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An excellent AAR so far. I love how you in my mind balance the story. So far I have seen a few AARs that are just too heavy on the story for me to personally get into. However, yours is a one I can read with interest.

I will be reading in the future :D.
 
Hmm, Tripoli is an. . . interesting target.
Good work. :)
 
A History of the Empire: Vol. 2
Chapter 5: Anne’s Rise and the First African Wars


Anne the I rose to the throne at the young age of 12. During the early years of her reign, she was raised by a council of advisors and relatives. At the age of 15 Anne ridded herself of such a council took complete control of the monarchy. Amongst the first of things Anne did was erect the Henry’s Vision monument in London. The monument was a testament to her father and his religiousness. The statue, which features Henry the V holding a sword upright, also features several angels surrounding him. The statue was and still is considered an excellent piece of artwork and still stands today.

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Anne wasted little time upon her ascension. Within several weeks Anne proved to be amongst the most ambitious of British monarchs and would prepare to finish the crusading her father had started.

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The remaining territory of Tripoli fell incredibly quickly and almost no resistance was raised. Within the year Tripoli was officially added into the British Empire. Anne, in what would be her only real defeat during her reign, decided to continue the fight into Algiers. The early fighting of this conflict was relatively small. The Royal Army fought only small garrisons of Algerian troops. During this period, British soldiers would begin to become acclimated and familiar with fighting and conditions in North Africa. These lessons would come from massive attrition while fighting in Algiers which would lead to troubles later in the war. Algiers had recently gained a small, insignificant part of north Morocco that had defected from the other crusading states of Castille and Portugal. The area, while poor and not connected with the main Algerian holdings, was a hotbed for anti-crusader rebels, and in turn the Algerian crown was able to gain roughly 20K soldiers from these revolting forces. These new forces made several successful attacks on British Soldiers and the Algerians pushed forward. The Algerians had raised these new soldiers in hope of taking back Tripoli, yet when their crown went bankrupt after hiring so many soldiers, British forces were able to force a period of peace to recollect and prepare more manpower for future conflicts.

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After roughly 6 months, Anne prepared another invasion force, this time in route to Tunisia.

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The Tunisians were ill prepared for an invasion at the time and British scouts were able to make a good assessment of their enemies. British forces moved in and within 6 months, all of Tunisia was annexed into the Empire.

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It was during this period that Anne took a liking to her young cousin Richard, born 1419, who would become heir to throne after Anne distanced herself from her previous family members who had helped her during her early years as Empress. It is thought that her uncle John had possibly conspired to steal the throne from Anne, but currently there is no knowledge if such events actually transpired. In any case, John was executed on the Empress’s orders for treason in 1421.

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Following the conquests she had made in North Africa, Anne had another monument constructed in Bristol to celebrate the victories British soldiers had achieved there. The Carthaginian Conquest monument would stand until the Civil War. Much information of the statue is lost and its depiction of British soldiers is unknown as of today.

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The conquest of Tunisia would mark a small period of peace from 1423 to 1427. During this time period, Anne began to develop amongst the most important of her eventual changes to how the British Empire would handle its overseas possessions. During these times, the British government would begin to evolve in how it was administered and this period saw an administrative and diplomatic jump forward as Anne centralized her realm.

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These massive changes to government were not welcomed by all though. Many resented the focus on external expansion versus internal growth. Revolts in North Africa continued as they would for most of Anne’s reign, but a particularly striking revolt would take place in England itself. During this time a rebel by the name of William Button would rise and lead a series of raids all over the English countryside. Due to most British troops being located in North Africa at this time, Anne was faced with an emergency situation. Within 4 months, British troops were able to contain the riots, and Button disappeared. It is unknown what became of him. His legacy would last on and his name would be drawn upon as a freedom fighter during the civil war.

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Chapter 6: The Struggle for North Africa
After the revolts were put down, Anne would continue on with her namesake of crusading. In what would be one of the most bloody wars of the period, British forces moved to take over Algiers.

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In 1427, British soldiers began to occupy Algiers. The Algerian crown was still in much of the same trouble it had been in during the first war. The Algerian government broke and subsequently, many soldiers abandoned outposts and fled instead of fighting.

Algiers would not be the main enemy of this campaign though. Anne’s military had vastly underestimated the power of the Egyptian Mamluks and about 5 months into the war, 50,000 Egyptians soldiers marched into British North Africa. British forces attempted to attack and drive back the enemy, but superior numbers forced them back into defeat after defeat. It was only during this time that soldiers began to burn and raid their own territory to deny the Egyptians access to any usable goods. While Egyptian forces did force a retreat all the war back to Algiers itself, their numbers had dwindled to a mere 15,000. British forces were able to defeat this major army and force a peace settlement with the Egyptians for a return to the status quo. Most of Algiers itself was shortly integrated into the British Empire.

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During the war, a large group of rebels had taken control of Iceland, but it was quickly taken back after the conclusion of the war. This would make the last major Icelandic revolt. With its army stretched thin and manpower becoming harder to sustain, Anne entered another period of peace in order to rebuild and assess the gains made. During this period of peace, Anne would make certain appeals to the pope that would begin to develop a very strong foerign policy. Anne’s Decree, as it would become known, would pit Great Britain against some of the strongest nations in Europe during this time. These events will be discussed more in chapter 8.
 
Strong gains. Time for war in France?
 
A History of the Empire: Vol. 2
Chapter 7: A Changing North Africa


Following the war against the Mamluks and Algiers, Anne pushed for an expanded military. Both the British navy and army were expanded in the coming months, mostly to help secure the new gains in North Africa. Political instability in the region gave Great Britain great leverage in politics. The Mamluks, who had thoroughly challenged British power in the region, came under a period where leadership was controlled by a Mongol ruler from Chagatai. The new ruler would not control the Egyptian Mamluks well and neglected the growing power of the British in North Africa.

Subsequently, Anne would push her authority in the region to its limit. In 1429, with support from several cardinals, the British were able to force Pope Alexander the VI to issue a papal bull. This declaration gave the British complete control over most of Africa that was known at the time, save for the minor Castilian holdings. It also gave them full papal support to defend these holdings against any aggressors. In return for the support from the Papacy, Great Britain was to support all missionary work in the region and must build churches throughout the region to promote Catholicism. This policy would have an astounding effect of putting the British in complete control of African politics. They would use this power to guarantee the independence of the remaining Muslim states. This would help to isolate Castille and keep British hegemony in the region intact.

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In late 1429, Adam Smith, a British general was attacked by a group of Moroccan nationalists. The incident, which was relatively small in scope, ignited a series of border skirmishes, which would lead to a British declaration of war in mid 1430. British forces were unprepared for the war, which led to a prolonged standoff between the Royal Army, which contained 8,000 men, and the Moroccan forces, which contained about 13,000 men, from early 1431 until early 1433. The Moroccan forces eventually retreated to deal with rebels along their Atlantic coast. British soldiers poured in through the opening in the lines and Morocco was quickly overrun. Adam Smith, the man who had instigated the war, would die a month before Morocco fell apart and was annexed into British North Africa by 1444.

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Following this period, Anne and the British nobility saw a need for more appropriate control over the newly gained territory. British North Africa had come to encompass a relatively large area with a diverse population. The development of a means of control that would become the Overseer Act and Transport Act would come about. The Overseer Act gave special rights to any British nobility or high ranking soldiers that would volunteer to oversee administration in North Africa. This effectively created a multitude of feudal viceroyalties in British North Africa. The other main act of the period is the Transport Act, which was an attempt to attract trade and colonists to North Africa, guaranteed support from the royal navy to all shipping that went through the British trade routes. This would have strong economic effects within a few years. The Hanseatic League would take advantage of this fact to attract lucrative trade coming through Egypt and Asia Minor. Both areas were entrenched in political turmoil at the time, Egypt attempting to escape foreign rule by the Mongols and Asia Minor being invaded by the Byzantines from the west and Timur’s Empire from the east. Using this act as a means of protection, they could avoid Italian competitors and take advantage of trade already coming through Great Britain. Both acts would have long term consequences that would result from the increasingly overseas focus of the British Empire.
 
Looks good, subscribing :)
 
Good job! You've now cut off the most common Castillian route for expansion. Maybe now we'll see them actually form Spain.
 
Interesting starting moves...you're cruising to Overextension.
 
Thanks guys!

@dinofs: Maybe. Aragon was and is doing pretty well in this game. Castille might actually head toward Portugal first.

@mayorqw: I've considered it, but France has their fingers in a lot of pies right now, Italy included. I'm not particularly keen on fighting them unless they get in my way.

@naggy:There's a method to the madness. ;) Over-extension will likely not be a huge problem after North Africa cores.
 
@naggy:There's a method to the madness. ;) Over-extension will likely not be a huge problem after North Africa cores.

True. Until then...
 
@naggy:There's a method to the madness. ;) Over-extension will likely not be a huge problem after North Africa cores.

yeah you're right about tht but you are really expanding very very fastly !!!

the good thing is that over extansion is still manageable if your country is stable enough.. I did it with Byzantines... Why not england !!! :)

Anyway until now... After all in the real history French and England tried some crusades on Tunis ! Why not by that time ? :D

Kick some Muslim asses !!! :D (no offense to anyone BTW (I must say that guys even for a game... I'm French... freedom of speech here is like communism under McCarthy :D) no let's not begin a debate on this thread it would be off subject !! )
 
Deeper into Egypt?
 
@naggy: Yes, until then! Although colonization will likely be the bigger source of over-extension if there's going to be one.

@Ankios: Yeah, I pretty much have to burst out the gates if I plan to make as much progress as I'm expecting. I want to hit 1821 with all my goals in check. :cool:

@JDMS: I plan to eventually. I'm not sure I could fight that war too successfully at the moment though. If there's two things in Egypt right now, it's soldiers and deserts, and they'll both destroy my armies. :wacko:
 
Over-extension only shows that you are strong. :cool:
 
A History of the Empire: Vol. 2
Chapter 8: Heresy and Anne’s Decree


Following the Overseer Act and Transport Act, Great Britain saw an outpour of oppressed Irish and Scottish subjects, along with some German and Italian merchants, heading to North Africa in hopes of fortune through the various new trade networks set up. With a growing Christian community coming in, change was quick. Some of this change was welcomed at the time, while other issues would become more heated. In Gabes, a North African city, a priest and prominent philosopher by the name of Edger Essex would present ideas for integrating the Islamic features of the area into Christian society. His most known idea was that of combined Muslim and Christian places of worship. Essex had come to admire Islamic architecture and had pushed several times to have new churches built with some of these Islamic features. His proposals, while productive and well received by some locals, were viewed as heretical in many ways, and British authorities attempted to quash Essex and many with similar ideas within the next few years.

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During this time period another turbulent event was taking place. Castilian diplomats were pushing for the annexation of what remained of Algiers. The British, having guaranteed the Algerians through Anne’s Decree, warned that such a move would bring war. While we currently know that the Castilian crown had no real intention to push their claims at the time, many British, especially those who had recently arrived in North Africa, feared an Iberian invasion would come. Wielding the might of the Pope’s support and Anne’s deft policies, plans were made for a preemptive attack on Castilian forces in North Africa.

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These preparations would culminate far too late for an immediate attack. The Castilians, possibly through espionage or North African rebels, gained knowledge of the British preparations and launched an attack on Algiers in 1437 in fear, hoping for a bluff on the part of the British or possibly an unorganized defense through which they may strike at the newly developing North African lands before British forces could attack them first.

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Great Britain was now under attack by her two leading naval rivals, Castille and Portugal, and with one of the strongest land powers, Burgundy. The British forces were in immediate disarray. The Royal navy, which was transporting merchants, colonists, and newly recruited soldiers to North Africa was attacked by the combined forces of Portugal and Castille off the coast of northern Iberia and forced to flee into the neutral ports of France. It would eventually retreat to England to hold off any Burgundian landings on the Isles themselves.

Castille was able to land somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 men in Algiers during this time. The British military in the whole of North Africa numbered only 24,000 when the war started. British forces were continually turned back, along with their uneasy allies in Algiers. A soldier, by the name of Anthony Buckingham, would be part of the answer. Buckingham, a veteran of the wars with Morocco and Algiers earlier, would help to lead British forces in a series of counter attacks.

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The early attacks were mostly disastrous, as the 16,000 men at Buckingham’s disposal attempted to dislodge the massive Castilian force that had made much progress throughout Algiers. Attrition had helped to wither the enemy, but roughly 25,000 remained. In 1439, the Royal Navy engaged and defeated the main Portuguese navy near Galicia. Shortly after, new troops were landed in Morocco. Buckingham’s 16,000 soldiers, plus the 8,000 new arrivals, gave Great Britain the power it needed. In late 1439, after a series of battles, the Castilian forces in North Africa surrendered, leaving British and Algerian forces in a position to reverse Castilian gains.

Following this break though, Castille would help to raise 14,000 Moroccan rebels to cut off British forces. The largely worn out British army had dwindled considerably while fighting the Castilians, and only 16,000 soldiers remained to fight the rebels. With the main British forces cut off and their numbers shrinking, Castille landed another 9,000 soldiers in Algiers. It wasn’t until 1441 that Great Britain was able to destroy the rebel forces and then move into a series of battles with Castille. Within 3 months, Buckingham had destroyed all remaining enemy soldiers and Great Britain began to attack the small Castilian holdings in Africa. Following news of these setbacks, Portugal and Burgundy exited the war. After a period of intense naval maneuvering and a few small land battles, Algiers and Great Britain would eventually come out the victors, and Castille would offer their African possessions in return for peace, with Melilla going to the British and Ceuta going to Algiers in August of 1442.

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With the last major British rival pushed out of Africa at the time, British control in the area was complete. It would not be last time the Iberians would interfere with British expansion though. Following this war, intense development began in not only the more recently added regions, but also to places like Tripoli and Tunisia. A strong urge to Christianize as much of Africa as possible, combined with the beginnings of British colonialism, would help to turn North Africa into a key area of British expansion.