Tyranny of Steel

With the invasion of Italy underway, Berengar ’s efforts to conquer and annex the Swiss Confederation in his war for Independence had also begun. Under the command of General Adelbrand von Salzburg, the Austrian armies had marched into the lands of their enemies with a total of 25,000 men.

Adelbrand was promoted to the rank of General in the last few years of Austria ’s peacetime and military expansion. He had proven a competent commander during the defense of Salzburg from the Bavarian Occupation of Austria.

He also was loosely related to Berengar as the brother-in-law of Berengar ’s cousin Ava. After Berengar had liberated Austria from the Bavarians, the man immediately enlisted in the Austrian Army during Berengar ’s brief regency over Austria.

He had eventually gone through officer school and risen in the ranks quickly due to his natural talent as a military commander. This was his first major campaign as he marched the 25,000 man army into the Swiss Confederation with the intent of conquest.

At the moment, the artillery was in the process of being set up, as Adelbrand ’s soldiers loaded their weapons with quick loading tubes. Upon their invasion, they swiftly met a force of swiss soldiers within the mountainous terrain.

However, as the Austrians were preparing for battle, Adelbrand was surprised to see a white flag being flown by a representative of the Swiss forces flying the banner of the local noblemen within the province of Chur.

Chur had long since been a home of the German Reformist movement. When they saw the Austrian banners flying with the invasion force, the Count of Chur immediately began to negotiate his defection.

If Berengar was fighting a war for Independence against the Holy Roman Emperor, it was his duty as a devout reformist to aid that rebellion in any way he could. The Count of Chur, who only recently gained his position from the Arch-Bishop of Chur, who had vacated after converting to the Reformist religion, approached Adelbrand with his visor risen and a smile on his face.