Really? Ouch...
Well, as I speak english as well as a french frog, and as I really like your AAR, you're forgiven
.-
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Well, as I speak english as well as a french frog, and as I really like your AAR, you're forgiven
.
Chapter 2: Carlistes et Crise - Polignac (Louis XIX)
1836-1837
1836-1837
Prince Jules de Polignac, 3rd Duke of Polignac and the Ultra-Royalists, were sworn into authority at the start of the new year. Almost immediately, Jules adopted a swift policy of reactionary reform that many Parisians declared, "The Second July Ordinances." These enactments broadened a media and political crackdown that would widen to all regions of France, starting with the general closure of newspaper outlets that did not directly support royalist policy, and concluding with government purges that affected every political outlet and party that possessed a political theory more constitutional then the Doctrinaires. Fear soon gripped the populace of France, as rumors spread across the elite halls of the French Nobility that Polignac would motion against François-René and his party, though these whispers were mere slander to the Prime Minister. However, Polignac would not dare directly assault the Doctrinaires, for the prince believed that such a motion would thrust the Kingdom back into the turmoil of a swift revolution. The concerns of the royalists were not without base, for prominent members of the wealthy, most profoundly, republican lawyer Jacques-Antoine Manuel, were actively encouraging dissent towards the Chamber of Peers.
Prince Jules de Polignac, 3rd Duke of Polignac, Prime Minister of France (Term:1836-1840)
As unrest grew stronger by the day in urban centers, Jules actively searched for a diversion, to thrust the attention of France into broader spheres of interest and away from the common unpopularity of his regime. Only through the assistance of Ange Hyacinthe Maxence de Damas de Cormaillon, baron de Damas ex-Minister of Foriegn Affairs and former Minister of War, and Étienne-Denis, duc de Pasquier former Minister of Foriegn Affairs and Justice, was the stability of France preserved. In early January, Maxence and Pasquier delivered a official report to the desk of the Prime Minister and to Louis XIX, entitled: La perspective de Carlos.
Carlos Antonio Pascual Francisco Javier Juan Nepomuceno Jose Januario Serafin Diego, crowned as Charles IV of Spain, had ruled Spain prior and during the Revolution. During the Napoleonic Wars, Charles sided with the Empire, alienating him with the Spanish people, concluding with his forceful abdication after widespread mutinies and rebellions shook the stability of Spain. Charles was briefly succeeded by his son, Ferdinand VII , before Imperial forces deposed Ferdinand and placed Napoleon's brother, Joseph I, on the throne. Spain remained without a legitimate ruler until 1813, when the Duke of Wellington drove the French forces out of Spain, reinstalling Ferdinand to the Palacio Real de Madrid. The King soon came into serious conflict with liberals inside his court, and was driven from his throne a second time, until Louis XIX (then Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême), defeated opposition forces at the Battle of Trocadero.
Ferdinand VII, King of Spain (1808, 1818-1833)
The true issue with Ferdinand was not his absolutist reign, but rather, his lack of male heirs. Old and weary, Ferdinand agreed to pass the throne to his daughter, Isabella, after pressure was applied by his Queen and forth wife, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies. Ferdinand passed away in 1833, leaving France in the hands of a two-year old female, against the legislative rights that would have seen the throne passed to the brethren of the King. Outraged with this alteration, Infante Carlos, Count of Molina, brother to Ferdinand, led a revolt of traditionalist and Catholic nobility, called Carlists. There primary prospect was to restore the male line of succession to the throne of Spain, and return the respect of the House of Bourbon.
Maxence and Pasquier convened a secret meeting with the Chamber of Peers, the Prime Minister, and King Louis in regards to the matter of a possible intervention. Prior to, political instability had prevented action from being enforced to protect the male succession, but Jules was able to convince Louis that the time for the Spanish restoration was at hand. The triumvirate approached the Chamber of Deputies at the conclusion of Febuary, convening a secret meeting intended at addressing -- and advocating -- for intervention in Spain. In the end, final decision rested in the hand of the sovereign, whom had once before achieved popularity through the successful intervention in his relatives kingdom. Thus, on the 22nd of January, King Louis proclaimed the Second Expedition of the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis under Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot, 1st Comte Oudinot, 1st Duc de Reggio . This expedition, numbering at 80,000 (nearly a quarter more then the previous), crossed the Pyrenees at the turn of the month, marching unopposed. French forces were joined by the Count of Molina soon after, and in the words of Pasquier, "Carlos shall walk to Madrid."
King Louis XIX, in 1836
Indeed, Carlos marched with little resistance through lands that he had fought bitterly for the previous three years, as liberal forces shattered with news of French intervention flooding every urban center in Spain. In desperation, Isabella II and her mother fled Spain to London, maintaining their claim to the golden throne. Nonetheless, the Count was proclaimed King Carlos V of Spain by the conclusion of the winter season, with reluctant liberals finally accepting the victory of the traditionalists in the bloody Carlist War. The gracious King of Spain bestowed honors on both Oudinot, Maxence, and Pasquier, including restored counties in the north of the Iberian peninsular. Whilst the three were decorated with honors, the ploy of the Prime Minister had succeeded, as Louis and the Marshall paraded across Paris to the cheers of thousands.
King Carlos V, Carlist Pretender (1833-1836), King of Spain (1836-)
The celebrations in France would soon fall silent, for Europe would be thrust into crisis. The catastrophe ignited in the United Kingdom, under the Ministry of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. Somber reports of a vast goods shortage in the colonies prompted an economic panic in Britain, as prices skyrocketed to the largest price threshold in the history of the nation. The Whigs refused to budge on the matter of government intervention, retaining their stern Laissez-faire politics, even after reports of colonial famine flooded into Parliament. Industrial investors quickly initiated a massive withdrawal, as thousands of workers were laid off to cover the costs of the Industrial goods which had now peaked at 300%. Emergency budget acts slashed different ministries, in a attempt to preserve the economic situation, though the hour was already too later, the crisis now rushed to Europe.
Economic disaster struck massive panic in London
The Ministry of Finance was to be the savior to France, as Christophe, comte de Chabrol de Crouzol, Minister of Finance Affairs, took quick action after early reports, securing a drastic increase in domestic tariffs with approval from Pasquier. The Chamber of Deputies, whilst initially skeptical, rushed into action as urgent telegrams from the United Kingdom prompted swift action. In a matter of hours, tariffs were spiked to 20% and subsidies were quickly compiled for the majority of Industrial facilities. As Europe entered into a great recession, the Ministry managed to bring its Parisian population from a 17% unemployment rate, down to a 4% at the conclusion of the year. The result was defined, Christophe and Jules found themselves quickly as popular figureheads, where as just a few months prior, rumors of rebellion had burned through the north.
In order to sustain the economic situation in friendly states, Maxence (now Minister of Foriegn Affairs), extended the offer of common market treaties to the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont and the Papal States of Rome, both of which would eventually be expanded into full military alliances. Both states managed to whether the storm, but the rest of Europe was not as lucky, especially the Germanic and Northern-Italian states, which relied on English textiles that no longer consistently filled the nation. For other nations, the short-term damage turned out to benefit the local governments, as the economic crisis of 1836-1837 forced them to enter into a sharp period of self-reliance. This was no less important then in France, where the arms industry threatened collapse in early spring, despite the protective polices of Crouzol.
The Prime Minister, was then gifted by another international development, this time focused around the North African colony of Algeria. In 1830, 55,000 French soldiers and 500 French ships under the command of Admiral Duperré and Louis Auguste Victor, Count de Ghaisnes de Bourmont, invaded and annexed the Regency of Algeria, a puppet state of the Ottoman Empire. The years following the invasion had given birth to resistance movements in southern Algeria, most profoundly, the `Abd al-Qādir, under the authority of Abdelkader El Djezairi. Abd al-Qādir, formed a joint coalition of Algerian Tribes, and initiated a consistent raiding of French supply convoys, though they had not impeded on French territory in the north. Nonetheless, the persistent raiding allowed action to be taken by the Prince, whom ordered the transition of forces to the Algerian territory. By the conclusion of March, nearly 48,000 soldiers were stationed in the colony, including the Armée de l'Algérie and Armée de cavalerie régulière.
Abdelkader El Djezairi
Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot was appointed as the head of the 1st Armée de l'Algérie, composed of 30,000 Royalist soldiers. The 1st Army, on the 15th of April, marched upon Constantine, thus triggering the Second Franco-Algerian War. Djezairi commanded 20,000 soldiers in Constantine, and engaged in a defensive struggle to sustain his grasp over the city. The overwhelming numerical advantage allowed Oudinot to push the Algerian forces out of the region, but heavy resistance would weaken the French offensive, preventing either side from delivering a decisive blow on the eastern front. The true war, would occur in the west of Algeria, where the French faced impending defeat from a larger Algerian campaign.
Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot, 1st Comte Oudinot, 1st Duc de Reggio
Dkezairi, had organized the conflict to his own preference, drawing the French Army into the Northern Sahara, where the European forces would wither away whilst a standard offensive would be launched from the west. By June, such a operation had been successfully thrust in motion. The French were able to score conventional victories, but each battle brought them heavier and heavier casualties, allowing Dkezairi to spring his trap. Launching from the Moroccan border, 26,000 Algerian troops swiftly captured Oran, and began its quick campaign towards Algeria. Standing in their way was 18,000 French soldiers under General Camille Alphonse Trézel, defending the province of Chlef, less then 80 miles from Algeria. Camile engaged his opponent on the 13th of June, relying on hours of eccentric, yet genius defensive planning that connected all aspects of the terrain, supply lines, and troop diversity. The battle raged fiercely throughout the day, but at its conclusion, heavy artillery barrages forced the Algerian Army into withdraw, facing casualties above 4,000, nearly four times that of the French.
Battle of Chlef, July 13th, 1837.
Camille then drove his forces into pursuit, delivering defeat after defeat on the withdrawing Algerian forces, resulting in the eventual destruction of the western army. With General Camille now pushing south to reinforce Oudinot, Dkezairi was forced to sue for peace, concluding the war with territorial concessions in Constantine. The victory confirmed the increasing power of France as a international power, whilst simultaneously providing for the arms industry by drastically increasing the Industrial demand required to wage the war. In fact, the French arms history became one of the biggest in the world, especially after the Great Indian Revolt and Canadian Rebellions of 1836 forced the importation of French military tools into the United Kingdom. Yet these were only the surface of the disaster that the Master of the World was facing, for soon, a second economic crash struck the British Isles, this time, the United Kingdom would not recover.
On November 22nd, 1837, the United Kingdom declared Bankruptcy.
Prince Jules de Polignac, 3rd Duke of Polignac, Prime Minister of France (Term:1836-1840)
As unrest grew stronger by the day in urban centers, Jules actively searched for a diversion, to thrust the attention of France into broader spheres of interest and away from the common unpopularity of his regime. Only through the assistance of Ange Hyacinthe Maxence de Damas de Cormaillon, baron de Damas ex-Minister of Foriegn Affairs and former Minister of War, and Étienne-Denis, duc de Pasquier former Minister of Foriegn Affairs and Justice, was the stability of France preserved. In early January, Maxence and Pasquier delivered a official report to the desk of the Prime Minister and to Louis XIX, entitled: La perspective de Carlos.
Carlos Antonio Pascual Francisco Javier Juan Nepomuceno Jose Januario Serafin Diego, crowned as Charles IV of Spain, had ruled Spain prior and during the Revolution. During the Napoleonic Wars, Charles sided with the Empire, alienating him with the Spanish people, concluding with his forceful abdication after widespread mutinies and rebellions shook the stability of Spain. Charles was briefly succeeded by his son, Ferdinand VII , before Imperial forces deposed Ferdinand and placed Napoleon's brother, Joseph I, on the throne. Spain remained without a legitimate ruler until 1813, when the Duke of Wellington drove the French forces out of Spain, reinstalling Ferdinand to the Palacio Real de Madrid. The King soon came into serious conflict with liberals inside his court, and was driven from his throne a second time, until Louis XIX (then Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême), defeated opposition forces at the Battle of Trocadero.
Ferdinand VII, King of Spain (1808, 1818-1833)
The true issue with Ferdinand was not his absolutist reign, but rather, his lack of male heirs. Old and weary, Ferdinand agreed to pass the throne to his daughter, Isabella, after pressure was applied by his Queen and forth wife, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies. Ferdinand passed away in 1833, leaving France in the hands of a two-year old female, against the legislative rights that would have seen the throne passed to the brethren of the King. Outraged with this alteration, Infante Carlos, Count of Molina, brother to Ferdinand, led a revolt of traditionalist and Catholic nobility, called Carlists. There primary prospect was to restore the male line of succession to the throne of Spain, and return the respect of the House of Bourbon.
Maxence and Pasquier convened a secret meeting with the Chamber of Peers, the Prime Minister, and King Louis in regards to the matter of a possible intervention. Prior to, political instability had prevented action from being enforced to protect the male succession, but Jules was able to convince Louis that the time for the Spanish restoration was at hand. The triumvirate approached the Chamber of Deputies at the conclusion of Febuary, convening a secret meeting intended at addressing -- and advocating -- for intervention in Spain. In the end, final decision rested in the hand of the sovereign, whom had once before achieved popularity through the successful intervention in his relatives kingdom. Thus, on the 22nd of January, King Louis proclaimed the Second Expedition of the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis under Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot, 1st Comte Oudinot, 1st Duc de Reggio . This expedition, numbering at 80,000 (nearly a quarter more then the previous), crossed the Pyrenees at the turn of the month, marching unopposed. French forces were joined by the Count of Molina soon after, and in the words of Pasquier, "Carlos shall walk to Madrid."
King Louis XIX, in 1836
Indeed, Carlos marched with little resistance through lands that he had fought bitterly for the previous three years, as liberal forces shattered with news of French intervention flooding every urban center in Spain. In desperation, Isabella II and her mother fled Spain to London, maintaining their claim to the golden throne. Nonetheless, the Count was proclaimed King Carlos V of Spain by the conclusion of the winter season, with reluctant liberals finally accepting the victory of the traditionalists in the bloody Carlist War. The gracious King of Spain bestowed honors on both Oudinot, Maxence, and Pasquier, including restored counties in the north of the Iberian peninsular. Whilst the three were decorated with honors, the ploy of the Prime Minister had succeeded, as Louis and the Marshall paraded across Paris to the cheers of thousands.
King Carlos V, Carlist Pretender (1833-1836), King of Spain (1836-)
The celebrations in France would soon fall silent, for Europe would be thrust into crisis. The catastrophe ignited in the United Kingdom, under the Ministry of William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. Somber reports of a vast goods shortage in the colonies prompted an economic panic in Britain, as prices skyrocketed to the largest price threshold in the history of the nation. The Whigs refused to budge on the matter of government intervention, retaining their stern Laissez-faire politics, even after reports of colonial famine flooded into Parliament. Industrial investors quickly initiated a massive withdrawal, as thousands of workers were laid off to cover the costs of the Industrial goods which had now peaked at 300%. Emergency budget acts slashed different ministries, in a attempt to preserve the economic situation, though the hour was already too later, the crisis now rushed to Europe.
Economic disaster struck massive panic in London
The Ministry of Finance was to be the savior to France, as Christophe, comte de Chabrol de Crouzol, Minister of Finance Affairs, took quick action after early reports, securing a drastic increase in domestic tariffs with approval from Pasquier. The Chamber of Deputies, whilst initially skeptical, rushed into action as urgent telegrams from the United Kingdom prompted swift action. In a matter of hours, tariffs were spiked to 20% and subsidies were quickly compiled for the majority of Industrial facilities. As Europe entered into a great recession, the Ministry managed to bring its Parisian population from a 17% unemployment rate, down to a 4% at the conclusion of the year. The result was defined, Christophe and Jules found themselves quickly as popular figureheads, where as just a few months prior, rumors of rebellion had burned through the north.
In order to sustain the economic situation in friendly states, Maxence (now Minister of Foriegn Affairs), extended the offer of common market treaties to the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont and the Papal States of Rome, both of which would eventually be expanded into full military alliances. Both states managed to whether the storm, but the rest of Europe was not as lucky, especially the Germanic and Northern-Italian states, which relied on English textiles that no longer consistently filled the nation. For other nations, the short-term damage turned out to benefit the local governments, as the economic crisis of 1836-1837 forced them to enter into a sharp period of self-reliance. This was no less important then in France, where the arms industry threatened collapse in early spring, despite the protective polices of Crouzol.
The Prime Minister, was then gifted by another international development, this time focused around the North African colony of Algeria. In 1830, 55,000 French soldiers and 500 French ships under the command of Admiral Duperré and Louis Auguste Victor, Count de Ghaisnes de Bourmont, invaded and annexed the Regency of Algeria, a puppet state of the Ottoman Empire. The years following the invasion had given birth to resistance movements in southern Algeria, most profoundly, the `Abd al-Qādir, under the authority of Abdelkader El Djezairi. Abd al-Qādir, formed a joint coalition of Algerian Tribes, and initiated a consistent raiding of French supply convoys, though they had not impeded on French territory in the north. Nonetheless, the persistent raiding allowed action to be taken by the Prince, whom ordered the transition of forces to the Algerian territory. By the conclusion of March, nearly 48,000 soldiers were stationed in the colony, including the Armée de l'Algérie and Armée de cavalerie régulière.
Abdelkader El Djezairi
Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot was appointed as the head of the 1st Armée de l'Algérie, composed of 30,000 Royalist soldiers. The 1st Army, on the 15th of April, marched upon Constantine, thus triggering the Second Franco-Algerian War. Djezairi commanded 20,000 soldiers in Constantine, and engaged in a defensive struggle to sustain his grasp over the city. The overwhelming numerical advantage allowed Oudinot to push the Algerian forces out of the region, but heavy resistance would weaken the French offensive, preventing either side from delivering a decisive blow on the eastern front. The true war, would occur in the west of Algeria, where the French faced impending defeat from a larger Algerian campaign.
Marshall Nicolas Charles Oudinot, 1st Comte Oudinot, 1st Duc de Reggio
Dkezairi, had organized the conflict to his own preference, drawing the French Army into the Northern Sahara, where the European forces would wither away whilst a standard offensive would be launched from the west. By June, such a operation had been successfully thrust in motion. The French were able to score conventional victories, but each battle brought them heavier and heavier casualties, allowing Dkezairi to spring his trap. Launching from the Moroccan border, 26,000 Algerian troops swiftly captured Oran, and began its quick campaign towards Algeria. Standing in their way was 18,000 French soldiers under General Camille Alphonse Trézel, defending the province of Chlef, less then 80 miles from Algeria. Camile engaged his opponent on the 13th of June, relying on hours of eccentric, yet genius defensive planning that connected all aspects of the terrain, supply lines, and troop diversity. The battle raged fiercely throughout the day, but at its conclusion, heavy artillery barrages forced the Algerian Army into withdraw, facing casualties above 4,000, nearly four times that of the French.
Battle of Chlef, July 13th, 1837.
Camille then drove his forces into pursuit, delivering defeat after defeat on the withdrawing Algerian forces, resulting in the eventual destruction of the western army. With General Camille now pushing south to reinforce Oudinot, Dkezairi was forced to sue for peace, concluding the war with territorial concessions in Constantine. The victory confirmed the increasing power of France as a international power, whilst simultaneously providing for the arms industry by drastically increasing the Industrial demand required to wage the war. In fact, the French arms history became one of the biggest in the world, especially after the Great Indian Revolt and Canadian Rebellions of 1836 forced the importation of French military tools into the United Kingdom. Yet these were only the surface of the disaster that the Master of the World was facing, for soon, a second economic crash struck the British Isles, this time, the United Kingdom would not recover.
On November 22nd, 1837, the United Kingdom declared Bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy? No! It can't be true!
What surprises me most is that such a thing would happen during Melbourne's administration – Melbourne being notably cautious in his approach to politics, though I digress.
Another good update, King. Looking forward to seeing more action in France (not so much looking forward to seeing Britain go under...)
What surprises me most is that such a thing would happen during Melbourne's administration – Melbourne being notably cautious in his approach to politics, though I digress.
Another good update, King. Looking forward to seeing more action in France (not so much looking forward to seeing Britain go under...)
I was shocked as well, but in the terms of IG policy, poor government spending management coupled with a strange influx in prices put the UK in a very...odd position.
In other news, there shall hopefully be a update today.
Congratulations, you've somehow convinced me to give PDM a try, and as a result I've been playing it on and off all week!
Naturally I must applaud France's successful intervention on behalf of the Carlists. It seems you're well on your way to creating an absolutionist power bloc, one European monarchy at a time.
Naturally I must applaud France's successful intervention on behalf of the Carlists. It seems you're well on your way to creating an absolutionist power bloc, one European monarchy at a time.
Personally, I'm kinda concerned about the Bourbons keeping to the promise of Constitutional Monarchy (personally, I feel as though they will revert back to Absolutism as demanded) but nonetheless I look forward to seeing what fate France may lie ahead for them.
Britain going bankrupt and intervention in favour of the Carlists in Spain, all within the first two years! I have a feeling that this absolutist France might just have a shot at re-establishing French hegemony in Europe. But the real test of your credentials will come later when you attempt to keep the Germans disunited.
Liberate Ireland from Bankrupt Britain! Or in some other way kick them while they are down.
Chapter 3: La douleur de l'Europe - Polignac (Louis XIX)
1838-1841
1838-1841
The immediate aftermath of the British declaration sent massive shock-waves across the international stage. The Whig Party forced their political stance to adopt a full reverse, forming a incredibly rare unity-government with the Tories on the request of the new Queen of the United Kingdom, Victoria. Tariffs were spiked across the Empire whilst ministry budgets were slashed in massive quantities, turning the unfortunate economic situation into a small profit, though the populace of London and Manchester suffered horrendously with the levies of new duties by Parliament and the cuts on government programs. As a result, squalor and disease skyrocketed across the capital, especially as more unemployed workers flooded their empty pockets into the crowded streets and alleyways, and talk of rebellion bubbled through the meager shelters of the poor.
Many banks within England suffered repeated bank-runs, as the desperate populace flocked to retrieve their monetary funds.
The successive years of economic crisis had secured the authority of conservative and liberal protectionists across Europe, thus preventing a shock-wave effect that some contemporaries predicted, "would thrust Europe back into war." The central continent was not without its problems however, which surfaced in separate regions, most profoundly in Flanders. The Regent Dukedom of Flanders had been under British protection since the partition of Belgium, with its ports forced open to British Imperial trade and commerce, a policy that was only encouraged by Melbourne's Whig Party. Prime Minister and Lord Regent, Jan Frans Willems of Flanders, had been depicted as the scapegoat for the angered population, whom was suffering as harshly as the British, if not more. Jan had retained his authority as Lord Regent, repeatedly denying the throne to Flemish aristocrats in the hope to sustain his own power within the state. Finally, Willems was forced to cave to the demands of the court, inviting Prosper-Louis, 7th Duke of Arenberg, 13th Duke of Aarschot, 2nd Duke of Meppen and 2nd Prince of Recklinghausen to accept the Duchy of Flanders (which was elevated from a county by a personal declaration on behalf of Willems.) The authority of Prosper-Louis was precarious at best, especially with animosity towards the crown quietly growing. The Duke turned this anger against Willems, dismissing the Fleming from his position and 'temporarily' ruling as the sole figure of Flanders, much to the joy of the common populace, and the anger of the Flemish Nationalists.
Duke Prosper-Louis, 1st Duke of Flanders, 7th Duke of Arenberg, 13th Duke of Aarschot, 2nd Duke of Meppen and 2nd Prince of Recklinghausen
In Paris, the Ultra-Royalists and the Decazes had resolved that confidence had to be sustained within the Monarchy, and had turned once more to Algeria. Even the Doctrinaires, still fearful for their existence, concluded that a resumption of hostilities would be beneficial to the French Industrial sphere, ousting the sole opponent of the move - their own leader, François-René de Chateaubriand. In his place, the seventy-five year old, Pierre Paul Royer-Collard assumed the leadership position and convinced the Chamber of Peers to vote for the resumption of hostilities. Whilst the act passed smoothly through both legislatures, King Louis proclaimed in a Royal Edict, the founding of the Royal Légion étrangère (Royal Foriegn Legion), under the command of Camille Alphonse Trézel, whom reportedly did a public tango after the proclamation. The following week, Camille launched a second invasion of Algeria, crushing a small force of 7,000 before assuming protective control over the Northern Sahara region that stretched into Algeria. The remainder of the resistance forces shattered, and by the midst of Summer, their existence became irrelevant as the province was incorporated into French Algeria.
Camille Alphonse Trézel, General and Marshall of France
The following months witnessed a sharp relapse in the economic depression, however, Europe would no longer be the battleground of recession. In fact, the economic situation had slowly improved in Europe, due to the revived protectionist authority in central Europe. The nations of South America, were not as lucky, for common market treaties enforced by the British refused nations such as Peru and Argentina the ability to raise tariffs on foreign goods. Trade motions had been enacted following the Wars of Independence, which concluded with the Peruvian Victory at the Battle of Ayacucho. British support at such engagements had allowed Parliament to enforce free trade, and these motions remained even after the formation of the unity-government and the government bankruptcy. Argentina, possessing the military capabilities, revoked such treaties, managing to withstand the imminent storm that would strike Peru. Andres de Santa Cruz, Supreme Protector of the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, delivered a report to Agustín Gamarra Messia, President of Peru, stressing the dire situation the autonomous republic was heading towards. Bolivian and Peruvian disputes nearly boiled into war, which was only prevented y the mediating motions of the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Messia, whom had once held the ideals of unity as the highest political calling, dissolved his own creation, and ended the Confederacy. Without the moderate assistance of Bolivia, Peru was thrust into utter anarchy, and by November, it declared bankruptcy to the international stage.
Victory is proclaimed in 1824 following the Battle of Ayacucho.
King Louis and Prince Jules de Polignac convened a series of meetings and arrangements throughout the early weeks of 1839, convinced that the unstable situation in Algeria had to be concluded. The Prime Minister delivered a personal letter to Camille, ordering the General to secure the final holding of Algerian resistance, Tlemcen. Abdelkader El Djezairi had approximately 20,000 soldiers under his command, but a mere 9,000 were active regulars. These statistics complicated the scenario for Camille, whom faced guerilla warfare at every turn towards Tlemcen. By July, Royalist forces had finally confronted their standing opponent at Ben Badis, where the majority of the Algerian Army broke before sunset. Though Algeria had been beaten, its resistance crushed, the tale of war was far from concluded.
Following the victory, King Louis had decided to award Camille for his strokes of brilliance as the commander of the Legion. The General was proclaimed a Marshall of the King, along with the titles of Duc de Villars, Vicomte de Melun, in honor of the famous French war veteran, Claude Louis Hector de Villars. In exchange, Camille appointed Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonné d'Artois, duc de Bordeaux, the Dauphin of France, as a personal lieutenant and cavalry captain. The Dauphin, having spent the previous years of his life within École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, found the life of an officer as a pleasurable and simpler experience. Often, he would lead personal expeditions to resistance hide-outs, much to the pleasure of the Marshall and the distress of the Chambers. Polignac, concerned with the safety of the sole heir apparent, petitioned the King to have the Prince return to France. The King refused, recalling his younger days as the key to public popularity. Within a week, Henry’s position in Algeria was secure, whilst Djezairi’s was crumbling away. Instead, the Algerian leader fled into Morocco on request of the Sultan, Mulai Abd al-Rahman ibn Hisham. Under the protection of the Sultan, Djezairi attempted to persuade Ottoman Commanders to provide assistance to the Moroccans in an effort to liberate Algeria. However, war with Egypt and renewed Royal diplomatic efforts in Istanbul prevented any intervention from the sick man of Europe, thus leaving the task to Morocco.
Mulai Abd al-Rahman ibn Hisham, Sultan of Morocco
The conflict erupted in August, as 32,000 of the Sultan’s forces flooded into Algeria, catching border patrols completely off guard. Approximately 150 cavalry soldiers, under the command of the Dauphin whom was reporting to a full brigade of 5,000, rushed reports of the invasion to Tlemcen. French forces attempted to withdraw to Oran, but Algerian-Moroccan forces managed to halt the advance of the brigade with wild artillery fire. For nearly seven days, French forces were decimated, and fled, forced to prepare for a siege within Tlemcen. As communication lines were cut by marauding forces, word from the Dauphin stopped, and all of France entered into a frenzy. Calls for emergency negotiations and the formation of a succession council gripped the mortified streets of Paris. Le National published a famous headline, declaring the possible execution of the Prince as revenge for the colonization, as liberals and conservatives alike questioned the course of the situation. From this tremendous paranoia, Marshall Camille found an opportunity to multiply his personal glory tenfold. Amassing an army of 30,000, Camille stormed towards the besieged city to relieve the entrapped force. The Sultan, sustained a token force at Tlemcen, riding east to confront Camille at the Second Battle of Ben Badis. According to legend, fellow officers were doubtful of Camille’s plan to launch a risky infantry charge at the Moroccan exposed flank. In response, ‘the mad general,’ stripped himself down to the nude, forcing the officers to flee in horror. From then forth, Camille made absolute military decisions over the engagement. On the morning of the 13th of September, Camille proceeded with his infantry assault, covered by a light cavalry charge on the right flank. At all other fronts, French forces sustained a defensive stance, but by noon the Royalist army was in a counter-attack, driving the broken Moroccan forces from the field. The battle resulted in an estimated 16,000 casualties, 14,000 of whom were Moroccan and Algerian soldiers. The battle was total in its nature, resulting in the French invasion of Morocco, which concluded in November. The Sultan was forced to recognize the French annexation of Algeria, withdraw support for resistance movements, and provide a large war reparation to the victorious forces. The long Algerian War, finally ended.
The Second Battle of Ben Badis, during the infantry charge of General Camille.
Yet the yoke of conflict did not conclude, it merely moved. And once more, Spain occupied the affairs of France.
Near the conclusion of 1839, liberals and angered plebeians took to the streets of Madrid in opposition to the absolutist reign of King Carlos V. Many amongst them were Cristinos, groups of progressive-thinkers that desired the restoration of the Ferdinand line, through the placement of deposed Isabel II on the throne of Spain. Triggered by the death of the prominent Cristinos leader, Luis Fernández de Córdova, thousands poured into the crowded streets of the urban centers, most profoundly in South-Eastern Spain. The reaction of the Carlists was swift and vicious, as Royal forces, led by Tomás de Zumalacárregui e Imaz, purged the alleys with military suppression and public executions. Isidro de Alaix Fábregas, Count of Vergara and Viscount of Vullarrobledo, an exiled liberal politician and former Minister of War, proclaimed rebellion against Carlos on the final day of November. The numbers of the rebels multiplied with astounding speed, and by the conclusion of the year, nearly 175,000 citizens were in revolt against the Infante. Rebel forces fell under the command of Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara, a radical liberal and former general whom had operated as a underground resistance leader. Espartero quickly made his return public to the Spanish people, coining himself “General de las rebeliones,” with his troops massing by the day.
Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara, General of the Rebellion
King Carlos appointed Rafael Maroto Yserns, 1st Duke of la Victoria, 1st Duke of Morella, 1st Count of Luchana, 1st Viscount of Banderas, the Carlist victor of the Civil Wars, to bring about the end of the rebellion with 75,000 regulars, ordering the Duke to bring about a swift conclusion to the insurrection. Yserns attempted to break through Esparteros legions, but was subsequently defeated in a string of battles. As January rolled forth, nearly the entirety of Southern Spain had fallen to rebel forces, with the liberals pushing forth to Madrid. Carlos fled north upon receiving reports that Carlist forces had withered down to a mere 30,000 soldiers, rushing ambassadors to the court of King Louis XIX. Foreign dignitaries of Carlos were received by Maxence and Polignac, whom were well aware that France was weary of conflict. Nonetheless, the necessary containment of Spain exceeded the importance of the wavering stability of the Parisian populace, and thus, the entirety of the Royal standing armies were motioned to intervene in Spain. Thus, the Third Expedition of the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis began. This time, modern historians unanimously agree that his intervention exceeded the 100,000 soldiers that the expeditions had been named after, despite contemporary criticism of such claims. To the matter of the leader of such a expedition, there was no debate. Marshall Camille was given military command whilst the Duke of Bordeaux was granted honorary command, whilst in truth he remained military subservient to Camille. The Chamber of Peers and Deputies once again attempted to block the participation of the Crown Prince, but Louis denied any intervention by the legislature a second time.
The bulk of Camille’s army numbered approximately 103,000 soldiers, with its main intention to rescue Madrid from the impending rebel occupation. Espartero sent his largest force, at 95,000 soldiers, to block the advance of the Royal Army. Behind his major force, however, stood a reserve army of 15,000, and by the time French forces neared the battlefield at Teruel, liberal general Jerónimo Valdés had seized Madrid and cracked down on Carlist institutions. Camille was now well aware that the intervention had taken too long to amass, and thus launched a vigorous offensive against the Prince of Vergara. Thousands perished on the battlefields of Teruel, marking the largest battle in the 19th century since Leipzig. Over 190,000 combatants would be involved, with hundreds of artillery pieces and tens of thousands of cavalry. The battle ended on May 17th, with nearly 21,000 rebels killed, a quarter of the rebel force. The rebels were not defeated however, with nearly 5 other armies present in the south, and the majority of Esperanto’s army still intact. Intending to strike a decisive blow, Camille launched an attack on the rebel stronghold of Avila, lacking sufficient supplies and with Valdes reinforcing the rebel armies, the Royal Armies were defeated and forced to withdraw, despite having suffered fewer casualties than their opponents. Following the battle, Prince Henry unleashed a ruthless cavalry campaign across the countryside, scoring several minor victories as the Expedition regrouped. Yet the battle of Avila had done enough damage for both sides, forcing Valdes and Esperanto to withdraw to Madrid. Camille then counter-attacked, retaking Madrid and launching a successful campaign against the southern armies of Spain. The arrival of the replenished Carlist armies sealed the defeat for the Crtistinos War, but the devastating result on Spain would leave its mark.
The Battle of Teruel - May 17th, 1840
So sad about the Dauphin. Also I don't see the military advantage to be gained from your commanding officer being naked, but you can't argue with results I guess.
The Dauphin is still alive, his just brief absence caused uproar and panic in France. And in regards to being nude, well, it merely scared his fellow officers out of his tent, which from hence, gave him total command of the forces.
I have a feeling that if this Prosper-Louis met his counterpart from EoE, he might be very surprised...
Despite victories against all forms of democracy that I hold so dear, this is fascinating stuff. Your writing style is excellent. Keep it coming!
Despite victories against all forms of democracy that I hold so dear, this is fascinating stuff. Your writing style is excellent. Keep it coming!
A very well written and entertaining AAR, even if that particular passage is quite strange. Is it an historical reference that I don't know?
I wasn't reading carefully enough I guess.
In any case, Ireland could be liberated under a Bourbon prince. Think about it!
Next part should be Saturday, which shall include...
(Enter not so dramatic but dramatic music)
Elections.
(Enter not so dramatic but dramatic music)
Elections.
Chapter 4 - The Elections of 1841 (Louis XIX)
Over the course of seven years, France had existed in a perpetual state of war with both foreign and domestic opponents. The jingoistic desires of the Ultra-Royalists had done little to calm to storm of French Aggression, promoting conflicts in Algeria and in West Africa, as well as constant interventions within Spain. By the conclusion of the Third Expedition, war exhaustion amongst the weary population had grown large, stirring anger amongst the commoners. Underground factions flooded Paris with propaganda, directing the attention towards the total lack of voting rights, and miserable conditions in the urban and industrial centers. Initially, dissent remained constrained to Paris, but soon, fury towards the Monarchy and restrictions on freedoms violently spread across the Kingdom, even reaching into military encampments, where soldiers began to question superior officers and mutinies ran high. This was the atmosphere that the First Minister inherited when he convened the elections in January, as flyers of slander littered the bustling alleys of Enclos-St-Laurent. Initially, Polignac sought to calm the middle class by slashing tariffs in half, from a ten percent duty, down to a five percent. Whilst this alteration assisted many in France, it did not spur away the unrest. Even the completion of the trans-national railroad, stretching from Carcassonne to Dunkirk, could halt the rapid rise of liberalism amongst the frenzied populace.
A series of international bankruptcies (including that of Argentina), coupled with a bad harvest, thrust the popular opinion down the drain. As worried nobles prepared for elections, rioting civilians took to the streets, destroying government property in resistance to the Second July Ordinances and other reactionary policies. Polignac was concerned that a stern response would only promote unruly behavior, but was nonetheless encouraged by the aristocracy to respond with force and provide the cities with extra soldiers. Louis, concerned that the stability of the nation would be entirely placed on a single election, poured aristocrats into the Chamber of Peers, drowning rumors that "closet-liberals" occupied a large proportion of the Chambers. In reality, such accusations were partially true, for Pierre Paul Royer-Collard had secretly unraveled the actual political positions of many nobles within the Chambers, recruiting them to their side as secret moderates, opposed the the repression of the civilians freedoms. Arguments within the Chamber of Deputies spiraled out of control following the actions of Louis, with liberals proclaiming it was a total abuse of the Charter of 1814. The Ultra-Reactionaries and sects of the Decazes fervently opposed the accusations of the liberals, until it reached a climactic finale, when the famous French writer, Alphonse-Marie-Marcellin-Thomas Bérenger marched to the center of the Parliament and famously proclaimed; "Vive la République!"
Bérenger was seized by guards, and was almost immediately rushed in front of a sham court, charged with treason against the King. Full aware that his fate was set, Alphonse continued his infamous declarations, including: "Louis est un homme mort." After less then thirty minutes, Alphonse was dragged outside and shot by a firing squad of five soldiers, one of whom refused to shoot. The execution was widely publicized across France, as riots broke out across the country, especially in the North, where Bread Riots became frequent as the bad harvest had fueled the dissent towards the government. Scared Aristocrats withdrew to the countryside, as the opposition attempted to block the nobility from voting in April, a trend that was only broken by military intervention. The election, was decisive in its nature, for the frightened aristocracy flocked to the Decazes and Ultra-Royalists for protection, securing the coalitions majority for a second time, though the Doctrinaires were able to pull away from their previous disaster and rally more then sixty seats, feeding off the "closet-liberals" and the panic of the Aristocracy.
The re-election of the royalist parties outraged hundreds of thousands of peasants and workers, and further escalating the precarious situation. Posquier, concerned with the safety of the King, convinced Louis to stay with Carlos in Northern Spain, publicizing it as a Spring vacation. Louis was joined by his nephew, Henry, both of whom were hosted by the Prince Infante, Carlos, Count of Montemolin. On July 15th, Carlos received a urgent telegram from Paris.
To King Louis
STOP
Urgent News
STOP
Revolution
STOP
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