1700-1706 – A New Century
Hispania’s trading empire had grown tremendously over the centuries, from a Mediterranean focused one to a global empire. Such an extensive system required great difficulty managing it, and it was Grandmaster Sancho de Burgundy-Ivrea-Orange who was tasked with doing just that. At the prodding of the emperor, he reorganized the Crown’s merchants to best serve the empire, sending the most experience merchants to the most important trade zones. There were a few months where Hispania’s trade income dropped drastically, but it returned to normal soon enough. ((I decided to reassign all our merchants so that the ones on top of the list are in the more important nodes, as according to the grandmaster’s list. This way, if we temporarily lose a merchant, it will be one in a less important trade zone.))
With a new plan to claim Mutapa’s coastline, the Flota Colonial turned back around to secure the Exercit Athens for transport. It was also around this time that that army was given a new name. Seeing as it was no longer stationed in Athens and the army was more needed for the defence of Africa, what with Byzantium able to protect the small Greek territories of Hispania, the army was renamed the Exercit Africa.
Poland’s ambitions did not stop as it captured a province from Frankfurt, extending its presence further into the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. A few months later, they did the same with Pomerania, and even managed to force Lithuania to hand over two provinces. This caused a drastic change in international relations. While once Lithuania had seen Poland as an ally, now they were their greatest rival. It was quite a surprise when a message arrived from Lithuania in Valencia expressing a wish to normalize relations. Hispania was apparently too far away compared to the more nearby threats to bother with.
The army reforms had made it much easier to find willing recruits for the army. With a little financial incentive, even more could be convinced to join, even in the farthest parts of the empire like Africa.
Across the Atlantic, French Louisiana pressed further east by conquering land from Creek, giving it a border with the Thirteen Colonies, a British colonial nation.
A minor crisis broke out in Byzantium as a group of disgruntled peasants, led by local burghers and military officers, rose up in Achaea. The Exercit Africa had not been deployed yet, so it was rerouted to Athens and then marched on Achaea, mostly to ensure the rebel force did not go after Athens. It was not a terribly difficult battle, and the rebels were scattered after almost two weeks of on-and-off fighting.
The grandmaster’s reorganizing of Hispania’s trade networks did have one great advantage. Greater focus was given to Asia, allowing for an influx of goods to flow in along the East Indian trade route. Hispania found itself with a near monopoly on these foreign goods in Europe, although France was making headway into the region. The goods that brought in the most wealth were spices, seeing their prices rise and Hispania take in the bulk of the revenue. But, of course, Hispania could not just sit on its successes. Another 8 trade ships were placed under construction, later extended to 10, which were assigned to Sevilla until a better location could be found.
The Trans-Atlantic Trading Company broached the topic of further expansion in East Africa to improve its competitive edge in the region. Seeing as Chancellor Félicien Pierre de Montségur had already made plans to connect Hispania’s East African territory through war with Mutapa, it was not a difficult request to agree to. Emperor Joan III promised the TATC that the province of Madanda would be secured for them.
With funds secured from Hispania’s growing trade presence, the first of several universities listed under the Civil Service Act could be constructed. Navarra, Madrid, and Lisboa received the first ones, followed by Leon and Granada and then the various provinces in Italy and Greece. It was expected that they would all be complete within a decade.
It seemed that revolution was on the mind of many people in 1700. Revolutionaries rose up against the Vatican, requiring the Exercit Napoli to intervene. The Papal forces were greatly outnumbered, but it did not take long for Hispanian troops to arrive and end the rebellion once and for all.
In September, the Mamluks decided to reform the state. They had managed to avoid war with Hispania for decades, and in that time had managed to expand into North Africa and Arabia. They looked to the future with ambition, but the state needed to catch up. Thus the country underwent extensive changes, the most noticeable from afar being the change in name. Centralizing power in Cairo, the nation of Egypt was thus born.
Despite tensions with the colonies, Didac de Alagon managed to weasel every last ducat out of them through tariffs. This was proving to greatly benefit Hispania, which was quite stable for a global empire. This made up for the loss of military advisor Ferran Amic, who was replaced by his second-hand man, Jeroni d’Empuries.
While Hispania had not used mercenaries in well over a century, it was always nice to have a backup plan. Agreements were drafted up with some notable mercenary companies, ensuring there was always someone that could be called upon during dire times if manpower became low.
The efforts by the Crown to secure Florida Blance for Nuevo Leon were a great success. This sign of Crown support for colonial efforts saw a growing influx of settlers moving to the colonies.
While the vast amount of wealth coming in from the colonies was great for Hispania in the short term, it was having some long lasting effect, in particular regarding gold from Nova Hispania and Cusco. With the arrival of each treasure fleet, more gold and silver found its way into the economy, and thus larger amounts of currency were spread throughout the empire. This caused inflation, something that had usually been kept in check, but as of late had been allowed to rise above 5%. While rising prices were not a great burden to Hispania yet, it was starting to be felt. Emperor Joan thus made a recommendation that the treasury store up some extra currency reserves for the time being, at least until inflation had deflated a bit. ((Picked a mission to hoard 2000 ducats that lowers inflation for us. Such an easy mission.
))
Despite potential financial troubles and colonial disagreements, that did not stop tariffs from being raised when they could, this time on wool from Cusco.
Saxony experienced a breakthrough as an alchemist in their country discovered how to make porcelain, a secret until now kept by the Far East.
Relations with the Papal State had slowly recovered over the years, but they took another nosedive as the current pope requested that Urbino be returned to them as a sign of good faith. Despite Joan’s willingness to negotiate with the Papal State over matters, he outright refused to hand over any land to them, seeing as that would violate the treaty the two powers had signed. Urbino would remain in Hispania’s hands.
Chancellor Montségur, while waiting for troops to arrive in East Africa, put pressure on Morocco to cede the province of Dahra, a strip of land on the Mediterranean standing between Hispania’s two North African territories. As usual, the African nation cowered at the possibility of war with Hispania and handed over the province without a fuss.
Elsewhere in Africa, Sweden made an unexpected appearance in Luanda on Kongo’s border. Why the Swedes wanted anything to do with Africa was beyond anyone’s comprehension.
By September of 1701, the two armies were in place and war ready to be declared. Mutapa was about to face the might of Hispania.
The Exercit Africa, which had been stationed to the south preceding the declaration, marched north for Mutapa’s fort in the interior. The Exercit Colonial was trapped in the north, unable to proceed further south until they captured the fort at Lindi. The Exercit Africa did manage to force a fleet from port. The waiting Flota Colonial only managed to sink a single ship before the fleet fled to another safe port.
Beset from all sides, Yemen was forced to hand over several provinces on the Persian Gulf to Persia, as well as sell out their ally Baluchistan.
Mutapa’s army made an appearance near the end of the year, reclaiming the coast and then marching on the fort at Angoche. The Exercit Africa held off on attacking them, waiting to capture the interior fort first.
Some minor noble families had moved to Africa and found themselves right near the war theatre. Two such houses squabbled with each other, trying to benefit the most from the current war. The emperor did his best not to get involved in their petty dispute, letting them fight it out over some African land that would end up dominated by the TATC anyway.
Mali used Hispania’s constant aggressive wars to foster separatism in Hispania’s West African provinces. It caused some dissent, but the region remained relatively calm. ((Our revolt risk is so low even +15 to unrest can’t get it above zero in those provinces.
))
Stockpiling cash reserves paid off, allowing time for inflation to lower, as well as providing plenty of funds for building projects. The last of many cathedrals were being put up, while training fields were being set up in a few key provinces across the empire.
Hispania’s humanist tendencies, whether towards its citizens or religion, was not being received well by its neighbours. Many were calling it a rogue state, and even its allies were showing concern. Perhaps it was time to roll things back. The nobility were already losing power in this changing system.
Yemen lost even more provinces, this time to Ethiopia, an embarrassing loss on their part.
In a turn of events, Zapotec found themselves outmatched by the tiny Kiche and lost most of their provinces, despite Kiche having been significantly smaller than them.
Manikya fell in October of 1702, giving Hispania freedom of movement in Mutapa’s heartland. Before the Exercit Africa could intervene against Mutapa’s army, they managed to capture Angoche, so the Hispanian army flittered around, capturing provinces while waiting to lure Mutapa into battle. It was during this time that Mutapa’s navy was forced from port yet again, and this time they did not escape.
A small Greek army landed in Mutapa and marched around capturing provinces, even managing to capture Zimbabwe, Mutapa’s capital.
A new settlement sprung up in Baiali, meaning more people to tax.
Lindi fell in March of 1703, and it was then that it became clear that Mutapa wanted to contest that, with their army heading north. The Exercit Africa could not intervene, not with the fort at Angoche blocking their way. The Exercit Colonial thus faced an army larger than their force with superior leadership, but better technology and tactics proved the greater. Mutapa’s army was driven from the field.
Mutapa’s army had only one way to run, and that was south. The Exercit Africa was already in Angoche trying to retake the fort, and thus blocking off the path south. Mutapa’s army ran right into them, and being already demoralized, was easily defeated.
The remainder of the enemy navy, which had been hiding in Mozambique, was forced out into open waters and sunk.
The colony at Florida Blanca was left to its own devices near the end of the year, with the colonist being hired by the Lübecker family to colonize Salinan.
By September, Angoche was retaken and nearly all of Mutapa had fallen. When the end of the year came around, peace could finally be settled. The remainder of Mutapa’s coastline was taken, connecting all of Hispania’s East African territory, as well as the single province the TATC showed interest in. While the possibility of expanding further inland existed, administrative resources were in short supply and it was believed to be too costly to manage such land as of yet. Regardless, Hispania now dominated the east coast.
The recent conquests of Hispania greatly upset Malindi, a tiny African state on the border of Hispania’s East African territory. They complained of Hispania harassing their merchants and demanded these issues be resolved. Not wanting to be pushed around by some insignificant African nation, the conflict was only escalated.
It had practically become tradition now for the emperor and the governor of Cusco to sit together and pray, for they were the only two leaders of countries that followed the Church of Jesus Christ.
Funds were set aside to upgrade the vast trading infrastructure of Hispania.
A new practice was being adopted of assigning new recruits and conscripts to garrison duty, providing them with basic training while also improving the nation’s defence.
With the completion of the colony in Santiago, resources were shifted south to Yareyu, blocking off the French from expanding north and connecting two parts of Nuevo Leon.
Yemen faced what was hopefully their last loss for some time, this time handing over land to Najd.
Cologne was making gains again, this time taking Limburg from Brabant. They had returned from the ashes to become a regional power. They later forced war reparations out of Gelre.
In early 1705 Archduke Georg II von Habsburg of Austria passed away, leaving his brother Albrecht on the throne. This also meant that Joan III’s eldest daughter was already a widow. She returned to Valencia after the funeral, husbandless, childless, and now in her 30s.
Persia polished off Gazikumukh, one of the few if only holdouts of Orthodox Christianity.
The colony of Turrbal in Australia reached completion. Colonist Sancho Villanova headed off to the Ivory Coast to settle a colony for the Saint-Pierre family.
In April, Austria declared war on Bohemia, the rivalry continuing between the two. Bohemia had few allies other than the insignificant Switzerland and rising Cologne, while Austria had ties with all the surrounding major powers. The question was which ones would they call upon.
Chancellor Montségur made use of the lauded technique of threatening war to convince Tunis to hand over Kabylia, leaving only a single province between the two halves of Hispania’s North African territory.
In June, Baiali became self-sustaining and it was decided that a colonial administration would be established for the region. At the recommendation of the prime minister, the colonial nation was called Nueva Sicilia.
Austria made the decision to make use of their alliance with France this time, shortly before Lucca took advantage of Switzerland’s weakness to pounce.
Presenting His Imperial Highness, Joan III de Trastámara, Emperor of Hispania, Caesar of Rome, and Protector of the Greeks.
The victory against Mutapa has secured much of East Africa for Hispania, which should hopefully allow the Trans-Atlantic Trading Company to dominate the region to our benefit. It seems a wise idea to expand off this success, perhaps showing Malindi that we will not tolerate insults. Of course, connecting our North African territory would be a good start.
It may also be time to reassess our relationship with the colonies. They have become strained at times, and as we have just seen, the vast wealth coming in from the New World can cause inflation to rise quite high if left unchecked. It is fortunate we are so prosperous or our empire would be in trouble. A lesser Hispania would not survive so easily.
It would also seem that some revolutionary sentiment exists in Rome and Greece. While the latter was easily contained, and Byzantium continues to cooperate well with us, it would seem that the Papal State is not content with their position. We may have to reassess our relationship with them. As for the rest of Italy, perhaps it is time to consider a move against Lucca. We may have to consult both France and Austria on this, for surely they both have their eyes on the region.
It has been quite some time since I’ve seen some fresh blood serving as generals in our army. Perhaps it is time that the marshal promotes some of the more qualified men serving underneath him to such positions.
((I apologize if this update seemed delayed. I wasn’t feeling too well when I went to write it an had to take a long break. Anyway, on to business. Ministers should post their plans by
Tuesday at 12PM PST, and players may propose laws in that time too. We also get to pick a new mission, so I’ll post those as well.
Pensioners:
@Duke Dan "the Man"
Dying:
@Jkonstantin
@delpiero1234
))
