Autumn - 1458

Autumn 1458 -

With two battles to fight against the new, new, new Austrian leader I got a few games of practice DBA in before heading down to the club, and honestly there's not much you can learn when you're playing your ideal force, lessons learnt from fighting mercenary cavalry armies have taught me to avoid their pike and rough terrain but otherwise as long as I use common sense I should be fine.

Arriving at the club I found that the Austrian leader was a no show, so a stand-in general was elected. The umpire gave him a few games where he reportedly won, I wasn't too worried as DBA can sometimes swing in such ways with 6/1 results and the like. I set up the board as I was defending and decided which list to use, a nice balance between mounted (heavy and light) and rock hard infantry such as a general pike stand, and a third of crossbow. The Enemy general made his way over to the table where he informed me Austria would be throwing both games. Now I want you to see that whilst not upset over the result, I do feel rather robbed - the turn has been delayed on end so I can fight these two battles and when it came to it - the enemy surrendered... This meant my force assaulting the province of Turin succeeded and drove the Austrian army back into garrison the city, whilst my Milanese garrison that had converted to an army successfully drove the Austrians from the province of Milan, causing him to retreat to Tyrolea.

Handing my orders in, I elected for my fleet in Corsica to put to sea and move to the Eastern Gulf of Lyon, in a movement to ensure I can recapture Genoa from the invading Austrian forces in the coming year of 1459. If nothing else it pins his army in place and reduces the damage it can cause. I ordered my army in Turin to begin a siege on the Austrian garrison whilst also deciding for Milan to hold - whilst I could press my advantage now I'd risk being exposed to counter assault, the army is much more use where it is; as it commands my eastern border. Due to Austrian indecision all my orders went through and were executed as planned.


Elsewhere the Papacy moved from the newly captured Florence to assault Pistoia, whilst its second force moved and captured Pisa. The Papal states managed to roll their debt with funding from the Turks and also interestingly borrowed the maximum income allowed - I feel that he plans to default on his loan in the future, else this seems a strange move. Naples managed to force their fleet into the lower Adriatic, whilst the Turks continued their trek up through Durazzo and into Herzegovina. Venice raised a force but failed to transport it to Carinthia due to Papal blockades, and their other fleet moved from the Lower Adriatic and captured the Port of Ragusa from Austria.
I'll also start putting up the odd recoloured map every now and again so to show the movement of the campaign, Milan is Green, Venice is Brown, Papacy is Gold, Turks are Pink and Naples is Blue. Originally France was yellow, and Florence beige however since their destruction they no longer feature on the map.