October 1623 - April 1624It was a busy winter. The most important event was the growing hostility of Denmark towards the Catholic cause. Christian IV, King of Denmark, now fancies himself to be the savior of the Protestant cause in Germany, and while his small army is not a major threat his huge treasury is. Due to his control of the tolls levied on merchant shipping passing through the Danish Straits Christian IV is the richest monarch in all of Europe. If he enters the war for the Protestants it will be a very dangerous time for the Empire.
Secondly, Frankfurt fell to the Protestants in November 1623. It is a major defeat for the Catholic cause and a much-needed boost to the Protestant one. The city was surrounded by hostile states and there was no way to defend it adequately or come to its relief once besieged. Still, it is a hard blow.
The third major development is the entry of Albrecht von Wallenstein to the Imperial ranks. A minor Catholic Bohemian nobleman, Wallenstein was able to dramatically increase his lands and wealth following the defeat of the Protestant rebellion in his country. Now he offers to raise and equip an army in support of the Emperor. Ferdinand II gladly accepts but there is unease at the Imperial court with the rise of this
nouveau homme. He will need to be watched.
Taxes were received from Wien and Bavaria so the Imperial treasury is adequate. With the army costing 3 gold per turn and a single battle requiring 19 gold in replacements,
barely adequate may be a better description.
With the expanding war the struggle on the diplomatic stage also expands. The support of Spain and Bavaria are critical to the Catholic cause and these states must be assiduously courted. The minor states of the empire: Koln, Trier, Mainz, Munster and Bremen, are also important to the Imperial war effort and will provide additional money and replacements if they are sufficiently enthusiastic. Ambassadors, away!
Finally, Generals Pappenheim and Aldrich have reported for duty. Aldrich will join Wallenstein at Prague and Pappenheim will wait at Munich for future possible assignment.
The stage is now set for the campaign of 1624.
Tilly will move north and east hoping to engage Brunswick again and relieving the sieges of Nordlingen, Heilbronn, and Stuttgart. Bucquoy will once again attack at Brunn hoping to capture it and Omutz before winter comes. Wallenstein will raise additional troops before moving west to besiege Bamberg and Wurzburg. Of course as we saw last year the Protestants may well disrupt these well-laid plans, especially as the whereabouts of the main heretic army is not known.
The CP is at 135% and morale is 101 for the Imperials, 98 for the Protestants.
(Some game notes. Denmark brings an astounding 400 gold to the Protestant cause, and when they enter the war it is the most dangerous time for the Imperials. Regarding Wallenstein, he is a good commander [4-4-4?] and he arrives with a small force. But his arrival also gives the Imperials the ability to raise 12 new regiments [6 infantry and 6 cavalry] for the cost of only 1 EP each. Such a force would cost at least 50 gold if raised conventionally. Regarding diplomacy, diplomatic RDCs are played in the corresponding national boxes located at the top of the map. Each diplomacy RDC costs 5 EPs so they must be used judiciously. In my experience only Spain, Bavaria, Koln, Trier, Munster, Bremen and Mainz directly benefit the Imperials with periodic gifts of gold and replacements if the support level is 85% or higher [I think]. I don't waste EPs on any Protestant country. I once had Denmark at 100% Imperial support and it had no affect on the game.)
