Chapter 1: The fight over the supremacy of The Netherlands
A Brabant/Dutch AAR
Peace, War, and a New World
The Quest for the New-World
Hey, I just got an idea, lets cross the ocean, maybe we’ll find a new world!
It was obvious that the Duke was after the newly found lands in the west that the English found a couple of years before. It wasn’t long until he ordered all researches to be directed towards Naval Technology and Exploration. The Glorious Duke Antoine I promoted Admiral Orland Albers to leader of the Zeeland Expedition.
The Zeeland expedition in port, just before the 1st Expedition
The 1st Zeeland Expedition left port in the 19th of January, 1465. His route was to reach the Portuguese Island of the Azores, which the King of Portugal accepted Naval Access. After that, he sailed westward, to the unknown... In early spring, his first ever expedition would pay off. He was the first Dutch and the second European to reach the New-World. He named this land New-Netherlands.
The New-Netherlands!
Admiral Albers personally landed on what the natives called Manhattan Island. Not only he discovered and claimed new land for the Glorious Duke, it was true that some “Native People” lived there. The crew traded some resources for furs. Furs were beginning to become scarce since the European Beaver was close to extinction. He knew that on his return, Antoine would be very happy with the discoveries. He left this new world to return to the Glorious Duchy. He would discover a deserted Island in the middle of the ocean, between the New-Netherlands and The Azores. He mapped the island and thought its emplacement was of great strategic value.
Sadly, a year after his expedition, he died for unknown reasons. Admiral Orland Albers the Explorer will remain in Dutch history as the first Dutch to sail across the Western Ocean.
5 years later, War!
To arms men, we attack at dawn!
In January, 1470, The small Duchy of Holland, puppet of the King of Aragon, declared that the region of the Netherlands was theirs and they proclaimed himself as the King of the Netherlands. What he didn’t know is that it conflicted with Brabant’s own claim of 1400. This meant War for Antoine I. Only some days later, Antoine I of Brabant declared war of the Duchy of Holland. Antoine led his army toward Amsterdam. The war would only last days as the Duke of Holland accepted annexation. The Count of Zeeland became the Duke of Holland. Holland was conquered by Brabant.
Holland is officially part of Brabant
Antoine was happy. He had claims on the New-World, he was the most powerful nation in the Netherlands. Only 2 bishoprics was on his war on a United Netherlands, Utrecht and Liège, the latter expanded after rebels in Vallenciennes defected to the Bishop. But sadly, he was getting old.
All hail Guillaume I, Duke of Brabant!
After a rule of almost 24 years, the aged duke died. His son, Guillaume I became the Glorious Duke of Brabant. Sadly, his tutors could not make him a strong leader, a good diplomat, or a good administrator. Hopefully, ruling this Glorious Duchy will make him a Duke to be remembered by future generations. 2 years later, his military strength would be tested.
Nobody seems to like the French besides us...
The French-Aragonese War of 1479 began. Guillaume hoped that with this war, he could capture The Azores, which would greatly help with the explorations of the New-World. The Jägers van Brussels were sent to the Azores. The Ducal Fleet transported them successfully until they were close to the Portuguese coast. The expedition lost 3 carracks and 1 cog on 5 carracks and 5 cogs used (there were 4,000 men in the cogs). The fleet eventually reached the Azores, where the Battle of the Azores began. The Dutch army were victorious in capturing the Island after a very bloody battle that lasted for days. Sadly, the cost was useless. The cowardly French Emperor decided that he had lost the war. We would gain nothing at all. The duke was so outraged that the French Emperor promised pay for the damages during the war. Since the Fleet was in a bad shape, the Army was left there while the fleet returned to Brugges, where they found out that there were 6 privateers blockading Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre. For now, they couldn’t do anything about it until the Duchy recovered from the war.
Decades of peace in the Duchy
After the costly war, there was almost three decades of peace. With occasional wars that never spread to the Duchy. Even so, by 1497, the Duchy still hadn’t recovered yet and was a bit unstable. Guillaume I had to do something unless he would become the worst duke of Brabant...
The Netherlands in the year of our Lord 1497
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Accomplishments of the Glorious Duchy, 1458 to 1497
-Found and claimed New Lands (New-Netherlands)
-Conquered Holland
-Adopted QFTNW without changing a NI
-Became Elector (not mentioned, I forgot when it happened)
-Rest of the Duchy joined the Holy Roman Empire
Current Mission: Conquer Liège
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