1730-1740: The Last Years of Charles VI
The last years of Charles VI see an unprecedented period of peace settle over Europe, until the collapse of the Netherlands and the further death convulsions of Poland. The Emperor, himself, is not terribly involved in any serious adventures or even domestic advances during this period. Austrian money mostly goes to improving relations with the German states, which is always necessary when an election has to be anticipated. The Emperor, possessing only a female heir, is worried about possible succession to the Austrian lands and the Holy Roman throne. The Habsburg Empire is united only through the Imperial Office, and Charles is concerned the disparate lands of Austria will be torn asunder by a disputed succession. The Emperor, however, has little to fear in that regard, but it still occupies most of Austria's time. Further colonization is also understaken in Southeastern Asia, as Austria attempts to increase the value of Jambi's center of trade. Charles VI also undertakes a major fortification drive, and many of the Empire's fortresses reach their maximum size by 1740. The Empire also introduces the brown bess musket in 1730 and develops steam power for use in their merchant marine in 1737.
By 1731, the last Polish War has come to an end. This war started by another Polish declaration of war against Russia during Russia's attempts to finally annex Sibir. The Empress Anna in Russia presides over the successful end of the war with Poland, even as Austrian forces do nothing to assist her. In April, 57,000 Polish troops retake Lithuania from Sweden and Poland is able to end the war with Stockholm by ceding only Courland, Poland's last center of trade. In June, Poland's main field army invades Eastern Prussia, but is easily beaten by Franz and 41,000 Austrian troops. 31,000 Poles are killed and Franz loses only 2,000 Austrians. By October, Warsaw realizes it is finished and cedes Kursk and Smolensk to Russia. A white peace is concluded with Austria later in the month. Further peace agreements cede Western Pomerania to Scotland.
In November of 1731, Persia is forced to cede Hadramout to Oman. Russia concludes its war with Sibir the next year, for only 25D. Russian forces are facing war exhaustion and the Czarina cannot press the war home. Algiers, a Polish ally, pays 48D to Scotland for peace in March of 1731.
1740-1752: Maria Theresa
Charles VI dies in January of 1740, and, unexpectedly, the electors of the Empire install his daughter as the new Holy Roman Empress. Empress Maria, though very young, quickly proves to be one of Austria's greatest monarchs. Through her efforts, excellent ministers are appointed, new manufactories are randomly built throughout the empire, and almost yearly her diplomats succeed in building a better reputation for Austria throughout Europe. Maria Theresa also installs an entire new command structure in the army, and for the first time, virtually all of Austria's armies are led by competent generals. Ivan VI dies in Russia the year after Maria Theresa and Elizabeth takes the throne of the Russian Empire. Both of the major powers of the Austrian alliance are now ruled by female monarchs. Perhaps this is why Austria experiences a very smooth succession.
During Maria Theresa's early reign, Austria enters the pre-industrial age in both trade and infrastructure and her army reaches the maximum development that it can foresee. The navy lags behind, but serious efforts are made and most of the monthly budget is poured into naval research for the first time. Austria also establishes a new colony in Da Lat and now controls all of Indochina in the form of trading posts and colonies.
The Russian Empire finally finishes off Sibir in the first year of Maria Theresa's reign. It is the last act of the previous Czar, Ivan VI. In August of 1740, Russia declares war and over 100,000 Russian troops are soon operating in Sibir territory. By November, the war is over.
In January of 1742, the peace of Europe is shattered by a Portugese declaration on the Netherlands. This is first in a major series of wars that will result in the end of Dutch power in Europe. Portugal is joined by its allies of Catalunya, Hannover, and Sicily, while the Dutch are joined by Sweden. This war will mostly be waged in the form of a major siege of Holland by Hannover and some allied troops. This Hannover force will spend six years besieging Amsterdam, without success. When Portugal finally signs a status quo peace with the Netherlands in 1748, Hannover will actually have lost Oldenburg to the Netherlands and be happy to escape the war. During this war, the Empress will send 500D to the Netherlands in state gifts for assistance and in exchange, the daughter of a prominent member of the Dutch ruling class is married to an Austrian Archduke.
[does anyone know whether state gifts, personal gifts, or letters of introduction result in direct payments to the country you are sending them to? no one ever takes my loans, so this is the only way i know how to help non-allied AI countries]
In July of 1743, England begins a series of wars with the powers of India, the Mughal Empire and Hyderabad. These wars do not go well for King George, as the third world states manage to inflict severe defeats on England's colonial forces. Although England manages to extract 250D from Hyderabad in 1745, the Mughal Empire takes two English colonies as a result of the treaty signed in May of that same year.
The French have annexed their ally of Tuscany by 1745 as well, returning French power to Italy. France, in fact, has grown into Western Europe's most powerful nation, though whether such dominance is a threat to the Empress' position has yet to be seen. France and Austria enjoy very close relations, even if they are not allowed.
England declares war on the Netherlands in September of 1748, just before the conclusion of the Dutch war with Portugal's alliance. England's allies of the Hanseatic League, Venice, and the Iroquois join against Sweden and Hessen, but the allies play little role in the conflict. England's major move in Europe is a siege of Calais, that will result only in helping another nation. In May of 1749, King Louis of France sees an opportunity to end Dutch power and persuades Persia to declare war. With that, a Franco-Dutch war is triggered and the Netherlands is in serious trouble. The French raise over 92,000 men in northern France and join England's siege of Calais. France will assume command of this siege and Calais will fall to them very quickly. With the fall of Calais, France turns towards the main Dutch provinces and ultimately completely defeats the Dutch. France manages to extract Zeeland and Holland from the Hague in June of 1752. By this time, Imperial attention has become focused on yet another war with Poland.
In June of 1750, Empress Elizabeth declares war on Poland. The Russian Empire is now easily the strongest state in the region and, in fact, is probably one of the three major powers of Europe, along with Austria and France. The Czarina desires to completely destroy Poland, but Russian wars are always done in phases and this will be no exception. Maria Theresa fears a complete Polish collapse, and some in Austria are not anxious to enjoy a common frontier with their expansionist allies in the east. For this reason, Charles of Lorraine is ordered to lead his army from Eastern Prussia into Warsaw. 39,000 Austrians easily take the city by assault in August and then take Lithuania in September. There is talk of advancing into Pripet, which will prevent Russia from annexing any territory contiguous with Austria, but supply difficulties in the swamps rule this operation out. In November, 18,000 Poles are completely wiped out while attempting to drive Charles out of Lithuania. Charles withdraws from the province that winter, in order to enjoy better quarters in Konigsberg.
Russia continues the war from this point. After foolishly ordering all of her forces against Moldovia in 1750, the Empress is able to conduct real operations when that province falls in February of 1751. [why this happened is another bug. I'm sure of it. Some provinces attract AI armies. Helvetia, Tyrol, Moldovia. Its like moths to a bright light.] Russian forces now begin a systematic siege of Poland's remaining territories. Assault after assault results in Russian occupation of Mozyr, Pripet, Podolia, Krementjug, and the Ukraine by June. August III of Poland, having only two unoccupied provinces and no army, cedes Krementjug, Mozyr, and 250D to Russia and the war comes to an end. The Empress has no doubt that the Sibir pattern will be repeated here and that Russia will be at war with Poland again in 5 years.
