Part XIV. Development of the Modern Hanseatic State.
In 1729 Austria took yet another province (Carniola) from the increasingly weakening turk. In 1732 the Danish, growing increasingly competitive in Danzig, are banned altogether from trading in the leagues trading centres. In 1736 a similar embargo is enacted against Prussia to again protect Hanseatic trade from being put under too much pressure. In 1737 the army is equiped with the latest Cartridges (Land: 45) for its rifles.
In 1738 the Russians go to war against Sweden, and seeking a quick resolution to the conflict, League forces are sent directly to Copenhagen. In 1739, after quickly securing the capital, the active involvement of the League is ended for the princely sum of 500d. For the next few years an anticipated war against the Poles is planned and forces are built up in ernest.
On January 6th 1744 the League, after a methodical build up of an insurmountable force (Fig. 53) , declares war on Poland-Lithuania. Russia and Austria find themselves in a truly global war against the likes of France, Holland and Most of central Europe. A carefully co-ordinated three pronged assault is launched deep into Poland its primary goal to secure the Polish capital, the CoT in Kurland and Posen in the west. The intention with regards to the french is to further eliminate their colonial holdings in the midst of league cities. The Dutch, Bohemians and Bavarians are merely intended to be either paid off or simply stalemated.
Throughtout 1744 all goes very well. In particular the Colonial army ramapages virtually unhindered through french settlements in and north of the Appalachians. Towards the end of the year Posen finally falls. During 1754 league troops capture Mazovia, buy off the Savoyards and continue their assaults throughout Poland. In 1750 the war reaches its natural conclusion with the acquisition of Powhattan in America from the French (Fig. 54), and Posen and Kurland from Poland in February (Fig. 55).
In 1753, war weary and still dealing with recent acquirements in the east, Russia declare war on Poland. The league repsond by agreeing to the war but instantly paying 250d to the Polish in order to simply avoid any more unnecessary bloodshed (... for now). A monopoly is quickly acquired in the Kurland CoT in 1754 as are previous monopolies that were slipping during war with Poland. It is unfortunately necessary to embargo the English in 1755 in order to protect the CoT in Holland.
The Russians draw the League into another war in 1759 which sees soldiers once again fighting Sweden and Denmark. The Swedes refuse an indemnity offer to end the war quickly and, without much choice, the league sends troops in. The army quickly makes short work of Skane and whilst approaching Stockholm are given the opportunity to govern the province (Fig. 56). It even comes complete with a Fine Arts Academy thrown in for free...
Fig. 53 - - - - - - Fig. 54 - - - - - - Fig. 55 - - - - - - Fig. 56