Chapter 26: The Channel War
With the Death of Diane IV the Kingdom of Cathay found itself scrambling to reorient itself in the face of growing internal problems and a fastly deteriorating diplomatic Landscape in Europe. Italy and Bohemia had been growing too powerful now for well over a century and nothing had been done due to loyalty and disinterest by those with the true keys to power when other opportunities awaited in Asia.
Diane ultimately died childless forcing a Crisis the Kingdom had never before seen. Prince William the late Diane's brother was the rightful heir but was well into old age, considered incompetent and untrained for the throne and whose children had kept the Surname d'Aubigny after their french blooded mother. This left George as the Eldest of the House of Caetye but he was in exile for treason against the Empire as well as the Caetye branches in Italy and Bohemia. In the Meantime Diane's Husband, Erik of Scandinavia presided over a regency council to determine the next Monarch.
After a Three month Interregnum of bribes four major contenders had been narrowed down. The Prince George was the least likely, as he was considered a Traitor and an exile so in reality there was only three contenders with the forth being left as a sign of respect to the Cadet Branch of Avalon.
Casmir Caetye of the Bohemian Empire was a possible choice. A Warlike and Powerful Monarch, The Bohemian Empire since its rise to power and victory of Sicily had been pushing in every direction except West. Part of such Success was no doubt thanks to Casmir and he spent generously to ensure his name remained a possibility on the lips of the Khitan Regency Council. However there was an issue with the Bohemian Candidate.
Casmir's sponsorship of the Russian Monarchy against Persia had put the Empire into a dangerous war against one of the greater powers in the world. A Personal Union over the Khitan would give Casmir much of the Manpower and economic backing he would need to dominate Russia, but this did mean for much of the Khitan nobility, that the Empire to Casmir was only a means to an end far and away from Cathay's interests.
Prince Antonio Caetye of Italy was also wealthy. The Prince was only second in line of succession of the Italian crown and so Antionio would be expected to represent Khitan interests and not Italian ones. Furthermore Italy was Wealthy and boasted a Colonial Empire in addition to its formidable forces in Europe Proper. However recent tensions with the Italian branch of House Caetye had made Antonio as well a sour pick for many.
The Final Option was General Bernat-Anton William D'Aubigny, the Eldest child of Prince William and Julie D'Aubigny. While by no means the finest of Generals in Europe Bernat had connections to make a comfortable life for himself as a secondary commander within the Empire. The definitive edge Bernat would have was being a Khitan citizen even if he was half french on his mothers side and of course choosing a local noble would upset the monarchies of Italy and Bohemia.
Ultimately a decision was made and the Local Claimant, Bernat D'Aubigny was chosen on the condition that Diane's esteemed nephew change his surname to reflect that of the House of Caetye with the same condition applying to any of his heirs. The General accepted and was Coronated in Ventralis, Emperor of Cathay, Defender of the Eastern Wind and Protector of the Realm after what would amount to a 2 Year Interregnum in total.
As for why Bernat-Aton was chosen the reasons were muddled. There was a firm argument that as closest male relative of Diane IV after Prince William but that was often the law of Other European Monarchies overall, the Khitan had already remained more Egalitarian and Eastern in Philosophy, choosing the most able candidate regardless of Gender or Age.
The Other Argument was simply that Bernat-Aton would have allowed the Khitan Empire, the Greatest Country in the world to retain its independence rather than be Put into Personal Union with Bohemia, or an unofficial personal union under the Italian Monarchy both countries that would have used the Khitan Army and fleet more for their own benefit than for the Khitan Royal court.
Emperor Bernat Aton not long after his succession found a Bohemia and Italy furious at the result and soon found he needed to find new allies elsewhere in the world. In an Effort to Ease fears and unify the Empire in the face of growing foreign animosity Emperor Bernat married Princess Juliana Karling of Aquitaine a woman very much his opposite to his calm and quiet demeanor. Empress Julianna would be well loved in court and have an able mind for the administration, while The Emperor himself focused on what he knew best, keeping the country safe.
A year after their marriage Crown Prince Alexander would be Born and would grow in a boy very much the child of both of his parents, with talents reaching across all facets of government.
With a new administration at the helm, one of the first major events would be the arrival of Enlightenment thought in full force. Universities to coffee houses buzzed with activity not seen before in the Empire, Industrialization had begun its slow turn forward in the Coal rich core territories of the Empire and the Army was once again in full mode for reforms.
The Great Debate of a Cavalry focused military against one with an reliance on infantry had been settled centuries ago. What had now become an even greater issue was new concept of an Army doctrine. For much of its history the Khitan army was largely unprofessional with a core of trained veterans training it in preparation for times of war.
In Cathay in Particular there had been an Emphasis on keeping that core of veterans as large and skilled as humanly possible which has given it a decisive quality edge over other Empires. Growing populations and consolidation however meant that armies continued to expand in size the world over while education and drill techniques were only improving lessening the great gap in army quality between the Empire and everyone else.
The New Philosophy was informally known as the great army expansion. Officially it would come as the Army Recruitment and organization act, which opened up freedom to enlist any able bodied citizen of the lower classes to serve as frontline soldiers and to provide incentive to actually attract such numbers to the army raises were waged, slightly, and considerable investment was put into recruitment offices across the country.
On the Economic front a major change had weakened the hold of the East India company's hold on the Khitan economic permanently. Bohemian Porcelain had arrived in Europe and had utterly crashed the price of Chinaware, a resource something the Empires of Scandinavia and Cathay had a virtual cartel on. Millions were lost in Chinaware investments as the Price in Europe fell through the floor as smugglers allowed intrepid entrepreneurs to bypass Alexander II's harsh Tariffs and restrictions on foreign imports.
By the time 1720 had arrived, the Discovery of Porcelain and Bernat-aton's Ascendence to the throne had completly changed the dynamic of power in Europe. Smugglers and Economic tension had driven a wedge between the Bohemian and Khitan Empires. Italy meanwhile had taken news of Bernat's crowning with particular offense and laid claim to the entirety of the Alpine Region, including Khitan populations within the area.
Finally Scandinavia, after New Ventralis, one of the 12 Provinces successfully led a campaign into Vinland and Seized land illegally with its local militia. An Act that along with refusals of cooperation in regards to Scandinavia's Asian Colonies had put Scandinavia firmly in bed with Italy and against its longtime ally.
In the Meantime Emperor Bernat seized the remains of the Princedom of Toulouse, giving the lands to the crown of Aquitaine and establishing a safe southern Border against the Italian aligned Kingdom of Granada. Due to Italy and Granada's strength the Kingdom of Aquitaine would prove to be an effective buffer state against any potential invasions from the Southern Alpine passes and Pyrenees. Thus any Invasions of Cathay proper would need to come through the Central Alps, or over the Rhine, both regions with far more fortification.
Meanwhile The Kingdom of Greece remained the only great power left in Europe proper not set against the Khitan Empire with a Land army of any significant worth. For the First time in History the Greek and Khitan Empires would find themselves pragmatic and cautious allies after almost a millennia of hostility against one another.
The Alliance would ultimately come at an Ideal time as Tensions and minor border conflicts in America would boil over into what became known as the Channel War between Cathay and Great Britain. In an attempt to avoid a lengthy campaign in America Emperor Bernat approved what would be known as the Lothian Strategy, a Gambit that involved invading the British isles from a friendly base in Ireland.
The Strategy was initially successful as Khitan naval dominance had allowed easy transport to Ireland and a swift landing into scotland thereafter enabling a march down from scotland into the British core territories to force a favorable peace deal.
The Plan was stunning success as the British Garrison sent to stop General Khalil Uwin was under equipped and completly unprepared for such a move. Creating a series of decisive battles in the Northlands that would leave them in Khitan hands.
In the South meanwhile General Shahab Quintilius landed on London itself in a pincer movement, something only enabled by the superior sized Khitan Navy. The Resulting Battle of London effectively demolished British War Enthusiasm, allowing the focus to switch away from the Isles and To Bavaria, a British ally who was also a belligerent.
Bavaria without the British folded like a house of cards ceding the Eastern Rhineland to Cathay as well as agreeing to pay war reparations for their involvement. Though for how long was a stinging question as the Bohemians and Italians were still waiting for their own slice of the German Pie.
The British Meanwhile agreed to cede over much of their land East of the Mississippi River to the Khitan Empire. However the Twelve colonies who fought to take such lands from the British would soon be informed to protect the native cherokee peoples that any lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were named off Limits under the Indian Harmonization Act. Colonials who fought in the Channel war were understably upset by this act. Back in Cathay however this had been standard practice following the conquests of Yucatan, India and China just on an unofficial level.
America had always been spared this sort of interference however, so at least in the Twelve Provinces it was seen as a new Tyranny rather than an old tradition.
The new direction of Emperor Bernat-Aton would mean a new view of the Chinese and Eastern practices that had since been absorbed into the Khitan Empire. In an effort to centralize the country and continue Alexander's Reforms, Empress Julianna suggested to borrow notes from the Chinese Bureaucracy and rebuild the lower levels of government with civil tests for important positions.
The result was a stunning success as old rank and file positions were purged and new more talented officials passed the tests with ease and filled their place. The Effects of course that that hopefully this and further talented generations would continue to climb the ladder of government positions and overall improve efficiency across the board.
Similar Success however was not being enjoyed Elsewhere. After a costly and devastating war the Empire of Greece declared Bankruptcy defaulting on loans given out by local lenders as well as the Khitan government.
The Blame for most with power in the Empire and Europe was entirely on the liberal Greek Government in place within athens. Considered corrupt and unable to officially rule a country to the same pedigree as a divine monarch it did not take long for Khitan and Bohemian forces join together and march on Athens. The Council of Birds was dissolved and the Monarch empowered to bring the Empire to heel. The Consequences of this action however would echo across the world.
Rather than Accept foreign backed Autocracy the Greeks rose up instead and a call rung out across the Balkans.
"The Phoenix Rises"
"Democracy Soars"
"Down with Traitors!"
"Down With Kings"
"We Will Never Be Slaves Again"