1535-1550: Consolidation of Habsburg power and on the barricades for the faith
With the gold flowing in from the New World the two factions argued heavily each for the glorious Emperor Carlos I to spend it on their causes. The bankers of Andalusia wanted it to be invested in further colonial expansion and consolidation of the existing colonial empire, the aristocrats centred in Toledo wanted to see forts in Europe expanded to prepare for upcoming wars they wanted to wage for the completion of the unification of the Lowlands that was wanted by them and also the addition of Béarn that belonged to the title King of Navarra Carlos held.
Carlos, wise as he was, saw partly to both their needs and then focused on his own, keeping his realm in relative peace for yet another decade. Further expansion was achieved in the north of America by Cortés as he conquered the tribes of the Shawnee, Iroquois and Dakota and already establish colonies were built up to full cities with walls included. In Europe various forts were constructed and plans were being made for the invasion of Friesland. Most resources went towards the plans of the Banker faction but then Cortés, virrey of Nueva España was the man with Carlos’s ear while the aristocratic faction was in dire need of a strong leader.
The plans Carlos had on his own still revolved heavily around the ever increasing threat that was the Ottoman Empire. They had annexed their way across North Africa up to the Spanish holdings in Fez and Oran, they had beaten down the Persians, taken over Iraq, and force converted them, they were eyeing Vienna but most of all were looking to get into West Africa now. Carlos I had already recently managed to regain the lost Moroccon lands for Portugal from Algiers but now the Sultan himself looked to interfere with these matters. These moves had to be halted at all costs!
Still, war was not here yet, the two strongest empires in the world still had other business to attend to and preparations to make seeing how strong each empire was. Though infidels, their military might was great and their empire rich. Carlos understood why they dubbed Süleyman the Magnificent. However magnanimous he was not as when he sieged the island of Rhodes and then successfully captured it, he tried slaying all these valiant Knights. Luckily most managed to escape to Naples with help from the new governor there, an up and coming nobleman general and statesman who also happened to be a staunch catholic. They would fight on by his side for the faith.
Now the Pope did not accept this fact as he ordered the Knights to come and serve him. It was well known that the Pope wanted even more temporal power in Italy and that he had laid claims to the Republic of Tuscany. However grateful and true to their word as the Knights were, they decided to remain in Naples at the side of Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the Duke of Alva. The Duke was unhappy as a catholic that the Holy Father rather spent time expanding his personal wealth then act in force against the new protestant tide. Harsh words were exchanged. Some uneasiness ensued but nothing came of it, it seemed …
The protestant threat had become a reality by now. One for one former catholic kingdoms fell to the dark side. Sweden, Denmark, Brandenburg, Saxony, … At least England remained catholic thanks to missionaries funded by Spanish loans. Even the people of London were converted back! That Protestantism also spread in the Holy Roman Empire especially was a thorn in the eye of the Emperor however he had left it up to his brother Ferdinand to take care of matters there even though it seemed he was more interested in hunting and lifting women skirts. This situation couldn’t last …
Especially as he also had managed to let France increase their influence. France had regained Calais easily from England and had managed to beat Austria in a war to keep Lorraine as a vassal and a loss for the HRE. While France was at least kept out of Italy apart from Savoye, Austrian influence in Italy was by now non-existant. Luckily our ally Venice managed to set up a Republican League to at least exert some control over that area. In Germany electors were running wild, measures would soon have to be taken at this rate …
Because of the daring act that was the rescue of the Knights, the King decided to now grant Alva and the aristocrat faction its wish to add the realm of Friesland to the Empire. The recently popped up herecies of Calvinism in amongst others the Netherlands were an extra element in the decision making of the King, one that was very much liked by the fanatically religious Alva. Alva, chosen as leader by the noblemen in Toledo, prepared to embark for Friesland to lead the campaign when the Pope himself for some reason objected to this smackdown of these heretics and declared war upon Naples!
This pope, Paulus III, had never been a solid diplomat but now he had gone too far. Alva let the annexation of Friesland to local commanders and set forth for Roma. This pope had to be reminded off his duties and made clear that petty personal issues should not interfere with those. The Knights Alva rescued from Rhodes joined in his cause. As Alva also was an awesome military commander, the papal armies didn’t stand a chance, Rome soon had fallen to the armies of Alva.
Even though the pope would have xurely deserved this punishment, Alva personally, aided by the Knights, stopped his soldiers from sacking the Eternal City. He received a small fortune from the Pope himself for this effort out of gratitude. Alva gave the money to the Knights. Military access for the future was also granted to Spanish troops. The pope realised he had strayed from the righteous path. Alva urged him to take a much harsher stand against Protestantism and ordered for a Spanish style Inquisition to be installed in Rome. The Pope started a Council in Trent to discuss this fightback against the protestant wave over Europe. A Counterreformation was in the making, just like Alva wanted.
Friesland meanwhile was subdued and vassalized. Alva was not exactly happy with this, ruthless as he was, but he had left it to local commanders while he was occupied in Roma. Now however Gelre, recently annexed by the protestants of Oldenburg, would form his next target. The Emperor wanted it so. With Cortés having died a few years ago, the Caribbean being named the Cortesinas as a tribute, Alva had in a few years managed to become the primary influence on the King. Even though Alva was a nobleman in heart and soul, he also was totally devoted to absolutism and thus devotedly loyal to his King. Carlos I thus was extremely happy with his new right hand man.
However, before Alva could even leave Rome and set sail for the Lowlands, the Turkish threat had finally materialised! A declaration of war was dispensed under the form of the partially sinking of the fleet that was under way to pick up Alva, a most dastardly act! Süleyman himself started sieges in Spanish North Africa and quickly proved successful, he was an extremely able commander as we all know. Meanwhile the Spanish general was separated from the action in Italy …
The Turks had clearly finally seen the light on the need of a large navy and had embarked upon a huge naval build scheme. The navy that upended the heavily escorted Spanish transport fleet was huge in size. The shipyard in Andalusia instantly started building more and more ships. The Spanish navy was already big but the money was there to build even more. The Turkish navy now equalled the Spanish Mediterranean fleet in size, this was not to last! We did not call in the help of our Holy League allies Venice and Portugal as they were not prepared for war and didn’t want them to endure this duress.
Meanwhile Alva and the Knights were smuggled to Spain from a harbour in Emilia to Barcelona from which he then moved quickly to Granada to take command of the Spanish armies. By now the whole of North Africa was under Turkish control but before Alva could land to fight back, the seas had to be controlled. Though a first very big naval encounter was lost a 2nd was won and passing from Gibraltar to Tangiers was secured. The Turkish navy still large in size never seriously threatened again after the built up Spanish fleet engaged it in the largest naval battle ever in which Spain lost 74 galleys and the Turks 94. 164 vessels lost in one battle in an age where most nations could only dream of such a fleet!
After the steady regaining of the upper hand on the seas, the time was now ripe for Alva to start a counterinvasion. Aristocrats turned up in number to support the cause whereas peasants were somewhat less enthusiast to die in the sands for some muslims. Their performance and morale would be lacking in battle and Alva would have to see to that after the war. They also didn’t see the strategic importance of the province of Fez, the gateway to West Africa but well, what was to be expected from lowly peasants? Successes came on both sides, the Sultan’s Janissaries proving to be a fearsome foe while the cavalry had overtaken the tercios as the main weapon of the Spanish army. Alva of course was an excellent shock leader and the aristocrats were most willing to die for him in battle.
However as could be expected beforehand when two such empires met on the battlefield, neither side really could get the upper hand. After 5 years of heavy fighting and with Russians looming in the Caucasus and the French assembling by the Pyrenées, common sense prevailed and the Spanish and Turkish leaders met to negotiate and end this stalemate. A status quo was decided when it came to territory and Spain would pay 400 ducats for the expenses made by the Sultan for hosting the peace conference in Tunis.
This war had made several things clear to Carlos. His son and successor would be able to rely on very solid help in his first years of ruling in the person of Alva. Somewhat exhausted by managing such a large empire for so long he now considered abdicating in favour of his son who now was close to reaching a ripe age to rule such an empire. Alva would stand firmly by his side and he would also always still be there to give advice. However, what to do with the HRE lands?
Also realised was the fact that the plutocrats and aristocrats working together achieved more than when fighting each other. Keeping them in one league would prove to be a difficult but rewarding task for any future king. The combination of the ships provided by the Sevillan bankers out of their shipyard and the many cavalry units supplied by the aristocrats had proven to be successful and serving the goals of both factions. However, with Alva in charge, the nobility for now had an upper hand and were looking to even increase that position. However some good news was also there for the merchants as the means to establish and uphold an embargo system were developed. Spanish colonial goods now definitely were secured for them and them alone.
Alva was feasted in Toledo by the King, his position now firmly secure. As a reward for the performances rendered by the Knights and so that they could continue their fight for Christianity, Alva and the King decided to rant them the island of Malta for them to build another stronghold and bulwark against the heathen Turk. After that had been decided Alva set sail for the Lowlands and Gelre in specific. With Alva on his way, tensions at protestants courts all over the Holy Roman Empire rose significantly …
Carlos I, por la gracia de Dios, Emperador del Sacro Imperio Romano Germánico, Rey de Castilla, de León, de Aragón, de las dos Sicilias, de Jerusalén, de Navarra, de Granada, de Toledo, de Valencia, de Galicia, de Mallorca, de Menorca, de Sevilla, de Cerdeña, de Córdoba, de Córcega, de Murcia, de Jaén, del Algarve, de Algeciras, de Gibraltar, de las Islas Canarias, de las Indias Orientales y Occidentales, de las Islas y Tierrafirme del Continente Oceánico, Archiduque de Austria, Duque de Borgoña, de Brabante y de Milán, Conde de Abspurg, de Flandes, del Tirol y de Barcelona, Señor de Vizcaya y de Molina.
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