Chapter 42: Building for the Future (1706-10)
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The Franconian-Palatinate Nationalist War – February to July 1706
Before Friesland could complete its siege of Liege – despite a large artillery bombardment of the walls in early May and without the option
[afaik] of concluded a separate peace to gain territory from Liege – Franconia concluded a comprehensive peace with The Palatinate and all its allies on 24 July 1706.
Apart from a few ducats and a little prestige, Friesland emerged largely empty-handed from the treaty. Most of the fairly light Frisian casualties had come from siege attrition.
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Foreign and Diplomatic Developments – 1706 to 1707
In February 1706, the Frisian alliances with Scandinavia and Savoy remained the only obstacles to making alliance with Great Britain. Only one of these would need to be jettisoned to do so. But the Scandinavian alliance was a long-standing and important pillar of Frisian security, while Savoy had recently proved a useful and quite powerful ally, bordering Frisian rivals France and Austria. And a formal alliance with Britain may bring additional entanglements. For now, it was left aside, but would periodically be reconsidered as circumstances changed. The relationship remained friendly.
A few days later, Aragon concluded its own peace with Granada. Portugal (through its colony of Rio da Prata) gained most of the Granadan lands in La Plata. In Africa, Aragon gained the Cape Coast, Portugal took the Ivory Coast and Castile took Whydah and Warri.
Following this harsh peace, little was left of the old Granadan expatriate state, separated into a series of small enclaves.
July 1706 required the selection of a new rival, with Morocco being awarded that distinction (more as a ‘least-worst’ option).
The Shu Emperor in China continued his expansionism, with a successful war to make Yan a vassal lasting one year from September 1706.
It was then the turn of Poland-Lithuania to accept a bitter peace, losing a large amount of territory in both countries including the historic Polish capital of Warsaw itself. This was a crippling blow that likely spelled the end of the Commonwealth as a major force in Eastern Europe. And they were still fighting the original war against Russia, which they were losing – though not quite so abjectly as yet.
Aragon next settled its main war with Tunis and Morocco in October 1706. And this time Aragon made great gains in North Africa, with Portugal and Air making a minor gain each. Castile gained no territory from this treaty.
Over in Asia, in December 1706 Japan launched a nationalistic war against the rump Wu state – which still owned Taiwan and the string of islands between it and the main Japanese islands. This war would still be in progress some years hence.
In January 1707, an episode dubbed by critics at the time ‘The Embargo Imbroglio’ began. It started with a trade embargo being launched by Castilian California and Pacifico Norte, affecting trade nodes in Rio Grande, California and Hudson Bay. It was unclear whether this had any appreciable effect on Frisian trade at the time.
[There may have been some way of drilling down and finding out, but I didn’t bother.]
Given this affront, and the fact that Castile considered Friesland a rival, on 11 January 1707 Leeuwarden decided to launch an embargo against Pacifico Norte in retaliation. But being inexperienced in such matters, they had doubly misread the diplomatic consequences: Castile was not a rival of Friesland, per se: it was the other way round. So it was also unclear if Friesland making Castile a rival would also encompass its colonies in making embargoes ‘free’ of negative modifiers.
Anyway, this embargo took 5% off Frisian trade efficiency
[reducing it to 59% - is that good, bad or average?]. However, it would take time for the diplomatic delegation to return and then for Pacifico Norte to accept another one to repeal the embargo, which could not be done before 12 February. It was duly withdrawn – and issued on 11 March to Portugal instead, long a rival of Friesland and already embargoing Frisian trade.
While that farce was unfolding, in new Emperor was elected, the HRE crown remaining with the hostile Austria, still upset over Friesland’s repeated annexing of HRE provinces.
Castile was examined by Frisian diplomats in the middle of the year. It shared one ally with Friesland – Aragon – and managed to have both Britain and France as allies. Which one might think could become a difficult balancing act at some point. In any case, they were too powerful and well connected for Friesland to seriously consider confronting them directly under current circumstances.
Less than a week later, Portugal – for rather obscure reasons – decided to declare war on Aceh, who were at that point also part of the Deccan-Bengali War that had been raging for a few years now. Frisian ally Malacca and the small state of Pahang were Aceh’s partners.
Of interest, mainland Portugal was at that time quite badly beset by a noble rebellion.
Engorged after their latest meal on hapless Poland-Lithuania, the Ottoman Empire was now so large and powerful that it had ‘no possible rivals’!
In September Sunda, weakened by a series of expansionist Frisian wars, was forced to concede defeat in their war against the small Scottish expatriate state, centred on the island of Buru. They had to release Blambagan as a vassal and pay a sizeable indemnity. All good news for Friesland.
By the end of 1707, the Deccan-Bengal War was nearing its end
[78% in Deccan’s favour], the Japanese had begun to win their war against Wu
[+18%], the Russian Reconquest of Rzew was proceeding in the Tsar’s favour
[+25%] and Portugal had already lost a little ground in their attack against Aceh
[-2%].
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Domestic Affairs – 1706 to 1707
On 2 February 1707, a large part of the treasury surplus was spent to begin the upgrade of the Dutch Polders in Amsterdam to a second level. The province was at that time well developed
[39] and a key trading hub.
By 18 February, the 20 regiments of Leger van Oversticht were back in Bonny and started embarking for the return voyage to Friesland. It would be staged via a number of friendly ports along the way. An army of 34 regiments would be left to guard Guinea and Friesland’s African colonies more widely.
Given army tradition was a key factor that improved manpower replacement levels, the old officer corps was protected when a choice on army careers had to be made in July 1706. The burghers were not happy but remained broadly loyal.
With peace expected to continue as reserve manpower levels slowly recovered, at that time, all 26 chebecks (galleys) in the FIE (based in Java) began an upgrade to archipelago frigates at a total cost of 268 ducats. In a similar vein, a few weeks later all forts were mothballed, saving about half the monthly expenses on their upkeep.
The troops of Leger van Oversticht finally finished their long voyage back from Guinea in early August, landing in Brügge having lost almost 2,400 men to attrition, despite their best efforts.
In 1706, apart from the recent annexation of most of Granadan La Plata a few months earlier, the Americas had been at peace for many years, with almost all indigenous nations having been absorbed by the main colonial powers: Portugal, France, Spain, Britain and the smaller enclave of New Friesland.
There had been considerable consolidation in many other parts of the world. Friesland now ranked fourth among the great powers thanks to its embracing of the Enlightenment, very closely matched with Castile. But this status was likely to slip once Russia and the Deccan Empire followed suit.
In late 1706, there was no immediate prospect of Friesland achieving any more national missions. For example, North Ceylon was in the hands of the powerful Deccans and taking it was a precursor to the rest of that branch with aims in Java, Malacca, Formosa (Taiwan), Indonesian trade and so on. And of course unifying the Low Countries could not be achieved without France somehow being taken out of the equation.
New builds were begun in Friesland and Groningen in March 1707 to establish training fields, which would boost manpower further. And a few months later, the 15 chebecks of the returned African fleet were detached for upgrade in Leeuwarden for 154 ducats. At the same time, four new two-decker battleships were set down, two each in Europe and the FIE (which would raise the inventory of heavy ships to 41 on completion).
On 26 September, the Leger’s leadership was placated in their complacent ways, as to do otherwise would have damaged the stability of the Republic.
But in better news, favourable weather in Guinea would persist for the next five years.
With peace likely to persist for all the Frisian outposts, new generals were appointed where necessary and drilling resumed, first in Guinea in October 1707. Burgher influence increased then as well, while the employment of settlers to develop provinces bore fruit in Meppen.
The next day, the Diet was summoned once more. The simplest of the two options was chosen: the conversion of Kotagede in Java would have been undertaken anyway. The Clergy would be pleased.
And by 7 December the conversion of Ondo in Africa was done and that of Kotagede begun, expected to take around 11 months. The conversion of Ondo also boosted Friesland’s Papal influence, to the point where a new Church Tax could be levied for the next 10 years
[construction costs -10%, national tax modifier +15%].
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Foreign and Diplomatic Developments – 1708 to 1710
The long-running Deccan-Bengal War, which began all the way back in January 1702, finally came to an end in February 1708 with a comprehensive Deccan victory. Bengal was forced to cede 17 provinces to Deccan, another 7 to Dai Viet and pay a substantial indemnity.
The next month, Morocco was no longer seen to be a suitable rival for Friesland, so that privilege was switched to the perfidious Castile after a few days of deliberation. Though there was no immediate intent to act on that militarily, for reasons already discussed.
On the basis that if a neighbour is down you may as well kick them, Ayutthaya decided to reconquer lands from the diminished Bengal – which included Frisian ally Malacca among its partners.
And later in the year Shu added Yue to its list of targets in its bid to unify China.
In a move that affected the FIE a little more closely, Castile decided to expand its holdings in Borneo further in early 1709 by invading the small Kingdom of Kutai, which was also allied with Lanfang (an old Frisian foe on the west of the island) and the oft-attacked Sunda.
Much as Friesland did not like to see Castilian expansion in the region, despite their rivalry they were not in a position or indeed inclined to act in aid of these other regional enemies. So the FIE transport fleet was sent with its escorts to Demak in central Java so it could be ready to ferry forces to Borneo if needed: for an attack on Lanfang!
But diplomatically, such an intervention was not feasible for another couple of years: previous truces with both Kutai and Lanfang meant breaking them would have met with accusations of treaty-breaking and enormous domestic unrest. The plans were put on hold.
Instead, the 23,000 men of Leger van Surabaya began drilling, the other Javan army moving up to Demak to be ready to move if required.
In May 1709, Friesland decided to send a diplomat to maintain the good relationship with ally Scandinavia, while the other continued his role of building local spy networks in northern Germany. In August, truces expired with Lithuania, Poland, Bohemia and Magdeburg struck after the victory in the war against Magdeburg and its allies in October 1698. None of these countries would be likely to bother Friesland in the near future! The separate truce with Morocco from the Granadan War ended in November.
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Domestic Affairs – 1708 to 1710
This period saw a massive infrastructure expansion and building boom, primarily in the European lands of Friesland proper. On 2 February 1708, Amsterdam’s development was increased by 3 to 45 through the expenditure of 112 administrative and 61 military power points. Another 46 admin was spent to increase its infrastructure
[to a 10th slot], while the Polder works went on in the background).
Oldenburg’s development was bolstered by another 5 to 15
[a mix of 120 admin, diplo and military power] to allow its infrastructure to be expanded as well, allowing a new stock exchange to be commenced. In total, 17 new projects were started, a mix of upgrades and new buildings with 5 cathedrals, 5 stock exchanges, 3 grand shipyards, 2 universities, a counting house and a conscription centre started. This costed a total of 2,329 ducats – drawn from a treasury holding almost 6,200 at that point.
From January to July 1708, both good and bad developments occurred: a useful new invention but then the need to administer some harsh justice to a corrupt official and problems with naval designs that required some diplomatic intervention.
That summer, as manpower continued to recover, an analysis by the Leger concluded that it had fallen to tenth strongest overall in the world, though not that far behind Castile, Persia and France. The Ottomans and Deccans were big users of mercenaries, Persia somewhat less so.
But the main deduction confirmed what Frisian military commentators had already asserted: the proportion of artillery to the other two arms was less than most comparable world-leading armies. And the proportion of cavalry still significantly higher than most. Plans were soon set in train to further remedy this perceived imbalance.
In total naval power, Friesland still ranked a clear second, behind the huge Ottoman navy but ahead of the other major naval powers of the Deccans, Scandinavia and Britain. Something of a capability gap in heavy ships and transports was identified though not as serious as the artillery shortage.
In the year from July 1708, 15 new artillery regiments were raised: 9 in Europe, 4 in the FIE, and 2 in Guinea. Over the same period, 6 new two-deckers, 2 archipelagic frigates (ie galleys) and 2 transports were laid down in Europe and another two galleys in the FIE.
In October 1708, the old Spymaster Gerrit Eelsma passed away, replaced by a more diplomatic statesman
[+1 diplo reputation, +3 diplo power] named Lubbert Bonga, from Flores in the FIE. And Meppen again grew by 1 development due to the resident settler’s efforts, one year on from the last instance.
November 1708 brought the conversion of Kotagede and with it the completion of the Diet’s agenda. Perhaps the new religious advisor who was gained would receive an appointment to the cabinet after the next suitable vacancy. And the clergy had never been happier.
As the year ended, part way through the artillery training program, Friesland’s total army strength had risen three places (past Scandinavia, Persia and France and only just behind Castile) to seventh in the world at 181,000 men, with an approximate ratio of 9:3:5 of infantry, cavalry and artillery regiments.
Six months later, another large investment was made in raising the Leger’s force limit when 1,000 ducats were spent on an Officers’ Mess for the trade company in Lampung state (southern Sumatra). The five new regiments enabled would all be artillery, built in Europe (and adding into the total mentioned earlier for this period).
Towards the end of August 1709, Friesland made a major advance in production techniques, increased for being ahead of its time compared to most peers (though of course that required more administrative power to achieve the breakthrough).
The Potestaat was quite keen to gain access to another ideas group that would come when the proposed separation of powers doctrine had been fully worked out.
By June 1708 the treasury had already rebuilt to over 4,600 ducats and was back to 5,428 by September the following year, despite the major military build-up conducted during that time and the purchase of the new Officers’ Mess in the FIE.
There had been modest income increases in tax, production and trade over that time, but these were of course well exceeded by the increase in maintenance for the Leger and Navy, plus increased advisor costs following the death of Spymaster Eelsma (who had served at a discounted salary). But overall, the monthly surplus was still very healthy.
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A New Age
3 February 1710 was an extraordinary day for the Frisian Government and – in the eyes of many subsequent observers – the world. The death of Klaes Stiensma ended a long and largely successful term as Potestaat of the Frisian Republic and bearer of the Torch of Frisian Freedom.
The career of Klaes Stiensma (abridged), from the official ‘History of Friesland’. Among other things, his term saw lands gained in Europe, Africa and the East Indies, and participation in five major wars: two as an ally and three expansionist wars.
As he went to his long and unending dream, three candidates jostled for the office. Rather than ‘putting in the fix’ and taking a big hit to republican tradition, the Sortition Lottery process would again be honoured, as it had on almost every occasion up to that point. While most favoured Koenraad Gauma (the clergy’s favoured candidate) for reasons of age and competence, the benefits of sortition would be taken.
For various reasons, it also became accepted in later historical tradition that the death of Stiensma – and the changes that would follow in Friesland and elsewhere – marked the end of the ‘Age of Absolutism’ and the beginning of the ‘Age of Revolutions’. Cause or coincidence? The academic debate continues to this day …
As it happened, the lottery fell in favour of the preferred candidate, Koenraad Gauma. The additional legitimacy of the selection boosted his diplomatic and administrative credentials and within a month, the previous army officer was being hailed as a bold fighter who could inspire the Leger to greater ferocity in shock actions.
