[Forum Game] The Long 19th Century: 1789

Afa will be moving over to play Great Britain. Sorry to see Tyriet go, but real life is a b**** sometimes. Good luck to Afa.

Bad news bears: my laptop died on Saturday. Good news: all the WiR stuff is on Google drive. Sort-of bad news: the lab computer has no image editing software, so no map for a while unless someone volunteers to make it. More sort-of-bad news: I cannot get on IRC from the lab computer (anyone know why?) and so will rarely be on IRC until the laptop is fixed. Best news: update is still tomorrow, get orders in!

Major events of 1799



Europe

The Irish uprising continues, centering on the county of Wexford. A republican “government” is set up in the town and rebel army begins to move north towards Dublin. En route a detachment of the rebels splits off, capturing New Ross after a fierce battle. Despite ever more frantic letters from General Lake in Dublin the British do not send any additional troops to Ireland, and Dublin falls to the five-thousand strong rebel force in August, where a Republic of Ireland is proclaimed.

France begins the process of demobilization as soldiers who were recruited for the wars are allowed to return home. Quite a number of those who have served for more than two years in the army have chosen to remain, becoming full-time soldiers. The French are generous with promotions and raises, which allows them to retain many of the best-qualified men as officers. By the end of the year less than one third of the soldiers in the army are recruits and France is back to having a mostly professional army.

Along with demobilization comes the reduction of the temporary taxes. Although land formerly exempt from taxes is now taxed (since there is no ecclesiastical or noble-owned land) the ad-hoc nature of the old taxes is glaring. The French budget swings to a deficit, though the reparations paid by the Allies are enough to meet the government obligations for the year. Going forward, however, the French will need to find money somewhere.

The French administration in the Rhineland and Brabant continues to struggle. French money, partially coming from the reparations, are directed to the rebuilding efforts in the area, and the benefit is obvious. Dealing with the local town and city councils, however, proves a headache - though the areas are divided into departements along the French lines often real power remains in the hands of these councils, dominated by burghers. Not eager to submit to the radicals in Paris these locals continue to run their towns and cities in a manner that is, while not confrontational, is not as cooperative with the French government as the French would like.

It is hoped that the reduction of taxes and the end of conscription will put an end to the insurrection in parts of France. Hoche continues to hunt the Comte d’Artois, who is finally driven out of France, though he escapes to Germany. Elsewhere the rebels continue to hold out, though they appear willing to negotiate with the French government now that conscription and extraordinary taxation have been ended.. In Toulon and the rest of Provence the main issue is freedom of trade and local customs while in the west religion continues to be the main source of conflict.

Unfortunately, just as violence and instability in the provinces appear to subside Paris is thrown into turmoil. Many Jacobins, and most Hebertists, oppose the moderate approach taken by Desmoulins and Robespierre. Disagreements over the demobilization of the revolutionary army, the reduction of taxes, the lenient treatment of the newly conquered territories and of the rebels, as well as continued tolerance of the Catholic church finally bring down the government. Robespierre is removed as President of the Assembly, though the Assembly fails to elect a new one as radicals and moderates fail to reach any compromise.

The massive Russian army of nearly three hundred thousand men under Suvorov begins its march from Poland and across Germany. Though the German princes do not openly cooperate with the Russians they do not openly resist the march either. In general the Russians behave better than could have been expected, with supplies purchased or delivered rather than looted from Germany, although having to feed an extra three hundred thousand men plus horses does put a strain on parts of northern Germany. This army reaches the Rhine in the fall of the year and begins to encamp on the river’s right bank, preparing to quarter in Berg and Nassau.

In Prussia the military begins to examine the problems the army had while fighting the French. The only engagement with the French for the Prussians was the Battle of Luxemburg, in which communication errors doomed the Imperial army. There is significant work done to ensure that, even in a large and chaotic battle, the commanding officers are aware of what is happening throughout the area.

With the reorganization of the Holy Roman Empire the Prussian lands begin to be consolidated. This process is easy in formerly ecclesiastical areas which are now simply annexed to Prussian lands. It is harder in Mark, Bayreuth, and other principalities where local nobles enjoy numerous special rights that trace back for generations.

A military reform, overseen by Archduke Charles, sweeps away much of the tradition associated with the regulations of the Austrian army. Though the senior officer ranks remain exclusive to those of noble birth promotions are now to be handled by merit only, rather than by seniority. Among other ranks soldiers regardless of birth may be promoted following a long period of service, and all those being promoted to the officers corps will receive additional training. Any discontent is quited by the Archduke by pointing out that the army must change if it is to be able to counter the French threat.

On the domestic side the Emperor believes that commerce and business in Austria must be helped. This is a turnabout from his previous attempts to build support among the nobility and peasants for his rule. As taxes and tariffs on trade and businesses in towns are lowered the nobility and peasants end up carrying more of the burden of financing the state. And the town burghers and merchants are the ones most likely to advocate for further reforms of the Empire and for parliamentarism, even if they are also the ones who make a lot of money.

During wars in Pomerania it has become clear that the lack of a port on the island of Rugen hampers Swedish military efforts in the region. The King orders a survey for a new town on the southern shore of the island that will not only give Sweden an unmolested port, but may also be useful in blockading Stralsund and other nearby ports in case of war. The survey is completed, and the site is found suitable, with plans for thirty buildings, including a dockyard, drawn up.

Gustav IV, unlike his father, has no ambitions of absolutist rule. He realizes that a handful of competent administrators can make a large difference and creates a Council of Ministers, to be headed by Johan Toll. Though this is a step back from absolutism, the King retains full executive power and the Council has no legal authority other than that which is vested in it by the King. Toll is an extremely competent man and under his leadership the Council begins to take over parts of the country’s administration.

The French Army of Italy deposes the Duke of Modena, finalizing the takeover of northern Italy. A Republic of Italy is established out of conquered territories, with a government similar to the French one. For now, however, power rests in the hands of a French civilian administrator and of General Bonaparte, the commander of the Army of Italy. Though the Italian National Convention begins work on a Constitution, it makes little progress, unsure of how to reconcile republican ideas with the deeply traditional and Catholic nature of Italian life. For now the new “country” remains ruled by Bonaparte, who expertly picks a handful of men to help him govern the territory.

Despite the British attack against Naples the Kingdom of Two Sicilies becomes home of the anti-French and anti-republican movements in Italy. Hundreds of officers from Tuscany, Sardinia, and other parts of Italy move to the south. Some are content to simply work in the Sicilian army or navy, but most hope to be able to organize a movement that will free northern Italy from the republicans.

Meanwhile the four ships of the line damaged by the British navy are repaired in Naples. Four more frigates are laid down to be completed the following year. The humiliation suffered by the Sicilian navy at the hands of the British stings significantly, but it seems the Sicilians are intent on rebuilding their navy and becoming a naval power in the Mediterranean again.

The other region of anti-republican resistance is on Sardinia where much of the Sardinian army was transported. About fifteen thousand veteran soldiers are quartered on the island now, though the income from the island is not enough to pay and outfit such a large army. Some effort is put into expanding the port at Cagliari, but money is short and few are willing to lend to the exiled Sardinian Duke.

The Spanish Board of Trade continues to make it easier for merchants to get the appropriate certification to trade in Spain. This clearly helps the volume of trade going through the country, but it loosens the amount of control the Board has over the merchants. Revenue increase does not quite keep up with the increase in trade. Soon this begins to look like the old system of minimal government control over trade, exactly the same one the Board was set up to change.

A number of nobles, appointed as governors in Spain in the last couple of years, receive gentle nudges from Madrid regarding their administration. The national government, while careful not to step on any toes, provides competent clerks, tax collectors, and other officials to the local governors. This proves to be a relatively easy and painless way to make sure that local day-to-day affairs are handled in a more competent manner.

To their credit the Russians expand their infrastructure work into Poland once the partition is done. Though Poland is denied direct access to the Baltic the ongoing work to link it by road by St. Petersburg and to Moscow will alleviate some of the economic problems in the country. Few imagine that this will buy Polish love, but it may help Poland to not become a burden for the Russians.

In order to make up for some of the losses of the Azeri campaign the Sultan, or rather Ibrahim Pasha, orders an extra fifty thousand men pressed into military service. The attempt to press thousands of Albanians, Greeks, Serbs, Bosniaks into the ranks of the Janissaries leads to local resistance. When local Serb leaders are captured and killed a popular insurrection begins. Turkish residences are looted and within a couple of weeks the rebel bands seize Rudnik and surround Belgrade, quickly turning a local matter into one of possibly fatal danger to the Empire.

Americas

It has become very apparent that the current method of electing the President and Vice President of the United States is flawed. Relations between Adams and Jefferson have worsened since the end of the Washington administration, and the two are rumored to not even be on speaking terms. With a need for a change obvious the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution easily gains approval, ensuring that the President and Vice President will from now on be elected together.

With the acquisition of significant new lands the United States government moves to try to administer all of them effectively. A key improvement in pursuit of this goal is the extension of the postal service to New Orleans and to the settlements along the Ohio river. The expense associated with the postal service is probably not worth it, but supporters claim that in a matter of just a couple of years an efficient postal service will help tie the newly expanded country together.

The American Corps of Discovery continues up the Missouri river. A report sent back from the Mandan lands to Philadelphia details the Indian tribes that inhabit the Louisiana territory along the Missouri. The expedition continues over the mountains after finding the source of the Missouri, at which point no further letters can be sent back down the river and to President Jefferson.

The end of the French blockade, together with the loss of French Caribbean possessions, presents an opportunity to the Portuguese. Aiming to export, coffee, sugar, and other products from the Americas the Portuguese merchants begin to make regulars stops in France. The benefit to both countries is clear, though the Portuguese alliance with Britain and British continued opposition to the French Republic makes this for a somewhat awkward situation.

Following Spanish withdrawal from Haiti the Haitian army, under Toussaint Louverture, invades the southern part of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo. The city is taken by the Haitians with little trouble given the poor state of the Spanish side of the island. Compared to Haiti the Spanish Santo Domingo is poor and not particularly populous. The Haitians free the slaves around Santo Domingo who then set up a militia in the city.

Africa

The Portuguese withdraw from Matamba back to the coastal regions of Africa. Their generosity towards the Matamba wins them quite a few friends among the people there, though another expedition into the Kasanje lands still looks like it will be costly. A handful of European mercenaries are hired to bolster the Portuguese African force, most of them being sailors and former ship hands on Portuguese vessels that trade along the coast.

Zanzibar is restored to the Omani, who try to rebuild their shattered trade empire in East Africa. Imams continue to travel through parts of East Africa, finding a receptive audience in villages along the East African coast, but the slave trade has slowed significantly.

Though the island and city are officially handed back to Oman, the Portuguese stay in contact with many local rulers and merchants. They encourage the locals to see the city as part of the Portuguese colonial empire, offering trade and protection that the Omani may not be able to provide. This creates tensions in the city between the merchants and the Omani Imams who oppose the Portuguese.

Asia and Oceania

Ibrahim Pasha sends emissaries to the Al Khalifa family that rules Bahrain, demanding that they submit to the Ottoman Empire. The Bahraini, having previously repelled Ottoman attacks, refuse. Ibrahim Pasha then makes the mistake of sending a fleet of ten ships of the line and fifteen frigates, along with twenty five thousand men, on a journey around Africa to blockade Bahrain. The lack of any experience in navigating around Africa leads Ottoman ships to eventually lose sight of land and get caught in an Atlantic storm. Two smaller ships eventually make it to Zanzibar and there are rumors of Ottoman sailors who have shipwrecked in Angola and in Brazil. None of these will be helpful in an attack on Bahrain though.

One might imagine this to be impossible, but the Ottoman campaign in Azerbaijan goes even worse than the failed attack on Bahrain. Hadži Mustafa Pasha of Belgrade Pashaluk, instead of putting down the Serb uprising, is sent to Azerbaijan with yet another twenty thousand men. He begins to brutally destroy every village he comes across, sending thousands of men and women fleeing into the mountains and ensuring that even those who previously collaborated with the Ottomans are now intent on killing as many Turks as possible. Muhammed Khan of Erivan organizes ruthless Azeri attacks on Ottoman outposts, supply trains, and civilian auxiliaries. By mid-summer Hadži Mustafa Pasha faces constant attacks and is unable to keep his soldiers supplied. Instead of retreating he presses his attack against the settlements in the Araxes valley. Muhammed Khan’s fighters catch the Ottoman army unawares and without supplies, massacring the majority of the Turkish soldiers, including Hadži Mustafa Pasha, whose head is paraded through the villages in the valley.

In Arabia the Saudi family tries hard to convince workers and craftsmen to move to Diriyah. Most skilled people still settle in the Hedjaz and other more prosperous areas of Arabia and Diriyah remains, for the most part, a poor and small town. The few people who do settle in the town quickly find that their skills are in demand and are able to make a significant sum of money as a result.

New settlements in oasis around Diriyah and some further out are becoming more populous. Slaves are sent to do construction and irrigation work and caravans make frequent stops along some of the new settlements. Unfortunately, just as Diriyah is becoming semi-prosperous and stable, conflict with the bedouin derails any progress. The Ikhwan attempt to cleanse Arabia of those who do not follow Wahhabi Islam, and though smaller tribes fall prey against sudden attacks of the Ikhwan, their attacks on larger bedouin tribes are mostly repelled. Bedouin tribes, who make up much (possibly most) of the population of Arabia, begin to wage war against the Saudi family and all who practice Wahhabi Islam, with most oasis settlements being burned down and Diriyah itself threatened on a number of occasions.

With the trouble in Arabia the Omani are given a respite, though it may be temporary. While the city of Muscat continues to be fortified the Omani also begin to build a small fleet of xebec ships, possibly for trade, but possibly for more piracy around the Indian Ocean. The work in the shipyard boosts the trade that goes through the city, though people continue to be nervous about a possible Saudi attack.

In Persia the Khan hopes to turn local governors into uncorrupt and meritocratic servants. The problem is that, while the governors swear loyalty to the Khan, they are, down to the last man, corrupt and anything but meritocratic. So in the end, though the Khan’s rule is solidified, the actual administration in most parts of Persia continues to be somewhere between terrible and atrocious.

With the country finally secure the Persian Khan turns to the issue of the Persian gulf. The increase in Omani piracy and the continued presence of pirates along the southern coast of the gulf prompts the Khan to begin the construction of half a dozen warships. The Omani and Bahrani are worried that the Khan will use his fleet to try to exert his control over parts of Arabia, though everyone would welcome a reduction in piracy.

Ranjit Singh and Sada Kaur move from Sukerchakia to Lahore with an army of some twenty thousand men. The move is sudden and unexpected and Singh is able to capture the city from the misl who ruled it. Lahore being a major city in the region this victory instantly propels Singh to being the most powerful of the Sikh rulers in Punjab. While in Lahore Singh begins to organize an army that he hopes to use to unite Punjab and he procures a dozen artillery pieces. The smaller of these are mounted on carts to be drawn by horses in battle, though it is unclear whether such an idea will actually work in combat or not.

The Maratha survive their war with Britain. The peace agreement leaves the situation in India largely unchanged, with the British having lost power over the Nawab of Arcot but having gained indirect control over Mysore. The Maratha reduce the size of their army, keeping only men who showed some ability in fighting. This helps tremendously, as the army that comes out of this reorganization is one that could actually be imagined to perform decently on the battlefield.

The Maratha also move to centralize some of the administration of the country. Though the Maratha do not seek to dictate to the knights who rule much of the country they instead focus on trying to coordinate the decisions of many individuals nobles and to organize them when action on a regional scale is required. One cannot say that the Maratha Confederacy is well-run, but it is becoming less surprising when things do actually get done in the country.

The British also stand down part of their army in India. Though a large European contingent remains, along with local forces, the size is drawn down significantly. Tentative approaches are made towards Indian rulers who had fought against Britain, with the offer of protecting their independence in return for trade. Though the Indian rulers are somewhat skeptical of British intents, the restoration of Mysore’s independence has alleviated some of the fears and trade between the Indian rulers and the East India Company begins to once again pick up.

In order to counter Dutch influence in Southeast Asia the British reach out to the Sultanate of Johor, but the Sultan is an ally of the Dutch and benefits significantly from the VOC trade, and thus turns down the offer of an agreement with the British. The British find a warmer reception in Bali where the local King is willing to listen to them, but he is also noncommittal about possible war with the Dutch.

Other events

New York passes a law aimed at gradually abolishing slavery in the state.

Jeanne Geneviève Labrosse becomes the first woman to jump from a balloon with a parachute, from an altitude of 900 meters.

George Washington, the first President of the United States, dies at Mount Vernon, Virginia.

The World in 1800

No map


Ranking:
Great Britain 656
Russia 559
France 449
Austria 321
Spain 236
Ottomans 185
Prussia 162
Maratha 150
Italy 86
Portugal 81
Sicily 81
United States 79
Denmark 69
Netherlands 52
Sweden 48
Bavaria 26
Persia 24
Cologne 10
Saudi 2
Oman 2

French Elections, 1799

Forgotten by everyone, the French elections of 1799 come shortly after the split between Robespierre and the radicals in the National Assembly. The cast is largely the same as three years ago, with only minor changes. Conservative members of the Assembly revive the Feuillant Club and Marquis de La Fayette organizes a thinly veiled royalist group of politicians under the name “Society of 1789.” Due to population growth in France there will be 308 French representatives in the new Assembly.

The conservatives are one of the surprises of the elections. Feuillants and the Society, boosted by Catholic support in rural areas, secure 64 seats between them (34 and 30 respectively). The Girondists fail to make any gains outside the commercial area of Bordeaux, leaving them with 18 seats. Danton’s faction within the Cordeliers suffers as a result of the general dislike of the current government, but it doesn’t suffer anywhere near as much as Robespierre’s Jacobins since it is Robespierre who is associated most closely with the policies of the last few years. The Dantonists hold on to 28 seats while the Jacobins win only 26.

The radical support that had buoyed the Jacobins in the previous election goes to Hebert and the Enrages, who are ever more closely associated with him. The Hebertist faction of the Cordeliers wins 73 seats, but much of Hebert’s supporters are now outside of the Cordeliers club and identify as Enrages, who hold another 45 seats. The radical Society of Revolutionary Republican Women, the only radical group not associated with Hebert, wins 54 seats in France.

In Brabant and the Rhineland political clubs are not well-developed. Most elections pit local Jacobin candidates against candidates picked by the local burghers and councils, colloquially named Councilors. The split in these areas is pretty even, with Jacobins winning 19 seats in Brabant and 12 in the Rhineland compared to 14 and 8 seats won by the local Councilors. This creates a somewhat awkward situation as the majority of Jacobin representatives in the new Assembly are not French.

The new Assembly with thus have 86 conservative members (Society of 1789, Feuillants, and Councilors), 103 moderate members (Girondists, Dantonists, and Jacobins), and 172 radicals (Hebertists, Enrages, and Revolutionary Women). Clearly the new Assembly will not be any more stable than the old one.

But wait there is more! Since Camille Desmoulins was elected Council six years ago he has to stand for re-election in a national election taking place at the same time as the elections to the Assembly. Standing against Desmoulins are Jacques Hébert, Maximilien Robespierre, and, surprisingly, Claire Lacombe. The three candidates are surprisingly evenly matched, though for different reasons. Lacombe capitalizes on the great showing by the Society of Republican Revolutionary Women and on their superb organization. Hebert similarly is boosted by the strong performance of his faction in the Assembly elections. Robespierre is, surprisingly, supported by many of the more conservative voters who do not have a natural choice in the Consul election. And Desmoulins, as the incumbent, enjoys a certain degree of advantage with voters.

It is Hebert who wins the most votes, securing 28% of all the ones that are cast. On his tail is Desmoulins with just over 25% of the vote. And Robespierre and Lecomb are virtually tied. It takes weeks of counting ballots all over France for it to finally be determined that Claire Lacombe, a woman, has come in third place in the election for Council of France, with 23.31% of the vote to Robespierre’s 23.29%. With no majority for any candidate a second election is scheduled, with only the top two candidates participating, in this case Hebert and Desmoulins, to be held two weeks later.

The final election, held fifteen days later because otherwise it would fall on a Sunday (nobody wanted to force that fight again), was somewhat anticlimactic. Faced with a choice of Desmoulins or Hebert many who had supported Robespierre and Lacombe opt for Desmoulins. Turnout is much lower than in the first round of the elections, but Desmoulins secures a comfortable 52% - 48% win over Hebert. Though this has allowed the moderates to retain the position of Consul, Hebert, feeling cheated of power, is sure to cause trouble in the Assembly. With the Consulate secure, attention now moves back over to the National Assembly to see if some kind of strange majority coalition can be found to form a basis for a government for the next three years.

Because of my lackluster access to a computer after my laptop died I may need a couple of days to do the update. Because of this orders are due by MONDAY. So send them in over the weekend. Thanks.