Round XVI (1475-1485): From Egypt to Ireland
Ray: GOOOOOOOOOOD Evening everyone and Welcome to "BIG RULER". I'm Ray Porter, and I am here with George I. Joe and B. Rene Daid to help you all follow that alternative history! This season, we are following
Savoy. Last time, Philibert I lead the first crusades in half a century to victory, but died half round. His son Louis inherited of the thrones of Epirus and Scotland, which should be problematic! Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Louis I de Savoie,
Roi de Savoie et des Arpitans, Rei d'Aragó, Knjaže Bălgarija, Duc de Lorraine, Graft von Hohenzollern.
Louis: Hey Ray! It's a pleasure to finally meet you.
Ray: Same here. Louis, before we start... There is a question I must to ask. Aren't you too disappointed by the inheritances of Epirus and Scotland, and what are your plans?
Louis: I'll be honest Ray, Lorraine and Aragon would have been better choices! Anyway, the situations of the two countries are way different.
George: What do you mean?
Louis: Well, let's start with Epirus. Epirus was a big nation, holding most of Greece, and even holdings in Turkey. There are several islands, and a total of eight provinces with hostile neighbors: Karaman, Ottomans, Hamids, Napoli, Arbanon, Hungary and Tarnovo. As of today, some provinces already are under the siege of revoltees. We just can't hold that territory.
Ray: But it is strong economically, as it holds both banks of the Bosphorus...
Louis: Indeed. The Bosphorus, mostly Constantinople to be honest, is great to have as there are numerous ships transiting through it, so there are a lot of taxes to lose if we give it. However, Greece itself is pretty poor. I've already met with the representatives of Morea, Athens and Corfu, and we will give them some lands, since they swear us allegiance. Our partners of Bulgaria, the order of Malta and Trabzon will be granted some lands as well.
Ray: So you only plan to keep Constantinople and Izmir. What about Scotland?
Louis: Scotland is way different. In the last wars against England, we saw that Scotland was no match for the English. Several times, Savoy had to ship troops from Denmark, with the risk of the navy being intercepted. Releasing Scotland makes no sense whatsoever.
Ray: But what about the rebels?
Louis: This is not a real problem. See, only half of the Scottish territory is Scottish. The other half is English, so there will be rebels there. This will be too much for a young Scotland to handle.
George: What about defending the territory?
Louis: Yes, here we are in a situation very different from Epirus. Only three provinces have connections to potential enemies: York and Lancaster to England, Ibhnir Nis to Norwegian' Orkney, through the straights. Therefore, a small garrison would be able to resist any assault long enough for reinforcement to come.
George: What about the 300?
Ray: George, do you mean these 300 volunteers who gathered in front of Philibert's palace a few days before his reign?
George: Yes Ray, these 300.
Louis: Indeed George. The day after Christmas, about 300 people suddenly appeared in front of the palace. They just poped up like, I don't know, a comet or something. They were asking for lands. We didn't know what to do. My father sent 50 men and 50 women in the Egyptian province of Siwa, with the mission to create a colony there, south-west of Matruh. We didn't know what to do with the other 200, but when the senates of Scotland and Epirus voted their annexation, they transferred their cartographic knowledge to us. We then discovered two areas, south of the Castillo-Portuguese archipelago of the Canaries. We agreed to paid for their trip, and they have been asked to settle Savoyard farms there.
Ray: So Louis, what are your objectives for this round?
Louis: We will see how it goes. If we have to go to war, it will have to be in the East. The orthodox state of Makruria for instance has taken so much land against the Mamluks and Ethiopia lately that everyone wants to see them down...
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Ray: The early days of Louis reigns are used to liberate Corfu, Morea and Athens, and send diplomats one by one to negotiate the giveaway of the Greek lands. While his predecessors were seen as dangerous conquerors by the other European powers, this strategy grants him the praises from his peers...
George: This means they will be more lenient towards him when he'll annex some land in Egypt...
Ray: It probably will. Anyway, Louis receives news from the 300. The caravan moving toward Siwa suffered thirst in the Sahara... No survivor. The boat aiming to the Arguin area was caught in a storm... No survivor. The news coming from Inchiri are good however. The 50 men and 50 women sent there successfully established an Arpitan colony on the shore in March 1475. There is no indigenous population. The living conditions are not good however, neighbor Mali is a threat, people are depressed.... Louis councilors estimate that the colony will be empty in less than five years.
George: This is a shame. With Portugal and Castille already present in the Canarias, this opportunity for a West African holding should not be wasted...
Ray: It won't be. Louis strongly believes in this colony, and makes it a national focus. Citizens here will not pay taxes, food and gears will be sent there to help the colony to expand. A garrison will be provided to defend it from Mali... Now we can estimate that in less than forty years, this colony will be a valiant province of the Empire...
George: How is the situation in Greece?
Ray: Looking good. In January 1476 all negotiations with Malta, Athens, Morea, Corfu, Bulgaria and Trabzon are done. By giving away so many land, Savoy is back to a reasonable size, while it went out of control with Epirus' inheritance.
George: We might see some action now, as the Ottomans attacked Arbanon... Bulgaria guaranteed the them and joined the war.
Ray: It looks like there will be no involvement of Savoyard troops though. The Bulgarian fleet prevents the Ottomans from invading Europe, and even prevents the Ottoman fleet to leave their harbor... And remember, Louis plans an invasion of Egypt. Anyway, a few years after revolting to Flandres, Brabant revolts back and declares independent. Antoine II is back on his throne, and pledges allegiance to Louis. He only controls the cities of Ghent and Brussels though, nearly only half his holdings before the revolt of 1461...
George: On October 29, 1478, the peace treaty with the Mamluks has been signed five years and one day ago. Louis declares war to finish his father's work, and six weeks later, Cairo is Savoyard. Makruria is attacked a few hours after the Egyptian capitulation.
Ray: the Makrurian army is tough so, a lot of East African Orthodox warriors.
George: Yes, these black guys are robust and valiant. Savoy win its battles along the Nile, but at the cost of heavy losses.
Ray: I can see it being an issue...
George: It is. It slows down Savoy a lot. It takes their armies eighteen months to force Makruria to capitulate. Louis asks for the only provinces worth anything: the banks, may it be of the Nile or of the Red Sea.
Ray: Awsome news reach Louis a few months later. In January 1481, Karl II von Habsburg died with no heir. As he married Louis's sister, the Austrian senates recognizes him as the new Archduke. Louis I now is Österreich erzherzog.
George: This is very good, as Austria is a very powerful power in South HRE, having Trent, Aquilea, Gorz and Venice as vassals. This really makes for the loss of Epirus.
Ray: Indeed, and a few months later, Austria will have the opportunity to join Savoy in a war, the first time since the Austrian subjugation war of Lorraine of 1356. Castille just attacked excommunicated France, and I see an ambassador heading towards Chambery to ask for Savoy's assistance.
B.: Guys! Guys!
Ray: B.! Long time no see! How are you?
B.: Good, thanks. Guys, the sentinels just brought the news of a Spanish horseman heading towards Chambery to Louis, and he does not seem very happy.... He is meeting with Richard de Verdon, the diplomat member of his court..
Richard: We can't be sure this is what he comes for!
Louis: But this is probably it. We are going to war against France.
Richard: Well, if you do so, the pope granted you the right to annex all the land you want South of Bordeaux. You will not be considered as legitimate to rule them, but you will be right to annex them.
Louis: This is not my problem. The old Borgona is.
Richard: Maria I de Borgona will probably be asking you to assist her, indeed. So she will conducts the peace negotiations.
Louis: Not if I attack France first! After all, I don't know yet that she is asking for me to attack France, do I?
Richard: My King, I will then warn the French ambassador and our generals on the French border that we declared war, and greet that Spanish with the good news before he can ask for help....
Ray: Interesting move. I hope Castille doesn't get upset.
George: Who cares? France is already down. Their entire army is in North Africa and can't rejoin. In four months, the front is deep into France's land, and their European holdings are under siege
Ray: In August 1481, Savoy declares Education a priority. Your Savoyards now are forced to School until 10.
George: Louis is back to internal matters because the French war is near its end.
Ray: The situation is the same or so in October.
George: Give it some time. In Summer 1482, the Palatinate capitulates and becomes a vassal. The third vassalized elector after Saxony and Saluzzo.
Ray: Koln would make it four...
George: Yes, but the King of Bohemia would disagree. He grants Savoy full ownership on any imperial land Savoy can liberate from France if he does not vassalize Koln. Since no army is besieging Koln anyway, Louis agrees and signs peace with France in September, taking some land in the South-West, as granted by the Pope, and two imperial provinces. France will also liberate Irish Connacht and big Anjou.
Ray: Why Anjou? It is very unlikely that Savoy can pacifically vassalize it, it is just too big!
George: "Very Unlinkely" doesn't mean "Impossible" Ray. I'm sure Louis will do his best.
Ray: Anyway, the next few weeks are intense. Louis first promotes the writing press through his lands, and good news reach the palace, as the old Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo I, just died... With no know heir of any kind, the Lombard senate has to nominate his new ruler, and this is going to be Louis...
George: And see what I told you! On the first try they did it! Savoy vassalized Anjou!
Ray: What a month! Now Louis decides to annex Armagnac!
George: With Anjou and Milan in, Louis do not need Armagnac anymore... And the center of trade of Bordeaux will help to maintain a defending garrison in Scotland.
Ray: With so much action in 1482, England, Bohemia and the Pope have their eyes straight on Louis.... He'll have to play it down now. Connaght is vassalized in February 83, but this is the only action left in this round..... Anyway, I'm sure next one will be as intense as this one, so don't miss the next episode of BIG RULER!