[RFC Dawn of Civ] The Alternative History of France

[Mosher]

Same. Why did you settle Aix-la-Chapelle? It's using tiles that Francfort and Besancon can work.

 

[jtb1127]

I'm also having a picture problem. Great Job so far!

 

[heitorcccp]

Hi, people I can see all pictures at their posts, but noticed that there were "real" attachments just in Part I. Fixed that, hoping that will work.

Thanks for all feedback so far!

@Mosher: I didn't settle cities in a so cramped way in normal games - but it's a game on Rhye's scenarios. And there, specially when you starts in Europe, you'll find yourself with too little land - even less if you decide to respect the "fat cross" above all

So, in Rhye's scenarios, I've never found problem about settling cities as near as 2 squares one from another - if you care enough about micromanagement, it can be dealt smoothly.

And, the very real reason behind Aix and another border cities that I create in the same fashion, is to maintain and defend my borders As long s that city stands there - specially with libraries, theatres, universities and more culture stuff - even an enemy capitol will have a hard time about taking squares from you And also they do an excellent defensive and offensive job - just wait for the Chapter III to see Aix in operation as a military base

I've been using this kind of city even to take over enemy border resources, with success - and fun And, with a Great Artist, they are REALLY annoying to any enemy. And, if not working too many squares and not starving (supermarkets and other food buildings just do great work), their specialists and buildings get you boosted up

 

[hoplitejoe]

Is this the latest version of DoC?

 

[trexeric]

Love the story, and I can't wait to see more!

 

[inohotep]

wow, I am waaay too late for this story :facepalm:
good luck, there aren't enough france stories to go around

 

[Alexius08]

Aix-la-Chapelle would flip soon to the Dutch. Are you ready?

 

[christos200]

This is one of the best stories in the forums.

 

[MoreEpicThanYou]

I swear you have that on permanent copy-and-paste.

Welcome! Ignore the false messages of METY! I AM MORE EPIC!

Anyway, I believe he DOES have it on copy+paste or saved as a document or something.

DO NOT DEFY MY EPICNESS! Heitor, do not believe Tambien's words. We must rise against the evils of not believing my epicness!

As for the copy/paste, um... maybe...

Anyway, great story. Not many RFC France stories around here....

 

[heitorcccp]

Coming up again, with the new-and extenuos Chapter III, in the next posts.

Thanks for all feedback so far, and enjoy!

 

[heitorcccp]

Since their first colonization by French and Norse peasants and fisherman, people from the Batavian Lands were always remembered as inhabitants of an idyllic rural countryside, living from their lands, their pastures and their fishing. Being on relatively distant borders from their masters and being of little defensive importance – the Viking Union and the French Empire always enjoyed good relationship – they’ve created their own particular forms of government, initially intended for running petty things of no importance for their crowns, but working with greater and greater autonomy over the years.
The Pest, however, disrupted their way of life just as it did to almost everyone in Europe. Their food stocks dropped to none, and the taxes – specially raised by the French and Norse crowns to aid in pest relief – became unbearable. Also, as being border cities of little importance, they’ve got little relief from their neighbors and masters – or none at all.
Starved, disturbed and getting angrier – that was the collective feeling behind the ultimate and polemic decision from the Batavian Parliament, stated as below:

“Declaration of Independence”
“WE, the People of Batavia and the Low Countries – the DUTCH people - are tired of long-lasting exploitation and abandoning from our so-called Kings and Masters.
Our children grows starved, our trade stands stalled, our very way of life seems to be lost forever – and so seems to be our hopes and desires.
But, still, our so-called Masters care to remember us a single day each season – the day that they sends their tax collectors to rob everyone trying to live inside their dominions, regardless of the people’s needs and hardships.
We are capable to run our cities, our towns and our countryside by ourselves. We DON’T want any more orders and extortive taxes that bring us no good at all.
We hereby declare THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS to be a sovereign nation, unbound to any external influence of vassalage, ruled by Dutch to meet the needs of the Dutch People.”
The Declaration was drafted by prominent Dutch noblemen and merchantmen – the latter class became an important driving force in the Dutch society in the last few years. As a Kingdom, they’ve elected Willem van Orange as their first King, and they knew that the Kingdom could face war from it’s very start.

The immediate effect of the Declaration was a nationwide rebellion in the newborn Netherlands, with quick – and sometimes savage – demise of the foreign plenipotentiaries in the country and destruction of many towns, farms and cities. Dorestad itself was not spared: massive civil unrest razed the city to the ground, and the Swedish governor was slain and exposed at the City Hall’s charred ruins. Dutch merchantmen provided lots of weapons – modern as muskets – and a number of mercenaries to defend the Dutch Crown in case of foreign attack and to restore order in the country.
Soon after the razing of Dorestad, political leaders and the Dutch King assembled themselves in a former suburb of the city, proclaiming there, in a manorial house, the foundation of the new capitol, Amsterdam, and running the country from there.
The notice of Dutch independence and rebellion spread wildly across Europe, markedly at their neighborhoods. The Swedish Crown, presented with the Dutch independence as fait accompli and handling more worrisome issues at the moment, reacted weakly and half-heartedly, deciding that the Dutch newly assembled army was so strong to be quelled by any expeditionary force they could send at the moment; for this, and in fear of spreading rebellion over Swedish dominions in Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland, they reluctantly recognized the Dutch Kingdom in the first moment.
The French Crown also expressed worrying about the Dutch Rebellion to their Swedish allies, fearing that rebellion could spread to French hinterland as well. In the very first years, however, French territory itself was spared, and France didn’t bothered more about that.
In the midst, French law scholars developed theories about the role of the individual in the society: defending astonishing new ideas of “freedom” and “right of choice” – then, radical ideas in monarchic France. France was knowingly the first nation to know this new flow of ideas, that came to known later as the “French Liberalism”, although they’ve failed to cause immediate revolution at the time.

But soon the French had their worst nightmares about the Dutch situation materialized, as the Dutch Crown reclaimed the border city of Aix-le-Chapelle to their dominions, as “the truly heartlands of our ancestors, still exploited by French robbers”
The French Crown at Besançon just got enraged at the Dutch requests, and decided to declare WAR in the Dutch Kingdom, announcing our offensive as “rebellion-quelling”
[A King’s Messenger gets on the gates of Marseille. Clarinet sound cheers]
“In the name of our King, I have to deliver a message to the Sieur of Marseille”
“I’ll take you to his presence” replied the squire at the gates.
[Moments later]
“You have a message from our King. I’m at your orders, Monsieur Menestrel” said firmly Maurice, the Marquis of Provence and the Sieur of Marseille.
“My esteemed Monsieur, the King of France requires your skillful and courageous service against our enemies at the Northern France. The rebels in Batavia aren’t aware of their places under the Heavens, and they want to rip apart our Kingdom for their own sake.”
“WHAT YOU SAY? A damned bunch of rebels are insulting our Holy Crown? Mathieu! Get your horse and get on every castle and dominion to summon all my knights! Give this notice and demand their presence in my Castle as soon as possible!”
“Y-yes, My Lord” said the astonished squire
“These…these animals…. They should be dealt with swords and gallows… I want to be there and execute the wicked myself!” grieved the Marquis.
“I’ll give your response to our King” said the messenger, retiring from the courthall
For the first time in centuries, all the Knight Orders from all French provinces were summoned to the Northern France, to organize the initial defense of Aix-LC and to plan a single-headed and deadly offensive against Amsterdam. Foot regiments and, a few years later, musket regiments were newly assembled as well. For the first time since the War in Baviére, Le Patrie was at war.

 

[heitorcccp]

[The Slottet, Oslo, Royal Courthall]
“Your Majesty, King Gustaf of the Swedes, I’m here to bring a proposal from the King of France” said ceremoniously the French diplomat
“Be welcome, Monsieur. You can present your proposal” said no less respectfully the King of Sweden. France was a very esteemed nation for the Swedes, a long-standing ally for his people, and deserved any deference that could be given from that Court.
“As you know, the wicked Batavians abandoned their pacific way of life inside our borders and started causing trouble and destruction in their own lands – OUR lands as well. But they just overrated their might, and want to rip apart the nations that stand here since immemorial times. They want to break up France with their so-called army and their rebellious thinking, and if they do so, Sweden is bound to be the next target of their greed, as my King states.
So, I am proposing to bring some of our law and politic scholars to your Court, to aid your country to get as much progress as my Kingdom is having with their new studies. They will reside here and aid you and your court to implement these new reforms and increase the efficiency of our greatest ally. All we demand in return is your mighty assistance to crush the Batavian rioters and bring peace again to Europe.”
“In the name of all Swedes, my friend, I hereby accept your proposal. You can count on our assistance as you need to crush that bunch of murderers. They´ve slained my dear cousin, who was serving as their Governor” said, in firm voice, the Swedish King.

[Palacio Real de El Pardo, Madrid]
“Your Majesty King Philip of the Spanish, I’m here to present a proposal from the King of France.” said another French Diplomat.
“You are welcome. Please, present your proposal” said the Spanish monarch.
“The Batavian rioters at our north are becoming restless on their greed. They want to rip apart our nation, and we are committed to quell their perfidy. But we’ll need all the assistance we can get, and our King feels that this matter is a matter of importance to all European Kingdoms – they wouldn’t stop while not seeing all the immemorial nations in the Continent razed as their lands”
“But you think that rioters are that dangerous as you say? There’s not enough knights and halberdiers in your country to teach them a lesson?” said patiently the King Philip.
“They’ve got weapons, many weapons and supplies. Their merchantmen are bringing what they could to assist their force and their mercenaries. They want to outright invade our Heartland – and if they succeed, they would not see the Pyrenees as a real barrier to get into your lands. If they didn’t do so with armies, they can do equal harm with their rebellious ideas, and turn your people against you. I’m proposing to bring to Spain some of our scholars – that very scholars that created the Universities in France – to aid you to do the same here. We only demand your assistance to crush the Dutch demons in return”
“In the name of the good relations between our Kingdoms, and of the fight against the evil rioters, I hereby agree to your proposal” concluded the Spanish King.

It was a cold, dark morning at the Ardennes. The Sieur of Marseilles and another King’s dignitaries were standing, watching the fateful events in the marching square at Aix-LC.
“Traitors. They are just getting what they deserve” growled Maurice, the Marquis of Provence.
“It’s just and fine to hang them” replied the Duke of Burgundy.
“Noble warriors of France! We are here now, in this dark morning, to give to the evil traitors of our King the just punishment for their outrageous bad work” said the King’s menestrel.
Standing in a front of a line of gallows, there were many prisoners, mainly defectors from the nearer army camps and villages that tried to aid the Dutchmen, awaiting for the execution of their sentences.
The King of France really could not stand traitors in this war. And who tried to do so must either succeed, or prepare for a painful demise.
The Dutch advance over French lands was halted before even properly begin, with crushing of the few Dutch regiments who dared to advance outside Amsterdam. The main part of their army became firmly committed to the defense of the capitol, standing against French besieging troops in Dutch countryside. Aix-LC served as main gathering and organizing base to the growing French Royal Army, and as last point before the stand at the Amsterdam’s surroundings. But neither were the Dutch capable of expel the French invaders, neither were the French – still short on siege weapons and artillery – capable to do a final blow against the Dutch for a long time. This protracted war was to be known as The Great Siege (1530-1670) and marked for little skirmishes and strangling of Dutch economy. The French economy was in good shape, and capable to supply new goods and weapons to the growing army.
In the midst, the ancient (so-called) Holy Roman Empire succumbed to their own internal crisis and was engulfed in civil war. There were rumors about entirely razed cities, people being slained en masse and a brutal demise to the German royal family. France and Italy soon raced for the derelict lands of the former German Crown.

[University of Besançon, in hidden chambers at the School of Theology]
“The Roman Church didn’t deserve the authority they want here! It’s absurd!”
“Shhhhhhhhhh!!! You want to be exiled to the Hell? It’s heresy to deny them any authority on spiritual grounds!”
“To hell with their no-heresy-mumbling! We have a French King, of a French Nation, and so we must have a French church as well! The Italians are growing, and they cannot regard us as their vassals!”
“But..but…they are the Saint Peter’s church! It’s…”
“It’s the RIGHT THING to do, Pierre! I’m preparing the pamphlets! You’ll see my message in every parish of this Kingdom and right at the King’s room! He wants it, he must agree with us! It’s the moral salvation of France!”
This discussion between two high French religious scholars developed to a far broader movement across the nations, and, after, to another nations. The Roman Catholic Church was no more the sole source of authority and truth. These new Christian churches, called “protestant” for their dissident origins, spread across the Continent and redesigned the religious map of Europe.

Navigation methods were also being developed (with Brest seaman doing many contributions), and French world exploration was possible. Although not the first one to get in the New World, French managed to build a small and promising colony in the new continent: Sinnamary.

 

[heitorcccp]

The former German City, Stettin, after years of an unruly rump government, was home to unrest against their masters. The King of France, upon being informed about, sent troops to “restore order” in the commercial city, effectively annexing it to the French Crown.
Soon afterwards (Note of editor/writer: UNFORTUNATELY no print-screened!!), the Italians expressed their outrage about the French Kingdom seizing “naturally Italian” assets in former Germany. Then, the Italian Leader Victor Emmanuel, in a historical vote of the Italian League’s assembly, managed do pass a resolution declaring WAR on the Kingdom of France.

The French Diplomatic Mission in Russia offered a proposal to the Russian Tsar:
“We, in the name of the French Crown, recognize the great might of the Russian Tsardom, and we would like to count on your assistance to crush the Italian barbarians. Due their position in Europe, they stand a great danger to our both kingdoms, in their quest for world domination. Just see what they’ve done to the sorry Incan People: they are barbarians of the worst kind.
In return, we would like to aid the Russian Tsardom to develop its political structures with scholar assistance to your court, to ensure the further development of the most important power in Eastern Europe.

But, the Russians initially denied the proposal – maybe knowing that the French kingdom has more to give. Wanting allies desperately in a two-front war, the Counselor for Foreign Affairs in Besançon straightly authorized the diplomats at Moskva to give even military secrets – the spreading technology of rifling barrels – to get Russian assistance to, at least, get Italian busy with someone else for a while.

 

[heitorcccp]

[Outskirts of Amsterdam, 1675]
“Is this coming to an end? Le Gran Finale? C’est fini?”
“I doubt so. Our leaders prove to be much better in the chatter than in the battlefield. Since childhood I’m hearing about Dutch demise and ruin, and there they are, still standing…”
The faithless remark by the new Marquis of Provence, Sieur Jean de Marseille, was not missed by the regimental captain, that barked:
“Oh, another spineless skeptical going here to supposedly lead our troops against the enemies. More people like y..”
“Monsieur Captain, I’m afraid that you are overextending your bloody tongue while talking to a nobleman, Sire. Please…”
“Oh Nooooobleman…. Okay, you lady… My father was privy to your grandfather in this same bloody camp here, and he was never tired to tell about his courage and determination against the enemies of France. Even while spending much of his life here commanding his Knights, he NEVER lose the faith on final victory, Monsieur Marquis.”
“My Grandfather was a great patriot for the Kingdom, of course, as I am. But I’m not blind, Ma Capitaine. This war is lasting over one hundred years from it’s very starting, and is only draining resources and people to skirmishes. I’ve discussed that with my fellows at the War Academy in Besançon, and sometime we think that the Kings over the years have lost their hope to finally crush the Dutch.”
“Eh, but now things are going to change, Sire! The Swedes at the northern Amsterdam are really making them sorry with their cannons! The damned Batavs are hiding in any hole they can find in their bloody city, and the Norse Warriors just got on their chin in the last weeks!”
“Eh… I found about that… The King is sending more reinforcements than usual… maybe he’s planning another assault like in the 1580’s, or trying to get the Capitulation from the Dutch… Let’s wait and see.”
The war against the Dutch, after decades of stagnation (despite new advances on French Artillery and the gradual decay of the Dutch defensive ability), has gained new steam with broader Swedish role in the siege. The Swedes, with their hands free, could amass large expeditionary corps to send against Amsterdam, providing excellent artillery support to France from 1674* onwards. New French Artillery, named the Culverins, were reaching Aix-le-Provence in large numbers, ready to pound the Dutch defenses to the ground. And, in 1675, a final assault could finally be attempted, despite the imminent danger of all-out Italian invasion (despite the war declaration, only minor skirmishes had taken place)

[Main Square of Amsterdam, former capitol of the Republic of Seven United Provinces of Netherlands]
“Citizens of Amsterdam. The Dutch Government is now disbanded. We are announcing the proclamation of Amsterdam as a French Imperial City.”
“Stay calm and orderly, avoid new skirmishes and destruction. Stay in your homes until second advice. All your weapons must be discarded and brought to French authorities at this square. Any citizen found armed will be regarded as a criminal against the Crown, and punished accordingly”
“From now you are citizens of the Région of Batavia, if residing north of the village of Bruxelles; or the Région of Wallonie, if residing south of Bruxelles**. In the next weeks the new provisional governorship and the government offices will be set up and put to work in benefit of the Batavian and Wallonian peoples”
“No looting, arson, murder and rebellion will be tolerated. Offenders will be punished with death”
“Keep working and keep calm. There’s no need and reason to rebellion now. Farewell”
“Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke du Richelieu – Provisional Governor of the Région of Batavie”
Dutch resistance was finally broken up. Amsterdam was occupied and maintained - the French Crown was not as barbarian as its enemies.
But things were just about to turn even more shaky. Now, the road for a head-on war against Italy was open (specially with Swedish collaboration, obtained after the Dutch demise), and conditions were brewing more and more for a great shake-up on French politics.
See next chapter, and you can watch all these events happening and their results.

 

[heitorcccp]

*: "1674 is NOT a year represented as a turn, but the Viking offensive was dateda s that to reflect the timing of the offensives (they've done their pounding one turn before my final attack)

**: Bruxelles was never built as a "city" at the game, was cited as "village" just to add realism to the Governor's declaration.

-Amsterdam is a rich coastal city, and I want to keep it, despite having Aix so near. Nevertheless, Aix-LC "lost" it's initial utility, and now can be relegated to "second plan" (i.e. micromanaging it's resources to Francfort or Amsterdam), being now intended to be a medium-sized city to harbor specialists

-I'm still considering a new city on my "German" territories, there's a good gap between Amsterdam, Francfort and Stettin. But it can get so cramped, then its not decided yet

-Now, wage war with italy (which seems to be not so eager to wage the war that themselves declared ) while colonizing more in America (and gather stability points to Resettlement civic to be adopted)

-Try to get Assembly Line soon, to get an upper hand on production

Critics and suggestions, as always, very welcome!

'till next posts, thanks for attention and support!

 

[Tambien]

Great job! I suggest that you take out the Italian heartland before settling a city in the Germanies.

BTW, mind providing this save for my story Atque Iterum: The Portals?

 

[heitorcccp]

Great job! I suggest that you take out the Italian heartland before settling a city in the Germanies.

BTW, mind providing this save for my story Atque Iterum: The Portals?

There's the save, Tambien (attached)

 

[hoplitejoe]

As long as the Germans don't respawn in time to get there panzers you should be fine

 

[Jwitti]

Excellent.

 

[JamesCaesar]

Is it me, or does Phillip look creepy with those eyes?