• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Part IV. A Decade of Disappointment.

Having attained a valid casus belli against genoa after they refused to honour the last war the Kingdom of Savoy, keen to enlargen its control of Italy, declared War on Genoa (1562-7). However genoese mastery of sea under the guidance of Andrea Doria prevented even a basic attempt at landing troops on corsica. Despite rampaging through genoa itself they were unable to press for annexation and in 1567 a white peace was signed.

Two years later France Declared war on Austria (1569-72) throwing Savoy into an unexpected and ill-prepared war. Despite France annexing Helvetia the Austrians were content with rampaging through Savoy and Milan. In 1572 the kingdom was relieved to expend only 11 ducats for a return to peace.
 
Part VIII. The Growth of the Kingdom.

Following on from the ignominous failure against genoa and fresh from defeat at the hands of austria savoy once again turned its eyes to italy. Recent military developments (Arquebus ~ Land 8) led further stimulus to the idea of attacking the weakness opponent, Modena.

War with Modena (1574-7) was swiftly declared and undertaken. Despite fierce Modenan resistance and their brief occupation of Milan they were destroyed soon enough.

They were unable (they had no choice in fact) to resist the offer of annexation (Fig. 16).


Fig. 16​

It would be some time before Savoy would flex again its muscles in Italy.
 
Why not? Tuscany's just sitting there, practically begging you to take over! Not to mention Venice, although I can understand you not wanting to take over them because of possible Turkish/Austrian hostilities.
 
Part IX. Of Voyages and Things.

In 1580 Toscanini, the great savoyard explorer, made his first voyage to the new world (Fig. 17) exploring as far as tortuga off the coast of hispaniola before returning again the following year to cruise along the coast of northern brazil. The voyage was largely without further intention as the lands uncovered by the savoyards were already explored and/or settled. It was however a great step for the small kingdom.


Fig. 17​

Military developments continued thick and fast with arquebusiers becoming a regular component in the savoyard army. In 1595 they were re-equipped with Matchlock Rifles (Land ~ 10). A huge navy was being constructed for a war with Genoa that was being discussed which was expected by many nations in the area. It was, apparently, only a matter of time.

Plans for an invasion of Genoa were shelved by the French declaration of war on England (1601). Despite some problems with english marauders in eastern savoy the war was over as quickly as it had started with France regaining Calais and the colony of Roanoke.

In 1603 Savoy Invaded Genoa (1603-8) and once again rapidly invested genoa with a large army. This time however the genoese navy, largely forgotten by its owners, had long since lost track of recent naval inventions. The savoyard navy, with the latest forward guns (naval ~ 12), decimated the genoese navy leading to a unexpected advantage. The French however were quickest to attack and they secured the island before savoyard troops could arrive. After losing the island to the french by treaty they had no choice but to accept union with Savoy.
 
Originally posted by Morpheus506
Why not? Tuscany's just sitting there, practically begging you to take over! Not to mention Venice, although I can understand you not wanting to take over them because of possible Turkish/Austrian hostilities.

I thought about it, and left it, mainly because my bad boy was getting so bad that alot of the big players were starting to notice and get a little annoyed as well ;)

In fact tuscany keep trying to arrange royal marriages!
 
Part X. The Reckless French.

The alliance with French, although useful, was growing to be a burden. They had continued to intervene and hold territory in and around the italian peninsula. Savoy was not strong enough to stand on its own... not yet.

In 1610 French declared war on Brandenburg, the only action savoyard seeing, is abortive battles waged in helvetia. The war is made all the more complicated by the Venetian Invasion of Savoy (1611-29), a long drawn out war of attrition between the rising power of one italian power against the weakening empire of another.

It would eventually lead to the addition of crete, a strong naval base in the eastern mediterranean, to savoy's growing empire. The French gained Istria much to Savoy's annoyance.
 
Originally posted by Languish
I thought about it, and left it, mainly because my bad boy was getting so bad that alot of the big players were starting to notice and get a little annoyed as well ;)

What? You've annexed what, 3 nations at that point? That can't be enough to draw that much attention, but nothing can be done now :p. Good luck with the game.
 
Originally posted by Morpheus506
What? You've annexed what, 3 nations at that point? That can't be enough to draw that much attention, but nothing can be done now :p. Good luck with the game.

A lot of my previous wars are unjustified, and its being proven now with almost constant dows by venice (who are annoyingly allied with austria). I am trying to diploannex tuscany rather than invade... although right now (1698), they are allied to spain ;)
 
Part XI. Growing in Power.

Following on from war with venice, the savoyards were still some distance away in technology from there neighbours, however were the savoyards lacks in military prowess they more than made up for it in naval power. By 1647 they were able to blockade enemy ports and in 1648 it was agreed that genoa should have a shipyard constructed. As usual these ambitious plans were shelved by yet another declaration of war by France against Spain (1648-51). Savoyard armies (Fig. 18) rampaged through Naples and Apulia but before they took Taranto (Fig. 19) the war was over with the French making gains in the Low Countries.

Fig. 18 Fig. 19​

Following on from the war, in 1653, an ambitious program of promoting governors in each of the provinces was announced (Infra ~ 5) and by 1655 every province in the realm had one of the guys ensuring order was maintained. Inflation was still running at a high 65%. In 1654, the Spanish finally completed their conquest of the stubborn Incan Empire.

In 1658 something incredible occured, demand for nice wool went insanely out of control (Fig. 20), with a total income generated by the frenzied purchasing of 2036d! This lead directly to a ventian invasion of savoy in the so called Trade Wars (1658-66). The funds were used to begin construction of a shipyard and the addition of raising huge armies to fend off the invading armies. The war however did not go according to venetian plans. Forced to pay 250d to the French they cannot break the savoyard defense. The savoyard army fails to assault venice and the war ends in a stalemate in 1666.


Fig. 20​
 
Part XII. Savoy becomes a Colonial Power.

Following on from the war, and with the recent military innovations allowing exploration with all armies, the Savoyards (now equipped with a shipyard) begun to stake their claim in the colonial age. From 1667 onwards it was decided that Savoy's fate initially lay in the far east... and initially in Indonesia. By the end of 1667 the island was almost covered in early savoyard trading posts (Fig. 21) and business was fairly brisk.


Fig. 21​

From 1667 to 1675 Savoy managed to avoid wars altogether and was able to fully focus on enlargening the navy, reforming the army and crucially developing the colony in the far east. In 1675 they were finally able to plant the seeds of "New Nice" in the southern tip of the island (Fig. 22).


Fig. 22​
 
Part XIII. Further Explorations.

In 1675 a small fleet was dispatched to New Nice to conduct further explorations of the region in general. Shortly afterwards the venetians declare War on Savoy (1676-83) this time drawing in Austrian interest in the region.

In 1676 Milan is besieged (Fig. 23) by the Austrians as the Venetians siege the age-old lost province of Mantua. The war is a difficult one that the Savoyard are initially unprepared for, and savoie itself falls twice. It requires a huge french force to liberate it (Fig. 24).

Fig. 23 Fig. 24​

At the end of 1680 the threateningly powerful Austrian army is bought off and three years later war with Venice thins out into a desultory white peace.

Following on from the war two major achievements are accomplished, firstly the extensive refortification of Northern Italy is undertaken (Land ~ 20). This completed in 1688. In 1691 the continent of Australia is circumnavigated (Fig 25) (Fig. 26) and a few years later New Nice is inaugurated as a city.

Fig. 25 Fig. 26​
 
Last edited:
What? You've annexed what, 3 nations at that point? That can't be enough to draw that much attention, but nothing can be done now . Good luck with the game.

I've gotten BB wars by losing two provinces in a war, taking them back in the next, and then annexing three nations.

Thanks for dropping by, and thanks for the compliments

Totally deserved. A lot of people don't realize there are some pretty good AARs in the EU1 forum.
 
Originally posted by J. Passepartout
Totally deserved. A lot of people don't realize there are some pretty good AARs in the EU1 forum.

Thanks again. I have been an avid reader of many early AAR's... and in particular those undertaken by Ariel and Nalivayko, i like they fact that they are straightforward AAR's, to the point but highly entertaining at the same time.
 
This is just gorgeous!
*a slight shade of green rises up from my collar bone*

I remember Ariel's stories, and this is just as good, in my very humble opinion.
 
Originally posted by haaf
This is just gorgeous!
*a slight shade of green rises up from my collar bone*

I remember Ariel's stories, and this is just as good, in my very humble opinion.

Thanks very much :)

I am trying to keep this brief and to the point, much like his Genoa AAR, rather than find myself in a situation where i would not finish the AAR. I wouldnt be happy with myself if i left it unfinished.

I did run a Vinland AAR in EU2 which was unfinished mainly because i felt compelled to write it as a novel style AAR like every other one in there... just to get a look in. It was unfinished mainly because it was a beta anyway and also because the pace of novel style meant it would simply take ages. These facts annoyed me greatly. It is why i am having a lot of fun with this AAR.
 
Part XIV. France the DoWing Machine.

It was only in the beginning of the 18th century that the rulers of Savoy had reached the conclusion that the french were insane. They seemed intent on going to were virtually every decade.

In 1700 a Naval Equipments Manufactory was completed in Nice (Fig. 27), and in 1701 the first seeds of a colony were planted in Eastern Australia (Fig. 28). In 1703 inflation was dramatically reduced by 33%... a most welcome change.

Fig. 27 Fig. 28​

In 1704 France went to war with Spain and despite excellent results in the campaign in southern italy all was lost with the french agreeing to control Jalisco. One positive side effect from this alliance was that France asked for an exchange in maps which greately improved out knowledge of the world around us.

Expecting, however, another war northern italy was outfitted with some truly mighty fortresses across the alps from savoy to mantua. Any enemy attemtping to achieve success in this region would have a hard time doing so. The rest of the italian holdings were also improved.

In 1710 France unsuprisingly went to war with Spain again, and despite appreciable savoyard gains all was lost thanks to france agreeing to control some worthless trade post somewhere. One positive aspect of this war was the creation of the first conscription centre in savoy in 1716 (Fig. 29).


Fig. 29​
 
Part XV. Extending the Alliance.

The 100 thousand troops in tuscany and the royal marriage convinced us to invite the warlike tuscan state into the alliance in 1717, and the following year to two province militaristic kingdom of Helvetia is also added. It appears not a moment too soon either.

In 1720 the French go to war with the Spanish yet again. Despite a blisteringly successful campaign in southern italy (Fig. 30) and in the southern mediterranean all again is lost in 1727 with the french agreeing to take control of Maztatlan. Bastards!


Fig. 30​

During the war the Savoyard Far East Company is created (1726) for the control of trade in that particular region thus generating additional much needed income for the kingdom.