3 provinces, I feel big already.
Brugge, what can I say, u get used to it. Still working on the beers
Brugge, what can I say, u get used to it. Still working on the beers
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Our realm now consisted of 3 provinces and we became an even stronger player in the cloth bussiness. In the aftermath of the war the English managed to persuade Brandenburg-Prussia to join our alliance. A nice counterweight for the Habsburgs in the HRE. Habsburg, realising it needed help, teamed up with Spain.
The other ongoing war in Europe then came to a quick end. Russia took money and 2 provinces from Kazan .
We traded our maps with the Portuguese who were delighted to do so and we are already planning to expand outside Europe as at home we're quite limited. Things are looking good. Now just to keep the French happy ...
Fortifications are being built and trade wise we banned Holland from our COT. Their monopolies were bothering me. We also took our trade to our eastern partners and Portugal. Our yearly income is up to 50 ducats and some of that is used to appease the French, who have a 50K army standing in Picardie.
Russia get another province of Kazan, Turkey goes bankrupt, Venice and Persia take advantage to declare war on the Ottomans, dragging the Mamelukes and Georgia in. And rightly so. No easier target than a country who has just gone bankrupt. Austria diplo annexes Bohemia.
France goes bankrupt. What did I say earlier about the great tactic that is 'kicking them when they're down' ? Does that include France when ur Flanders ? We are about to find out.
We were thinking about a blitzkrieg against France. Xure, our earlier diplomatic efforts would have been wasted but in case of success, which was quite possible with troops low on morale, yet to be upgraded fortresses and Paris nearby, we would have a nice little state already this early in the game, which was more than the Raad van Vlaanderen ever could have have expected early on. It would be a tricky operation however though and would have to be carefulled plotted as in order to get together such an army that could achieve this we had to take out several loands and divert all our income towards the military. Thus was decided. An audacious move to wage war on France, despite our RM and gifts, was decided on and plans were being devised.
Early next spring we received a morale boost as we managed to trade maps with the English and get knowledge of the Northern American coast. It'd be safe to send a settler there as it wouldn't be subject to the treaty of Tordesillas. To our surprise the province that caught our eye, Manhattan, was left untouched by the English, who instead had opted for Delaware and Cheasapeake. We sent of our lone settler to Manhattan and hope for good news to return. Our COT can always use some fur. Meanwhile the war was being prepared and the army was shaping up nicely. Even the weak points of our army, cavalery, looked very decent. It cost us a lot of money though but by the winter we had our army ready. Time to set the maintenance to 100% and wait for spring ...
The other ongoing war in Europe then came to a quick end. Russia took money and 2 provinces from Kazan .
We traded our maps with the Portuguese who were delighted to do so and we are already planning to expand outside Europe as at home we're quite limited. Things are looking good. Now just to keep the French happy ...
Fortifications are being built and trade wise we banned Holland from our COT. Their monopolies were bothering me. We also took our trade to our eastern partners and Portugal. Our yearly income is up to 50 ducats and some of that is used to appease the French, who have a 50K army standing in Picardie.
Russia get another province of Kazan, Turkey goes bankrupt, Venice and Persia take advantage to declare war on the Ottomans, dragging the Mamelukes and Georgia in. And rightly so. No easier target than a country who has just gone bankrupt. Austria diplo annexes Bohemia.
France goes bankrupt. What did I say earlier about the great tactic that is 'kicking them when they're down' ? Does that include France when ur Flanders ? We are about to find out.
We were thinking about a blitzkrieg against France. Xure, our earlier diplomatic efforts would have been wasted but in case of success, which was quite possible with troops low on morale, yet to be upgraded fortresses and Paris nearby, we would have a nice little state already this early in the game, which was more than the Raad van Vlaanderen ever could have have expected early on. It would be a tricky operation however though and would have to be carefulled plotted as in order to get together such an army that could achieve this we had to take out several loands and divert all our income towards the military. Thus was decided. An audacious move to wage war on France, despite our RM and gifts, was decided on and plans were being devised.
Early next spring we received a morale boost as we managed to trade maps with the English and get knowledge of the Northern American coast. It'd be safe to send a settler there as it wouldn't be subject to the treaty of Tordesillas. To our surprise the province that caught our eye, Manhattan, was left untouched by the English, who instead had opted for Delaware and Cheasapeake. We sent of our lone settler to Manhattan and hope for good news to return. Our COT can always use some fur. Meanwhile the war was being prepared and the army was shaping up nicely. Even the weak points of our army, cavalery, looked very decent. It cost us a lot of money though but by the winter we had our army ready. Time to set the maintenance to 100% and wait for spring ...
Spring 1500. This was a deciding moment in our nation's history. This could make or break us for decades. Defeat wasn't an option however. France's troops' morale had plummeted, their allies had taken a big hit in the war and Scotland would be taken care of by England.
1st of April 1500 sees us declare war on France. The French looked astonished, April Fools for xure ?! Then an army detachement of us of about 25K absolutely kicked a French standing army of 50K's arse at a loss of 5K. The French Army was ironically named Armee de Flandres. Those Flemish peasants are for real! Hordes of French soldiers fled the land to regroup in Paris and about. We meanwhile stormed Picardie, still the lowest form of fortification, which promptly fell. The Scottish meanwhile were being entertained by the English in the Marches. Not to let the French catch their breath we immediately set course for Paris. There we met an assembled riffraff, an army u could barely call it, consisting of French and Helvetians, who had bothered to send troops. They were quickly disposed of. Our siege army was sent in while we kept a cavalery army patrolling around Paris to keep away French detachments. Over 50 cannons proved too much to take for even Paris. We kept the siege carefully going thru the winter and early spring 1501 Paris fell.
Our patrolling cavalery regiment had come under increased pressure but had held out so far. Our resources were starting to get stretched though. But the fall of Paris left the French with no choice and when we offered a peace in which we just wanted Picardie, they had to accept. The English weren't too happy with that as they were making progress in Scotland but they have to understand we took it as far as possible. The French were left perplexed and licking their wounds. We got our provinces but we had nothing to hide behind anymore, we had established ourselves as a big thorn in the side of France and they will retaliate one day, most likely soon than later. Our expansionst tendencies in France came to an end after taking our core province and now we had to concentrate on digging ourselves in for the next 100 years or so when it comes to France. But we're here to stay.
Still, 4 provinces in 1501 far exceeded even our wildest imaginations. That’s effectively doubling our territory in less than 10 years. Shame we had to stretch our resources so far. The next years will be spent trying hard to repay loans as we can't afford bankrupcy as France would do us over the same as we did them, only worse.
Relations with England also should be mended, a worthy ally inderdeed. The icing on the cake was the news that Manhattan was succesfully colonised and now fully a part of the Flemish realm. Nieuw Antwerpen was here to stay.
Russia allies with Denmark who then declare war on the Hanse in order to get Holstein. This war ends in a stalemate however with heavy battles having taken place between Russia and Poland. We conlude another RM with France. I bet we made an impression. Not that it means much, we both know that if one of us shows signs of weakness we will seize the chance to hurt each other. We have to stop research in order to be able to pay back my loans. England invites Portugal to join our alliance and they accept.
1st of April 1500 sees us declare war on France. The French looked astonished, April Fools for xure ?! Then an army detachement of us of about 25K absolutely kicked a French standing army of 50K's arse at a loss of 5K. The French Army was ironically named Armee de Flandres. Those Flemish peasants are for real! Hordes of French soldiers fled the land to regroup in Paris and about. We meanwhile stormed Picardie, still the lowest form of fortification, which promptly fell. The Scottish meanwhile were being entertained by the English in the Marches. Not to let the French catch their breath we immediately set course for Paris. There we met an assembled riffraff, an army u could barely call it, consisting of French and Helvetians, who had bothered to send troops. They were quickly disposed of. Our siege army was sent in while we kept a cavalery army patrolling around Paris to keep away French detachments. Over 50 cannons proved too much to take for even Paris. We kept the siege carefully going thru the winter and early spring 1501 Paris fell.
Our patrolling cavalery regiment had come under increased pressure but had held out so far. Our resources were starting to get stretched though. But the fall of Paris left the French with no choice and when we offered a peace in which we just wanted Picardie, they had to accept. The English weren't too happy with that as they were making progress in Scotland but they have to understand we took it as far as possible. The French were left perplexed and licking their wounds. We got our provinces but we had nothing to hide behind anymore, we had established ourselves as a big thorn in the side of France and they will retaliate one day, most likely soon than later. Our expansionst tendencies in France came to an end after taking our core province and now we had to concentrate on digging ourselves in for the next 100 years or so when it comes to France. But we're here to stay.
Still, 4 provinces in 1501 far exceeded even our wildest imaginations. That’s effectively doubling our territory in less than 10 years. Shame we had to stretch our resources so far. The next years will be spent trying hard to repay loans as we can't afford bankrupcy as France would do us over the same as we did them, only worse.
Relations with England also should be mended, a worthy ally inderdeed. The icing on the cake was the news that Manhattan was succesfully colonised and now fully a part of the Flemish realm. Nieuw Antwerpen was here to stay.
Russia allies with Denmark who then declare war on the Hanse in order to get Holstein. This war ends in a stalemate however with heavy battles having taken place between Russia and Poland. We conlude another RM with France. I bet we made an impression. Not that it means much, we both know that if one of us shows signs of weakness we will seize the chance to hurt each other. We have to stop research in order to be able to pay back my loans. England invites Portugal to join our alliance and they accept.
BiB
Hope the New Flemish colonists will soon be establishing a brewery and beginning work on Bruges Witjes (hope I got that right)!
Great reading, looking forward to the scnario.
Hope the New Flemish colonists will soon be establishing a brewery and beginning work on Bruges Witjes (hope I got that right)!
Great reading, looking forward to the scnario.
Seeing I'm going for a colonial trade empire, there'll be plenty of breweries and Witjes will rule the world!!
Doing the last touches, scenario wise.
Doing the last touches, scenario wise.
December 1503 the Habsburgs go bankrupt. Ah well. War it is New loans to rebuild our army and in we go. Kick them when they’re down! England takes care of the Spanish in Europe so they can’t reach us but Portugal is having a torrid time against Spain. We siege Artois while they siege Hainaut but our cannons regiment is superior and Artois soon falls while Hainaut is holding nicely. The Habsburgs try to liberate Artois while we storm and capture Zeeland. Onwards to Den Hague as for now Habsburg refuses to budge. Holland is next to fall to us but still they won’t give in. Luxembourg then. We’re taking them to the wire. And it was about to get worse for them. Spain made a separate peace after totally ousting the Portuguese from the New World. Holland reacted by also declaring war on Habsburg. France, still pissed off, decided someone had to pay and went all out against Habsburg and Spain as well. After we quickly took Lucembourg before the French could, they gave in and we asked for Zeeland and Artois and got them, thus uniting all our core provinces. This left the way clear for France and Holland. France already had made its way to Tyrol while Den Hague secluded from the rest, fell to Holland. Habsburg budged surprisingly easy then and gave up Den Hague to them. Prolly to be able to fully concentrate on getting the French out of Salzburg. Peace eventually gets signed with France eventually losing Champagne. We got out on time there.
January 1506 and 100 years before scheduled we had managed to unite the homelands. We now dominate the cloth bussiness totally. Every home province bar Calais produces cloth. All your cloth are belong to us!!
Portugal hadn’t looked very impressive in the earlier war so I figured we might as well go for the richess of Brazil. We establish a colony in Recife and start exploring Brazil from the Amazone to the Rio del Plata. Our yearly income is up to 93 ducats. We expand our trade in exotic markets like Russia and Isfahan. We need settlers though to capitalize on our discoveries (I decided not to abuse the shipyard early on as it is only there to make up for the lack of later colonial dynamism).
In 1508 our spies manage to steal the maps of Venice but that turns out to be a big letdown as we only increase our knowledge by one measly province. 1509 sees us return to debt free state. In 1512 we are able to upgrade our infrastructure again after a scientiic breakthrough and we do so patiently waiting for what this man, named Luther, will achieve as we hear interesting stuff from Germany. We prepare an art academy in Flanders for the conversions.
New loans to rebuild our army and in we go. Kick them when they’re down! England takes care of the Spanish in Europe so they can’t reach us but Portugal is having a torrid time against Spain. We siege Artois while they siege Hainaut but our cannons regiment is superior and Artois soon falls while Hainaut is holding nicely. The Habsburgs try to liberate Artois while we storm and capture Zeeland. Onwards to Den Hague as for now Habsburg refuses to budge. Holland is next to fall to us but still they won’t give in. Luxembourg then. We’re taking them to the wire. And it was about to get worse for them. Spain made a separate peace after totally ousting the Portuguese from the New World. Holland reacted by also declaring war on Habsburg. France, still pissed off, decided someone had to pay and went all out against Habsburg and Spain as well. After we quickly took Lucembourg before the French could, they gave in and we asked for Zeeland and Artois and got them, thus uniting all our core provinces. This left the way clear for France and Holland. France already had made its way to Tyrol while Den Hague secluded from the rest, fell to Holland. Habsburg budged surprisingly easy then and gave up Den Hague to them. Prolly to be able to fully concentrate on getting the French out of Salzburg. Peace eventually gets signed with France eventually losing Champagne. We got out on time there. January 1506 and 100 years before scheduled we had managed to unite the homelands. We now dominate the cloth bussiness totally. Every home province bar Calais produces cloth. All your cloth are belong to us!!
Portugal hadn’t looked very impressive in the earlier war so I figured we might as well go for the richess of Brazil. We establish a colony in Recife and start exploring Brazil from the Amazone to the Rio del Plata. Our yearly income is up to 93 ducats. We expand our trade in exotic markets like Russia and Isfahan. We need settlers though to capitalize on our discoveries (I decided not to abuse the shipyard early on as it is only there to make up for the lack of later colonial dynamism).
In 1508 our spies manage to steal the maps of Venice but that turns out to be a big letdown as we only increase our knowledge by one measly province. 1509 sees us return to debt free state. In 1512 we are able to upgrade our infrastructure again after a scientiic breakthrough and we do so patiently waiting for what this man, named Luther, will achieve as we hear interesting stuff from Germany. We prepare an art academy in Flanders for the conversions.
1515. The Reformation is upon us. Henry the VIII founds the Church of England and worthy allies as we are, we join in. The English reinvite us to our the alliance with Prussia after the convertions. Lots of alliances get shaken up in Europe. The Habsbugs make friends with Hungary again. The French Connection consists now of Savoye, the papal states, Scotland and Switserland. Austria vassalises Hungary. Russia annexes Kazan and together with Poland goes straight for the Golden Horde.
The year is 1520 and Henry VIII is feeling right at home as new head of church. If the pope can edict dividing the world under Catholics, xurely he, as English King, can edict the Treaty of Calais, dividing the world between the members of the Church of England. And so was done. In this he divides the Northern part of the Eastern realm of the New World to be assigned to England while the Southern part of the Eastern realm of America would be the Flemish zone. One exception to this would be New Antwerpen on the coast of North America which will remain Flemish. Seeing there’s only 2 countries who follow this church, the rest won’t be bothered too much but this is yet another landmark in an ever near perfect Anglo-Flemish relations. We figured the West of the New World was firmly in Spanish hands but the Portuguese were quite crappy. So the English would support the Flemish in keeping the Portuguese out of Brazil while Flanders would try and keep France out of the North with England.
That Russia in the East seems quite a powerhouse to us as we hear about them annexing the Golden Horde this time We get into a short war with our allies when we help defend Prussia from Saxon agression but that soon returns to the status quo. We get our first rebellion and subsequently quash it. We’ll have none of that revolting lark here thank u very much! Manhattan meanwhile becomes a city and the prosperous 7th city in our ever expanding empire. 1522. We notice the change in state religion had been a good choice. Our colonisation efforts in Brazil are progressing very slowly as we have a hard time establishing even trade posts, let alone colonies. But we’re getting there. In so much even that by 1523 we are the world leading exporters of tobacco, next to cloth. England enlarges our alliance with Portugal. We do not like this. We react by building an brewery in Recife. Totally besides the point but it was the best option given the situation.
We start devising evil ploys to get a grip on Portugal. Prussia converts to Lutheranism. Good. Our fleet gets hit by a catastrophe and we lose half our ships. Arse. Austria diplo annexes Hungary while Russia annexes Astrakhan or sommink we never heard of. Those seem to be powers we might ally with later, maybe, one day, if we meet them. We however do not like Habsburg getting stronger.
By now it is 1531. Our plans for a war versus Portugal are advancing nicely. The Dutch now also convert to the true faith (till a better one comes along anyway).
Time for war ...
The year is 1520 and Henry VIII is feeling right at home as new head of church. If the pope can edict dividing the world under Catholics, xurely he, as English King, can edict the Treaty of Calais, dividing the world between the members of the Church of England. And so was done. In this he divides the Northern part of the Eastern realm of the New World to be assigned to England while the Southern part of the Eastern realm of America would be the Flemish zone. One exception to this would be New Antwerpen on the coast of North America which will remain Flemish. Seeing there’s only 2 countries who follow this church, the rest won’t be bothered too much but this is yet another landmark in an ever near perfect Anglo-Flemish relations. We figured the West of the New World was firmly in Spanish hands but the Portuguese were quite crappy. So the English would support the Flemish in keeping the Portuguese out of Brazil while Flanders would try and keep France out of the North with England.
That Russia in the East seems quite a powerhouse to us as we hear about them annexing the Golden Horde this time We get into a short war with our allies when we help defend Prussia from Saxon agression but that soon returns to the status quo. We get our first rebellion and subsequently quash it. We’ll have none of that revolting lark here thank u very much! Manhattan meanwhile becomes a city and the prosperous 7th city in our ever expanding empire. 1522. We notice the change in state religion had been a good choice. Our colonisation efforts in Brazil are progressing very slowly as we have a hard time establishing even trade posts, let alone colonies. But we’re getting there. In so much even that by 1523 we are the world leading exporters of tobacco, next to cloth. England enlarges our alliance with Portugal. We do not like this. We react by building an brewery in Recife. Totally besides the point but it was the best option given the situation.
We start devising evil ploys to get a grip on Portugal. Prussia converts to Lutheranism. Good. Our fleet gets hit by a catastrophe and we lose half our ships. Arse. Austria diplo annexes Hungary while Russia annexes Astrakhan or sommink we never heard of. Those seem to be powers we might ally with later, maybe, one day, if we meet them. We however do not like Habsburg getting stronger.
By now it is 1531. Our plans for a war versus Portugal are advancing nicely. The Dutch now also convert to the true faith (till a better one comes along anyway).
Time for war ...
LOL.
What are your long-term plans for Portugal? Won't they be tricky to annexe, what with the overseas colonies, or do they afll into line if they're not actual city-provinces once you take the homeland?
I ain't going for total annihilation. They prolly even got a city in the far east I haven't yet heard about. I just need their islands to get to the Indies. And Brazil, I plan to burn down, looks like a lot of TPs to me so I might move in there seeing I alreday got Recife. Brazil isn't a bad place to found a big New Flanders
Brazil is a GREAT place for Nieuw Flanders. Gotta love that tobacco and sugar revenue!
On the 1st of April 1533 war is declared on Portugal on the basis of the Treaty of Calais. They currently have no allies, our fleet is alreday stationed in front of their coast and several other positions. We refrain from asking the help of our allies as it’s our turf.
The war goes extremely well. Oporto is the first to fall to our invading army, the standing Portuguese army being no threat to our superior forces at all. We land troops on the Azores, Cape Verde and Fernando Po and burn all their Brazilian TPs. At this moment Portugal allies itself with Holland and the Hanse. Too little too late, I’m afraid.
Our siege of Lisbon soon proved succesful and we stole their maps and effectively won the war. Time to talk peace.
The Treaty of the Azores.
Our demands were :
1) The Azores. They were known as the Flemish Isles when the Portuguese first exploited them in the 15th Century and we wanted them back. Also it was a vital port on the way to a regular route to Brazil and Nieuw-Antwerpen (Manhattan).
2) Fernando Po. We would need slaves to build up our plantages in Brazil and this island was excellently equipped for this.
3) That the Portuguese would renounce their right given to them in the Treaty of Tordesillas when it comes to Brazil and would recognise the Treaty of Calais.
We offered :
1) The return of the provinces of Oporto and Tago to Portuguese rule.
2) The acceptance of the Treaty of Tordesillas by Flanders when it came to the richess of Indonesia. The promise of Flanders to stay out of Indonesia forevermore.
3) Portugal gets to keep a route of strategicaly placed islands on the way to the Indies and thus recieved back Cape Verde.
So was decided, so was done. Brazil was now rightfully ours and we had the vital strategic islands to get to our colonial empire. 1535 had been a good year for us. Time is spent building up New Flanders aka Brazil and that is helped by the addition of a free conquistador in 1538.
Upon the Treaty of the Azores we have a secret meeting with Holland and conclude the Treaty of Zeeland. We agree to respect each other boundaries, leaving Zeeland to Flanders, thus enxuring a stable relation in the homeland and secure backs. Also Brazil was now also recognised as Flemish by the Dutch and we promised them to stay out of the richess of Indonesia. Little do they know we already promised that to the Portuguese.
We are looking good now. New Flanders was flourishing, we had outposts in Manhattan, Isle Royale, Fernando Po, Azores and we recently added Table in our quest for India.
When Calvin came round with his preachings we were very interested. We could do with the extra settler. Upon conversion our alliance with Prussia and England got broken. I figured to be invited back soon anyway. I just had to wait for my first diplomat back. The art academy in Flanders was doing its job nicely.
The war goes extremely well. Oporto is the first to fall to our invading army, the standing Portuguese army being no threat to our superior forces at all. We land troops on the Azores, Cape Verde and Fernando Po and burn all their Brazilian TPs. At this moment Portugal allies itself with Holland and the Hanse. Too little too late, I’m afraid.
Our siege of Lisbon soon proved succesful and we stole their maps and effectively won the war. Time to talk peace.
The Treaty of the Azores.
Our demands were :
1) The Azores. They were known as the Flemish Isles when the Portuguese first exploited them in the 15th Century and we wanted them back. Also it was a vital port on the way to a regular route to Brazil and Nieuw-Antwerpen (Manhattan).
2) Fernando Po. We would need slaves to build up our plantages in Brazil and this island was excellently equipped for this.
3) That the Portuguese would renounce their right given to them in the Treaty of Tordesillas when it comes to Brazil and would recognise the Treaty of Calais.
We offered :
1) The return of the provinces of Oporto and Tago to Portuguese rule.
2) The acceptance of the Treaty of Tordesillas by Flanders when it came to the richess of Indonesia. The promise of Flanders to stay out of Indonesia forevermore.
3) Portugal gets to keep a route of strategicaly placed islands on the way to the Indies and thus recieved back Cape Verde.
So was decided, so was done. Brazil was now rightfully ours and we had the vital strategic islands to get to our colonial empire. 1535 had been a good year for us. Time is spent building up New Flanders aka Brazil and that is helped by the addition of a free conquistador in 1538.
Upon the Treaty of the Azores we have a secret meeting with Holland and conclude the Treaty of Zeeland. We agree to respect each other boundaries, leaving Zeeland to Flanders, thus enxuring a stable relation in the homeland and secure backs. Also Brazil was now also recognised as Flemish by the Dutch and we promised them to stay out of the richess of Indonesia. Little do they know we already promised that to the Portuguese.
We are looking good now. New Flanders was flourishing, we had outposts in Manhattan, Isle Royale, Fernando Po, Azores and we recently added Table in our quest for India.
When Calvin came round with his preachings we were very interested. We could do with the extra settler. Upon conversion our alliance with Prussia and England got broken. I figured to be invited back soon anyway. I just had to wait for my first diplomat back. The art academy in Flanders was doing its job nicely.
Excellent AAR - keep them coming
Nieuw Flanders just won't do for a name anymore. I hereby dub thee: The Batavian Empire. All hail emperor BiB I.
Nieuw Flanders just won't do for a name anymore. I hereby dub thee: The Batavian Empire. All hail emperor BiB I.
Hi BiB, as a fellow Flemish guy I really want to know when you are releasing your scenario, if you will release it at all...