Capto Iugulum: Empires and Nations

I just got back from vacation then had a problem accessing internet from home. any chance you can make an exception? i'll try to get complete orders in tonight.

I'm still accepting military and political orders, but no spending orders at this time. No exceptions to that I'm afraid.

I don't really have time to submit any orders tonight after all (i havn't even read the update yet )

I want to apologize for the open comments i made after the first update. I should have written them in a private message.

Anyway, yeah, this is my withdrawal.

Have fun,
Immac.


EDIT: in response to the comment below i PMed you.

Wait, are you leaving? Which update didn't you read? There's only been one.

Quick status report: Update proceeding well, though some jokers thought it'd be fun to start a major war, thus giving me more work . They didn't even have the courtesy to declare war like proper gentlemen . Because of the lateness of the victim's orders, the process is taking a bit longer.

EQandcivfanatic said:

Quick status report: Update proceeding well, though some jokers thought it'd be fun to start a major war, thus giving me more work . They didn't even have the courtesy to declare war like proper gentlemen . Because of the lateness of the victim's orders, the process is taking a bit longer.

Click to expand...

There should be disadvantages to secret declarations of war. Austria would never be so ungentlemanly.

Well, I don't know about other peoples, but mine certainly wasn't too surprising.

Warman17 said:

There should be disadvantages to secret declarations of war. Austria would never be so ungentlemanly.

Click to expand...

I think it's EQ's policy to punish undeclared warmongering among civilized peoples in 19th century games.

Crezth, I wish I could punish people like I used to. I miss being able to do everything based on whim. It's paining me not to do more to cause people trouble. Ah well, with the way things are shaping out, I'm more or less satiated anyways.

Alas.

Here are my orders, ahead of time, for 1832:

1. Send army to South America. Conquer Brazil using blitzkrieg tactics.
2. Build a bridge to Britain.
3. Discover flight.

Crezth said:

1. Send army to South America. Conquer Brazil using blitzkrieg tactics.

Click to expand...

Crezth, don't be a hater...

Global News Report​

POPE PASSES AWAY, CARDINALS ELECT NEW POPE. Rome, Papal States. As war erupts around the world against the formation of Pope Pius VIII's Catholic League, the notorious leader of the Catholic Church passed away early this year. Despite the problems of logistics created by the ongoing war, the cardinals of the Church assembled once more to elect one of their number to become the new Pope. A promising cardinal, known for being an avid supporter of all of Pius VIII's policies, has been selected to lead the Catholic Church even as the enemies of true Christianity close in upon them. Hoping that the new Pope will continued to reestablish the prominence of the Church over heathens and heretics, the new Pope Leo XIII has been introduced to the world.

WAR OF THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE. War has broken out between the major powers of Europe. A joint declaration of war was issued by the allied nations of the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain. With Spain distracted by rebellion and war in North America, the allies have begun assaulting their colonies across the world. The allies have declared that the formation of the Catholic League is a direct threat to the balance of power and stability in Europe. The lack of any diplomatic objections to the formation of the League and only attacking Spain suggests that the interest is solely in obtaining more colonies than preserving the balance. The people of Spain have thus rallied behind the emperor, ready to fight for the empire and their very way of life against the Protestant aggressors. In opposition, the people of the allied nations have been less than enthusiastic about the war. The continued anti-European sentiments in India and the Far East as well as trade disputes between each other have led many to believe that their resources would be better used elsewhere. With no easy victory in sight and a flimsy excuse for war, the merchants of these nations, many of whom possess not insignificant resources of their own, have launched opposition to the war. A special section has been provided to detail the war across the world. (+1 Stability in Spain and all colonies; -1 Stability for Britain, Sweden, and Netherlands)

News from Europe​

BRITISH INVENTOR CHUGS ALONG THE RAILS. Norwich, United Kingdom of Great Britain. A British inventor astonished audiences this year as he raced a steam engine along a set of tracks against a race horse. Many were unsurprised that the horse won the race, but the engine unexpectedly kept pace, hauling far more than any horse ever could. The new railroad promises an exciting new era of transportation, once it catches on. The inventor has gained an exclusive patent for the next decade in the British Empire, and has already achieved financing for small passenger lines in the Norwich area.

FAMINE CONTINUES IN RUSSIAN STATES. Moscow, Moscowy. The famine which began last year continued to plague the Russian nations throughout this one. Crop shortages continue to be the norm as crops continue to be blighted. The various governments have all begun to respond to the famine in various ways, attempting to stem the onslaught of unruly peasants and starvation. Regardless, people in the outlying regions and rural areas continue to starve, though fortunately, not as much as before. Others continue to leave Novgorod, Moscowy, and Kiev for greener pastures on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Kiev: -2 Manpower
Moscowy: -2 Manpower
Novgorod: -6 Manpower

MOSCOVITE ARMY DETERIORATING. Moscow, Moscowy. It has become apparent in Moscowy that recent groups of recruits and conscripts are less than desirable for the army, but accepted anyways. The officer corps have also shown less and less promise, as the best ones have frequently left for better employment and food elsewhere. The army's deterioration is unfortunate but at the moment seems unstoppable. The King in Moscow has made it clear that further decline would not be acceptable, putting measures in place to prevent further worsening. (-1 Army Quality)

MINOR POPULATION BUBBLE IN PROVENCE. Marseilles, Provence. To some it seems that the city of Marseilles is slightly more crowded than it should be. This has been largely attributed to this year's higher than normal rate of successful pregnancies. While not a truly large amount compared to most European nations, the rate is nearly double what it is in average years. The new population are representative of yet more people to help the small European country's prosperity among nations. (+2 Manpower)

PAPAL ARMY SEES UNEXPECTED IMPROVEMENT. Rome, Papal States. The Papal States has reported that in recent tests the holy army of the Pope seems to be superior with the recent batch of officers. Skilled commanders and leaders have influenced the rank and file of the Papal States with their abilities, encouraging them to greater feats. Also several donations made by visiting nobles have enabled the purchase of superior equipment and longer training for the army. Regardless of the cause, it is clear to the Pope and those on the Italian peninsula that the Papal States' army has improved. (+1 Army Quality)

CLERICAL ABUSE SPARKS RIOTING IN BRITTANY. Brest, Brittany. The town of Brittany was torn apart by riots this year as a priest was caught using the funds donated by the poor and middle class to increase his worldly status. King Henry III's local representative stepped in and protected the priest from harm, and pardoned him of any crimes. When a group of local citizenry amassed at the church in protest, the local garrison was called out and forcibly dispersed the crowd. The crowd fought back, intensifying the situation into a riot. The riot was eventually quelled, but several dozen people were killed. Throughout the rest of the country less significant anti-clerical protests and riots took place, calling for the end of clerical abuse from the Catholic Church.

BADEN REBELLION. Baden, Burgundy. A localized revolt took place in Burgundy this year as the German population of the town of Baden rose up against the local government. Rallying against French domination of the government of Burgundy, the local middle class led a rebellion against the government. Thanks to stockpiled arms and munitions, the rebellion began growing and was increasingly well armed. Nobles from Brandenburg are said to have unilaterally begun sponsoring the rebels against their French overlords. The countryside and Rhine bridges were seized by the rebels, and Baden itself quickly fell. The Republic of Baden was proclaimed and the city began arming itself for war. Needless to say, the Burgundy government, eager to crush the uprising, deployed its forces against the city. Surprisingly they were initially defeated by the rebels when attempting to force positions along the Rhine. Eventually the Burgundian army chose to bypass the rebel controlled bridges and approach the city from the north. After a pitched battle north of Baden, the rebel army was crushed and the city was retaken. After the fall of the city, the Burgundian army rampaged in and began looting and burning. Fortunately the commander stopped the army before they caused too much damage, and even personally shielded a group of fleeing women and children from his soldiers. Despite the victory, many of the leaders of the rebellion have escaped into the countryside, and are believed to be scattered and hidden throughout all the German provinces of Burgundy. (-2 Infantry Brigades)

FOOD RIOTS IN KIEV. Kiev, Kiev. Despite the government's attempt to ease the food shortage in Kiev, the unruly masses proved too impatient to stop, and rioting broke out in Kiev. The local granaries were stormed by angry mobs, and soldiers were forced to fire upon them. The violence continued to escalate throughout the city as people attempted to gain food from the government. Eventually more army regiments were called in to restore order, and the rioting was quelled. An unfortunate amount of the purchased grain would be destroyed in the resulting fires, further worsening the food shortage.

PEASANT REBELLION IN MOSCOWY. Volga, Moscwoy. With people starving around the countryside, tensions have been on the rise throughout the year. As most fields lay ruined, out of work serfs began rallying in the rural areas, scavenging and raiding for food whenever and wherever they could. The bands grew and consolidated, eventually turning into a massive marauding force, leaving a trail of destruction and looting behind them. Several interior forts fell to the rebels, and a few garrisons were overrun, giving them hope and leading them to call themselves an army. As the rebellion grew in strength, local nobility called for aid from Moscow, and the army was mobilized to assist them. Near the small town of Volga the army attacked and dispersed the peasantry, slaughtering many and scattering those who remained. The peasant army is no more, though the damage they created lingers behind. (-1 Infantry Brigade, -4 Manpower)

RIOT IN KONIGSBERG. Konigsberg, Prussia. The famine in the Russian states has done more than merely create starvation and chaos in the east. Food prices have been steadily rising throughout all of Eastern Europe. In the Prussian capital this has created a volatile situation throughout the city. Poorer members of the population have begun to not even be able to afford bread and have been going hungry, even though no actual food shortage exists. When the local officials refused to open the granaries to the masses, he was attacked and very nearly killed. The mob stormed the granaries, looting what food they could for themselves. The army was informed that a rebellion was underway, and immediately entered the city to restore order. Casualties were said to be in the hundreds among the civilian population and damages to local property were quite severe. The incident has almost everyone one edge as resentment against the monarchy begins to develop among the urban population.

KHAZAKS RAID EASTERN MOSCOWY. A major force of rallied Khazak raiders began attacking the newly settled regions of eastern Moscowy this year. With thousands under their banners, they even overrun a few military outposts, seizing guns for their own. Eventually, the army was called to the south to stop this major invasion, and they reached the border without ever encountering the Khazak maruaders. Then, after nightfall, the raiders fell upon the army's encampment, surprising them, and starting what effectively became a slaughter. The army was ill-prepared for a melee battle, and while some did manage to rally, the Moscovite army was disperse and fled. The Khazaks continued to run rampant throughout the remaining part of the year.
Casualty List
Khazak Khanate: 3 Cavalry Brigades
Moscowy: 5 Infantry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades

DEATH OF THE KING OF MOSCOW. Moscow, Moscowy. Even as the nation's darkest hour seems to be hovering overhead, the kingdom of Moscowy was delivered another blow. King Constantine fell to his old age this year at long last, leaving his son to be inaugurated as King Constantine II. Constantine II was educated in the schools of Constantinople during his youth and was a scholar of the well-preserved ancient Greek and Roman texts. While many of his tutors were concerned about his interests in things such as art and maths over military campaigns and other tools of government, it has been generally considered that his education left him a much more moderate personality than his father. Though definitely not a modern liberal, Constantine the II has expoused ideas which have left him less than popular among members of the court. He is more or less an unknown quantity to many, and there are few who believe him capable of leading Moscow in these dark times.

DUTCH ELECTIONS HELD. Amsterdam, Republic of the Netherlands. As one of only two true democracies in the world, alongside the United States, this year, the Republic of the Netherlands had its constitutionally mandated elections for the nation's Congress and Stadtholdership. The outbreak of war with the Catholic League was the most heavily mentioned and discussed item within the debates which emerged. While some members of the more liberal Patriots Party were concerned about the cost of the ongoing war, the majority of the people seemed to throw their weight behind the ruling Exercitiegenootschappen and Stadtholder Adam Mappa. Stadtholder Mappa returned to power after a landslide election assured him and his party control of the government. The Dutch people have spoken, and for now, they back the government and its war against Spain. (+1 Stability, +1 Stability for all colonies)

KING OF SAVOY PASSES ON. Turin, Savoy. King Charles Felix of Savoy died this year, having fulfilled the time amounted to him by God. An moderate proponent of the Catholic Church, Charles Felix still avoided membership within the Catholic League and offered only limited support in the ongoing calls for reform. Nonetheless, he maintained the status quo at home, arresting those who attempted to reform or change the Church in Savoy. He has been succeeded to the throne of Savoy by his son, Charles Albert. Charles Albert is a well educated successor and has been known to harbor some liberal tendencies. All reports say he is still a devout member of the Catholic Church, but has expressed deep concern towards the ambitions of the Catholic League. He had previously angered his father with calls for investigation of similar corruption in Savoy like those who have taken place in the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and Milan. Regardless, he is viewed favorably by most people in his nation, and has even been known to walk among the lower classes during Christmas, giving gifts to fortunate individuals. (+1 Stability)

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD. London, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The outbreak of war has revived an astonishing religious fervor among the wealthy and upper classes of Britain. The war against Spain has brought force into a campaign reminding people of the Spanish Armada, and the atrocities perpetrated by Catholics throughout the Fifteen Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire during the seventeenth century. King John IX's ascension to the throne and his indifferent views towards religion has greatly roused the more ardent members of Parliament. Part of the Tory establishment has since broken off, establishing the Puritan Party. This group has vowed to revive the morality and religion within the British government, and has all but denounced King John in their efforts. (-1 Stability)

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SICILY. Palermo, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. On the heels of the events in Sardinia and Milan, enterprising individuals in the Sicilian town of Palermo undertook an investigation of similar corruption in their community. They were not too shocked to find that the local priest was clearly taking payments and even engaged in blackmail schemes of his own. The priest was hauled out of his church and beaten by the angry mob. Similar demonstrations happened at other towns, though nowhere else had a priest become as severely injured. It is said that these demonstrations helped inspire the reforms by the Sicilian throne later in the year.

KING OF BURGUNDY CONTINUES FRENCH PATRONAGE. Dijon, Burgundy. King Conrad VII has continued his sponsorship of French nationalist artists in Dijon, offering coin and support to their efforts. The Baden Rebellion has led many of the French artists to address the brutality of it, and some have lost favor with the king in the process. One such artist was exiled by an outraged king, after a painting depicted the Burgundian army as monsters in their attack upon Baden. The incident has left some of the artists wary and thoughtful of the king's possible intentions with their efforts.

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL TO BE COMPLETED. Cologne, Burgundy. Last year's abortive revolt seems to have brought Cologne onto the mental map of Burgundy's monarchy. The Cologne Cathedral, having been left unfinished since the thirteenth century, has begun to be completed by the monarchs of Burgundy. The move has begun winning the king support from all but the more liberal portions of the population. The devout German population has even begun offering aid in support of the cathedral, rallying around the effort as a community. Efforts came temporarily to a halt during the Baden rebellion, and some of the tensions stirred up from that incident led to a restoration of previous tensions as the German population became divided between those supporting the monarchy and those opposed to it.

PORTUGUESE MONARCH SPONSORS MEDICAL PROFESSION. Lisbon, Portugal. Queen Maria II, in an effort that rivals the establishment of the Budapest General Hospital in 1798, has granted a surprising boon of government funds to the medical profession. The effort has been a massive success. Doctors and leading theorists from across the world have descended upon Lisbon to take advantage of the flow of wealth. So many in fact, that facilities had to be created and expanded in the city to provide for these people. The people of Portugal have benefited as well, as medical treatment in their nation is now far superior to that elsewhere, as one only has to agree to be a subject in tests to receive advanced care from these physicians. (+2 Manpower, +1 Stability)

TWO SICILIES EMULATES SARDINIAN CHURCH REFORM. Naples, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Hot on the heels of outbreaks of unrest against the Catholic Church in Sicily, King Ferdinand initiated immediate reforms similar to those which took place last year in Sardinia. Investigations were undertaken of all Catholic Church finances in the kingdom, overriding claims that the Pope had sovereignty in such affairs. Unfortunately, the monarchy has been implicated in fabricating positive results in their investigations, replacing papal authority with obvious tools of the government. They have thus engendered some sympathy for the papacy among the masses in southern Italy, and anger at the flimsy excuses used to implicate upstanding members of the clergy. (-1 Stability)

PRUSSIAN ARMY ACADEMY ESTABLISHED. Konigsberg, Prussia. In order to build up their military strength, the Prussian king has provided funds to establish the Prussian Army Academy in Konigsberg. Hiring Swedish officers to help train aspiring Prussian soldiers has proved a wise move, and a noticeable improvement has been detected among the Prussian officers. The Swedes have helped conduct new training exercises and have inspired unity and cooperation among the officer corps. While the haphazard Prussian military is nowhere close to the quality of more civilized nations, they have made at least a few small steps in the right direction. (+1 Army Quality)

DUTCH JOIN FORTIFICATION RACE. Amsterdam, Republic of the Netherlands. With many other nations in Europe building up their defenses against potential invasion, the Dutch have felt it necessary to do the same. The outbreak of war with the Empire of Holy Spain has caused some concern to emerge that Burgundy may act against the Netherlands. The Dutch have since begun to survey and lay the foundations for a series of modern forts along their mutual border. The construction has not gone unnoticed by the Burgundian military which remains concerned about the possibility of war with the Netherlands.

REPUBLICAN ACCORD SIGNED. The Hague, Republic of the Netherlands. The destruction of the Republic of Venice has left the two remaining republics in Europe in a thoughtful state of mind. With the outbreak of war between Spain and the other major powers in Europe, Switzerland has thought to assure its own security with the signing of a defensive back with the Republic of the Netherlands. Seeking to improve relations with their fellow republic, the Swiss have also opened up new trade agreements with the Dutch, though the practicality of it remains nothing more than a formality, as both nations have fairly miniscule trade with each other.

SWISS BEGIN ARMY REFORM. Bern, Switzerland. As war clouds hover over Europe, and the Venetians fall to Austrian invasion, Switzerland has announced the total reform of its army under Swedish guidance. The Swiss hope to reorganize their forces in a manner similar to the Swedish empire, as a way of deterring local aggression. The Catholic members of the Swiss cantons have expressed their displeasure at this development, as several Swedish officers have been caught spreading anti-Catholic propaganda. The Catholic cantons have demanded the immediate end to any Swedish involvement in Switzerland and have forbidden them access to their regions (-1 Stability)

SWEDISH MERCHANTS ANGER BRITISH WITH AGGRESSIVE MOVES. Charleston, United States of America. Swedish merchants, using trade ties with the United States and their new possessions in Africa have begun to outrage the British, by cutting prices of slaves to unmanageable levels. Though the slave trade has rapidly been becoming unprofitable due to a lack of desire of the usually unruly first generation slaves, aid from the Swedish government has allowed Swedish merchants to undercut all others in the market. The British parliament has been constantly lobbied by merchants losing their livelihoods to the Swedish government's ploy. Furthermore, the increasing calls for ending the slave trade entirely have gained new strength, as the Swedes continue to lose favor in the streets of London.

MOSCOWY CONTINUES EASTWARD EXPANSION. Moscow, Moscowy. The armies of Moscowy continued their efforts to expand to the east this year until they were brutally mauled by Khazak raiders. The local tribes have been only lightly resisting the expansion, most choosing to submit to Moscovite authority. Some have begun to turn to banditry and raiding however, occasionally attacking the army's supply lines and settlers who enter the region. The efforts have been small scale, however, mostly by renegade farmers who find their crops being sent westward to relieve the effects of the famine.

MOSCOW DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO THE MASSES. Moscow, Moscowy. King Constantine II has begun distributing free food, purchased from foreign suppliers to relieve the effects of the famine upon his people. Though this has earned him popularity among the lower classes it has been a less than popular program among the nobility. The aristocracy and grain merchants had wished to charge the serfs and lower classes for the food, and had hoped to gain control of the market themselves. The king's so-called "intrusion" into business has made them rather upset. Furthermore, the funds which went to the effort were quite extensive and the court has been less than pleased at their use. They would have preferred using it for the improvement of the army or their own excesses. Among these people plotting against the new king has begun to grow, threatening the integrity of the crown. (-1 Stability)

MILAN BEGINS CHURCH REFORM. Milan, Milan. Last year's demonstration and protests, and the ongoing reforms in Sicily and Sardinia seem to have awoken the king of Milan to the possibility of corruption in his own local churches. The Milanese government immediately began investigations into the local Catholic Church, searching for signs of extended corruption. They have proven successful, unwinding a web of deceit and criminal activity throughout the Catholic Church in Milan's realm. The infringing bishops and priests have since been forced to return to Rome, and their replacements have been appointed by the King. The efforts have proven popular among the people, and the students who were released from prison have lauded the king's efforts. (+1 Stability)

POLITICAL REFORM IN MILAN. Milan, Milan. King Galeazzo, having apparently taken leave of his prior senses, has turned his back on his closest friends and advisors by announcing that the abomination known as elections would take place in Milan. As a previously conservative ruler, the effort seems to fly in the face of all his prior actions. The upper classes have been outraged by the institution of mob rule in Milan, and the lower classes remain apathetic. While some students have backed this, the people with money and military experience have not. The aristocracy have threatened "dire repercussions" should the monarch put elections into action. (-2 Stability)

DENMARK BEGINS MILITARY REFORM. Copenhagen, Denmark. The eruption of war between Sweden and Spain has caused the Danes to reassess their military position. While not under threat of attack or war themselves, they have become aware of the woeful inadequacy of their forces against a major enemy. Therefore they have acquired Swedish support in reorganizing their military along the lines of their northern neighbor. The efforts have proven mostly successful as they continue their advancement to improved their armed forces.

CATHOLIC LEAGUE GROWS. Rome, Papal States. Despite the outbreak of war between the Empire of Holy Spain and the allied nations of the north, the Catholic League has continued to flourish. Austria's defeat of Venice has led to that nation attempting to build new ties with the Papal States and Spain. Austria belatedly accepted the Pope's invitation to join the Catholic League. Not long after, the nation of Bavaria followed with the growing tensions between them and Brandenburg. The two new nations have already been fast at work in building new ties and trade relations.

AUSTRIA REDUCES TAXATION. Vienna, Austria. The Austrian king has announced that taxes upon businesses would be dramatically reduced this year, and the middle classes and Venice have breathed a sigh of relief. The lack of financial pressure upon the Venetians promises to make the integration of the territory far more passive, as the financial kingpins in Venice look to resume making a profit. The relief of the private sector seems to be helping business, increasing trade between Austria and its neighbors.

AUSTRIA BEGINS NAVAL DEVELOPMENT. Venice, Austria. The annexation of Venice gave the Austrian government a navy, but no real knowledge in how to use it. In order to develop the potential of the navy, Spanish advisors have been hired to help train Austrian crews. Furthermore, funds have been dedicated to establishing the bureaucracy a navy requires and facilities for its repair and crew training. The efforts have only just begun and the Austrian government foresees many years of expenses and efforts before the fruits of their labors are likely to materialize into any solid form.

NOVGOROD RESPONDS TO FAMINE BY BLAMING ROMANS. Novgorod, Novgorod. Even as the army and people starve for lack of food, the King of Novgorod has been rapid in his response. In several fiery responses, the king has blamed the Orthodox Church and Moscowy for the famine, claiming that they were somehow responsible for poisoning Russian crops and burning granaries. All but the most ignorant of peasants have seen these statements for what they were, mere words. The clergy continues to build strength from the population, and even has begun to gain supporters from the middle and upper classes against the monarchy. The military has also begun to view the king with disfavor as they scavenge for what food they can find. (-1 Stability)

NOVGORODIANS RAID INTO MOSCOWY FOR FOOD. Smolensk, Moscowy. The shortages of food in Novgorod has led various elements of the army to raid into Moscowy to steal food from the local village granaries. This has led to several small engagements between both nations' armies, as they fight for food and farms in the area. The Novgorodians have emerged victorious in most of these fights, mauling Moscovite brigades and sending them running. This has enabled them to loot the outlying farms and return to safety within the borders of their own country.
Casualty List
Moscowy: 2 Infantry Brigades
Novgorod: 1 Infantry Brigade

BRANDENBURG MONARCHY INVESTIGATES STATUS OF CHURCH. Berlin, Brandenburg. As Italy seethes with turmoil created by the dispute between Church and state, this has caused King Charles Frederick of Brandenburg to consider the implications. Though Brandenburg is a Protestant nation, there exists at least some element of influence by the Lutheran churches in the government. The King still holds a spiritual advisor, though he appointed solely by the monarchy. Overall the churches remain mostly separate from the management of the state, but some people in the nation do feel that the post of spiritual advisor may distract the king from affairs of state. It appears that the chaos of the debate in Italy has led to less and less being concerned about the issue in Brandenburg.

KIEV OPENS GRANARIES. Kiev, Kiev. In response to the outbreak of food riots in Kiev, King Mikhail II has done his best to provide for the people of his realm. Much like Moscowy, foreign food suppliers have been contacted and new food brought in to feed the masses. Fortunately, no ugly backlash has taken place here. Overall, the King seems to have made the correct decision, providing succor for his people and easing the woes caused by the ongoing famine. Some opposition has emerged from the merchants, but this seems to have alienated them more from the king and people than built them any support for the middle class.

KIEV BEGINS FORTIFICATION OF BORDER. Kharkov, Kiev. The Kievan monarchy, fearing an invasion from the greatly increasing Moscovite military, have begun an ambitious project to construct massive fortifications along their mutual border. These fortifications are intended to replace aging castles and forts along the whole of the border, a project with a hefty price tag. Few have been completed so far, and many whether the cost will be worth the additional security the forts would provide. Tensions have also been created by the construction of the forts, and the Moscowy military has been constantly at watch during the first stages of laying the foundations for these structures.

POLISH KING DECLARES SLAVERY ILLEGAL. Krakow, Poland. The emancipation of the slaves of Denmark has greatly moved the king of Poland. In an act surprising the international community, King Stanislaw II has issued a proclamation freeing all slaves within the borders of his nation. While this has very little effect on the day to day life in Poland, this could affect international commerce with the slave-holding colonial nations, if it had any. By the legislation, technically slaves could be taken from their owners if brought into Poland and freed. Fortunately, this rarely happens, if at all, and the loss of commerce due to the proclamation is likely to be minimal at worst.

LANGUEDOC BEGINS ARMY REFORM. Toulouse, Languedoc. As a member of the Catholic League, Languedoc has begun to seek to reform its army along the lines of the Spanish forces. With the introduction of Spanish advisors, the Languedoc army has begun a process of reforming their organizational planning. The efforts are believed to be complete by the end of next year, and that's none too soon. The army has already begun making preparation to assist the Spanish in the ongoing war against the northern Protestant nations.

PROVENCE REFORMS ARMY. Marseilles, Provence. The outbreak of war between Spain and the northern Protestant nations has highlighted the need for immediate military reform in Provence. Advisors from Spain were invited to arrive and assist them in reorganizing their army in the style of the Spanish. The Spaniards accepted this proposal and helped the small Provence army every step of the way. By the end of the year the efforts were complete and Provence demonstrated a much improved order of battle to its citizenry.

News from the Americas​

CHILEAN ARMY DETERIORATING. Santiago, Chile. The Chilean military, having not fought since its formation after the war for independence, has started to show its irrelevance and decadence. Officers have been shown to be grossly incompetent, and the soldiers under their command not much better. Furthermore it seems that corruption is running rampant throughout the army, and bribery is the norm for most checkpoints. The army has begun to be viewed as not much more than a bad joke by the citizens of Chile. (-1 Army Quality)

TENSIONS GROWING IN DANISH WEST INDIES. Saint Christian, Denmark. The freedom of the slaves by the Danish Crown has not gone completely smoothly in the nation's American possessions. The former slaves are frequently without employment and are met with hostility by their former owners. Though the Protestant churches have done their best to arrive and forge a new path, crime has skyrocketed in the islands as the freedmen begin robbing and looting in order to survive. The local whites have begun establishing a militia to maintain law and order, as well as to hunt down the criminal black population. (-1 Stability in Danish West Indies)

SPANISH RULE IN WESTERN FLORIDA COLLAPSES. San Antonio, Republic of West Florida. As the Spanish government in Grand Florida collapsed, the area west of the Mississippi River soon declared its independence from the Empire of Holy Spain. The new Republic of West Florida has been established under the leadership of a coalition led by Samuel Houston. The Spanish garrisons were quickly ousted and the republic seized control of all major towns and settlements throughout the region. A Floridian army was assembled and was sent to assist the American army in the battle of New Barcelona. The new Republic, while it is committed to maintaining its independence for the duration of the war, has begun making negotiations to join the United States upon the conclusion of the conflict.

REBELS SEIZE GOVERNOR IN HISPANIOLA. Santo Domingo, Empire of Holy Spain. As the waves of revolution once more wash over the Spanish Empire in the Americas, a minor revolt took place in Santo Domingo, capital of the Spanish island of Hispaniola. A group of radicals, hoping to spark a full rebellion, seized control of the governor's mansion and held the governor for ransom. Regardless the local garrison staged a siege of the mansion and the would-be revolutionaries were eventually forced to surrender, running out of food and ammunition. The rebels were all immediately hung by the governor for their crimes, and have since become martyrs for the cause of Hispaniola's independence. (-1 Stability in Hispaniola)

BARRICADES CRUSHED IN MANAGUA. Managua, Empire of Holy Spain. The waves of freedom have washed into New Spain as well in the Caribbean, threatening to overturn one of the most prosperous colonies they have remaining. Citizens in the city of Managua rose up against the local governor after he declared "rationing" and began seizing food supplies, selling them at exorbitant prices. The garrison was called in, successfully crushing the uprising and many were killed in the process. The revolt was most assuredly crushed but bitter resentment remains throughout the whole region. (-1 Stability)

SLAVE REVOLT IN TOBAGO. Tobago, Republic of the Netherlands. The Dutch West Indies erupted in violent rebellion this year, as slaves on the island of Tobago rose up against their masters and attacked whites on their plantations. The uprising was successful in liberating several plantations worth of slaves, forcing the militias to call out the local Dutch garrison. Thanks to the use of cannons from the local naval vessels, the garrison was able to smash the slave uprising. All surviving slaves were summarily executed, and prices for slave labor have skyrocketed on the island. (-1 Stability in Dutch West Indies)

SLAVE REVOLT IN THE BAHAMAS. Nassau, United Kingdom of Great Britain. At approximately the same time the Dutch West Indies were bathed in the fires of slave rebellion, a similar uprising took place on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. The local slaves rose up against their owners and besieged the plantation house, which was barricaded by the white residents and loyal slaves who refused to join the rebels. The militia was eventually called out to quell the uprising and proved successful. Unfortunately not all the revolting slaves were caught, many fleeing deeper into the jungles on the island. Reports came in through the rest of the year of petty crime as these negro bandits raided outlying plantations and farms for supplies. A few would later be caught and hung for their crimes.

RELIGIOUS CORRUPTION SPARKS RIOTING IN RIO DE JANEIRO. Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil. It was revealed by a local news sheet that the Catholic Church in Rio de Janeiro has been responsible for influencing local decisions on land distribution and that local contributions have been flagrantly used for the clergy's own enrichment and power. The clergy has been decisively shown to be constantly bribing and influencing government officials for special treatment, and that large tracts of land have been turned over to various religious leaders. When angry crowds appeared at the local churches, a military officer, apparently in the pay of the Church, declared martial law and deployed the army to crush a supposed rebellion. The crowds were run down and many killed in the process of restoring order.

PRIESTS ARRESTED IN PARAGUAY. Asuncion, Paraguay. Though Paraguay officially separated from the Catholic Church almost a decade ago, many still take their orders from Rome. This year a number of priests have spoken out against President de Francia, denouncing him in the name of the Catholic Church. In response, the president immediately had all the involved priests arrested and thrown into prison. Though the act was surprisingly brutal, it has not raised up too much anger from the Paraguayan people. Most still view the president as the savior and protector of Paraguay and give him their full support in the debate against the Catholic Church.

ECUADOR DECLARES INDEPENDENCE AMID WAR. Quito, Ecuador. As the war against Venezuela drags on, internal tensions have divided the Republic of New Granada at home. The southern provinces have seceded from the larger republic, declaring themselves the independent nation of Ecuador. Led by the hero of the revolution against Spain, Simon Bolivar, a portion of the army has abandoned the old government and joined the rebellion. They promptly rounded up the remaining loyalists and rallied others to their cause. With Bolivar proclaimed the President of Ecuador for the duration of the conflict, New Granada has refused to allow the breaking away of more provinces and President Moreno has vowed to fight until all territories are restored.

BRAZIL ESTABLISHES NEW SETTLEMENT ACT AND CAMPAIGN IN EUROPE. Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil. Emperor Pedro has begun a campaign of advertising across Central Europe, sending people to talk about the benefits of settling in Brazil, with vast promises of land and wealth to those who choose to come. Mostly they have been met with indifferent glances and a lack of any receptive support among those they talked to. Back home, surveyors have been sent through the south of Brazil, meeting once more with indifference and even veiled hostility from the current inhabitants. Very few seem to have met this effort with anything other than a mild resistance to the change that it implies.

CREE WAR ENDS IN VINLAND. New Stockholm, Sweden. The Swedish and other settlers in Vinland won several victory over the Cree in their efforts towards western expansion this year. The Cree, while attacking the settlers, did little initially to protect their own villages. The Swedes therefore waged a relentless assault against the Cree base of support, slaughtering the villages as they discovered them. The Swedes were thorough, routing the Cree and sending them fleeing north away from the settled white lands. The Swedish victory has been absolute as people look once more towards continuing the push west. (+1 Stability in Vinland)

KAW WAR. Danville, United States of America. Even as war rages against the Empire of Holy Spain, the United States of America remains steadfast in its hungry drive to the west. The Kaw, who rose up to resist the American expansionism have fought bravely against the Americans, when allowed to fight a battle on their own terms. They even managed to win two twin victories, wiping out two American brigades. Unfortunately, the American advance has been unstoppable as they relentless wipe out native village after native village, sparing not a soul in the process. Faced with losses of their homes and families, the Kaw warriors tried an open assault on the main American force. Though they managed to make headway, inflicting major casualties, the superior firepower of the Americans in an open battle resulted in overall disaster. The remaining Kaw took what was left of their families, fleeing their lands further west.
Casualty List
Kaw Nation: 2 Cavalry Brigades
United States of America: 3 Infantry Brigades

NEW GRANADA-VENEZUELA WAR CONTINUES. Caracas, Venezuela. The outbreak of rebellion in Ecuador has not halted the fervor of New Granada for reclaiming the Venezuelan provinces. The New Granadan army, seizing civilian ships, ferried across the bay from Maracaibo, hoping to begin a direct advance against Caracas. They then encountered the much larger Venezuelan army at the town of Coro. The New Granadan army, ambitious for victory, and foolishly led, charged head first into battle. They were easily outflanked by the Venezuelans and routed. The New Granadans fled the battle, but very few ever returned to Maracaibo. The Venezuelans launched an offensive at the end of the year towards the city, retaking it with little difficulty as the shattered remnants of New Granada's army withdrew.
Casualty List
Republic of New Granada: 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Venezuela: 2 Infantry Brigades

ARGENTINA CONTINUES EFFORTS FOR CENTRALIZATION. Buenos Aires, Argentina. President de Rosas' attempts to centralize power in Argentina continue to be met with resistance from the caudillos of the interior. While he has had some successes, the military continues to fight continuous minor engagements against the caudillos' militias. The caudillos' mobility has proven to be their greatest advantage. They have managed to evade capture or full defeat by outrunning and outmaneuvering the Argentine central army. So far it seems that the centralization of Argentina has a long ways to go.

AZTEC EMPIRE HUNTS DOWN CHRISTIAN MISSIONS. Tenochtitlan, Aztec Empire. Though technically Christianity has been illegal in the Aztec Empire for over a hundred years, the government has never really cracked down upon its spread. This all changes this years as the Aztec army began hunting down secret Christian missions throughout the southern areas of the nation. Railing against the internal corruption caused by the Christians, the efforts have been mostly futile. The missions enjoy popularity among the people they serve and the missionaries themselves have mostly remained hidden by the locals. The Aztecs have vowed retribution for anyone hiding missionaries but have mostly been unsuccessful in intimidating the people. (-1 Stabiliy)

FLORIDA INVADED. Saint Augustine, occupied Empire of Holy Spain. As the Empire of Holy Spain engages in combat around the world, the United States of America recognized the Republic of West Florida and launched an invasion to claim the lands for their own. The major city on the Mississippi River, New Barcelona, fell without a fight and the American army triumphantly marched into the city with hardly a gunshot fired except in celebration. This victory marked the end of Spanish rule outside of the peninsula, where the main Spanish army rallied against the American invasion. Another American army marched upon the only real majority Spanish population center remaining in Florida, Saint Augustine. Spanish cavalry managed to hold the Americans at bay, but a cunning ploy by the American general allowed them to catch and destroy the Spanish horsemen in a single night. With the Spanish army blind, they moved to defend the city, widely considered to have one of the best forts in the west. Through use of a ruse, the Americans managed to gain entry through the city gates and attack the fort by surprise. Though the Spanish army had been waiting for the attack, they were still caught off guard. Nonetheless, they managed to rally and inflict heavy casualties upon the Americans. The battle was hard fought, but with the fall of the town's fort, the remaining Spanish soldiers were forced to surrender, ending the brilliantly fought American offensive.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
United States of America: 2 Infantry Brigades

CHILE WELCOMES IMMIGRANTS. Santiago, Chile. The increase in immigrants over the past two years has not gone unnoticed by the central government in Santiago. New laws have been passed for all immigrants, particularly the large amount of Russian ones which have arrived. The new laws simply require an oath of loyalty to Chile and the eventual learning of Spanish. Some Chileans feel that the laws are not enough to protect Chilean jobs, and are uneasy with the new people moving into their cities, and their strange religious ways.

News from the Middle East and Africa​

NEW RIFLED MUSKET MAKES APPEARANCE AMONG MAMLUKES. Cairo, Mamluk Caliphate. The Mamlukes have gained a surprising edge over European armies this year, as a particularly clever inventor developed improved rifling for muskets. The new rifle musket has proven highly effective in tests, and is likely to be the focus of any planned development of the Mamluk army in the future. The dramatically increased range of the new muskets provide much greater effectiveness on the battlefield, and the other nations of the area have begun shaking in their boots at the threat of meeting the Mamlukes in battle. (+5 Army Quality)

UNRESTS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE SPANISH ALGERIA. Algiers, Empire of Holy Spain. Banditry and unrest has continued to be on the rise throughout Spanish Algeria during the course of the year. Last year's execution of an Islamic cleric continues to inspire and outrage would-be rebels in this unruly Spanish possession. The city of Algiers has had almost monthly riots as the Spanish colonial authority continues to struggle to maintain control. The Algerian countryside seethes with rebellion as a full scale revolt seems to be lurking upon the horizon. (-1 Stability)

LAND DISPUTE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Cape Town, United Kingdom of Great Britain. The British colony of South Africa was deeply divided in an ongoing dispute over land between the Boers and more recent British immigrants. The Boers have act legally against the British, claiming that they have greater rights to the land than the British do. They have called for the restitution of their lands recently settled by the British and their slaves to Boer control. Surprisingly, the local British magistrate ruled in favor of the Boers, forcing the British settlers to evacuate the lands they have infringed upon and return to the main settlement at Cape Town.

UPRISING EMERGES IN ARABIA. Riyadh, Mamluk Caliphate. From the deserts of Arabia, a growing threat has emerged against the Mamluk Caliphate and has begun to spread out its tendrils to the regions around it. The Wahhabi movement as it has become known claims that the Caliphate has been tarnished by European influences and dealings. Speaking out against the Caliphate, these rebels have claimed that Islam itself has been corrupted by their rulers. Calling to purify all of Islam, the Wahhabists have begun leading a minor campaign against the Mamluk garrisons throughout Arabia. They have won several minor successes, looting a few armories and garrisons of modern weapons. So far they have only achieved support from a few local families, and have evaded all attempts to locate or capture them by local authorities. (-1 Stability)

ABYSSINIA CONTINUES WAR ON BANDITS. Addis Ababa, Abyssinia. The Abyssinian cavalry continued their efforts to round up the bandits throughout their nation this year. They have met with some limited successes, locating dens of bandits and razing them. The bandits seem as numberless as sand on a beach unfortunately, and this year continued to grow in overall number. Though the efforts seemed to have secured the northern regions of the nation, new banditry has grown throughout the south. The army, though successful in most of its operations, has still begun to lose faith from the people and government. Meanwhile, some bandits have grown fairly powerful forces of their own with which to fight authority. (-1 Stability)

SWEDISH SENEGAL FAILING. Swedish attempts to entice people to settle in Senegal met with nothing but failure this year. No one has expressed any interest in all to moving to the relatively worthless colony. With few resources to exploit, bad land to farm, and the hostile Spanish on the high seas, people seem to be more interested in moving to the much more temperate Vinland. Overall, the Swedes have wasted vast amounts of their funds and treasury on the widening drain that is the Senegal Company.

BRITISH SUFFER DISASTER IN GHANA. The increasing tribal unrest in the British colony of Ghana raised eyebrows back home in London and it was determined to end this unrest immediately. Reinforcements were dispatched to the garrison there, hoping to utterly crush any opposition. The plan was to attempt to fight the natives on their own terms, which turned out to be a horrible notion. Dividing their forces, the British were easily and constantly defeated in the unfamiliar terrain. The natives rarely were caught and the British forces were devastated by attack after attack, the British forces eventually regrouped, only to find most of their friends killed. What few soldiers remained fled to the fortified outposts along the coast. (-1 Infantry Brigade)

News from the Far East​

CHINESE OPIUM REPORT OUTRAGES IMPERIAL ESTABLISHMENT. Beijing, China. A report, commissioned in 1829, has finally returned results about the use of opium within the Chinese government and southern promises. During the course of the investigation it was revealed that over 25% of all workers in the who of Chinese bureaucracy are addicted or using opium. Similar rates have been reported in the military, many who seem to be under the influence of foreign smugglers and traders. According to the report, even with the new laws and custom houses, opium continues to flow over land and sea borders, addicting countless Chinese to its alluring flavor. Reports claimed the emperor threw a tantrum at the news, and outrage has been inspired throughout the ruling classes of society, all demanding that the Opium trade be stopped completely. (-1 Stability)

VIETNAMESE NAVY DETERIORATING. Saigon, Vietnam. European analysts have begun to notice that Vietnam, a strong native power in the Far East, has a navy which has clearly seen better days. Most of their ships are in disrepair and the crews mostly apathetic to their duties. Alcoholism and opium usage is rampant among the captains of the fleet, and even in the upper echelons of the administration. Overall it has become clear that the Vietnamese navy is hardly in any fighting shape at all. (-1 Navy Quality)

BURMESE MERCHANTS ACT AGAINST BRITISH. Rangoon, Burma. Word of the Maratha Confederacy's success in expelling European merchants has spread to the nation of Burma. Merchants there, without the official approval of the government, have been conducting a war against British interests in the nation. British merchants fear for their lives throughout the city and many have begun packing up and leaving. The markets have been closing down one by one to European traders, as local merchants begin picking up the slack. With the outbreak of war between the European colonial powers, it seems that it is now open season on European commerce for local merchants, regardless of how internationally poorer it makes the nations themselves.

FAILED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SPARKS REBELLION. Beijing, China. As the prince grows uncomfortably close to European ways and monarchs, several people have begun plotting against him at home. Concerned about plans for westernization of the military and other actions, a cabal of aristocrats and military leaders struck to kill him outside of Beijing. The prince narrowly escaped with his life, and the pursuit escalated into a full-scale uprising by the leaders and nobles. Beijing was briefly captured by the rebels, forcing the emperor to flee to the north. The imperial army was rallied over the course of the year and the rebels were defeated in battle north of the city. It is said however, that the remnants of the rebellion continue to amass in the countryside and in the Chinese court, continuing their plotting against the prince and emperor. (-5 Infantry Brigades, -1 Stability)

MORE CHRISTIANS ROUNDED UP IN KOREA. Seoul, Korea. Continuing what they began last year, the Korean monarchy brought further efforts to bear to eliminate the deteriorating effects of Christianity in Korea. After extensive interrogations of the surviving missionaries, it was discovered that a shocking number of Koreans actually continue to practice Christianity. In response, the king has declared practice of "the barbarian's religion" illegal throughout the realms of Korea. The army has immediately begun hunting down practicing Christians, and summarily executing them. This sparked an uprising in several communities in the south, where the missions had proven to be areas of great relief and aid to the local inhabitants. The army promptly quelled the uprisings, leaving thousands dead in their path. (-3 Manpower)

DURRANI-PERSIAN WAR COMES TO A CLOSE AS MARATHAS INVADE. Kabul, Durrani Empire. The Persian armies launched a new offensive into the southern Durrani Empire this year, easily overrunning local garrisons and buying the loyalty of local tribes. Though the Durrani did attempt to put up a fight at the coastal city of Ormara, where they had been bringing in recently purchased cannons to aid them in their fight. The artillery which remained was used poorly, as the Durrani soldiers had little experience with it. The extremely superior Persian forces dispersed the army with only a few losses of their own. The remaining free cavalry brigades headed north to unite with the main army near Kabul, leaving the south in Persian hands. They encountered and were badly mauled by a Maratha probe, but otherwise did not engage the new invader of their lands. The Maratha Confederacy has indeed invaded the Durrani Empire, hoping to reclaim their northern lands taken by earlier invasions. As Kabul has fallen under siege the Maratha have managed to occupy most of the territories, easily defeating the local garrisons. The main Maratha army did encounter the southern Persian force near Quetta, but avoided sparking hostilities between the Marathans and Persians. The heaviest fighting of the war took place at the Durrani center of power, Kabul. The Persians immediately began an offensive as soon as the passes cleared from winter, and attacked the Durrani positions around the city. Unfortunately, through herculean efforts, the Durrani had brought up cannons from the south over the course of the winter. A Persian cavalry charge failed to break the lines and the Durrani held back the attacks. Showing incredible insight and competence, the Durrani surprised the Persians and launched an attack of their own out of the fortifications and against the Persian flank. With their cavalry in the field, and their army advancing into withering fire from cannons and other weapons, the Persian army collapsed into disorder. They were sent fleeing to the southwest, with the Durrani army barely bloodied. The Persians fell back, and regrouped. They were then reinforced by a fresh army from the west and once more renewed their attack on Kabul. The Persians were less arrogant and more cautious in their next advance, and they quickly routed the Durrani cavalry which tried to scout their approach. Though the Durrani possessed more cannons at the start of the next attack, the Persian gunners proved superior, throwing the Durrani into disarray with their counter-battery fire. Rather than throwing their forces head on against the Durrani this time, the Persians used their superior firepower and mobility to whittle away the enemy while they lay helpless against them. Eventually the fire proved too much and the Durrani lines broke. The Persian cavalry pursuit was devastating, sending the army into a full rout. To make matters worse, Zaman Shah and his sons were slain in the battle during the Persian artillery barrage. With their death, the Durrani "government" utterly collapsed as the army dispersed into the countryside, becoming little more than raiders and tribal warriors themselves. The conflict has now left the Persians and Marathas administrators of a highly divided land.
Casualty List
Durrani Empire: 12 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Maratha Confederacy: -1 Stability
Persia: 5 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, - 1 Stability

CHINA ESTABLISHES NEW CUSTOMS AND TRADING SYSTEM. Ghangzhou, China. The threat of the opium trade has become more and more apparent, and after the incidents in Beijing, the prince has influenced the development of reform in the most afflicted southern provinces. The various trading ports of China have enacted a new system of requiring licenses for European traders to bring in goods. These licenses must be paid for by the merchants if they wish to trade any goods with China, and offers substantial rewards for those who do. The effort has proven surprisingly successful as the potential for greater reward from this legal trade has offered much more profit than smuggling. Smuggling over all has been reduced and with British merchants being more or less ignored in inspections, the opium continues to flow, with a profit, into China. The effort has done much to reduce smuggling, and with it the region has become significantly more stable. (+1 Stability)

SWEDISH MERCHANTS HUNG BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES. Ghangzhou, China. While the new laws have offered great profits to European merchants, Non-British merchants have found that they are still unable to freely trade opium to China. Smuggling has continued among these individuals, and the Chinese fleet has been alert in the area to stop them. Though in most cases the European ships are able to escape the slow Chinese vessels quite easily, a Swedish ship was caught in the process of smuggling opium. The Swedes were hung by the Chinese for the crime of smuggling, and outrage has grown at home against the Chinese actions. In China, the act has done much to build the popularity of the laws among the Chinese people, and have helped to stabilize the markets against European intervention. (+1 Stability)

BRITISH BEGIN RECRUITMENT OF INDIAN BRIGADES. Calcutta, United Kingdom of Great Britain. British authorities have begun recruiting Indian brigades for the first time since the end of the East India Company. The natives are of course under the leadership of white men, but some people are concerned about arming natives with modern weapons. The new brigades acquitted themselves fairly well in the fighting in Spanish India, but some fear that the British governors may be creating a monster in their own ranks. The continued rise of anti-European sentiment in the Maratha Confederacy have made some British merchants nervous about the possible loyalties of these soldiers. (-1 Stability in British India)

AUSTRALIAN SETTLERS INVESTIGATE INTERIOR. Sydney, United Kingdom of Great Britain. British settlers in Australia have investigated the interior of the continent and have determined it to be worthless. Most have returned home to their previous homesteads and local authorities believe that British imperial resources would be better used in developing the territories already thoroughly under their control. British insistence on respecting the aborigines has also irritated these would-be settlers, giving them less incentive to respect the authorities.

MARATHA VIEWED AS TRIUMPHANT OVER EUROPE. Pune, Maratha Confederacy. Last year's expulsion of European merchants and citizens had been viewed with anxious anticipation by some within the government of the Maratha Confederacy. However, the outbreak of war among the European powers and the massive success of the invasion of the Durrani Empire have caused these fears to subside. It is now widely viewed that perhaps the Europeans are weak after all and that the Marathas can begin a recovery of their own empire from greatest threat of all. (+2 Stability)


DUTCH TERRORIZE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES. Davao, Empire of Holy Spain. The southern Spanish Philippines which have been benevolently ignored by the Spanish crown for the past century. With no real Spanish presence outside of Manila, a Dutch expedition began raiding and bombarding various native towns and cities with reckless abandon. The mostly defenseless people of these communities were slaughtered by the Dutch, who marauded throughout the area. Eventually the Spanish fleet from Manila sortied against the Dutch fleet, and in a battle off the coast of the native town of Davao resulted in the Dutch ships' utter defeat and capture by the Spanish. A force landed on the island to capture the town soon came under attack by a mob of angry natives. Spanish firepower and a shortage of supplies due to the loss of their fleet soon resulted in the Dutch being torn apart by the angry mob, and the few who survive disappeared into the island's jungles, never to be heard from again.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 2 Third Rate Warships (+3 Third Rate Warships, +1 Second Rate Warship from captured enemy vessels)
Republic of the Netherlands: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 4 Third Rate Warships, 1 Second Rate Warship

DUTCH ATTACK PUERTO RICO. San Juan, Empire of Holy Spain. The Dutch launched an attack upon the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico at the beginning of the year from their possessions in the Dutch West Indies. The attack nearly turned into defeat as the Spanish spotted the fleet coming and were able to alert the fortifications. The forts inflicted a heavy toll upon the Dutch ships, as they attempted to pound the defense into submission. Eventually the Dutch guns managed to overpower the forts and their own guns, opening the way for a land assault. The local Spanish fleet engaged the Dutch during the fights with the fort and nearly drove them off. The Dutch managed to pull out a victory though a pair of Spanish ships did manage to escape from the Dutch cordon. The Dutch then landed their forces outside of San Juan, and rather than face obvious defeat the Spanish general surrendered his forces to the Dutch invaders. The Spanish would return later in the year with a much larger fleet after word reached them of the fall of San Juan. Surprisingly, the Dutch, even with half of their own ships missing still managed to hold the Spanish at bay for a time. Thanks to using captured Spanish ships from the first battle, the Dutch managed to fight well and nearly won, until a loose shell ignited the ammunition store on the flagship of the fleet. The destruction of the fleet's flagship turned the battle around and the rest of the Dutch ships were either captured, destroyed, or fled. A Spanish army then landed outside of San Juan and engaged the Dutch army in battle. With scouts leading them through the terrain, the Spanish managed to lure the Dutch out of the city and send cavalry behind them. The Dutch artillery train would be overrun and the Spanish soon managed to attack the enemy army from both sides. The Dutch were badly mauled and were forced to surrender to the attacking force.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 1 Infantry Brigade, 10 Third Rate Warships, 7 Second Rate Warships (+8 Third Rate Warships, 3 Second Rate Warships from captured vessels)
Republic of Netherlands: 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade, 14 Third Rate Warships, 7 Second Rate Warships

SWEDISH ARMY LANDS IN PHILIPPINES. Manila, Empire of Holy Spain. A Swedish army, embarking from Scandinavia and journeying half way around the world, spent most of the year traveling on their path to the Philippines. During the course of the trip, a few thousand soldiers died of various diseases and upon arriving in Swedish India, thousands more perished from disease in the unfamiliar lands. The final stage of the journey resulted with the Swedish fleet being unable to approach Manila or even blockade it. The Spanish navy stood firm alongside the various forts protecting the approaches onto the city. After landing and laying siege to the city, thousands more died of malaria and other epidemics which swept through the army. As regiment after regiment became defunct and skilled artillerymen died without ever firing a shot at the Spanish garrison. When it became clear that the city would never fall to them, the Swedes retreated to the jeers of the Spanish forces.
Casualty List
Sweden: 3 Infantry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades

ALLIED FORCES INVADE SPANISH INDIA. Hyderabad, occupied Empire of Holy Spain. The British and Swedish armies invaded Spain's possessions in India, working in conjunction against the local defenses. They attempted to buy off locals, but found very few were willing to work with them against the Spanish. After raiding and further alienating the people they were attempting to get work for them, they soon realized that the Spanish were unlikely to leave their fortifications around their main port. Though the British waltzed back and forth, they realized they would have to assault the Spanish positions to achieve any real victory. With superior firepower and artillery, the British blasted a whole in Spanish defensive positions, and using the Swedes as shock troopers, they forced the Spanish line. The Spaniards were routed and broken by the allies, leading them to inglorious defeat. The remaining Spanish soldiers surrendered and the colony soon fell under British control.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 5 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 1 Infantry Brigade

SPAIN ATTACKS BRITISH CARIBBEAN. Kingston, United Kingdom of Great Britain. Victorious after their relief of San Juan, the Spanish were forced to confront a new threat. With their orders, the British in the Caribbean amassed their fleet to respond to the Spanish intrusion. Aware of the size of the fleet that defeated the Dutch at Puerto Rico, the British felt their forces would be ample to achieve victory. Unbeknownst to them, the Spanish fleet had been reinforced and with the British fleet moving against Puerto Rico, they had the chance to strike. The two fleets met off the southern coast of Hispaniola. The British found quickly they were outnumbered, but unfortunately the wind was against them. The Spanish managed to cross the T of the British fleet, inflicting maximum damage upon the enemy ships. The Spanish soon closed in for a full engagement and the British were forced to join in. Outnumbered and outgunned by the Spanish, the fight was a close struggle, but ultimately a Spanish victory. With the capture of the British flagship and death of the admiral, the fall of the rest of the fleet was inevitable. Only a small, shattered group fled back to port in Kingston. The Spanish recovered their own ships which had been captured in the battle and took stock of their own conquests. The Spanish sent back what ships needed to be repaired to San Juan, and took the rest to campaign in Jamaica. Fortunately for the British the forts at Kingston and what was left of their fleet were enough to hold back the Spanish, though it cost them a few more ships to Spanish firepower. Though their local fleet was defeated, the Spanish have been held back from the British Caribbean islands.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 10 Third Rate Warships, 6 Second Rate Warships, 2 First Rate Warships (+10 Third Rate Warships, 11 Second Rate Warships, 4 First Rate Warships from captured prizes)
United Kingdom of Great Britain: 18 Third Rate Warships, 18 Second Rate Warships, 5 First Rate Warships

Financial Section

IMPORTANT OOC: Although I do like the rules I came up with, in theory, they have proven less than manageable for me in practice. By the time I finished adjusting things for Europe, I realized I had spent over an hour doing that alone well after the rest of the update was finished. This is VITALLY IMPORTANT that I receive thoughts from all of you. I am currently looking at reverting the economic ruleset to a much simpler form. Simply put, this will be a switch back to the Economic Points system over the current one (ala A Brave New World). While I do like this ruleset, I fear that I have overstepped my own capacities for updating. I do apologize for the inconvenience in this economic fubar that we've had so far. If you're curious to the actual in-game effect of this decision, what I'll essentially be doing is creating an economic power stat which is more or less your current GSP with various nations being adjusted. The economic power will continue to be banked, and I'll still be adding in the Domestic Policies section. Meanwhile,

FOR THE NEXT UPDATE ONLY SPEND YOUR INCOMING GSP! IGNORE ALL GSP THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN YOUR BANK! FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR YOU.

I apologize for the confusion this will inevitably create and the rocky start we're having so far. Hopefully switching back to EP will make my life much easier moderating and the deflation of the stats will prove to be what I need to make this easier. Alas, but for my own ambition. This whole thing would have gone much more smoothly if I had only chosen to stick with EP and only changing the way I did the actual events of the update. Bah, live and learn.

Migration and Population Movements

Top Immigration Choices:
1. United States of America
2. Vinland
3. Argentina



Diplomatic Pouch

To: Persia
From: Maratha Confederacy

We hope that you will agree to our new borders as they currently are with the locations of our forces.

OOC

Remember, if someone else beats you to a technology, all money you put into it will be lost. On the plus side, you'll still get the next level of the bonus ahead of those who didn't put money into it.

The Aztec Empire and Republic of New Granada are now available for players as Omega124 and Immaculate have dropped out.

I'd like to reiterate: There are no trains yet. ANYWHERE.

Another point I should make. If you say your war is about one thing, you better be sure that you aren't blatantly after something else. As those familiar with EU3 may recognize: watch out for infamy limit when you're making peace deals. Total destruction of an enemy is not always acceptable at home or abroad. If you're lying to your people about why you're at war, eventually it's going to come out, and those who care about that sort of thing may be rather unhappy.

@warman17, you need Swedish help if you want their Organization style. The money which would have gone to that has been banked.

@cannae: All right, you've acknowledged various factions. I'm not sure what you're actually doing with that part of your orders. Similarly, you can "create troops" but I really need to know specifically what you're creating and what you're doing to upgrade. All funds related to this message have been instead banked.

I have adjusted the Pre-Gunpowder army organization to where it should be. This simply means that I have given it Melee strength. Therefore a pre-gunpowder army ought to be able to outmatch or stand toe-to-toe against most other types in a melee battle. So, keep those primitives at a distance if you want to win those battles. Keep in mind the terrain you're fighting in, as some is better for melee forces than firepower heavy ones.

Brazil's manpower has been doubled due to the discovery of more accurate manpower information from a new text. Other South American nations have also had various increases of their available manpower.

@Terrance888: It seems your reign was short-lived. I'd still love to have you in the NES, and if you want further recommendations for play or another suggested nation, I'm happy to oblige.

World Map

To: Novgorod, Novgorod Nobles
From: Muscowy
CC: The World

We cry for our fellow brothers and sisters of Christian faith who have been left to starve by their king, to the point where their own army has turned to barbarism in order to feed itself. The recent raids on Muscovite towns only shows how forgotten by its king the people of Novgorod are. We beg the king to come to his senses, come back to the Church and we are sure God will provide. If, however, the king of Novgorod continues to deny his people salvation and ignore our advice, we can only hope the nobility in Novgorod will be able to convince him of his foolishness and bring him, and the rest of his nation, back into the fold.

To: the barbarian, ungentlemanly Protestants
From: The Empire of Holy Spain

Your unwarranted attack upon our colonies shall be met with the fury of our armies and ships. You will rue the day you made this wrong choice.

To: The members of the Catholic League
From: The Empire of Holy Spain

We wish to ask for your help in this moment of uncertainty, when the Protestant heretics have decided to fight against the Only True Religion in a most ignonimious way that shows that they do not worship God at all, but Satan.

To: All Catholic nations
From: The Empire of Holy Spain

The Protestant heretics have shown their cards! They have launched an unwarranted attack against the Catholic world, despite the fact that at no time was the Catholic League going to attack them, and when there were bigger enemies outside of Christianity than within. We wish to ask you to join this war and show the Protestants that their attack has been one of the worst mistakes they have committed.

TO: Empire of Holy Spain
FROM: Empire of Brazil

We are concerned by these actions against Catholics and about the conflict so close to our northern border. Brazil will not join the war as our fight is not abroad. We will however restrict merchant access from the offending nations into our ports. We will also offer favorable rates to the Catholic League on all of our exports in order to aid in the war effort indirectly.

TO: United Kingdom, Sweden and Netherlands
FROM: Empire of Brazil

We will restrict access to our ports by your merchants, and will disallow the exportation of our goods in the form of coffee, sugar and gold to your nations for the period of this conflict. Any attempts to cause harm to Brazil, our merchants, or coming within our coastal waters will be considered a declaration of war on your part.

OOC: Good fight! I had thought that Marathas would worry about the Europeans, then I can sell the southern territories this turn to them, but I guessed wrong.

Yeah, I would like a suggestion, and I am eager for further play.

Paris here.

@Terrance: I'd recommend New Granada or Venezuela, finishing off the ongoing war they've got there. If you'd like something in Europe, my recommendations are Savoy or Normandy.