Part IV - The Liberation of Crete Part I
Sometimes a war can be fought with swords, sometimes with ships, and sometimes with words. A war with Greece involves none of those things, they run if you draw a sword, they call the British if your fleet leaves port, and there diplomats do not speak a civilized tongue. They are cowards not fit for war - The Egyptian Ambassador in Montenegro
June 31st 1838, Greece, Athens, King Ottos Palace.
"Josef, I am growing tired of your games. Crete will be ours, it's population is Greek so tell me why can we not rule it?" Otto said to the quivering Bavarian stood before him.
"It's... Egyptian your majesty" Josef replied, hoping that the obvious might sate Otto's questions.
"I know it is Egyptian but it will not be for much longer, if you value your office, your pay, and your life you will get Vassos and Alexandros to draw up plans to- to invade. You will also tell our Ambassador in Britain to gauge support to see if that Melbourne will support an invasion." Otto shouted, a little too loud as the glass of water on his desk vibrated a little bit in rhythm to his anger.
"Bu-bu sir they have more ships, and more soldiers than us it is doomed from the start" Josef stuttered out, genuinely reaching the point were the boy he controlled as regent was finally realizing the glory of an absolute monarchy.
"Do you question me?" was all that Otto said, quiet, and seething, a question that would perhaps be left unanswered.
Josef bowed his head, and took a step back wards muttering something under his breath about how the British were right to ignore such a pompous ass.
May 21st 1838, Lamia, General Vassos planning meeting.
"Welcome Josef, I here you want to talk to me about some military plan that needs to be drawn up?" Vassos said as he stood up from his desk, dressed in full military regalia and sabre rattling as he moved.
"Yes, yes I do." Josef replied as he took Vassos hand in greeting.
"Well speak up what is it?" Vassos asked after waiting a moment, realizing that Josef didn't really seem that interested.
"War" Josef replied with a single solitary word.
"With whom exactly?" Vassos tried to get more information, but it was like getting blood from a stone.
"The Egyptians." Josef said slowly, emphasizing the target of the military adventurism.
"They are invading us? Why haven't I been told... How many, any cannon?" Vasoss said raising an eyebrow, hand instinctively dropping to the obsolete weapon of choice.
"No, no you have it all wrong, we are invading them" Josef clarifies, hoping to calm Vassos down.
"Bloody hell why?" did not calm down.
"The King wills it" Josef, sarcastically responds shaking his head as if that was not an adequete reason.
Vassos' head tips in agreement, "You can't dissuade him from this folly?" he then asked.
"Not if I value my job, my neck, and my money," replied using all the statesmanship in the world, turning what would be a threat into a piece of repetition.
"That appears to be a no." Vassos murmered under his breath head tilting to one side as he thought.
"So whats the plan?" Josef asked trying to break Vassos out of his thought.
"Well we'll need more ships, I suggest you talk to Alexandros Pangalos about that though... You know the person in charge of the Hellenic Trade Company."
"I see, Alexandros is on his way here he should arrive any second now." Josef said, as he looked toward the door hoping that it would be a literal second.
Vassos joined Josef gazing at the door, before looking at the map of Greece drawn out on the table and the overview of the soldiers, and armies and ships that are under Hellenic command. As his head turned away from the door it opened, and in stepped Alexandros. Long shaggy hair hanging down roughly shoulder length, not at all the neat, appearance of Josef or Vassos.
"So what's this meeting about?" Alexandros asked as he stepped forward wondering why he had been called to Lamia of all places. Stepping forward hand extended to shake both of his fellow ministers.
"War" Vassos, and Josef said in unison, both deep in thought.
"With who?" Alexandros asked raising an eyebrow shocked.
"The Egyptians" Josef replied, noting the repetition of the conversation.
"We've been invaded... Why haven't I been told, do they have any ships blockading Corinth?" Quickly spurted out.
Josef sighed before explaining the situation in full, the conversation following the exact same lines of questioning as the previous one. Eventually Alexandros said something worthy of note.
"I'll order a new ship to be laid down, we'll need all the transports we can get. Sotiris you come up with a plan and get six thousand men detached from the Garrison force, we can transport them over to Crete and make a landing. Hopefully we can persuade the Brits to keep the Egyptian navy of our backs long enough to get there." Alexandros explaining outlining a very quickly organized plan in his mind.
"Indeed," Vassos started with before turning and adding "You bring the ships, i'll bring the men... Josef brings the money... Sorted?"
The meeting ended there, they all nodded shook hands and left, all thinking the same thing. 'Why'.
Excerpt from 'Stratos - The Early Modern Military of Greece'
On May 28th 1838 a ship was laid down in the Corinth shipyard under the provisional name HTC. Apollo, it was a lightly armed clipper designed to help transport marines and soldiers across the waves. It was the only addition to the Hellenic Trade Fleet that was really affordable, to the state at the time.
In preparation for war, the garrisons of Lamia, and Missolonghi were left under Sotiris Vassos' brother and both gave Sotiris 3,000 of there best men. Which marched to Corinth and became the Stratos Marine.
This was in preparation of what Alexandros Pangalos called 'Operation Kartira' in honor of the ship the British provided during the war with the Turks. It was a simple plan, the British fleet would prevent the Egyptian ships moving out of port, and the 6,000 men of the marines and the only trained, at full strength units within the Hellenic army would land on Crete prepare a landing zone, and occupy it. Once all of Crete accepted Greek governance, Egypt would hopefully surrender control of the land. After all ownership is 9/10ths the law.
In late October, the fleet was brought together. The two frigates HTC, Amalia and Loudovikos. Small but with a good crew and good (British made) cannon, and the two clippers HTC, Apollo and Leda. The fleet commanded by Alexandros Pangalos personally was effectively the Hellenics Trade Company ship roster, however it would soon be seen that it was an efficient fighting force as well.
Excerpt from Crete: A military success, an Economical blunder, and a bloodless war.
On November twelfth a state of war was announced between the Kingdom of Greece, and Egpyt, the reason was the liberation of those Greek people that lived under Egyptian sovereignty. The war is known by most Greek citizens even today, as the first war Greece fought as the aggressor, and the first moment that showed the world that Greece, could be on the rise.
A day later on November 13th, the foreign minister of Montenegro stated that 'while it saw Greeces goal as worthy, and the war just, the Treaty that they had signed was one of defense not of mutual assistance as such they would not be assisting Grecian efforts.' This was no problem for the Greeks as they had not counted on, or even required the assistance of the Montenegrin people was still refused, and a grudge born.
One the 14th the British minister, approved the plan the Greeks put forward, and promised British assistance. However unforeseen circumstances ignored by the Greeks may well jeopardize this venture. What the whole Greek government missed was the war raging in Europe, Prussia, and the Netherlands, fighting Belgium and the British. Britain was already stretched, and while it has promised assistance it may not actually be in a position to give it.
The war however would have a grave cost on the economy, and it was visible from the 28th of November when the money required by the Hellenic armed forces was finally approved and put through.
and on January sixth of the new year 1839 the cash reserves were gone. The economy was in a mess and it wasn't looking good.
Luckily however to detract from the bad news of the economy, the first landings on Crete were finally made. The Marines were able to set up a few small bases and began occupying the territory in full.
To try and get some money, although it was an exercise in futility the Greek Admiral Pangalos ordered his navy to blockade Alexandria to try and steal any Egyptian shipping going through the lanes.
and on the 17th of January King Otto did something reckless, that left the country open to destruction. He disbanded the armies of Lamia and Misslonghi to save a little money. With Vassos in Crete and Pangalos sinking ships, no one was able to oppose him. Save Josef who saw the economic advantage and didn't much care for the Jingoism of the King. This act did leave the entire Northern border open to attack. Something King Otto must have realized.
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Authors Notes
I originally intended to do the war in one update, but it was getting rather long and decided to split it in two.
I'm probably going to do some letters, diary entries to have some more narrative explanation of the war but they'll be interlude and not as a main update. I went with using the history book for the war, as it made it flow a bit better (not great but better).
I've played up to 1850, and i've got an update ready for tommorow finishing the war with Egypt. Then i'll be doing a peace time update covering 1841 to 1845. Then a yearly update for 1846 and 47. Then 48, and 49 will probably share an update. So the plan is as follows
Egypt part II tommorow
peace time update late tommorow/early friday
Year updates 46, 47 friday and saturday
Sunday 48 and 49.
Then i'll have to play some more.