DisNES II "A Twist of Fate"

[Luckymoose]

To: Kingdom of Aragon
From: Papal States,His Holiness the Pope
CC: Holy Roman Empire

We once again,regretablly,tell you both this is going to far.This will undoubtfully harm all European nations caught in this Diplomatic Crossfire.We tell you,Aragon,reconsider your relations with France.As well as the Holy Roman Empire.We are displeased at the way this is unfolding.Reconsider,we say again,the diplomatic relations cut off,or you yourselves will be cut off diplomaticlly from the Papal States.

His Holiness,The Pope

 

[Insane_Panda]

OOC: Luckymoose, that is ridiculous. France doesn't even listen to Papal authority in this TL anymore, and the papalstates are basically a puppet of the HRE. If anything, you should be applauding this move.

 

[Swissempire]

From: Affalon
To: Affalon

Nice day for fishing, eh?

 

[JosefStalinator]

To any hypothetical Irish refugee nations in the North Atlantic
From England

We're comin to get ya...

 

[Luckymoose]

OOC: Luckymoose, that is ridiculous. France doesn't even listen to Papal authority in this TL anymore, and the papalstates are basically a puppet of the HRE. If anything, you should be applauding this move.

OOC: I'm trying to keep it all from going downhill,you know what I'm saying.Not anyone listens to the Papal States anyway.You surely wouldn't.So I'm takening a stance for it.We cut off ties if this continues.

 

[Grandmaster]

[size=+1]

"The Union of Kalmar is one Kingdom, united and indivisible."[/size]
-Preamble to the United Constitution of 1700​

Christian VI, Centralization, and Enlightened Absolutism

The Kalmar Union ought to have possessed all the elements necessary to be a Great Power. In landmass and population, it was a match for the dominant Continental powers; it possessed natural resources in great abundance; it's people were educated and enlightened - in short, it lacked nothing, in the material sense, needed to project power. It's one weakness - the weakness that had plagued it since its conception - was the structure of its government, of the State itself: a damnable personal union of personal unions, four countries sharing their sovereignty but maintaining their independence. Christian III had known this system could not long hold the Union together; he had tried to change the system and save the State; he had, largely, failed. Christian VI would not.

Christian VI was a young monarch, newly acceded to the thrones of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. He was a Dane, from the House of Oldenburg; he was also an avowed Swedophile. He was a student of the intellectual trends of Europe, a supporter of social and political reform, and an ardent advocate of centralized and absolute monarchy. In short, he was unlike any Kalmar monarch before him, and determined to reshape the Union to his vision.

The Proclamation of Kalmar, 1700

Christian VI's reign began with a roar. Only months after securing the crowns of the Union, he issued, at Kalmar, a proclamation: that the Councils of State of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland were each to be suspended, pending a reorganization of their structures. With a penstroke, Christian had frozen the assemblies of the four kingdoms - the very bodies which had always fought to pull the Union in four different directions - the enemies of unity. Christian VI had had no intention of reorganizing the Councils, as such. His was to be a wholly new State, founded upon principles of reason, order, and royal absolutism.

The United Constitution of 1700

Only a short time after issuing the Proclamation of Kalmar, Christian unveiled the document on which he and his closest advisors had labored since before his ascension: the United Constitution, a royal constitution for a new unified State. The United Constitution laid out, in the language of the Renaissance, the structure and organization of a united Kingdom, governed by a single, absolute monarch wearing a single crown, and administered through the offices of a single Council of State and a unified royal bureaucracy. Abolished were the personal unions of Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland, the crowns and Councils of the four kingdoms, and all the other elements of the ancient personal-union-of-personal-unions. Christian VI had established the framework of a unified Scandinavian monarchy, with a foundation far more solid than that of the old Union.

Military Reforms and the New Royal Army

The United Constitution provided for a unified royal army, under the direct authority of the King. The old armies of Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland, whose differing structures and institutional independence had always hindered Kalmar military operations, were abolished, in favor of the new unified army. Christian VI wasted no time in establishing a staff of his most trusted and competent generals to reorganize and reform the army. This so-called “New Royal Army” would draw its recruits from every constituent country of the Union, and would implement the tactics, strategies, and institutional structures of the professional “Françoisian” army. It would be an orderly, profession, unified force for an orderly, professional, unified State.

 

[Insane_Panda]

TO: His Holiness, The Pope
FROM: The Holy Roman Empire
CC: The Kingdom of Aragon, The International Community

We respect His Holiness' decisions regarding matters of spirituality, but we cannot respect his decision concerning the recent diplomatic crisis with France. France has shown itself, by attempting to incite other nations to invade the Holy Roman Empire, that it cannot be trusted, and therefore we are forced to do as we have declared, that is, cease all relations with the Kingdom of France.

We remind his holiness that the Papal State's protection is garunteed by both the Kingdom of Aragon, and the Holy Roman Empire, and that should he wish to cease relations with both nations, he shall find himself isolated both militarily and economically, seeing as we also constitute as the Papal State's main trading partner. The Holy Roman Empire currently protects the authority of the Pope, yet, if you should cease relations with us, over the fact that France has been provoking our great Empire, than we shall be forced to cease protecting your state.

Signed,
Emperor Joseph I

 

[Swissempire]

To any hypothetical Irish refugee nations in the North Atlantic
From England

We're comin to get ya...

Hey, to you guys, I'm just a myth among the commoners of the little island next door. Even if you found me, you probably wouldn't make the connection, and even then, my people would probably be like "Inglisch WTH is an Inglisch?"

 

[Luckymoose]

To: The Kingdom of France
From: His Holiness,The Pope
CC: European Community


"Under heavy consideration,I have come to the decision that all diplomatic relations between France and The Papal States will cease until further notice. I advises that France withdraw all threats,plans,or possible actions against anyone in the European Community."


His Holiness,The Pope

 

[Grandmaster]

[size=+1]King Christian VI of the Union of Kalmar[/size]

Early Life

Christian VI was born into the royal House of Oldenborg, the son of Christian V of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. At birth he was created Duke of Glucksborg, in Slesvig-Holsten. The young Duke spent the first few years of his life in Slesvig-Holsten, and was subsequently raised at the court of his father at Kalmar by a series of Danish, Swedish, German, and French tutors. At the age of fourteen Christian was sent to study at Stockholm, where under the guidance of the most famed scholars in the Kalmar Union -- as well as leading Renaissance thinkers imported from continental Europe -- the future King learned the liberal arts and sciences, as well as the arts of government and diplomacy, and the military sciences. He was recognized early on as exceptionally bright by his mentors, astute in scholarly fields such as literature and the physical sciences, and possessing a great talent for military command and strategy. The Duke showed particular interest in naval matters, and in application of marine infantry and naval firepower in subduing hardened coastal positions and projecting the power of the State, both domestically and abroad.

While at Stockholm, Christian forged close friendships with a number of young noblemen, intellectuals, and officers who had come from throughout the Union to live or study at Stockholm. Several of these men would later form Christian's inner circle of advisors and officers. They all shared the Duke's intellectual streak and rationalist, reformist tendencies. Together, they would construct the document which would become the United Constitution -- a charter which expressed their vision of what the Kalmar Union should be.

During this time Christian also developed a deep fondness for the Swedish language and culture, despite his Danish lineage and upbringing. He became fluent in Swedish, and a student of Swedish literature; he took, on occasion, to signing personal letters "Kristian", rather than his Danish given-name, Christian.

During his five years studying at Stockholm, Christian returned to Kalmar only once, to wed his wife and future Queen, Sofia Elisabeth, the daughter of a prominent Norwegian aristocrat, and herself an educated girl and advocate of reform. The couple would soon have a son, Gustaf.

Accession to the Thrones of Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland

Christian of Olderborg acceded to the thrones of Denmark and Norway upon the death of his father late in 1699. The crown of Sweden was secured shortly thereafter, following a relatively uncontested election; with it came the throne of Finland, completing the Duke of Glucksborg's succession as King Christian VI of all the crowns of the Kalmar Union.

Christian VI established his court at Kalmar, occupying the palace of his father. He immediately set about replacing his father's old ministers and advisors with his own inner circle, and reorganizing the royal administration. This would be only the beginning of Christian's reforms.

The Proclamation of Kalmar and the United Constitution of 1700

Early in 1700, less than one year into his reign, Christian VI shocked the Kalmar establishment with a proclamation issued from his court. The King declared that the Privy Councils and Councils of State of each of the Kingdoms of the Union were suspended, pending investigation and reorganization.

However, the investigations and reorganizations never came. Instead, Christian signed and issued the United Constitution he had drafted at Stockholm. The charter abolished not only the Privy Councils and Councils of State, but also the very Kingdoms of Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland, and established a wholly new, unitary State. Christian VI dropped his old titles of King of Denmark, of Sweden, of Norway, and of Finland, and instead took the title of King of the Union of Kalmar (as well as the titles King in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, and Duke of Slesvig-Holsten).

Military Career

As part of his plan to professionalize the army, Christian augmented his military prerogatives as King by assigning himself the commission of General of the Royal Army. In this capacity, the young King would oversee the complete reformation of his forces, and the establishment of a truly unified royal army and a professional General Staff and officer corps to command it. Christian VI would also personally oversee the establishment of the Royal Marines, a force which would implement the marine infantry doctrines he had studied and formulated at Stockholm.​

 

[Luckymoose]

From His Holiness, The Pope of the Papal States
To Kalmar Union

Congradulations on your new king.May he reign healthily for many years.

 

[Grandmaster]

To the Papal States:
From the Kalmar Union:

His Majesty King Christian VI thanks His Holiness for his support and recognition.

 

[Grandmaster]

[size=+1]Structure of the Union of Kalmar as Constituted, 1700[/size]

The Unified Monarchy

The sovereignty of the Kalmar Union is vested in the personage and office of the King of the Union of Kalmar. The King bears the single Crown of the Union of Kalmar, rather than the old Crowns of the constituent countries. His authority is derived from the Union, but is equally valid in each constituent country. The King is vested with absolute executive and legislative power, including the power to raise and organize the army and fleet, to levy and collect taxes, to create and enforce laws and mandates, and establish and manage the civil administration, to appoint officers of the kingdom, and to declare and wage war. Royal succession to the throne of the Union of Kalmar is hereditary, and shall be directly patrilineal. In instances where there is no male heir to succeed the reigning monarch, a new monarch shall be elected by the Rigsdag.

The Council of State

The Council of State, or Statsrådet, is the cabinet of advisors to the King of the Union of Kalmar. The Council is appointed by the King, and generally consists of his closest and most trusted advisors and confidentes. Ministers appointed to the Council are typically military officers, experienced civil servants, or members of the royal family; however, they may also be scholars, clergymen, or noblemen. The ministers of the Council hold no power beyond advising the King.

The Assembly of the Union

The Assembly of the Union, or Rigsdag, is the parliament of the Union of Kalmar. The Rigsdag consists of 450 members, elected by the nobility to represent their interests. Rigsdag representation is apportioned by population to each of the constituent countries of the Union; each country is represented in the single Assembly, and no constituent country may have its own Assembly. The powers of the Rigsdag are purely deliberative and advisory; the Assembly may review, debate, and comment on the actions of the King, and issue advise and recommendations for him, but cannot compel him to heed any such recommendations. The Rigsdag, then, is largely symbolic, as any decision it comes to is subject to the final authority of the absolute monarch.

The Civil Service

The Civil Service is a unified system, administered by the King and his offices throughout the entire Union. Civil servants are appointed and promoted by the monarchy for merit. Every applicant for a civil service job must pass a written examination, by which the royal authorities measure that applicant's competence and aptitude. Civil servants may be recruited from and appointed to serve in any of the constituent countries of the Union; for example, civil servants in Sweden may be Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and/or Danish. The civil service serves a number of important administrative and executive functions. The civil service enforces laws, enacts royal mandates, collects taxes and customs, maintains royal roads and bridges, and administers a basic postal service (primarilly for government and military use, but also open to the nobility and to wealthy borgers).

Political & Administrative Structure: Constituent Countries and Districts

The Kalmar Union consists of a number of political and administrative subdivisions for the efficient administration of his realm. The Union consists of four constituent countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland) which correspond to the old kingdoms of the Union. It is the prerogative of the King to choose to govern these constituent countries directly, or to appoint a viceroy to administer each in his place. Each constituent country is subdivided into a number of administrative districts, constituted and organized by the King for the sake of appointing, employing, and utilizing civil servants and the offices of the civil service. In this way, all lands of the Union are effectively governed from Kalmar.​

 

[das]

OOC: Luckymoose, that is ridiculous. France doesn't even listen to Papal authority in this TL anymore, and the papalstates are basically a puppet of the HRE. If anything, you should be applauding this move.

Technically the Papacy still does have its pride and the new Pope may not be quite as accomadating as the previous ones. But then, you ofcourse know what to do in that case... Good stories, GM.

 

[silver 2039]

The Kingdom of France announces a wrecthed conspiracy between the Holy Roman Empire, and Aragon to to invade and destroy France. France will take suitable measures against this, any invasion by Aragon and the HRE will be utterly destroyed. Be warned we will not tolerate threaths on the power and sovergnity of the Kingdom of France.

OOC: In other words this calls for Alexius. Whats the French equivlaent of that?

 

[das]

Alexis, I think. Good to see that Europe is about to sink in blood, less concerns for us...

 

[Disenfrancised]

9/22 orders already, the deadline is midnight GMT (though if you luckly I'll still acept some done before monday morning).

@Grandmaster, nice stories.

 

[Luckymoose]

Dis you have it wrong on the first page in the thing with all the nations Income.Papal States has Rome as a EC.

 

[tommy_toon]

Hmm . . . I just realized I (Ayutthaya) have no Education, Living Standards, Culture, or Confidence stats

 

[Disenfrancised]

Hmm . . . I just realized I (Ayutthaya) have no Education, Living Standards, Culture, or Confidence stats

Now you do sorry about that.