Portugal- an Empire Under the Sun

Expansion in East

Post Offices

It was in January 1592 when João IV in his infinite wisdom implemented the trade post system. Meaning, important Portuguese colonies would get steady connection to the home- post ships leaving to Portugal every month and thus, ensuring fast enough communication between colony and homeland. Of course, not every one of the colonies got the posts. Only the most important ones.

In the beginning, the provinces of Gold Coast and Benin from Ivory Coast node; Zanzibar from Zanzibar; Aden, Muscan and Majerteen in Aden; Ceylon and Kotchin in Ceylon; Andamans in Bengal and in Malacca, Sunda, Mataram and Blambangan in Java island. Meaning- all the trade nodes Portugal has competition in and needs some more power. Result- the trade flowing to Sevilla increased quite a bit. More money for Portugal, less for everyone else.


Gulf of Aden after the trade posts

Just a bit later, Portugal also advanced to the level where textile manufactories were a good possibility. Incidentally, not much need for these for Portugal, but over the time, plantations, trade companies and such have sprung all over the Portuguese holdings- both in Africa and America and in the mainlands. Not much, but enough for the moment.


Two of the new techs

Fall of Vijayanagar

Vijayanagar, once the most powerful nation in southern India, had a bit of a streak of bad luck recently. Most of it associated with Portugal- when João IV and Portuguese East India Company expanded their territory in a war from 1565-1566, the Vijayanagari armies were defeated, their nation in shambles and part of their power base in Portuguese hands. The other nations were quick to exploit it and by 1592, Vijayanagar was now 2-province minor. Now, Golkonda was the most prominent nation nearby, with Bengal and Marwar dominating rest of the subcontinent.

João IV declared war on Vijayanagar in February 1592. 18 000 Portuguese soldiers, split into two armies, marched to lands of Vijayanagar, met no resistance and started the siege of the two provinces: Vijayanagar and Coromandel.

The most exciting part of the war was when 12 000 rebels started their rebellion in Kongu, to support the Vijayanagari armies. Other then than, no enemy armies, no enemy resistance- just plain old boring bombardment of enemy cities until they gave up.


Rebellion- the only thing looking a bit threatening to Portugal

Still, by October 1592, the war was over. João IV decided to leave Vijayanagar still alive, but with only one province. Coromandel was now Portuguese. Soon, the rebels were also defeated and Portuguese India was in peace again.


Portuguese victory

Half of Sumatra

Aceh was the nation that controlled the Island of Sumatra. Powerful trade nation, owner of Aceh, northernmost province of Sumatra and an important centre of trade and traditionally, Aceh is thought to be the nation from where Islam entered the Malacca trade node. Right now though, they were in trouble, for João IV had fabricated claims on three of their provinces- the southern provinces of Sumatra.

It was in October 1594 when Portugal declared war on Aceh. Both of Portuguese Asian armies were there, one 10 000 soldiers, other 9000. Two transport fleets to transport them plus Asian fleet of 5 heavy ships to gain superiority of the seas.

Portuguese armies made simultaneous invasions to Lampung and Palenbang, Lampang fell in April 1595- still no Aceh troops in sight. The army moved on to Benkulen, the third Portuguese target. Palenbang fell a bit later, in May. By then, the forced of Aceh showed up- 11 000 troops stationed in Siak, province next to Palenbang.

Portuguese troops under Alvaro Nunes Barreto, a really good general, especially when it comes to maneuvering and using cold, hard steel on the enemies, commanding the 9000 strong army, marched out to meet them in battle. As expected, the battle was a success. Soldiers of Aceh were no match to newest European weapons, tactics and Portuguese discipline. They fled- and of course, Portuguese were hot in their tail. Then next battle was in Aceh in July. Though Portuguese managed to kill off most of the enemy infantry, the remnants still fled. In August 1595, the Aceh army was defeated by Portuguese- again in Siak.


Defeat of the enemy army

In November 1595, the peace was signed. João IV forced Aceh to give up three of the southernmost provinces. Portugal was now half in control over Sumatra islands. Meanwhile, Ayutthaya, the nation controlling the Malay peninsula, also went to war with Aceh. With the armies defeated by the Portuguese, the poor Aceh could not give much of the resistance and soon, they were annexed by Ayutthaya.


The victory!

Annexation of Aragon

It was in September 1596 when João IV gave the order that will end independence of Aragon about 10 years from now- he ordered to begin the annexation of the nation. Well, you can at least say that the Portuguese are much more effective then Spanish- they had Aragon as part of their personal union for over 100 years and lost it. Portugal on the other hand gets things done.


Good-bye, Aragon!

Ahh, trade posts and custom houses- really good buildings that allow you to achieve more with less ships. Especially when planted to the provinces already having +5 bonus- gives you power without need of ships. For example, each of the important provinces in Aden now has basically 30 trade power, and that is without custom houses. It means 5 end-game heavy frigates can be used elsewhere.

And again- the minor nations in Asia are no opposition for me. Conquering them is easy- just getting them to be part of the realm is not... Still, i'm growing. Only need Bengal to be mine too, then i have almost full route.

Chief Ragusa - don't worry, there will be plenty of wars with Spain. But i did a test- gave me 400% score is needed for vassalization, so i guess the overseas provinces do count. Shame.

alhoward - more like a bridgehead yet, will grow into a foothold in perhaps 20 years or so.

DensleyBlair - oh well, the poor bastards were annexed, just gained their freedom and most likely will soon be annexed again- so i did the best i could, offer them peace and prosperity in the loving arms of Portugal.
Trade- well, i'm making about 150 gold per month for trade. It will drop when i reach the 1.2 part of the game, but still, over 100 gold. I control the Meso- and South-American trade totally- all flows to Seville. Most of the trade from Asia also flows to Portugal. And the bloody French leech quite a number of trade from Seville to Bordeaux- i will soon have to do something about that as well. But overall- i'm swimming in money!

End of Incas

Navigation Act

In July 1597, the Spanish finally reached point where they could declare war on the Inca nation. Coming from below, from southern part of South America, while Portugal was coming from the north. Two nations really took the poor native nation and put them between anvil and a hammer.

In the beginning, João IV did not care much, he had some other matters to attend to. Perhaps most importantly, he implemented navigation act in December 1597. Meaning- less usage of foreign ships and promotion to use Portuguese vessels wherever possible. Result- better naval traditions and more ships. The downside- other nations liked Portugal less, meaning limit on their diplomatic relations and also, more men on ships meant less manpower. As for the latter- Portugal had about 80 000 men under arms all over the world and about the same amount in reserve, so nothing scary there.

Naval traditions alone were nice, but what Portugal really needed was the ships. More ships, more light ships, more heavy ships, more transports. Just a few years after the act was passed, Portugal had total over 130 ships. Most of them, light ships. 25 heavy ships and 19 transports as well. And Portugal needed more, much more. In fact, the Portuguese overseas provinces were already over 100 and needed the protection of the military ships. Navigation act was just a temporary relief on the matter. Soon, Portugal needed to do more.


Navigation Act and military overview

Portuguese War on Incas

In July 1598, João IV declared war on the Inca Empire. A year after the Spanish- and Portuguese arrived from north. Of course, that meant that no Incas in sight- Portuguese were free to siege. Only 8000 soldiers were needed- and one by one, Incan cities fell to Portuguese cannons.

In April 1599, Portuguese and Spanish met- Portuguese were sieging Huancavelica while Spanish were sieging the Incan capital, Cuzco. Of course, still no Incas in sight- most likely being destroyed by Spanish. The commanders of two nations exchanged wary greetings, but decided to stay out of each others way. After all, plenty of Incas for both of them...


Meeting of Portuguese and Spanish in Inca lands

This was also as much as Portugal was willing to invest in the war. In May 1599, João IV signed a peace with the Incas, gaining two provinces and all of Incan treasury in the progress. No Incan gold for Spanish!


Portuguese taking Incan treasury yet again

The Incan war with the Spanish continued though. It seems like Spain was not willing to bite pieces of Incas as Portugal had done. In June 1600, Spain completely annexed the Inca Empire. Poor locals were integrated to Spanish Empire, last of the Inca Emperors killed and rest of the nation suffered under the terrible yoke of the Spanish, except for four lucky living under enlightened rule of Portugal. Of course, by June 1600, Spain had other problems, but that is the story for the next episode.


Terrible yoke of the Spanish

Situation in Americas

By 1600, North America was already heavily colonized. The Caribbean area and Mesoamerica was dominated by Portugal- all the way to Inca lands. The Brazil area was divided between Portugal and Spain. Spain controlled most of the lands in South America, while France was dominating the eastern coast of North America. Great Britain also took first steps in the new continent- colonizing lands in the north and Magdalena in the Caribbean area. Curiously enough, all the trade from Chesapeake Bay was flowing to North Sea and from there to Lübeck- thanks to the Danish traders there.


Overall situation in Americas

For the first time in since the Portuguese colonization begun, João IV ordered to leave the continent without colonists. Instead, one was sent to Little Karoo, province next to Cape. João IV felt that it was the time when his African holdings need some attention as well- not only the Americas. It was a first colony found in Africa after Portuguese took Majerteen in the beginning of 16th century. The other colonist was of course busy with the Spice Islands and Asia.

Forward the Catholicism

It was back in 1415, when King João I crossed the Gibraltar and took the city of Ceuta by surprise. Since then, the Portuguese holdings in the North Africa have grown- including the cities of Tangiers and Oran, important centres of trade. Portuguese have integrated the five provinces to their realm long enough time ago, but the locals in Ceuta and Tangiers still held on to their faith. Portuguese, who had spread the Christianity to all over the globe- from natives of Africa to indians in America to Muslims in Arabian Peninsula to Hindus in India to Muslim in Spice Islands. It was the few provinces near their home that had proved immune to Portuguese missionaries.

Until now. In 1597, people of Ceuta finally accepted the Catholic faith. It took 182 years for Portuguese to convince the locals. In August 1598, people Tangiers followed the example Ceuta and also turned Catholic. It took only 112 years. Now, all of Portuguese North Africa was properly catholic- and for the first time since the conquest of Ceuta, Portugal had finally a shot at gaining religious unity.


Christianity for the win- especially Catholics

Bah, Spanish beat me to Incas. Luckily, the Aztecs are still on a table. And it took sweet time, but i finally got North Africa properly catholic.

Chief Ragusa - actually, Spanish have quite a few gold-producing provinces. Since i've taken Toledo, they have only the ones they took from Incas. The leading producer of gold in the world is Portugal. Hmm, and since i can't vassalize Spain that easily, the next best thing to do is to kick them off from Europe.

War with Spain: Rise of Aragon

Sinking the Spanish Fleet

It was in January 1600, when João IV decided that it was time to once again force the Spanish to give up some of their lands, pride and power. As for now, already half of the Iberian Peninsula and the Spanish provinces in Seville node bar their capital is already Portuguese- but why stop there when you can control the entire peninsula? Spain had two allies- Austria, their traditional ally; Burgundy and Netherlands, a one-province minor. Portugal had Great Britain and France, plus Tuscany and Aragon as their vassals. An uneven war on all accounts...

So, when the war was declared, Portuguese main fleet and Seville trade fleet attacked Spanish fleet of 9 heavy ships and 9 transports. To make matters more interesting, French trade fleet also joined in. Meaning over 60 ships hunting down poor 18 Spanish ships. In the end, all of the Spanish fleet was sunk and war started with a decisive victory.


First Spanish fleet- down

Meanwhile, on land- smaller Portuguese army started the siege of Madrid and Aragon marched to siege Aragon. Main Portuguese army of 30 000 soldiers attacked the Spanish main army in Asturias. It took lots of battles to finally defeat the Spanish, but by July 1600, the Spanish army was killed off to the last man. Now, since there wasn’t a Spanish in sight, João IV decided to split Portuguese armies to smaller chunks and started the sieges. To everyones surprise, Aragon was the most efficient one. By the end of the year, they took Aragon and moved on to Barcelona and soon took that one as well.


The first and the last battle of the war

War in America

Spain still had one army left- in South America. Totalling 17 000 soldiers. Portugal had 8000 there. Not feeling comfortable with the numbers, João IV ordered Portuguese army to get the hell out of there. So, Portuguese marched all the way to Aztec lands while Spanish begun the sieges of Portuguese Inca provinces. They managed to get two of them.


Spanish dominating in South America

Meanwhile, João IV had still 3000 soldiers in the Caribbean. They were shipped to Trinidad and ordered to start the siege of the city there. So- Spanish were winning in one place, Portuguese in other. All is fair. Trinidad held on, but finally fell in July 1602.

Total Victory

Vizcaya fell in August 1601. Traditionally being the port where Spanish ships come to hide, it was so yet again. 13 Spanish light ships were anchored in the port and when Portuguese took the city, they had no choice but to hoist sails and try to flee- straight into the loving arms of combined Portuguese-British fleet. They were sunk to the last ship.


It is really good to have allies

Portuguese were sieging most of the Spanish provinces in Iberia. Salamanca had already fallen, several others were under siege. João IV kept the main army more or less in right shape and size while the other armies of few thousand soldiers were everywhere, giving Spain no chance to recruit extra units or do extra damage.

Meanwhile, the Brits had also landed- 10 000 soldiers in their French holdings. They moved on, took Labourd and were sieging Navarra. French were busy fending off the Austrians and sieging Burgundy. Tuscany had marched their troops to Görz, an Austrian holding in the Adriatic Sea. Soon, the Brits joined them and totalling with force of 26 000 soldiers, the two nations begun to siege Austrian provinces. Since Austria had most of their soldiers near the French border, the blow to their belly came totally unexpected and Tuscan forces marched boldly inlands.


Hitting Austria on their soft belly

In November 1601, Portuguese fleet intercepted another Spanish fleet in Atlantic Ocean. 18 heavy ships against 2 heavies, 6 lights and 1 cog- all that was left of the Spanish navy. Unfortunately, Portuguese could not sink any of them, they just forced Spanish to flee- and flee to Canary Islands. No sieges there, so Portuguese had no chance to force the Spanish out to the open again. But that was all that was left from once powerful Spanish navy... Portuguese were now definitely rulers of the sea.


The last of the Spanish fleets

The Spanish were totally defeated and one by one, their provinces fell. What is the use of success in South America when your home provinces have either fallen or will fall under the enemy? Or what is the point of your army in South America when you have no ships to sail them over to Europe?

The Peace

The peace was made in July 1602. This was the most total victory Portugal had over Spain yet- and João IV took only two provinces to himself. Salamanca, of the Bordeaux trade node. Incidentally, also the province where Spain has their university, so by taking Salamanca, João crippled the Spanish technological progress as well. Other was Trinidad- Spanish from 1494. With that, the Windward Islands were totally Portuguese. Spain still had Bahamas and six provinces in the mainland of the Caribbean.


Most defeated Spain yet

Aragon was the biggest winner of this war. They almost regained their former glory- Aragon, Barcelona and Girona were back in Aragonese hands after over a century. Especially Barcelona- the richest province in Iberia and one of the richest in the whole world. Now, let us not forget that the annexation of Aragon is just years away- so basically, João IV took five provinces, but with three of them, he was going to have no trouble at all.

Aftermath of the War

In June 1600, Portugal advanced their administrative tech to 16. Meaning colleges and mints could be built in the provinces. One was build in Lisboa and with that, the taxes of capital of Portugal alone were giving over 30 gold per year. All was well for Portugal.


More money is always good

Spain on the other hand was in trouble. Meaning their armies were destroyed- except the one in South America of course, their treasury was depleted and most of their fleet was in the bottom of the ocean- meaning no tariffs, no income, no trade, nothing. So, in 1605, they approached their most hated enemy, the Portugal for the first time, offering the sale of Huanuco, one of their freshly conquered Incan provinces. João IV accepted and took the province in exchange of 200 gold. Two years later, Spanish repeated that and sold another Inca province, Huancavelica, for 100 gold. Even better- the latter was a gold-producing province. It must hurt bad- to give their worst enemy the provinces to gain back some of the money they took from you in a peace deal. It must really hurt to be the King of Spain.


Selling of Huanuco. Huancavelica follows two years later

You know, the best part is that i didn't have to do anything- Aragon did all the work. They sent their soldiers to siege, they were actually better at it then Portuguese and they gained all three provinces to themselves. Now there is a lucky break if i ever saw one. And i didn't even have it planned... Even better- all the provinces captured were still Aragonese cores!

DensleyBlair - borningly well?

Nikolai - bloody buggers have the religious zeal modifier. When it's gone, protestantism will be gone.

Chief Ragusa - yep, they have cored most of it. That is why i don't want to force them to new world- they'd get more power then they had in Europe. Then again, it would be fun to kick Spain off to Americas. Oh, choices, choices.

Annexation of Aragon

Trade in China

João IV took the Island of Hainan from Zhou in 1574. Since then, the island was pacified, made Portuguese core and of course, converted to Catholic faith. Now, almost 30 years later, João IV finally decided to do something with it. In 1603, he ordered Portuguese merchants in Malacca to pack up and move to Hainan, where they took trading in Canton.

The reason was simple. Malacca was a single-output trade node- all the trade goes to Bengal anyway. Meanwhile, in Canton, trade moves to either Malacca or Hangzhou, the main Chinese trade node. Now, with Portuguese in Hainan, the trade moved on to Malacca. Especially after small Portuguese fleet of 5 early frigates arrived in the area and started patrolling. Totalling around 7 gold per month, it did not seem much- but overall, over 20 gold moved onwards from Malacca. To make it simple- trade nested Portuguese over 150 gold per month. For comparison- the next trade nation was Denmark, with around 30 gold per month.

Also at the same time- Portuguese landed in the Island of Taiwan and cleared the area of natives. First Portuguese colonists arrived in 1605, giving the Portuguese a second colony in the Canton node.


Canton node a few years later

Onwards to Africa

In April 1603, Little Karoo, the province next to Cape, became self-sustaining. Despite being one of the key trade nodes for Portugal, the Cape itself had not grown- it had remained a single province area since it was founded in the end of 15th century. Now, the area had two provinces. Not much, but still twice more then before. They still contributed less then 1 gold per month to Portuguese trade and had a single ship to protect them though.

Meanwhile, 9000 Portuguese arrived at the Coast of Guinea. They landed in Gold Coast and marched on to Whydah, the province separating the important trade nodes of Gold Coast and Benin. They attacked the natives there, pacified the province and then did the same in Ivory Coast. First colonists arrived the same year. Benin and Gold Coast were finally connected.


Portuguese pacifying the ferocious African natives

Meanwhile, Spanish had taken an island João IV had eyed for a long time but never had the free colonist to send there- St. Helen in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean was now in Spanish hands.

In 1605, Portugal advanced to another level of the diplomatic technology. New transport ships- more sleek, better armed and a bit faster then flytes, it was just what Portugal needed to control the overseas colonies and transport troops all around the world. The main problem was of course that while Portugal had well over 100 ships now, they number of transports was still too damn small.


Ahh, better ships!

The ship looked beautiful though and got the love of the navy and the army alike.


The new ship

Annexation of Aragon

It was in 13th April 1606 when Aragon was finally integrated to Portugal. Without a single shot fired, Portugal gained total superiority in the Iberian peninsula. Barcelona, the richest province in the peninsula, became a Portuguese core. So did the provinces of Valencia, Aragon, Girona and Baleares. Suddenly, the most of the Mediterranean coast of Iberian peninsula was Portuguese- with the exception of Roussillon, still in Spanish hands. Pere V, the Duke of Aragon, was kept as a Duke, but now, he answered directly to João IV.

In a side effect- the trade from Genoa started flowing to Seville. That what was before a trickle now became a stream, adding another 7 gold per month to Seville. Not much, compared that around 70 gold arriving from East and Caribbean, but still- every little bit helps.

Perhaps in what seems the most insignificant, João IV also gained the Island of Malta. It had one effect though- now Portuguese had a naval base deep in the Mediterranean. From Malta, Portuguese could extend their range to all over the Mediterranean- no longer were distant cities of Constantinople or Alexandria distant to Portuguese fleets. It also gave Portugal an alternate entrance point to Italy. Soon, one of the Portuguese diplomat arrived to Palermo- time to fabricate a claim there.


Ahhh, the Iberian Peninsula looks beautifu

Around the same time, Portuguese begun their integration of Duchy of Tuscany. Another entry point to Italy was about to open.


Farewell to Tuscany

You know, i think this is the first episode ever where there was no war at all! Anyways, Aragon is safely under Portuguese power and the total control of Iberia is not that far off- it seems so at least. And trade is totally booming!

Chief Ragusa- Ohh yes, gaining Aragon is a beauty. As well- having capital in the richest trade node in the world must mean something to Spain as well. No reason to move- they still get some money out of it. As for vassalization- Spain currently has 58 provinces. 11 of them in Iberia, rest on overseas. The vassalization will be difficult- plus, the Spanish have buttloads of colonists to increase it further. I think it will not be that easy.

DensleyBlair- Ok, thanks! And interesting video- though i think my mountains of gold don't increase inflation that much. And i spent most of it on buildings and colonization, not wars!

First, update coming tomorrow or in wendsday!

DensleyBlair - yes, I plan to expand further in Italy- and in all Europe. Very slowly.

SuperTechmarine - Thanks a lot!

Chief Ragusa - all that will still leave them with 40+ colonial provinces and 4 colonists to keep 'em rolling. I have no chance with Spain- at least not before South American nationalists start arriving.