The Fiery Iberians: A Concise History

[Zalman]

Author’s Notes

I’m sorry I didn’t finish the Byzantine AAR. There were several reasons why (one being that I got lazy). I wanted to add a bit more story and imagination to the AAR than I was doing and didn’t want to completely change the style right in medias res so I decided to start a new one.
This one is a hands off history of Iberia. I am playing as Iroquois and hoping that no one messes with me for a while so I can do this AAR without having to fight or something like that. The settings are:

Difficulty: Hard
Aggressiveness: Normal
Events: Random and Historical

This is played on IGC with no special settings. I will keep track of Spanish, Portuguese, and Navarre (if they last long enough) progress throughout the EU time period. Well, I think that is about all. I won’t make any promises about when the first chapter will be played and posted but I will tell you that because of the number of countries covered by this, there will be many details and short time periods covered in the chapters.

That said, I hope everyone enjoys!

[Zalman]

Preface

The Iberian Peninsula’s history is draped in banners of black misery hanging alongside banners of prosperity and happiness. This AAR will attempt to examine the Iberian Peninsula’s evolution from the time of Christopher Columbus to just before the rise of a Corsican youth named Napoleon Bonaparte. From the time of the Romans, to the great wars of the 20th century, Iberia has played a major role in shaping the world of today.

This AAR begins just as Iberian Colonialism was beginning to make its first appearances in Africa with Portugal and in the Americas with Spain. As we enter this turbulent time in European history we will examine the major ups and downs of all the nations of Iberia concisely.

The actions of the Kingdoms of Portugal, Castile-Leon (or Spain as it will be called in this AAR), and sometimes Navarre and their friends and enemies will be observed for the 300 years between 1492-1792.

A bittersweet story, Iberia’s history has ensnared many with its tales of bravery and villainy as I hope it will ensnare you. And now… The Fiery Iberians: A Concise History…

[Zalman]

The Fiery Iberians: A Concise History

[J. Passepartout]

Nice proposition. I'll be reading.

[Lord E]

Looks good
Just keep it coming

[Zalman]

The Fiery Iberians: January – June 1492

Monarch Statistics:

Spain:

Isabella and Fernando
Diplomacy: Strong
Economy: Strong
Military: Strong

Introduction

Fernando and Isabella, rulers of one of the most powerful nations in Europe, had already done many great deeds that would be remembered and respected by 1492. In 1469, the marriage of the royal cousins, Fernando of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, had eventually brought stability to and united both kingdoms. However it was really only in 1479, after the king of Aragon died, that the two kingdoms could truly be linked.

Military Actions

Now, in 1492, the great leaders were faced with another challenge. Hordes of Moslem rebels from Granada in Sierra Nevada under Imam Mohammed bin Ahmad had been ravaging the countryside for months. Now, after the rebels had already captured the city of Granada, they marched on to Toledo, where a forty thousand man imperial army awaited them.
On January 5, 1492, Fernando and Isabella consulted with their top advisors and thought of an ambition plan for expansion that involved leaving the rebels be. On that day the Imperial Army under a mysterious man by the name of el Gran Capitan marched north to the borders of Navarre. On this day, recruitment begins in the city of Murcia, so that Fernando and Isabella have at least a few troops to fight the rebels with.
The Rebels arrived in Toledo on February 5 and were surprised and overjoyed to find that the Imperial Army had fled from them. They praised Allah and feasted greatly for a day and then begin the brutal siege of Toledo, the only gold-producing province in Iberia.
On February 17, 1492, before Navarre can join any alliances, they are sent a Declaration of War by Fernando and Isabella, who claim that Navarre is rightfully a part of Spain. On March 30th, eleven thousand Navarre men under their king, Jean d’Albret, march into Gerona and begin a siege of the city. One month later, on April 30, thirty-eight thousand Spanish men under el Gran Capitan, march into the defenseless Navarre capital of San Sebastian and begin to the siege the city of the Basques.

Diplomatic Actions

What drove Spain to declaring war on Navarre and leaving the rebels to ravage the south? Insults. The Navarre ambassador to Spain had delivered a particularly nasty letter from King Jean d’Albret, who believed that he could crush Spain while they were occupied with rebels in the south. As a result, the declaration of February 5 was signed by Fernando and Isabella and the war was begun.
The Moslems rebels had driven the fiercely Catholic Isabella and Fernando into a state where they despised all Moslems. In March 1492, a declaration was signed that said they would eject all Moslems and Jews from Spain. This declaration and its results would later become known as the Spanish Inquisition.

Economic and Imperialistic Actions

An ambitious young man named Cristobel Colon had begged Fernando and Isabella to finance his journey to find, what he thought would be, a quick way to the distant lands of India. They refused vehemently but Colon’s stance was not changed. On January 5, he blatantly told Isabella that he would take a ship and find her new land to colonize. Before the queen could refuse the young upstart had run out of the door and on January 7, he took a ship called the Santa Marinela and sailed due North-West with his crew of ninety-four men. No one expected him to make it.
Fernando and Isabella have kept Spain’s economy in good shape during their rule and continue to make progress with various bailiff and tax collector promotions all over their realm. The King and Queen hope that Cristobal Colon can find more riches for his nation and bring it into a new golden age.

Major Internal Events

With the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition of Moslems and Jews, hundreds of Jews piled into churches for conversion so that they would not be discriminated against or killed. The Churches and Chapels of Madrid and Spain had never been so filled of new converts and Catholics all over the nation praised Fernando and Isabella for their successes.
The Moslems however, were more stubborn, and believed that their twenty thousand man rebel army would bring them independence and prosperity. Most Moslems continued there quiet lives as farmers and tailors in southern Spain and hoped that they would be protected by the Ejército Islámico (Islamic Army).
After the war was declared against Navarre more Moslems began supporting the Islamic rebels and believing that they could defeat their Spanish oppressors. Stability fell in Spain during this time as the war dragged on…


The Siege of San Sebastian by Diego Fernandez (1456-1527)

[Zalman]

.Just a note on how the arrangement of the chapters and stuff is gonna be:

First the Spanish part (which I just did)
Then the Portuguese part
then the Navarre part
Then screenshots and primary sources (which I will make up if I feel like it)

I know the chapters only cover a small amount of time and with lots of detail, but I warned you guys . Ok, well, I'm going to go write Portugal now.

[Zalman]

Portugal:

King Joảo II
Diplomacy: Very Strong
Economy: Normal
Military: Strong

Introduction

Joao II and his father, Joao I had been great explorers and now Joao had his sites set on a faraway land called India. Just a few years before 1492, in 1487, a new expedition led by Bartolomeu Dias sailed south beyond the tip of Africa and, after having lost sight of land for a month, turned north and made landfall on a northeast-running coastline, which was named Terra dos Vaqueiros after the native herders and cows that were seen on shore. Dias had rounded the Cape of Good Hope without seeing it and proved that the Atlantic connected to the Indian Ocean. After finding out about this breakthrough, Joao was ready to dedicate everything he had to getting to India and colonizing Africa on the way.

Military Actions

Portugal’s worst enemy in January, 1492 was the Infidel Moroccans of North Africa and Joao was rather concerned about what they might do. To ensure safety for his nation and especially the city of Tangiers, Joao began recruitment of troops in Murcia and Tangiers. Another important action, both militarily and economically, was the joining of the Hanseatic League’s trade and military alliance on February 1. Although the nations in this alliance were rather distant, they could be of help in case of any war.
However, fear of the Morrocans did not keep the Portuguese from dedicating most of their military to colonization and the elimination of natives from potential sites for colonies. In January the massive Portuguese navy moved south from the port of Oporto in northern Portugal. Eighteen ships stayed in southern Portugal in case of a Morrocan attack and another five picked up ten thousand troops from Tangiers and moved them south, down the coast of Africa.

Diplomatic Actions

The Morrocans had been sending letters of discontent at Portuguese movements for colonization in Africa and at one point threatened war on January 24. The Portuguese troops in Tangiers were moved to help colonization but new troops were recruited elsewhere and the Portuguese navy was ready to fight at the shortest notice.
Joao, however, did not feel that this was enough safety and joined an alliance with his friends in Northern Germany, the Hanseatic League. Although they were distant, they were Portugal’s best friend and ally and would protect them in case of war.

Economic and Imperialistic Actions

Joao II had dedicated himself to finding a way to India and colonizing Africa on the way. So far, he had succeeded in colonizing a few provinces in Africa and was currently sending explorers and troops to continue his colonization. He also made drasitic improvements in Portugal’s home infrastructure by beginning tax collector promotions in Lisbon, Porto, and Tangiers.
Joao II was determined to secure Portugal as an economic power in the 16th century and was on his way to accomplishing this feat.

Major Internal Events

As the small Moslem population found out about the Spanish inquisition their representatives met with Joao in Lisbon in February concerning his stance on the issue. Joao said that he would allow Moslems to live as they had, and said that they were an integral part of Portuguese society. Many of the Moslem citizens developed a new nationalism after the great king’s statements.
The war in Iberia between Spain and Navarre was in many ways good news for Portugal. No more worries about Spanish aggression for a little while and they probably wouldn’t be doing much economically besides troop recruitment, which gave Portugal the edge in the Iberian trade centers.

[Lord E]

Nice way to tell the story I am looking forward to the next update

[Zalman]

Navarre:

Jean D’Albret
Diplomacy: Weak
Economy: Normal
Military: Weak

Introduction

The small Kingdom of Navarre was no more than a thorn in the side of Spain, the real power of Iberia. Jean D’Albret and his fellow countrymen knew of this and their nation lived a paranoid life. Jean D’Albret, not a particularly strong king, had one goal for the first months of 1492: to establish or join a powerful alliance against the Spaniards. Unfortunately for the small kingdom, Spain knew their plans and acted accordingly.

Military Actions

The eleven thousand man Navarre army was under the direct control of D’Albret and was always ready to fight their Spanish enemies. However, when the declaration of war was issued on February 17, they knew that they would be overwhelmed in a battle for their capital and marched off to besiege the city of Gerona on March 30, leaving their capital and its garrison to deal with the massive thirty-eight thousand man Spanish army under el Gran Capitan.
Although Navarre was a coastal state, they had no navy and in March they decided that a navy may be of help during the war against the Spaniards and began building one slowly.

Diplomatic Actions

Navarre was in the process of setting up a meeting with the French ambassadors to plan an alliance when the Spaniards declared the war. D’Albret sent various dirty insults to Fernando and Isabella thinking that by the time they declare was because of them, Navarre will already be in an alliance with France, however, the alliance had not been formed yet and Navarre would have to fight alone. Although disappointed, the brave Basques were not discouraged and would fight a brave and gallant war.
The people of Navarre, even when seeing the Spaniards at the walls of San Sebastian, were confident that their King and his men would protect them against the amazing tactician, el Gran Capitan, who was leading the siege for the Spanish.

Economic and Imperialistic Actions

Navarre was able to begin bailiff promotion in the capital of San Sebastian one month before the war started but other than that Navarre had not the time or the money to do much economically before the war had begun.

[Zalman]

Here come Screenies:

Screenies

[Zalman]

No Primary Sources or journals for this entry. Not enough time covered. On the next one I will do a couple of years.

[Lord E]

Nice screenies

[Yoghurt]

Its interesting following the progress of three nations Its also easy for both the eye and the mind to follow the story with the headlines and so Nice piece of work and very nice initiative with several nations