[MEIOU] SavoyAAR Reality-show

[aniuby]

Ooh boy, the Savoyard blob just keeps growing and growing. Never mind 'Big Ruler', it's pretty clear that you're the biggest ruler around, and I presume you'll soon add the Emperor title to that list. Did you get those new personal unions by chance, without claiming thrones? In any case, more is always nice, but I'm starting to feel that those names are just little more than one less person you'll get to beat around. Also, I feel like I want to argue heraldry with you some more (using both a pale and a fess to divide minor arms? titles no longer arranged according to seniority?) but that really isn't the point of me being here.

DensleyBlair, to get the chapé-ployé in Photoshop, use one of the functions to create a shield shape and divide it in half, separate them, then join the left edge of the left piece to the right edge of the right piece. That'll create a nice chapé-ployé in the space below the joined halves. Also, I'm kinda curious as to what exactly that crest you created represents - what's in the dexter base quarter?

 

[DensleyBlair]

DensleyBlair, to get the chapé-ployé in Photoshop, use one of the functions to create a shield shape and divide it in half, separate them, then join the left edge of the left piece to the right edge of the right piece. That'll create a nice chapé-ployé in the space below the joined halves. Also, I'm kinda curious as to what exactly that crest you created represents - what's in the dexter base quarter?

Cheers. I'll have a play with PS and see what I can do. The dexter base quarter is Carniola (1 and 4) and Gorizia (2 and 3.) It's actually something to do with the Karlings's adventures - though I haven't quite got to the relevant point in the story yet.

 

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I did claim the Epirus title (therefore the succession war) and the Aragon (via obscure documents), otherwise all the others were just regular "gold-digger" strategy: marry the rulers with no heir

I want to get rid of the Hohenhozern union, since their quarter ruins every arrangement I try to do... I guess I will rearrange everything Round XVIII

 

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Round XVII (1485-1495): From Turkey to England

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, Louis I lead a crusade against Makruria, and fought a bloody war with France, while inheriting the thrones of Milan and Austria! Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Louis I de Savoie, Roi de Savoie et des Arpitans, Rei d'Aragó, Knjaže Bălgarija, Erzherzöge Österreich, Duc de Lorraine, Duce de Milano, Graft von Hohenzollern.

Louis: Good Evening Ray!

Ray: Louis, you fought a nice round last time, conquering back two thrones after two were incorporated into Savoy at your father's death. Are you glad?

Louis: I am. More importantly, these two new crowns do change the way I see Savoy's future.

Ray: What do you mean?

Louis: Well, as Roi des Arpitans, and with the crown of Aragon also mine, the center of Savoy was going West. A lot of people were requesting that Savoy moves its capital to Toulouse. Milan and Austria makes it Even, centered on the Alps, and more integrated into the Holy Roman Empire.

Ray: So what are your plans? We heard you might move the capital to Torino?

Louis: We will see. This is something I'm not entirely sure about. Our priority should be to restore peace on the Kingdom.

George: Then, no war scheduled?

Louis: Just one, but this should be quick.

George: Which target?

Louis: Just a small crusade... You will see!

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Ray: Louis is right, Savoy needs to recover from the previous wars. A quick war might be the only one he can afford.

George: We won't have to wait too long before he makes a move. In April 1486 he attacks Karaman. Nice choice.

Ray: But the Muslim world does not want to see Savoy expand again in the area. Kanem Bornu defends Karaman. And a few weeks later, Dulkadir and Hedjaz attack Savoy.

George: Muslim troops are still strong, but Savoy has the upper hand in the numbers. Savoy troops quickly invade both Hedjaz, Dulkadir and Karaman.

Ray: In May 1487, Anazah and Eretna attack Savoy. It just looks like a huge party, and every Muslim state is invited.

George: Yes, they have been struggling against Savoy lately, so they feel the need to attack all simultaneously in the hope to push Savoy back...

Ray: I am not sure that it will work... Savoy is winning on both fronts.

George: You are right. In Turkey, this is even more visual. Savoy initially attacked Karaman and Dulkadir from the South. They were forced back against Anazah, but in the same time, the Northern front, made of Bulgaria, Savoy, Hum, Athens and Trebizon had a chance to progress. To make things worse for the Muslim alliance, Aragon landed some troops by sea in the South. I don't see how Savoy can loose it.

Ray: This might change the war... In June, Mali decides to support Anazah and enter the war.

George: This will not change the fate of the war, but the Savoyard colony of Inchiri is right under Malian threat here...

Ray: To focus on it, Louis negotiates the first peaces treaties...

George: Yes, he has to go out of the war quickly, remember?

Ray: Fez disagrees, and attacks !

George: This prevents the Savoyard fleet to bring reinforcements to Inchiri, since Fez has a strong fleet blocking the Gibraltar straights. We will have to wait for the coalition, mostly Castille and Aragon, to sunk it before accessing Inchiri. But this will be too late. The defending army is wiped out, and the colony conquered in September.

Ray: This loss of Inchiri is a big blow for Savoy, since Inchiri was considered a "National Focus"

George: This is a question of pride now. Inchiri is taken back in January, as soon as the Fez fleet allows it.

Ray: But with the war, the colony is not growing anymore. In less than twenty years it should be disbanded....

George: We will see, I am sure that Louis has some trick to counter that.

Ray: Anyway, the wars are ended quickly after that... But Candar does not want Savoy to be at peace...

George: This is a bad timing for that small state, liberated from the Ottomans oppression thanks to Savoy, years ago. Savoy is only at war with Candar. In less than six months it capitulates and is annexed.

Ray: Let's have a look at Savoy situation in Turkey at the end of this series of war, in December 1488.

George: Savoy starts to explode over-there. Connecting the two parts of Trebizond will be done next war with Karaman, allowing a pilgrim to walk from Alexandria to Constantinople without leaving Savoy's authority...

Ray: One year later, Louis announces a huge reform...

George: It has to be a law about Unam Sanctum, or Divine Supremacy, as we discussed before...

Ray: Not necessarily. Savoy has a lot of legitimate religious enemies right now. They don't need it... Louis supports a new law about Colonial Growth, which encourage the volunteer population of colonies.... This is a law dedicated to Inchiri, which is now back on the growth path.

George: This might give us a hint toward his next move. Is Savoy going colonial?

Ray: Anyway, as soon as summer 1491, Savoy is back to European business. Castille asks for help against England.

George: While Louis should probably not go into war right now, as his people needs peace, he probably aims for a quick war, which would lead to the conquest of English continental land...

Ray: Savoy joins, and immediately after, Makruria takes the chance and attack Savoy!

George: The war with England is going smoothly, despite an initial loss at the battle of York. English holdings in France, Ireland and Denmark are under Savoyard control, while the Savoyard coalition makes good progress from Scotland, Cornwall and an overload in Dover. Here is the situation in January 1492.

Ray: Anyway, Louis needs to get out of the war quickly. In August, he signs peaces with England and Makruria.

George: Louis really had to get out of the war to sign peace with England! He leaves all his vassals fighting England without him!

Ray: Can they do some good?

George: Well, possibly. But not soon. The small holdings (Ireland, Denmark, France) are no problem. Aragon, Anjou and Connaught are already controlling it. However, without the huge Scottish front, England will be able to redeploy its troops. I'm affraid the Dover pocket will suffer from it... And I'm concerned for Cornwalls...

Ray: You were right.

George: Yes... Cornwall is annexed by England in March 1493, while Aragon gets some land in Scandinavia. Here is the situation in August 1494.

Ray: Louis is back to internal business. In Summer 1495 he annexes Sardinia, and to my surprise decides to move its capital to Turin!

George: This decision makes the Savoie family an Italian power, rather than an Arpitan one...

Ray: This might make sense, since all the Savoy vassals are in Italy. Anyway, in December 1495 the next step is no surprise for me...

Ray: This is exciting folks! We'll tell you more about Sardinia-Piedmont in our next episode, so don't miss the next episode of BIG RULER!

 

[SirkTheMonkey]

Huzzah, we know which way you're focusing now. Please, please exercise caution with regard to Roma. It might end up much more trouble than would be worth to annex if/when you get around to beating up the Pope for his chunk of Italy.

 

[Vassili]

Hell yeah rule, Torino! >:-D

 

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I will try to post Round XVIII tonight -if my son allows me to.

Waiting for that, the first map of Piedmont-Sardinia redrawn to highlight the current Commonwealth and the areas of interest for the next rounds..

 

[SirkTheMonkey]

That image is broken for me. When I go to open it in a new tab it gives me a connection error. I'm not sure if that's my issue, yours, or Imageshack's.

 

[DensleyBlair]

Sardinia-Piedmonte, eh? Nicely done. Do you have any plans to make the borders a bit more pleasing to the eye, or will things stay as they are? Those inheritances have certainly made for an interesting looking kingdom.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the country will recover after all of these wars - you've certainly had a hard round. And, of course, I'm looking forward to some more heraldry

 

[aniuby]

I actually like 'abandoning' my vassals and PU partners at war like what you did against England, as it allows them to grab territory which they'll pay for with their own infamy, like what Aragon did, although as we saw it could also lead to their annexation. So it was quite strange that you quit the war against England while they were still capable of resistance, despite your overwhelming strength - usually I'd make it a point to crush or significantly weaken the enemy before peacing out. And you really have quite a prodigious rate of conquest, especially considering how you're taking territory to give it away to your vassals. What's your monthly infamy burn?

And the Sardinia-Piedmont ... unexpected. I thought you were remaining Arpitan to try to get cores on the Aragonese inheritance? Or is that already gone? And does the decision give you cores on anything other than Sardinia and Savoy? I'll take a while to get used to the sky blue ...

Hell yeah rule, Torino! >:-D

Go Juve, best in Italia =P

 

[SirkTheMonkey]

I thought you were remaining Arpitan to try to get cores on the Aragonese inheritance? Or is that already gone? And does the decision give you cores on anything other than Sardinia and Savoy? I'll take a while to get used to the sky blue ...

Catalan is in the Neapolitan (south Italian) culture group whereas Arpitan in the Langue d' Oc (south French) so there would never be cores there. The decision only gives cores on four provinces: Piemonte and the 3 provinces of Sardinia but it does give two base tax boosts and will one day promote you to a Kingdom if you aren't already.

 

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Sorry guys, my son was not willing to let me go on the computer yesterday. Anyway, I'll post a special 2-hours update for Round XVIII today. (Images already uploaded)

That image is broken for me. When I go to open it in a new tab it gives me a connection error. I'm not sure if that's my issue, yours, or Imageshack's.

It seems to work from several locations... Anyway this image is not really important.

Sardinia-Piedmonte, eh? Nicely done. Do you have any plans to make the borders a bit more pleasing to the eye, or will things stay as they are? Those inheritances have certainly made for an interesting looking kingdom.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the country will recover after all of these wars - you've certainly had a hard round. And, of course, I'm looking forward to some more heraldry

Yes. Turkey and North Africa (low infamy conquests) and Italy (who doesn't know where I'm going?) are viable targets. You'll get two new shields in the next round
War exhaustion is my issue right now, which explains why I had to leave the war with England quickly. But I have a huge Manpower limit so I'm recovering quickly. The revolts mainly occurs in Muslim lands, where I do have troops, so it is not a real issue... so far.

I actually like 'abandoning' my vassals and PU partners at war like what you did against England, as it allows them to grab territory which they'll pay for with their own infamy, like what Aragon did, although as we saw it could also lead to their annexation. So it was quite strange that you quit the war against England while they were still capable of resistance, despite your overwhelming strength - usually I'd make it a point to crush or significantly weaken the enemy before peacing out. And you really have quite a prodigious rate of conquest, especially considering how you're taking territory to give it away to your vassals. What's your monthly infamy burn?

And the Sardinia-Piedmont ... unexpected. I thought you were remaining Arpitan to try to get cores on the Aragonese inheritance? Or is that already gone? And does the decision give you cores on anything other than Sardinia and Savoy? I'll take a while to get used to the sky blue ...



Go Juve, best in Italia =P

I had to leave the war with England or my WE would have gone out of control. In the last 40 years I mainly gained 1-infamy territories: either from war dynamism (very few land) or holy war, or (Makruria) dishonorable scums. I try to stay 4-5 points under my limit. Depending on the ruler, I can burn 1 to 1.5 infamy a year. Moreover, I've got a lot of small infamy burn events. This "Savoyard Moon" event, giving 5 prestige or -0.1 infamy (so -0.1 infamy), is popping like every month or so. (I guess it is related to WE ?), which gives an extra 1-1.2 infamy to burn yearly. In a 10-years round, this makes a 10-15 infamy burn + events, which corresponds to my infamy rate via treaties: +11 in Round 15, +17 (but with 3 vassals release) in round 16, +12 in round 17. In 1523 I'm at 27/34 in infamy, burning 1.5 a year (+ events, so probably a 2-2.5/y burn), which allows for 20+ infamy to use per round.

Occitania would have given me cores on a few French provinces, plus my own occitan provinces (which are coring quickly). Piedmont-Sardinia however gives me cores on 3 provinces I've just got, and is the right path to Italy, which would give me cores on a lot of HRE vassals or partners, so I won't get the infamy when annexing them. A thing that turning into France won't do. Moreover, going Occitania would makes me renounce on Lorraine, Hohenzollern, Milan and Austria cores when inheriting since I would be out of the HRE. If I could have gone Occitania while staying in the HRE, it might have been an option, but with my current unions and vassals, it was not.

And another thing: don't get use to the sky blue. It won't stay for long...

 

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Round XVIII (1495-1506): To Italy (Part 1)

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, Louis I fought again in Turkey, before he decided to suddenly move its capital to Turin and create the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont! We will have a lot to deal with tonight, so today is going to be a 2-hours special!

B.: Yeah! More fun!

Ray: Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Louis I de Savoie, Re de Piemonte-Sardinia, Rei d'Aragó, Knjaže Bălgarija, Erzherzöge Österreich, Duc de Lorraine, Duce de Milano, Graft von Hohenzollern.

Louis: Hi Ray, how are you?

Ray: Louis... your decision to move to Turin and form the Kindgom of Sardinia-Piedmonte suprised more than one... Can you explain?

Louis: Sure. After we annexed Armagnac, we had to acknowledge that we were ruling nearly all the Occitans. A lot of people in my court were pushing to move the capital to Toulouse and form what they named "Occitania". But the Emperor warned me: if we do that, we leave the Empire. We couldn't afford that.

George: Why? Are you scared?

Louis: Lorraine, Alsace, Austria, Milan, Switzerland, Tuscany, Urbino.... We have dozens of parterns or vassals who are members of the Empire. Leaving it would ruin our relations with our people. See, I was not only King of Savoy, I had to rule on a vast commonwealth, and most of its members were Imperial Italians.

Ray: Is this why you choose to go to Turin?

Louis: Indeed. Another part of the court asked for a move to Turin, as it would get us closer to our Italian vassals. It was a difficult move, because the Arpitans were against it, and they were a majority in the Kingdom. But they were a minority in the commonwealth. So we decided to move to Turin, and form Sardinia-Piedmonte.

B.: Congratulations! I love that blue!

Ray: So Louis, what are your plans for this round?

Louis: Not to hurry... We are recovering quickly for a very bloody last round. But we are not going to do any war in the next few years. Moreover, half our vassals and partners still are at war with England. We have to wait for them to be at peace before going back to war. Turkey, the Adriatic and Denmark would be nice targets then.

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Ray: I don't think we can really trust Louis when he says he's not going to war. We are only one year into Round XVIII when he visits his distant relative the heirless King of Hungary, and makes its will clear: Louis wants to inherit Hungary.

George: This is unlikely that this claim will be recognized. I doubt Louis can inherit a seventh union. When there is a succession crisis, the Hungarian senate will elect one of his kind. A Foreigner has no chance.

Ray: You are right. But we have to look at the other circumstances. Connaught conquered English Ireland, and in May 1497, peace is signed between Castille and England. The last few vassals of Savoy still at war now are at peace.

George: This is what Louis needs to claim the throne of Hungary. In August, Hungary, already at war against Norway, Muscowy and Moldavia, is attacked by Savoy and its partners. Poland and Bayern, Hungary allies, declines to join. And a few days later, Bohemia and Brandenburg attacks Hungary too. This is a huge coalition against Hungary, and I doubt they will be able to afford it.

Ray: This is not a fair war indeed. Hungary only chance would be for someone to exploit that war to attack either the Savoyard or the Muscovite alliance.

George: Karaman will do it. In November. Kanem Bornu and Mantese join.

Ray: Will it change anything?

George: I doubt so. In march 1498, the Hungarian army is defeated in front of Pest by a Savoyard and Bohemian army. Bohemia controls the North of Bulgaria, Savoy -I mean Sardinia-Piedmonte- the whole West.

Ray: While the two fronts are progressing, Hussites are raiding Anjou. Here is the situation in April 1499.

George: With all these wars, Sardinia is not the only one to be exhausted with the war. There are 60,000 Hussites occupying all Anjou. The Angevine Army is down to 1 single regiment, who retreated to Castillian La Rochelle. Louis is going to send 30,000 men to Anjou to wipe them down and support his vassal.

Ray: Since Castille is defender of the faith, no one takes care of the Hussites anymore, and this starts to be problematic.

George: Indeed. They do not expand that much, they mostly are around the Baltic see, but they raid Western Europe more and more often... Anyway, this does not prevent the alliance to progress properly both in Hungary, Turkey, and Kanem Borno North Africa. Look where we are in June.

Ray: Another proof of bad timing from a Muslim state. In September 1499, while the fate of the war in Turkey lets no hope to the Muslims, Syrian Anazah and its ally Eretnea attacks.

George: Bad timing indeed. With nearly all Karaman territory under Sardinian control, the armies in Turkey can quickly move to these two new opponents. In January their armies are beaten.

Ray: What can we expect from these wars?

George: First, the crown of Hungary. In Turkey, I would try to connect both parts of Trebizon, and maybe connect the Middle-East part of Savoy with the Knights territories, South-West of Turkey.

Ray: First part is achieved in July 1500. A few days after Bohemia leaves the war, Hungary is forced to give its crown before suffering heavier losses.

George: Nicely played. With this war over, and all the Muslims ready to capitulate, Savoy can grab some land...

Ray: Indeed. The revolt rate is growing in Sardinia-Piedmonte, so between August 1500 and March 1501, Louis signs peaces with both Karaman and Anazah, ending these wars with conquests.

George: So the commonwealth can breath, before going back to war?

Ray: Before that, Louis realizes that between Austria, Milan, Sardinia-Piemonte, and their respective vassals, the entire Italian region is under his rule.

George: Genoa, Roma, the Latium and Umbria are not.

Ray: Well, most of Italy is. Therefore, he asks to his friend the Emperor of Bohemia to be crown King of Italy instead of Piedmont-Sardinia... And he accepts!

George: This is amazing Ray!

Ray: It is. We'll come back after the news for the second part of this 2-h special of BIG RULER ! Don't miss it folks, as it is going wild!

 

[InvisibleSandwi]

Congratulations on forming the most misnamed Italy ever! Seriously, it'll probably improve a lot once you get your hands on whatever cores this unification provides in MEIOU, but given your substantial holdings in such non-Italian places as France, Scotland, Denmark, and Turkey, I think you would be more credible as a restored Roman Empire or something.

 

[SirkTheMonkey]

Oh wow, the Italian formation actually worked without save scumming? I'm impressed. Is that Teutonic Prussia I see up there? Do you remember how long ago that happened? I presume they've converted away from Catholicism in order for it to happen.
Just remember, let the Pope keep Rome if you can. I'd prefer to avoid having the Big Ruler save file come into my workshop for repairs.

 

[aniuby]

I ... I have no words. Or I do have one. It's 'Crikey'.

Still seeking more personal unions? I guess you won't stop with those claims until you've actually brought every single European under your control. Do you have a 'final' goal like world conquest or some other point which would satisfy the Big Ruler crowd? And, regarding the previous update, I don't understand how that giant war machine could somehow peace out against England, even if you had crazy war exhaustion - surely the two concurrent wars would have ended more quickly if you had committed forces to both of them.

And Catalans are Italian in MEIOU? Well, that is ... no comment.

 

[SirkTheMonkey]

And Catalans are Italian in MEIOU? Well, that is ... no comment.

I knew I'd get that kind of reaction. It's a gameplay kludge so that Aragon can get cores if it inherits Sicily and Naples as they did historically.

 

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Oh wow, the Italian formation actually worked without save scumming? I'm impressed. Is that Teutonic Prussia I see up there? Do you remember how long ago that happened? I presume they've converted away from Catholicism in order for it to happen.
Just remember, let the Pope keep Rome if you can. I'd prefer to avoid having the Big Ruler save file come into my workshop for repairs.

This is Hussite Prussia. Not sure exactly when it happened, I'll check on that tonight.
I'm not sure how the "variable_claims" exactly works. I couldn't form Italy before my war with Hungary because I was not having enough claim on the Venetian area, but this changed during the war. Maybe Austria annexing Venice helped with it?

In 1523, the Pope is still in Rome... but this might change (you'll understand why in the first lines of the 2nd part of Round XVIII)

I ... I have no words. Or I do have one. It's 'Crikey'.

Still seeking more personal unions? I guess you won't stop with those claims until you've actually brought every single European under your control. Do you have a 'final' goal like world conquest or some other point which would satisfy the Big Ruler crowd? And, regarding the previous update, I don't understand how that giant war machine could somehow peace out against England, even if you had crazy war exhaustion - surely the two concurrent wars would have ended more quickly if you had committed forces to both of them.

No, I usually dislike going to war for a crown, since it is diplomat (and money) expensive to restore the relations. It happened three times in this game: Epirus (but I was the defender, the crown was rightfully mine), Aragon (to kick them out of Italy), and Hungary. For Hungary this was an opportunity: that big chunk of land between Austria and Bulgaria allows to connect all my holdings. I've been able to send troops to walk from Bordeaux to Alexandria!

I don't have any "final" goal. World Conquests are too tough to achieve in MEIOU, I don't think I am skilled enough to do one. I'm in 1523 in the game and still enjoys it, with so much remaining to do, while usually in vanilla this is the time I'm just annexing simultaneously Hordes and Mayan territory....

I needed to go out of the war with England not only for me, but also for all my vassals who might want to peace out because of their own WE. I'm at a turning point in the game where WE is a more limiting factor than infamy....

 

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Round XVIII (1495-1506): To Italy (Part 2)

Ray: Welcome back everyone to the second part of this 2-h special edition of BIG RULER. Before the break, we were in March 1501, and Louis just formed Italy. George, what do you think his next move will be?

George: Probably spend a couple years recovering from the war with Hungary and consolidate his relations with this new dependency of the crown. Then go on the offensive and reconquer his land from Genoa and the Pope.

Ray: It looks like the pacific part is on. Oh, by the way, do you remember that piece of Scandinavia Aragon took from the English?

George: What about it?

Ray: Catholics extremists revolted there a few years ago, and no one really cared for that distant colony. Aragon gave it away without fighting. Their leader proclaimed himself the pope Clemens VII. We now have two popes. That schism creates great turmoil in the Catholic world.

George: This is the opportunity Louis needs. In December, his troops are spread along Genoan and Pontifical borders. The two are allies, so Savoyard emissaries are sent simultaneously to Genoa and Rome to declare war.

Ray: What about their other allies?

George: Louis hoped that, just as they did when his great-grand-father Charles attacked Aragon, Castille decides to stay neutral between their two allies, but they join the Pope, bringing Portugal with them. England declares war to defend Genoa, and the Ottomans declare war as well, to exploit the situation.

Ray: For once, it is a smart move from a Turkish state.

George: Indeed. While Savoy is doing nice progress in England, defending the border against the English Army, the Turks are taking the advantage in the early battles.

Ray: Italy seems to focus on Italy, England and Turkey rather than Castille and Portugal ?

George: Italy and Turkey should be short wars, if focused properly. They need to force Genoa, the Pope and the Ottomans to capitulate quickly before moving troops to England and Castille, who are too big otherwise. Defense lines are set by the Aragon against Castille and by Italy against England, but no progress is expected there.

Ray: France takes the chance and attack England. But you were saying ? What about Portugal?

George: the fact that Portugal joined the war is an unexpected but nice opportunity for Savoy to quickly seize land. See, A few years ago, Aragon and Portugal decided to sponsor explorers to find a Western Road to India. Aragon already seized a few land north of Inchiri, as well as Madeira, and there are rumors that they discovered a huge land in the Western Atlantic, but Portugal Explorers did nothing but establish a colony on islands South-West of Inchiri. Knowing that, an army is sent to capture the yet undiscovered archipelago. The heavily armed Inchiri Army is sent for that mission

Ray: Can we have a map of the other fronts?

George: Sure. Here is the situation in May 1504. The Inchiri army went up to the Canarias, Castillian La Rochelle and Genoa already felt to Italy, while Genoan and Pontifical holdings in the Balkans or in Turkey are under siege. The situation is stable in England and Spain, even if Castille is progressing in Aragon.

Ray: With such progress in the East, Genoa and the Ottomans quickly surrender.

George: This allows for a redeployment of the Eastern troops. This mainly concerns Castilla, as the Spanish are pushed back from Aragon, while you can see the Portugese Canarias under siege now.

Ray: The war slowly goes on through 1505...

George: Yes. Progress are slow now, with the main town heavily fortified. Moreover, heavy battles are coming in the end of this year 1505....

Ray: This urges Louis to make peace with the pope. Louis renounces on his ambitions on the Pontifical center of Trade of Dubrovnik. Portugal signs a peace as well, renouncing to liberate the Cape Verde from its Italian occupation.

George: This allows for the Italians to land some troops in Andalusia. Just as Italy is, Castille is suffering from war exhaustion. A lot of revolts are spreading, helping the progress of the alliance.

Ray: But the revolts are spreading in Italy too. Louis needs to go out of the war as soon as possible. England and Castille are granted peaces in March 1506, paying war reparations to Savoy, who can keep the Spanish side of the Canarias.

George: Louis has to control his own land before seizing new one.

Ray: And now he can start integrating his Italian vassals into the main land. Mantova is the first one, in April 1506. And there will not be a second one under his reign, as Louis dies in August.

George: What an amazing ruler Philippe will be! I'm looking forward to it!

Ray: Maybe we can have a look at the land under his rule?

George: Indeed. This map shows all the land under his direct rule. We should add Aquilea, Austrian last vassal, and notice the alliances with Tarnovo and the Roman Empire. Louis has been trying to vassalize them for years.

Ray: Can we focus on Europe first? France, England, Castille, and Poland are the only threats to Italy, while Sweden, Polotsk and Muscovy might be in the next future.

George: This is more challenging in Africa. Hejaz, Kanem Borno, Fez and Mali are powerful, and the Italian holdings are not that well defended... The growth of Aragon in West Africa is promising though.

Ray: You say that Mali and Fez are powerful and potential threats... Is it really the case? After all, Italy should be way more advanced technologically, isn't it?

George: This is the case. Italy is in the average of European nations, way more advanced that these third-world nations, but still, Mali will not be afraid to send 40,000 men to Inchiri. The 15,000 men garrison might be outnumbered...

Ray: What about next targets? Rome might be one?

George: Well, let's have a look at the map again.

Ray: What about it?

George: We can see 10 enclaves into the commonwealth limits: Rome of course, the French Area of Saintes, the Pope Center of Trade of Dubrovnik, the capitals of Tarnovo, Karaman and the Roman Empire, the Portugese Canarias and the Kingdom of Serbia makes for 8 easy targets. The Adriatic area is more complex, shared by the Pope, Castille, Napoli, France and Croatia, so internal Turkey, divided between Ottomans, the Roman Empire, Karaman and Eretnea, makes for an easier target.

Ray: But this is considering naval continuity only...

George: Indeed. In the Roman Empire, the only thing Philippe will be able to do is acquire new vassals, and annex its Italian ones. Connecting through Saxony or Denmark will not be an option. Philippe might try to annex France holdings in the South-West though, connect its Egyptian and Libyan holdings, and maybe progress to Tunisia.

Ray: We know that Italian rulers tend to compare themselves to Iulius Ceasar, do you think it might be an objective for Philippe?

George: I doubt so. To reform the Roman Empire of Ceasar, you'll first need to conquer France, Spain, Portugal, the Ottomans, Tunisia and South Italy. This is too much.

Ray: But this might be an objective for the next centuries?

George: Maybe. Add Morocco and England to this list and the current commonwealth is already more extanded than Domitian's Empire. Go or Mesopotamia and you'll rule more lands than Trajan, fourteen centuries ago.

Ray: Italy will be unbeatable!

George: If land conquest made someone strong, then we would all speak latin....

Ray: Well, we will have to see how Philippes handles it! See you next time, don't miss the next episode of BIG RULER!

 

[Tallfellow]

That's a very impressive empire you have there!