Chapter 4 – Part 2 (1490 – 1500)
Having won a convincing victory, I spent the next 10 years winning the peace, as they say. Technically, we were still at war with Spain’s alliance leader, Leinster. But they are awed by our success, and accept a white peace.
To compensate for their failings, Spain makes a vassal of Freisland. As if that will help them.
The Pope, in true Christian style decides that he doesn’t like any of his neighbours, and we begin an interesting series of Italian conflicts, in which I take little part. In October 1490, we join their war on Modena:
Modena has a pathetically small army (2,000), so the Papacy and Naples, with their combined forces of 80k, will do most of the fighting. I try to use Ferdinand to steal the siege, with the idea of making Modena my vassal (our BB is now 10/43, so I don’t want to do any annexing), but Naples also has King Ferdinand as a leader, so our king is outranked...by himself?
In November, we make Land tech 5.
Modena is annexed by Naples, in April 1491.
To continue bringing the wicked Italian minors into line, the Pope declares war on Sienna in January 1492 (remember the republic we have a Royal Marriage and military access with?). Again, Naples takes the lead in the siege.
In July, Spain, obviously sulking, and looking to bully someone, expels the Jews from their lands. We are given the option to follow them, but I decline, thinking that the stab hit is worth it not to gain any inflation, get +1 innovative, and some extra admin skill.
In January 1493, some unknown guy called Columbus returns to the Spanish court claiming to have discovered a ‘New World’. It’s obviously unimportant, so I forgot to take a proper screenshot of it. Note the masses of land we now have instead.
In June, Naples annexes Sienna. I’m happy to let them get the badboy, as long as we get to annex them eventually.
Reading my mind, Naples agrees the very next day to be my vassal. Seventh time is the charm!
Good news continues with a manufactory in Aragon – a Weapons manufactory. Sweet.
And in December, Portugal agrees to share their maps with us. Apparently they have discovered a route to India eastwards, via Africa. They have also vassalised the East African kingdoms, and are busy attacking Zimbabwe.
I am inspired by this to try some trading of our own, in Lyonnais. All six merchants fail spectacularly.
In June, 1494, the Pope approves the Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing the world between Portugal and Spain. No room for us it seems. Fine, see what I care! We don't need their 'New World' anyway!
On the plus side, in September, the French drop their claims to Naples, and leave it to us.
Nothing much happens for a year, until in 1495, we get the ‘reigning in the merchant princes’ event again. This time, I go with the first option, for the extra centralisation.
In 1496 and 97, I notice Spanish settlers heading west, to Barbados, St Thomas and other Caribbean islands. Run Castillians, run! We’ll still catch you!
In March of 1497, we get a good event. Francisco Ramiro Lopez, a great military engineer, helps us to improve our castle in Rousillon. This will be very helpful if we go to war with France.
In September, Land tech reaches level 6.
The rest of my reign is spent on diplomatic initiatives. I try vassalising Portugal, but unsurprisingly, they decline. I then arrange some marriages with important European families: Austria, Russia and Venice.
We get a deflation event in October 1498, wiping out the small bit of inflation I gained via minting.
In April 1499, France again gives up on the idea of the Orleanais inheritance of Milan. Good news for us, if it keeps the French out of Italy.
I move the slider to centralisation again at the end of 1499.
The last thing of importance to note is that Naples is in trouble in Italy. Both Sienna and Modena have revolted, and I’m not sure if Naples can recover them. My successor would probably do well to help Naples recover these provinces, as we’ll want to diploannex them in the future.
I also hired bailiffs in all the new provinces.
So here is Aragon in 1500:
Land 6 (+3)
Naval 3 (+1)
Stability 0 (-2)
Trade 2 (-)
Infrastructure 3 (-)
Manufactories 3 (+1) (1 refinery, 1 fine arts academy, 1 weapons manufactory)
Inflation 0%
Loans – none
Monthly income 29.7
Navy – 2 ships, 5 galleys, 4 transports
Army – 40,000 total
Badboy 5.7/43 (+5.7)
Alliance with: Portugal, Naples, Papal States
Royal Marriages: Portugal, England, Navarre, Milan, Papacy (?!), Austria, Russia, Venice
Vassal: Naples
My advice to my successor would be: 1) Help Naples crush the revolts in Italy; 2) Have another go at Castile when the chance arises (they only have two ports, and if we take those, their route to the new world will be closed!); 3) Look for chances to annex/vassalise other Italian minors. At the moment there is a grand alliance of Milan, Tuscany, Genoa and Mantua to contend with.