OOC: It'll be in a few hours. I was hibernating for the last 2 weeks, so barely anything got done.
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1806
Europe
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Pitt presented a bill aimed at improving the output of the agricultural industry in Ireland. These measures met with quite some success, with new methods of farming causing a rise in production. The Irish tenant farmers see little of this money or change however, as many landlords simply using the extra output as an excuse to raise taxes. The move does win Pitt considerable support from the Irish landlords and increase revenues. [-500 Gold from the United Kingdom, +50 Base Income to the United Kingdom]
1. British soldiers from the 43rd Monmouthshire Light Infantry.
Further good tidings came in the form of military reform. John Moore, a talented commander famed for his humanity and innovative approach to training and discipline, continued his reforms of the army. Although slowed by some more Conservative figures, Moore managed to make considerable improvements, with a focus on creating a good soldier through bringing out the best in him, rather than suppressing the worst. [+1 Army Level to the United Kingdom in 1 turn, -250 Gold from the United Kingdom]
The British also expanded their blockade of the continent to include Batavia and Spain. Although the blockade was strong around the Dutch, they had little in the way of non continental trade anyway, meaning that the blockade had little effect. The situation was mirrored along the Spanish coast, where the British found very little shipping to intercept.
2. William Pitt the Younger, a great British statesman and enemy of Napoleon.
Not all news was good however, and the news of Austrian defeat, coupled with the resurgence of the Separatism Scandal, which again inflamed the press and public against the Government, proved too much for Prime Minister Pitt to handle. A great man, he had led the country for nearly 19 years in total, but the stress of such a long rule, coupled with recent events, finally took its toll on him. He succumbed on the 15th of November 1806, aged only 47, leaving no children and £40,000 of personal debt, which Parliament generously agreed to pay, along with the cost for a state funeral. [-55 Gold from the United Kingdom, -1 Stability from the United Kingdom]
Across the channel, the French were also investing money into their economy. Focusing on agriculture and mining, they managed to make considerable improvement to the economy, through the implementation of new methods and the improvement of existing ones. [-500 Gold from France, +100 Base Income to France]
Less successful were efforts to improve the nations schooling system. Although improvements were made, cost was high and very little actual benefit was found, apart from a slight increase in grades, due to many of those not at already at school being made to work. [-500 Gold from France]
More bad news came when several French spies were hung in Berlin, having been caught in an attempt to infiltrate the war ministry and steal important documents. Although they managed to enter the building and acquire the documents, they were given away to the guards when one of their number made a particularly loud expulsion of air. [-50 Gold from France]
3. Francis II, last of the Holy Roman Emperors.
In Austria, the Treaty of Linz was signed. Although it was a humiliating peace which stripped Austria of 2 valuable regions, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire and forced Austria out of the Third Coalition, the signing came as good news in Vienna, as well as Paris. The Austrians were glad that the war was over, and the return of many prisoners strengthened the army considerably. [+70 Base Income to Austria in 1 turn, +2 Stability to Austria, +1 Stability to France, +25 Base Income to Bavaria when Tirol pacified, +1 Stability to Bavaria, +133,000 Regulars to Austria, -45% Equipment from Austria]
Their army depleted severely by the conflict with France, the Austrians made the decision to try and recruit a further 25,000 men, in order to combat the Hungarian Rising. These measures met with limited success, with willing recruits being hard to find after such a defeat. In the end, barely half the targeted number of men was raised, although the Austrians did manage to save costs by reusing old equipment. [+12,500 Regulars to Austria, -100 Gold from Austria]
The Austrians also tried to clear Archduke Charles of blame for the catastrophes of Passau and Tulln. Whilst they could not manage to completely convince many people, they did manage to divert a large amount of the blame onto Generals Mack and von Hiller, who were respectively considered totally inept and a coward. This shift in blame allowed Archduke Charles to exercise more of his old influence in the army, and although he did meet susbstantial opposition, including many remarks about his war record, some more subtle than others, the humiliation of the war with France served as a catalyst to convince many officers of the need for change. [+1 Army level to Austria in 1 turn, -250 Gold from Austria]
4. Russian Serfs relaxing in a village.
In Russia, the Tsar continued his policy of economic improvement. This time, the area around Moscow was the target for increased spending, with new farming techniques being implemented and some of the more important roads being improved. The measures again met with considerable success, and the local economy was boosted, but the limited budget meant the improvement was not as high as it might have been. [-500 Gold from Russia, +60 Base Income to Russia]
The Tsar was also busy implementing change in the army. Many irregular formations were made into full time professional units, although the Cossacks fiercely resisted any attempted change, and the Russian artillery was reformed so as to include a higher number of guns per battery. Although the Russian batteries had already been the largest in Europe, each Russian battery now had twice as many guns as that of the French, making them deadly, if unwieldy. Furthermore, the Tsar ordered the recruitment of many new infantry and cavalry regiments, although the cost was higher than anticipated. [-700 Gold from Russia, -15,000 Conscripts from Russia, +40,000 Regulars to Russia, Russian artillery arm largest in world]
Russia was not the only member of the coalition reforming its artillery arm, with the Prussians also attempting to improve the most lacklustre part of their army, partly through its expansion, and partly through the modernisation of pieces and training methods. Although the King gave his backing to this revision, the recent Prussian success in Hanover, coupled with opposition from the infantry and cavalry branches, which favoured spending the money on new formations, rather than new guns, took much of the movements steam, and attempts by the King to convince members of the officer corps led to much discontent amongst the Junkers. [+5% Equipment to Prussia, Prussian artillery arm partially modernised, -103 Gold from Prussia, -1 Stability from Prussia]
More successful were attempts to increase the size of the army, with many officers feeling that this was the correct way to spend the military budget. Although a large amount of the money was again lost to corruption in the system, the Prussians managed to raise enough men to both cover their losses for the year and increase the size of their army. [+20,000 Regulars to Prussia, -190 Gold from Prussia]
The Prussians also attempted domestic improvement, with the King championing the abolition of serfdom and the emancipation of the Jews. Whilst this move pleased some, it also angered many, including a large number of wealthy Aristocrats, forcing the King to eventually settle for a less ambitious set of laws which had little real effect. Attempts to improve the economy also failed, with an attempt to set up factories in Berlin leading to spiralling costs with very little progress seen, causing the project to be cancelled after several months of construction, which had thrown Prussia into a considerable debt. [-750 Gold from Prussia]
5. A Black Brunswicker, now fighting for the Prussian forces in Hanover.
Prussian attempts at diplomacy also failed for the most part. Many German states were less than eager to side with the Coalition whilst Napoleon was enjoying such success, and had so many troops to attack them with. Not all the replies were negative however, with newly liberated Hanoverian and Brunswicker troops joining the Prussian forces laying siege to Hanover.
In Bavaria, almost every activity planned for the year was cut when the Russians arrived. Although there are still attempts to hastily raise troops for the defence of the homeland, even with the news of French success, few men join up, and those that do are nowhere close to a coherent force. [+1,000 Conscripts to Bavaria, -9 Gold from Bavaria]
The Swiss were also busy. At a monumental cost, the construction of new fortifications along Switzerland's Northern border was begun. These fortifications were concentrated around the main invasion routes into the nation, and once completed, would make any attack by these routes a bloody affair for the aggressor. [-1000 Gold from Switzerland, Northern Swiss border very well fortified]
Due to these costs, no funding was left over for other projects such as the attempted improvement of infrastructure or an effort to construct a factory. Although the Tagsatzung saw the merit of such proposals, they felt that prioritising defence was more important in the current time. They did however manage to muster a small sum from donations by the wealthy, which was enough to pay for a few more infantry regiments. [+2,500 Regulars to Switzerland]
Denmark was another nation focusing on its economy, with the King ordering that the pork and fishing sectors of the economy receive particular focus. Improvements to the fishing sector met with quite some success, as state subsidies helped many fishermen buy a larger boat, but the majority of the investment into the pork sector was wasted when a large part of the nations pig populations was struck down by an unknown disease, greatly harming income. [-5 Base Income from Denmark for 1 turn, -5 Base Income from Denmark for 2 turns, +10 Base Income to Denmark, -200 Gold from Denmark]
The Danish hold on Norway also weakened, as a scandal broke. Initial reports were sketchy at best, but soon the entire Danish press, along with their Norwegian counterparts was running the story that several Danish officials, occupying offices key to the Governance of Norway, had been taking money meant for things such as the years agricultural improvement and using it to line their own purses. Although many dismissed it as 'just another overblown scandal', the event did have a de stabilising effect upon the nation. [-1 Stability from Denmark]
The Danes also tried to improve their navy, with the King asking a council of Admirals to come up with new strategies and tactics. Little success however, with the committee of elderly Admirals reaching the conclusion that the old ways were best, and that to change tactics would be both costly, and ill advised. [-50 Gold from Denmark]
6. Several Swedish instructors talking before a lesson.
Elsewhere in Scandinavia, the Swedes were also trying to improve their military. Again, they tried to construct a military academy, and this time met with more success, due to a rich landowner leaving a large sum in his will for just such a purpose. The academy was constructed, and the problem of no teaching staff was overcome through the hiring of various foreign teachers, as well as by offering pay incentives to army officers. The lessons would certainly benefit the Swedish officers corps, although their effect would not be felt for a while yet, due to the length of the courses. [+1 Army level to Sweden in 2 turns, -5 Base Income from Sweden, -5 Gold from Sweden]
The Swedish also took steps to increase revenue. Due to the previous years infrastructure construction creating large amounts of low paid work, the Government realised that they could, by lowering the level at which people began to be taxed, increase their income considerably. Although such a move would likely bring the disapproval of the poor, the Government manages to pass off the measure as a 'Tax realignment' and suggests that really, with more people paying, everyone is paying less and the nation is getting more. This is of course, a lie, but the only people who realise this have no objection to taxing the poor. [+60 Base Income to Sweden, -5 Gold from Sweden]
The King also ordered a recruitment drive, asking for several new regiments to compliment the army. This measure was also largely successful, partly due to the support of the press, who portrayed the life of a soldier as gallant, adventurous and full of glory, prompting many young men to join up. [+15,000 Regulars to Sweden, -150 Gold from Sweden]
Meanwhile, on the Norwegian border, an incident occurred when a Swedish cartographer, accompanied by a company of men from the Kronobergs regemente, was found on the Danish side of the border. When asked by the Danish border guards what he was doing on their side, he declared that by his reckoning, he had no strayed into their land, apologised and left, leaving the Danes to wonder what the Kronobergs regemente was doing on their border, when most of the world believed it to be part of the army in Stockholm. The incident, although quickly defused, was repeated several times during the year, leading to heightened tensions between the 2 nations.
7. Map of the Spanish Civil War, late 1806.
In Spain, the civil war carried on. The Fernandists got the best of the fighting, making sweeping advances in the North and South. The other factions all met with lesser success, the Republicanos taking a heavy beating from all sides and losing much land. The various separatist factions remained relatively untouched by the whole affair, the major players feeling it prudent to attack their stronger opponents before bothering with the separatists.
Following the trend set by the rest of Europe, Portugal also tried to improve its economy, the King ordering the construction of a factory. As elsewhere, the project quickly overran its budget, with the needed expertise being hard to find and the required parts costing a monstrous sum, causing the project to be cancelled after just 6 months. [-240 Gold from Portugal]
With the Treaty of Lisbon signed, the Portuguese were meant to pay the Spanish the sum of £15,000, however with Spain in a state that could in no way be described as stable, the Portuguese simply declined to pay, the various Spanish factions being in no position to protest the Portuguese decision. The funds were soon used however, as it was found that the Spanish occupiers had damaged many of the dockyards, preventing the construction of vessels till the new year and causing the funds to be used in their reconstruction. [-15 Gold from Portugal]
8. Serbian rebels attempt to break through the net which had encircled them.
In the ageing and decrepit Ottoman Empire, the Serbian insurgency was still in full swing. Emboldened by their success, the Serbs became more and more confident, openly attacking barracks and drilling in the countryside. Their boldness was to be their undoing however, and soon a large group of the rebel leaders, meeting inside a village hall, was surrounded, captured and hanged by the Ottomans, cutting the head off the snake and reducing the rebellion to a mere collection of grumbling peasants, some of whom had guns. [-500 Regulars from the Ottomans, -500 Conscripts from the Ottomans, Serbian revolt suppressed]
Following the Swiss example, the Ottomans also undertook the building of forts. Although they were built throughout the Empire, the vast majority of these forts were placed in the Caucasus', around the Bosphorous and along the Danube, to counteract likely threats to the Empire. [-1000 Gold from the Ottomans, Ottomans have more forts]
Religious construction was also high on the Ottomans list of priorities, with a large amount of state revenue being poured into the construction of new mosques, and in some places, churches. Although the construction of new mosques pleased some, many of the more devout were angered by the amount of money spent on the Christians. The net effect of this was to bring the Ottomans back to square 1, with no real progress made. There was a small benefit however, in that the buildings allowed large groups of the populace to be addressed easily. This allowed speeches by Government officials to be far more effective, and when backed by the clergy, who were pleased with their new places of worship, the effect was certainly beneficial. [-250 Gold from the Ottomans, +1 Stability to the Ottomans]
The Americas
With the signing of the Treaty of Washington, the nation once again grows vastly in territory, this time by half again its previous size. Since the beginning of Jefferson's presidency the nation has increased in size by twice over, and the people are elated that they were able to stand up to another colonial power. However, there are growing discussions about the potential for slavery in these new acquisitions. [+1 Stability to the USA, -100 Base Income from the USA for 1 turn]
The extension of American rule into New Spain was uneventful, the flag of Spain was respectfully lowered and Old Glory was raised. Following annexation Congress quickly passed a bill transferring portions of the new territory to the Louisiana Territory and creating the Florida Territory out of Spanish Florida and the Texas Territory for the rest of the continental holdings gain via the Treaty of Washington. [+20 Base Income for USA, -20 Colonial Income (North America) for Spain]
The beginnings of American rule in Cuba and Puerto Rico, parts of the newly christened Caribbean Territory were more eventful. The were several protests by disaffected Cubans, angered at their betrayal by the Spanish Monarchy and worried about how they would be treated by the United States of America. However, the transition was peaceful beyond these demonstrations. [+125 base income to USA, -125 Colonial Income (Caribbean) for Spain, nonviolent civil unrest in Cuba]
9. The town of Hamilton.
The United States of America continues its push westward with the expansion of the small trading post on Vancouver Island into a small town christened Hamilton, after the late founding father. Similarly, the Americans rename Vancouver Island to Washington Island. From this outpost the Americans are able to establish strong trade relations with indians in the region bringing in many pelts. [Hamilton is now a small town, +5 Base income to USA, Strong claims on Washington Island]
The United States begins to publish maps including the area newly charted by Louis and Clark and the Pacific Expedition as the new "Pacific Territory". Although no other country has claimed the region, control of the region is tentative at best. In order to strengthen their claim on the region a trading post on the Puget Sound, called Seattle, is established. [One more trading post founded, Stronger claims on Pacific Northwest for United States]
The United States was not the only nation attempting to colonise the Pacific however. The British, spurred on by American expansion Northwards, sent an expedition, led by retired officer Sir Henry Simmerson, to establish a fort and trading post on the Pacific coast. The endeavour was successful, the party crossing the Rockies in the middle of summer and arriving on the coast with enough time to construct a rudimentary settlement, with they named Richmond. [-50 Gold from the United Kingdom, Trading Post established at Richmond]
10. Map of the Spanish colonies at the end of 1806.
Upon hearing of the revolutions in the colonies and facing much trouble on the domestic front, the Spanish Monarch makes the fateful decision to allow his colonies to peacefully leave his nation. Many rebels take heart in this pronouncement and the revolution spreads to cover most of mainland Spanish America, barring Peru and Mexico, but even in these loyalist strongholds there are rumblings of discontent. Another issue that particularly incensed the revolutionaries was the government's attempt to strip all the wealth they could from the colonies, a task they largely succeeded in, although almost all of the gold was lost due to the anarchy in the homeland. [+30 Gold for Spain, -4,000 Regulars from Spain, -4 Big Ships from Spain, -11 Small Ships from Spain]
Spanish grip on the Americas loosened still when in August, British troops landed on Hispaniola, capturing Santo Dominigo and securing a large part of the island for the Crown. Losses were high however, and even with the US navy bringing in ample supplies for the British and providing extra fire support against fortresses, tropical disease took its toll. [-1,000 Regulars from the United Kingdom, Santo Dominigo and much of Spanish Hispaniola in British hands, -45 Colonial Income from Spain]
Afrika
As with the previous year, the Afrikan continent remained quite. The only action came when the Danish repeated their attempt at colonisation, this time sending along 100 armed men to protect the colony. The move met with failure, as although the native tribes were driven off, a lack of supplies and a wide variety diseases took their toll upon the colonists, weakening them to the point that the colony became a ghost town. [-70 Gold from Denmark, -100 Regulars from Denmark]
Asia
In the land of the rising sun, new schools specialising in western ideas are opened. Hundreds of people attend and are taught everything from western medicine to the marvels of physics. Medical science is an especially popular subject, with the students taking great pleasure out of dissecting executed prisoners. [-800 gold from Japan, +150 income per turn in 4 turns, Japan will have mediocre knowledge of western sciences in 4 turns]
11. A new Japanese medical book.
Following up on the success of last year’s cherry blossom, the Tokugawa shogun proclaims that a cherry blossom festival will be held every year to celebrate the bloom. Funds are allocated for music, food and entertainment. Unfortunately the funds disappear and the festival is cancelled. [-300 gold from Japan]
In the southern provinces of Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga, work begins on a new set of roads made out of gravel, small stones and layered with sand. Stations which provide various services for traveling nobles and officials are also constructed along the new routes. [-700 gold from Japan, +1 infrastructure to Japan in 1 turn]
Less successful is the attempted production of western firearms. After analysing many drawings and tearing apart many western guns, the best the gunsmiths of the shogun could come up with was an extremely unreliable matchlock musket which had a tendency to explode. [-400 gold from Japan]
Qing China began the year by attempting to bring a permanent end to the Miao and White Lotus rebellions. The hidden white lotus rebels are routed out and captured, with the majority receiving a swift execution. On the other hand, the hunting of the Miao rebels turns out to be less successful. Struggling to find the Miao rebels and growing tired of searching, many of the banner troops simply lose the motivation and return to the safe new forts which are being expanded. [White Lotus rebellion over, -500 Regulars from Qing, -500 Conscripts from Qing, -500 gold from Qing]
In the continued battle against corruption, more officials are caught abusing their position of power. Several high ranking officials receive public hangings for their part in swindling the government. The hangings cut corruption so much that civil servants thought they were actually receiving a 25% raise. [-400 gold from Qing, +100 base income to Qing, Civil servants are more loyal]
The examination system used to select officials for the states bureaucracy receives a radical overhaul. The Reform of the Imperial Examinations relaxes restrictions on who can take the test, while also specialising the exam to the role in government and de-emphasizes the influence of Neo-Confucian. The aim of the reform is to enable the state to employ high quality, loyal officials, who have a more open view of the world. In the end, the reform is moderately successful, with some of the new officials responding favourably to western ideas. [-400 gold from Qing, Small group of officials open to western ideas]
12. A Chinese Junk, of the type commonly used to trade with Japan.
At the end of the year, the Qing Empire and Japan sign the red seal treaty. The treaty opens up more trade between the two nations, with both nations getting access to new ports and tariffs being limited. As a result, trade booms between the two nations, with all types of wares being exchanged. In addition to the opening of trade, the two nations send diplomatic representatives to each other. [+30 balance of trade to Qing, +30 balance of trade to Japan]
In India, Maratha rule destabilised severely as many key nobles were assassinated in a variety of ways. The loss of so many key nobles in such a short space of time, followed by an open show of incompetence by the law when they failed to apprehend even a single killer, was a dire blow to the Confederacy, as many nobles refused to pay taxes or provide troops until the problem was solved. [-3 Stability from Maratha, -250 Base Income from Maratha, -100,000 Regulars from Maratha, -200,000 Conscripts from Maratha]
Further damage was inflicted to Maratha rule when an expedition to Europe, carrying with them a large amount of gold with which they were to purchase western novelties, was sunk in a violent storm off the Cape of Good Hope. [-150 Gold from Maratha]
Maratha troops also clashed with many countryside bandits, with varying degrees of success. Although Maratha troops did win most engagements, they simply could not cause the bandits any real casualties, and ambushes whittled down their own numbers, meaning that the campaign had to be abandoned. [-500 Regulars from Maratha, -500 Conscripts from Maratha]
With the Confederacy rapidly nearing collapse, the King gave a speech to many of his nobles. Unfortunately, the speech had little to no effect, as many of the nobles no longer trusted the King and felt that they would be better off as a collection of independent states rather than in the current situation. The only real effect was a further depletion of the Maratha treasury, caused by the hosting of so many nobles. [-5 Gold from Maratha]
The British were also moving in Asia, a 8,500 strong force being detailed to attack the Spanish territories in the Philippines. The Spanish were simply too apathetic to resist, and agreed to surrender without a shot fired should the British allow them free passage back to the mainland, where they could take part in the civil war. With the attack a success, the British set about securing the islands, an endeavour which was successful, although many men died due to disease and native interference. [-1,000 Regulars from the United Kingdom, Philippines under British control, -90 Colonial Income from Spain]
Europe
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Pitt presented a bill aimed at improving the output of the agricultural industry in Ireland. These measures met with quite some success, with new methods of farming causing a rise in production. The Irish tenant farmers see little of this money or change however, as many landlords simply using the extra output as an excuse to raise taxes. The move does win Pitt considerable support from the Irish landlords and increase revenues. [-500 Gold from the United Kingdom, +50 Base Income to the United Kingdom]
1. British soldiers from the 43rd Monmouthshire Light Infantry.
Further good tidings came in the form of military reform. John Moore, a talented commander famed for his humanity and innovative approach to training and discipline, continued his reforms of the army. Although slowed by some more Conservative figures, Moore managed to make considerable improvements, with a focus on creating a good soldier through bringing out the best in him, rather than suppressing the worst. [+1 Army Level to the United Kingdom in 1 turn, -250 Gold from the United Kingdom]
The British also expanded their blockade of the continent to include Batavia and Spain. Although the blockade was strong around the Dutch, they had little in the way of non continental trade anyway, meaning that the blockade had little effect. The situation was mirrored along the Spanish coast, where the British found very little shipping to intercept.
2. William Pitt the Younger, a great British statesman and enemy of Napoleon.
Not all news was good however, and the news of Austrian defeat, coupled with the resurgence of the Separatism Scandal, which again inflamed the press and public against the Government, proved too much for Prime Minister Pitt to handle. A great man, he had led the country for nearly 19 years in total, but the stress of such a long rule, coupled with recent events, finally took its toll on him. He succumbed on the 15th of November 1806, aged only 47, leaving no children and £40,000 of personal debt, which Parliament generously agreed to pay, along with the cost for a state funeral. [-55 Gold from the United Kingdom, -1 Stability from the United Kingdom]
Across the channel, the French were also investing money into their economy. Focusing on agriculture and mining, they managed to make considerable improvement to the economy, through the implementation of new methods and the improvement of existing ones. [-500 Gold from France, +100 Base Income to France]
Less successful were efforts to improve the nations schooling system. Although improvements were made, cost was high and very little actual benefit was found, apart from a slight increase in grades, due to many of those not at already at school being made to work. [-500 Gold from France]
More bad news came when several French spies were hung in Berlin, having been caught in an attempt to infiltrate the war ministry and steal important documents. Although they managed to enter the building and acquire the documents, they were given away to the guards when one of their number made a particularly loud expulsion of air. [-50 Gold from France]
3. Francis II, last of the Holy Roman Emperors.
In Austria, the Treaty of Linz was signed. Although it was a humiliating peace which stripped Austria of 2 valuable regions, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire and forced Austria out of the Third Coalition, the signing came as good news in Vienna, as well as Paris. The Austrians were glad that the war was over, and the return of many prisoners strengthened the army considerably. [+70 Base Income to Austria in 1 turn, +2 Stability to Austria, +1 Stability to France, +25 Base Income to Bavaria when Tirol pacified, +1 Stability to Bavaria, +133,000 Regulars to Austria, -45% Equipment from Austria]
Their army depleted severely by the conflict with France, the Austrians made the decision to try and recruit a further 25,000 men, in order to combat the Hungarian Rising. These measures met with limited success, with willing recruits being hard to find after such a defeat. In the end, barely half the targeted number of men was raised, although the Austrians did manage to save costs by reusing old equipment. [+12,500 Regulars to Austria, -100 Gold from Austria]
The Austrians also tried to clear Archduke Charles of blame for the catastrophes of Passau and Tulln. Whilst they could not manage to completely convince many people, they did manage to divert a large amount of the blame onto Generals Mack and von Hiller, who were respectively considered totally inept and a coward. This shift in blame allowed Archduke Charles to exercise more of his old influence in the army, and although he did meet susbstantial opposition, including many remarks about his war record, some more subtle than others, the humiliation of the war with France served as a catalyst to convince many officers of the need for change. [+1 Army level to Austria in 1 turn, -250 Gold from Austria]
4. Russian Serfs relaxing in a village.
In Russia, the Tsar continued his policy of economic improvement. This time, the area around Moscow was the target for increased spending, with new farming techniques being implemented and some of the more important roads being improved. The measures again met with considerable success, and the local economy was boosted, but the limited budget meant the improvement was not as high as it might have been. [-500 Gold from Russia, +60 Base Income to Russia]
The Tsar was also busy implementing change in the army. Many irregular formations were made into full time professional units, although the Cossacks fiercely resisted any attempted change, and the Russian artillery was reformed so as to include a higher number of guns per battery. Although the Russian batteries had already been the largest in Europe, each Russian battery now had twice as many guns as that of the French, making them deadly, if unwieldy. Furthermore, the Tsar ordered the recruitment of many new infantry and cavalry regiments, although the cost was higher than anticipated. [-700 Gold from Russia, -15,000 Conscripts from Russia, +40,000 Regulars to Russia, Russian artillery arm largest in world]
Russia was not the only member of the coalition reforming its artillery arm, with the Prussians also attempting to improve the most lacklustre part of their army, partly through its expansion, and partly through the modernisation of pieces and training methods. Although the King gave his backing to this revision, the recent Prussian success in Hanover, coupled with opposition from the infantry and cavalry branches, which favoured spending the money on new formations, rather than new guns, took much of the movements steam, and attempts by the King to convince members of the officer corps led to much discontent amongst the Junkers. [+5% Equipment to Prussia, Prussian artillery arm partially modernised, -103 Gold from Prussia, -1 Stability from Prussia]
More successful were attempts to increase the size of the army, with many officers feeling that this was the correct way to spend the military budget. Although a large amount of the money was again lost to corruption in the system, the Prussians managed to raise enough men to both cover their losses for the year and increase the size of their army. [+20,000 Regulars to Prussia, -190 Gold from Prussia]
The Prussians also attempted domestic improvement, with the King championing the abolition of serfdom and the emancipation of the Jews. Whilst this move pleased some, it also angered many, including a large number of wealthy Aristocrats, forcing the King to eventually settle for a less ambitious set of laws which had little real effect. Attempts to improve the economy also failed, with an attempt to set up factories in Berlin leading to spiralling costs with very little progress seen, causing the project to be cancelled after several months of construction, which had thrown Prussia into a considerable debt. [-750 Gold from Prussia]
5. A Black Brunswicker, now fighting for the Prussian forces in Hanover.
Prussian attempts at diplomacy also failed for the most part. Many German states were less than eager to side with the Coalition whilst Napoleon was enjoying such success, and had so many troops to attack them with. Not all the replies were negative however, with newly liberated Hanoverian and Brunswicker troops joining the Prussian forces laying siege to Hanover.
In Bavaria, almost every activity planned for the year was cut when the Russians arrived. Although there are still attempts to hastily raise troops for the defence of the homeland, even with the news of French success, few men join up, and those that do are nowhere close to a coherent force. [+1,000 Conscripts to Bavaria, -9 Gold from Bavaria]
The Swiss were also busy. At a monumental cost, the construction of new fortifications along Switzerland's Northern border was begun. These fortifications were concentrated around the main invasion routes into the nation, and once completed, would make any attack by these routes a bloody affair for the aggressor. [-1000 Gold from Switzerland, Northern Swiss border very well fortified]
Due to these costs, no funding was left over for other projects such as the attempted improvement of infrastructure or an effort to construct a factory. Although the Tagsatzung saw the merit of such proposals, they felt that prioritising defence was more important in the current time. They did however manage to muster a small sum from donations by the wealthy, which was enough to pay for a few more infantry regiments. [+2,500 Regulars to Switzerland]
Denmark was another nation focusing on its economy, with the King ordering that the pork and fishing sectors of the economy receive particular focus. Improvements to the fishing sector met with quite some success, as state subsidies helped many fishermen buy a larger boat, but the majority of the investment into the pork sector was wasted when a large part of the nations pig populations was struck down by an unknown disease, greatly harming income. [-5 Base Income from Denmark for 1 turn, -5 Base Income from Denmark for 2 turns, +10 Base Income to Denmark, -200 Gold from Denmark]
The Danish hold on Norway also weakened, as a scandal broke. Initial reports were sketchy at best, but soon the entire Danish press, along with their Norwegian counterparts was running the story that several Danish officials, occupying offices key to the Governance of Norway, had been taking money meant for things such as the years agricultural improvement and using it to line their own purses. Although many dismissed it as 'just another overblown scandal', the event did have a de stabilising effect upon the nation. [-1 Stability from Denmark]
The Danes also tried to improve their navy, with the King asking a council of Admirals to come up with new strategies and tactics. Little success however, with the committee of elderly Admirals reaching the conclusion that the old ways were best, and that to change tactics would be both costly, and ill advised. [-50 Gold from Denmark]
6. Several Swedish instructors talking before a lesson.
Elsewhere in Scandinavia, the Swedes were also trying to improve their military. Again, they tried to construct a military academy, and this time met with more success, due to a rich landowner leaving a large sum in his will for just such a purpose. The academy was constructed, and the problem of no teaching staff was overcome through the hiring of various foreign teachers, as well as by offering pay incentives to army officers. The lessons would certainly benefit the Swedish officers corps, although their effect would not be felt for a while yet, due to the length of the courses. [+1 Army level to Sweden in 2 turns, -5 Base Income from Sweden, -5 Gold from Sweden]
The Swedish also took steps to increase revenue. Due to the previous years infrastructure construction creating large amounts of low paid work, the Government realised that they could, by lowering the level at which people began to be taxed, increase their income considerably. Although such a move would likely bring the disapproval of the poor, the Government manages to pass off the measure as a 'Tax realignment' and suggests that really, with more people paying, everyone is paying less and the nation is getting more. This is of course, a lie, but the only people who realise this have no objection to taxing the poor. [+60 Base Income to Sweden, -5 Gold from Sweden]
The King also ordered a recruitment drive, asking for several new regiments to compliment the army. This measure was also largely successful, partly due to the support of the press, who portrayed the life of a soldier as gallant, adventurous and full of glory, prompting many young men to join up. [+15,000 Regulars to Sweden, -150 Gold from Sweden]
Meanwhile, on the Norwegian border, an incident occurred when a Swedish cartographer, accompanied by a company of men from the Kronobergs regemente, was found on the Danish side of the border. When asked by the Danish border guards what he was doing on their side, he declared that by his reckoning, he had no strayed into their land, apologised and left, leaving the Danes to wonder what the Kronobergs regemente was doing on their border, when most of the world believed it to be part of the army in Stockholm. The incident, although quickly defused, was repeated several times during the year, leading to heightened tensions between the 2 nations.
7. Map of the Spanish Civil War, late 1806.
In Spain, the civil war carried on. The Fernandists got the best of the fighting, making sweeping advances in the North and South. The other factions all met with lesser success, the Republicanos taking a heavy beating from all sides and losing much land. The various separatist factions remained relatively untouched by the whole affair, the major players feeling it prudent to attack their stronger opponents before bothering with the separatists.
Following the trend set by the rest of Europe, Portugal also tried to improve its economy, the King ordering the construction of a factory. As elsewhere, the project quickly overran its budget, with the needed expertise being hard to find and the required parts costing a monstrous sum, causing the project to be cancelled after just 6 months. [-240 Gold from Portugal]
With the Treaty of Lisbon signed, the Portuguese were meant to pay the Spanish the sum of £15,000, however with Spain in a state that could in no way be described as stable, the Portuguese simply declined to pay, the various Spanish factions being in no position to protest the Portuguese decision. The funds were soon used however, as it was found that the Spanish occupiers had damaged many of the dockyards, preventing the construction of vessels till the new year and causing the funds to be used in their reconstruction. [-15 Gold from Portugal]
8. Serbian rebels attempt to break through the net which had encircled them.
In the ageing and decrepit Ottoman Empire, the Serbian insurgency was still in full swing. Emboldened by their success, the Serbs became more and more confident, openly attacking barracks and drilling in the countryside. Their boldness was to be their undoing however, and soon a large group of the rebel leaders, meeting inside a village hall, was surrounded, captured and hanged by the Ottomans, cutting the head off the snake and reducing the rebellion to a mere collection of grumbling peasants, some of whom had guns. [-500 Regulars from the Ottomans, -500 Conscripts from the Ottomans, Serbian revolt suppressed]
Following the Swiss example, the Ottomans also undertook the building of forts. Although they were built throughout the Empire, the vast majority of these forts were placed in the Caucasus', around the Bosphorous and along the Danube, to counteract likely threats to the Empire. [-1000 Gold from the Ottomans, Ottomans have more forts]
Religious construction was also high on the Ottomans list of priorities, with a large amount of state revenue being poured into the construction of new mosques, and in some places, churches. Although the construction of new mosques pleased some, many of the more devout were angered by the amount of money spent on the Christians. The net effect of this was to bring the Ottomans back to square 1, with no real progress made. There was a small benefit however, in that the buildings allowed large groups of the populace to be addressed easily. This allowed speeches by Government officials to be far more effective, and when backed by the clergy, who were pleased with their new places of worship, the effect was certainly beneficial. [-250 Gold from the Ottomans, +1 Stability to the Ottomans]
The Americas
With the signing of the Treaty of Washington, the nation once again grows vastly in territory, this time by half again its previous size. Since the beginning of Jefferson's presidency the nation has increased in size by twice over, and the people are elated that they were able to stand up to another colonial power. However, there are growing discussions about the potential for slavery in these new acquisitions. [+1 Stability to the USA, -100 Base Income from the USA for 1 turn]
The extension of American rule into New Spain was uneventful, the flag of Spain was respectfully lowered and Old Glory was raised. Following annexation Congress quickly passed a bill transferring portions of the new territory to the Louisiana Territory and creating the Florida Territory out of Spanish Florida and the Texas Territory for the rest of the continental holdings gain via the Treaty of Washington. [+20 Base Income for USA, -20 Colonial Income (North America) for Spain]
The beginnings of American rule in Cuba and Puerto Rico, parts of the newly christened Caribbean Territory were more eventful. The were several protests by disaffected Cubans, angered at their betrayal by the Spanish Monarchy and worried about how they would be treated by the United States of America. However, the transition was peaceful beyond these demonstrations. [+125 base income to USA, -125 Colonial Income (Caribbean) for Spain, nonviolent civil unrest in Cuba]
9. The town of Hamilton.
The United States of America continues its push westward with the expansion of the small trading post on Vancouver Island into a small town christened Hamilton, after the late founding father. Similarly, the Americans rename Vancouver Island to Washington Island. From this outpost the Americans are able to establish strong trade relations with indians in the region bringing in many pelts. [Hamilton is now a small town, +5 Base income to USA, Strong claims on Washington Island]
The United States begins to publish maps including the area newly charted by Louis and Clark and the Pacific Expedition as the new "Pacific Territory". Although no other country has claimed the region, control of the region is tentative at best. In order to strengthen their claim on the region a trading post on the Puget Sound, called Seattle, is established. [One more trading post founded, Stronger claims on Pacific Northwest for United States]
The United States was not the only nation attempting to colonise the Pacific however. The British, spurred on by American expansion Northwards, sent an expedition, led by retired officer Sir Henry Simmerson, to establish a fort and trading post on the Pacific coast. The endeavour was successful, the party crossing the Rockies in the middle of summer and arriving on the coast with enough time to construct a rudimentary settlement, with they named Richmond. [-50 Gold from the United Kingdom, Trading Post established at Richmond]
10. Map of the Spanish colonies at the end of 1806.
Upon hearing of the revolutions in the colonies and facing much trouble on the domestic front, the Spanish Monarch makes the fateful decision to allow his colonies to peacefully leave his nation. Many rebels take heart in this pronouncement and the revolution spreads to cover most of mainland Spanish America, barring Peru and Mexico, but even in these loyalist strongholds there are rumblings of discontent. Another issue that particularly incensed the revolutionaries was the government's attempt to strip all the wealth they could from the colonies, a task they largely succeeded in, although almost all of the gold was lost due to the anarchy in the homeland. [+30 Gold for Spain, -4,000 Regulars from Spain, -4 Big Ships from Spain, -11 Small Ships from Spain]
Spanish grip on the Americas loosened still when in August, British troops landed on Hispaniola, capturing Santo Dominigo and securing a large part of the island for the Crown. Losses were high however, and even with the US navy bringing in ample supplies for the British and providing extra fire support against fortresses, tropical disease took its toll. [-1,000 Regulars from the United Kingdom, Santo Dominigo and much of Spanish Hispaniola in British hands, -45 Colonial Income from Spain]
Afrika
As with the previous year, the Afrikan continent remained quite. The only action came when the Danish repeated their attempt at colonisation, this time sending along 100 armed men to protect the colony. The move met with failure, as although the native tribes were driven off, a lack of supplies and a wide variety diseases took their toll upon the colonists, weakening them to the point that the colony became a ghost town. [-70 Gold from Denmark, -100 Regulars from Denmark]
Asia
In the land of the rising sun, new schools specialising in western ideas are opened. Hundreds of people attend and are taught everything from western medicine to the marvels of physics. Medical science is an especially popular subject, with the students taking great pleasure out of dissecting executed prisoners. [-800 gold from Japan, +150 income per turn in 4 turns, Japan will have mediocre knowledge of western sciences in 4 turns]
11. A new Japanese medical book.
Following up on the success of last year’s cherry blossom, the Tokugawa shogun proclaims that a cherry blossom festival will be held every year to celebrate the bloom. Funds are allocated for music, food and entertainment. Unfortunately the funds disappear and the festival is cancelled. [-300 gold from Japan]
In the southern provinces of Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga, work begins on a new set of roads made out of gravel, small stones and layered with sand. Stations which provide various services for traveling nobles and officials are also constructed along the new routes. [-700 gold from Japan, +1 infrastructure to Japan in 1 turn]
Less successful is the attempted production of western firearms. After analysing many drawings and tearing apart many western guns, the best the gunsmiths of the shogun could come up with was an extremely unreliable matchlock musket which had a tendency to explode. [-400 gold from Japan]
Qing China began the year by attempting to bring a permanent end to the Miao and White Lotus rebellions. The hidden white lotus rebels are routed out and captured, with the majority receiving a swift execution. On the other hand, the hunting of the Miao rebels turns out to be less successful. Struggling to find the Miao rebels and growing tired of searching, many of the banner troops simply lose the motivation and return to the safe new forts which are being expanded. [White Lotus rebellion over, -500 Regulars from Qing, -500 Conscripts from Qing, -500 gold from Qing]
In the continued battle against corruption, more officials are caught abusing their position of power. Several high ranking officials receive public hangings for their part in swindling the government. The hangings cut corruption so much that civil servants thought they were actually receiving a 25% raise. [-400 gold from Qing, +100 base income to Qing, Civil servants are more loyal]
The examination system used to select officials for the states bureaucracy receives a radical overhaul. The Reform of the Imperial Examinations relaxes restrictions on who can take the test, while also specialising the exam to the role in government and de-emphasizes the influence of Neo-Confucian. The aim of the reform is to enable the state to employ high quality, loyal officials, who have a more open view of the world. In the end, the reform is moderately successful, with some of the new officials responding favourably to western ideas. [-400 gold from Qing, Small group of officials open to western ideas]
12. A Chinese Junk, of the type commonly used to trade with Japan.
At the end of the year, the Qing Empire and Japan sign the red seal treaty. The treaty opens up more trade between the two nations, with both nations getting access to new ports and tariffs being limited. As a result, trade booms between the two nations, with all types of wares being exchanged. In addition to the opening of trade, the two nations send diplomatic representatives to each other. [+30 balance of trade to Qing, +30 balance of trade to Japan]
In India, Maratha rule destabilised severely as many key nobles were assassinated in a variety of ways. The loss of so many key nobles in such a short space of time, followed by an open show of incompetence by the law when they failed to apprehend even a single killer, was a dire blow to the Confederacy, as many nobles refused to pay taxes or provide troops until the problem was solved. [-3 Stability from Maratha, -250 Base Income from Maratha, -100,000 Regulars from Maratha, -200,000 Conscripts from Maratha]
Further damage was inflicted to Maratha rule when an expedition to Europe, carrying with them a large amount of gold with which they were to purchase western novelties, was sunk in a violent storm off the Cape of Good Hope. [-150 Gold from Maratha]
Maratha troops also clashed with many countryside bandits, with varying degrees of success. Although Maratha troops did win most engagements, they simply could not cause the bandits any real casualties, and ambushes whittled down their own numbers, meaning that the campaign had to be abandoned. [-500 Regulars from Maratha, -500 Conscripts from Maratha]
With the Confederacy rapidly nearing collapse, the King gave a speech to many of his nobles. Unfortunately, the speech had little to no effect, as many of the nobles no longer trusted the King and felt that they would be better off as a collection of independent states rather than in the current situation. The only real effect was a further depletion of the Maratha treasury, caused by the hosting of so many nobles. [-5 Gold from Maratha]
The British were also moving in Asia, a 8,500 strong force being detailed to attack the Spanish territories in the Philippines. The Spanish were simply too apathetic to resist, and agreed to surrender without a shot fired should the British allow them free passage back to the mainland, where they could take part in the civil war. With the attack a success, the British set about securing the islands, an endeavour which was successful, although many men died due to disease and native interference. [-1,000 Regulars from the United Kingdom, Philippines under British control, -90 Colonial Income from Spain]
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I'd like to open up the game for a few more players if anyone wants in? I'd prefer if they took Hungary, a Spanish faction or Saxony, but all nations (Within reason) are open. I'm thinking maybe 1-3 extra players.
Citizens of Austria,
Today is a new day for all of us. The war against France is now officially over. Having left the Third Coalition, we are no longer allied with the United Kingdom, the Russian Empire, or the Kingdom of Prussia. The only thing that brought us to this point was the loss of tens of thousands of Austrian lives and two great defeats at the hands of Emperor-General Napoleon I. However, Vienna has been returned to our nation, prisoners of war are being returned to service, and I myself, along with Archduke Charles, have been released from imprisonment. This is a great victory for the nation and the people.
However, we are not done yet. The Hungarians have threatened the stability of our Empire, they have threatened government officials and myself with imprisonment and death. Their nationalism has pushed them too far. Now, with the newly released soldiers of our army, coupled with the veterans of the German and Italian campaigns, all led by Archduke Charles and General Radetzky, we shall crush this uprising before it spreads throughout our nation. I will be granting amnesty to those that lay down their arms and peacefully return to their homes at once; however, those that stand and fight do so in vain. They will be fighting two of the most skilled field commanders in the Empire and, truthfully, among all of Europe. They will be fighting the resolve of the people of this Empire - the people of Austria, Bohemia, Croatia, Moravia, and Poland - in their desperate and futile bid for independence that will only end more lives and solve nothing. I implore the people of Hungary to see reason, though I doubt all of them will choose to do so.
Charles has successfully implemented military reforms into our Army, to help better their effectiveness and organization, following the defeats at Passau and Tulln. The mistakes made here will not be repeated in the future. Using new tactics, organizational abilities, and a whole host of troops, the Heroes of the Empire, Charles and Radetzky, shall lead the forces of Austria to victory against the Hungarian forces. The rebellion will be crushed. The leaders will be found and punished, and Béla Szily - the self-proclaimed Prime Minister and King of the non-existent independent Kingdom of St. Stephen - will, unless he lays down his arms, be executed for high treason against not only the Austrian Empire, but her people, and the people of Hungary in particular.
The Hungarians are but the first step in restoring the Empire. Once this is achieved, the people's hope will be restored. Rights will be wronged. Peace will be brought to the continent of Europe. The Austrian Empire shall be vindicated and rebuilt by the hard-working people that live as citizens in it.
I place full trust and faith in the leadership of the Austrian Army, as well as the soldiers that fill the ranks of the armies, to do their duty to myself and to the people of the Empire. Go with God, and make the people proud.
Francis II, Emperor of Austria
The paths are drawn,
The gravel laid,
The seeds planted,
A garden yet to bloom.
~Unknown poet
The success of the new infrastructure projects and the new trade with Qing China will certainly bring great benefits to the Japanese people and the nation as a whole. Similarly the new schools will greatly aid in improving the economy and revolutionize healthcare in our nation. May the Sun always raise on Japan!
The gravel laid,
The seeds planted,
A garden yet to bloom.
~Unknown poet
The success of the new infrastructure projects and the new trade with Qing China will certainly bring great benefits to the Japanese people and the nation as a whole. Similarly the new schools will greatly aid in improving the economy and revolutionize healthcare in our nation. May the Sun always raise on Japan!
I'd like to join this, but I have no idea how to do any of this stuff, or what country to pick; maybe the pro-French Kingdom of Italy, Saxony, or maybe one of the rebels in Latin America (or any nation that won't just die in a year...)
GM Speak: I have Paraguay currently open, more revolters should open up over the next few turns...
OOC: Just appealing to the nationalism of the people
Also, as GM of Africa (haven't had much to do), you can always take Egypt, either as a protectorate of the Ottomans or, if the Ottomans lose control, fighting for independence...
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OOC: They're both excellent. 1804 explores a key point in European history, where the victory of one side will lead to a historically accurate (or mostly accurate, anyway) Europe, while the victory of the other side will lead to something completely alternate to actual history, involving (up to this time) the largest armies ever assembled in Europe between some of history's greatest field commanders.
1900 explores a turbulent and turmoil-inducing period before one of the world's most destructive wars (technically, we've already gone through it) in an age of technological advances unlike any other period in human history.
Both are quite fine, if you ask me.
1900 explores a turbulent and turmoil-inducing period before one of the world's most destructive wars (technically, we've already gone through it) in an age of technological advances unlike any other period in human history.
Both are quite fine, if you ask me.
The United States of America
These United States are pleased to announce that control over New Spain has officially been formalized, adding them as territories in our Union. To the people of Cuba and Puerto Rico, I say this. As President, I will work to bring the Caribbean Territory into the Union, but it must not be hasty, as a new Territorial Government needs to be fully set up before Statehood can be achieved.
To the people of these United States, I must say this, there is a vast wilderness out West, and it is ours to explore, farm, and develop for the beauty and grandeur of these United States. By moving out West, we shall be able to bring more states into our Federal Union, such as we did with Vermont and Kentucky.
To the United Kingdom, we ask that we sit down as discuss the ownership of the Pacific. Washington Island is rightfully a territory of the United States of America, and we would be willing to focus on other border adjustments to ensure all of our claims against each other are settled. We renounce all claims we hold to British North America, except those to Washington Island.
These United States are also willing to help coordinate with her allies in this ongoing War with the French. Our loyalty is to the countries that are fighting an Imperialistic and Expansionist Power. We shall not falter in our support, united, against France.
OOC: I think I'll join, but I'll wait for some revolters to pop up in South America.