Errante: I’m glad you like my AAR so much. Thanks! However, at this point there is no game. Everything that happens is planned out rather than played out, which is actually the main reason these updates take longer to make. Things like slider moves and tech levels aren’t necessary anymore, as I can just describe policies and technology myself. Besides that, you’re right about Prussia and the strength of Greater Friesland. I’ve decided to give all of my readers the chance to decide what happens in Germany in this update.
Chapter Five: Interlude
Aftermath
Late 1816, Wallonia stands between Friesland and Burgundy
The British were able to push their demands above all others in the Dublin Treaty, and for their effort they were able to gain the release of the French-speaking lands under Frisian control. This were organised into the Kingdom of Wallonia ruled by a descendant of the old Dukes of Hainaut, whose family had fled to Britain following the Revolution. The kingdom could be divided into two main regions, the Wallonians in the east that either followed the Church of Burgundy or the Cult of Reason and the cosmopolitan French in the west that were majority Calvinist. Despite all efforts to eradicate religion by the Cult of Reason, this divide existed and would no doubt be a major sticking point in future running of the state. There was also a significant Frisian minority in Hainaut that already resented being separated from their homeland.
In the wider political picture the release of this particular region was a calculated move by Britain to split apart the two revolutionary allies. Besides the obvious physical separation, the two nation’s separate claims on the region would lead to inevitable conflict in the future. Legally, the land had been Frisian for a very long time and besides the Frisians in Hainaut there were a decent number of loyalists across the country who wanted it returned to Greater Friesland. On the other hand the region was far more culturally aligned with Burgundy and should they ever want to unite the larger French-speaking region they would have to bring this under their control to truly claim success.
Late 1816, standoff in the colonies
Friesland and its old colonial possessions in North America had not exactly parted on the best of terms, and now the two sides stared at one another over the boundaries just waiting for an excuse to attack. Official word from the homeland was to let the Manhats, Acadians and Quebecois go about their business peacefully in accordance with the treaty Despite this, the colonial administration was eager to reclaim these lands for Friesland once again and similarly the colonials were very interested in liberating their brothers in Illinois and Florida. The whole region was a powder keg waiting to go off again, but with neither side willing to make the move and take the brunt of the blame for reopening this conflict the spark would have to come from an outside source.
Reconstruction
October 1st 1816, the Army of Friesland parading through Johan’s Arch in Groningen
In spite of the losses that Friesland had taken in the war, it was still domestically declared a great victory. The Revolution had successfully proven it could handle itself in the world at large and the remaining monarchs had been given no choice but to acknowledge the republican governments that now stretched across most of Europe. A great parade was held in Groningen to demonstrate to the people that despite everything Friesland was still as powerful as ever and would be ready to deploy once again should anyone threaten the nation.
The reality wasn’t quite as optimistic. In order to repair the damage done by years of war and the severing of the trade routes, significant quantities of money had to be redirected from military finances to help fun reconstruction in areas. Half of the homeland armies were stood down from full strength to keep costs down and open up as many funds as possible for domestic use. Besides rebuilding projects, the money was funnelled into bailing out the Banks of Groningen and Amsterdam, which had suffered significant losses providing financing to trading companies that had gone bankrupt during the blockade. Slowly but surely the economy was being put back on track.
Late 1816-Early 1817, new trade routes with South America
Central to the reconstruction of the economy was opening up new trade routes. Relations with the Antilles and the other free colonies were still far too frosty for trade to open up between them and the homeland, which meant that other sources of goods from the Americas would have to be found to sate the massive appetite that Europeans had for these valuable items. Trading partners were found in the independent states of South America; Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and La Plata. Venezuela was still on good terms with Friesland despite no longer being under its direct control, while the others were eager to help the ones who fought against their former masters. Now that sugar, coffee and tobacco were once again freely entering Friesland things were finally returning to normal.
Russian Consolidation
Mid 1817, Russia secures its border
The victory over Austria had seriously emboldened the Czar in his efforts to turn Russia into one of the modern era’s dominant powers. At the advice of his advisors, he chose to continue expansion into the east and secure the Siberian border before advancing anywhere else. In order to give breathing room for that, a significant portion of the Russian army was stationed on the western border after mopping up the semi-independent state of Ukraine. Lines of fortifications were constructed in the regions that were most likely to be avenues of Frisian or other Revolutionary attack, while assurances went out to the countries of Europe that this was a purely defensive measure. At least, for the moment it would be.
Mid 1817, the Siberian Offensive
With nothing to worry about in the west, the Russians were free to advance eastwards. Apart from the British in eastern Siberia, the majority of the region was under the control of the remnants of the Khanates that had at one time ruled from China to the Black Sea. While they had done their best to keep up with the technological advancements of the westerners, they lacked both the economy and mindset to develop an army capable of using the technology to its fullest potential. The majority of the Altaic armies were made up of large numbers of horsemen armed with muskets and in some cases plain composite bows while they were supported by larger numbers of infantry that were armed with guns but still little better than feudal levies in discipline and morale. The modernised Russian army tore straight through them as the Siberian Offensive got underway and within a matter of months any real resistance to the invasion had ended. The conquered territories were incorporated directly into the Russian crown, but it would be a long time before complete pacification could be accomplished. In the meantime, Russian generals began to eagerly eye British Siberia and began to prepare for operations there. The Czar vetoed an immediate attack, but that was only because Britain was no longer tied down by a war in Europe. Inevitably the peace would have to break down and that would be when he would strike.
Conflict in Ireland
1817, the two Irelands
For centuries, Ireland had been divided into two separate nations, each claiming to be the true Kingdom of Ireland. On the east coast and based in the city of Dublin was the officially recognised Kingdom of Ireland, or just Catholic Ireland. After winning their independence from Britain, they were quickly inducted into the British sphere of influence as they decided it would be easier to maintain a political rather than literal foothold on the Emerald Isle. Controlling the rest of the island was Leinster, or Calvinist Ireland, which claimed the Irish Crown by right of territory. They were backed in this claim by the only other Calvinist nation of note in Europe, Navarra. The whole conflict had been put on the backburner during the Revolutionary Wars, but following the Treaty of Dublin Calvinist Ireland began to make complaints that they should have been the mediators being the true rulers of Ireland. This opened up the whole political can of worms again and began a massive and long-running war of words between Britain and Navarra as they argued their cases and attempted to score political points against each other.
Cafarelli’s Aims
The peace in Europe even extended to the conflict between Italy and the Iberian kingdoms. With the peninsular and Italian islands completely under Italian control, the Iberians had withdrawn their fleet to defend their own shores and focused on rebuilding their own economies that had suffered during the Revolutionary Wars. The war became one in name only and General Cafarelli was more than willing to take advantage of that. His victory against Austria had made him one of the most popular men in the country, and steadily the members Italian Revolutionary Assembly fell into his political camp. As he gained allies and supporters, his rivals also attempted to consolidate their hold and keep him from gaining too much strength. The situation came to a head during the 1817 Assembly elections, where Cafarelli was elected as Consul in a total landslide.
Mid 1817, executions in the aftermath of the Italian elections
Despite allegations of widespread voter fraud, Cafarelli’s rivals were in no position to argue against him. With the public at his back, he was free to do whatever he wanted now that he was in the highest position in the land and the very first thing he did was to declare his top rivals to be enemies of the republic and have them executed by the guillotine, which had been imported from Burgundy. With all dissenters removed he was more than able to push through every reform he intended to bring the country entirely under his control. The Assembly was replaced with a full Senate which was led by Cafarelli as Consul, and the country’s official name was changed to the Free Roman Republic. The intention was obvious, to model the new Italy after the Roman Republic of old and to bring the ancient concept through to the modern day. The supposed successors states to Rome, the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantines, were as gone and as good as gone, so no one stood in the way of his declarations. While there was some condemnation from the other revolutionary nations for such obsession with the past, they were interested to see what would happen and so offered up nothing but words in opposition.
Late 1817, the invasion of Greece begins
With the political fight out of the way, the military battles could begin. Breaking the unspoken ceasefire with Castille, the Italian armies were shipped en masse to Greece and engaged the local forces there. At the same time, Italian and Illyrian forces began invasions of the independent Balkan states to hit the region from the north. Greece was all that remained of the Castillian Empire that had once ruled almost the entirety of the Mediterranean, so conquering it would prove to the world that there was a new dominant power in this sea. But this was only the beginning over everything Cafarelli had planned for
his empire.
Read more in the next chapter.
The Assembly of Friesland is not concerned with what Cafarelli is planning at the moment. If he can cripple Castille’s empire without overt aid from Friesland or the other revolutionaries, the downfall of Iberia could be accomplished without needing to waste a single Frisian life or violate the Dublin Treaty. There are still other domestic issues to be dealt with right now that take a higher precedence. The independent states of Central Germany are a relic of the past and will not be able to survive in this era. Something must be done with them, but there is significant division among members of the Assembly on what it is.
Option A: Absorb them all into Friesland. This might not be popular among German nationalist groups, but we’re already in possession of half of Germany so they shouldn’t be complaining.
Option B: Combine them plus our isolated German lands into the Central German Republic, under Frisian control.
Option C: Create the CGR, but also give them more parts of Germany we already hold. Prussia will gain North Austria and Memel as well. This won’t be popular with the radical Frisian patriot factions, as we’ve already lost a lot of land to Wallonia.
Option D: Combine the expanded Prussia and expanded CGR into a full Revolutionary Germany. This may prove risky as there is no guarantee of political control over such a large nation.
German divisions:
-Red = CGR
-Blue = CGR Expanded
-Green = Prussia Expanded
There is also a minor foreign affairs concern to consider. Many in the Assembly are eager to get back into proper politics rather than just having an antagonistic relationship with the monarchies. The Ireland situation is the perfect chance to do this. We won’t have much of an effect on this particular outcome, but putting out our word on the matter could influence futures dealings.
Option 1: Side with Britain and Catholic Ireland.
Option 2: Side with Navarra and Calvinist Ireland.
Option 3: Who cares about them? They’re all monarchical scum so let them argue amongst themselves.