An idea for pacification

I have an idea that might help restore peace to our ravaged lands.
I notice that women from Gallia, Scandalusia, Italy, and so forth are highly praised for their romantic qualities.
Perhaps, if we could induce them to travel North, it might mitigate the effects of being overrun with so many Hessies .....

A letter to the King of France

Karl Frederick picked up his pen and began to write:

Your Majesty

May I send our humblest greetings to you at this season of rejoicing. I write firstly to enquire of your health and secondly to invite you and members of the Court to make a State Visit to Tradgarland at this time of celebration. As your majesty knows the Duchy has recently grown due to the benevolence of the Holy Father. Also I have been joined,under God, in my sacred task of administering fair and worthy Rule by my wife Duchess Liv. In order to celebrate the aforementioned Ducal events and to further cement concord between our countries I bid you come and join in our week of celebration commencing upon the feast of Candlemas.

Karl Frederick

The Duke sealed the letter and gave it to be taken by fast courier to the Gallian Court.

Formal Proclamation regarding Vergoldeten

See the Hesse-Engelburg blog for details....

Hesse-Engelburg Riders seen in Krankenstadt

While the celebration of the Spanish Holiday went on, another less festive but no less colorful presence made its way through the streets of the capital, in the form of a five man detachment of hussars from the Garde du Corps Prinzessin Gertrude. It is said that the hussars presented themselves at the palace, and one, an officer, presented credentials and has requested audience with the Duke himself as an emissary representing Their Graces, the Fürst and Fürstin. One of the porters was later to swear to his companions at the local source of inebriation that the officer admitted was none other than the same Major Rudel who delivered gifts from Hesse-Engelburg in the orignal diplomatic contact between the two countries.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the palace, a Major dressed in pink and purple awaits the convenience of the Grand Duke....

News from Somewhere......

Good readers all !

Tradgardland has a new ruler - see the Duchy of Tradgardland Blog for details.....

The Holy Father Speaks....

In the Vatican today an announcement was made public concerning Duke Karl Frederick of Tradgardland. The Pope has commended the Duke for his loyalty to the Holy See in 1757 and in past years. As a result His Holiness conveys to him , in perpetuity, dominion and sovereignty over the former territory known as Schwartz Wald See . The Duke's brother Max will be invested as Cardinal of the Dukedom as well as his previous titles. His presence will be required immediately in Rome . From hence forth Schwartz Wald See will be known Schwartz - Tradgardland. May God bless the Duke and his people in the Future and always!

Field report from the Tipple-Bruder Swamps ....

Actually, the weather had been very unstable at Tipple-Bruder ... and it seems the Stagonian General has fallen seriously ill as a result and thus has only made dilatory moves.
There has been considerable skirmishing around the convent of St. Mary Hildegaard Kunegunde of the Holy Rose Water. Since it is in range of the Tipplebruder artillery, however, Stagonia has not made a serious effort to storm the place, in spite of the alleged presence of virgins still sheltered in its walls. There are at least two battalions of Allied infantry in position to rush to the defense of the light infantry who are enjoying shelter within the cloister.

However, in his defense, the frequent rains have prevented the ground from drying out enough for him to employ his superior cavalry well.
However, the Tipelbruder forces have been driven in to their outer defense line ... as soon as the ground dries enough for the cavalry to sweep around their flanks, the affair should come to a conclusion.
The Stagonian intelligence service has planted rumors of bands of rogue cavalry in Stagonian service in the mountain flank, thus pinning some of their better forces in the hills and out of the main line of our advance.

Major Edsel ....

Two Score!

Fellow Rulers,

We've "scored" twice. Yes, 20 + 20 means that we now have 40 members in our "Emperor vs Elector" group blog. The Grand Duchy of Kitschberg is the latest entry to our group.


-- Jeff

12th Night

A Happy Epiphany and 12th Night to you all when it comes. As the decorations are taken down may you gradually replace their colour with steadied ranks of painted tin soldiers. For those whose holidays are coming to an end I trust that they were all you wished for and may you have a good return to work.

A PostCard from Monrovia (a spy's report)

Count Hermann of Munster (chief of Wittenberg's spies) examined his morning mail. He spotted a postcard. It said,

Monrovia Dec 12th. Having a lovely time, the beer in the local tavern is great, looking forward to the christmas celebrations, may see you in the new year, signed Roger de Lodgerly.

The Count looked at the post card and carefully peeled back the corner and removed the picture side of the PostCard.

On the inside hidden from view was the following, written in very small script. Count Herman examined it carefully with his magnifying glass and read :

To: Count Hermann of Munster, Wittenberg

I have been gathering information as requested. I have managed to gain access to the King of Monrovia's palace.

Recently I was able, after bribing some of the servants, to get into the King's rooms and overheard a conversation between the Chancellor and the King Francis III of Monrovia which mentioned alliances with other states, including Stagonia, and the readiness of the their army

(enclosed is the pertinant part of their discussion
http://tidders-kingdomofwittenberg.blogspot.com/2008/01/monrovia-in-kings-council-chamber.html)

I will send you further updates via the usual channels.

From: The Whistler

Raid into Tradgardland

For details of my BAR game today see the Duchy of Tradgardland and The Imperium Blogs - enjoy!

Somewhere in the court of an ImagiNation of Urope:

Toadying Flunky: “Sire, have you seen the news?”

Overwhelmingly Pompous Ruler/Commanding General: “Flunky, I have already told you that I am NOT responsible for Frau Liebmilch’s condition…”

TF: “No, Sire, I mean about the new army in Hesse-Homburg and Princess Ulrike’s request for general officers to lead it?”

OPR/CG: “Flunky, I already have a job, and while you do also I could change that…”

TF: “Of course, Sire, but I don’t mean for either of us. This is a perfect opportunity for us to unload that incompetent General X. I’ve heard that there has not been a single respondent to the request. All we have to do is dress up his resume a little and voila! He’s gone!”

OPR/CG: “I’ve got a better idea, Flunky. Send along General X’s resume to the Homburgers and they will pick him up and we’ll be rid of him!”

TF: “Brilliant, Sire. I will send it along to this unsuspecting Clerk, Herr Youngstrom, at once!”