1500 - 1510 : time to invest
Welcome back students.
One thing I know is that most of you choose to study the United Kingdoms during the renaissance because of the great interest you have in the colonial process... However, today we will mostly focus on Europe.
I) European policies
1) The state of the United Kingdoms in 1502
After the war for Malacca (we will see it in second part), the United Kingdoms seemed on the path to be the strongest European power. However, the huge periods of war from the last century, added to the very fast (and then very costly) expansion to create ports all around the world put the UKs in a very difficult situation at the begining of the XVIth century.
a) reputation
The UKs had a very bad reputation and were low on friends in the 1500s (with the exceptions of Byzantium and the Pope). The UKs were considered as warmongers without any problem making war for their own good. actually, there were even European States considering the "United Kingdoms" were not a reality, and the UKs were simply a construction built on the annexion of France by England (this opinion will stay strong for long years in Europe)
This was a real priority to work on by King Stephen.
b) Economic problems
The high spending for the King to fund the unification of France and exploration cost a lot to the UKs. It also created a very high inflation for years. Since the early 1440, all the kings tried to fight inflation, with often two members of their governments dedicated to inflation. In 1501, the entire Government of Stephen II was dedicated to fight it ! And they were partially helped by the National Bank. And inflation was still around 10% in 1502.
In 1503, a minister proposed a radical reform to kill inflation. Under the King's impulsion, the reform was accepted by three parliaments (The Irish parliament refused to enact it as they were the only Kingdom beneficiating from this inflation). The reform indeed made the inflation to drop by two points. However, it created a new problem when the Kingdoms' stability dropped and riots began all around the Kingdom
c) Instability
During the expansions out of Europe, political crisis happened regularly. The Kingdoms were not stable as even in England and France some people were still refusing the new political construction created by the Lancasters.
It resulted in 1503 in a very dangerous situation. In 1503, the Royal government and the parliaments were all dedicated only to two goals : to keep fighting inflation and stabilizing the Kingdoms.
d) Backwardness
The inflation problem brought for years a huge problem to the Kingdoms. it was very hard to fund lots of things as efficiently as in other European countries. The consequence was that the technological level of the UKs was very weak compared to other countries.
For example, the heart of the UKs' armies were still medieval cavalry and archers (longbows) while European powers were begining to use massively black powder [In terms of gameplay, the UKs are at 8 naval and 8 land techs while the other European countries are usually at 11/11]
All those problems became the king's new priorities in 1502.
2) The death of Stephen II
In September 1506, the King Stephen II Lancaster died. His son was too much young, and as a result a Regency council took the power.
Unlike
the last English regency council (1414 - 1426), the nobles of one Kingdom could not take in charge the King's duties, as this would mean a clear civil war between the Kingdoms. In the same time,
the political system of 1458 did not gave any information on how the UKs would work without a king, even temporarily.
The four Parliaments gathered in Edinburgh, a place where it would be easier to have the French and English parliament not fighting against each other to get the power.
The four parliaments in Congress agreed that until the heir would be old enough, they would hold the executive power in their own kingdoms. Colonial matters would be entirely in the hands of nominated generals, themselves under the supervision of the Parliaments (the American colonies would then be under the orders of the irish and English Parliaments while the African and Asian ports would be under the orders of the Scottish and French Parliaments).
3) 1506 - 1510
In the last four years of this decade after the King's death, things began to be a little better. Stability was back, and inflation did lower significantly (at 7,3% in december 1510). However, there were still a lot of work to do for the parliaments if they wanted the United Kingdoms to be in a much more better shape when the next king would come.
II) Colonial policies
1) En route to Malacca
When his new army arrived in Ceylon, the cautious General Albert Clive, commander in chief of the UKs armies in the Indian Ocean, decided that his positions were not strong enough to start a war in the far east. He needed a tougher stronghold before sending his fleets and armies. He needed to finish to unit Ceylon under the UKs rule.
In March 1500, he sent the word to the government of Southern Ceylon in Korales that they were at war for religious reasons, as he could not let a non-christian territory threatening his most advanced base in the Indian Ocean.
The ironical decision was that the ruler of Malacca then decided to declare war on the UKs to defend Ceylon's Buddhist province.
Albert Clive was right : he needs stronger position to fight this war. He also sent word to the King asking for more troops to fight it. They'll be here in 12 to 15 month !
In November, Corales fell. The road was now open to send troops into Malaysia peninsula !
2) The war for Malacca
In June 1501, Albert Clive had his now three armies ready to land in the Malaysia peninsula. The first move were quick and efficient while the northern army took his stand to be prepared for a counter-attack from the north.
With 41 UKs unitsin the peninsula, Ayutthayan troops (13 units strong) were unable to move south to strike back !
In January 1502, even if war was going great for the UKs, the troops could not do otherwise than to worry when their commander Albert Clive died from Malaria. This sickness was common in Europe, but much more easier to get in those regions. We estimate today that roughly 1200 UKs soldiers died from malaria during this war (on 42,000 soldiers sent !)
At last, in March 1502, Ayutthaya surrendered and the UKs had conquered Malacca.
The peace treaty of March 1502
3) Death of Daniel Braddock
In June 1503, Daniel Braddock, the explorer who discovered the entire African coasts and the entire Indian Ocean, died. This was a very important event for the UKs, and especially in England were he was born.
The four parliaments hold a silent minute for Mr Braddock.
The colonial powers in December 1510