Topic: The History of the Empire as Depicted in the Art of the Time

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

Following the suggestion of Naitsabes, a chronology of relevant dates and events has been included in the first post, to be updated as the History unfolds.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

The Second Campaign against Marienburg (continued)

Almost daily messages were being exchanged by courier between the envoys and the Imperial Court. On a night out in town, these couriers were lured by Marienburg agents into a grand tour of taverns, brothels and gambling houses, where they incurred a heavy debt. Marienburg officials duly approached them and, with a mixture of coercion and persuasion, got the messengers to let them read the letters, before they were delivered. Marienburg thought this a great success, but this preview was already part the deception plan, as Wilhelm III had anticipated that something similar was bound to happen.

1. The couriers giving Marienburg a sneak preview of the Imperial diplomatic mail.




Through false dispatches, the Directorate was now fed an unfolding story of a threatening civil war in the Empire. The Elector Counts that had voted for Frederik Untermensch were trying to force Wilhem III into accepting one of them as Rex Remanorum. When he stubbornly refused, they threatened military action. Both sides started raising troops and preparing for war.

Given the extensive Marienburg network throughout the Empire, Wilhelm III and the Elector Counts set the rumour mill in motion to support the deception. Soon the towns and cities of the Empire were buzzing with gossip about an impending war: The Orcs are coming! Idiot, it is not a barbarian Waaagh, but a civil war! Surely, Marienburg will be punished! It is about bloody time they showed those pesky Bretonnians! It is the Border Princes, I tell ya -they won’t know what hit them….



1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik III, p. 247 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.3, Burgerbibliothek, Bern

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

Added to the chronology on page 1 a symbolic depiction of the Age of Wars.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

The Second Campaign against Marienburg (continued)

It was hoped that this deception would allow to start the campaign without raising too much suspicion in Marienburg. The man chosen for this task was Dietrich von Bernau.

1. Dietrich von Bernau



Bernau was interpreteted as Bären-Au (Pasture of Bears) - hence the Bear as heraldic charge.


Dietrich, a younger son of the Wissenland Baron Toppenheimer, had already distinguished himself in the Waaagh, first in the unsuccesful defence of Nuln, then in Reikland, where he had attracted the attention of Wilhelm III. Dietrich had been involved in the planning of the campaign from the start, and had offered to raise himself a sizeable part of the troops. To lead the campaign, Wilhelm III appointed him to the office of Reichsmarschall.²




1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik II, p. 02 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.2, Burgerbibliothek, Bern
2. Not to be confused with the Reichserzmarschall, an Imperial High Office (Reicherzamt) reserved for the Electors and often more ceremonial in nature.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

The best lie is, of course, the truth. Marienburg was given correct information about the troop movements, as the displacements of major troops could not remain hidden anyway, and would have been reported by Marienburg traders and agents, although in less detail.

This was the story they could piece together from the dispatches:



The "rebellious" Northern Provinces assembled most of their forces near Middenheim.

1.

One can discern the banners of Ostermark (twice), Middenheim, Middenland (not quite visible in the back), Hochland, Ostland and Nordland.

2.

These had been joined by a small mercenary force from Kislev, attracting much attention, because of its exotic (some alleged Chaotic) armour and appearance. Note the letters DSF on the banner, Divo Sigmare Favente (with divine Sigmar's favour).

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

To re-inforce the deception, envoys were dispatched by the 'rebels" to Marienburg with the following vague message: "Change was at hand, and Marienburg would do well to consider which side they were on." To which Marienburg replied, that they would not meddle in the affairs of foreign states. The envoys immediately departed again, seeminly satisfied with the apparent promise of neutrality.

3.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

4.

As the main army of the North moved towards Altdorf, a second smaller force departed from Talabheim towards the south.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

5.

As the Northern forces reached the Reik, they found all the crossing points heavily defended by Reikland troops.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

The Reikland forces had been reinforced by troops from the south-eastern provinces:
 
6.

The new Reichsmarschall, Dietrich von Bernau, leading his troops from Bernau to Nuln.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

At Nuln, Dietrich van Bernau was joined by troops from Averland and Nuln itself.

7.

The Grand Count of Averland, leading his troops his person, is waiving graciously into the camera. In the background Nuln and the river Reik.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

8.

The Northern troops move down the Reik to circumvent the blocking positions and outflank the "loyalists".

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

8a.

Not to be outflanked, the Southern forces were shadowing their movements along the other side of the Reik. 


1, 3 & 5: Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik II, p. 152, 133 &148 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.2, Burgerbibliothek, Bern
2, 4, 6-8a: Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik III, p. 70, 148, 344, 401, 51 & 915 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.3, Burgerbibliothek, Bern
The soldiers in picture 2 are troops from Bohemia (capital Prague).

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

At this point, the flow of information through the dispatches came to an abrupt en. In accordance with the messages, the Imperial envoys had shown themself increasingly anxious and agitated. The last "leaked" dispatch contained the order from the Emperor that they should try and secure a substantial loan to finance operations against the rebels. When the envoys approached the Directorate with the request, it was flatly refused. To which the envoys replied: "Change was at hand, and Marienburg would do well to consider which side they were on." The Imperial envoys then immediately prepared to leave Marienburg.

1.

Note the Dwarfs and Halflings in the foreground, attached to the House of Fooger. The Dwarf House of Fooger is the only non-Human House with a seat in the Directorate, where it ensures the interests of the city's Halfling and Gnome communities.


1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik III, p. 87 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.3, Burgerbibliothek, Bern

[Naitsabes]

great stuff. true gem is the foot note about the halflings. This last picture also shows a common trend in Imperial Paintings, namely how these paintings are idealizing their subjects. just look at the dainty little feet Halfling feet and compare to what you see when you head down to the local pub.

[S.O.F]

Gnome communities.

Marienburg still have half-orcs too? 

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

My mistake - it should have been "Garden Gnome" communities....

[Darknight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htdvdm7cJnA

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

Gnomen est omen.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

The Second Campaign against Marienburg (continued)

The Directorate had other, more pressing concerns anyway.  With Neuwuchs (the spring equinox),  the “Oath to Mannaan” was celebrated, one of the two major feasts of Mannaan, the principal deity of Marienburg. The festival "marks the official opening of the trading season and the return of calm seas. The feast consists of two days of parties and boat races, including the famed Marienburg regatta, and concludes with a High Service in the Cathedral of Mannaan. Afterwards, all the seaworthy vessels in the city sail in a gaudy parade past the Archpriest's caravel, anchored beyond Rijkers' Isle, to receive his blessing. During this, subordinate priests led by the Staadtholder recite the Oath, the agreement between the city and its god.”¹ The festival attracted a huge number of pilgrims from all over the Old World, who tended to linger on in the city after the festival, some for religious reasons, some for business, some for tourism, many simply to recover from their hangovers.

In recent years, it had become also the start of the Lange Vaert (Long Voyage) to Ulthuan. The trade with Ulthuan was the main sources of income for Marienburg, but, since the demise of the Imperial Fleet, Norse and other pirates had become an ever greater threat. To counter this threat, the Directorate had established a yearly convoy system, whereby the remaining warships could serve as protection for the merchant fleet. Of course, the absence of warships diminished the defensive capabilities of Marienburg. A programme to build new warships had been planned, only to be shelved temporarily, as the funds were needed to buy Marienburg’s independence.
Although the departure of the convoy was linked to the festival, the actual date was determined not by religious but practical factors, i.e. favourable winds and currents, and could therefore take place some days before (as indeed in the current year) or after the actual feast.




2. A Marienburg convoy during the Lange Vaert.



1. Ragan, A, Marienburg - Sold Down the River, Hogstead Publishing Ld (1999), p.44.
2. Bartholomaeus Anglicus, Le Livre des proprietés des choses, translated by Jehan de Carlathan (sic), MS Français 136, fol. 26 (XV. century), Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

To exploit the festivities, Dietrich von Bernau sent an advance force ahead, under the command of Hans von Rechberg. As small element of that force, disguised as pilgrims, was to infiltrate Marienburg, seize one of the gates and allow the advance force to enter the city and hold the gate, until the arrival of the main force.
After the surprise attack by Frederik of Talabheim on Rijker’s Isle, the Directorate had increased  security and vigilance. When entering the city, all weapons had to be given for safekeeping by the City Guard. However, a sturdy pilgrim staff and a good knife should be sufficient for a swift and stealthy operation. And the festivities had put the “ale” back in the alertness of the City Guard.

1. Hans von Rechberg and his men, disguised as pilgrims,arriving at Marienburg.





1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik II, p. 352 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.2, Burgerbibliothek, Bern.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

The "pilgrims" entered the city without being challenged, but as they were about to moor, disaster struck! Their boat hit an underwater pillar and sank instantly. Most of the soldiers could not swim and drowned, including the commander Hans Rechberg. Without leadership, the ones that survived were too few and too shaken to continue the operation. Malicious gossip claims that the accident was caused by drunkennes of the soldiers, either to imbibe courage, or to blend in more realistically with the festivities.

1. 


1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik III, p. 840 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.3, Burgerbibliothek, Bern.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

While the advance party waited in vain on a signal, the main force advanced along the Reik. As said earlier, the terrain around Marienburg was unsuited for heavy cavalry or artillery, and the Empire force consisted mainly of infantry, supported by light cannons and light cavalry. Where need be, the infantry was transported through the marshy terrain on specially constructed wagons.

1.

Most of the supplies and some heavier pieces of artillery were transported on ship over the Reik.

2. ]



1. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik II, p. 258 (1483), Mss.h.h.I.2, Burgerbibliothek, Bern.
2. Diebold Schilling, Die Amtliche Berner Chronik II, p. 265(1483), Mss.h.h.I.2, Burgerbibliothek, Bern.

[Warlord]

I really do love what you are doing in this thread.

[Fidelis von Sigmaringen]

Thank you! I fear, the Second Campaign against Marienburg takes me a bit longer than I anticipated.

[Naitsabes]

Good stuff!

in the last picture, what are the weird tampon-shaped objects? some weird projectile for the cannon?