NES2 VI - Last Semblance of Order.

To Ottoman Empire
From Qing Empire

We mourn for the loss of a wise ruler of an ancient Empire such as the Ottoman one though alas we have no properly ranked member of the Royal Family available to represent the Emperor at the funeral so we request that you forgive us for not being able to send a representative of sufficient rank. Instead of shaming you by sending a lowly official :(
 
Lord_Iggy said:
To:Abyssinia
From: Sultan Suleiman III of the Ottoman Empire

I will continue my late father's goal of keeping the peace in Africa. Please stand down and accept peace with Sennar at prewar borders.

And I recommend you to not bring in foreign aid. We do not want or need more damaging and pointless wars than there already are.
Click to expand...

Do not worry. Peace terms are being worked between Sennar and Abyssania.

We send our condolences. Although we have long been contradicted we still respected him as a brave man who always kept his honor. I wish to send Fasilides Brahane, my son, to the funeral.
 
I lost 20,000 trained soldiers
Click to expand...

You lost 2 divisions - that does not mean that 20,000 died. Some of them mutinied and betrayed you, others were badly wounded, others disserted and some simply were left without an unit and thus disorganized. Far from the biggest massacre, anyway...

Whatever happened to that polar bear tech, huh?
Click to expand...

It needs a recharge. ;)
 
Fightings in the East - War Declared!
Copenhagen Post, February 13th, 1746

Forces of the Union of Krakow attacked Russian positions about a month ago. This attack by a good friend upon an ally of our people has put our beloved nation in a dire position. Relations with the Krakowians have been excellent, but Russia has been a good ally for years.
The government has responded to the attack by declaring war upon the Union as required in our pact.

The following statement has been given by the Prime Minister:

"This cowardly attack upon by one nation against another in complete violation of international treaties and without proper casus belli cannot be condemned enough. We, the kingdom of Denmark-Norway, may only be a small nation, but we will stand with our friends and allies. As a result we are now at war with the Union of Krakow. All Krakowian assets in Denmark, whether they be ships, supplies, gold or other has been confiscated and now belongs to the state of Denmark. No trading will be allowed with the Krakowians upon penalty of death.
Danish forces are already moving into position at Dannevirke in order to protect our southern border. Never before has Dannevirke been breached and with our brave soldiers defending it and our navy protecting our shores there will be nothing to fear for our citizens.

We do not stand alone in this struggle. Sweden has also declared war upon the Krakowians and more may join soon. Sadly, France has decided not to aid us in this conflict. This is troubling considering we did declare war upon Spain in order to support our French allies though a peace had been struck between the two nations before our declaration reached Madrid.

For now no additional war taxes will be raised. However, all reservists are to report to their local barracks to recieve their uniforms and weapons. We must all do our part in this. All on the list must register with the supply officers no later than February 21st in order to recieve their uniforms and muskets before being shipped to Holsten in order to defend our nation. Those who do not report in voluntarily will be arrested, fined and be forced to serve in a penal legion rather than with their own unit.

It is the hope of our government that a peace will be found and that it will not come to fighting. We must, however, prepare for that possibility.

May God protect Denmark and Norway."

We here at the Copenhagen Post encourages all to report immediately and to also bring friends and neighbours to join in the defense of of home nation. The reporters of this paper will be with you at Dannevirke, fighting with a musket in one hand and a pen in the other.

maxmuller4wj.jpg


Scanians joining the army!
Citizens from Halland, Skane and Blekinge are doing their part for their country. With no formal organization formed yet in these provinces the state has decided to pay all who join up handsomely. Even people who supported the old Swedish regime are joining up, eager to fight to protect their homes and prove that they are true and loyal citizens. Already more than 3000 have joined up and been given a place in the army.
When asked why they joined up we were told many reasons. Some mentioned the good pay, other's joined for the opportunity to protect their homes and their king and yet others joined simply because they saw it as their duty as loyal citizens.
Interviews, page 9

Sweden issuing demands!
Despite their recent defeat Sweden has continued acting like it is a major power. The peace treaty saw our two nations agree on a new border and with the Danish government agreeing to stop the special taxes directed against Swedish shipping and other vessels headed for Sweden.
This has been done, but still their government is not happy. In a pathetic attempt to save his political career, the Swedish prime minister has tried to influence domestic Danish policy in order to appear strong. We have recieved the following comment from the government:

"The attempts of Sweden to dictate our policies will not be heeded. We have fulfilled all obligations we agreed to do in the treaty of Kalmar. Specifically, the Swedes asked us to remove the tax we put on their vessels and we have. What they are angry about is that we have reinstated the Sound Dues which we have every right to do. This tax has existed for centuries and is not directed against Sweden or indeed any nation. This tax applies to all foreign shipping passing through the Danish straits. It is no different than the taxes imposed by all other countries on goods which cross their borders. It is our right as a sovereign nation to do this.
If Sweden has a problem with this, then they are free to use their port at Elfsborg* rather than sailing through our straits. If they want to do it though rather than unloading at Elfsborg and then moving it over land, then they must pay just like all other nations."

*OTL Goteborg.
 
and become more of a puppet to Russia too I bet...
 
TO: Ottoman Empire
FROM: Shogunate of Japan
Our condolences on the untimely death of the Sultan. If possible, we would like to send our representatives to the services to bear witness.

TO: Byzantium
FROM: Shogunate of Japan
We send our fondest wishes for the fruitful reign of Emperor John IX, and, until such time as he can assume the throne, Basilissa Irene II in his stead. With your approval, we shall send a diplomatic corps to witness the proceedings.
 
@panda, dont forget our bit of diplomacy.
 
To: Shogunate of Japan
From: Byzantine Empire

We appreciate your sympathy, and will welcome your representatives with open arms.

To: Uachtarán Impire na Naofa Ceilteach Impireacht Cameron I, King of the Irish, Grand Duke of the Highlands, Uniter of the Celts, and Imperator General of Dochais
From: Basilissa Irene II Palaeologus, Protosebaste, Pansebastehypertateia, Khronokratorissa, Kosmokratorissa, Rlidzhent Porphyrogenitus, and Eusebestati Augousta

We appreciate the gesture that you are making by sending a member of your royalty to attend the funeral of our past Emperor. We also hope that your diplomatists' errors be rectified in the future.

To: Pope Leo XII
From: Basilissa Irene II Palaeologus

Despite my late husband's unfortunate demise, we will still honor the agreements signed by him: a complete withdrawal this year, and the non-aggression pact between our two nations for the period of five years.

OOC: Swissempire: not a King but an Emperor, and not senile (he was thirty-seven!...just like Dennis) but something of a vacillator.

Story soon.
 
Columbo sweated like a pig as he walked out onto the veranda. This was not from Mediterranean weather: he was, obviously, used to it, and besides, it was winter. No, it was mainly because he was at a social event not long before the funeral of Constantine XII, and he was nervous at having his immediated superiors at the same party as he. Moving toward the side of the porch that faced the Aegean, he tried to wallflower and hope that someone noticed him and asked him to join in a conversation. It was a rather desperate hope, but it'd be rude to try anything else. As he leaned on the railing, a brief image went through his mind of the Monastery of Saint Cyril and knife-throwing. It held his mind for a few seconds, but then passed away from thought like fog blown away by wind. He'd been summoned.

"Columbo, how are you! Come over here! Here's a glass of something a little stronger than that water you've got, eh?...Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet Mr. Milos Columbo, the man who made the C & O Canal happen!"

A major financier, Lavrentios Trikoupis, had called him over. Trikoupis, also a figure high in the C & O bureaucracy, ran the Boeotian operations of the company. He had quite the stash of hard assets, too, from his days managing a shipping company across the straits in Euboea. Columbo knew he'd been noticed for his efficiency in managing the construction of the canal, taken over as it was from a relatively competent government man. Aetos and his followers hadn't hurt, either. It was as if the man was a guardian angel for him, as he'd scraped up workers to help finish a minor building-improvement project in Sparta over the winter, after the canal got finished. Columbo sidled over to Trikoupis' group.

He exchanged the de rigeur greetings with the men there, noting many of them high up in C & O and government bureaucracy. There was the half-legendary chief logothete Spiridon Kyriakides, fresh from some business in Constantinople. Next to him, looking somewhat inebriated, stood-or rather wavered-Stephanos Gorgysmos, an Epirote executive in the C & O hierarchy and known for his hard living and hard driving of subordinates. Dressed in fancy waistcoat and holding his pocket-watch to double-check the time was Andreas Platarios, and Columbo's immediate superior in the company. Next to him stood Trikoupis himself. To round out the group, a military man, Kentarch Elias Dodismos, Commander of V Corps in the Army, and a noted author of several books on infantry strategy, or somesuch. Columbo didn't know much about the military, being a simple businessman.

"This man managed to bring in the largest project in the history of the Empire in faster than predicted, and under budget, too!" continued the financier, and the rest of the group offered their congratulations to Columbo.

"If only some of my directors would get off their arses and work!" laughed Gorgysmos. A quick thought went through Columbo's brain: His tone and speech belies his inebriated appearance. He must be really in control. Wow.

"Yes, well, that may soon happen!" declaimed Platarios. After recieving quizzical glances from all but Columbo, he grinned and continued, "The worker Aetos and his followers are spreading all over the Empire! The Greek common man is really energized!"

"But how much of that was for the Emperor? He drove out the Turks and united us, but now he's dead!" inquired Dodismos.

"Actually, Kentarch Elias, most of the men I know are glad to see an empress at the reins, regent though she might be. Basilissa Irene has got some people rather excited around here in the south. The Emperor-God bless his soul-made a misstep at the end of his life, and some workers in my area were getting a little restive. Some were starting to question working for him! Irene, though, is restoring some confidence. The Revolutionary order is having to learn to govern, not attack those that do, and she personifies that." At the end of his short speech, Platarios took a draft of his wine.

Kyriakides nodded. "Yes, even the Sultan, Osman IV, passed away. He never really seemed like an opponent, you know. One almost feels sorry for the poor fellow. He was overwhelmed, and just barely managed to get his country back on its feet."

"By the way, speaking of dead Sultans and Emperors, when exactly are their funerals?" interjected Gorgysmos.

Columbo, uncharacteristically acting like a springbutt, had the information at hand: "The Sultan's funeral in Ancyra is being held next week on Thursday, and the Sunday after is that of the basileus."

"Thank you, Columbo. We'll be attending both, I assume?" queried Gorgysmos.

"I know the basilissa is keeping me in Constantinople, finalizing the preparations for Protosebastos Constantine's funeral, during the week of the Sultan's funeral. I can't attend," said Kyriakides.

"My next project isn't supposed to break ground until the tenth of February. I will attend both," noted Columbo.

"I'll be at them, as well." Platarios went back into the conversation.

Dodismos shrugged sadly. "My Corps is leaving Italy in the next weeks: I am only here briefly. I'll need to be in port to supervise the off-loading of my men."

Trikoupis' chow-eating grin widened. "I'll be at both. There will be plenty of foreigners at both to interest in a loan or two."

"Well, I have one trusted subordinate to leave in command if I go." Playing for laughs, Gorgysmos said with a smile, "Maybe Mister Aetos can come up to Epirus and help while I'm gone. Or does he not like to leave the South?"

No one even snickered. "Aetos goes wherever the Empire-and therefore the Company-needs him. He's partial to southern Greece, especially Athens, but he'll go elsewhere, too," Columbo said stiffly.

"Well, my wine is going low, and I suppose we all have more business deals to conduct here. I'll see you gentlemen-or at least some of you-at the funerals, then. God bless you all!" Trikoupis' comment broke up the conversation. Columbo continued away, thinking, I finally got noticed! He was oblivious to the amazingly high regard in which he was held by everyone else. Now he had to pack for his unexpected trip to Ancyra.
 
Taranto, 23 January 1746

Almost a year ago, Captain Thanos Argyros had sailed his ship Thekla from Dyrrachium harbor into war with the Papal states. As Thekla lay in the docks of Taranto, he remembered the quiet with which that war had begun. He had not seen the land war; he's simply offloaded his Regiment and gone back to Dyrrachium to carry supplies. The horrors and slaughter of the war in Italy had not reached him until about April or May. Then, instead of carrying supplies, he was forced to serve as the master of a hospital ship. He could not leave Thekla to get away from the wounded soldiers, not in the middle of the Straits of Hydruntum. Too bad his loss hadn't made much of a difference in the revenues of the C & O Company, which now owned his employer. Not that it mattered; he probably wouldn't have been pulled off the line anyway. It was nice to be able to dream.

Thekla was now back in Taranto, having carried the withdrawal order across the Strait, and now waiting for the regiment of Varangians she had dropped off on the shores of Bari not long ago. The Twelfth had served with distinction at the defense of the Trigno about two months ago, having been thrown into a breach in the lines, and smashing the second, division-sized Papal wave later on. It was largely because of this Regiment that the Byzantine army had managed to survive as long as they had. The master of the Thekla swelled somewhat with pride at taking on the heroes of Italy.

Sitting at a table in the harbor area of the Italian city, he picked up the Tarentine newspaper and began to read. Plastered across the top of the front page was more news about the Eastern war between Krakow and Russia. Apparently there was some minor skirmish that the media had decided deserved the attention of everyone in Eastern Europe. More news, further down the page, blathered about the "War of Spanish Dissolution", or-as most Greeks called it-the Iberian conflict. It had been more than a millennium since affairs in Iberia had affected the Byzantines, reflected Captain Argyros. Not since the times of Justinian, anyway.

More news talked about the continued withdrawal here in Italy, and a bit more about the funeral of Sultan Osman IV and the upcoming one for Constanine XII, and the current state of the reign of Irene II. Bored with the Eastern news, he took a Northern paper, the Copenhagen Post, and got to read about Denmark publicly and heroically joining the War on Krakow, as they seemed to like to call it. There didn't seem to be a devious bone in the Danish PM's body, thought Argyros. Oh well, at least we won't really get involved. Back to peace for me...hurrah....

He missed the days of war a little. The drudgery of peacetime sailing unnerved him. Sure, the Papal navy hadn't even come out to fight, but it had been exciting, participating in an actual war. It was...cool. Now everyone else in Europe was at war except for, apparently, the Byzantine Empire. Now he wouldn't get hazardous duty pay, or even serve for the Byzantine Navy anymore. Back to supporting the economy for him. Whoop-dee-do. It looked like an empress didn't want to get into fighting like an emperor did. Women.

He folded the papers and took them back toward his ship, passed by a few columns of soldiers marching toward the quays. Just like the rest of war, he mused. Oh well.

sailing%20ship%20Lyttelton.jpg

The Thekla sitting in Taranto harbor.​

OOC: I reused the picture because das didn't count the story. It's not as bad as reusing a story like he told us to...:mischief:
 
To: Great Benevolent Christian Powers of Krakow and Portugal
From: Abyssania

We ask that our brothers of the faith send aid to our dear nation. To aid us in reinvigorating our economy and stimulate our technology. We ask to send aid in training our armies to be able to civilize Africa. We ask for your aid in our righteous cause. You will surely send aid to your christian allies.
 
Why must you refer to a region of our Empire.


Et. ALL:

By declaration of the Pope, The Holy Celtic Empire has been formed. Or didn't you see the 1 sentence provided to it in the update.;)

Also, thats the Emperors titles:king:
 
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