SPECIAL: Second Venetian War
SPAIN'S NAVY RAMPAGES AROUND ITALY. Genoa, Milan. In response to the joining of Savoy to the Italian cause, the Spanish have responded by neutralizing all remaining threats to their power on the high seas. The first victim of their strikes was Milan, which managed to put up a moderate fight, but most of the ships were sunk under the noses of the very guns which were supposed to protect them. Some few ships did survive the Spanish attack, but the fleet was left shattered. Armed with forewarning of the Spanish navy, Savoy's fleet managed to escape their harbor, taking refuge scattered in ports around the world. The Spanish fleet did manage to catch a few, sinking them as they sought to avoid their fate. The Tuscans attempted a similar escape, but the slow and aging ships of their navy were easily caught and destroyed by the Spanish steamers.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 2 Third Rate Warships
Milan: 10 Fourth Rate Warships, 3 Third Rate Warships
Savoy: 3 Fourth Rate Warships
Tuscany: 4 Fourth Rate Warships
FIGHTING AROUND ROME. Rome, Papal States. The city of Rome was the focus of the largest battles of the war to date, as the Spanish army was sent to liberate the center of Catholic Christianity from its occupiers. The Spanish were the first to take the initiative, managed to assemble and launch a massive army from Iberia to land north of Rome. They met the Tuscan army at the town of Certveteri north of Rome, as they rushed to defend it from the Spanish attack. Outnumbered two to one, the Tuscans did what they could but were ultimately defeated and routed by the Spanish. Their army once again left in shambles, they fled once more into their own borders. Aware of the Spanish threat at their rear, the Sicilians had no choice but to once more strike at the Papal army's fieldworks at the city of L'Aquila. Though they had possessed superior firepower in the form of artillery, the Sicilians' plans were laid to waste when word was leaked to the Pope's army of their plans and dispositions. When the battle began, the Sicilian guns found themselves under immediate artillery fire, and the advantage was soon nullified. Furthermore, the Sicilians charged into waiting positions of infantry and other forces, soon leading to a humiliating rout on the battlefield. The Austrians and Papal forces followed with a cavalry pursuit, nearly smashing the Sicilian army completely, if not for the timely arrival of the Sicilian cavalry. The Sicilian general, rallying his forces determined to at least attempt to beat the Spanish to the undefended city of Rome. Unfortunately, thanks to delays due to the last defeat, the Spanish not only managed to retake Rome, but to maneuver their forces between the Sicilians and Naples. With the Pope's army approaching from the north, the Sicilians were trapped, and had only one option: to attack the prepared Spanish forces. As the noose tightened, the Sicilians did their best to escape the trap, but the Spanish held the line against wave after wave of attacks. Some forces did manage to escape, but by the end of the day, the Sicilian general had no choice but to surrender his army. With Sicily's main army in the field utterly destroyed, the Spanish army went to work securing the Papal States' borders, while the Pope took a long awaited offensive. With little resistance from the Sicilians remaining, Naples fell after a quick advance into the south, with only minor skirmishes delaying them.
Casualty List
Austria: 1 Infantry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
Empire of Holy Spain: 5 Infantry Brigades, 3 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Papal States: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies: 22 Infantry Brigades, 7 Cavalry Brigades, 12 Artillery Brigades
Tuscany: 4 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
THE SWISS FRONT. Bern, Switzerland. With the Bavarian army having exited the war, and the nation of Savoy entered the war, the fighting in Switzerland promised to turn into the favor of the alliance against Austria. The city of Zurich would be the scene of the first major fight as the Austrian reinforcements managed to arrive before Savoy's army. After a long winter of skirmishes between cavalry and picketers, the Austrians discovered the city to be well fortified by the Swiss. The Austrians attacked, but the Swiss' superiority in firepower and doctrine managed to be Austria's undoing in the battle. They were badly mauled in their attack, and shocked to see the determined Swiss counterattack. The Austrians were routed by the audacious defense, and when Savoy's army at last arrived to relieve the city, they were surprised to find the Austrians already in retreat. Thanks to superiority in cavalry, the allies managed to bring the Austrians into another engagement, this time on their terms. The Austrians were beaten, though they managed to inflict moderate damage against Savoy's untested forces. Regardless, despite managing to hold their army together, the Austrians were forced out of Switzerland for the first time since the war began.
Casualty List
Austria: 4 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Savoy: 3 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Switzerland: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
THE MILAN FRONT. Venice, Austria. After spending the winter digging in and preparing to meet a combined Italian army, the Austrians at last were engaged with the largest force the allies have yet put into the field. Though the Tuscans had been drawn to the south to fight Spain, Savoy and Milan managed to assemble an impressive force to drive the Austrians out of Italy. The first battle to do so resulted in a stalemate, as neither side was able to decisively break the enemy lines, and the Austrians managed to maintain their positions. Fortunately for the allies, this served the vital purpose of testing the Austrian defenses and doctrine and in the next battle, the knowledge was put to good use. Using Milan's army as a distraction, Savoy's force managed to outflank and surprise the Austrians tactically, arriving in their rear. The Austrians were badly mauled and soon routed from the field. Constantly harried by Italian cavalry, the Austrians are said that they didn't stop running until reaching Venice. Milan was secured from the Austrians at last.
Casualty List
Austria: 10 Infantry Brigades, 4 Cavalry Brigades, 3 Artillery Brigades
Milan: 5 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Savoy: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade
News From the Americas
SUSPENSION BRIDGE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED. Philadelphia, United States of America. An American engineer has made astonishing strides in the art of bridge construction at a town a few miles north of the city of Philadelphia. Built in a completely new method using the cables to assist in the construction, the bridge is the longest of its type ever built. Since constructing this new bridge, demand has risen in other states and countries for such a design, to help span the more difficult rivers in various nations. Engineers widely agree that this is truly a major step forward in bridge building. (+5 EP)
UNREST EMERGES IN PERU. Lima, Empire of Holy Spain. As word filters south with the details of the brutal rebellion in New Spain, concern has begun to arise throughout Peru about the Spanish emperor's methods of dealing with the revolt. The brutal warfare has begun to give rise to fear that any expression of freedom could well lead to disaster of a similar sort in Peru. Concerned about the possible rise of Spanish tyranny in Peru, militias have begun to form around various villages and towns, especially in the southern regions of the colony. While none have aggressively begun seeking independence, they are focused on rather preparing to defend themselves against any oppression.
REPORTS OF ORGANIZED RESISTANCE ALARMS AZTECS. Tenochtitlan, Aztec Empire. Over the course of the year, increasing numbers of reports have come through the religious police of the Aztec Empire. Apparently, fed up with the assaults and attacks over the past few years, the Christians of the empire have organized and trained a fairly substantial resistance movement. Using unknown means to communicate and distribute their propaganda, the Christians have been increasingly effective throughout the year. The threat has grown substantial and the Aztec religious police believe that a full scale uprising may very well be on the horizon. (-1 Stability)
PORTUGAL BEGINS LIMITED EMANCIPATION. Lisbon, Portugal. Early in the year, Queen Maria II issued a proclamation calling for the slow and steady freedom of well behaved slaves from plantations in Portuguese colonies. The vagueness of the proclamation and the lack of any true guidelines has led to only a few dozen slaves being freed throughout the colonies. Though this is seen as a progressive step forward to abolitionists, very little has changed throughout the colonies, as most of the slaves set free would have been freed anyways. Unfortunately, this proclamation has continued to deterioration of support for the queen among Portugals royalty, fearing more for her mental stability. (-1 Stability)
ECUADOR AND NEW GRANADA SIGN TREATY. Quito, Ecuador. As the war between New Granada and Venezuela rages onward, attempts at peace sponsored by the Empire of Brazil have been thoroughly rebuffed after neither belligerent could agree on terms. Regardless of these failures, with the encouragement of Brazil, negotiations continued between Ecuador and New Granada. With Ecuador eager for independence, and having faced disaster on the battlefield, they were more than willing to discuss terms. Also hoping to eliminate the second front, New Granada was ready to talk independence at long last. The two sides agreed on a treaty recognizing Ecuadors independence, and a non-aggression pact to last for ten years, ending 1844. These negotiations have enabled New Granada to shift the whole of its army to the north to bring its remaining might to bear upon the Venezuelans. (+1 Stability, +1 Army Quality for Ecuador; -1 Stability for New Granada)
VENEZUELAN MILITARY ACADEMY COMPLETED. Caracas, Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has completed efforts to organize a military academy for both army and navy officials in order to standardize and modernize their armed forces. Foreign experts from Sweden and other European nations have been hired to staff the training courses, but resistance continues to emerge locally. The various landowners of the Venezuelan countryside have mostly refused to support the project or send their own troops to train there. They view the effort as an attempt by Caracas to centralize power and to limit their own. Some have even begun to make good on their threats to withdraw their men from the war effort, removing them (and some of Venezuelas best cavalry) from the battlefield. (-1 Cavalry Brigade)
NO SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN SETTLERS IN NORTH. Fort Williams, United States of America. In the wake of the violence erupting in the western provinces of Swedish Vinland, the United States government has announced that it would not support any settlers north of the 49th parallel. This has been due to increased conflict and even violence between Swedish and American settlers, as well as the erupting war with local natives. While this has led to some discontent among the settlers already in place, most have simply chosen to leave their homesteads and start anew in lands to the south. With the Lee Expedition offering appetizing visions of the west, most Americans have turned their eyes away from the cold Swedish territories. Regardless the opposition in government have used this has a chance to point out weakness in the Harrison regime, claiming hes not fit to the management of the American nation.
US GOVERNMENT SENDS EXPEDITION WEST. Chicago, United States of America. The United States government, interested in mapping out a route to Fort Jackson on the Pacific Coast, sponsored the creation of a never before attempted expedition from the Mississippi River to the Pacific. With a US Army captain commissioned to lead the journey along the Missouri River to further destinations west, the expedition has received a massive amount of publicity and fame. The expedition sent back regular reports and information, and each was lovingly detailed in the press, illustrating the possible wealth and untarnished glory of the west. Eventually the expedition made it to Fort Jackson, where they took a ship back to New York City, where they were welcomed as heroes.
SLAVE REBELLION IN JAMAICA. Kingston, Jamaica. A massive orgy of violence and destruction occurred in Jamaica this year as a slave rebellion led to the destruction of half of the island. After the loss of Bermuda and the Bahamas to the Spanish in the War of the Catholic League, most of the plantation owners brought their wealth and slaves to the island of Jamaica, hoping to start over. The resulting price devaluation of slaves and the continuing import of new slaves soon led to constantly worsening conditions. At long last, using a celebration as a distraction, all of the tens of thousands of slaves on the island rose up against the white population. Most were slaughtered within the first day of the rebellion, and the garrison was quickly overwhelmed, having been lax in their duty. The fort was quickly seized and the city of Kingston fell any virtually all whites on the island were hunted down and exterminated like dogs. The rebellion was led by slaves of the local white army officers, most fairly well educated and experienced in army tactics. They have extensively begun training their soldiers, teaching them to operate the many cannons seized in the capture of the harbor. (-1 Infantry Brigade)
URUGUAY ELECTIONS. Montevideo, Uruguay. In a bitter election, the Uruguayan President Fructuoso Rivera has been ousted by the Blancos. The tumultuous campaign process resulted in frequent violence and disputes, much unlike the prior elections in 1830. Most of the debate has revolved around Rivera's controversial integration policies, attempting to establish the central control of Montevideo over the interior. The Blancos have amassed considerable support, pledging to halt the Colorados' agenda right in its path. The use of intimidation and other uncouth methods of campaigning were extensively employed by both sides throughout the year, and ultimately the Blancos emerged victorious with the new President Alfonse Merida. (-1 Stability)
NEW SPAIN'S WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. Managua, United States of New Spain. The wars for independence in New Spain raged onward this year, as the Mayans and the United States of New Spain fought on for freedom. The Mayans started the year with a smashing victory over a small Spanish force, only to find that they were outwitted and the Spanish had seized Chetumal from behind their backs while their army was away. The Mayans attempted to retake their proclaimed capital, and nearly succeeded but were driven off by Spanish naval gunfire. This victory effectively assured control of the Yucatan for Spain, as they moved to eliminate the remnants of the Mayan army. In the last major battle against the Mayans, the Spanish managed to fight a bloody battle of attrition. The Mayans, aware that their defeat was imminent have since disbanded their army, vowing to continue the war indefinitely from the jungles and mountains. Against the USNS the Spanish army has faired considerably less well in battled. The siege of Managua was eventually routed and the Spanish army was sent fleeing to the north. With most of the Spanish imperial forces fighting the Maya, the USNS managed to send one of their armies to secure much of Honduras from the imperial governor, winning a major strategic victory and rallying considerable local support for their cause. In the south, the Spanish attempted to pull one over upon the USNS, landing troops along the coast. Unfortunately a sympathizer to the rebel cause managed to get this information to the rebels, allowing them to ambush the landing Spanish forces. Both armies were badly mauled and the invasions were called off.
Casualty List
Empire of Holy Spain: 11 Infantry Brigades, 5 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
Maya Republic: 4 Infantry Brigades, 2 Cavalry Brigades, 2 Artillery Brigades
United States of New Spain: 4 Infantry Brigades
EMPIRE OF BRAZIL SIGNS CONSTITUTION INTO LAW. Rio de Janeiro, Empire of Brazil. After two years of debate on reform and change, the Emperor of Brazil signed a constitution proposed by a select group of men of importance of his nation into law. The new constitution has introduced considerable reforms into the nation, including the nationalization of education, freedom of Christian religions, and voting rights for all males within the nation. Of course, the rights of natives and slaves are not similarly guaranteed, keeping them in their appropriate place in society. Most of the dispute on localization and provincial rights were put to rest as the provinces of the empire were granted rights to pass their own laws as long as they do not conflict with the national interest. As few can see any problems with this in the immediate future, the Empire of Brazil prepares itself for its first elections in 1835.
NEW GRANADA AND VENEZUELA WAR CONTINUES. Maracaibo, Venezuela. As Ecuador exits the war, only Venezuela and the Republic of New Granada remain in the conflict. Prepared and on more even terms than would be expected, the two main armies met on the field of battle once more. The Venezuelans did their best to distract and buy time against New Granada, though they did lose some soldiers in these feints the main enemy force. Unfortunately, the New Granadans shrugged off most of these diversions and managed to meet in the enemy army in an open battle near the town of Ocana. The two armies were fairly evenly matched and the result was a tactical stalemate, as neither side could gain a decisive advantage in battle. Both sides engaged in a prolonged siege of the other's lines for the remainder of the year, though the New Granadans were able to employ significantly more mobility. A side force was able to be sent, securing some lost territory in the west before another Venezuelan force stopped them in a fairly minor skirmish.
Casualty List
Republic of New Granada: 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade
Venezuela: 3 Infantry Brigades, 1 Cavalry Brigade, 1 Artillery Brigade
REFUSAL TO HOLD ELECTIONS LEADS TO COUP IN NEW GRANADA. Bogota, Republic of New Granada. 1834 was scheduled to be another year for elections in the Republic of New Granada. When confronted with the constitution, President Manuel declared martial law and the suspension of elections for the duration of the war. In response, the general in charge of the defense of Bogota led a coup, arresting the president and removing him from power. The army at the front in Ocana was unable to respond to the coup, being stuck in a stalemate against the Venezuelans, but the military leadership met and sponsored the moderate General Felipe Argos as a temporary head of state. The general has pledged to end the ongoing war with an honorable peace, gaining the support of the military and upper classes. (+1 Stability)
OJIBWE WAR CONTINUES IN VINLAND. Fort Helsinki, Sweden. Settlers in Vinland continue to be plagued by constant raiding and war with the Ojibwe tribes in the western portion of the colony. Though the American settlers have mostly vacated bits of the disputed territory, the Swedes have had enormous difficulty in reigning in the attacks. The Ojibwe have apparently been advised by the Cree upon Swedish tactics, and attempts to locate villages or bases of support for the natives have so far been failures. The Ojibwe have frequently and with devastating efficiency managed to win victories against the Swedish army and settlers throughout the territory. (-1 Infantry Brigade, -1 Manpower)
SWEDES SETTLE ADOLPHUS ISLAND. Port Adolphus, Sweden. After a considerable voyage around the world, the Swedes have managed to successfully settle the mostly empty Adolphus Island on the west coast of North America. This new colony is stated to be a western extension of Vinland, in order to stake a Swedish claim to the western half of the continent. The island has proven to be fairly appetizing to settlers, as people come on numerous ships to settler and fish in the local waters. The army has set up several local forts but the natives in the area seem remarkably indifferent to the Swedish settlement of the area. The colony itself has provided little to the Swedish economy, despite its appeal to settlers.
UNITED STATESE CONTINUES MARCH TO THE WEST. San Antonio, United States of America. American settlers, with the paths closed to the north, have turned their focus west, moving into the lands across the Mississippi River. The return of the Lee Expedition has begun to call the hearts and souls of Americans even further west though, and some have begun neglecting the more nearby territories, moving to Fort Jackson and other points along the Pacific coast. The United States government has pledged to build new forts along the Mississippi River to aid in migration to the west, as people begin to head west to stake their claim.
ARGENTINA CONTINUES INTEGRATION. Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Argentine government met with several road blocks this year as it attempted to continue its policies of integration and centralization. Various caudillos in the rural regions have done their best to outright sabotage efforts to establish centralizing taxing over the area, and have been very effective. While not outright declaring a war on the government, representatives of Buenos Aires have been found murdered, while others simply humiliated and sent back to the city. The Argentine government responded by deploying more soldiers to the countryside, further agitating the caudillos and their supports. (-1 Stability)
CHILEAN PRESIDENT BUILDS PALACE AND GARDENS. Santiago, Chile. President Portales, so exuberant with power and popularity expended some his political and economic capital upon the construction of an elaborate palace and attached gardens. The nation's yearly finances were drained in order to pay for the massive complex, and a good portion of the population of Santiago were moved out of the way in order to make room for the splendid gardens. Though the aristocracy enjoyed the numerous parties thrown afterwards, some have expressed concern about the decadence of the act, showing discontent with the total disregard for the thoughts of the common people of Chile. Fortunately, the wine was very good, so not too many cared afterwards. (-1 Stability)
ECUADORIAN LEADERS ASSEMBLE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. Quito, Ecuador. After concluding their war with the Republic of New Granada, ensuring their independence, Simon Bolivar called together a meeting of the main leaders of the new nation of Ecuador. Hoping to avoid the factionalism and problems that plagued the Republic of New Granada, Bolivar has promised to oversee the convention, and then retire from politics to an estate in Quito. Most have been fairly supportive of a loose central government, giving local ruling powers to the various provinces. The new constitution is also backed by various foreign diplomats, inspired by the United States and the Empire of Brazil.
PANAMA ESTABLISHES NEW CONSTITUTION, REPELS COUP ATTEMPT. Panama City, Panama. The coalition government of Panama has at last finished negotiations on the establishment of a new constitution. Working closely with American advisors, the new constitution closely resembles that of the United States of America, using the same dual structure of the legislature and the powers to the executive branch. The current President Calvo has pledged to simply oversee the elections in 1835, and then to turn power over to the victor of the said elections. Unfortunately the purity of these proceedings was tarnished when a dissatisfied member of the military attempted to seize power for himself. Fortunately the coup was repulsed and the nation has managed to preserve order out of the chaos. The elections are still scheduled to go ahead next year.
News from Africa and the Middle East
BABY BOOM IN YEMEN. Sana'a, Yemen. Yemeni reports have seemed to indicate over the past year a major increase in the nation's birthrate. More children are apparently surviving their youth and maturing, boosting the nation's available manpower. The likely explanation has been a simple statistical fluctuation, and most experts believe that the increased birthrate is likely to decrease rapidly in upcoming years. Regardless, it appears that Yemen will have a few more workers for the fields and farms of their nation and a few more soldiers for its army. (+2 Manpower)
WAHABIS CONTINUE WAR IN CALIPHATE. Basra, Mamluk Caliphate. The Wahhabis have continued their relentless war against what they view as the corrupted Mamluk Caliphate throughout the year. They have with surprising effectiveness managed to ambush several Mamluke regiments and cause considerable confusion and damage to various military supply caravans. They have managed to continue to seize the arms and equipment of the Mamlukes, becoming better equipped as the year pressed on. With each victory, their numbers seem to grow, and attempts to reign in this uprising have mostly failed as the Mamlukes seem unable to track them down to their centers of supply and power. With their continuing successes, they have given hope to others resisting the Mamlukes as well, and the caliphate has clearly begun to further destabilize. (-1 Infantry Brigade, -1 Stability)
ABYSSINIAN WAR ON BANDITS ESCALATES. Addis Ababa, Abyssinia. The war against the bandits lords in Abyssinia took a dramatic turn for the worse this year, as one bandit lord at last managed to assemble an army matching that of the emperor. Declaring himself the true ruler of Abyssinia, the bandit lord marched upon Addis Ababa itself, and the nations full army had to be called out to do battle with him. At the gates of the city, the battle ensued and the fight proved to be enough to smash the bandit lord once and for all, killing him and scattering his army. Though the Abyssinian cavalry would spend many more months hunting down the remnants of his army, this recognizes a major victory against the bandits marauding in the Abyssinian countryside. (-2 Infantry Brigades, -2 Cavalry Brigades, +1 Stability)
ABYSSINIAN RULER DIES. Addis Ababa, Abyssinia. The short reign of Emperor Dori has come to an end. The emperor had ruled for less than a year before passing away this year from unknown causes. As he was fairly elderly, not many were truly surprised by this event, and the new Emperor Ali II is not much different than his predecessor. The new emperor is expected to continue many of the same policies and efforts that Emperors Gigar and Dori had and hopefully will live a far longer life than the latter. This succession has helped further stabilize things in Abyssinia, creating a far superior sense of continuity for the uneasy noble classes, especially when taken in combination with the defeat of the worst of the bandit lords. (+1 Stability)
MADAGASCAR RESUMES INTEGRATION EFFORTS. Antananarivo, Madagascar. With the crisis with Sweden passed and the threat of European domination or imperialism at least temporarily held at bay, the queen of Madagascar has at last begun integrating the tribes into a central government. The move has been met with some opposition as one tribal leader managed to assemble a substantial force, which he had been intending on using during a Swedish invasion. This force fought bravely against the queen's army but was ultimately crushed in their attempts to secure autonomy. The move has done much for the integration efforts, and has put substantially more power in the hands of Antananarivo. (-2 Infantry Brigades, +1 Stability, +30 to Tribal Integration project)
MAMLUK CALIPHATE FINISHES ARMY REFORM. Cairo, Mamluk Caliphate. The invention of rifled muskets has significantly changed the way that war should be conducted on the battlefield. The Mamlukes have done their best to prove this with the introduction of new doctrines and equipment to their soldiers. The new reforms have clearly made the Mamluk army one of the best in the world, if not the very best. This in turn has begun to raise fears in the Middle East and Europe about a resurgent Islamic power and what it could mean for the nations of the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.
YEMEN COMPLETES NEW PALACE. Sana'a, Yemen. The new King Mohammed Rashid, having established his power in Yemen, has at last completed a new palace worthy of his rule over the nation. The new palace is said to be one of the most elaborate and traditionally build structures on the Arabian peninsula. Some consider this a political ploy in order to better defend himself while in Sana'a as well as acting as a method of intimidation for those who visit him at the heart of his power. On the other hand, some believe this is yet another example of a monarch neglecting his people for his own comfort and glory.