Art of the Possible
National Backgrounds
In 1812, Napoleon’s army marched into Russia, confident of victory against this dogged foe. Their confidence was rewarded after major French victories at the battles of Smolensk, Polotsk, and Borodino. These incredible and decisive French victories led to the capture of both Moscow and St. Petersburg, and Tsar Alexander was forced to sue for peace after he was captured by advancing French armies. Russia was forced to make severe concessions to France, including the resurrection of Poland, and the loss of Polish territories to the Duchy of Warsaw, in addition to the creation of several smaller French client states in the western Russian Empire. The decimation of Russia’s army establish the French forces as more powerful than ever, and the rest of Europe was forced to accept Napoleon’s hegemony, except for Britain. Despite other offensives and attempts to bring down Napoleon’s Europe, the Treaty of Paris in 1814 meant the end of open conflict and British withdrawal from the Continent.
The Treaty of Paris was meant to create a lasting peace in Europe, with French dominance over the continent, while the British went on to build the greatest global empire the world has ever seen. Napoleon’s death in 1822 led to a bitter power struggle and France lost much of the control it had over much of Central and Eastern Europe. Britain was never defeated and throughout the 19th century the United Kingdom and France were involved in a protracted conflict, which many referred to as the “Great Game” as they competed for land and influence across the world. In 1900, the British and French remain at each other’s throats, as a naval arms race has begun as newer and better ships are constructed by both sides. As these two powers compete, new ones rise to try to find their place in the sun. With the dawn of the 20th Century, a bitter and vicious conflict unrivaled since the days of Napoleon I may bathe the fields of Europe in blood.
Greetings, this is my next big project to be released once everything is ready. My new work schedule actually allows more time than ever before to work on games like this, so I feel ready to attempt a new game to cover the twentieth century. The rules for this game will be a modified version of the ruleset for Capto Iugulum, and emphasize both power through warfare and power through politics and economics. We start in a world balanced between two superpowers, France and Britain, as the rest of world determines their course through the actions of these greats. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be working to complete the backgrounds and map for your viewing pleasure. I will accept reservations for any of the listed nations below on this thread for the launch date.
Europe
Austria-Hungary: Austria was one of the largest losers of the Napoleonic Wars, being a long-time rival and enemy of Napoleon. They heavily opposed the creation of a Polish state but were overridden by Napoleon’s demands. The French continued to possess control of Istria, denying Austrian access to the Mediterranean Sea. The Austrian monarchy responded to this by retracting inward and becoming increasingly oppressive to the peasant classes, with raised taxes and conscription among all. These quickly spurred the Revolution of 1848, which resulted in the freeing of the peasants of Austria and the establishment of a national constitution. The Austrians were denied influence among the other German states by Prussia and France, and they turned inward towards development. The new constitution led to the Decade-Republic, ten years of solidly republican rule as the emperor was not replaced following his abdication.
The short-lived Austrian republic was brought to an end in the Polish-Austrian War of 1856-1858, as the Polish kingdom deposed the republic and brought about the restoration of the monarchy. Most of the reforms passed by the republic were rolled back by the new monarchy, though some were retained. The Poles similarly forced Austria to cede control of Bohemia to Poland, further weakening the state. Under pressure from the Hungarians, in order to save the unified empire, a dual monarchy was proclaimed in 1865. Both Austria and Hungary were granted their own parliamentary bodies and monarchs under the Austrian Emperor. This allowed the empire to retain an authoritarian rule, while delegating some local autonomy to the Hungarians. It was agreed that the terms of the dual monarchy would be discussed every fifty years, with the next such meeting to take place in 1915.
Under the dual monarchy, Austria-Hungary at last began to prosper and industrialize, establishing new trading ties with Ukraine and Greece. They further expanded influence in the Austrian-Ottoman War from 1877 to 1879, which resulted in the annexation of several provinces. The army has somewhat improved, but the empire as a whole continues to suffer through a multitude of separatist, liberal, and revolutionary movements seeking to overthrow the status quo. Internationally they have struggled to establish any stable alliances, and have a hefty amount of resentment towards both Prussia and France, attempting to maintain some form of relevancy as a new century begins.
Bavaria: Bavaria had been one of the most stalwart allies of Napoleon I and provided troops for the campaign in Russia. They were initially a loyal component of the Confederation of the Rhine. Unfortunately, in the 1820s, the King of Saxony began attempting to consolidate more and more power over the Confederation into his position. By the 1840s, the Confederation of the Rhine was simply an extent of Saxon leadership, with little voice or say by the other member states. In 1848, riots and revolutions ran rampant throughout the Confederation, and the most lasting effect was the pressure it put on the rulers of Bavaria and Westphalia. In 1849, they declared independence from the Confederation of the Rhine, and a war began. Thanks to limited support from Prussia, the Bavarians emerged victorious in 1851, abandoning the Confederation in favor of their own new independence. Since 1851, Bavaria has adopted a number of a liberal traits and reforms, but most power rests in the hands of the king. In 1900, they have close ties with Austria-Hungary and a strong industrial economy, but not much of a military presence, relying on protection from the Austrians.
Bohemia: The history of modern Bohemia begins in 1859, after a Polish military victory that forced Austria to cede control of the province to Poland. At first the territory was kept under direct Polish military rule, but mounting pressure led to the creation of new reforms. In 1862, a new Kingdom of Bohemia was created, with a Polish noble placed upon the throne of the new nation. Bohemia was created as a client state of Poland, structured for economic and political dominance by the Polish people. The king mostly kept the status quo between the two nations, remaining out of foreign affairs and politics. When Poland became involved in a new war with Russia in 1870, Bohemia offered token military support when demanded, but mostly kept out of the conflict. In 1900, Bohemia remains closely tied to Poland’s fortunes, dependent upon its army to protect it from foreign threats.
Confederation of the Rhine: The Confederation of the Rhine was formalized after Russia’s defeat during Napoleon’s invasion. Saxony, as the largest supporter of Napoleon and his war efforts, was rewarded with the strongest position in the Confederation. Over time, the Saxon king focused on forcing the President of the College of Kings to bend more and more to the will of Saxony. The centralization of power was heavily resisted by the kings of Bavaria and Westphalia, who were offended at the loss of their rights, particularly when compared to the dissolved Holy Roman Empire. The tensions that emerged turned into a war when Bavaria and Westphalia declared independence in 1849. The Confederation lost the war against its rebellious member states, but retained its cohesion and course otherwise. The King of Saxony proclaimed the Act of Royalty in 1861, merging the position of President of the College of Kings with the title of King of Saxony. The old order was dissolved, and the Confederation’s other kings’ rapidly found their power waning. Heavy industrialization and the rise of capitalists and industrialists found power shift to those who had money rather than the aristocracy. In 1900, the Confederation of the Rhine is heavily industrialized and possesses a strong army, heavily intertwined and even cooperating in training with the French.
Courland: The Courland Governate was not a theater for most of the battles and conflicts that took place during the Napoleonic Wars in Russia. It was unscarred, but most of the people still remembered the independent Duchy of Courland that had existed prior to the Russian invasion. The outbreak of the War of the Three Tsars in 1825 created new opportunities for independence. The Polish army invaded Lithuania in 1826, and this sparked a chance for Courland to rebel. With the aid of Polish and Lithuanian forces, Courland defeated the Russian armies sent to suppress the revolt. In 1828, Tsar Alexander recognized Courland’s independence in order to preserve his forces for fighting on other fronts. Courland’s young army was then forced to defeat invasions by the other claimants to the Russian throne in 1829 and 1831. A republic was proclaimed in 1832, but this was to be short-lived. Polish forces invaded in 1834, and established a new monarchy under the grandson of the last Duke of Courland. The new regime faced its first challenge in 1849, when a revolt forced the new Duke of Courland to establish a legislature. This ended about as well as the first one when another Polish army invaded in 1850. The legislature was disbanded, and Polish forces gained naval and army basing rights indefinitely in Courland. Industrialization never quite took hold, and Polish manufacturing kept the nation poor and undeveloped. In 1900, Courland remains a client state of Poland, but an unruly one as the local population resents Polish economic and political dominance.
Denmark: The nation of Denmark attempted to remain neutral in the Napoleonic Wars at first, but was provoked into joining the French side after a British raid on Copenhagen in 1807. Following this incident, Denmark became a loyal ally of Napoleon in the naval conflicts against Britain. Danish shipping suffered as a result, and Denmark’s economy became more and more reliant upon France. When the end of fighting was declared in 1815, Denmark was rewarded with several minor territories, and French financial aid in reconstruction. Napoleon then mediated a peace from the brief Danish-Swedish War of 1818, when the Swedes attempted to claim ownership of Norway. The issue was not resolved and came back to the forefront after the unrest in 1848. Sweden, attempting to use Norwegian dissatisfaction with Danish rule as an excuse, launched an invasion and a new war erupted between the two Scandinavian states. The Swedes were defeated, and the Danes returned the favor of invasion themselves. The Danish army, supported by the French, won a major victory over the Swedes and forced them to cede the province of Skane back to Danish rule in 1850.
After the last war with the Swedes, Denmark has thrived, counting both Danish and Norwegian achievements as their own. Denmark alone managed to retain their holding in India away from British business interests, establishing a free trade agreement in the area with the British governor in 1855. They further established colonies in the Nicobar Islands, and helped incorporate those territories into the Danish Empire. During the Lisbon Conference of 1890, Denmark acted as a French counterbalance to Portugal in discussions on the borders of Africa. The Danish Gold Coast was confirmed as a territory in the redistributed lands of Africa, granting Denmark a large swathe of African lands. In 1900, Denmark’s navy is small, but one of the finest in Continental Europe, behind only France. The army similarly relies on the French for training and equipment, but is still a strong and relevant military force. They have faced tensions from Norwegian and German nationalism, but are confident of their ability to triumph over adversity.
France: France emerged from the Napoleonic Wars triumphant over Europe, but still was kept out of most of the world by the power of the British Royal Navy. The 1814 Treaty of Paris technically brought an end to the conflict between Britain and France, British privateers still would occasionally attack French merchantmen and isolated ships. These attacks eventually tapered off, but the low-grade hostility remained until Napoleon I’s death in 1822. Napoleon’s son proved a fairly effectively leader, but was a sickly child and even more sickly adult. His power was constantly threatened by ambitious French generals and other political interests within the empire. France was faced with constant unrest and rebellions among the conquered lands, and only barely managed to keep control within Europe and the greatly expanded global empire inherited from the Dutch. Upon Napoleon II’s death in 1843, the throne passed to Napoleon I’s nephew, who styled himself Napoleon III.
Napoleon III was a brutally harsh and firm leader, bringing recalcitrant generals back into line and centralizing power in Paris to a complete extent. Between 1843 and 1848, France was directed towards centralization and development, while political opponents towards the emperor were either exiled or executed. In 1848, a riot beginning in Paris threatened to throw the whole nation back into the throws of revolution, but Napoleon III cracked down harshly once again, suppressing the riots and maintaining order in France. The brutal display helped quell open resistance against the French regime, as the army was clearly back in working order and ready to support the emperor.
Freed for a time from having to deal with politics within France, and most of his opponents scattered or deceased, Napoleon III was able to spend most of his reign expanding the interests of the French Empire across the world. He did not have the same interest in European affairs as his uncle, but rather remained focused on accomplishing what his uncle could not: humbling the British Empire. He invested heavily in the construction of a large French navy, and in organizing former Dutch colonial possessions into the French bureaucracy. In 1850, he even declared that the “Empire means peace” and pledged unilaterally not to attack other European states. Overseas he conducted a number of punitive expeditions against natives in Indochina, Indonesia, and Korea, but refused to join the British in a similar effort in China during the Second Opium War.
Despite pressure to intervene in the Middle East in 1860, he chose instead to take a heavier role in the Americas, backing an European monarch in Mexico and supporting the Confederate cause for rebellion. Eventually, after the Battle of Sharpsburg, France joined openly and recognized the Confederate States of America. The French navy was able to somewhat break the Union blockade but still suffered a number of embarrassments at the hand of the American navy. Even the presence of the French army was not enough to turn the tide totally against the Union, but created a stalemate between the two sides. The French were similarly ill-equipped to continue support for the emperor in Mexico, being forced out by an American column supported by Mexican rebels in 1865.
Napoleon III similarly completed other conquests around the globe, expanding the French Empire to new heights and coming close to achieving his goal of rivalling the British in size and scale of the empire. By the time of his death in 1873, France was at a new height of prosperity and influence. His son, Napoleon IV, was known as a warrior prince, fighting in several colonial wars, and even having to be recalled from his unit for his coronation. Napoleon IV continued his father’s interest in colonial affairs, but lacked the same animosity towards the British, who he had fought alongside during some of the colonial wars in Africa. Cooperation between the two powers began in 1890, with the Lisbon Conference when France and Britain divided Africa between themselves and one or two smaller European states. Napoleon IV continues to reign today, and in his increasing old age, the European empire has become more and more unruly as multiple ethnicities and regions buckle against the monarchy for more autonomy and power. At least relations have been somewhat improved with Britain when the two cooperated as the key members of the Six-Nation Alliance sent to suppress the Boxer Rebellion in 1898 and 1899.
Greece: Greece declared independence in 1821 from the Ottoman Empire, but was unable to achieve it by their own military arms. In 1826, the British Empire intervened in the conflict, seeking to establish a new ally on the Continent in addition to Portugal. The British navy crushed the Ottomans’ fleet in 1828, bringing about a rapid peace and freedom for the Greek people. Under British guidance a republic was created, and the former Russian foreign minister, happy to be out of the bloodbath that was Russia at the time, became the first Greek president. The Greek republic was heavily backed by British financial interests, and pressure to establish a monarchy was resisted. Regardless, constitutional organization allowed foreigners to buy the presidency multiple times for almost two decades. In 1848, a revolt led to constitutional reform which allowed only Greeks to run for the nation’s legislature and presidency. In 1851, the Greek government was caught attempting to ferment a revolt in remaining Greek territories, leading to a war between Greece and the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks were woefully outmatched and defeated after only a year of conflict. Several islands changed hands and the Greek government was humiliated. Following the war with the Ottomans, the Greeks underwent a heated industrial revolution, as Athens became the center of a growing merchant marine organization and productivity. In 1900, Greece is one of the more economically modern nations in Eastern Europe, but continues to remain hostile and belligerent to the neighboring Ottomans.
Italy: The Kingdom of Italy was declared in 1805, after Napoleon’s invasion of the peninsula. In exchange for new territories and provinces, the Italians proved a loyal ally to Napoleon’s forces in Russia. After the wars came to an end, the Italian people were expectant of being allowed return of other territories occupied by France on the peninsula. Unfortunately, the people were disappointed as France chose to continue occupation and annexation of much of northern and western Italy, including Rome itself. Napoleon I remained King of Italy until his death in 1822, when his former viceroy, also Napoleon’s adopted child, became the new king. The rulers of Italy remained close to France until the revolutions of 1848, when popular unrest led to the abdication of the king in favor of a native-born Italian. The nation began to drift away from French national interests, but the Emperor of France had no inclination to reverse the situation in a timely manner. Italy lacked the military might or economic power to bring France to task over territories still occupied, and remained fairly backward. Industrialization did not really begin even slightly until the late 1870s, and Italy has been poor and underdeveloped ever since. In 1900, the army and navy are both in bad shape, and corruption runs rampant throughout the ranks. Whether Italy chooses to return to alliance with France or to find new friends to help create a truly united Italian nation is yet to be seen.
Livonia: The Governate of Livonia did not rise to rebellion as quickly as Courland, but was just as anxious for independence. Local plotting by aristocracy opposed to Alexander I, but not enough to revolt openly, led to an agreement with the tsar of Russia. They agreed to assist in fighting the pretenders for the Russian throne in exchange for greater autonomy. In 1828, Livonia was granted independence, but remained actively involved in the ongoing fighting further east. A King of Livonia was declared from the assembled aristocracy, as a new government was formed. The Russian government attempted to bring pressure to annex Livonia once again, but abandoned these attempts when the Livonians signed a cooperation agreement with the British in 1844. Unwilling to face down the British, the Russians were forced to leave Livonia alone, though they remained closely tied economically. Livonia has thankfully avoided conflict unlike its neighbors and with British support, has developed economically. In recent years, Livonia has faced growing pressure from both Poland and Russia, and it remains unclear to which power they may owe allegiance in any future conflict.
Moldovia: The territory of Moldovia was annexed by the Russians during the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812. Shortly after Napoleon’s invasion came and cast the Russians out as part of the resultant treaty. Napoleon declared the newly independent Kingdom of Moldovia, establishing a French noble as a new ruler. He sought to insert the new kingdom as a knife’s edge between the Russians and Ottomans, but even Napoleon could not have expected the chaos of the War of the Three Tsars in 1825. During the war, Moldovia was dragged into the conflict by multiple invasions by Russian armies, all of which were eventually forced to retreat. During this period would-be kings of Moldovia came and went, and the populace suffered heavily. Russia never regained control of Moldovia, but the effects of their civil war were felt for decades after. Moldovia remained a backwater until the Polish-Russian War of 1870-1874, in which they were coerced into supporting the Polish cause. This worked out for the Moldovians as territory was awarded to Moldovia by Ukraine in 1875 under Polish pressure. Moldovia began to recover, and by 1900, has achieved a modestly successful society in Eastern Europe but still languishes under an oppressive, Polish-backed monarchy.
Naples: Joachim Murat was established as the King of Naples by Napoleon I in 1808. The kingdom remained under his rule until his death in 1827, passing on to his child. Unlike Italy, Naples remained closely aligned with France even after Napoleon’s death and during the time of confusion and disorder that followed. The king of Naples responded with a heavy hand towards the unrest of 1848, rounding up and arresting hundreds of dissidents of all types. He kept the nation closely bonded to France, signing a free trade agreement in 1854. The agreement opened the doors for French industrial and business interests, but devastated the local economy. The Neapolitan economy never truly industrialized and remained backward and undeveloped, reliant upon French commerce. Eventually the threat of a revolt forced the king to make concessions to the public in 1891, creating a new legislature with very little concrete political power. The underclass remains unruly, as the monarchy sits upon a throne that is becoming increasingly unstable.
Poland: In 1795 the nation of Poland disappeared from the map, but the Polish people remained resilient against oppression and destruction by other powers. The creation of the Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 as a union with the Kingdom of Saxony began the resurrection of the Eastern European state. In 1813, Napoleon supported Józef Poniatowski for the Polish throne, establishing him the new King of Poland, carving a larger kingdom out of the wreckage of the Russian Empire. This quickly alienated Napoleon from both Prussia and Austria, but won France a fast ally in Eastern Europe. Though King Jozef lived for less than a year after being king, his successors pursued a far more aggressive and independent foreign policy. When the 1825 coup in Russia turned into a chaotic bloodbath, Poland intervened, assisting Lithuanians in open rebellion against the three tsars. The Lithuanian provinces were annexed, providing Poland with a port on the Baltic Sea.
The internal chaos suffered by France in the 1830s and 1840s distracted the primary power in Europe away from its Polish ally. Other neighboring nations sought to gain advantage over Poland, resulting in the First and Second Prussian-Polish Wars. Poland emerged victorious in both conflicts, defeating the small coalitions put together against it. Austria was punished for its own role in the conflicts when Poland launched an invasion in 1856, claiming the province of Bohemia. Poland sought to expand further east into Russia, but the Polish-Russian War of 1870 was indecisive and dragged on for another four years. Poland ultimately came out ahead in the fighting, forcing the creation of an independent Kingdom of Ukraine to act as a new buffer between the two nations. Poland instead turned towards the development of a new navy and colonial empire, joining in the Scramble for Africa as a number of small European nations sought to claim their own holdings in the shadow of France and Britain. The creation of the Polish Kongo was considered a major financial waste by an already corrupt monarchy. Still, the territories were turned over to Poland at the Lisbon Conference in 1890, offering Poland the modern boundaries of its sole overseas possession.
In 1900, Poland is a strong power in Eastern Europe, with an army capable of holding Prussia or Russia at bay. Its navy is new and untested, created for the sole purpose of defending Poland’s interests in the Baltic Sea and Kongo. Still, Poland is surrounded by nations which would be more than happy to see the country disappear from the map once more.
Portugal: The Kingdom of Portugal was the one conquest Napoleon never managed to achieve, having refused to take part in the Continental system. The British helped maintain Portuguese independence in almost a decade of fighting, and even after Russia’s defeat Napoleon was incapable of expelling his hated British enemy. Unfortunately the chaos of the war was felt throughout the Portuguese empire, particularly when the capital of the state was moved to the colonial city of Rio de Janeiro. The empire was split between Lisbon and Rio, and after a war for independence, the Empire of Brazil was founded by King John VI’s heir, Peter. When King John VI died, the people of Portugal refused to accept Peter as the new king, and a war was fought as Peter attempted to claim the throne of his father. His brother, Michael was instead the new heir, establishing a more absolutist government. The French supported the new regime, enabling victory in the conflict that took place. Portugal has remained relevant internationally, becoming host to the Lisbon Conference that determined the fate of Africa. The king received a large amount of criticism for the Conference, which awarded territory that had been traditionally Portuguese to the British, while hardly compensating them in return. In 1900, Portugal still possesses strong economic ties to Britain, but has been unable to continue financing the expense of a modern navy, and has become a bit backward when compared to the other states in Europe.
