Chapter 9 - La Sept Étoiles (1850-1851)
The year of 1850 started off slow. The winter was extraordinarily harsh towards the end of January, and the temperature remained around freezing throughout February in the northern part of the country. Nouvelle Bruges was covered in the biggest pack of snow in decades, and many people thought it to be idyllic.
News reached from across the Atlantic at the end of February, with a proclamation of the Russian Empire, they claimed to now be among the greater powers that reside on this world, and many others justly believed them to be. They overtook the Japanese Empire by a large margin, which was greatly beneficial for the Seven Republics, as it meant one less contender in the Pacific and one more in Europa.
Russia climbs to 6th in the world, still far behind the Europa 4 and ourselves.
16th of March, and Spring was setting in. Together with the better weather came the news of increased relations with our southern neighbors in Lusitania. They agreed to become a close friend and ally and we included them in our Sphere of Influence, offering them protection and guaranteeing their freedom.
The treaty signed in Santa Palo ensured a great future for both countries.
The year resumed its easygoing character, and late in June an industrial breakthrough was made. The process to obtain cleaner coal was perfected and implemented nationwide. On urging of Congress, construction started on a brand new stock exchange in Port Valois, the largest city in the country located just across the river from Nouvelle Bruges.
Top of the line economic progress was to be expected in about 18 months.
Late July, the peace and quiet that had engulfed Arcadia vanished almost instantly. On the 21st, settlers from the Seven Republics had declared the region of Gylhenvik a new part of the Nation.
Even without official government funding colonization of Arcadia continues.
Then, on the 22nd, an incident occurred. For reasons still obscured by officials, a small patrol party along the Plantagenian border near Branville was arrested for trespassing on foreign soil. Outrage of this action reached Congress and it was first met with disbelief. After a fast police investigation, police came to the conclusion that this arrest was actually made on Septiman soil, making this an illegal action by the Plantagenians. Not awaiting any explanations from Nouvelle Orléans, our ambassador was summoned back to the Republics, and President Fallon started readying the troops.
Rabble, rabble, rabble!
Preparations were made for a short and decisive war, and in October everything was set in motion. Before the troops moved across the border, a poet made a ruckus.
Focus lay on the war at this time.
On the 6th of October, 1850, the guns of war roared once more. Swift occupations of 5 territories were initiated within days of the official Declaration of War, and our fleet moved into a blockading position of the Plantagenian capital of Nouvelle Orléans.
A comparison between the two nations.
The attack plan of the first day. After the initial push, most control of the army was delegated to commanders in the field.
Early December saw yet another diplomatic disaster abroad, this time our countrymen were not allowed to enter the nation of Jaipur, and an official warning was issued by President Fallon. Being occupied in the south would of course keep us from actually interfering, barking dogs don't bite, but without a threat we wouldn't be taken serious in the future either.
Your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries!
Turn of the year sees once again an increase in liberal sentiment.
With one of the weakest contemporary armies in existence, the Plantagenian King had no idea what to do with the actual forces he had. What he did was send them out on a suicide mission, and the Plantagenians lost 3000 men on the 4th of January 1851. We would have captured them but they charged into our lines, guns blazing, killing 42 of Septiman souls. It might not have been a proportional response but such a sudden and strange act gets a sudden and strange reaction against it.
The only land battle of the war.
Our previous wars had left us with a negative standing among the world community. It had deterred us from any other major conflicts, and that's why the Border Incident last July was seen as a godsend. But, no longer did the Seven Republics fear the might of Europa's colonial empires. Being in good standing with most nations, a decision was made and the war was expanded. The most important consequence would be that the world was given a free ride to cut us down in size. Twentyfour long months with this fear would be ahead, but President Fallon convinced Congress that it would not be an issue.
Pays Tsigali was demanded from the evil Plantagenians mostly for its large coal mines.
The current progress of the war and our worldwide infamy.
There was also news that did not concern the war left and right. In March and in May respectively, new discoveries were made. The first was an industrial process, that made it easier to refine Pit Coal for our industries. The second was the expansion of Romanticism into the field of Literature.
We have only one rule: Newer is always better.
Late in April, a group of Plantagenians approached the President. They had been living in the previously annexed provinces, and the current war had left them discriminated against because of this. They claimed to have been happier ever since we freed them from the evil usurper of the Mississippi, thusly they demanded for government interference with their plight. President Fallon pleaded before Congress, which he had been doing more often recently compared to his previous years in office. Congress decided that changes had to be made and the call for equal opportunities was heard.
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.
June saw 5 more nations join our Sphere of Influence. This was a great success for the Fallon administration, and control of Northern Arcadia was within our grasp. This also meant that a bigger power-block was created against any European aggression to contain our infamy.
Excellent.
In a final ditch effort to make a stand, the Plantagenian Navy was dispatched to engage our blockading forces. Not taking any risk, President Fallon started the peace talks, and this effectively led to the end of the war on August 1st 1851. A period of national vigilance started that day, and only time would tell if The Seven Republics would be left alone.
The Battle of Mobile Bay only lasted a couple of days.
The acquisition of these two regions boosted national prestige by a decent amount. The war was won.
The Seven Republics has steadily expanded since it declared independence from Burgundy, and people envisioned a large Republic. Thoughts of a name change resonated in the streets on occasion, but as a reminder to the start of the nation, no resolution to change the name was issued before, during and after 1851. This might change in the future, but for now the country was content.
St. Augustine was now connected by land, completing total control of the Atlantic seaboard for The Seven Republics.
--End of Chapter 9--