The Prologue
The EU4 to Victoria 2 converter has been developing nicely, so I’ve decided to take my first completed EU4 playthrough in recent memory as an opportunity to try it out. I have added in a bit of nations, decisions and events from the NNM to give the converted mod a bit more flavor.
The Prologue
As 1836 dawns, House Hohenzollern strides the world like a colossus. Though no longer united by one crowned head, mighty France and magnificent Prussia are both ruled by Hohenzollern monarchs.
The tiny electorate of Brandenburg formed the Kingdom of Prussia in the 16th century following the establishment of the Protestant faith. Champions of the true religion, Prussia enforced Luther’s teachings at swordpoint upon the princes of the Holy Roman Empire, gaining the Imperial Crown in perpetuity.
A series of fruitful matches led to the inheritance of the Kingdom of Holland, coming with it rich colonial possessions in the Caribbean, Peru and Brazil, as well as for a time, the crown of France.
Following a bloody and futile attempt to establish a revolutionary regime in France, the aged (and childless) King Louis XVI bequeathed his kingdom to his nephew, Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia. His Spanish nephew, King Francisco II, started a disastrous war for the French throne that resulted in a series of minor kingdoms being carved from former Spanish lands.
Becoming a haven for fallen French revolutionaries, the Spanish Republic arose from the crippled Spanish kingdom. Though its 30 years of existence saw it make few territorial gains, the coalition war that led to the Altamiran Monarchical Restoration had great ramifications for the balance of power in Europe. Friedrich Wilhelm II agreed to the accession of his second son, Karl Friedrich, to the throne of France with a solemn promise that the kingdoms of France and Prussia would remain separate henceforth.
In 1836, Prussia is the world’s third greatest power close on the coattails of France and the United Kingdom. The Ottoman Empire, Russia, Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal round out the Great Eight.
A multi-ethnic empire, Prussia sees German citizens making up just over ¼ of its population. Farmers make up the bulk of the populace.
As with most states of the day, the Kingdom of Prussia still allows slavery in its colonial possessions
Map showing the larger Polish dominated areas making up the southeast of continental Prussia, as well as Dutch population in the west.
Prussia boasts strong relationships with most German princes as well as close ties with France and Russia (though wars against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century have shown Russian armies to largely be garbage).
The two puppets noted with the black eagle flags were client states setup by Prussia in EU4. The converter now has some pretty decent graphics converting so while simple versions of CoA selected in EU4, those are pretty similar to the flags they had prior to conversion.
The United Kingdom ‘united’ early with an England heavily focused on military aims. Such efforts allowed the UK to keep some of England’s continental possessions. While the English Civil War did result in a Parliamentary victory, Lord Protector Cromwell found the temptations of the Crown too much to handle, reverting the newly minted republic back to a monarchy.
Late to the colonial game, the UK still has much of the Atlantic seaboard of North America, a few colonial lands in Canada and its recent conquests in India.
Having studiously avoided the charms of the Reformation, the Catholic rulers of the United Kingdom have nevertheless, through the last couple centuries, pragmatically aligned themselves with Protestant Scandinavia, in order to curb Prussian militarism.
As one of the great Muslim success stories, the Ottomans have managed to hold their own against the European powers during the preceding centuries - now holding territories stretching from the Baltic to the Red Sea. Recent Prussian meddling resulted in Sultan Murad III being forced to sign a humiliating peace authorizing the independence of Bulgaria and Albania. Allied with Scandinavia, the Ottomans complete the tripartite pact to box the Prussians in.
While Russia is a behemoth stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific, it is well known to Prussian generals that the Russian army isn't worth its weight in, well, anything. Still with impressive manpower reserves, Russia has proven a useful ally to check Ottoman expansion.
The product of a rapacious Sweden (which forced the Norwegian monarchs to retreat to Iceland), Scandinavia was once one of Prussia’s greatest allies and instrumental in great victories over Poland, Lithuania and the battle against the Habsburgs for the Imperial Throne. Despite adopting the same faith as Prussia, Scandinavia spent the 18th century as one of Prussia’s most implacable enemies as the two fought for dominance of the Baltic Sea. Though finally ejected from the German coast, Scandinavia still hungrily eyes Prussia.
Spain is the most curious of the great powers as apart from the Spanish Revolution and the impressive conquest of North Africa, Spain has little to commend it. The colonization of the Americas took place not under the aegis of Spain but under financing from the independent kingdom of Castile. The latter established large colonies in Brazil, Mexico, Louisiana and Haiti before losing it all when the kingdom of Aragon formed Spain and forced the Castilian monarchs to flee Iberia. In exile in southern Africa, the Castilian monarchs regained their Iberian lands during the First War of French Succession. Too late though to keep hold of their American territories which had sprouted into independent nations.
Spain is allied with the final great power, Portugal, but is likely to lose all standing if its North African territories ever rise in rebellion.
Portugal made early pacts with the monarchs of Castile and Aragon, leaving it free to crusade in Morocco. Portugal’s colonial efforts were spent making profits in Chile, Australia and Indonesia - though the former two ungratefully rose against their monarch to form independent republics. Competing against its former colony, Portugal and Australia carved up much of Japan before the Shogunate fell into the Portuguese sphere of influence.
Map of North America showing the principal powers. California, Louisiana and the Empire of Mexico all offspring of Castile. The latter has thrown its hat in the ring for world status with conquests in India and a substantial bevy of claims on Japan. Britain still holds its American territories, while Prussia holds most of Canada. Tiny Vinland is a former colony of Norway.
Map of the situation in Central America. The combined might of the French and Prussian forces is the reason that France was able to hold onto its territories in Mexico and Colombia while virtually all other great powers were booted from the region. Mexico longs to unite its lands by taking French North America.
Southeast Asia carved up by Portugal, Russia, Australia (burgundy territories), France and surprisingly large Lan Xang.
Ming managed to beat back Mongol and Manchu invaders while Japan has fallen prey to Western powers
Western toeholds in India - Prussia in blue, Australia in burgundy, UK in red and Mexico in light green. Also displayed large uncivilized states of Delhi, Persia and Yarkand.
While not a great power, Austria is a secondary power to watch. Long an enemy of Prussia, the Catholic Habsburgs have proven resilient and continue to be numbered among Europe’s most tenacious dynasties.
The World’s Great and Secondary Powers on the eve of 1836
The Prologue
As 1836 dawns, House Hohenzollern strides the world like a colossus. Though no longer united by one crowned head, mighty France and magnificent Prussia are both ruled by Hohenzollern monarchs.
The tiny electorate of Brandenburg formed the Kingdom of Prussia in the 16th century following the establishment of the Protestant faith. Champions of the true religion, Prussia enforced Luther’s teachings at swordpoint upon the princes of the Holy Roman Empire, gaining the Imperial Crown in perpetuity.
A series of fruitful matches led to the inheritance of the Kingdom of Holland, coming with it rich colonial possessions in the Caribbean, Peru and Brazil, as well as for a time, the crown of France.
Following a bloody and futile attempt to establish a revolutionary regime in France, the aged (and childless) King Louis XVI bequeathed his kingdom to his nephew, Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia. His Spanish nephew, King Francisco II, started a disastrous war for the French throne that resulted in a series of minor kingdoms being carved from former Spanish lands.
Becoming a haven for fallen French revolutionaries, the Spanish Republic arose from the crippled Spanish kingdom. Though its 30 years of existence saw it make few territorial gains, the coalition war that led to the Altamiran Monarchical Restoration had great ramifications for the balance of power in Europe. Friedrich Wilhelm II agreed to the accession of his second son, Karl Friedrich, to the throne of France with a solemn promise that the kingdoms of France and Prussia would remain separate henceforth.
In 1836, Prussia is the world’s third greatest power close on the coattails of France and the United Kingdom. The Ottoman Empire, Russia, Scandinavia, Spain and Portugal round out the Great Eight.
A multi-ethnic empire, Prussia sees German citizens making up just over ¼ of its population. Farmers make up the bulk of the populace.
As with most states of the day, the Kingdom of Prussia still allows slavery in its colonial possessions
Map showing the larger Polish dominated areas making up the southeast of continental Prussia, as well as Dutch population in the west.
Prussia boasts strong relationships with most German princes as well as close ties with France and Russia (though wars against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century have shown Russian armies to largely be garbage).
The two puppets noted with the black eagle flags were client states setup by Prussia in EU4. The converter now has some pretty decent graphics converting so while simple versions of CoA selected in EU4, those are pretty similar to the flags they had prior to conversion.
The United Kingdom ‘united’ early with an England heavily focused on military aims. Such efforts allowed the UK to keep some of England’s continental possessions. While the English Civil War did result in a Parliamentary victory, Lord Protector Cromwell found the temptations of the Crown too much to handle, reverting the newly minted republic back to a monarchy.
Late to the colonial game, the UK still has much of the Atlantic seaboard of North America, a few colonial lands in Canada and its recent conquests in India.
Having studiously avoided the charms of the Reformation, the Catholic rulers of the United Kingdom have nevertheless, through the last couple centuries, pragmatically aligned themselves with Protestant Scandinavia, in order to curb Prussian militarism.
As one of the great Muslim success stories, the Ottomans have managed to hold their own against the European powers during the preceding centuries - now holding territories stretching from the Baltic to the Red Sea. Recent Prussian meddling resulted in Sultan Murad III being forced to sign a humiliating peace authorizing the independence of Bulgaria and Albania. Allied with Scandinavia, the Ottomans complete the tripartite pact to box the Prussians in.
While Russia is a behemoth stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific, it is well known to Prussian generals that the Russian army isn't worth its weight in, well, anything. Still with impressive manpower reserves, Russia has proven a useful ally to check Ottoman expansion.
The product of a rapacious Sweden (which forced the Norwegian monarchs to retreat to Iceland), Scandinavia was once one of Prussia’s greatest allies and instrumental in great victories over Poland, Lithuania and the battle against the Habsburgs for the Imperial Throne. Despite adopting the same faith as Prussia, Scandinavia spent the 18th century as one of Prussia’s most implacable enemies as the two fought for dominance of the Baltic Sea. Though finally ejected from the German coast, Scandinavia still hungrily eyes Prussia.
Spain is the most curious of the great powers as apart from the Spanish Revolution and the impressive conquest of North Africa, Spain has little to commend it. The colonization of the Americas took place not under the aegis of Spain but under financing from the independent kingdom of Castile. The latter established large colonies in Brazil, Mexico, Louisiana and Haiti before losing it all when the kingdom of Aragon formed Spain and forced the Castilian monarchs to flee Iberia. In exile in southern Africa, the Castilian monarchs regained their Iberian lands during the First War of French Succession. Too late though to keep hold of their American territories which had sprouted into independent nations.
Spain is allied with the final great power, Portugal, but is likely to lose all standing if its North African territories ever rise in rebellion.
Portugal made early pacts with the monarchs of Castile and Aragon, leaving it free to crusade in Morocco. Portugal’s colonial efforts were spent making profits in Chile, Australia and Indonesia - though the former two ungratefully rose against their monarch to form independent republics. Competing against its former colony, Portugal and Australia carved up much of Japan before the Shogunate fell into the Portuguese sphere of influence.
Map of North America showing the principal powers. California, Louisiana and the Empire of Mexico all offspring of Castile. The latter has thrown its hat in the ring for world status with conquests in India and a substantial bevy of claims on Japan. Britain still holds its American territories, while Prussia holds most of Canada. Tiny Vinland is a former colony of Norway.
Map of the situation in Central America. The combined might of the French and Prussian forces is the reason that France was able to hold onto its territories in Mexico and Colombia while virtually all other great powers were booted from the region. Mexico longs to unite its lands by taking French North America.
Southeast Asia carved up by Portugal, Russia, Australia (burgundy territories), France and surprisingly large Lan Xang.
Ming managed to beat back Mongol and Manchu invaders while Japan has fallen prey to Western powers
Western toeholds in India - Prussia in blue, Australia in burgundy, UK in red and Mexico in light green. Also displayed large uncivilized states of Delhi, Persia and Yarkand.
While not a great power, Austria is a secondary power to watch. Long an enemy of Prussia, the Catholic Habsburgs have proven resilient and continue to be numbered among Europe’s most tenacious dynasties.
The World’s Great and Secondary Powers on the eve of 1836
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