Portugal/Perfectionist
Population: 3/0 Homeland/Colonies
Available Spending: 4 (1)
(4/1/1) Economy/Culture/National Confidence
(1/0/0) Leadership: Civilian/Military/Colonial
Education (0)
Infrastructure (0)
Religion (+1, +1) Economy/Culture
Trade Routes: 3
Religious Centers 0
Trading Centers 2
Economic Freedom: 3
Government Control: 3
Net Economic Freedom: 0
Nation Information:
Voyages of Discovery: NWE, MED, WCA, ECA, IOS
Army/Navy Size: 0 divisions/9 squadrons
Army/Navy Quality: Recruits/ Recruits
Colonies
DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENTS:
1) Trade agreement with Vijayanagar
2) Trade agreement with Siam (45 years remaining)
3) Trade agreement with Ethiopia (10 years remaining)
4) Alliance with Ethiopia (10 years remaining)
5) Alliance with Spain
6) Trade agreement with Persia (20 years remaining)
ECONOMY:
Receive 1 EP as a loan from the Pope, giving us 6 total to spend.
1). 2 points into navy, recruiting 10 Squadrons (9>19 Squadrons)
2). 2 points into recruiting 16 Divisions, almost all of which are pikemen and mixed arms.
3). 1 point into overseas army upkeep. NOTE: Apparently we are automatically paying 1 point for support of 4 divisions overseas. Adding one more point gives us support for 20 divisions, which is how many we will have overseas this turn.
4). 1 point to establishment of military support system in the Indian Ocean. See DOMESTIC ORDERS ITEM 1
DOMESTIC ORDERS:
1) Establish a support network for our military in the Indian Ocean. In order to maintain our presence in the Indian Ocean, we must develop support facilities. Construct major shipyards at Socotra, Zanzibar, and Cochin. There should be some form of shipyard in these places, so it shouldn't be too difficult to make them suitable for our vessels. This will allow our navy to refit in the Indian Ocean without having to return to Portugal, which should greatly reduce casualties. Also establish major supply depots in those areas. Establish smaller refitting and resupply areas at our various African enclaves. These should be suitable for making minor repairs, on the way to our major depots, and should ease transit between east and west. In addition, try to negotiate with native rulers to allow our ships to resupply in their ports. The goal is to allow our military to operate in the Indian Ocean more or less indefinitely, without suffering the attrition that plagued us last turn. Year:
throughout
FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
1) Sign a 20 year trade agreement with Persia. Year:
1511
2) Send emissaries to the Barbary Corsairs, to try to get them on our side. Egyptian expansion in North Africa is a clear indication that the Egyptians intend to subjugate these states. Their next move would clearly be to eliminate piracy in that area. We have no such intentions. Try to play on these fears. In addition, make it clear that we will be willing to overlook past indiscretions if they aid us now. Try to convince some of them to attack the Egyptians, or at least close their ports to Egyptians naval vessels. Year:
throughout
3) Attempt to divert the course of the Nile. The Blue Nile contributes the majority of the water that reaches Egypt. The source of the river is controlled by our Ethiopian allies. The economy of Egypt is completely dependent on the Nile, so if we can greatly reduce the flow of the river, or foul the waters, they will be devastated. The Ethiopians have a great deal of cheap labour, which we can use to build dams, dykes and other works to alter the course of the river. In addition, at the point where the Nile leaves Ethiopia, clog the river with the corpses of livestock, rotting fish, excrement, etc.(OOC: Strange little idea, I know, and probably not possible, but I couldn't resist.) Year:
1510-13
4) Dispatch explorers up the Niger, to make contact with Mali. Year:
1512
ESPIONAGE POLICY:
1) Continue expansion of intelligence network in Europe. In Spain, try to cultivate Aragonese nobles and merchants; Aragonese are suspicious of Castile, so it should be easy to recruit informants and sleeper agents. In France, continue cultivating agents in the courts of the great magnates. Likewise in Germany and Italy, where we should also exploit fear of French aggression. In the Kalmar Union, infiltrate the various nationalist groups, and very subtly and carefully encourage nationalist tendencies. In addition, begin recruiting among the expatriate community in Portugal. Due to our position as a commercial powerhouse, there will doubtless be many poor foreigners in Lisbon, who will leap at the chance to make money by working for our intelligence service; national loyalty is thin in this age. Also, have our merchants in foreign ports keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Any attack on Portugal, or our interests, would be preceded by the stockpiling of massive amounts of supplies, which would hopefully be visible to our men, if they look closely enough, giving us some warning. Year:
throughout
2) Continue expansion of intelligence network in India and Africa. In India, try to cultivate the native princes, particularly in the Deccan sultanates. Try to gain as much influence as possible over them. In addition, try to recruit among the Hindu leadership. In Africa, put agents, both secret and official, in the courts of the leaders of the coastal city states, and begin trying to influence them towards us. Year:
throughout
MILITARY POLICY:
1) Commission commerce raiders to prey on Muslim shipping. In this period, there is little difference between trade and piracy; most practitioners of the one engage in a spot of the other at some point. With the protection and support of the greatest naval powers in the world, commerce raiding should be particularly attractive at the moment. In addition to sanctioning already existing raiders, build heavily armed trading vessels, and dispense them, on the condition that the Crown of Portugal receives most of the loot. Year:
throughout
2) Declare open season on Egyptian merchant shipping. Any ship flying the Egyptian colours is a target. All of our ships, including our merchantmen, should attack any Egyptian ship whenever they have an advantage. Year:
1510
3) Board and examine all ships of neutral nations passing to or from Egyptian ports. The Egyptians may try to move their goods by flying false flags, or by sending them on the ships of other nations. To prevent this, any ship suspected of being Egyptian or of carrying Egyptian goods is to be boarded. Any Egyptian crew that flies a false flag is to be summarily executed, and their ship taken for Portugal. Any Egyptian goods discovered on board the ship of another nation are to be impounded immediately. If we discover war materiel, such as cannon, guns, warship grade lumber, etc. headed for Egypt, it is to be impounded. We cannot tolerate our friends fueling the Egyptian war machine. The overall goal of these two programs is to bring Egyptian overseas commerce to a complete halt. Year:
throughout
MILITARY OPERATIONS:
Overall goals for the turn, in order of importance.
1) Retake Ceuta
2) Take Aden
3) Seize control of the Red Sea
4) Destroy Egyptian commerce
5) Take Suez
6) Destroy Cairo
7) Conduct raids against Egypt
8) Take Aqaba
A note on naval operations: Within the Mediterranean, the Mediterranean system of naval warfare, galleys and so forth, was actually superior to the Atlantic system in this period. Fortunately, the Egyptians are unaware of this fact, and have leapt to adopt the Atlantic system. They have only just begun to construct galleons, while we have a centuries old naval tradition, so we should have a significant edge in ship quality. Moreover, all their captains will be converted galley commanders, and will be unaware of the intricacies of handling a galleon, so we should have a significant edge in leadership as well. We should use these advantages as far as possible. In particular, their commanders may not be aware of the importance of wind in combat between sailing ships.
A note on tactics: Ideally, we will fight battles in tight formations of pikes and arquebusiers, with our navy and siege train providing covering fire. The Egyptian cavalry will have to charge into a solid mass of steel and lead, which should lead to them being slaughtered. If the cavalry is unable to be effective, the Egyptian melee infantry will be of little use against us. While these tactics are largely defensive, we anticipate that the Egyptians will usually have little choice but to attack us. Most of our battles will be sieges close to the sea. If they refuse to attack us, we can simply continue to pound their fortresses into dust with our cannon, while allowing the Egyptian forces to starve. In addition, the proximity of the sea grants our siege train greater mobility than in land warfare, which should allow us to make better use of it in battles than is normally possible.
Ceuta
Assigned forces:
3 Squadrons, 3 Divisions
Commander:
Tristao da Cunha
Year: 1510. Establish a blockade of Ceuta. With the Spanish occupying the Egyptians in the Mediterranean, there should be few enemy forces in the area. Prevent all supplies from reaching them, and let them grow weaker throughout the year. Land our forces to the south of the city, and besiege it. At the end of the year, encourage the populace to rise against the Egyptians and storm the city.
Year: 1511. Once the city falls, these forces should join Albuquerque on the other side of Africa, taking with them supplies, particularly heavy cannon and lumber. Along the way, they should establish a fort and supply depot at the Cape of Good Hope. Combined with our other enclaves in Africa, this should greatly ease transit between Portugal and the east.
East Africa
Initially assigned forces:
16 Squadrons, 13 Divisions
Eventually rising to:
19 Sqadrons, 20 Divisions
Commanders:
Afonso da Albuquerque, Admiral of the fleet and overall commander of the expedition; Lorenço da Almeida, nephew of the Viceroy and commander of land forces
Year: 1510. Assemble at Socotra, and make preparations for the campaign: bring in supplies, conduct reconaissance, etc. From the island, keep a close watch on the Gulf of Aden. We expect Egypt will attempt to mount some sort of offensive operation in this sector, either against Socotra or Zanzibar, so our men should be prepared to intercept and destroy any expedition. Hopefully, the Egyptian fleet will come out to fight, where we can easily crush it. If it doesn't come out for some reason, try to draw it out. Any Egyptian ships that leave the Red Sea are to be attacked and destroyed. This includes all of their commerce with India. In particular, make sure that supply ships to Madagascar do not get through. Late in the year, dispatch a ship or two to deal with their base on that island. Isolated, and without supplies, they should be weak. Encourage the natives to attack, and drive the intruders into the sea. At the same time, our ships should bombard the settlement. Hopefully, it will be easily destroyed. Salvage whatever we can from the wreckage, then leave the Egyptians to the tender mercies of the islanders.
Year: 1511. Assuming that the Egyptian fleet has been neutralized as an offensive force, and our holdings in the area are secure, withdraw the
4 Divisions that were left on garrison from last turn, and fold them into the main army, giving us a total of
17 Divisions. Very early in the year, move into the Red Sea, and establish a blockade of Aden. Put a large section of army ashore outside of the city to establish a siege as well. Meanwhile, the fleet should try to find and destroy the Egyptian fleet. If they run and hide in port, let them stay there. The point is to have absolute freedom of movement within the sea. Ships should be regularly rotated out to Socotra, or the Ethiopian ports, to maintain them in fighting trim. Sometime in the middle of the year, Cunha's force will arrive and reinforce us, bringing our total strength to
19 Squadrons and 20 Divisions.
Year: 1512. By this point the Egyptians in Aden have been under siege for a year, and should be quite weak. From land, reduce the forts guarding the port with siege cannon. With the port open, the fleet should begin bombarding the town, while our land forces assault from the other side. Hopefully, the city will fall easily. As the Egyptians are using galleon replicas now, Aden should have significant shipyards that that will be suitable for our ships. In addition, there will hopefully be significant amounts of lumber and war materiel seized. Once Aden is under our control, reconstruct the forts guarding the harbour, and move on. The next phase of our operation is to begin harassing Egyptian holdings in the northern Red Sea. Bombard ports, burn towns, and conduct reconnaissance for further expeditions.
Year: 1513. Time for a major incursion into Egypt. Most of the Egyptian forces in the area should be preoccupied with the Spanish attack, making things much easier for us. Sail most of our force to the head of the Gulf of Suez, and a lesser segment to the head of the Gulf of Aqaba; the precise amounts depend on Egyptian dispositions, and the commanders on the ground will have to decide what is appropriate. If possible, the Aqaba force should press to the Mediterranean, where it will link up with the Spanish fleet and resupply. Combined with our control of the the Red Sea, this will sever communications between the eastern and western segments of Egypt. If this is not possible, or the Spanish fleet is not in control of the eastern Mediterranean, the Aqaba force should fortify Aqaba. The major force should press from Suez to Cairo. Again, most of the enemy forces should be away. If we take the city, burn it to the ground and then retreat back to Suez. By destroying the Egyptian capital, we will hopefully severely disrupt their ability to make war. If we can't reach Cairo, wreak as much havoc as possible in the area before withdrawing to Suez. In particular, try to destroy irrigation systems.
Year: 1514. Fortify Suez, and if possible the line from Gaza to Aqaba. If not possible, just fortify Aqaba. Bring supplies into those cities, and let our men relax as far as possible. Suez is the major Egyptian port on the Red Sea, and should have significant port facilities, which we should get fully operational as fast as possible. The fleet should have accomplished its missions by this point, and can refit and resupply. Whenever possible, they should do so at Suez or Zanzibar, but if necessary or expedient they can return to Portugal.
OPERATIONAL MAP:
CONTINGENCY: There is a possibility that the Spanish will betray us. It would be unbelievably stupid and completely out of character, but we must consider the possibility. If Spain does attack us, the following plan should be used.
ECONOMY:
Disband our overseas forces, freeing up an additional EP that would have gone to overseas upkeep. This gives us 7 EP total.
1) 5 points on recruiting 40 Divisions
2) 2 points on Army Quality (Recruits>Professional)
MILITARY ORDERS:
Deploy all forces in Portugal proper.
At the outset of war, try to raise an uproar in Spain over the Spanish monarch's betrayal of a Christian nation in favour of heathens. Hopefully we can induce the pious Spanish nobility to revolt against their king.
We expect that the main Spanish advance will be down the Tagus towards Lisbon. Initially, we should allow them to advance, presenting only minimal resistance. Hopefully, they will be overconfident and will advance recklessly. While they are advancing, we will be constructing a massive series of fortifications some distance to the east of Lisbon. When they reach that line we will defend it strongly and stop their advance cold. Meanwhile, attack from the flanks, and try to cut the Spanish supply lines and surround their army. Once they are surrounded, besiege them. Hit them with siege cannon and let them starve until they surrender. Once that happens, begin to advance into Spain. Head slowly towards Madrid.
The third turn in BirdNES, when I was fighting Egypt.
, where they only turned a profit in Algeria).
