Chapter 21: Ending Of An Era.
The celebrated general Armand du Valentinois, the man responsible for French victories in 4 wars, dies on 21 June, 1587. His replacement, Gui d’Usson, is a man for the future: fire-5, shock-4, maneuver-4, siege-2. He will undoubtedly lead us to renewed glory some day.
But not any time soon. The situation is too volatile, variables too unpredictable to continue our conquest spree.
We will have to wait for a more beneficial environment.
So France keeps quiet, building shipyards in all its ports, and continues converting heretics back to the True Faith.
Nationalistic Enthusiasm. With an army of (give or take) 120 regiments, that 10% maintenance bonus adds up significantly.
May, 1589. France is once again Papal Controller. Let’s hope that this time, it sticks.
Our colonies, situated in an unwelcoming tropical climate, take forever to grow into proper cities. So this event is more than a little welcome, and allows Tujucalandia to become self-sustaining.
Colonising North America is something I would have done even without this event. The only European nation up there right now is Great Brittain, and they are more interested in growing Newfoundland westward.
The best provinces on the East Coast are still completely untouched. When Gao Para will be finished, I will move my main efforts up north immediately.
Henri, France’s 5/3/4 hope for the future, dies at a tragically young age, depite my spending over 500 ducats to save his life.
May 1591. Miltary Tech level 15 brings Maurician Infantry, better Tactics and Morale.
5 September, 1591. The last Valois king has died. In his place, a noble of the house von Habsburg is coronated. If this had been Crusader Kings 2, I would be very suspicious, given all the sudden deaths in the royal family. But this is Europa Universalis 4, and such things are impossible here.
Right?
Thankfully, France, a player-controlled nation, is immune to Personal Unions, but it still gives me quite a shock.
What would have happened if France had been an AI nation? Would Austria have gotten France in a Pu then? The potential consequences for the stability of Europe are unimaginable.
The Habsburg legitimacy on the throne is periliously thin, a mere 8 points, leaving our Diplomatic Reputation a thing of the past.
It's too late to save Navarra, though. Less than a year later, Navarra is incorporated into France. Our diplomatic relations have finally gone back to within limits.
5 Legitimacy? I will take it, thank you very much. This doubles my Legitimacy
In the meantime, the Shipyard program has finished, and France’s Naval Limit rises to 83. A frantic shipbuilding program takes place, leaving me with 15 transport ships, 38 Light Ships and 27 Heavy Ships. Finally a force to be reckoned with on the sea as well as on land.
I never know which option is the most beneficial here. With the kingdom’s expenses, a smaller loan less than ideal, perhaps forcing me to pay more interest. At the same time, a bigger loan might make it difficult to pay back in 5 years. Any advice would be welcome.
September, 1594. Venice has left the coalition. This opens up options, but I am still building up my navy, so it will have to wait.
In march of the following year, I complete Economic Ideas, ensuring a strong French economy. This is good, because I seem to be lagging just a bit, compared to Spain, in terms of Admin and Diplo tech. The Diplomatic lag was fully expected. All those shipyards come with a price, of course.
In late June, 1595, I realise that the entire American East Coast is still completely clear of Europeans. I have waited too long already! I let Grao Para fend for their own and send my colonist to Chesapeake. Getting control of the trade node is of prime importance for the future of our colonial endeavors. The Carribean and Brazil trade nodes are fully in spanish and Portugese hands. Competing there would be silly. But if I can get Chesapeake before the English (I should say the British) arrive, I can still pull off a coup.
I pick up 8000 troops and send them to America via the far north.
At the same time, Henri, a new heir, is born. His claim is only average, but it’s better than what I have now. His stats are 5/2/0.
I don’t make it into the 17th century peacefully after all. The wargoal is Lombardia, and I will have to move fast if I want to prevent the Austrians from getting their hands on it.
Venice is not much of a problem. I let Austria and their allies do most of the fighting and siege as many provinces as I can.
Defeat and victory in one picture. On the one hand, Milan and France crush a large Portugese trade fleet. On the other, my colonial forces in Tucujulandia suffer a crushing defeat, and only about 1000 men escape alive. There is no way to defeat that army, so I send them deep into Portugese Brazil. Hopefully, the enemy will siege out my colonies first, giving me time to do the same to one of theirs.
I decide not to redirect the troops heading for North America. After all, those Brazilian colonies were only intended to give me a core in the area. Now that I have a colony in the North, I don’t really care all that much.
I take the mission to incorporate Savoy, something which I intended to do anyway.
The combined navies of France, Milan and Modena sink another 10 Portugese heavy and 13 light ships in the Ligurian Sea. I am glad that my efforts pay off so soon. With temporary naval superiority in place, it’s time to start thinking about putting the hurt on Portugal.
In the middle of the war, Spain leaves the coalition. They have been at war with Portugal recently. Maybe that had something to do with it.
Only 4 provinces left to go. Things are looking up in the religious department as well.
Itamaraca, in Portugese Brazil, is fully sieged, but I move too slowly and their army catches my 4500 troops with their pants down and destroy them. I am just a bit miffed at myself. Let this end!
I may not be able to put the hurt on Brazil, but I can land 30,000 men in Portugal. A couple of running battles in Algarve and Porto later, I can start carpet sieging.
I don’t know if I would call that a victory myself. The only upside is the sinking of 13 Portugese transports. I can only hope they were carrying troops at the time. Of course, I have Diplo Tech 13, while Portugal has 15 or 16. Their ships were undoubtedly more advanced.
The war is over. Venice loses its last oversea holdings and I keep my future shot at Lombardia.
Spain’s only powerful ally seems to be in a bit of a pickle. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to give Aragon some of their ancestral lands back. Savoy, it seems, will have to wait.
I move the royal court to Versailles while preparing my armies for war. But that will have to wait until next time.
See you then.