Götterdämmerung, Kaffeeklatsch und Auspufftöpfe! - AAR thread

[ForzaA]

Spain 1602 - 1625​

Spain, the land of the conquistadors. It was over a century ago that Cristóbal Colón had landed in the Americas.

Large amounts of gold, silver and other valuable metals and minerals have since found their way to Spanish coffers. Vast expanses of land have been discovered, open for colonisation and exploitation by enterprising Spaniards.

Unfortunately, be that through a lack of vision, perseverance, means or otherwise, over a hundred years later, most of these lands are still open.

The reliance on gold and silver to fuel the economy has not left the economy unaffected, slowly but surely, a decline becomes visible, bankruptcies are inevitable, leaving the economy even more reliant on that same gold that caused the decline.

It is said that Spain missed her chance, failed to rise to greatness when it had her chance. Look at Portugal, for a long time the minor kingdom on the Iberian peninsula, but now overshadowing Spain in most ways. And now other nations are poised to rise to greatness, leaving Spain a second or third rate power, both in the Old World, and in the New.

Yet there are some who still hope it can be otherwise, who yet hope to make use of the discoveries of the last century. To turn back the economic decline, and to make Spain a strong nation afterall. It will take time, persistance, and some luck, but Spain may yet become a strong nation, even though her best chance, her only chance, to become truly dominant has passed.


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[ForzaA]

Spain 1625 - 1641​

Even the best plans might be crossed by changing situations...

For a few years, Spain did indeed build up colonies, expand trading missions - indeed, improved the economy and the whole nation.

But then it started... It began with a minor border skirmish far in the east.. But the war spread, involving more and more countries. When the French joined the war, siding against the Bavarians and Brandenburgers.

After a long debate, it was decided that we would march once more against France.. The war raged for years, but now it seems that we are defeated, and a peacetreaty is likely to be concluded shortly. The precise nature of this treaty remains the subject of speculation at this time.
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AAR reward: 200 ducats (and just a reminder: on time bonus: 1% inflation reduction)

 

[ForzaA]

Spain 1641 - 1668​

At long last, Spain got the peace and calm that she craved for. With peace finally holding for more than a few years, Felipe IV finally saw the opportunity to guide his nation to colonisation of the new world, trading the various exotic goods, and sponsoring manufactories in Spain itself.

When war broke out between England, the Netherlands and Portugal, trade shipments travelling under those flags saw increased risks of being sunk, and Spanish shipments, as a result, flourished like never before, leading to the exceptional situation that the Spanish budget was, for now, the highest of all nations.

All of Spain mourned, then, when, at the age of 60, Felipe IV passed away, and left only his three year old son, Carlos II, as his heir. Not only was he far too young to rule the country, it also appeared that he was possesed by a demon of some sort.* More bad news, for Spanish traders, that is, is that the war between England, Portugal and the Netherlands seems to be coming to an end, and thus their shipping likely returning to regular.

Two decades of some economical prosperity are behind us, who knows what the future will bring..

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* (yeah yeah, I know... modern science would disagree)

AAR reward: 200 ducats (and just a reminder: on time bonus: 1% inflation reduction)

 

[ForzaA]

Spain 1668 - 1692
The Succession of Carlos II​

In 1679, the 18-year-old Carlos II married Marie Louise of Orleans, daughter of Philippe I of Orléans, the only brother of Louis XIV, and at that time a comely young woman. He proved impotent and no children were born. Marie Louise became deeply depressed and morbidly obese and died at age 27, ten years after her marriage, leaving a distraught 28-year-old Charles. Still in desperate need of a male heir, the next year he married 23-year-old Maria Anna of Pfalz-Neuburg, a daughter of Philipp Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. However, this marriage was no more successful than the first in producing the much desired heir.

With no direct heir, a succession crisis was quite possible.
On the one hand, there was Philippe d'Anjou, second son of Louis, the Grand Dauphin, eldest son and heir of Louis XIV, and Maria Anna of Bavaria. Philippe's claim came from his grandmother, Maria Theresa, the eldest daughter of king Felipe IV of Spain. He would be Felipe V on ascension.

On the other hand, there was Charles VI, second son of Leopold I Habsburg. Though long reduced in power, due to their incessant conflicts with Bavaria, the Austrian Habsburgs still had strong ties to the Habsburgs in Spain.
At present, he seems to be the most probable to succeed Carlos II, under the name of Carlos III.

To avoid a renewal of the conflict with Bavaria, Leopold's eldest son, Joseph, would remain heir to the Habsburg's personal lands in Austria, and a contract would be written in which both Joseph and Charles would waive their claim on the inheritance of the other.

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*some of the above is from wikipedia*