1630-1637 – Instability
The execution of Empress Francesca certainly stirred things up at court, for surely the execution of any royal was bound to cause controversy. Emperor Francesc did his best to minimize these effects, not wanting his wife’s death to threaten his own reign. He would spend much time cementing his position and moving on from the loss of his wife.
Even as things were stirred up at home, a potential threat presented itself in the east. Poland took two provinces from Wallachia, including the small nation’s only fort. This extended the border of Poland with Byzantium, increasing the threat of a northern invasion if it came to war.
There was still the matter of Nova Hispania as well. Rebels still ran rampant, with Portuguese nobles who lived in the north threatening the colonies. Unfortunately, the empire did not possess the manpower to handle such a threat, especially with the rebel threat in Byzantium, the latest being Hussites of all people trying to carve out an enclave in Anatolia. With the aid of the Exercit Athens, the Greeks dealt with that threat, although it did nothing to help Hispania’s manpower troubles.
The actions of Empress Francesca also greatly disrupted the noble families of the realm. Conflict arose over the decision, and Emperor Francesc had to intervene to settle an issue between two outspoken families. To make matters worse, Charcan Separatists rose up against Cusco’s reign. Instability was wracking the empire and its subjects.
Despite rebellion in the colonies, gold still arrived from Nova Hispania, greatly benefitting the home country.
Tuscany’s ambitions had not ended with Switzerland. With Venice vulnerable, a chance to expand in Italy was taken. With the aid of Savoy, the two Italian nations ganged up on the weaker third. It seemed likely that Venice would be losing land soon, and Tuscany would be growing that much stronger. With Hispania the only other major presence in Italy, it seemed likely their holdings may well be threatened in the future.
Long ago the court had expressed an interest in the Spice Islands, but that goal had long since been forgotten as matters in Europe became more pressing. It seemed likely such a goal would not be pursued for quite some time, if at all.
Before Felipé de Alvaro had become prime minister, he had crafted a plan as steward to construct trade depots all across the empire. The finished touches were taken on the last ones in Italy in June of 1631. Plans were being drafted up for more along the coastline of Iberia and then further into the interior. Within a decade or two, it was hoped that trade depots would exist in nearly every province in Iberia.
The Greeks tackled the rebel threat in Anatolia, handling the Ottoman Separatists in Kayseri. The Exercit Athens went to assist, but the rebels were scattered before the army arrived. Anatolia was calm once more, if for only awhile.
The Tunisians continued to meddle in Hispania’s Mediterranean provinces, sending spies to the Baleares with the hopes of eventually claiming the islands. The heathens were only stirring the hornets nest.
Despite the change in emperor, the plan put in place to persuade the Catalan people to adopt the Aragonese language and customs continued under Emperor Francesc. The late Emperor Pere had seemed adamant about the program, so Francesc felt it best to let it continue on in his name. Some argued that this was a blatant attempt at assimilation, but others pointed to the fact that the Catalan people had practically threatened the emperor with rebellion years ago.
Hawaii, the final resting place of two of Hispania’s most famous explorers, saw a steady intake of colonists, enough so that Colonist Eduard Villanova could consider his project a success and move on to other business. The Saint-Pierre family had expressed an interest in the island of Diego Garcia, so away the colonist went.
France had decided that its tolerance of Bar’s existence had come to an end. The French declared war on the tiny nation within their borders. Bar was not alone, and dragged in several small states seemingly to their doom. The utter defeat of Bar’s army within the first month of the war set the mood for what was to come. What did come as a surprise was France sending a call-to-arms to Hispania. Emperor Francesc felt that the French had things well in hands and did not require Hispania’s aid, but it seemed a simple gesture to accept and please their ally. Thus Hispania entered the war alongside the French, sealing the fate of all those who opposed the two juggernauts.
Right away Emperor Francesc expressed a desire for Hispania’s involvement to be only token at best. The manpower issue was still a problem, so getting engaged in any battles would not help the empire. The Exercits Valencia and Provence were sent north to besiege Bar to allow the French free reign to focus on wiping out any enemy forces. The Hispanian fleet was stationed out in the Straits of Gibraltar to keep the Mediterranean free of threats, although the enemy possessed little in the way of naval forces. Other than that, no other involvement was required.
The French went to work quickly taking out an enemy force in Luxemburg. They struck quickly, scattering the enemy force and devastating their cavalry. King Louis XVI de Valois led his forces into battle himself.
Across the seas, Cusco continued to deal with separatist movements, but the native nation had been provided with the resources necessary to put down such revolts thanks to their overlord. Nearby, Nueva Granada had a significant military presence. Thus Chancellor Petros Mandromenos, using a plan drafted up by the co-chancellors during Pere’s reign, initiated a war with Quito, what remained of the coalition opposed to Cusco. Nueva Granada and Cusco were given explicit instructions to handle the threat themselves, with the land going to the colony. It was time to test the might of the colonies.
Mainz was becoming a bigger player in imperial politics as they took a province from Trier and expanded their domain. Of course they seemed a small fry next to France, who crushed another enemy army without mercy.
The rebellions in Nova Hispania were becoming worse and worse, to the point that they could not be ignored. General Almudena Hashem was given command of the Exercit Africa and sent overseas, charged with crushing the rebellions before the colonial nation could succumb.
The Trans-Atlantic Trading Company was having trouble with trade in West Africa. The region had stagnated, for Hispania had not expanded or focused on the area for some time. This wasn’t a problem for the Crown though, so the trading company was left to solve its own problems.
The French were having little difficult dispatching enemy armies in the region. Some of the enemies suspected that Hispanian support was the key, despite no Hispanian troops in the battle. It was a clear sign that Hispania’s army was renowned for its quality.
After Tver’s surprising victory against Muscovy, Lithuania took an opportunity to pounce on the small nation before they could recover. In an act of aggression, they annexed the state and extended Lithuania’s holdings well into the north. Lithuania was becoming a large threat that overshadowed its neighbours, and it seemed likely a conflict with the equally large Sweden would occur some time soon.
Several influential figures from Palermo approached the emperor with concerns about their lord, Duke Louis François de Montségur. It was well known that the duke was actively encouraging the Protestant faith in his lands, something permitted by the law, but this was negatively affecting the Catholic population. Many Catholic merchants found their Protestant competitors receiving favoured treatment and the whole Catholic community was being pushed to the sidelines. They wanted something done about the duke’s behaviour, preferably some measures taken to protect and even strengthen the Catholic presence in Sicily. This plea fell on deaf ears. Emperor Francesc stated that the duke was well within his rights to follow his faith and encourage others to do so as well. This decision did not please many of the Catholics of Palermo, with many of them moving to Naples or Sardinia. The emperor did not let the duke get away completely unscathed from the matter though, requesting that recruits from Sicily be drafted for the army at Duke Montségur’s discretion to solve the manpower issue.
The defeat of an earlier law to allow only nobles to serve as generals emboldened the common soldier to aspire to leadership, believing that with hard work they could rise in the ranks and lead Hispania’s armies. Hispania did have a tradition of letting those without noble titles lead men in battle, and perhaps this innovative idea favoured the empire. This also extended to the administration, where those not of noble blood were able to find positions working for the Crown. If properly educated, they could do just as well as nobles, and usually were willing to work for less pay too, an added bonus.
In August of 1632, General Almudena Hashem landed in Nova Hispania and worked his way south along the coastline, retaking provinces from the rebels as he went.
The first peace of the war against Bar was settled, with Flanders forced to pay an indemnity to France. Hispania only received a minor share, but their contribution had been minor so far anyway.
With more men filtering into the army’s ranks, the expansion of the army proposed by Emperor Pere before his passing could be carried out. Artillery regiments were recruited in the heart of Aragon, ready to be sent out in groups of 3k to bolster the existing armies. The effort was expected to take a few years, but at its end every Hispanian army would possess 6k artillery instead of 3k.
While the TATC faced difficulty in West Africa, they found much greater success in the east. The colonies in the Indian Ocean were serving well to filter trade in from India and beyond along the African coast.
In September, Bar fell to General Montségur’s army and the province was handed over to the French to deal with. The two Hispanian armies were ordered home, their job done in this war. France could handle everything else.
By the end of 1632, General Hashem had liberated most of Nova Hispania from rebel occupation, but the armies still remained. One bold group attempted to attack one of his forces while they were separated, but soon learned the folly of that decision. Once his army was reunited, he sought out the last remaining rebel army and eradicated that threat.
The end of 1632 also brought sad news from Byzantium. Empress Dowager Clara, who had returned to Greece to live out her life in peace after the attempt on her life, had passed away. A grand funeral was held, and much to the protest of the Greek royal family, Emperor Francesc had her body interred next to her brother in Valencia.
France settled yet another peace, this time annexing the small nation of Hainaut, one of three nations trapped within its borders. It was hoped that Bar would be annexed soon so that this war could be ended. This became even more pressing when a small army of Cleves’s, with Saxony’s assistance, managed to sneak through Savoy and take Albenga without notice. The Exercit Provence swooped in before they could escape and made them regret the decision to make a move on Hispania.
Alsace was the next to leave the war, renouncing their claims on Lothringen. A bit further north, Frankfurt asserted its dominance by taking land from Aachen and establishing itself as another potential power player in the small backyard of the Holy Roman Empire.
Nueva Granada and Cusco did a fine job dispatching Quito with little trouble. The colonies had proven their worth. Quito’s land was given to Nueva Granada, but not before their leader was forced to agree to renounce all claims on their former land held by Cusco.
In June of 1633, King Louis XVI passed away from wounds sustained while leading his troops against France’s enemies. His brother, also named Louis, ascended to the throne as Louis XVII. The new king’s first act was to force Cleves to pay France a hefty piece of their annual income.
In August of 1633, the last rebel stronghold was rooted out in Nova Hispania and General Hashem was set to go home. However, the moment he left port, a peasant revolt sparked in Mexico. The general landed and marched on the colonial capital, none to pleased at having to return so quickly. The peasants though lacked organization and were crushed fairly easily. Now the general could truly return home.
Back in Europe, King Louis XVII called an end to the war by completing what his brother started. Bar was annexed, removing one minor problem of the French.
Another royal death occurred in 1633 with the passing of Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria. The crown passed on to his son Georg, whose sister happened to be married to Crown Prince Ferran. King Louis XVII of France also produced an heir during the same year, securing succession and adding another Louis to the family.
The balance of power in the east continued to shift as Muscovy found itself practically dismantled at the hands of Kazan. The steppe nation conquered most of the Russian nation’s eastern lands, extending its territory from the Caspian to the White Sea. So many potential threats in the east to consider. This became even more pressing as the Swedish and Lithuanian behemoths went at each other, with Poland and Hungary going along for the ride. The very face of Eastern Europe could well change as a result of this.
The face of Italy though was to change first. Tuscany only took one province though, focusing on Milan. They also made Venice set Bosnia free, a tiny nation likely to be annexed by Hungary or Serbia soon. Tuscany was getting far too bold.
The colony in Kumeyaay reached completion, giving Hispania a more northern presence on the west coast of North America. Colonial efforts were shifted across the Pacific, with a colony established in Eora in the island called Australia.
In a bold move, the Irish nation of Tyrone declared war on the much bigger Great Britain, their goal clearly to unify Ireland. It seemed a foolish move to attack a much larger target, but not until their ally was considered. Tyrone had managed to call France to their aid, while Great Britain had Tuscany backing them up. It seemed likely that France would crush Tuscany if given the chance, but how they’d do against Great Britain was questionable. The British fleet might present a problem.
Granting the merchants free reign at times had a downside. Without proper protection, some merchants inevitably failed. The Crown saw this as unavoidable and expected its merchants to adapt.
Speaking of adapting, the military was in need of another reform. The Swedes had been utilizing a narrower and more rectangular formation in their war with Lithuania, one that allowed for greater musket fire. Designs of an even more impress fortification, the star fort, were devised as well. Adopting these new designs for the army would help greatly.
Reports came in from France. Tuscany had made a daring push into French land. While denied outside Savoie, a push into Lothringen actually managed to make ground due to the loss of the French general in battle. However, Tuscany pushed its luck and found itself hunted down and forced from France.
It was also around this time that the first major breakthroughs against the Catalans came to light. The people of the Baleares and Girona now mostly spoke Aragonese and had started adopting their ways. Urgell soon followed. More successes would be achieved over the next few years.
The colony in Carmen came to completion and colonial efforts were shifted south to focus on San Antonio as a Crown colony. It was hoped that soon a colonial administration could be established for the region.
With the protection of all Christian faiths, a new harmony was found as each sect built great cathedrals dedicated to God. However, this did not mean that religion took a strong position in government. There were those that believed another cardinal on the council would be of great benefit. After all, the last prime minister had been the pope and had been respected by all. Despite this sentiment, Emperor Francesc showed no inclination to allow any member of the Church on the council.
The French continued to make gains against the Tuscans as they pushed into northern Tuscany.
Innovations were made in the navy to keep up with the army. Galleons were redesigned with fewer decks to allow for greater manoeuvrability. Similar design adjustments were made to the frigates as well. Plans were also drafted for greater shipyards to construct these warships.
Emperor Francesc arranged a meeting with Emperor Konstantinos XII of Byzantium, his son-in-law, after the passing of the man’s brother and was surprised when the Greek suggested the two pray together. He dismissed that idea out of hand, wanting to get right down to business rather than getting distracted by such things.
Hispania’s support of intellectuals continued to pay off. The Crown’s economic and administrative advisor wrote about a concept known as the “invisible hand”, an idea related to laissez-faire economics, and one that aided the Crown’s economic efforts.
The Tuscan tried to force the French out of northern Italy, only to be rebuffed. The French could not be dismissed so easily. Truly, they were the only thing keeping the war going, for the British had already managed to occupy all of Tyrone.
Another nation ceased to exist as Brandenburg annexed Luneburg.
Colonists in some minor colony somewhere dumped some tea into the harbour, although few at court paid any attention to it.
Near the end of 1636, Emperor Francesc ordered all the galleons in the main fleet to be re-outfitted as war galleons. The trade fleets were still outdated, but this was the first step to improvement.
France’s efforts against Tuscany paid off as Tyrone forced to pay war reparations to get the French off their back. This had also conveniently weakened Tuscany, making them quite vulnerable to attack. Perhaps the time to strike was now.
Presenting His Imperial Highness, Francesc I de Trastámara, Emperor of Hispania, Caesar of Rome, and Protector of the Greeks.
It seems that the instability of the last few years has finally started to come to an end. The rebellions against our subjects and colonies have been dealt with quite nicely. I also applaud our French allies for weakening the Tuscan threat that spreads throughout Italy with little holding them back. They have made our work that much easier.
I have also started looking eastward. India is an untapped market, and perhaps it would be wise for the Crown to establish a trade presence in the area. I am certain most of you will see the wisdom of expanding our trade presence there.
((Well that update went rather smoothly. Lots of royals dying everywhere. I’m just glad I was able to play more than a year. Anyway, ministers have until Monday at 12PM PST to post their plans. Players may also present laws or proposals in that time. We also can found the East India Trading Company. I’ll probably try to form it as a Crown company to give us another merchant position at court, but we’ll see. Also, if anyone still wants to IC their perspective of Francesca’s execution, feel free to do so as long as you label the post as having occurred in 1630.
Pensioners:
@Duke Dan "the Man"
@Robban204
@ThePatriotOfDreumel
@DaDerpyDude
))