Castles in the Sand: Royalist Cuba, 1840-1936 [Cuban AAR; AHD 2.31]

[Ab Ovo]

Castles in the Sand:
Royalist Cuba, 1840-1936
-
Forward​

Castles in the Sand was originally written in the summer of 1944; years after I first visited Cuba under the Monarchy. Things were going bad then, the Socialists agitating against dear King Sebastian as the famine devastated the countryside. Still however I was enthralled by Havana and her beauty, the Paris of the Caribbean ruled over her (so I believed) benign monarch. The atmosphere of that tropical paradise never left me and what was just a -considering the time, rather dangerous- stop on a cruise became the birth of a life-long passion for the island.

While the events of Sebastian's abdication and Cuba's subsequent annexation in 1938 are now well within the realm of public knowledge the history of the Dominion, and then Kingdom of Cuba is barely known even on the island itself. It is my hope that through this humble compilation of diary accounts, newspaper articles and primary works that I can perhaps educate a few on this fascinating period in Caribbean history.

I especially thank Professor Richard Whitman of the University of Harvard for his extensive annotations regarding the diary of Narciso López, the Royal Society of Cuba for access to their marvelous private archives, and to the University of William and Mary for their financial support during my research trips abroad.

-Professor Francois Leclerc,
Kensington, England

 

[DensleyBlair]

Jesus, Ab - how one Earth do you have time to write your own AAR?

This looks really intersting - I've never seen a Cuban AAR, let alone a monarchist Cuban one. I'll follow this ab ovo (see what I did there?)

 

[Ab Ovo]

Jesus, Ab - how one Earth do you have time to write your own AAR?

This looks really intersting - I've never seen a Cuban AAR, let alone a monarchist Cuban one. I'll follow this ab ovo (see what I did there?)

I don't; that's why the last one died

Thanks kindly. I have discovered that Cuba is loaded with possibilities if you're willing to wait a bit; and I figured it would be nice to make the Caribbean into a Cuban lake. And yes, yes I did.

 

[aniuby]

Hmm, an opening written in-character. I presume from your words that you've already played through the entire timeline? Is this going to be history-book style or a narrative? Either way Cuba is an unusual choice - I shall be following this. As long as the USA doesn't take the Ostend Manifesto decision - and it doesn't always do so - you would be fairly safe, but the difficulty lies in finding routes for expansion apart from the typical method of beating up uncivs and spamming prestige to became a SP and colonise Africa.

I'm intrigued that someone would write a new AHD AAR at this time when HoD has already been released, and I'd love to write a AHD AAR myself if it wasn't for the fear that no one would be interested any more (I'm reserving my judgement on HoD until I've got it for myself). So you can definitely count me in as a follower!

 

[Tapscott]

Looks interesting Ab! I demand that it stay as an absolute monarchy through the entire timeline, no reforms whatsoever! Regardless of whether you do that or not, I will be following!

 

[Ab Ovo]

Hmm, an opening written in-character. I presume from your words that you've already played through the entire timeline? Is this going to be history-book style or a narrative? Either way Cuba is an unusual choice - I shall be following this. As long as the USA doesn't take the Ostend Manifesto decision - and it doesn't always do so - you would be fairly safe, but the difficulty lies in finding routes for expansion apart from the typical method of beating up uncivs and spamming prestige to became a SP and colonise Africa.

I'm intrigued that someone would write a new AHD AAR at this time when HoD has already been released, and I'd love to write a AHD AAR myself if it wasn't for the fear that no one would be interested any more (I'm reserving my judgement on HoD until I've got it for myself). So you can definitely count me in as a follower!

Narrative-style. Well this is certainly not played ahead but I've played quite a few Cuban games and have never seen the Manifesto decision taken. I can only hope that I should be so lucky this time around. And there are routes of expansion as long as to get to them fast enough; Haiti or the Danish East Indies for example. As for colonisation; we shall see what the future holds.

Looks interesting Ab! I demand that it stay as an absolute monarchy through the entire timeline, no reforms whatsoever! Regardless of whether you do that or not, I will be following!

Well, I'm hoping for it to mellow into a kind of Bonapartism after awhile but I'll try not to get too unseemly liberal.

Update up later today.

 

[RedNomNoms]

Subscribed, it sounds very good. Though these Socialists agitating for reforms need to be shipped off to Florida.

 

[Ab Ovo]

Excerpts from the diary of Narciso López; Prime Minister of Cuba
1840

First actual day at work today; now that we've finally got things straight with Madrid. I thought Isabella was a crafty bitch but she has nothing on King Carlos. Bastardo managed to keep some of Cuba's best and brightest haggling on the mainland for months. I thanked God when the civil war broke out but I never figured on the Carlists; which shows how much I know. Anyway the Assembly managed to drag me down to sit in on their inaugural session. Speaker Tolón was droning on and on about the new minority building restrictions which the Realistas wanted. Idiots. I told them Cuba was unstable enough as it is without angering the natives and the motion eventually failed. Pissed Tolón off though.

Spoke to the Surgeon General yesterday morning. Didn't even know he had an appointment -Eva's been sick all week; and the woman filling in for her is a mess- but I decided to see him regardless. Caron is an intelligent man even if he can get on my nerves, and he told me how dismal our public health system was. I suppose when everybody goes in the street it doesn't seem like such a big deal. Royal Army could get some use out of his ideas and I'm definitely going to push for more health-related legislation. Malaria is a ruthless epidemic in some places and it's not like Cuba has anything better to use the money for.

Foreign Affairs Minister Velasquez had me meet with him. The idiot was nearly hysterical over the recent Spanish alliance with the Russian Empire and feared that Russian warships would soon be steaming into Havana harbour to reclaim Cuba as firmly for the Spanish Empire. I had to call in the Chief of the General Staff so we could jointly explain to him the reality that Spain could easily destroy the Dominion without outside help. Velasquez's subsequent frothing declarations that we should invade Puerto Rico, I then left for the General to dismantle. Cuba has bigger worries than Russia, and it worries me that cabinet officials can't see that. Some days it's just not worth the effort...

I really need to fire this new secretary. "Mr López," she says "Mr López; don't forget you're due to preside over the Assembly session at noon. Admiral de Corazon requested you." No you bruja I won't forget because you never told me. So I had to go down to that dreadful old building and listen to the Admiral talk for over four hours on the need for a Cuban navy. Four hours on the importance of troops transports, of anti-piracy methods and of the elegant new designs of a bow-cutter's new sloping foredeck. I had to personally introduce the motion for expansion just so he would shut the hell up. The mighty Cuban Navy will consist of two transport clippers. Hurrah.

More of Velasquez's rantings today; this time after Spain declared war on Morocco. It was a diversion so the Russian Freemasons could strike at Havana and cripple Cuba's ability (limited as it is) to make war or defend herself. Again the Chief of the General Staff was called and again we had to spend time calming the fractured nerves of Cuba's most neurotic man. I mean, I hate Freemasons as much as the next Catholic man, but honestly I'm sure they have better things to think about. General Rodriguez did manage to tell me of some ideas he had for Hispaniola and, ah, the possibility of new management. It was all very interesting stuff that will have to be thought over...

End of Prime Minister López's entries of note for the first year of independence. An interesting glimpse into the dysfunctionality of the early Cuban government.​

 

[RedNomNoms]

Very enjoyable update, I loved the sarcasm and the neurotic officials. Reminded me of Tropico, if Tropico was much more funny.

 

[DensleyBlair]

"Mr López," she says "Mr López..."

That reminded me of a rather irritating Hispanic hairdresser - nicely done.

A very interesting first update. Haiti looks like a juicy target once things pick up internally...

 

[Tapscott]

Heh, Cuba reminds me of our little Danubian Federation. Very few countries have the skill to argue over such things like a few ships

 

[Lord Durham]

Nice work. I love this guy's attitude. He must be a riot on a date.

 

[Lord Octavian]

I am watching this AAR. Keep up the good work! And make sure people like Fidel Castro get hung by the seaside of Havana!

 

[Ab Ovo]

Very enjoyable update, I loved the sarcasm and the neurotic officials. Reminded me of Tropico, if Tropico was much more funny.

High praise indeed, thank you.

That reminded me of a rather irritating Hispanic hairdresser - nicely done.

A very interesting first update. Haiti looks like a juicy target once things pick up internally...

I certainly hope so, although I dread leaving the task of declaring war to Velasquez. Haiti needs more Freemasons...

Heh, Cuba reminds me of our little Danubian Federation. Very few countries have the skill to argue over such things like a few ships

Cuba is strong like eagle, mighty like bison

Nice work. I love this guy's attitude. He must be a riot on a date.

Señora López must sadly agree.

I am watching this AAR. Keep up the good work! And make sure people like Fidel Castro get hung by the seaside of Havana!

Oh, I assure you they will be.

Update tomorrow. Gonna have it be two years; as the first was rather staid...

 

[Jape]

This looks like a lot of fun. The foreshadowing makes me keen to learn Cuba's fate. Lopez is a lot of unstable fun.

 

[Ab Ovo]

Thanks Jape, I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Anyways, I have recently discovered the joys of EU3; which is why the update is so late. It's about half finished and should be up tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.