or rather the beginnings of my new TL...
based on ideas from this ancient thread: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=99170
and from this ancient book "Saxons Through Seventeen Centuries"
and this site: http://www.sibiweb.de/geschi/7b-history.htm
i have created a scenario for an independent "Transylvanian Duchy". So without further ado, i present 2 u my TL...
enjoy!
Transyvanian Duchy: The Rise and Fall of a New Nation...
Prologue:
In the Beginning: (a little background information)
The year is 1211 A.D.
Crusades against the Turks are raping the middle east. Countless young European sons are dying for little again in a far away desolate land, all for the cross. Deeply moved by the misery of the crusades a young German prince founds the Order of the Teutonic knights for the sole purpose of protecting the pilgrims on their quest to the Holy Lands. Soon their white cloaks and black crosses would be known throughout Europe and the holy lands.
But soon as the crusades begin to wilt under the relentless Turkish forces, the king of Hungary (king Andreas), called upon the Teutonic Order to protect its eastern German colony against various raiders and nomadic tribes. The knights called upon the local saxon settlers and foreign saxons alike, to build a string of castles and forts throughout the Karpathian mountains to defend against these unholy attackers.
Within a few years, the land was well defended and protected against all outside influences. The king of Hungry, fearing the growing power of the Teutonic knights, ordered them to leave the country. He confiscated their lands and power and titles.
The knights, who claimed the only bowed to the pope, refused to leave.
The king of Hungry grew angry and began calling up a large army to forcefully remove the Teutonic knights and any resisting saxons alike.
(point of divergence is as follows)
Instead of relenting peacefully, the knights call upon their battle tested comrades and loyal free saxons alike. Together they called up a force of perhaps six-thousand men. (a good third of them battle tested soldiers from the crusades and the other two-thirds, local trained saxons).
The king called up an army of perhaps twenty to twenty-five thousand men from all over his empire. But most of these men had never seen battle before and had little training. Nevertheless the king was confident in his army which outnumbered the enemy almost four to one.
And on the edges of the Saxon territory they fought, one side for survival, the other side for loyalty to their king.
After two bloody days of fighting, the Teutonic saxon army had lost half of their men but had won the field. The king's men retreated, shamed, having lost nearly ten-thousand souls. Two days later the saxons attacked again, surprising the retreating Hungarian army in a narrow pass. Another three thousand Hungarians were slaughtered by arrows and stones alike, and the saxons lost a mere twenty-three souls.
The war was won.
The Teutonic Saxon land was safe for the time being. The king, who was shunned in shame, was forced to yield the land to this new kingdom. The Duchy of Transylvania. It was the dawn of a new kingdom.
So what do you guys think. Do you like my new timeline? I hope so
Tell me what you think. (and yes i will be continuing this timeline as well for those of you who enjoy it) https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=95381
based on ideas from this ancient thread: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=99170
and from this ancient book "Saxons Through Seventeen Centuries"
and this site: http://www.sibiweb.de/geschi/7b-history.htm
i have created a scenario for an independent "Transylvanian Duchy". So without further ado, i present 2 u my TL...
Transyvanian Duchy: The Rise and Fall of a New Nation...
Prologue:
In the Beginning: (a little background information)
The year is 1211 A.D.
Crusades against the Turks are raping the middle east. Countless young European sons are dying for little again in a far away desolate land, all for the cross. Deeply moved by the misery of the crusades a young German prince founds the Order of the Teutonic knights for the sole purpose of protecting the pilgrims on their quest to the Holy Lands. Soon their white cloaks and black crosses would be known throughout Europe and the holy lands.
But soon as the crusades begin to wilt under the relentless Turkish forces, the king of Hungary (king Andreas), called upon the Teutonic Order to protect its eastern German colony against various raiders and nomadic tribes. The knights called upon the local saxon settlers and foreign saxons alike, to build a string of castles and forts throughout the Karpathian mountains to defend against these unholy attackers.
Within a few years, the land was well defended and protected against all outside influences. The king of Hungry, fearing the growing power of the Teutonic knights, ordered them to leave the country. He confiscated their lands and power and titles.
The knights, who claimed the only bowed to the pope, refused to leave.
The king of Hungry grew angry and began calling up a large army to forcefully remove the Teutonic knights and any resisting saxons alike.
(point of divergence is as follows)
Instead of relenting peacefully, the knights call upon their battle tested comrades and loyal free saxons alike. Together they called up a force of perhaps six-thousand men. (a good third of them battle tested soldiers from the crusades and the other two-thirds, local trained saxons).
The king called up an army of perhaps twenty to twenty-five thousand men from all over his empire. But most of these men had never seen battle before and had little training. Nevertheless the king was confident in his army which outnumbered the enemy almost four to one.
And on the edges of the Saxon territory they fought, one side for survival, the other side for loyalty to their king.
After two bloody days of fighting, the Teutonic saxon army had lost half of their men but had won the field. The king's men retreated, shamed, having lost nearly ten-thousand souls. Two days later the saxons attacked again, surprising the retreating Hungarian army in a narrow pass. Another three thousand Hungarians were slaughtered by arrows and stones alike, and the saxons lost a mere twenty-three souls.
The war was won.
The Teutonic Saxon land was safe for the time being. The king, who was shunned in shame, was forced to yield the land to this new kingdom. The Duchy of Transylvania. It was the dawn of a new kingdom.
So what do you guys think. Do you like my new timeline? I hope so