The Fall of Lithuania (AAR)

Fall of Lithuania: The Stage (AAR)

Lithuania reached recognition at the dawn of the 12th century when the Baltic tribes united as one ruling government. A pagan nation surrounded by a thoroughly Christianized Europe; Lithuania was subject to ridicule and slander by its neighboring catholic countries. As if to prove their jibes wrong, Lithuania continued to swell. Soon it had grown large enough to threaten the holdings of the Republic of Novgorod and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania became a reckoning force among the northern European states.

Two orders however would rise to challenge this pagan nation. The northern lands separating the Grand Duchy from Novgorod, known as Estonia, was put under the control of a Christian army known as the Livonian Order. To add to Lithuanians troubles was the rise of the Teutonic Order. An organization of fanatical Christian warriors, they saw Lithuania as little more than a haven for heathens and thieves.

The Teutonic’s hatred only grew when the Lithuanian Dukes won the decisive Battle of the Sun and tossed the Livonian Order into chaos. Never ones to let opportunity slide however, the Teutonic Order offered their swords to the surviving Livonian Order and absorbed them into their movement.

By the mid-half of the 12th century the Teutonic Order had developed into its own nation and was making destructive raids into Lithuanian territory at the behest of Poland. Hoping to weaken Lithuanian to further its own gains, Poland had requested the aid of the Teutonic Knights in hopes of abusing their religious fervor. However it would be the Teutonic Order and not Poland that would gain from Lithuanians misfortune and it soon became apparent that the Teutonic’s were in a position to overshadow Poland as they took up holding to the east and north of Lithuania. Poland could only sit and stew, as it paid deep penance for the demons it had unleashed.

Meanwhile in the far north regions of Europe, the lords of the Baltic States of Denmark and Norway set aside their internal feuds and placed their eyes on conquest outside their lands. Though the Nordic people had abandoned their pagan ways, their warriors were still every bit as blood thirsty and ferocious as the famed barbarian pirates of old. It would simply be a matter of time before their long ships appeared on the horizon, and only a matter of time before the city streets of the Baltic coast ran red with blood.

Meanwhile in the northeast, the sleeping giant of the Republic of Novgorod began to stir. This powerful and independent state was beginning to stretch its legs once more and make full use of its trade and mercantile strength. A mercantile strength that if used correctly, could quickly become a military one…

In the south, the outriders of the great Mongolian Empire settled in the foreign European plains in what had once been the territory of the Hungarian Empire. Though a mere token of the force brought to bear against countless other nations during the rise of Genghis Khan, these settlers were still a threat worth respecting.

Finally, in the far west, sat the the outer holdings of the Holy Roman Empire. Just as the Livonian Order was the arm of the Teutonic Order, so too was the Teutonic Order an arm of the Holy Roman Empire. As the Teutonic Knight’s grew in strength and daring the Holy Roman Empire rubbed its hands in glee and smiled widely with bloodstained teeth. The last pagan nation in Europe would soon fall, and they would reap both the spoils of god and man in compensation for their efforts.

The year is 1284. Lithuania stands upon the edged of destruction and as the nations of Northern Europe marshal their armies and draw their lines of battle only one thing was certain. This would be an age of Total War.

The Fall of Lithuania: Part I (AAR)

1284 – 1286

Lithuania was now in a state of open warfare against the Teutonic Order. The last of the Teutonic Knights spring raids were over. The Grand Duke Mindaugas of Lithuania was now free to begin planning for a large scale defense of his nation. There could be no doubt as to the Teutonic’s intentions. Scouts across both the north and western border reported a strong marshalling of troops and it was clear to the Grand Duke that the Order was planning on launching their first large scale offensive by the end of the coming fall, if not before the end of this very summer.

Directly to the north of the city of Siaulia –a key holding in the parts of conquered Estonia- sat the Teutonic capital of Riga. Knowing that the wealthy city was vulnerable, Mindaugas surmised that the Teutonic attack would most likely hail from that direction. The logic behind this dictating that the Teutonic’s would seek to reaffirm their grip on the region as well as retake the familiars lands of Estonia. He sent his son, Prince Vaisvilkas, northward into the forests near the bridge connecting the Lithuanian region of Estonia to the Teutonic held region of Estonia which was divided by the River Estop.

Meanwhile he commissioned the building of a Temple of Giltine in order to gather together the local Samogitians in order to forge two new companies of heavy infantry.

He also commissioned new roads but kept them constrained only to the central provinces. His forces would fare far better off the beaten track then their Teutonic counterparts. He also ordered a general arming of volunteers from the Lithuanian tribes and gathered together several companies of ill trained peasant archers.

Not a day before summers end, a Teutonic army passed over the River Estop and right into the waiting arms of Prince Vaisvilkas army. The battle could not be called a blood bath for the Teutonic army held a heavy advantage in equipment and training and a slight edge in numbers. The following battle however was a remarkable start to the war and Prince Vaisvilkas managed to route the enemy forces. Despite the brutal hunt his troops gave when the enemy broke he did see fit to grant the survivor’s clemency and send them back to Riga alive but in chains.

Lithuania was more than willing to fight for its land.

That very fall an emissary from the Republic of Novgorod, no doubt impressed by the Lithuanians victory and wary of the Teutonic’s, offered both alliance and trade to their former adversaries.

Mindaugas accepted the offered alliance without pause. News had already reached the capital that a second Teutonic force was marshalling in the stretch between the city of Riga and Dunaburg.

Eager to capitalize his victories and mindful of the support given to him by the Estonian refugees that comprised most of his infantry force, Mindaugas also sent commands for Duke Edivydas to move upon the Livonian held settlement of Dokshendy.

Winter came upon the land and the injured Lithuanian troops from the battle at the forest Ewdlwood made their way through Siaulia and towards the port fort of Palanga. Lithuania troops from Saiulia, including two heavy infantry companies trained in the summer and fall prior, went to reinforce Vaisvilkas army guarding the river.

The wounded soldiers heading toward Palanga arrived at the fort just in time to die. The Teutonic’s had marched a strong army from the southern border right up toward Palanga. Laying siege to the fortress just as the first winter frost set into the earth they began preparations to attack the keep.

Duke Edivydas went forth and took the lonely holding Dokshendy. Meanwhile, with the Grand Duke unwilling to commit his forces to the coast as the Teutonic’s marshaled in the north, Palanga fell to Teutonic soldiers. It’s most obvious strategic was of course the land locking of Lithuania. The less obvious but no less important value was the knowledge amongst the Lithuanians that they were now effectively caught off at every side by enemies and rivals. If the Grand Duchy fell there would be no escape.

Now firmly on the defensive, the Grand Duke began once more the gathering and training of recruits for his armies. A northern advance across the River Estop by the Teutonic’s in the early spring was beaten back by Prince Vaisvilkas and Linas of Kaunas, a rising Lithuanian noble.

An unsuspected but welcome surprise came to Lithuania when a full regiment of heavy cavalry, formed mostly of Bajorija, volunteered themselves in the capital of Vilnius. These horsemen were sent north and placed under the command of Linas of Kuanas. Linas then led them in an attack against a regiment of Teutonic light cavalry sent to reinforce the Teutonic’s now broken army. The regiment fled with Linas in close pursuit. They led Linas past the River Estop and right into a Teutonic army numbering two regiments strong. Now outnumbered three to one, the Teutonic’s delivered a clear blow to Linas calvary and forced him to retreat.

Meanwhile the army that had conquered Palanga just two seasons’ priors reared its head and marched on Siaulia.

The Grand Duke realized he could no longer ignore the Teutonic’s south western advance. He commanded Linas to take control of the cities weak garrison and prepared a force in the capital with the help of Butyudas of Slonim that would go to the cities aid.

By the springs end, Siaulia was under siege. Prince Vaisvilkas, joined now by Duke Edivydas, moved to relieve Siaulia from the north. Mindaugas and his hastily gathered forces moved quickly from the capital in the south. Under independent command and the sloshing rain, the garrison of Siaulia, the army of Prince Vaisvilkas and the relief forces of the Grand Duke attacked the Teutonic’s army. In a mere few hours time, nearly two months of labor came to fruition in the bloodiest battle since the wars beginning.

In the end the Teutonic’s fervor was no match for the Lithuanian’s stubborn determination. Out maneuvered by the Lithuanians superior missile troops and at a loss as to near suicidal charges unleashed by the warriors compromising the various generals bodyguards, the Teutonic forces broke into a route.

But there was no time for celebration for the leaders of the Grand Duchy. The Lithuanians were badly bloodied, news came of a Polish army drawing dangerously close to the central province border town of Hrodna and to make matters worse the Teutonic’s appeared to have already dispatched a second army meant to reinforce the first on the southwest front.

The Mongolians were moving in the south east and the Grand Duchies economic issues were coming to a head. The gathering of the forces needed to defeat the Teutonic’s had sent the Lithuanian nobility spiraling into debt.

There was one bit of good news. The Republic of Novgorod which had signed itself up in alliance with Lithuania nearly a year prior had finally arrived to make good on their promises. Scouts reported that Republic forces had engaged and defeated a sizable Teutonic army in the north and were heading toward the city of Riga.

Unable to afford the funds needed for running a kingdom, Lithuania fell into a great pause. The Polish army moved close but did not attack Hroda. The Mongolians advanced but did not strike. The Teutonic Army moved closer. The Grand Duke took no decisive action in this time and so summer became fall once more.

The Mongolian outriders attacked the eastern city of Minsk forcing the Grand Duke to revert forces from the northern border settlement of Dokshendy. Teutonic forces arrived at Kauna and laid siege to the city. The Polish remained inert but tied up the considerable forces garrisoned at Hrodna. On the northern front, the armies of Novgorod arrived at Riga.

There could be no more waiting.

The Grand Duke made a decisive decision. He would send an expedition force under the command of Prince Vaisvilka, accompanied by Duke Edivydas and Linas of Kaunas, northward to aid in the capture of Riga.

He himself would hold position in Siaulia while Captain Mantike would repel the Mongolian forces at Minsk. The winter saw the Mongolians repelled and a small village known as Homfel captured by Captain Mantike. It also saw the joint armies of Lithuania and Novgorod break through the sparsely defended capital of Riga. Before the bells of New Year rang the joint forces rested easily within the cities walls.

But Lithuania would pay for her victories. A week after the New Year passed, the Teutonic army dropped it's siege of Kauna and stabbed deep into the heart of Lithuania. It's capital of Vienas. The war was anything but over.

To be continued…

This is MEDTW2 Kingdoms, right?

Very good job, btw.