Greece - An AAR in Crisis management.

[ThatJamesguy01]

Part VI - Rejeuvanation

Letter from the Athenian Royal Academy of Learning​

Sir, I have recently started importing a series of Ploughs from England, utilizing an improved design I believe given a grant we could being small scale production, or large scale importation of this plough and distribute them via a subsidy to the large landholders and noble families, this should hopefully increase and given the research I have done the efficiency of many of the farms throughout our glorious nation. See attached the full specification and design documentation of the plough.

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Signed Research Team Pericles Athenian Academy of learning
Dated April 4th 1841

Letter to the first minister from King Otto Wittelsbach sent early June 1841.

Josef,

My dear first minister, I hope this letter finds you well because it does not find our country well. Yes we may have won the war against the Egyptians we have liberated those souls stuck under the opressors cruel whips, but we are indeed in a crisis. Economically we are all but destroyed, fix our books, or I shall find someone capable and be forced to revoke all the benefits your position allows.

Your King

Excerpt from 'Greece a Modern History of the Hellenes'​

On June 4th the first minister yet again saved the country, with a radical new years budget this time not organized by a cabinet meeting but organized by his hand only by authorization of the king, it was ordered to deal with the atrocius situation of the debt, and deficit that had occurred during the Liberation of Crete. Surprisingly it allowed the country to slowly make the funds required to begin paying back the loans over an extended period. See below for the exact figures Josef put forward for the Budget of rejuvenation.

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Hellenic Trade Company Head Quarters, Corinth, Greece, February 20th 1842.​

"You are all gathered here today," Alexandros began, as he looked around his office at the captains stood with him all staring down at the map that dominated the center of the room, "We are preparing a rather large voyage the king has ordered us along the south Italian coast to try and spot the Kingdom of Sicilies navy, we will be departing in four days time. The route you can no doubt see layed out infront of you. I trust you will all be capable in this undetaking?" He asked as he looked around to ensure no one would back out.

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They all double checked the map before nodding, clicking there heels, saluting and leaving.

Voyage Report - Sicilia - March 16th​

Below you will find the maps sketched by the cabin boy showing the fleet positions of the Sicilians, I hope this is what you hoped for sir.

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and this is the route we took back and the curious position of rebels we spotted near Sicily proper.

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Excerpt from 'Greece a Modern History of the Hellenes'​

After a brief period of economic consolidation the King once again ordered expansion which possibly could not be asked for, but the first minister organized the payments to be made so slowly, the product bought so slowly that the three frigates, and the man o war that were ordered to bolster the fleet could be afforded albeit they would take a long time to be built.

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The savings he made and the budget changes in spending happened on October 25th, not long before the new year and the new budget but long enough for it to ease into the changes gradually to ensure that things went smoothly and not without too much trouble.

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Letter from the Athenian Royal Academy of Learning​

Sir, We have recently been looking at the boilers that we removed from the Karteria, as you know we have begun replicating them and understand how they work however we have fallen upon some advances that may well help people even more. If we can sell or even put them in ship designs of our own it would be perfect, please see the attached specification and please give us a little more funding so we can get these into wide spread use.

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Signed Research Team Aristotle Athenian Royal Academy of Learning
Dated February 15th 1843

Excerpt from 'Greece a Modern History of the Hellenes'​

By may of 1843 the debts the country had accrued during the war were payed off leaving the country in a position were it was highly trusted among the world community to be one that could pay its debts, and pay them on time, and would be trusted in the future to take larger loans. This opened up many doors to the country as before no one would trust them with a brass penny.

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Excerpt from 'Mare Nostrum - A history of the Hellenic Navy'​

One ship was completed in 1843 the Maximilianos a frigate and class namesake designed to bolster the Hellenic navy and the first to bear it's name. It was completed on September 5th 1843.

As the first ship of it's class it was ordered to under go sea trials, in the rather unusual direction of the Sicilian coast. Which it completed in early 1844, in possible preparation with an action against Sicily although unknown at the time. Following a rather long-winded route that took it past every major Naval base of the Sicilian kingdom.

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It's two sister ships also joined it in 1844.

First the Prinkips Maximillianos

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Then the Mount Othrys

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Following the events of the Naval trial some maps suspiciously showed up in the British Libraries showing that the island of Sicily was in fact previously Greek and they had a claim to the territory and the people living there. The maps were later discovered to be placed by Alexandros Pangalos during the events dictated in the famous film, and book 'Pangalos: The First Spy'.

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Excerpt from Maps of the World 19th century.​

North America was a constantly shifting line of frontiers, protectorates, watch houses, and colonies. Britain and it's former colony the United States fought diplomatically over the areas of Oregon and Idaho, with Britain eventually winning out in early December of 1844 leaving the map looking thus.

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Authors Note

Pangalos: The first spy, i'm going to write a little interlude detailing the story of how he planted those maps, when 'll post it I have less than no idea.

I think I fixed the picture problem.

Also how are things going, and can I have some technology tips for Greece, i'm sorta getting a bit lost with where to go now I've got some niceish industrial techs to boost efficiency. Industrially, and farmingly.

 

[GulMacet]

What you need is research tech, otherwise you are going to be left behind later on in the game. Also, Medicine - you don't want your army eaten by attrition on Trinacria before they even engage the enemy, now do you?

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

What you need is research tech, otherwise you are going to be left behind later on in the game. Also, Medicine - you don't want your army eaten by attrition on Trinacria before they even engage the enemy, now do you?

I'll leave out the circumstances but that's basically what I did (I've already played through to 1850 which covers the events of Trinacria) but I got Idealism, then a military tech - which i'm not revealing - the I went and started to research early railroad, then after that going for the medicine branch.

Also on the being left behind front, Greece is in a horrific starting position for technology, two naval techs, three army (maybe four) I think three commerce, two industry, and then three culture, or something around there. It's basically slightly worse than the ottomans

 

[unmerged(539438)]

Poor Greece, being in a permanent crisis in one way or another. And what is coming on top of that? A war with the much more populated Kingdom of Two Sicillies... Ehm, hopefully the British are going to answer Greece's call to arms and then fulfil their duty in more swiftly manner than during the war with Egypt. Good luck!

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

Poor Greece, being in a permanent crisis in one way or another. And what is coming on top of that? A war with the much more populated Kingdom of Two Sicillies... Ehm, hopefully the British are going to answer Greece's call to arms and then fulfil their duty in more swiftly manner than during the war with Egypt. Good luck!

The biggest idiot during the war with Sicily was in fact me. I could have won the war alone if I didn't do some of the stupid things I did but it makes for good story haha

 

[Avindian]

Very nice AAR! Keep it up!

 

[LordTempest]

I concur with Mr. Avindian. I love Greece AARs primarily because I was never all that good at playing Greece in Vicky II (too many debt problems, just like in real life. ) I also love the excerpts, and any AAR in which I learn something, like about steam-powered Greek warships.

Keep it up!

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

I concur with Mr. Avindian. I love Greece AARs primarily because I was never all that good at playing Greece in Vicky II (too many debt problems, just like in real life. ) I also love the excerpts, and any AAR in which I learn something, like about steam-powered Greek warships.

Keep it up!

Indeed, I do find Greeces starting tech position a little too a-historical for it to be fair, but I refrained from modding it to give me a bit more of a challenge. It appears Greece suffers mainly because being in Britains sphere, so goods are all too available, so usually as a small country you can use tariffs to get a little extra income. As far as I understand, tarriffs don't work on goods from spheremaster/sphere but only from those from the world market, as sphere market acts like your domestic market which basically means you can't get any tariff income which makes it practically impossible.

Very nice AAR! Keep it up!

I will indeed, and there should be an update up today/tonight/soon tm

 

[Lord Octavian]

Nice job so far! Any plans for a Greater Greece like what Greece desire against Turkey in OTL?

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

Part VII - A new Island for the Kingdom

The Royal Palace of Athens, February 2nd, 1845.​

King Otto Wittelsbach stood, on the balcony of the Royal Palace. It stood overlooking the square beneath him, which was today full of people. Some were journalists for the Hellenic Times, some peasants come to see there king, others were richer and officials who had come to here the announcement that Otto had to make.

Otto looked to his left, to Josef who stood beside and slightly behind him as his first minister and chief adviser. Then to his right to Alexandros Pangalos who stood in parallel to Josef, both wearing exquisite clothes - at least for Grecian coffers - yet neither outshining the kings royal military uniform, medals, and sash.

The trumpets blared, silencing the crowd and signalling the start of the proceedings.

"Today.. My People, The People of Greece, we once again are met with the gravest of news. We have found documents in the British Libraries and legitimized by the British Government, which show that the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, was born out of a Norman Conquest. It was stolen from the Greek peoples that lived there. The History we have uncovered clearly shows that the island of Sicily was a Hellenic outpost, another island in the Mediterranean ruled by our brave forefathers of this kingdom from the Aegean," the king paused taking a deep breath and continuing, "and today I announce that we will begin a reconquest we will retake -all- the lands that once belonged to us, and take lands afresh. Sicily will be ours, god wills it, I will it, and the Hellenic people will it. With this speech I am announcing that a state of war exists between us and Sicily, I have sent an envoy to Britain asking for our aid in this defensive war. For we are not fighting for unjust gains, we are defending our heritage, defending the occupied territories that have were once ours which have been stolen."

The crowd roared, and cheered before chanting a single words 'Hellene'. Then the trumpets roared, Otto smiled and waved for silence so he might continue.

"You are enthusiastic I see, for the return of the Hellenes to the world stage. That is what I promise you, our troops will crush there army, our ships will destroy there fleet, and we shall be great again," a moment passed then he shouted "Hellene".

Excerpt from 'Stratos - The Early Modern Military of Greece'​

On the 2nd of February 1845, Greece declared war on the kingdom of Two Sicilies, - or soon to be the kingdom of one Siciliy - laying stake to a claim of the isle of Sicily.

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The British joined the war promising that Greece's heritage and history was to be preserved, and that the Isle of Sicily was an important part of Hellenic History, that the Greeks should be in control of. It also allowed the British greater control of the Mediterranean, as they could then rely on the Greeks to assist in British dominance of the sea.

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Then on February 24th, the Greek navy spotted the Sicilian fleet. Both sides hastily prepared and not totally supplied, engaged in a string of battles and naval skirmishes along the coast of Sicily, in the Straits of Messina. Both sides vying for control of the straits. The Sicilian navy numbered only four ships. All of which were small squadrons of clippers, lightly armed, but fast. The larger Hellenic Navy: with the two Hellenic Trade Company private frigates, and the two lightly armed transport ships also under the HTC banner, and the the three recently commissioned frigates under Royal Charter.

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The Task force under Alexandros Pangalos swiftly managed to subdue to Sicilian ships in the area. However the victory did have a sting in it's tail, in it's last moments the Sicilians admiral ship, a brave and courageous leader ordered his ship into a collision course with the HTC. Apollo, hoping that the transport ship had a complement of marines aboard which could be prevented from landing, buying the Sicilian Army some time. The ship collided and sunk the Apollo.

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Luckily Pangalos had not ordered the marines onto the ships, and wanted to ensure Naval dominance before the marines prepared to make the landings. So the HTC. Leda was sent back to port to collect a brigade of marines to begin the occupation of Trinacria.

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Pangalos then split his fleet, ordering the Maximallianos and the Prinkis Maximallianos to chase the remaining Sicilian ships, and then blockade the gulf of Taranto.

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While he and the remaining vessels would blockade the straits of Messina.

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On may 15th the first Greek troops landed, on Sicily, and began a process of occupation. When word of this reached the Sicilian government they sent an army south to retake the isle.

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The Greeks however thought that while the navy had control of the Messina straits that the Sicilians could not cross. However local knowledge prevailed and a secondary, smaller crossing in the Bay of Naples was utilized by the Army of Napoli. This led to the destruction of the marine Vanguard, and the death of Andreas Zymvrakakis the general in charge of the Vanguard. The 39,000 Sicilians were victorious.

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This was all because Alexandros Pangalos did not know of this second crossing. Which he hastily blockaded. Ensuring that once the Sicilians had left the isle and returned to the capital of Naples, that they would not get back onto the isle of Sicily. The Commander of the Army and Marines, Sotiris Vassos decided that a brigade of cavalry would be useful to the army, and it began training. This came a midst a month of reports showing that the Greek Navy had obtained total dominance over the Sicilian fleet.

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Then came more bad news, the second brigade of marines aboard a transport was lost in a shock naval battle in the Ionian sea, a single Sicilian ship, a man o war no less had punched through the blockade and hit the shipping line which was transporting troops from the Greek mainland to Sicily. Without an escort the transport was doomed, and it and the contingent of marines fell to the bottom of the sea. Once the Hellenic Navy caught up with the British ships pursuing the man o war, it was too late. All they managed to do was beat it off, and send it reeling into a nearby port.

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Late August came, and no Greek troops were available to invade Sicily. Luckily the British Expeditionary Force, landed. placed it self under Greek strategic command. So that once it had occupied Sicily, and presuming the Greco-British Naval blockade prevented a Sicilian counter attack. The isle of Sicily could be placed under Greek Control.

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In November 1845 peace came shortly after the total occupation of Sicily by the British, the war was short, and sweet and Sicily was phased into Greco-control.

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The Treaty of Naples​

Naples will cede control of the territory of Sicily to it's rightful owner The Kingdom of Greece. Britain will maintain the right to a military base in Malta, and also to use port facilities of the Kingdom of Greece throughout the Mediterranean sea. Naples will also limit it's military for the period of one year, so that it can not build up a force to try and retake the Isle of Sicily.

Signed Otto, King of Greece.
Signed Ferdinand II, King of the Two Sicilies.
Signed on behalf of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland by Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

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Authors comments/notes



A short update. I figured I should do the total war and stop there, because otherwise i'd be pushing the picture limit and get stuck some way into 1846 and have no reasonable place to stop. One perk of the short update means I may well do Update 8 later on tonight (in about 4 hours or so)

Also you will notice I got my army butchered by forgetting which sea province the crossing from Italy to Sicily went over. I just placed my fleet thinking 'Strait of Messina = the strait' then I got a notification saying I was under attack. I thought they'd landed some troops but it turns out they walked over the wrong bit of water. So the military blunder was quite literally me being stupid. It's lucky I got SS's of it as I was too busy fiddling with my budget and not really watching the war, thinking it was all sorted.

Regarding the loss of the Leda and the marines on that ship. A man of war suddenly appeared in a province under construction and slipped out of port, got to my transport and sunk it before the main fleet could get there to save it. I figured that my transport didn't need an escort as Sicily had no allies, and it's navy was all stuck in port and mostly transport ships.

You may also be wondering what made me invade Sicily. Well I knew the strait would protect my troops if Britain did turn up, (it would just take forever to occupy) and I also need more pops, and economy (mostly tax) it also prevents Two Sicilies from ever getting in my way again, so when I saw they had rebel problems and had lost there fleet in a little war with Sardinia (it was a white peace in the end but I never noticed the war till it was over and they white peaced but both sides lost there fleets) I was torn between taking Sardegna or taking Sicily, and Sicily had no allies so it was an easy decision to make. Plus there is a silver lining I didn't notice that i'll show off next update.

Nice job so far! Any plans for a Greater Greece like what Greece desire against Turkey in OTL?

All shall be revealed, soon. Although I will have a colony very very soon.

 

[GulMacet]

If you have those enormous amounts of British firepower at your disposal, why not challenge the Turks directly? You have plenty of cores there, and Greek Orthodox people to tax as well!

 

[LordTempest]

So wait, what do we call the southern Italian regime now? The Kingdom of No Sicillies?

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

So wait, what do we call the southern Italian regime now? The Kingdom of No Sicillies?

I might mod in a change and rename it to Kingdom of Naples, but Kingdom of no Sicily is a close second.

If you have those enormous amounts of British firepower at your disposal, why not challenge the Turks directly? You have plenty of cores there, and Greek Orthodox people to tax as well!

Because the British are allied with the Turks as well. They might not back me up, and I dont want to get into a position were Oh look i'm alone against the Turks and Britain GG

 

[Marshall Daub]

This is an enjoyable AAR to read. I like the direction you're taking it in, and you keep it interesting with your story telling. Keep it up!

 

[Tapscott]

I might mod in a change and rename it to Kingdom of Naples, but Kingdom of no Sicily is a close second.

Because the British are allied with the Turks as well. They might not back me up, and I dont want to get into a position were Oh looked i'm alone against the Turks and Britain GG

I am enjoying this AAR, and I demand that Sicily either be called Naples of No Sicily

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

This is an enjoyable AAR to read. I like the direction you're taking it in, and you keep it interesting with your story telling. Keep it up!

I intend to, there will be an update later today covering a few years of stuffs.

I am enjoying this AAR, and I demand that Sicily either be called Naples of No Sicily

I'll see what I can do with the 1850 save.

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

Temporary Teasing Post. I've changed the name of Naples, although it will only take effect after 1850, in the actual AAR as I can't replace pictures i've taken, considering i'm playing Iron man and only have one save . Although I'm sure this picture will be teasing, and interesting so I decided to throw it up. The actual update will be up in an hour or so.

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[LordTempest]

Awwwwww... No Sicilies would have been funnier. Nah, you made the right choice.

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

Awwwwww... No Sicilies would have been funnier. Nah, you made the right choice.

Don't worry No Sicilies is going to make an appearance.

 

[ThatJamesguy01]

Part VIII - New Subjects, New Taxes, New Aspirations.

The First ministers office, Athens, March 1846.​

"I stand before you, as your king Josef... You claimed that we would not prevail over this kingdom of two Sicilies , well now it is a kingdom yes, but of no Sicilies . Now please tell me about about this factory the good king of no Sicilies i has left us." Otto said with his most authoritarian voice as he looked around the office, noting the maps on the wall, and the treasury documents, and letters.

"Yes sir, it is a fairly large industrial complex that we captured. It appears to have been owned by a Sicilian nobleman but the military seized it during the occupation and it's changed hands. It also appears at last count there is a very large proportion of the local people now out of work" Josef said, as he looks down at some documentation in front of him. Examining the new ownership and so forth of the factory complex on the new island.

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"Very good Josef....Who's hands exactly is it in now?" Otto asked seemingly not knowing anything of actual government, and not caring about the unemployment.

"The factory complex is and group is called Hellenic Textiles and Clothing. Oh and one small issue." Josef tentatively began to say.

"Yes Josef?" Otto sighed out as if it was going to be a stupid question.

"Under current legislation the treasury is unable to provide funds to be able to open the factory." Explained Josef in the quickest way possible.

"But i'm the king and I will it!" Otto exclaimed, legislation meaning nothing to an absolute monarch.

"Yes bu-" Josef began before being cut off.

"I... Will it" Otto slowly said again clearly explaining him self with three simple words.

"Yes sir." was the resigned response from Josef.

"While I am here how is the new budget coming along? Now we are out of war after all?

Josef reached forward and pushed a document forward toward Otto who then took it and perused it with a look on his face as if he understood all the numbers, and percentages when in actual fact all he understood was the occasional word, and the smaller numbers.

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Excerpt from 'Stratos - The Early Modern Military of Greece'​

On March 25th 1846 the Hellenic army adopted a new staff system. This new chief of staff, and his officers would organized the army far more effectively than the previous system of General's being appointed by the king. The Chief of staff was instead appointed by the king, and then his council was made up of those of the higher ranks. Which then in turn formed the Military Staff, who then organized the military how and when it needed organizing and into whatever form it needed to be organized into.

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Excerpt from 'Revolution: The Industry of the Hellenes'​

Following the change of legislation the government put enough funds into the Hellenic Textile and Clothing company a nationalized clothing factory on Sicily to reopen the factory, and bring people back to work who were put out of work during the war.

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The factory almost immediately started making money some 30 pounds a day in profit. The only problem was a shortage of fabric for the factory to use. and some three thousand craftsmen who wanted jobs but couldn't work. Meaning there was a small unemployment problem in the Hellenic Isle of Sicily.

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Excerpt from 'Greece a Modern History of the Hellenes'​

The Budget of March 1846 was only temporary it got the country rolling again after the war with Sicily but the majority of the changes only came into effect in May. This new budget was a massive change from the past, and in the field of taxation brought the Hellenes into a far more civilized system allowing people to spend more of there hard earned money, and in turn this grew the economy.

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Excerpt from the Hellenic Armies records.​

1st Palermo Artillery of the Stratos Sicilia began training June 6th 1846.
1st Messina Infantry of the Stratos Sicilia began training June 6th 1846.
1st Catania Infantry of the Stratos Sicilia began training June 6th 1846.
1st Athenian Infantry of the Stratos Home began training June 6th 1846.

Excerpt from 'Stratos - The Early Modern Military of Greece'​

The military forces ordered in the 'Act of Garrison' composed of two brigades of Infantry and an Artillery brigade to garrison Sicilia and become to the Stratos Sicilia. This force was intended to guard Sicilia from any reprisal and to ensure that the local population did not get any 'ideas' above there station.

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Excerpt from a speech given on the Royal Balcony November 1846.​

"I Otto, your king stand before you my people to tell you how far we have come in ten short years. We are no longer the backward, debt ridden country we once were. We are a leading light technologically pushing the boundaries of thought, and culture. Our factories are the envy of many a great nation, and our military while not endless like Russia, or as great as Britain, Prussia and France. It is mighty and we are a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. I welcome you all to the future, a future were we Greece will once again dominate the world... Were we will once again colonize lands far and wide and bring the riches of the world not to London, not to Rome, but to Athens."

Document showing the place of Greece within the greater world community​

Sphere: A history of the diplomacy of the world.​

The United Kingdom slowly lost it's influence over the Hellenic After a British envoy was forcibly removed from the country by the king of Greece in a rash decision after some documents arrived from an unknown source which showed criminal and corrupt behavior involving the British. Things were soon smoothed over and the envoy allowed to return, but Greece was no longer going to be pushed around by Britain and it showed.

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Excerpt from 'Greece a Modern History of the Hellenes'​

A year after the war with the Kingdom of two Sicilies the debts that had amassed during the conflict were entirely payed off with the last coin being payed back on January 29th 1847.

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Excerpt from 'Stratos - The Early Modern Military of Greece'​

A new type of soldier employed by King Otto to guard the palace. The Hellenic Cuirassiers were a formed on February 3rd 1847 they were mostly used in a ceremonial purpose in Athens with no large number of them in the army. Around thirty five in total. Yet the idea was sound and used by many other countries and if the need arose more could be drafted into the ranks of the Hellenic Life Guards.

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On May the 2nd 1847, the flag ship of the Hellenic Navy the Nikolis Apostolis finally set sail from the dock in Corinth. With a crew of 700, two decks, and bristling with guns - 75 in total - It was the pride of the Hellenic Navy and rightly so.

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Excerpt from 'Greece a Modern History of the Hellenes'​

'Today I announce to the world the joint declaration of intent toward the Kingdom of Johore. The British Port of Singapore and the others around it have come under repeated minor attacks in the area. The decision to invade was made jointly. Britain has asked us once the population has been pacified if we might govern the area. I have accepted this gracious offer. Britain will retain control of the major coastal ports, and we will have control of the inland area. Freedom of movement and trade between the two areas will be allowed and for all intents and purposes we will share control of the Malayan Peninsula, and the Governor of the region will maintain close ties with Britain. Thank you.'​

Speech given by King Otto to the Hellenic Council​

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Infamously this speech marked the birth of the Hellenic Colonial Empire, and things to come.

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Authors wondrous notes


A small update again, buuuut that's because the next update (up tommorow) is going to be rather huge, and impressive.

Also if anyone spots any stupid grammatical, spelling, or formatting mistakes please tell me. As I wrote this update with one hell of a headache.