Bavaria (Principia Moderni III Map Game)

The Grand Duchy of Bavaria, commonly called Bavaria, is a state located in south central Europe. Border include Austria to the east, Venice to the south, and Saxon lands to the north. Bavaria is a hereditary monarchy, with a sole person as both the head of government and state.

Bavaria is composed of the duchies of Landshut and Straubing, as well as the cities of Munchen and Ingolstadt.

Prior the the Fifteenth Century
After the Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476, the Bavarii peoples were among the earliest Europeans to set up a structured state. The Duchy of Bavaria developed over the course of centuries, from their dealings with the Clovian and Carolingian Franks, to their large consolidations in the tenth century. Bavaria remains to be one of the oldest continually existing and inhabited states in Europe.

1400 - 1410
In 1400, Bavaria was split up into various states. This included the duchy of Landshut and Straubing, as well as the smaller cities of Ingolstadt and Munchen. The existence of four Bavarias was most likely caused by rulers generations ago splitting land between their children, as Charlemagne did in the ninth century, as opposed to designating a single successor to inherit all land. Beginning in January of that year, Heinrich XVI, duke of Landshut, announced to his court his intentions to bring all of Bavaria under his suzerain wing.

Heinrich, only about fifteen at the time, was an ambitious ruler and wasted no time with his mission. Immediately Heinrich and his government began kindly petitioning, and soon demanding, the lords of Munchen for manpower and tribute. Within five years, the lords of Muchen were vassalized, and the lords of Straubing followed suit just a few years later.

While this period of vassalization occurred, many economical and political changes were happening as well. In 1401, Bavaria entered an alliance with the powerful Saxony, which was on a rise to power already in north central Germany. The same year, Bavaria allied with France as well as solidifying a trade agreement with France and Austria. Another trade agreement with Castile was officiated three years later. All three kingdoms were now economically tied with Bavaria, and within months Heinrich gave his government the orders to construct trade outposts and markets.

To the northwest, Albert of Holland, a dynastic relative of Heinrich's, caught his attention. Starting in 1401, attempts were made at alliances. The need for alliance came a few years later when both nations agreed to a coalition in defense of Austria. Afterwards, Heinrich agreed to begin using the Hollander Banks to handle Bavarian finances. Both acts further tied the two nations together. Furthermore, when Wilhelm, Albert's son, began contesting his claim for Brabant, Heinrich supported his cause.

Towards the east, relations with the Roman Byzantine Empire were also improved. Troops and gold were sent as well as an alliance in 1404.

Relations with Austria began to sour in 1402, when Heinrich refused to get into a war with Poland, seeing it as a foolish campaign stemming from the whimsical wants of a detached Emperor.

Socially, the road to education was also being paved. After the University of Wurzburg and Turin were founded, Heinrich soon got to work planning a university of his own. In 1408, the charter for the Queen Isabell University of Munchen went underway. The charter was issued by Isabell herself.

Isabell Valois was the daughter of Charles VII of France and newly wed wife of Heinrich. By that year, she had already given birth to the heir to the throne, Albert.

1410 - 1420
The decade began with further construction on the university. As Isabell began overseeing construction of the univeristy as well as holding summer courts in Munchen, the currciculum was laid out. Unlike most university of the time and past, clergy training was not forefront. Instead, classes in French, English, Latin, and Greek were prioritized. Within three years, mathematics and theology were added to the curriculum.

Apart from the university, Bavaria simulataneously began being involved in politics as well. War was almost declared against Austria in 1412, after a brief Austrian insurgence against Venice. Afterwards, tensions remained high in Bavaria, and many suspected war to occur soon.

While Bavaria did not declare war in 1412, the UNC (United Nordic Crown) declared war on Austria. Within two years the war evolved greatly. In the beginning, the war was mostly secluded to northern Germany, in the areas surrounding Denmark and Luneburg. After 1413, however, the war had dragged itself south. Heinrich finally decided to declare war the next year, joining the UNC. Austrian merchants were kicked out and forces were deployed Soon, the Golden Horde of Russia, Saxony, Anhalt, Hungary, and Venice joined Bavaria and the UNC.

The war was mostly inconclusive. The UNC more or less collapsed, coming under English sovereignty in 1415. While Bavaria and her allies won the war, no real territorial gains were made. However, Heinrich saw an opportunity arise. In Danzig, where the official treaty was being drafted, Heinrich was able to wraggle out a substantial peace from Albert of Austria.

In the Treaty of Danzig, Bavaria would be united to become the Grand Duchy of Bavaria. The trade deal with Austria would be reopened and a one hundred and fifty year period of fleet basing rights were also guaranteed to the Bavarians.

While the war was somewhat of a waste of money, Bavaria was able to achieve a substantial degree of autonomy and further inclined to become richer. With fleet basing rights all over coastal Austria, as well as a trade agreement with Austria, Castile, France, with a trade agreement with the mercantile republic of Venice in 1417, Bavaria was on the road to wealth and luxury. An alliance with Castile was also brokered in 1414, adding to the relative power of the Bavarian state to compliment the rising economic independence.

After the war, problems and decadence within the Roman Catholic church prompted more change in Bavaria. Heinrich, worried about making a brash decision, at first stayed neutral in the Catholic schism, which separated the Catholic world into the Papacies of Rome, and opposing Rome, Avignon. Instead, Heinrich began encouraging the nurture and development of the already present religious community in Bavaria. While a splinter church was insane, Heinrich did like the idea of a unique, yet still Catholic church without the heavy influence of the papacy in Rome. Furthermore, a series of failures and resignations among the Roman Popes further fueled Heinrich's, as well as the Kings of Castile, France, and England, to want to distance themselves from the powerful grip in Italy. Of the three western Kingdoms listed, all of them supported Avignon.

England particularly piqued Heinrich's interests, when in 1416, the Archbishop of Canterbury was proclaimed the true pope when Avignon capitulated to Rome. Afterwards, Bavaria entered into a trade agreement with England as well as a informal pact of friendliness. Both of these actions further pushed Heinrich to begin assuming an anti-Rome position. The English added to Bavarian wealth and power, so choosing their pope of that of Rome would futher the relations between Bavaria and England, thus furthering economical and political gain.

Once the trade agreement with England was officiated, Bavaria was essentially a hub of economic activity, albeit a developing hub. Beginning in 1417, construction on a small trade house began in Landshut. In Heinrich's mind, this place would be able to thrive into a wealthy, opulent stock exchange, attracting all of the world's riches and gold, along with the men that own them.

Simulataneously, the fleet rights with Austria began to pay off as well. Over the course of a few years, a series of cogs and trading vessels were constructed and, while not the grandest navy in Europe, was a benefit to Bavaria. Numerous other landlocked countries in Europe had not the chance Bavaria had and trade by land was for the most part inefficient, dangerous, and more costly than beneficial.

1420 - 1430
As the economy made small steps towards wealth and expansiveness, the country contiously pursued territorial gains as well. On the order of Heinrich XVI in 1416, the surrounding lands of Nurnburg and Burgau began being vassalized. The next year, the Grand Duke began petitioning the lords of Pfalz, a sectionalized, chaotic, disarrayed country in central Europe. While he could not outright subjugate the country to vassaliztion, Heinrich began asking the most powerful lords to enter a personal union under Heinrich, considering that Bavaria and Pfalz were already linked within the House of Wittelsbach. In 1421, many politicians of the country as well as the nearby Palatinate began protesting Heinrich's actions and some outright detested him. A small minority, although, came to support the Grand Duke. In turn, Heinrich immediately sent letters to "Pro-Bavarian" Pfalz politicians to establish relations.

To the south, an alliance with Austria in 1421 also led way to Bavaria's prominence in the European stage. While many of Heinrich's councillors and politicians turned heads at an alliance with a former enemy, Heinrich went along with it anyway. An alliance with such a large country (one which would only become larger with the imminent unions with Bohemia and Brandenburg) could very well prove to be beneficial in years to come.

As the years passed and the dealings with Pfalz proved to be unfruitful, Heinrich turned once more to religious matters.