two turns each, starting with February.
That gives you 14 turns.
Of course if you can march out quicker, more kudos for you.
It is a very important decision obviously.
EDIT: Added info, that the regiment has to be ready for war by the end of August 1633.
Months will take two turns each, starting with February.
That gives you 14 turns.
Of course if you can march out quicker, more kudos for you.
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[X] Plan: Getting on our Feet
-[X] Regiment Name - The Emerald Bannermen
-[X] Władysław IV Waza
-[X] Request 20 000 złotys
-[X] Accept 5%
-[X] Spanish Tercio
-[X] Irish
-[X] Pomeranian Voivodeship
-[X] Regiment Name - The Emerald Bannermen
-[X] Władysław IV Waza
-[X] Request 20 000 złotys
-[X] Accept 5%
-[X] Spanish Tercio
-[X] Irish
-[X] Pomeranian Voivodeship
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Kir the Wizard
The Sun King
- Location
- Ukraine
Wlad Waza - prospective guy, but with little power, and may well die soon of natural causes. For what happens to people that relied SPECIFICALLY on frendship with Wlad... See Bohdan Khmelnytsky. Like half the reason why Khmelnytsky's rebellion did not end peacefully and instead turned into a massive ten years war is because of Wlad's death.
Koniecpolski - the "conservative Polish elite" choice. Good for a patron of mercenaries, but expect not changing OTL so much, if you care about that.
Kazanowski - mostly interesting as the link to Mikołaj "Bear Paw" Potocki and the Potocki Family. Helping them rise to power much earlier might make things interesting.
Radziwiłł - the "mess things up choice". He is plenty old, and actually rather loyal, but his son is the interesting part. His son first started Catholic and fired Protestants, but then after the failure of anti-Muscovite campaign went over to Sweden and devised a plan that would net the Radziwills a separate Duchy of Lithuania with Swedish alliance. Given that the m.c. already went for Swedish ties, this may be an interesting choice, but it'd be a huge loss for Catholicism (Swedish-Transylvanian-Ukrainian-Lithuanian victory over Poland and Muscovy in Eastern Europe).
I think Radziwill is most interesting, but given the early start, many things may change. I'll just note that, aside from Koniecpolski, pretty much all the other choices are rather "temporary" as far as their lifetimes in OTL go.
Koniecpolski - the "conservative Polish elite" choice. Good for a patron of mercenaries, but expect not changing OTL so much, if you care about that.
Kazanowski - mostly interesting as the link to Mikołaj "Bear Paw" Potocki and the Potocki Family. Helping them rise to power much earlier might make things interesting.
Radziwiłł - the "mess things up choice". He is plenty old, and actually rather loyal, but his son is the interesting part. His son first started Catholic and fired Protestants, but then after the failure of anti-Muscovite campaign went over to Sweden and devised a plan that would net the Radziwills a separate Duchy of Lithuania with Swedish alliance. Given that the m.c. already went for Swedish ties, this may be an interesting choice, but it'd be a huge loss for Catholicism (Swedish-Transylvanian-Ukrainian-Lithuanian victory over Poland and Muscovy in Eastern Europe).
I think Radziwill is most interesting, but given the early start, many things may change. I'll just note that, aside from Koniecpolski, pretty much all the other choices are rather "temporary" as far as their lifetimes in OTL go.