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But you are normal nation. I don't know what more you expect.idea of poland as a nation, not as a french extension
The Portuguese affairs of the 17th Century
Long years had passed since the little Kingdom at the very edge of the civilized world were just this; a little Kingdom on the very edge of the civilized world. The 15th Century saw many a crusade against the pagans of North Africa, under leadership of such famed Portuguese generals as Da Silva and Oliveira. Little did these military masterminds know that the lands they claimed for their King would rise to become the absolute centre of wealth and commerce in all its forms. Gold, slaves, ivory, sugar, salt... many were the goods that passed through Timbuktu on their way into Europe and elsewhere.
These conquests were accompanied by an extensive naval programme, allowing bold entrepreneurs to set sail Southwards. The expeditions of Gil Eanes, Bartolomeu Diaz and Gaspard de Corte Real during late 15th and well into the 16th Century revealed a whole new world, full of unexploited riches. The Portuguese colonists set up bases all the way to the tip of South Africa, where a larger trading station was founded. And trade would prove to be the way for Portugal to flourish.
Come 17th Century, Portugal was now the richest and most advanced Kingdom in the whole civilized world, despite being at the very edge of it. To tip it off, the Navy had yet to be overcome by any other, something the Dutch and English had already experienced. But war was around the corner. The King Felipe II had decided to aid the Swedish in attacking England, and the success was imminent; Scotland was given to the northerners. But the English would not give up that easy, and quickly made up with Sweden to attack Portugal back. Only five years later, Portuguese spies reported a massive gathering of ships in the North Sea. Felipe II had to act quick.
But the King had become an old man. He made no fast decision, and that very spring, England had declared war and invaded the Portuguese held city of Shanghai. Portugal had no military ships in the Far East, and England's forces had soon moved South and intercepted the Portuguese defences in Guangzhou, the larger Portuguese base in the area. English troops were successful, but they were induced losses large enough to ensure that England would not conquer the area without reinforcements. Portugal started raising an army to throw the heretics away, under the leadership of Souza. The Royal Navy in the sector was not substantial, and allowed several Portuguese transports to operate without disturbance, eventually succeeding in liberating Guangzhou. But Shanghai had fallen, and now its besiegers were headed towards South Africa and Table.
To this time, the Swedish contribution to the war had been non-existent, and White Peace was finally signed. This allowed Felipe to commission 115 of his best ships under Folha to sail with the Royal Cavalry Guard to crush the English aggressors once and for all. Having barely reached Kongo, the English flag waved over Table, and Portugal's armies in South Africa were routed. But England must have suspected reinforcements, for when Folha arrived, they were gone. Leaving a siege force, he started the chase over the Indian Ocean. The fast Galleons of Portugal managed to intercept the English galleys in the waters outside Guangzhou, only days after the English army had landed in Guangdong. The Royal Cavalry Guard made a short story of any English armies left in the area, and Folha chased and decimated the Royal Navy all the way to Korea, nearly sinking every ship. After this, the English gold mines in the Philippines and on Aru were occupied. Shanghai had been liberated by the Guangzhou Guard a couple of months earlier, and Table soon fell too. Victorious in every aspect, Folha now set sail for India.
Movements and battles in and around Guangzhou.
The war was fought almost solely in the Far East, but Europe saw some of the action too; when the English admirals saw that a major navy of Portugal's were present in the Indian Ocean and China Sea, they sent the major home-watered part of the Royal Navy to try to blast through the remaining Portuguese ships and land on Portugal proper, as a desperate act to force Portugal to peace after consequent losses in China. An unsuccessful endeavour altogether; the Portuguese navy was more than a match, and after chasing the Royal Navy back to Ireland and into port in Bristol, the victorious admiral Masarenhas was praised as a hero on return to Lisbon. The end of the war was near.
Folha had just reached the Indian coast, and with him he had Souza leading an approximate army of 60,000 strong. The English were offered peace for Luzon and Ara, the two gold mines in the Far East sector, together with a NAP until 1636, and the deal was accepted. Were peace restored to Portugal? The news told otherwise.
France had at the same time the War of China was fought invaded the Netherlands, who did not receive any substantial aid from their German overlords, and taken a chunk of the African coast, creating a border with the Portuguese gold mines and a land route to Timbuktu. Reports had been delivered from the Dutch, and Folha now had a long way to get to Mali. But he was fast. At the time of the French declaration of War, Folha was in place outside Gambia with his large army. In Timbuktu, a large army had quickly been raised under the command of the cavalry genius Pedro Resende, but the French were better prepared. A fast offensive saw the French win several battles in a row, occupying Niamina and Bobo, and routing the Portuguese garrisons in Timbuktu. But the position of Folha would prove decisive, as he intercepted a French reinforcement fleet outside the Cape Verde islands. Unfortunately, the French slipped by, but no more transports were sent from that date. As Folha unloaded his troops, and Resende regrouped his forces, it became clear that the French would need immediate success, or they would be eventually overrun.
When the remnants of the Royal Cavalry Guard was unloaded by Folha and met up with Resende, the most decisive battles of the war were fought, all Portuguese victories. Thousands of French soldiers were killed, and within short time, France had been pushed back to their own colonies, and all Portuguese lands reclaimed. The year was now 1628, and Brandenburg decided to act and declared France war. However, they soon signed a White Peace, in fright of Turenne, the French great general. The Turks were however not so afraid, and in 1629 they entered the war, with all the power that would bring.
Movements and battles in Mali.
With Africa now a stalemate, France tried to attack Portugal proper, but the Portuguese Navy yet again proved victorious, and would not allow the French exit from the Mediterranean. The home-watered part of the Navy under the talented Masarenhas met up with the Ottoman ships outside Barcelona, preparing a strike at Provence, where France had hid their ships. But Louis XIII was a genius in all its forms. He quickly set sail away from Provence, and the un-coordinated Portuguese and Ottoman navies desperately tried to pursuit it, without much success. Eventually after having rounded Sardinia twice, the French ships were blockaded in Provence. Ottoman troops landed, but the assault failed, and Turenne sent them back to see. The French navy attacked the massed Portuguese and Ottoman, and home waters decided the battle. The war of the Mediterranean had started.
A war that did not have that high a base of Portuguese intervention. Apart from occupying the small French colonies in Venezuela and minor offensives in Mali, the Navy would be the fighting part of Portugal. A task it did remarkably well, however. After a miscommunication, the French got away from Provence and were blocked into North Italy. But this allowed the French to re-build their ships, and without guard of the Portuguese coast, a bold reinforcement of 60 galleys were sent from Bordeaux towards Marseille, passing Lisbon. It was yet again time for Folha to act. He was ordered to sail to Algarve with haste, meanwhile the freshly built galleys in the area would delay the French ships. The plan was successful, and Folha arrived just in time to defeat the French, almost destroying them completely. Reinforced with Galleons built in the most advanced Shipyards in the world, Folha's forces chased the French navy back into Provence, and then went back to Barcelona with deployed scouts to look for French tries of breaking the blockade. And one came, and it was a disaster for France. Folha's 200 ships sank nearly 120 French over the months, and now controlled the seas unconditionally.
But the old king was now dead, and his son Felipe III was tired of the war he had inherited. His ally, the Turk Murâd IV, had failed miserably with his invasion attempts of Southern Italy, and it stood clear to Felipe that continued war would never win Portugal more than what they had now accomplished, only less. Peace was therefore signed for the Venezuelan colonies and a NAP until 1650. And soon the Turk's navy was defeated, not having the Portuguese cannons to protect them, and France quickly went from defeat to victory. Portugal, however, had now defeated their main enemies and induced on them losses; in England's case severe, and in France's case mild but not negligible.
The flag over Lisbon waves forever unhampered.
Long years had passed since the little Kingdom at the very edge of the civilized world were just this; a little Kingdom on the very edge of the civilized world. The 15th Century saw many a crusade against the pagans of North Africa, under leadership of such famed Portuguese generals as Da Silva and Oliveira. Little did these military masterminds know that the lands they claimed for their King would rise to become the absolute centre of wealth and commerce in all its forms. Gold, slaves, ivory, sugar, salt... many were the goods that passed through Timbuktu on their way into Europe and elsewhere.
These conquests were accompanied by an extensive naval programme, allowing bold entrepreneurs to set sail Southwards. The expeditions of Gil Eanes, Bartolomeu Diaz and Gaspard de Corte Real during late 15th and well into the 16th Century revealed a whole new world, full of unexploited riches. The Portuguese colonists set up bases all the way to the tip of South Africa, where a larger trading station was founded. And trade would prove to be the way for Portugal to flourish.
Come 17th Century, Portugal was now the richest and most advanced Kingdom in the whole civilized world, despite being at the very edge of it. To tip it off, the Navy had yet to be overcome by any other, something the Dutch and English had already experienced. But war was around the corner. The King Felipe II had decided to aid the Swedish in attacking England, and the success was imminent; Scotland was given to the northerners. But the English would not give up that easy, and quickly made up with Sweden to attack Portugal back. Only five years later, Portuguese spies reported a massive gathering of ships in the North Sea. Felipe II had to act quick.
But the King had become an old man. He made no fast decision, and that very spring, England had declared war and invaded the Portuguese held city of Shanghai. Portugal had no military ships in the Far East, and England's forces had soon moved South and intercepted the Portuguese defences in Guangzhou, the larger Portuguese base in the area. English troops were successful, but they were induced losses large enough to ensure that England would not conquer the area without reinforcements. Portugal started raising an army to throw the heretics away, under the leadership of Souza. The Royal Navy in the sector was not substantial, and allowed several Portuguese transports to operate without disturbance, eventually succeeding in liberating Guangzhou. But Shanghai had fallen, and now its besiegers were headed towards South Africa and Table.
To this time, the Swedish contribution to the war had been non-existent, and White Peace was finally signed. This allowed Felipe to commission 115 of his best ships under Folha to sail with the Royal Cavalry Guard to crush the English aggressors once and for all. Having barely reached Kongo, the English flag waved over Table, and Portugal's armies in South Africa were routed. But England must have suspected reinforcements, for when Folha arrived, they were gone. Leaving a siege force, he started the chase over the Indian Ocean. The fast Galleons of Portugal managed to intercept the English galleys in the waters outside Guangzhou, only days after the English army had landed in Guangdong. The Royal Cavalry Guard made a short story of any English armies left in the area, and Folha chased and decimated the Royal Navy all the way to Korea, nearly sinking every ship. After this, the English gold mines in the Philippines and on Aru were occupied. Shanghai had been liberated by the Guangzhou Guard a couple of months earlier, and Table soon fell too. Victorious in every aspect, Folha now set sail for India.
Movements and battles in and around Guangzhou.
The war was fought almost solely in the Far East, but Europe saw some of the action too; when the English admirals saw that a major navy of Portugal's were present in the Indian Ocean and China Sea, they sent the major home-watered part of the Royal Navy to try to blast through the remaining Portuguese ships and land on Portugal proper, as a desperate act to force Portugal to peace after consequent losses in China. An unsuccessful endeavour altogether; the Portuguese navy was more than a match, and after chasing the Royal Navy back to Ireland and into port in Bristol, the victorious admiral Masarenhas was praised as a hero on return to Lisbon. The end of the war was near.
Folha had just reached the Indian coast, and with him he had Souza leading an approximate army of 60,000 strong. The English were offered peace for Luzon and Ara, the two gold mines in the Far East sector, together with a NAP until 1636, and the deal was accepted. Were peace restored to Portugal? The news told otherwise.
France had at the same time the War of China was fought invaded the Netherlands, who did not receive any substantial aid from their German overlords, and taken a chunk of the African coast, creating a border with the Portuguese gold mines and a land route to Timbuktu. Reports had been delivered from the Dutch, and Folha now had a long way to get to Mali. But he was fast. At the time of the French declaration of War, Folha was in place outside Gambia with his large army. In Timbuktu, a large army had quickly been raised under the command of the cavalry genius Pedro Resende, but the French were better prepared. A fast offensive saw the French win several battles in a row, occupying Niamina and Bobo, and routing the Portuguese garrisons in Timbuktu. But the position of Folha would prove decisive, as he intercepted a French reinforcement fleet outside the Cape Verde islands. Unfortunately, the French slipped by, but no more transports were sent from that date. As Folha unloaded his troops, and Resende regrouped his forces, it became clear that the French would need immediate success, or they would be eventually overrun.
When the remnants of the Royal Cavalry Guard was unloaded by Folha and met up with Resende, the most decisive battles of the war were fought, all Portuguese victories. Thousands of French soldiers were killed, and within short time, France had been pushed back to their own colonies, and all Portuguese lands reclaimed. The year was now 1628, and Brandenburg decided to act and declared France war. However, they soon signed a White Peace, in fright of Turenne, the French great general. The Turks were however not so afraid, and in 1629 they entered the war, with all the power that would bring.
Movements and battles in Mali.
With Africa now a stalemate, France tried to attack Portugal proper, but the Portuguese Navy yet again proved victorious, and would not allow the French exit from the Mediterranean. The home-watered part of the Navy under the talented Masarenhas met up with the Ottoman ships outside Barcelona, preparing a strike at Provence, where France had hid their ships. But Louis XIII was a genius in all its forms. He quickly set sail away from Provence, and the un-coordinated Portuguese and Ottoman navies desperately tried to pursuit it, without much success. Eventually after having rounded Sardinia twice, the French ships were blockaded in Provence. Ottoman troops landed, but the assault failed, and Turenne sent them back to see. The French navy attacked the massed Portuguese and Ottoman, and home waters decided the battle. The war of the Mediterranean had started.
A war that did not have that high a base of Portuguese intervention. Apart from occupying the small French colonies in Venezuela and minor offensives in Mali, the Navy would be the fighting part of Portugal. A task it did remarkably well, however. After a miscommunication, the French got away from Provence and were blocked into North Italy. But this allowed the French to re-build their ships, and without guard of the Portuguese coast, a bold reinforcement of 60 galleys were sent from Bordeaux towards Marseille, passing Lisbon. It was yet again time for Folha to act. He was ordered to sail to Algarve with haste, meanwhile the freshly built galleys in the area would delay the French ships. The plan was successful, and Folha arrived just in time to defeat the French, almost destroying them completely. Reinforced with Galleons built in the most advanced Shipyards in the world, Folha's forces chased the French navy back into Provence, and then went back to Barcelona with deployed scouts to look for French tries of breaking the blockade. And one came, and it was a disaster for France. Folha's 200 ships sank nearly 120 French over the months, and now controlled the seas unconditionally.
But the old king was now dead, and his son Felipe III was tired of the war he had inherited. His ally, the Turk Murâd IV, had failed miserably with his invasion attempts of Southern Italy, and it stood clear to Felipe that continued war would never win Portugal more than what they had now accomplished, only less. Peace was therefore signed for the Venezuelan colonies and a NAP until 1650. And soon the Turk's navy was defeated, not having the Portuguese cannons to protect them, and France quickly went from defeat to victory. Portugal, however, had now defeated their main enemies and induced on them losses; in England's case severe, and in France's case mild but not negligible.
The flag over Lisbon waves forever unhampered.
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Awesome AAR, Mats. Very interesting game you have there.
How do you work with multiple screenshots without tabbing? And how come China hosts 3 COTs that close to each other?
How do you work with multiple screenshots without tabbing? And how come China hosts 3 COTs that close to each other?
Thank you
The screenshots are created after-hand from mid-session saves and whatever else is applicable. About the China CoTs, they are usual, no? Japan lost there one to Shanghai I suppose.
The Fried Frogs a la HAL
The Short Tale How Ottomans Framed France
Sultan was shocked after loosing Alexandria and lands around: - How the hell those damned Frogs managed to defeat us?! Impossible! Lion never loose! It have to be fault of those tiny Portugals who left us in middle of war! Yes! It is definitively their fault! WAR ON THEM! - And so Ottomans builded huge fleet and joined alliance of former enemy Frogance/France. We had to wait a little because King Frog went to play with his router (We don't want to know what that means - young men play with "his router"), but after several years he showed up and imidiately dowed Portugal. OE did the same short after and combined Turk/French fleet entered Giblartar. ... And that was the moment when Sultan snaped out of his shock - What in the name of Allah am I doing?! I'm helping France! King Frog! Oh Prophet! What to do?! What to do?! - Meanwhile troops landed in Tago and huge battles started. But than sign from Heavens appeared - Frogs lost Turenne - HA! It was obvious Turks have to switch sides. Fortunately major naval battles were going worse and worse and when French fleet was anihilated OE used it as excuse and white peaced Portugal. We also lost 500 galleys but it was low price for framing France. Muahahahahahaha! While King Frog was exhausting his resources trying to defeat uber portugese mercenaries (heh, Mats had 9k before war
) Sultan gathered nice army, fleet, annexed a lot of lands and invented both 26 military techs.
).p.s. John, no hard feelings
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In the stats map, Alexandria seems to be still in French hands. Or is this a deal for next session?
The reconquest of the Scotlands
Since the loss of Scotland to the local Nazis in Sweden, the king of England had been in a foul mood. The later war against Portugal was also lost, seding gold provinses to them, because the Nazis in Sweden didn't do shit in the war and peaced out.
But the reign of the Swedish generals was comming to an end, while a great period was ahead for the english. With good generals and admirals it was only a matter of timing. Getting on pair with the swedish techs seemed impossible, so a more devious tactic would have to be used. The war against Russia seemed to be the best idea.
A large forces under my random general was placed in Brandenburg, later Cromwell spawned here, but i left his there. Cannons and men were sent north to take back Scotland, but the medium fortresses did cost me quite a lot of men despite some decent leaders.
Cromwell did a lot better in Jylland and Preussia, and since Sweden was clearly not going to try and retake anything, i stabhittet for Scotland back without ever having meet a single swedish soldier or navy. Soon after Sweden gave it. I considered redowing after the truce was over, but no swedish lands seemed interesting enough to start a war over.
The economy was tended, forts improved all over England proper and as counselor, Cromwell did well in India converting the holy cows to decent people.
Revenche on the Portugeuse wasn't really planned, but when the opportunity arose, i took the chance and dow'ed for Luzon and Aru back. Mats saw the wisdom in this as well and gave them up without a fight.
All in all a decent session for England, we managed to become a tad richer and trade was ok. Our stab is not all that good and the cost great, but we get much of our wealth from India and that has a cost.
Since the loss of Scotland to the local Nazis in Sweden, the king of England had been in a foul mood. The later war against Portugal was also lost, seding gold provinses to them, because the Nazis in Sweden didn't do shit in the war and peaced out.
But the reign of the Swedish generals was comming to an end, while a great period was ahead for the english. With good generals and admirals it was only a matter of timing. Getting on pair with the swedish techs seemed impossible, so a more devious tactic would have to be used. The war against Russia seemed to be the best idea.
A large forces under my random general was placed in Brandenburg, later Cromwell spawned here, but i left his there. Cannons and men were sent north to take back Scotland, but the medium fortresses did cost me quite a lot of men despite some decent leaders.
Cromwell did a lot better in Jylland and Preussia, and since Sweden was clearly not going to try and retake anything, i stabhittet for Scotland back without ever having meet a single swedish soldier or navy. Soon after Sweden gave it. I considered redowing after the truce was over, but no swedish lands seemed interesting enough to start a war over.
The economy was tended, forts improved all over England proper and as counselor, Cromwell did well in India converting the holy cows to decent people.
Revenche on the Portugeuse wasn't really planned, but when the opportunity arose, i took the chance and dow'ed for Luzon and Aru back. Mats saw the wisdom in this as well and gave them up without a fight.
All in all a decent session for England, we managed to become a tad richer and trade was ok. Our stab is not all that good and the cost great, but we get much of our wealth from India and that has a cost.
Sweden 1636-1666
Up and down session for Sweden. Started off getting screwed by aladar's complete inability to do edits properly or follow simple instructions. Then I started a war with Russia, attempting to free Poland. The war started off reasonably well, but Russia still had better morale, despite my CRT advantage. Also, he had a 4-4-4 leader which had no trouble re-assaulting forts after I took them. However, the war was proceeding as well as could be expected, and a few stabhits were sent.
Then the English DoWed, wanting their silly Scottish lands back. This wasn't entirely unexpected, but they used their MA with Holland and Brandenburg to land troops which my navy wasn't in a position to oppose. Since the entire Swedish army was involved in Russia, Cromwell made quick progress into Jutland, then walked through Brandenburg to Prussia. Troops were raised in Copenhagen, and Jutland retaken, but by then Prussia had fallen. I couldn't face Cromwell in battle without re-routing significant forces from the east, which could not be spared. I wouldn't have minded too much, but I was certain at the time, and drake later confirmed, that he would have cancelled the MA had he not been ghosted at the time. So using this somewhat underhanded tactic Aladar managed to get enough WS to stabhit for Scotland. I rejected a few offers, but eventually gave him the provinces.
Meanwhile, a series of random stabhits (this seems to happen every time I fight Russia, in fact my first political crisis happened about 2 months before I DoWed him) crushed my stability, and ruined my trade. Income was down, and I was trying to recover stability, mint for mercenaries, and fund Poland. However, most of the progress I made was impossible to maintain, because of the great strategic depth of Russia. Every time I took a province, he'd just retreat and eventually when winter came Kanth would just re-take the provinces. At this time I made a series of mistakes, costing me a considerable number of troops, for minimal gain. I overpursued the Russians out of frustration, and wasn't watching a few battles closely enough which lead to the loss of around 60,000 troops I couldn't afford to spare. From here on Russia had the advantage. We fought on for a few more years, even more random stabhits (!) were causing rebels to mount in Sweden. Income was down to about 150D/month, and there was about 10 RR in every province. Austria promised to intervene, but backed out at the last minute, and Poland was forced to cede 3 provinces. However, he got to keep his independence.
Right as the war ended, Drake PMed me, asking if I wanted to attack Russia together with Brandenburg, Poland and Austria. I could hardly believe it, but I wasn't about to say no. During the inter-war years Stability was regained (unfortunately, the stabhits continued - a total of -15 throughout the session), and trade re-established. Once WE hit zero, I started rebuilding my armies preparing for the next war. Fortunately, Kanth realized the futility of fighting all four of us and quickly peaced returning the three provinces he had taken from Poland, as well as two more.
After the war, trade quickly recovered, mostly because Portugal, Spain, France and the OE were all at war with eachother, and not focused on trade as well as banning eachother. Also, a monopoly was purchased from our friends in Austria. Further increasing Swedish TE. Sweden finished the session with the highest trade in the world, hopefully something it will be able to maintain after the current war is over.
Up and down session for Sweden. Started off getting screwed by aladar's complete inability to do edits properly or follow simple instructions. Then I started a war with Russia, attempting to free Poland. The war started off reasonably well, but Russia still had better morale, despite my CRT advantage. Also, he had a 4-4-4 leader which had no trouble re-assaulting forts after I took them. However, the war was proceeding as well as could be expected, and a few stabhits were sent.
Then the English DoWed, wanting their silly Scottish lands back. This wasn't entirely unexpected, but they used their MA with Holland and Brandenburg to land troops which my navy wasn't in a position to oppose. Since the entire Swedish army was involved in Russia, Cromwell made quick progress into Jutland, then walked through Brandenburg to Prussia. Troops were raised in Copenhagen, and Jutland retaken, but by then Prussia had fallen. I couldn't face Cromwell in battle without re-routing significant forces from the east, which could not be spared. I wouldn't have minded too much, but I was certain at the time, and drake later confirmed, that he would have cancelled the MA had he not been ghosted at the time. So using this somewhat underhanded tactic Aladar managed to get enough WS to stabhit for Scotland. I rejected a few offers, but eventually gave him the provinces.
Meanwhile, a series of random stabhits (this seems to happen every time I fight Russia, in fact my first political crisis happened about 2 months before I DoWed him) crushed my stability, and ruined my trade. Income was down, and I was trying to recover stability, mint for mercenaries, and fund Poland. However, most of the progress I made was impossible to maintain, because of the great strategic depth of Russia. Every time I took a province, he'd just retreat and eventually when winter came Kanth would just re-take the provinces. At this time I made a series of mistakes, costing me a considerable number of troops, for minimal gain. I overpursued the Russians out of frustration, and wasn't watching a few battles closely enough which lead to the loss of around 60,000 troops I couldn't afford to spare. From here on Russia had the advantage. We fought on for a few more years, even more random stabhits (!) were causing rebels to mount in Sweden. Income was down to about 150D/month, and there was about 10 RR in every province. Austria promised to intervene, but backed out at the last minute, and Poland was forced to cede 3 provinces. However, he got to keep his independence.
Right as the war ended, Drake PMed me, asking if I wanted to attack Russia together with Brandenburg, Poland and Austria. I could hardly believe it, but I wasn't about to say no. During the inter-war years Stability was regained (unfortunately, the stabhits continued - a total of -15 throughout the session), and trade re-established. Once WE hit zero, I started rebuilding my armies preparing for the next war. Fortunately, Kanth realized the futility of fighting all four of us and quickly peaced returning the three provinces he had taken from Poland, as well as two more.
After the war, trade quickly recovered, mostly because Portugal, Spain, France and the OE were all at war with eachother, and not focused on trade as well as banning eachother. Also, a monopoly was purchased from our friends in Austria. Further increasing Swedish TE. Sweden finished the session with the highest trade in the world, hopefully something it will be able to maintain after the current war is over.
mats, that shield is somewhat incorrect. Red and green only became flag colors after the 1910 revolution that ended monarchy. Before then it was blue and white.
also, Silva and Oliveira are pretty common portuguese surnames, i have oliveira myself^^
also, Silva and Oliveira are pretty common portuguese surnames, i have oliveira myself^^
Austria 1636-1666
The period between 1636 and 1666 was spent relatively in peace for Austria. Honestly, no historians would agree that the economy improved during this time that much. New forts and manufactories were needed there were still some heretics and protestants left to be converted to the true faith and all this was to be done while keeping inflation relatively low. All of this couldn't have been done during war time of course. But there were no fears of war spreading to Austria in that era. On the North, there was still a non-agression pact in force with Brandenburg after the previous war which ended in Austrian victory thus making the contested hills of Sudety become part of Austria once again. This was possible due to general Wallenstein's great capabilities and to the small garrisons those protestant Germans had a few decades ago. The Western border was peaceful in the last decades and it remained peaceful because of the similar pacts signed with the French king. Although the good relations would later change because of Iberia..
So the period was spent mostly in peace, even though war raged outside the Eastern borders of humble Austria. Poland, after being a vassal of Russia for a long period of time by now, decided that they would try to break free with Swedish help. However not all went as planned it seemed, and Poland even asked for Austrian assitance when Russia started taking city after city in Polish soil. Sadly, as Poland had nothing to offer, and money was not to be spent on Polish independence, Austria after a year of consideration has decided to stay out of the conflict thus for the moment effectively dooming with her neutrality Poland. However, the Archduke didn't fancy the new borders and after an international meeting the countries of Brandenburg, Sweden and Austria decided to revive Poland with a joint attack on Russia. After the declaration war the Austrian army occupied Lublin both no further clashes between the two nations happend due to Moscow accepting the terms of the Central European Coalition and cedeing the much needed living space to Poland. Poland was restored and Austria only asks friendship from the Poles in exchange of the Austrian help.
After the brief conflict the above mentioned manufactories were built and so was the forts. During the Austrian consolidation a war broke out in Iberia, the gunpowder keg from now on, as Spanish troops betrayed Portugal and marched against the mighty forts of the small kingdom with French and for a few years Turkish help. The small kingdom was to endure these attack for almost a decade because Austria extended the non-agression pack she had with France up until 1666 and so no help was available for Portugal. But the years have passed and the Archduke is still in awe of the performance the Portuguese mercenaries and the Portuguese navy is showed and now the time has come to attempt to relieve Portugal. Because let's face it the Western front has been quite for almost six decades or more and Portugal is an old, but not forgotten, friend of Austria. Obviously, Wien has to act, and the soldiers are more than willing to try and make a payback for the almost countless defeats their ancestors has suffered to the French.
Austria goes into the fire.
The Story of how Spain lost Portugal
This is a story of how small errors can grow. A story of bloody war and murder most foul. A story of gold, and man's never decaying lust to acquire it. A story of international diplomacy. A story of how great kingdoms fall in the eyes of the world. All this, and also a story of the fiery blood of Iberia.
The beginnings of the 16th Century had seen a union of Iberia that seemed so strong. Spain and Portugal were in many parts of the world considered one realm, despite being two kingdoms. The great degree of coordinated expansion, exchange of valuable information and new exploits, and also generous donations and aid in a variety of manners, had made Spain and Portugal flourish. The little kingdom at the West coast of Iberia had been specializing in trade and far-away expeditions to the very East end of the World. The larger, mountain-based nation had gone West to seek the gold of the pagans. In their respective areas, both were ultimately successful, and the coffers grew.
The Portuguese expansions into Africa had brought back plentiful of gold. Initially appalled, the Portuguese soon realized the problems of such an influence on their economy, and with haste efforts were made to counter the raging inflation. Before much harm had been done, control was restored, and the Portuguese Governors were put to work. The Spanish had not been so successful.
The gold from Mexico had gone to the King of Spain's head. Not only his, but his wife, his sons and his servants. In Mexico, corruption raged wild. In Toledo, the ducat became more and more common; it was losing its value. The King died and was buried in a coffin of pure gold. But the heir to the golden throne of Spain had become disgusted by the father's late years, during which the madness had escalated. Two years he had lived studying the art of economy in Porto and Rotterdam. These years had proved fruitful also in giving the young Prince international and diplomatical contacts. Upon ascending the throne, he had reached a decision to put the gold hysteria out once and for all, and at any cost! Issuing a secret decree, he sent a messenger away to one of his good contacts in study, and the answer would soon prove to be to the King's delight.
Many would have thought that the messenger's destination would have been Lisbon, and the King of Portugal, whom the Spanish were more than on a good foot with. There is little doubt that if such had happened, the King of Portugal would have presented extensive aid in any way it was viable for him. Portugal had at this time risen to become the richest part of the world, and the ships in the harbours of Lisbon had cannonade never seen before in the history of the Christian man. The resources at the command of the Portuguese King, who shared the blood of his Spanish counterpart, were extensive and awed from many a court in Europe. But the King of Spain had other plans in store. The messenger was sent by ship to Amsterdam, where he was presented to the Stadtholder of the Netherlands, whom in his heretic ways gladly accepted the unholy union of co-operation, for he too had seen the value of Mexican gold.
The gold ravaging the courts of Europe.
At the time, the deal was kept a secret for as much as it was possible, but it soon came to the world's notice that vast gold mining areas in Mexico now belonged to the Stadtholder and the reformed rituals spread across the newly converted New World. The first step away from Portugal had been made.
In Lisbon, the King of trade eventually received the news, and he greeted them with surprise and a slight bit of disappointment. He had of course wanted to help his Spanish friend, but had been overlooked. Sending a diplomat to Toledo, he conveyed his dissatisfaction, and he was presented with explanations. The Spanish King had wanted to incorporate a new ally into his diplomacy sphere, after the Dutch had been subjugated yet again by a German lord. The Spanish had been feeling a disadvantage in Mexico, and hoped to gain a more viable standpoint with Dutch intervention, but they knew they needed a helpful push. The King in Lisbon was not pleased. Not many years had passed since he himself had waged war on the Stadtholder, ensuring dominance in Mali and depth in the defence of Timbuktu. Now his greatest ally, Spain, had bypassed him and strengthened his enemy with a mutually beneficial deal. Excuses were included in the Spanish response, and also promises of more co-operation, but the damage had been done.
France. The great Christian Kingdom of the modern World. Their power had been displayed time and again in many campaigns against Germany, Italy and even against the heathens of Constantinople. Spain had once been overrun too, and defeat had been fast. France was yet again knocking on the door of Portugal, and his demands were ever heavy. The King of Lisbon knew he could not defeat France without a powerful ally in Spain, and Spain had declined under the mismanagement of the later years of the 16th Century. France had shown they could defeat any nation, but also that they were not impossible to defeat. But the flag of Paris had been flying unharmed for decades now, and action had to be made. For now, Spain was blocking the entrance to Portugal, but the Portuguese King knew Spain could not defend an open attack. Zanzibar had been lost; there were no more room for concessions. A swift alliance was made with the Turk, and after a long war, Portugal emerged victorious, thanks to her superior navy and the excellent African Corps. But the King of France was not a daft man; he rapidly defeated the now abandoned Ottomans, and prepared to strike through Spain and face Portugal in their own lands. Then came the next step.
The Spanish King had been locking himself into his chambers in madness for the last years of his life, impossible to contact. This was following the onslaught of Brandenburgian forces storming into the gold fields of Inca, and the lack of Portuguese aid. It had been clear to Portugal that intervention would have meant resources spent to protect a broken ally. The threat to Portugal was still France, and if the Germans had been beaten back, the French would still be able to march to Lisbon via Madrid. The lack of aid was proclaimed "betrayal" by the Spanish propaganda. It was now obvious that Spain and Portugal had grown apart. No deals had been signed the two between in many decades, and protection talks against France had ceased. It was now or never for Portugal to decide whether to help Spain or not. The decision was made.
The Royal seal of Portugal, as seen on many decrees signed by the King.
A well thought-through and very generous offer was sent to the young heir of the Spanish throne. It was simple; 2,000 ducats for the port of Tangier and the area South of the Portuguese possession and naval centre Rabat, including the city of Marrakesh. The deal was received by the Spanish with an unexpected degree of hostility, and attempts to put out the sparks were futile. The offer had come across as a demand, and any response from Spain was now avoiding at best.
Time passed. The Portuguese tried again to get the deal through, providing their calculations and estimations, and even the diplomats presenting the deal were appalled at the heavy margin at which the sum had been set. The Spanish dismissed these generous files as propaganda and nonsense with the simple and sole intent to bedazzle and confuse the Spanish into agreeing. No deal were signed.
Yet again time passed. The King in Lisbon had now grown weary of the lack of co-operation he was receiving. Fearful of the French counter-attack, which he deemed as inevitable, he took his departure to his coastal residence in Algarve. In this palace he worked to find a solution, and many messengers were sent into Spain, but none came back with positive response. The closest was the young diplomat who came back confused and without doubt very frightful after a visit to the court of Spain. According to his own words, the King of Spain had "screamed... no, cried loud for everyone to hear, 'you can have them!', after which he turned around and slammed the doors after himself".
It stood clear after weeks of refusals that Galicia was not for sale, for any price. So the King tried to include The Canaries into a vast deal, in which the offer had reached 4,000 golden ducats. But this was not interesting for Spain either, and the Portuguese were getting tired of refusals. A final bid for all of Morocco was made in 1636, and it would go to history as The Bid that Got Accepted, and in shock, the King of the Oceans died from a heart-attack, falling straight down onto his marble floor in his coastal palace. In detail, 2,500 ducats were paid to Spain for all their holdings in North Africa, around the Portuguese stronghold of Rabat.
The redrawn map of Morocco.
The final step was now taken, making Portugal nothing more than a enemy in the eyes of the Spanish. France entered the scene, and brought war with them. Making demands on Spanish islands in the Caribbean Sea, armies were positioned along the Pyrenees threatening to break through the weak Spanish defences. Spain asked for help, and the response of Portugal was short; "Give me Galicia". Without even considering, the Spanish King gave in to France. It was clear to him that Portugal was no longer an ally, but only a threat to Spanish survival. Spain's position was weak, and could never hold a sizeable Portuguese invasion. So deals were made with the King of France, who called for the Sultan to join, and a large navy sailed for Lisbon...
Never had a war been fought between Spain and Portugal before. Never had any threats been made, not from any side. In the year of our Lord 1666, there is nothing left of the Iberia that once was one. There is only Portugal and Spain. And they have chosen their sides.
This is a story of how small errors can grow. A story of bloody war and murder most foul. A story of gold, and man's never decaying lust to acquire it. A story of international diplomacy. A story of how great kingdoms fall in the eyes of the world. All this, and also a story of the fiery blood of Iberia.
The beginnings of the 16th Century had seen a union of Iberia that seemed so strong. Spain and Portugal were in many parts of the world considered one realm, despite being two kingdoms. The great degree of coordinated expansion, exchange of valuable information and new exploits, and also generous donations and aid in a variety of manners, had made Spain and Portugal flourish. The little kingdom at the West coast of Iberia had been specializing in trade and far-away expeditions to the very East end of the World. The larger, mountain-based nation had gone West to seek the gold of the pagans. In their respective areas, both were ultimately successful, and the coffers grew.
The Portuguese expansions into Africa had brought back plentiful of gold. Initially appalled, the Portuguese soon realized the problems of such an influence on their economy, and with haste efforts were made to counter the raging inflation. Before much harm had been done, control was restored, and the Portuguese Governors were put to work. The Spanish had not been so successful.
The gold from Mexico had gone to the King of Spain's head. Not only his, but his wife, his sons and his servants. In Mexico, corruption raged wild. In Toledo, the ducat became more and more common; it was losing its value. The King died and was buried in a coffin of pure gold. But the heir to the golden throne of Spain had become disgusted by the father's late years, during which the madness had escalated. Two years he had lived studying the art of economy in Porto and Rotterdam. These years had proved fruitful also in giving the young Prince international and diplomatical contacts. Upon ascending the throne, he had reached a decision to put the gold hysteria out once and for all, and at any cost! Issuing a secret decree, he sent a messenger away to one of his good contacts in study, and the answer would soon prove to be to the King's delight.
Many would have thought that the messenger's destination would have been Lisbon, and the King of Portugal, whom the Spanish were more than on a good foot with. There is little doubt that if such had happened, the King of Portugal would have presented extensive aid in any way it was viable for him. Portugal had at this time risen to become the richest part of the world, and the ships in the harbours of Lisbon had cannonade never seen before in the history of the Christian man. The resources at the command of the Portuguese King, who shared the blood of his Spanish counterpart, were extensive and awed from many a court in Europe. But the King of Spain had other plans in store. The messenger was sent by ship to Amsterdam, where he was presented to the Stadtholder of the Netherlands, whom in his heretic ways gladly accepted the unholy union of co-operation, for he too had seen the value of Mexican gold.
The gold ravaging the courts of Europe.
At the time, the deal was kept a secret for as much as it was possible, but it soon came to the world's notice that vast gold mining areas in Mexico now belonged to the Stadtholder and the reformed rituals spread across the newly converted New World. The first step away from Portugal had been made.
In Lisbon, the King of trade eventually received the news, and he greeted them with surprise and a slight bit of disappointment. He had of course wanted to help his Spanish friend, but had been overlooked. Sending a diplomat to Toledo, he conveyed his dissatisfaction, and he was presented with explanations. The Spanish King had wanted to incorporate a new ally into his diplomacy sphere, after the Dutch had been subjugated yet again by a German lord. The Spanish had been feeling a disadvantage in Mexico, and hoped to gain a more viable standpoint with Dutch intervention, but they knew they needed a helpful push. The King in Lisbon was not pleased. Not many years had passed since he himself had waged war on the Stadtholder, ensuring dominance in Mali and depth in the defence of Timbuktu. Now his greatest ally, Spain, had bypassed him and strengthened his enemy with a mutually beneficial deal. Excuses were included in the Spanish response, and also promises of more co-operation, but the damage had been done.
France. The great Christian Kingdom of the modern World. Their power had been displayed time and again in many campaigns against Germany, Italy and even against the heathens of Constantinople. Spain had once been overrun too, and defeat had been fast. France was yet again knocking on the door of Portugal, and his demands were ever heavy. The King of Lisbon knew he could not defeat France without a powerful ally in Spain, and Spain had declined under the mismanagement of the later years of the 16th Century. France had shown they could defeat any nation, but also that they were not impossible to defeat. But the flag of Paris had been flying unharmed for decades now, and action had to be made. For now, Spain was blocking the entrance to Portugal, but the Portuguese King knew Spain could not defend an open attack. Zanzibar had been lost; there were no more room for concessions. A swift alliance was made with the Turk, and after a long war, Portugal emerged victorious, thanks to her superior navy and the excellent African Corps. But the King of France was not a daft man; he rapidly defeated the now abandoned Ottomans, and prepared to strike through Spain and face Portugal in their own lands. Then came the next step.
The Spanish King had been locking himself into his chambers in madness for the last years of his life, impossible to contact. This was following the onslaught of Brandenburgian forces storming into the gold fields of Inca, and the lack of Portuguese aid. It had been clear to Portugal that intervention would have meant resources spent to protect a broken ally. The threat to Portugal was still France, and if the Germans had been beaten back, the French would still be able to march to Lisbon via Madrid. The lack of aid was proclaimed "betrayal" by the Spanish propaganda. It was now obvious that Spain and Portugal had grown apart. No deals had been signed the two between in many decades, and protection talks against France had ceased. It was now or never for Portugal to decide whether to help Spain or not. The decision was made.
The Royal seal of Portugal, as seen on many decrees signed by the King.
A well thought-through and very generous offer was sent to the young heir of the Spanish throne. It was simple; 2,000 ducats for the port of Tangier and the area South of the Portuguese possession and naval centre Rabat, including the city of Marrakesh. The deal was received by the Spanish with an unexpected degree of hostility, and attempts to put out the sparks were futile. The offer had come across as a demand, and any response from Spain was now avoiding at best.
Time passed. The Portuguese tried again to get the deal through, providing their calculations and estimations, and even the diplomats presenting the deal were appalled at the heavy margin at which the sum had been set. The Spanish dismissed these generous files as propaganda and nonsense with the simple and sole intent to bedazzle and confuse the Spanish into agreeing. No deal were signed.
Yet again time passed. The King in Lisbon had now grown weary of the lack of co-operation he was receiving. Fearful of the French counter-attack, which he deemed as inevitable, he took his departure to his coastal residence in Algarve. In this palace he worked to find a solution, and many messengers were sent into Spain, but none came back with positive response. The closest was the young diplomat who came back confused and without doubt very frightful after a visit to the court of Spain. According to his own words, the King of Spain had "screamed... no, cried loud for everyone to hear, 'you can have them!', after which he turned around and slammed the doors after himself".
It stood clear after weeks of refusals that Galicia was not for sale, for any price. So the King tried to include The Canaries into a vast deal, in which the offer had reached 4,000 golden ducats. But this was not interesting for Spain either, and the Portuguese were getting tired of refusals. A final bid for all of Morocco was made in 1636, and it would go to history as The Bid that Got Accepted, and in shock, the King of the Oceans died from a heart-attack, falling straight down onto his marble floor in his coastal palace. In detail, 2,500 ducats were paid to Spain for all their holdings in North Africa, around the Portuguese stronghold of Rabat.
The redrawn map of Morocco.
The final step was now taken, making Portugal nothing more than a enemy in the eyes of the Spanish. France entered the scene, and brought war with them. Making demands on Spanish islands in the Caribbean Sea, armies were positioned along the Pyrenees threatening to break through the weak Spanish defences. Spain asked for help, and the response of Portugal was short; "Give me Galicia". Without even considering, the Spanish King gave in to France. It was clear to him that Portugal was no longer an ally, but only a threat to Spanish survival. Spain's position was weak, and could never hold a sizeable Portuguese invasion. So deals were made with the King of France, who called for the Sultan to join, and a large navy sailed for Lisbon...
Never had a war been fought between Spain and Portugal before. Never had any threats been made, not from any side. In the year of our Lord 1666, there is nothing left of the Iberia that once was one. There is only Portugal and Spain. And they have chosen their sides.
bloody republican symbols! But i must admit that im proud that portugal is such a power in the game
Now it's time to send some settlers to Além-Mar and expand portuguese culture to the North Africa. It's our turn to do the now christian "Conquista".
The United Provinces of Netherlands,
a 17th century success story
Part 1 - A history of failures
Holland, a small duchy on the northwest coast of Europe. A couple of marshy provinces producing nothing more than fish and grain for domestic consumption under the counts leading the nation from their castles in the town of Hilversum, not far from the official capitol of Amsterdam. Amsterdam nothing more than a port mainly used for export of wool cloth from the surrounding provinces of Gelre, Friesland, Brabant and Cologne to the french and english merchants down south in Flandern. Though somewhat of big port not much of the money handled in it ever reached dutch pockets due to heavy french, english and german influence. This all changed and fast later on, but to understand why this came to be we need to look back and understand early dutch history, especially Gelre.
The neighbouring duchy of Gelre had big plans for the Dutch people. Holland was approached sometime in the early years of the 15th century for an alliance, the count of Hilversum happy to not give out expenses for a lavish diplomatic expedition to Gelre quickly accepted the offer and signed whatever documents they presented to form the alliance. At this time old medieval feuds flaried up and wars erupted all over the continent in a large bid for regional power as the power of the Holy Roman Emperor crumbled into dust in a few short years. With France and England locked in battle, Austria and Brandenburg no more famous or powerful than other great duchys like that of Saxony or any other from that time; Gelre saw the future of the dutch in the weak germanic western borders in the Empire.
Gelrish nobility quickly took action as the empire consumed itself in war and soon the dutch were on the move. Brabant was first to fall and had to submit to Holland as a vassal state after losing half of her territory to the conquerors. Kleves seeing the potential in this alliance joined in and soon Luxembourg, Oldenburg, Trier, Muenster and even Denmark kneeled before the alliance. Large tracts of lands were given to Holland while Gelre collected the ducats. The counts of Hilversum were never present at these peace negotiations but as long as the fiefdoms kept rolling in then they didn't complain. But the beast awaken...
A joint force of Brandenburgians and Austrians, both busy destroying german kingdoms themselves took it upon them to expel the dutch from the german portions of the Empire. This proved to be disastorous for the previously so successful alliance. The provinces quickly fell one by one with armies falling to the combined might of the two great houses of Germany the situation became desperate. An envoy was sent to France, the same France that previously had taken the dutch core province of Hainaut, proclaming the grim outlook and offered the crown of Holland to the French king if he would come to Hollands aid and throw out the germans. The French with a smirk on their face agreed and war on Germany was declared. However not soon after the declaration scouts reported that the French were letting the austrians have their way in the dutch countryside. Apparently the french king had forgot to mention to the dutch that he had signed a non-agression pact and that apparently that had precedence over any deal with Holland. Enraged but in no position to argue, Hilversum had to accept this and instead focused on Brandenburg. A french/dutch force was sent to Berlin to talk some sense into king there but the austrians roaming the countryside forced Holland to agree to a humiliating peace where all german possessions were lost, the alliance disbanded and former friends in Gelre, Kleves and Cologne had to become vassals of Brandenburg. Holland already a vassal of France was spared the same fate of heavy german occupation and taxation. Not soon after the sweds decided to attack Holland and take the few remaning provinces out of the lowlands. Jylland was given up as the french once again proclaimed they would not come to Hollands aid in a war they saw as futile.
Poor Holland had played the game and lost, not much was left and Amsterdam was not much richer from the experience. An uneasy calm settled on the small kingdom under the 'protection' of France early in the 16th century. The calm was shortlived as the germans once more came marching in with their boots on dutch soil. Holland seen as nothing more than a shortcut to Paris. At this point there was talk of outright annexation of Holland into the german reich. Last minute diplomacy however avoided that fate for the lowlands. Holland was to become a vassal of Brandenburg instead, giving up now lucrative cloth trade in Flandern to the germans with the promise of a fututre annexation of the rebellious nation of Gelre. Somewhat of a historic irony in a sense.
However, an opportunity presented itself in all this gloom. Tales of one continent down south and another west of Iberia made its way into the court of Holland. Not slow to recognize the importance of this discovery the nation mobilized for a big push. A grand navy was constructed in all haste to attack Portugal and steal the maps there to gain unlimited access to this continents, this was in the court considered the last attempt at greatness. Fail and fade into the history books, win and fame and riches would be the new tune of Holland. The navy was built up using several years worth of taxes and minting money to pay for an army to follow the navy was seen as okay. A shortterm sacrifice for eternal glory as it was explained. Inflation took hold as the nation militarized. The most talented admiral in the nation took command of the navy and set sail for Lisbon. The 'Wardog' of the seas failed.
The campaign was a disaster, after some initial success of the coast of Lisbon the tide quickly turned. The portugese navy was slightly larger than the dutch, the dutch high command knew this but had expected a somewhat scattered portugese navy but they had all turned home to face dutch fleet. The 'Wardog' lost half of the navy in only a couple of weeks. Years of preparation and a huge gold sum lost, and all for nothing. However a White Peace was signed as it stood clear that Portugal would not be able to mount a worthwile expedition in Holland after the opening battles and not further wishing to humuliate an already battered nation. The 'Wardog' that was once hailed as the saviour of Holland returned home to a nation in anger and outrage.
Not soon after returning home with the remains of the fleet, the 'Wardog' took his own life from the shame and guilt.
Holland seemed destined to fade.
Then a curious thing happened...
a 17th century success story
Part 1 - A history of failures
Holland, a small duchy on the northwest coast of Europe. A couple of marshy provinces producing nothing more than fish and grain for domestic consumption under the counts leading the nation from their castles in the town of Hilversum, not far from the official capitol of Amsterdam. Amsterdam nothing more than a port mainly used for export of wool cloth from the surrounding provinces of Gelre, Friesland, Brabant and Cologne to the french and english merchants down south in Flandern. Though somewhat of big port not much of the money handled in it ever reached dutch pockets due to heavy french, english and german influence. This all changed and fast later on, but to understand why this came to be we need to look back and understand early dutch history, especially Gelre.
The neighbouring duchy of Gelre had big plans for the Dutch people. Holland was approached sometime in the early years of the 15th century for an alliance, the count of Hilversum happy to not give out expenses for a lavish diplomatic expedition to Gelre quickly accepted the offer and signed whatever documents they presented to form the alliance. At this time old medieval feuds flaried up and wars erupted all over the continent in a large bid for regional power as the power of the Holy Roman Emperor crumbled into dust in a few short years. With France and England locked in battle, Austria and Brandenburg no more famous or powerful than other great duchys like that of Saxony or any other from that time; Gelre saw the future of the dutch in the weak germanic western borders in the Empire.
Gelrish nobility quickly took action as the empire consumed itself in war and soon the dutch were on the move. Brabant was first to fall and had to submit to Holland as a vassal state after losing half of her territory to the conquerors. Kleves seeing the potential in this alliance joined in and soon Luxembourg, Oldenburg, Trier, Muenster and even Denmark kneeled before the alliance. Large tracts of lands were given to Holland while Gelre collected the ducats. The counts of Hilversum were never present at these peace negotiations but as long as the fiefdoms kept rolling in then they didn't complain. But the beast awaken...
A joint force of Brandenburgians and Austrians, both busy destroying german kingdoms themselves took it upon them to expel the dutch from the german portions of the Empire. This proved to be disastorous for the previously so successful alliance. The provinces quickly fell one by one with armies falling to the combined might of the two great houses of Germany the situation became desperate. An envoy was sent to France, the same France that previously had taken the dutch core province of Hainaut, proclaming the grim outlook and offered the crown of Holland to the French king if he would come to Hollands aid and throw out the germans. The French with a smirk on their face agreed and war on Germany was declared. However not soon after the declaration scouts reported that the French were letting the austrians have their way in the dutch countryside. Apparently the french king had forgot to mention to the dutch that he had signed a non-agression pact and that apparently that had precedence over any deal with Holland. Enraged but in no position to argue, Hilversum had to accept this and instead focused on Brandenburg. A french/dutch force was sent to Berlin to talk some sense into king there but the austrians roaming the countryside forced Holland to agree to a humiliating peace where all german possessions were lost, the alliance disbanded and former friends in Gelre, Kleves and Cologne had to become vassals of Brandenburg. Holland already a vassal of France was spared the same fate of heavy german occupation and taxation. Not soon after the sweds decided to attack Holland and take the few remaning provinces out of the lowlands. Jylland was given up as the french once again proclaimed they would not come to Hollands aid in a war they saw as futile.
Poor Holland had played the game and lost, not much was left and Amsterdam was not much richer from the experience. An uneasy calm settled on the small kingdom under the 'protection' of France early in the 16th century. The calm was shortlived as the germans once more came marching in with their boots on dutch soil. Holland seen as nothing more than a shortcut to Paris. At this point there was talk of outright annexation of Holland into the german reich. Last minute diplomacy however avoided that fate for the lowlands. Holland was to become a vassal of Brandenburg instead, giving up now lucrative cloth trade in Flandern to the germans with the promise of a fututre annexation of the rebellious nation of Gelre. Somewhat of a historic irony in a sense.
However, an opportunity presented itself in all this gloom. Tales of one continent down south and another west of Iberia made its way into the court of Holland. Not slow to recognize the importance of this discovery the nation mobilized for a big push. A grand navy was constructed in all haste to attack Portugal and steal the maps there to gain unlimited access to this continents, this was in the court considered the last attempt at greatness. Fail and fade into the history books, win and fame and riches would be the new tune of Holland. The navy was built up using several years worth of taxes and minting money to pay for an army to follow the navy was seen as okay. A shortterm sacrifice for eternal glory as it was explained. Inflation took hold as the nation militarized. The most talented admiral in the nation took command of the navy and set sail for Lisbon. The 'Wardog' of the seas failed.
The campaign was a disaster, after some initial success of the coast of Lisbon the tide quickly turned. The portugese navy was slightly larger than the dutch, the dutch high command knew this but had expected a somewhat scattered portugese navy but they had all turned home to face dutch fleet. The 'Wardog' lost half of the navy in only a couple of weeks. Years of preparation and a huge gold sum lost, and all for nothing. However a White Peace was signed as it stood clear that Portugal would not be able to mount a worthwile expedition in Holland after the opening battles and not further wishing to humuliate an already battered nation. The 'Wardog' that was once hailed as the saviour of Holland returned home to a nation in anger and outrage.
Not soon after returning home with the remains of the fleet, the 'Wardog' took his own life from the shame and guilt.
Holland seemed destined to fade.
Then a curious thing happened...
Russia
Tsar is not feeling like saying much about last session. He feels deeply hurt by Poland's betrayal. He helped Poland with everything, sent a lot of money, protected. After all of this Polish King didn't even tried to talk about his problems with Tsar, he just stabbed knife in Tsars back... Oh how deeply hurt Tsar is
He will now need a lot of antidepressants...
Tsar is not feeling like saying much about last session. He feels deeply hurt
by Poland's betrayal. He helped Poland with everything, sent a lot of money, protected. After all of this Polish King didn't even tried to talk about his problems with Tsar, he just stabbed knife in Tsars back... Oh how deeply hurt Tsar isHe will now need a lot of antidepressants...