NES2 VI - Last Semblance of Order.
- Thread starter das
- Start date
Reno
The Studio Ghibli Fanatic
stalin006 said:
And as was seeing afterwards, you won. Well, unless you count for the whole world turning to wasteland.
To be honest, the Balkan nations weren't my 'allies' the second they became PC.
I basically tried to throw everything I had at the FK, but I was too weakened by that point. The only one I could trust was Persia.
Kinda pathetic huh? I think that's an abused personality disorder. You go closer to the ones who hurt you.
silver 2039
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
- Messages
- 16,208
Wha? Did Turkey even attack Poland? Man I threw everyhing I had at Poland. Bloody Dalanrossians I still had a decent chance of winning.
silver 2039
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
- Messages
- 16,208
ThomAnder said:
If I had pushed far enough taking Warsaw Poland would have crumbled leaving Sweden to battle alone. A peace agreement would likely have been hammered out after the destruction of at least one of my two main opponents.
ThomAnder
Deity
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- Mar 26, 2004
- Messages
- 2,237
How owuld taking Warsaw = Poland crumbling? you would've been way entrenched in enemy lands with out supplies. My government was relocated and all. I also had superior numbers, training, technology and we're fighting in our home, so we are familiar with the terrains.
das
Regeneration In Process
Update 5 - Year 1745
Non-Military Events:
A series of acts have been passed in the Oireacthas, setting the Irish economy on a path of recovery. The desperate efforts allow a rise of employment in the E.I.R.E. (+1 project progress), and Dublin itself seems to be only impeded from becoming a local center of commerce and industry by the sorry state of the Irish economy. Though the King is still very unpopular, the Papal support and his coronation as Emperor improved things somewhat, as did the economical improvement, how ever mild (+1 Confidence).
In the beginning of this year, the initial cheerful agreement between King Rodequiz I and his Congress has detiriorated, first over the issue of budget (when the king only barely forced through an increase thereof) and then over the issue of colonial reform, in which the proposal for granting a "kingdom status" to the American colonies was overwhelmingly overruled (-1 Confidence). Later, though, unity is restored as the country itself is threatened (see military events, see spotlight).
Spanish commerce in the Western Mediterranean is greatly weakened by both the economic crises and the war, and France and the Papacy scramble to take advantage of this (-Genoa economic center, +Marseilles economic center, +Naples economic center).
Despite some criticism over "inconsistancy" and "violation of standard procedure during the elections", the Pope of Rome, Leo XII, is generally quite popular (+1 Confidence).
A set of treaties ends the Scandinavian War. In exchange for the return of tariffs back to normal, Sweden ceded the disputed territories of Halland, Skane and Blekinge to Denmark-Norway; it also ceded Pommerania to Krakow and Gotland, the Alands, Dagden and Osel to Russia. The Kingdom of Finland attained independence with borders on the Tornio Valley. Carl Gustaf Nordin is doomed politically, but aside from that, Sweden has remained remarkably stable for a country that has just lost over a half of its territory (-2 Confidence). The defeat did make something of a dent in the national pride (-1 Culture). On the other hand, it has allowed centralizing reforms to take place (+1 Centralization).
Meanwhile, the Treaty of Vienna was signed to alleviate the tensions between the Krakow Union and the Union of Russia-Lithuania-Romania. Von Dunkelheit had agreed to withdraw from Serbia, and the two Unions signed a free trade agreement. All seemed fine and all the talk in the salons was about the happy, peaceful near-future of Eastern Europe, especially as the Krakowians have turned over the old Serbian government that was now conspiring to move out of the Russian sphere of influence over to the Tsar's authorities.
Not wishing the repeat of such Serbian betrayal, the Russian forces in Bulgaria put the Tsar under house arrest, while the Bulgarian Sobor passed a new constitution, under which a positioned of a Russian Governor-General was created, with veto power over any Bulgarian government decision (-1 Bulgarian Confidence).
Sennar's attempts to goad France into a war with Abyssinia by offering France Abyssinian land has soured the relations between Abyssinia and Sennar even worse (see military events).
The Afghan Khanate agrees to the peace treaty as proposed by the French, ceding West Persia to the Ottoman Empire (1 Economy from Afghan Khanate to Ottoman Empire), though looting Basrah as they withdrew (-Basrah economic center), Karachi - to France (however, the trade in Karachi has been damaged both by the war and by the chaos that followed the Mughal withdrawal for that city and preceded the French arrival there, as Baluchi tribesmen briefly seized and sacked it) (-Karachi economic center) and the rest of Baluchistan and East Afghanistan to the Mughal Empire. Needless to say, this defeat, combined with the ever-growing strain on the economy, caused confidence in the Khan to plummet (-2 Confidence), as the country came on the brink of rebellion (see military events).
By now, the South-East Asian trade is, steadily, beginning to recover (+Singapore economic center, +Jakartra economic center).
Military Events:
The mainland struck back upon the rebels in Mexico and New Granada. The revolutionary fleet in the Carribean Sea was sent into the hiding by the Spanish invasion fleet, and forces were deployed in East Mexico and took, with amphibious assault, the coastal regions of Venezuela. Simon Armandez' Continental Congress barely had any time to organize in Acapulco when the Spaniards already were at the gates of Mexico City, which they, after a grueling three-day battle, took. The Spaniards soon overran much of rebel-held Mexico, preventing any offensives. However, they advanced too fast and failed to consolidate their gains, so, unintimidated, republicans rose up behind their lines again (+5 irregular divisions to the Continentalists). There was to be no quick victory in Mexico, as opposed to New Granada where the revolutionaries, despite comparatively high popular support, were driven into the inlands and, with the help of local Amerinds, rooted out, though in more cases than not they simply went into the underground. What trully saved the rebels was the Incan rebellion - having decided that the Mexican rebels are mostly beat, the Spanish diverted some troops to Peru, just enough troops for the rebels to fight back their assault at Acapulco in a battle that would've been epic had it taken place in Europe. And speaking of Europe, by this moment the French have already started their war with Spain, and arrived in great force, defeating the divided Spanish fleet (also weakened and exhausted by oft-futile chases after the rebel fleet) in several engagements and destroying Spanish supply routes, while beginning to assist the rebels in Mexico logistically. Shelling drove the lightly-guarded ports of Eastern Mexico into rebellion as the garrisons were overwhelmed by the desperate population headed by the "Continentalists" there. Finally, numerous Amerind tribes in Mexico switched sides, especially as the paranoid (after the previous rebellions) Spaniards antagonized them, in some cases, it is said, slaughtering entire settlements on suspicion alone, though many claim these rumours to be overstated; some of the more pragmatic "loyalist" leaders switched sides as well (5 irregular divisions from Spain to the Continentalists). Anyway, the Spanish were soon on the retreat, having ran out of supplies and beign harried from all directions. In Mexico, at least, the rebels have prevailled.
(-11 Continentalist divisions, -13 Continentalist irregular divisions, -4 Continentalist squadrons, -2 Continentalist irregular squadrons, -13 French squadrons, -27 Spanish squadrons, -10 Spanish Espana ironclads)
The Incan rebellions in Peru continued spreading this winter, but drew Spanish attention with this. Soon enough, a major Spanish expedition was dispatched, and despite the Republican raids behind its lines, it has succesfully crushed the undertrained Quechua after several months of mountain campaigning. By then, it was way too late.
(-2 Spanish divisions)
Meanwhile, yet another Platine rebellion was bungled. The "Papal letter" that was published in Buenos Aires by some fisherman was not only rather fishy (pun intended), not to say unlikely, but also had a rather badly-faked Papal seal and beside that was re-published separately by shadowy people with an alleged French accent a few months later with a more authentic-looking seal, though by then the Pope already had time to make it clear he had not written it. The letter excommunicated all members of the CCC, apparently including those of them who, being of a branch belonging to the schism within a schism were presently in Rome negotiating a re-unification, excommunicated all the people in Spanish Americas, including, evidently, the clergy, and abolished the Jesuit governorship of Paraguay out of the blue, despite the good relations between the Kingdom of Spain, the Jesuits (whom, by the way, only the Spanish king had the right to strip of their governorship, yet had no motive as they remained loyal, in their mass) and the Papacy at the time. Meanwhile, a shadowy (but not French-accented) organization had moved to propose an alliance to the Jesuits against the Spanish crown. Naturally, they were promised all that and then arrested by the Spanish alguacils there and interrogated - the Jesuits were not about to betray their benefactors over such a doubtable letter. Although some debates in the Jesuit leadership followed as to what to do about it, the Papal renunciation of the letter pretty much sealed their loyalty to the Spanish, and the republicans, having discredited themselves among what little support they still had in la Plata by dealing with the Jesuits, obviously failed in their other endeaovours and were only saved from complete destruction by Spanish distraction elsewhere.
Large-scale armed republican risings in Ireland this year were put down in blood, but that has not helped the king's popularity (-1 Confidence).
(-2 Irish divisions)
The Great War(s) begin!
(see spotlight)
(+1 French Confidence, +10 French divisions, +3 French irregular division, -1 Spanish Culture, Living Standards, Size, +10 Spanish divisions, +5 Spanish irregular divisions, +2 Krakowian irregular divisions, 5 divisions from Bulgaria to Krakow, -Stettin economic center)
(-10 French divisions, -2 French Foreign Legions, -16 French squadrons, -17 Spanish divisions, -4 Spanish irregular divisions, -30 Spanish squadrons, -8 Spanish Espana ironclads, -7 Krakowian divisions, -5 Krakowian GotGC divisions, -4 Krakowian squadrons, -Bulgaria as an independent nation, -23 Russian divisions, -1 Russian Cossack division, -1 Russian squadron)
Having caught an apparent Papal spy, the Byzantines have launched one of the most senseless invasions in history, a one that did not give them any practical good, in the case of success would have given them an untenable position and a host of enemies, a one that was immediately unpopular at home and in the army alike (-1 Confidence). In fact, it only made sense in the context of European geopolitics - the Papacy was a Spanish ally, whereas the Byzantine Empire was an ally of the French (see spotlight). But that only made things worse, as at home and abroad people begun speaking of the Byzantine emperor as a French puppet. Regardless, after some bickering the generals, remaining loyal to their emperor despite all, agreed to begin the invasion. Immediately, things begun to go wrong due to poor morale and insufficient supplies, combined with the surprisingly good Papal preparation in the region. Most of the "I Army" landed in Calabria, after some fighting secured the region, and was held back by the Papal positions in the southern Appenines that immediately bottled it there; a later break-out attempt was succesful, but only with huge casualties, and as a guerrila war ignited behind Greek lines (+5 Papal irregular divisions) not many gains were made at all and these soon had to be abandoned by the weakened forces anyway. Further north, a landing at Terracina with the rest of the "I Army" took place, with some early success due to Papal unpreparidness in the region, but logistical issues and local resistance grinded away at the Byzantine army, and it was stopped on the Tiber, promptly surrounded and forced to surrender. Attempts to use Greek irregulars to secure the Appenines resulted in what was probably one of the worst disasters in the history of the world, as it further damaged government credibility and increased Greek separatism that was on the rise since the government moved to Constantinople (-1 Culture). The "II Army" has landed at Bari in Apulia, and seemed the most fortunate of the Byzantine forces here, quickly taking over the comparatively-easy terrain of Apulia itself and securing its supply routes. However, its campaign plan envisioned a forced march to the Po River. Guerrila war begun, the Papal forces raided at will, the overstretched supply route was only barely kept in shape (in horrible shape, at that), and finally, at the small town of Pesaro to the northwest of Ancona, they were ambushed by Papal forces. The tightly-packed Byzantine troops were shelled, had to try and break line and as chaos spread were routed. Attempts to set up defenses at Ancona were foiled, as the remnants of the once-glorious Byzantine army collapsed. Guerrilas and pursuing Papists harried them as they fell back to Pescara. Only Eleutharios Venizelos' arrival has saved the wreck of "II Army" from complete destruction and allowed it to hold its ground on Trigno River. The invasion was a disaster (-1 Confidence).
(-9 Papal divisions, -4 Papal Zouave divisions, -2 Papal irregular divisions, -17 Byzantine divisions, -3 Byzantine irregular divisions, -4 Byzantine Varangian Guard divisions)
The Portuguese conquest of Africa continues. The border with Kanem-Bornu was extended, to the concern of Birni-Gazargamu. An expedition won for Portugal hardly-tenable lands that, however, came with a potential trade link with Segu. Finally, de Sousa, rather confused, replied that the Zulus have been defeated for a year now - the ones in the north are the other tribes. Should he attack them instead? But anyway, the Portuguese empire is quite huge by now (+1 Size).
(-1 Portuguese division)
Envious, the Spaniards at first also expanded their African holdings, but later, as news came in of war with France, invaded and occupied the French Coasts Colony and Senegal, using the appaling lack of garrisons there, with only a minor militia to try and stop them (+1 French irregular division).
(-1 French irregular division, -2 Spanish divisions)
Enraged by Sennarese attempts to sell Abyssinian land, as well as by the previous border incidents, the Abyssinians declared war on Sennar. Surprising the inferior Sennarese forces, the Abyssinians swiftly brushed aside the border guards and secured Wad Madani. Only their rotten logistics and the arrival of Sennarese reinforcements prevented further advance.
(-6 Sennarese divisions, -3 Abyssinian divisions)
The Ottomans slowly retake some Arab land, but logistical problems prevent much gain, while attrition and harrasment grinds away at their troops.
(-1 Ottoman division)
The Khan of Afghans has defeated a few rebellions against his authority, but it remains shaky.
(-4 Afghan divisions)
The new Japanese Shogun has decided to firmly lead Japan into the European politics and the ranks of great powers by invading the Philippines, on which the Japanese have been casting greedy eyes since the opening-up of Japan by the Spanish. As Japan has previously taken an increasingly Francophile position in world affairs and in domestic modernization, this wasn't too surprising, but the Spanish have evidently decided not to overstretch themselves by defending the Philippines as well, and all that the Japanese had to face were some weak militias (+1 Spanish irregular divisions) and a secret base on Guam, all of which have been liquidated, with most casualties having come from attrition. The Japanese overran all Spanish Pacific possessions save for Borneo, which fell to chaos as the locals rebelled and slaughtered all the Spaniards they could get their hands on.
(-1 Spanish irregular division, -1 Japanese division)
Inspired by the abortive 1744 rebellion, the Burmese - now led by the popular coutnryside figures - rise up again, this time more succesfully. They even managed to ambush and destroy a few Chinese detachments! But eventually, the Chinese recovered and defeated the rebels, though some continue to wage a guerrila war.
(-1 Qing Chinese division)
Random Events:
The new liberal monarchy in Spain grows ever-more popular, especially as the French invade (+1 Confidence).
A general military officer's guide is published in the Byzantine Empire (+1 Military Leadership). The swiftly-emerging new Byzantine capital is investing into the government's Isthmian Canal venture, and the efforts of the "Aetosian" workers allowed the canal to be finished much earlier (+2 project progress). The army grows in popularity (+5 divisions).
To defend Bulgaria, many volunteers join the army (+5 divisions).
The comparative success of the Patagonia venture brings some limited credibility back to the Irish king (+1 Confidence).
Cardinal Zerano Corzetti is chosen as Pope Leo XII, ending the period of oligarchy (+1 Confidence).
The Japanese army is modernizing with French help (+1 Military Leadership).
The Mughal work on their modernizing endeaovours is sped up (+1 project progress).
The Chinese suffer a setback in their present project (-1 project progress).
Danish army laxes up again (-1 Army Training).
A democratic reform took place in the Union of Russia-Lithuania-Romania, with the support of the commoners, the aristocracy and the rising Russian capital as well (+1 Confidence, +1 Economy).
As refugees flee for the remaining Swedish territory, the situation there detiriorates fast (-1 Living Standards).
Literacy rates in the Byzantine Empire decline (-1 Education).
With the expansion in Africa, the Portuguese colonial empire gets dangerously diverse (-1 Culture).
The Spanish living standards suffer as war begins (-1 Living Standards).
Life in the Afghan Khanate becomes even more intolerable after the war's end (-1 Living Standards).
Rumours spread in the Ottoman Empire of the Sultan's latent schizophrenia (-1 Confidence)...
Non-Military Events:
A series of acts have been passed in the Oireacthas, setting the Irish economy on a path of recovery. The desperate efforts allow a rise of employment in the E.I.R.E. (+1 project progress), and Dublin itself seems to be only impeded from becoming a local center of commerce and industry by the sorry state of the Irish economy. Though the King is still very unpopular, the Papal support and his coronation as Emperor improved things somewhat, as did the economical improvement, how ever mild (+1 Confidence).
In the beginning of this year, the initial cheerful agreement between King Rodequiz I and his Congress has detiriorated, first over the issue of budget (when the king only barely forced through an increase thereof) and then over the issue of colonial reform, in which the proposal for granting a "kingdom status" to the American colonies was overwhelmingly overruled (-1 Confidence). Later, though, unity is restored as the country itself is threatened (see military events, see spotlight).
Spanish commerce in the Western Mediterranean is greatly weakened by both the economic crises and the war, and France and the Papacy scramble to take advantage of this (-Genoa economic center, +Marseilles economic center, +Naples economic center).
Despite some criticism over "inconsistancy" and "violation of standard procedure during the elections", the Pope of Rome, Leo XII, is generally quite popular (+1 Confidence).
A set of treaties ends the Scandinavian War. In exchange for the return of tariffs back to normal, Sweden ceded the disputed territories of Halland, Skane and Blekinge to Denmark-Norway; it also ceded Pommerania to Krakow and Gotland, the Alands, Dagden and Osel to Russia. The Kingdom of Finland attained independence with borders on the Tornio Valley. Carl Gustaf Nordin is doomed politically, but aside from that, Sweden has remained remarkably stable for a country that has just lost over a half of its territory (-2 Confidence). The defeat did make something of a dent in the national pride (-1 Culture). On the other hand, it has allowed centralizing reforms to take place (+1 Centralization).
Meanwhile, the Treaty of Vienna was signed to alleviate the tensions between the Krakow Union and the Union of Russia-Lithuania-Romania. Von Dunkelheit had agreed to withdraw from Serbia, and the two Unions signed a free trade agreement. All seemed fine and all the talk in the salons was about the happy, peaceful near-future of Eastern Europe, especially as the Krakowians have turned over the old Serbian government that was now conspiring to move out of the Russian sphere of influence over to the Tsar's authorities.
Not wishing the repeat of such Serbian betrayal, the Russian forces in Bulgaria put the Tsar under house arrest, while the Bulgarian Sobor passed a new constitution, under which a positioned of a Russian Governor-General was created, with veto power over any Bulgarian government decision (-1 Bulgarian Confidence).
Sennar's attempts to goad France into a war with Abyssinia by offering France Abyssinian land has soured the relations between Abyssinia and Sennar even worse (see military events).
The Afghan Khanate agrees to the peace treaty as proposed by the French, ceding West Persia to the Ottoman Empire (1 Economy from Afghan Khanate to Ottoman Empire), though looting Basrah as they withdrew (-Basrah economic center), Karachi - to France (however, the trade in Karachi has been damaged both by the war and by the chaos that followed the Mughal withdrawal for that city and preceded the French arrival there, as Baluchi tribesmen briefly seized and sacked it) (-Karachi economic center) and the rest of Baluchistan and East Afghanistan to the Mughal Empire. Needless to say, this defeat, combined with the ever-growing strain on the economy, caused confidence in the Khan to plummet (-2 Confidence), as the country came on the brink of rebellion (see military events).
By now, the South-East Asian trade is, steadily, beginning to recover (+Singapore economic center, +Jakartra economic center).
Military Events:
The mainland struck back upon the rebels in Mexico and New Granada. The revolutionary fleet in the Carribean Sea was sent into the hiding by the Spanish invasion fleet, and forces were deployed in East Mexico and took, with amphibious assault, the coastal regions of Venezuela. Simon Armandez' Continental Congress barely had any time to organize in Acapulco when the Spaniards already were at the gates of Mexico City, which they, after a grueling three-day battle, took. The Spaniards soon overran much of rebel-held Mexico, preventing any offensives. However, they advanced too fast and failed to consolidate their gains, so, unintimidated, republicans rose up behind their lines again (+5 irregular divisions to the Continentalists). There was to be no quick victory in Mexico, as opposed to New Granada where the revolutionaries, despite comparatively high popular support, were driven into the inlands and, with the help of local Amerinds, rooted out, though in more cases than not they simply went into the underground. What trully saved the rebels was the Incan rebellion - having decided that the Mexican rebels are mostly beat, the Spanish diverted some troops to Peru, just enough troops for the rebels to fight back their assault at Acapulco in a battle that would've been epic had it taken place in Europe. And speaking of Europe, by this moment the French have already started their war with Spain, and arrived in great force, defeating the divided Spanish fleet (also weakened and exhausted by oft-futile chases after the rebel fleet) in several engagements and destroying Spanish supply routes, while beginning to assist the rebels in Mexico logistically. Shelling drove the lightly-guarded ports of Eastern Mexico into rebellion as the garrisons were overwhelmed by the desperate population headed by the "Continentalists" there. Finally, numerous Amerind tribes in Mexico switched sides, especially as the paranoid (after the previous rebellions) Spaniards antagonized them, in some cases, it is said, slaughtering entire settlements on suspicion alone, though many claim these rumours to be overstated; some of the more pragmatic "loyalist" leaders switched sides as well (5 irregular divisions from Spain to the Continentalists). Anyway, the Spanish were soon on the retreat, having ran out of supplies and beign harried from all directions. In Mexico, at least, the rebels have prevailled.
(-11 Continentalist divisions, -13 Continentalist irregular divisions, -4 Continentalist squadrons, -2 Continentalist irregular squadrons, -13 French squadrons, -27 Spanish squadrons, -10 Spanish Espana ironclads)
The Incan rebellions in Peru continued spreading this winter, but drew Spanish attention with this. Soon enough, a major Spanish expedition was dispatched, and despite the Republican raids behind its lines, it has succesfully crushed the undertrained Quechua after several months of mountain campaigning. By then, it was way too late.
(-2 Spanish divisions)
Meanwhile, yet another Platine rebellion was bungled. The "Papal letter" that was published in Buenos Aires by some fisherman was not only rather fishy (pun intended), not to say unlikely, but also had a rather badly-faked Papal seal and beside that was re-published separately by shadowy people with an alleged French accent a few months later with a more authentic-looking seal, though by then the Pope already had time to make it clear he had not written it. The letter excommunicated all members of the CCC, apparently including those of them who, being of a branch belonging to the schism within a schism were presently in Rome negotiating a re-unification, excommunicated all the people in Spanish Americas, including, evidently, the clergy, and abolished the Jesuit governorship of Paraguay out of the blue, despite the good relations between the Kingdom of Spain, the Jesuits (whom, by the way, only the Spanish king had the right to strip of their governorship, yet had no motive as they remained loyal, in their mass) and the Papacy at the time. Meanwhile, a shadowy (but not French-accented) organization had moved to propose an alliance to the Jesuits against the Spanish crown. Naturally, they were promised all that and then arrested by the Spanish alguacils there and interrogated - the Jesuits were not about to betray their benefactors over such a doubtable letter. Although some debates in the Jesuit leadership followed as to what to do about it, the Papal renunciation of the letter pretty much sealed their loyalty to the Spanish, and the republicans, having discredited themselves among what little support they still had in la Plata by dealing with the Jesuits, obviously failed in their other endeaovours and were only saved from complete destruction by Spanish distraction elsewhere.
Large-scale armed republican risings in Ireland this year were put down in blood, but that has not helped the king's popularity (-1 Confidence).
(-2 Irish divisions)
The Great War(s) begin!
(see spotlight)
(+1 French Confidence, +10 French divisions, +3 French irregular division, -1 Spanish Culture, Living Standards, Size, +10 Spanish divisions, +5 Spanish irregular divisions, +2 Krakowian irregular divisions, 5 divisions from Bulgaria to Krakow, -Stettin economic center)
(-10 French divisions, -2 French Foreign Legions, -16 French squadrons, -17 Spanish divisions, -4 Spanish irregular divisions, -30 Spanish squadrons, -8 Spanish Espana ironclads, -7 Krakowian divisions, -5 Krakowian GotGC divisions, -4 Krakowian squadrons, -Bulgaria as an independent nation, -23 Russian divisions, -1 Russian Cossack division, -1 Russian squadron)
Having caught an apparent Papal spy, the Byzantines have launched one of the most senseless invasions in history, a one that did not give them any practical good, in the case of success would have given them an untenable position and a host of enemies, a one that was immediately unpopular at home and in the army alike (-1 Confidence). In fact, it only made sense in the context of European geopolitics - the Papacy was a Spanish ally, whereas the Byzantine Empire was an ally of the French (see spotlight). But that only made things worse, as at home and abroad people begun speaking of the Byzantine emperor as a French puppet. Regardless, after some bickering the generals, remaining loyal to their emperor despite all, agreed to begin the invasion. Immediately, things begun to go wrong due to poor morale and insufficient supplies, combined with the surprisingly good Papal preparation in the region. Most of the "I Army" landed in Calabria, after some fighting secured the region, and was held back by the Papal positions in the southern Appenines that immediately bottled it there; a later break-out attempt was succesful, but only with huge casualties, and as a guerrila war ignited behind Greek lines (+5 Papal irregular divisions) not many gains were made at all and these soon had to be abandoned by the weakened forces anyway. Further north, a landing at Terracina with the rest of the "I Army" took place, with some early success due to Papal unpreparidness in the region, but logistical issues and local resistance grinded away at the Byzantine army, and it was stopped on the Tiber, promptly surrounded and forced to surrender. Attempts to use Greek irregulars to secure the Appenines resulted in what was probably one of the worst disasters in the history of the world, as it further damaged government credibility and increased Greek separatism that was on the rise since the government moved to Constantinople (-1 Culture). The "II Army" has landed at Bari in Apulia, and seemed the most fortunate of the Byzantine forces here, quickly taking over the comparatively-easy terrain of Apulia itself and securing its supply routes. However, its campaign plan envisioned a forced march to the Po River. Guerrila war begun, the Papal forces raided at will, the overstretched supply route was only barely kept in shape (in horrible shape, at that), and finally, at the small town of Pesaro to the northwest of Ancona, they were ambushed by Papal forces. The tightly-packed Byzantine troops were shelled, had to try and break line and as chaos spread were routed. Attempts to set up defenses at Ancona were foiled, as the remnants of the once-glorious Byzantine army collapsed. Guerrilas and pursuing Papists harried them as they fell back to Pescara. Only Eleutharios Venizelos' arrival has saved the wreck of "II Army" from complete destruction and allowed it to hold its ground on Trigno River. The invasion was a disaster (-1 Confidence).
(-9 Papal divisions, -4 Papal Zouave divisions, -2 Papal irregular divisions, -17 Byzantine divisions, -3 Byzantine irregular divisions, -4 Byzantine Varangian Guard divisions)
The Portuguese conquest of Africa continues. The border with Kanem-Bornu was extended, to the concern of Birni-Gazargamu. An expedition won for Portugal hardly-tenable lands that, however, came with a potential trade link with Segu. Finally, de Sousa, rather confused, replied that the Zulus have been defeated for a year now - the ones in the north are the other tribes. Should he attack them instead? But anyway, the Portuguese empire is quite huge by now (+1 Size).
(-1 Portuguese division)
Envious, the Spaniards at first also expanded their African holdings, but later, as news came in of war with France, invaded and occupied the French Coasts Colony and Senegal, using the appaling lack of garrisons there, with only a minor militia to try and stop them (+1 French irregular division).
(-1 French irregular division, -2 Spanish divisions)
Enraged by Sennarese attempts to sell Abyssinian land, as well as by the previous border incidents, the Abyssinians declared war on Sennar. Surprising the inferior Sennarese forces, the Abyssinians swiftly brushed aside the border guards and secured Wad Madani. Only their rotten logistics and the arrival of Sennarese reinforcements prevented further advance.
(-6 Sennarese divisions, -3 Abyssinian divisions)
The Ottomans slowly retake some Arab land, but logistical problems prevent much gain, while attrition and harrasment grinds away at their troops.
(-1 Ottoman division)
The Khan of Afghans has defeated a few rebellions against his authority, but it remains shaky.
(-4 Afghan divisions)
The new Japanese Shogun has decided to firmly lead Japan into the European politics and the ranks of great powers by invading the Philippines, on which the Japanese have been casting greedy eyes since the opening-up of Japan by the Spanish. As Japan has previously taken an increasingly Francophile position in world affairs and in domestic modernization, this wasn't too surprising, but the Spanish have evidently decided not to overstretch themselves by defending the Philippines as well, and all that the Japanese had to face were some weak militias (+1 Spanish irregular divisions) and a secret base on Guam, all of which have been liquidated, with most casualties having come from attrition. The Japanese overran all Spanish Pacific possessions save for Borneo, which fell to chaos as the locals rebelled and slaughtered all the Spaniards they could get their hands on.
(-1 Spanish irregular division, -1 Japanese division)
Inspired by the abortive 1744 rebellion, the Burmese - now led by the popular coutnryside figures - rise up again, this time more succesfully. They even managed to ambush and destroy a few Chinese detachments! But eventually, the Chinese recovered and defeated the rebels, though some continue to wage a guerrila war.
(-1 Qing Chinese division)
Random Events:
The new liberal monarchy in Spain grows ever-more popular, especially as the French invade (+1 Confidence).
A general military officer's guide is published in the Byzantine Empire (+1 Military Leadership). The swiftly-emerging new Byzantine capital is investing into the government's Isthmian Canal venture, and the efforts of the "Aetosian" workers allowed the canal to be finished much earlier (+2 project progress). The army grows in popularity (+5 divisions).
To defend Bulgaria, many volunteers join the army (+5 divisions).
The comparative success of the Patagonia venture brings some limited credibility back to the Irish king (+1 Confidence).
Cardinal Zerano Corzetti is chosen as Pope Leo XII, ending the period of oligarchy (+1 Confidence).
The Japanese army is modernizing with French help (+1 Military Leadership).
The Mughal work on their modernizing endeaovours is sped up (+1 project progress).
The Chinese suffer a setback in their present project (-1 project progress).
Danish army laxes up again (-1 Army Training).
A democratic reform took place in the Union of Russia-Lithuania-Romania, with the support of the commoners, the aristocracy and the rising Russian capital as well (+1 Confidence, +1 Economy).
As refugees flee for the remaining Swedish territory, the situation there detiriorates fast (-1 Living Standards).
Literacy rates in the Byzantine Empire decline (-1 Education).
With the expansion in Africa, the Portuguese colonial empire gets dangerously diverse (-1 Culture).
The Spanish living standards suffer as war begins (-1 Living Standards).
Life in the Afghan Khanate becomes even more intolerable after the war's end (-1 Living Standards).
Rumours spread in the Ottoman Empire of the Sultan's latent schizophrenia (-1 Confidence)...
das
Regeneration In Process
Spotlight:
The Great War in Europe.
"The increasingly-intertied nature of the European economy, coupled with the entangling alliance that would make any war between great powers a great war that will burn all of Europe, thus a war that all seek to avoid remembering the ruination of the last such war - the Twenty Years War - and the rise of revolutionary movements naturally opposed to the existing world order in all of its incarnations quite obviously make any real wars in Europe increasingly improbable."
- "Treatise on the New World". Alberto Arnade. Year 1739.
From the start of the 18th century, Europe existed in a kind of an order of the very temporary variety. The balance of power remained mostly unchanged until the 1740s, despite the final polarization and partition of Germany, the continued ascendancy of the Krakow Union and the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the Spanish Kingdom, unabated by reforms. Towards 1740, numerous formal and informal alliances of convenience begun emerging. In Western Europe, the strife of France and Spain, begun in the late 15th century as both turned from internal consolidation to external expansion, continued. A natural Spanish ally, the Krakow Union, was Protestant, but this did not prevent alliances in our modern, pragmatic age. Krakow Union itself was a definite threat to the potential Russian hegemony in Eastern Europe, and thus Russia was naturally driven into an informal alliance with France. Yet Europe, contrary to public opinion today, was hardly on the brink of another great war - not until the sudden collapse of the Ottoman hegemony in the Balkans, in 1741-3. The Ottoman Empire, no longer the threat to all the Christendom which it once was, has become by then the guarantor of the balance of power. As it fell, Russia, whether directly or not, extended its hold to the Balkans and the Christian parts of the Caucasus; whereas France, by making itself indespensible for the Ottoman Empire, changed the situation in the Mediterranean to its favour and to the detriment of Spain. It was clear, thus, that the other block - that of Krakow and Spain - had to react if they were to survive at all, not to mention as great powers (as for France and Russia, they had to pre-empt the enemy reaction - and much like with their enemies, one of the powers did pre-empt it, and another didn't).
Here the domestic factor stepped in. Spain was still obviously in decline, its government, despite its efficiency, was still overwhelmingly unpopular. Spain was unready for war, not before the new Gonzales dynasty was to consolidate power anyway. Meanwhile, the Krakow Union was ever more prosperous, ever stronger, ever more stable, it was in the ascendant and NEEDED to expand, whereas its strong army and military-based economy NEEDED to fight.
Other people attribute more importance in the events of 1745 to the human factor: the leader of Spain, King Rodequiz I, was usually seen as a peaceful, meek man, unready to take decisive, ruthless measures perhaps necessary to preserve the Spanish domination of its colonies and to allow it to defend itself against the French. By contrast, Grand Kanzler Iosif von Dunkelheit was exactly the strong leader needed to preserve a country in its time of peril and to lead it to greatness, to destroy all opponents - an agressive leader, but not insanely so, a one able to wait until the time is ripe. According to some, another such man was the archnemesis of Rodequiz I - Francis-Julien I, the constitutional monarch of France who nonetheless exercised great power and influence both through his personal merits and his status, just like Vladimir IV in post-reform Russia, who, however, is not usually considered to be a Russian equivalent of von Dunkelheit (instead, his chancellor Bestuzhev is believed to be such by many eminent historians).
But all that just as may be - as everybody knows, history knows no alternative, and events happened, in the end, just the way they did. So on March 11th, French naval inspectors checked the Spanish archives and uncovered documents that quite clearly pointed out that, indeed, Spain was behind the South Sea piracy, having supplied the pirates with ships and with secret orders. This shocked the world, but for two nations. The first - the Kingdom of Spain - was also quite surprised. These news were quite controversial, especially coupled with government denials, and a wide variety of opinions emerged - from "this is the truth!", through "this is the truth, but so what?" and to "this is a blatant fabrication!" Add to that the fact that nobody quite knew what to do about it, and everybody suggested things nonetheless - from apology and reparations to declaration of war upon France and Portugal, just to be sure.
The other nation - the Kingdom of France - was quite united by fury and rage against Spain and all things Spanish. When the ultimatum calling for Spanish reparations to Portugal and France was declared, the French demos supported it wholeheartedly. When the Spanish government did not comment on it, the people of France begun burning effigies of the Spanish king and tearing translations of Cervantes and Lope de Vega into shreds. And when a report on Spanish atrocities in Catalonia and Basconia was published, the people actually believed in it, and supported the following ultimatum that demanded Spanish evacuation of Basconia and Catalonia just as much as the first one.
By then, the Spanish people were also quite united again. Although some newspapers still claimed that the French reports were correct, the overwhelming opinion was that, even if all that was true, the French had it coming for them - so great was the fury at the French ultimatum. On both sides, volunteers enlisted en masse. By now, war was quite unavoidable, and so it... begun.
At the time, the Spanish forces were slowly, but steadily suppressing the risings in Basconia and Catalonia. Actually, there barely were any atrocities, much less "genocide" - had there been, the Spanish would probably have already crushed both rebellions, as their easy-going ways and cautiousness were used against them, especially since time was against them, and it they had lost. The first battle was fought at the sea, at Barcelona, and the Spanish fleet only barely limped back to Valencia, having been overwhelmed by superior French firepower. A cross-Pyrenean invasion soon forced the Spanish to fall back from Barcelona all the way to Tarragona, as the local rebels enthusiastically joined the French. As other French forces linked up with the remaining Basque rebels, and as the Franco-Catalonian forces advanced up the Ebro, the Spanish forces had to fall back beyond the river, where they set up more organized defensive lines, with the help of volunteers. But the French did not give the Spaniards enough time to prepare their defenses and attacked again, shattering the fierce Spanish resistance at the village of Utebo outside of Zaragoza by outflanking the foe. In other spots, the Spanish troops, faced with an even greater prospect of outflanking, had to give ground. Though General Miguel Rojo y Castaneda pulled a masterful retreat towards Madrid, that was the only bright spot of the war for the Spanish so far, along with, perhaps, the eventual beginning of guerrila activities behind French lines. The Spanish Army of Catalonia, retreating southwards, was intercepted outside of Valencia at the town of Sagunto and routed, and the Spanish fleet only barely escaped from Valencia in time as Aragon fell to the French. By the end of the year, the fleur de lis could be seen from Madrid with but the simplest of equipment, and the only thing holding the French up was the need to consolidate gains and logistics (though some say that they also intended to intimidate the Congress and the people, in which they partly succeeded as well). In Italy, after a long siege, the Spanish garrison in Genoa had surrendered, Milan having fallen earlier. As if that was not bad enough, the French soon had yet another naval victory as the retreating Spanish force was pinned down between the French Mediterranean and Atlantic fleets and then destroyed by them in the epic Battle of Gibraltar, after which French marines assaulted and captured the Rock itself, taking advantage of Spanish negligence and inspiring a new series of republican risings in Andalusia. The unchallengeable French naval supremacy quickly forced the capitulation of Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics. The lightly-defended Barbary Coast, or Spanish North Africa, was quickly overran by the French Foreign Legion, the Berber tribe leaders shrugging and recognizing the French military administration.
The year was not exactly the best in the history of Spain.
But to each action, there is a reaction, and the balance of power is not as easily broken as this. While Spain lost in the west, its Krakowian allies won in the east.
As soon as the Krakowian forces withdrew from Serbia, it was occupied by the Russian ones. Much like in Bulgaria, the Russians forced through a new constitution that formally turned Serbia into a Russian puppet via the position of General-Governor. This was intended as a measure that will ensure that Serbia does not try to flee from the Russian sphere of influence. It backfired, mostly because von Dunkelheit was not about to give the Russians enough time to consolidate their hold in Serbia, create a new government (the last one being held under arrest in Azov while the Duma debated as to what should be done with it) and crush resistance. Instead, he seized upon this casus belli, proclaimed that the Krakow Union would not stand for the Russian takeover of the Balkans as it violates the Treaty of Constantinople and struck out.
There was a notable difference between the way wars were carried out, and especially were started, in the west and the east. In the west, they begun with nationalist rallies, volunteers joining the army and outbursts of emotion, and themselves were fought on the principle of elan, with morale alternating rapidly and ambitious offensives, sometimes even resemblant of a zigzag, taking place as bold, dashing commanders were allowed quite a lot of private initiative. In the east, it was more solemn. There was no ancient hatred between the two Unions, and the leaders themselves were said to quite admire each other. And instead of private initiative and chaos, both armies valued disciplinne and order, and orderly advances of massive armies, and both acted upon a grand design of the Stavka and the Generalstab.
The Stavka sent troops to occupy Serbia; by now, they were already digging in, along with a stray Bulgarian division of the Priory Guards that was ordered to take positions alongside the Russians. The Generalstab dispatched troops to secure the bridges between Romania, Serbia and north-western Bulgaria, while the Guards of the Grand Chancellary, led by Feldmarschall Franz I, Head of the Guard, in person, advanced across the Dniester, their flanks covered by the regular forces that, however, seemed uneeded. After all, the Guard of the Grand Chancellary - GotGC - was the very best of the Krakowian army, a very secret unit which was used only once in combat before - in Venice. Now it reinforced its reputation of a lethal, unstoppable war machine by cutting its way through Russian defenses, and relentlessly advancing to the delta of the river, having cut off the Balkans from Russia with the line of defenses on the bank of the river they now captured. Meanwhile, Serbia was assaulted from several directions. The people, in their mass unsympathetic to both sides, welcomed the Krakowians as liberators just as they welcomed the Russians before that, and, earlier still, the Krakowians themselves, while the Russian forces were mostly caught betweeen the various Krakowian Army Groups and routed, though a few fought their way into Bulgaria, for all the good that that has done them, as the Krakowians soon overran Romania as well and then invaded Bulgaria, where they were helped by a popular anti-Russian rebel movement and defectors from the Bulgarian army. The remaining loyal Bulgarian forces and the Russian defenders fought bravely, but eventually were isolated and crushed, others fleeing into Byzantine territory into which, they hoped, the Krakowians would not pursue them. How naive. Although the Krakowians did NOT, as a matter of fact, chase them there...
Meanwhile, the Stavka's plan has not gone quite as well. Although the Russian Baltflot has easily destroyed the Krakowian fleet, and although its late-year (due to some problems with the Danish officials) blockade ruined the commerce going through Stettin, the Russian land operations went by rather badly, as at first they had hoped to lure the Krakowian army to attack Lithuania. But the Krakowian commanders knew better than that, if only because they were badly outnumbered vis-a-vis Russian border forces. Eventually, the Russians begun offensives anyway, and made gains, taking over much of Galicia, besieging Lvov (they were later fought off by Krakowian reinforcements) and, in the north, marching to the Vistula and defeating the Krakowians at Lomza. But it was too late. Reserves arrived, and Russian forces were stopped, though in the north they secured several bridges over the Vistula in anticipation of orders from the Stavka. The Generalstab and the Krakow Union won this round, but the Stavka and the Union of Russia-Lithuania-Romania (the latter bit being not very actual by now) were ready for many, many more.
These wars are yet to be officially merged into one, but by the value of the Franco-Bulgarian defense pact and the Krakowian alliance with Spain, it will come to be; and if all goes as it should go by paper, the Papacy should officially join ranks with Spain, while the Byzantines, who invaded the Papacy, should side with France, and at the same time with Russia due to the alliance with it; and also with France AND Russia Denmark-Norway should stand together, whilst Ireland and the Ausgsburg League have obligations before France alone. And who knows who else will join in, now that even the Shogun of Japan used the opportunity to strike against Spain?
NPC Diplo:
From: Abyssinian Empire
To: Sennar
It is believed that perhaps, peace negotiations would not be entirely out of order. Our conditions are the revision of border conflicts and the border its into Abyssinian favour, and the paying of tribute (1 eco. point per two turns) by Sennar to Abyssinia. You will be allowed to trade with France through Abyssinian territory (no cessions, though).
From: Arab Tribes
To: Ottoman Empire
We renew our plea for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
From: Borneans
To: Shogunate of Japan
We will agree to acknowledge your supreme authority without a battle, and provide troops if you need them for your other campaigns, but only if you grant us internal autonomy.
OOC:
andis-1, the Augsburg League is ruled by the Wittelsbachs.
Btw, I'd like to stress it once again that irregulars will never operate well outside of the territory where they were taken from - they are even worse than conscripts outside of it. Its probably best not to even try and control them outside of mere coordination. Also, from now on, if you don't give your war a good cause, I won't think up one for you and your confidence and military morale will suffer. And yes, as it happened I had made an example out of the Byzantine Empire - but it could have been anybody else had that anybody else launched such an unmotivated invasion and used irregulars in such a way.
I realize that I promised to give bonuses for stories posted after the deadline, but, alas, had to renege on this promise. If you DO want bonuses for those stories, simply repost them, I will not complain unless these were stories I DID give a bonus for, and yes, I do keep tabs on them, so don't even think of it.
The Great War in Europe.
"The increasingly-intertied nature of the European economy, coupled with the entangling alliance that would make any war between great powers a great war that will burn all of Europe, thus a war that all seek to avoid remembering the ruination of the last such war - the Twenty Years War - and the rise of revolutionary movements naturally opposed to the existing world order in all of its incarnations quite obviously make any real wars in Europe increasingly improbable."
- "Treatise on the New World". Alberto Arnade. Year 1739.
From the start of the 18th century, Europe existed in a kind of an order of the very temporary variety. The balance of power remained mostly unchanged until the 1740s, despite the final polarization and partition of Germany, the continued ascendancy of the Krakow Union and the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the Spanish Kingdom, unabated by reforms. Towards 1740, numerous formal and informal alliances of convenience begun emerging. In Western Europe, the strife of France and Spain, begun in the late 15th century as both turned from internal consolidation to external expansion, continued. A natural Spanish ally, the Krakow Union, was Protestant, but this did not prevent alliances in our modern, pragmatic age. Krakow Union itself was a definite threat to the potential Russian hegemony in Eastern Europe, and thus Russia was naturally driven into an informal alliance with France. Yet Europe, contrary to public opinion today, was hardly on the brink of another great war - not until the sudden collapse of the Ottoman hegemony in the Balkans, in 1741-3. The Ottoman Empire, no longer the threat to all the Christendom which it once was, has become by then the guarantor of the balance of power. As it fell, Russia, whether directly or not, extended its hold to the Balkans and the Christian parts of the Caucasus; whereas France, by making itself indespensible for the Ottoman Empire, changed the situation in the Mediterranean to its favour and to the detriment of Spain. It was clear, thus, that the other block - that of Krakow and Spain - had to react if they were to survive at all, not to mention as great powers (as for France and Russia, they had to pre-empt the enemy reaction - and much like with their enemies, one of the powers did pre-empt it, and another didn't).
Here the domestic factor stepped in. Spain was still obviously in decline, its government, despite its efficiency, was still overwhelmingly unpopular. Spain was unready for war, not before the new Gonzales dynasty was to consolidate power anyway. Meanwhile, the Krakow Union was ever more prosperous, ever stronger, ever more stable, it was in the ascendant and NEEDED to expand, whereas its strong army and military-based economy NEEDED to fight.
Other people attribute more importance in the events of 1745 to the human factor: the leader of Spain, King Rodequiz I, was usually seen as a peaceful, meek man, unready to take decisive, ruthless measures perhaps necessary to preserve the Spanish domination of its colonies and to allow it to defend itself against the French. By contrast, Grand Kanzler Iosif von Dunkelheit was exactly the strong leader needed to preserve a country in its time of peril and to lead it to greatness, to destroy all opponents - an agressive leader, but not insanely so, a one able to wait until the time is ripe. According to some, another such man was the archnemesis of Rodequiz I - Francis-Julien I, the constitutional monarch of France who nonetheless exercised great power and influence both through his personal merits and his status, just like Vladimir IV in post-reform Russia, who, however, is not usually considered to be a Russian equivalent of von Dunkelheit (instead, his chancellor Bestuzhev is believed to be such by many eminent historians).
But all that just as may be - as everybody knows, history knows no alternative, and events happened, in the end, just the way they did. So on March 11th, French naval inspectors checked the Spanish archives and uncovered documents that quite clearly pointed out that, indeed, Spain was behind the South Sea piracy, having supplied the pirates with ships and with secret orders. This shocked the world, but for two nations. The first - the Kingdom of Spain - was also quite surprised. These news were quite controversial, especially coupled with government denials, and a wide variety of opinions emerged - from "this is the truth!", through "this is the truth, but so what?" and to "this is a blatant fabrication!" Add to that the fact that nobody quite knew what to do about it, and everybody suggested things nonetheless - from apology and reparations to declaration of war upon France and Portugal, just to be sure.
The other nation - the Kingdom of France - was quite united by fury and rage against Spain and all things Spanish. When the ultimatum calling for Spanish reparations to Portugal and France was declared, the French demos supported it wholeheartedly. When the Spanish government did not comment on it, the people of France begun burning effigies of the Spanish king and tearing translations of Cervantes and Lope de Vega into shreds. And when a report on Spanish atrocities in Catalonia and Basconia was published, the people actually believed in it, and supported the following ultimatum that demanded Spanish evacuation of Basconia and Catalonia just as much as the first one.
By then, the Spanish people were also quite united again. Although some newspapers still claimed that the French reports were correct, the overwhelming opinion was that, even if all that was true, the French had it coming for them - so great was the fury at the French ultimatum. On both sides, volunteers enlisted en masse. By now, war was quite unavoidable, and so it... begun.
At the time, the Spanish forces were slowly, but steadily suppressing the risings in Basconia and Catalonia. Actually, there barely were any atrocities, much less "genocide" - had there been, the Spanish would probably have already crushed both rebellions, as their easy-going ways and cautiousness were used against them, especially since time was against them, and it they had lost. The first battle was fought at the sea, at Barcelona, and the Spanish fleet only barely limped back to Valencia, having been overwhelmed by superior French firepower. A cross-Pyrenean invasion soon forced the Spanish to fall back from Barcelona all the way to Tarragona, as the local rebels enthusiastically joined the French. As other French forces linked up with the remaining Basque rebels, and as the Franco-Catalonian forces advanced up the Ebro, the Spanish forces had to fall back beyond the river, where they set up more organized defensive lines, with the help of volunteers. But the French did not give the Spaniards enough time to prepare their defenses and attacked again, shattering the fierce Spanish resistance at the village of Utebo outside of Zaragoza by outflanking the foe. In other spots, the Spanish troops, faced with an even greater prospect of outflanking, had to give ground. Though General Miguel Rojo y Castaneda pulled a masterful retreat towards Madrid, that was the only bright spot of the war for the Spanish so far, along with, perhaps, the eventual beginning of guerrila activities behind French lines. The Spanish Army of Catalonia, retreating southwards, was intercepted outside of Valencia at the town of Sagunto and routed, and the Spanish fleet only barely escaped from Valencia in time as Aragon fell to the French. By the end of the year, the fleur de lis could be seen from Madrid with but the simplest of equipment, and the only thing holding the French up was the need to consolidate gains and logistics (though some say that they also intended to intimidate the Congress and the people, in which they partly succeeded as well). In Italy, after a long siege, the Spanish garrison in Genoa had surrendered, Milan having fallen earlier. As if that was not bad enough, the French soon had yet another naval victory as the retreating Spanish force was pinned down between the French Mediterranean and Atlantic fleets and then destroyed by them in the epic Battle of Gibraltar, after which French marines assaulted and captured the Rock itself, taking advantage of Spanish negligence and inspiring a new series of republican risings in Andalusia. The unchallengeable French naval supremacy quickly forced the capitulation of Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics. The lightly-defended Barbary Coast, or Spanish North Africa, was quickly overran by the French Foreign Legion, the Berber tribe leaders shrugging and recognizing the French military administration.
The year was not exactly the best in the history of Spain.
But to each action, there is a reaction, and the balance of power is not as easily broken as this. While Spain lost in the west, its Krakowian allies won in the east.
As soon as the Krakowian forces withdrew from Serbia, it was occupied by the Russian ones. Much like in Bulgaria, the Russians forced through a new constitution that formally turned Serbia into a Russian puppet via the position of General-Governor. This was intended as a measure that will ensure that Serbia does not try to flee from the Russian sphere of influence. It backfired, mostly because von Dunkelheit was not about to give the Russians enough time to consolidate their hold in Serbia, create a new government (the last one being held under arrest in Azov while the Duma debated as to what should be done with it) and crush resistance. Instead, he seized upon this casus belli, proclaimed that the Krakow Union would not stand for the Russian takeover of the Balkans as it violates the Treaty of Constantinople and struck out.
There was a notable difference between the way wars were carried out, and especially were started, in the west and the east. In the west, they begun with nationalist rallies, volunteers joining the army and outbursts of emotion, and themselves were fought on the principle of elan, with morale alternating rapidly and ambitious offensives, sometimes even resemblant of a zigzag, taking place as bold, dashing commanders were allowed quite a lot of private initiative. In the east, it was more solemn. There was no ancient hatred between the two Unions, and the leaders themselves were said to quite admire each other. And instead of private initiative and chaos, both armies valued disciplinne and order, and orderly advances of massive armies, and both acted upon a grand design of the Stavka and the Generalstab.
The Stavka sent troops to occupy Serbia; by now, they were already digging in, along with a stray Bulgarian division of the Priory Guards that was ordered to take positions alongside the Russians. The Generalstab dispatched troops to secure the bridges between Romania, Serbia and north-western Bulgaria, while the Guards of the Grand Chancellary, led by Feldmarschall Franz I, Head of the Guard, in person, advanced across the Dniester, their flanks covered by the regular forces that, however, seemed uneeded. After all, the Guard of the Grand Chancellary - GotGC - was the very best of the Krakowian army, a very secret unit which was used only once in combat before - in Venice. Now it reinforced its reputation of a lethal, unstoppable war machine by cutting its way through Russian defenses, and relentlessly advancing to the delta of the river, having cut off the Balkans from Russia with the line of defenses on the bank of the river they now captured. Meanwhile, Serbia was assaulted from several directions. The people, in their mass unsympathetic to both sides, welcomed the Krakowians as liberators just as they welcomed the Russians before that, and, earlier still, the Krakowians themselves, while the Russian forces were mostly caught betweeen the various Krakowian Army Groups and routed, though a few fought their way into Bulgaria, for all the good that that has done them, as the Krakowians soon overran Romania as well and then invaded Bulgaria, where they were helped by a popular anti-Russian rebel movement and defectors from the Bulgarian army. The remaining loyal Bulgarian forces and the Russian defenders fought bravely, but eventually were isolated and crushed, others fleeing into Byzantine territory into which, they hoped, the Krakowians would not pursue them. How naive. Although the Krakowians did NOT, as a matter of fact, chase them there...
Meanwhile, the Stavka's plan has not gone quite as well. Although the Russian Baltflot has easily destroyed the Krakowian fleet, and although its late-year (due to some problems with the Danish officials) blockade ruined the commerce going through Stettin, the Russian land operations went by rather badly, as at first they had hoped to lure the Krakowian army to attack Lithuania. But the Krakowian commanders knew better than that, if only because they were badly outnumbered vis-a-vis Russian border forces. Eventually, the Russians begun offensives anyway, and made gains, taking over much of Galicia, besieging Lvov (they were later fought off by Krakowian reinforcements) and, in the north, marching to the Vistula and defeating the Krakowians at Lomza. But it was too late. Reserves arrived, and Russian forces were stopped, though in the north they secured several bridges over the Vistula in anticipation of orders from the Stavka. The Generalstab and the Krakow Union won this round, but the Stavka and the Union of Russia-Lithuania-Romania (the latter bit being not very actual by now) were ready for many, many more.
These wars are yet to be officially merged into one, but by the value of the Franco-Bulgarian defense pact and the Krakowian alliance with Spain, it will come to be; and if all goes as it should go by paper, the Papacy should officially join ranks with Spain, while the Byzantines, who invaded the Papacy, should side with France, and at the same time with Russia due to the alliance with it; and also with France AND Russia Denmark-Norway should stand together, whilst Ireland and the Ausgsburg League have obligations before France alone. And who knows who else will join in, now that even the Shogun of Japan used the opportunity to strike against Spain?
NPC Diplo:
From: Abyssinian Empire
To: Sennar
It is believed that perhaps, peace negotiations would not be entirely out of order. Our conditions are the revision of border conflicts and the border its into Abyssinian favour, and the paying of tribute (1 eco. point per two turns) by Sennar to Abyssinia. You will be allowed to trade with France through Abyssinian territory (no cessions, though).
From: Arab Tribes
To: Ottoman Empire
We renew our plea for independence from the Ottoman Empire.
From: Borneans
To: Shogunate of Japan
We will agree to acknowledge your supreme authority without a battle, and provide troops if you need them for your other campaigns, but only if you grant us internal autonomy.
OOC:
andis-1, the Augsburg League is ruled by the Wittelsbachs.
Btw, I'd like to stress it once again that irregulars will never operate well outside of the territory where they were taken from - they are even worse than conscripts outside of it. Its probably best not to even try and control them outside of mere coordination. Also, from now on, if you don't give your war a good cause, I won't think up one for you and your confidence and military morale will suffer. And yes, as it happened I had made an example out of the Byzantine Empire - but it could have been anybody else had that anybody else launched such an unmotivated invasion and used irregulars in such a way.
I realize that I promised to give bonuses for stories posted after the deadline, but, alas, had to renege on this promise. If you DO want bonuses for those stories, simply repost them, I will not complain unless these were stories I DID give a bonus for, and yes, I do keep tabs on them, so don't even think of it.
das
Regeneration In Process
For all of you who will now attempt to kill me for dashing their plans to one extent for another (btw, did I miss anyone in that regard? Will have to correct it next update, I suppose... ) : its not worth it. The following spam in this post happens to be of scientific significance because it is determined by the amount of time it takes me to attach the map. Anyway, my drunken polar bear bodyguards will make all and any of your attacks pointless. That was fast. Am very tired, sorry about this rambling.
) : its not worth it. The following spam in this post happens to be of scientific significance because it is determined by the amount of time it takes me to attach the map. Anyway, my drunken polar bear bodyguards will make all and any of your attacks pointless. That was fast. Am very tired, sorry about this rambling.Attachments
Insane_Panda
Deity
Wonderful update. These plans went off perfectly.
das
Regeneration In Process
Blame your allies. Not as much specifically as generally, but specifically as well I'm afraid.
Thanks stalin, for once I am happy with the way it came out as well, especially the spotlight.
Insane_Panda
Deity
Yes, I know, I lied. But I just had to keep it secret, lest you all try and take advantage of the situation.
das
Regeneration In Process
Care to fill me in on this?
Insane_Panda
Deity
Oh yes, well, several people asked me if I was invading Spain. I had to, incase my plans were to be somehow manipulated or told to others, lie to all those who asked, to keep the secrecy of the plan, aswell as to keep some awe factor for the update
