Mughal miseries

[unmerged(8545)]

Report 8
1576-1578 Construction of a refinery in Jaipur.
1577-1586 Colonisation in Howrah.
1578. Trade war with Turkey in Alexandria.
1579. With the Turkish alliance about to expire,
1580. Trade level increases to Late baroque (level 6).
With this advance, we switch all investments to the navy, which leads to a series of rapid advancements:
1581. Navy tech increases to metal canon balls (level 4).
1584. Construction of Galleons (level 5)
1585. Naval tech gets to Astrolab (level 6).
1589. Navel tech improves to early cartography (level 7).
1583. 12000 Portuguese under Antonio dom Crato land in Mangalore. We incite the natives into a revolt, after which they thoroughly exterminate its population. However, their arrival reminds us of the need to improve our technology, and investments are switched back to trade.
1588: When the Portuguese leave, we establish a trade post in Managalore.
1589-1591: Construction of a naval equipment factory in Madhya.
1576-1599: every few years, Turkey declares war on Mameluks. These declarations prevent us to invite Turkey into our alliance.
1589. The government in Persia is broken by rebels. When our alliance with the Uzbeks ends, we renew it. However, they refuse our offer to get promoted to the status of Vassal.
Alliance with Uzbeks renewed (realtion +200).
1592. In August, the new Persian government declares war on the Uzbeks. We are loyal to our allies, as the Persians still have a few provinces that look worth a small effort.
We suffer a major defeat in the field in Akbar (30000/3000/60 vs 1000/2000/0, a smashing majority, but still defeat, sigh)
Several tiny forces of 1000 infantry keeps Akbar at bay in Iraq (guns slow him down), and attrition wears his army down from 44000 men to 26000.
Slowly Kirkut, Kars and Nuyssaybin come under siege.
1593. During most of the year, 37000 Uzbeks siege Isfahan while 43000 Persians siege Uzbek owned Persis.
1594. In April, the Uzbeks surrender Persis to the Persians! A war about to win, three armies of 78000/12000/190 reduced to 18000/3000/170. If I can lay my hands on the fool you sent to Uzbek....
1593-1594: Ganghes is quietly expanded into a colony of over 1000 people.
1595. 31000 infantry recruited to reinforce the depleted army.
1596. 1900 French land in Cochin. They establish trade posts in Cochin and Madurai. At the end of the reported period, the Indian continent is free of messengers of our enemy, except for 4 trade posts: Portugal(Goa), France(Cochin, Madurai) and Pondicherri(England).
My boss looked up from the report.
"Someday I will gladly tell you the name of my man in Uzbek. He's not as dumb as you seem to think. But now about Turkey. Something is wrong. It was created to have its great potential turned against the European powers. But it is wasting its potential against the Mameluks. True, it gains money every time, but it should fight the European powers of our enemies. I repeat my command to turn it around!"
"You mean I get control of two countries? A promotion?"
His look was filled with scorn and contempt:
"What brought that thought into your mind? No, if you can't get it into their alliance, join theirs. Then declare war on Hungary and Austria."
(ooc: Turkey seems to have a scripted desire to annex Mameluks, and does not seem to declare any wars as long as Mameluks are around. But when setting up the game, I made Persia, Turkey and Mameluks major powers, so they can not be annexed. I did not foresee these results and I am trying to remedy the situation slightly, and its in line with the story plot.)

 

[Morpheus506]

Perhaps you should consider forcing Persia to convert to Sunni, and then pull them into your alliance as well.

 

[Lord E]

Originally posted by Morpheus506
Perhaps you should consider forcing Persia to convert to Sunni, and then pull them into your alliance as well.

This is a good proposal, but I am not sure if it is possible to force convert muslim countries in EUI

¨Great AAR CP kepp it up

 

[saskganesh]

sunni's have the option of convert or annex shiites, like Counter Reform catholics do to protestants and reform. unlike with the christians, whihc is a one way street, i think the feeling's mutual, so shiites can force convert a whole sunni nation too.

 

[Morpheus506]

Yeah. I learned that off of Kekkonen's Turkey AAR.

 

[unmerged(8545)]

I have not yet seen this option in peace negotiations, but I will certainly kep my eyes open.
Btw, when I played persia, I did not have the option to go sunni. Shia was my only possible religion.

 

[Lord E]

Originally posted by saskganesh
sunni's have the option of convert or annex shiites, like Counter Reform catholics do to protestants and reform. unlike with the christians, whihc is a one way street, i think the feeling's mutual, so shiites can force convert a whole sunni nation too.

Ok, I diden't know that. I haven't really played with that many muslim nations for a very long time

But I absolutly look like a smart think to do, if you can

 

[unmerged(8545)]

Report 9:
1601-1625. Our market share in Delhi requires continuous attention. Usually we need all 7 merchants to keep away foreign traders. The effort is worth it, out of 2000 we earn about 1200 a year - when we are the sole traders. Around 1611 we loose our monopoly, numerous merchants want to trade in Delhi, and it takes about 10 years before our merchants can compete them away.

1601-1605: Recruit troops at the rate of 15000/year to reinforce the army.

1603. Our alliance with the Uzbeks expires. This time we do not renew it. Over the past 25 years, we have waited in vain for an opportunity to invite Turkey into our alliance. Instead, we spend 100gp to improve the relation with Turkey and they ask us right away to enter their alliance.

1605. Jahangir takes over government.
We let him start his reign with a declaration of war on France - they have 2 adjacent trade posts on our continent, constitute a severe risk to our trade monopoly in Delhi.
Many minors (Wallachia, Oman, Aden) + Sweden drop out of the alliance. But Turkey joins our war, and starts raising troops to send them to unlikely locations. The DoW allows Akbar to move through Ottoman territory to Albania with 60 guns, 1000 cavalry and 30.000 infantry.
After three failed colonization attempts in Mangalore the fourth succeeds and we offer France peace. The French accept. Meanwhile, Akbar marches on to Albania.

1605-1608: The First Venetian war.
In October of 1605, the same month we arrive in Albania, we declare war on Venice. Akbar marches and sieges Venice owned Ragusa and lays siege to it. The Turkish forces lay siege to Croatia. The Venetian main army of 43.000 men defeats the Ottomans, and goes on to Serbia.

1606. We take Ragusa! The main purpose has already been achieved: The large Turkish potential is now active against the enemy states. The cost of course has been high: of the 30.000 men just a few hundreds are left. We must constantly reinforce them with armies of 7000 men from Iraq and Kars, but these are generally down to a few thousand souls when they finally arrive.
Turkey sieges Croatia again, while the Venetians take Serbia. We suffer a major defeat in Illyria, but get back there later. Ouch! These walls are defended by 10.000 men!

1607. While 40.000+ Turkish and Venetian armies siege Croatia and Serbia, and change position when these have fallen, we siege Illyria with about 14.000 men. When it finally falls, we continue to lay siege to Istria and Venice itself. We need a continuous recruitment of troops in Kars and Iraq to keep up our force in Istria, and are kicked out of Venice.

In 1608, after numerous neutral peace offers, Venice offers Ragusa. We accept. Revolts are frequent in the old Mysore and Hyderabad areas, and these cost us already a factory. Attrition is high in Istria, and numerous counterattacks have often set back our efforts.

1606: During the war, we invented the secret of protectionism (trade level 6).

1608-1610: Construction of a naval equipment factory in Agra.

1609-1625: While it was war our monopoly in Delhi remained uncontested, but now merchants are active again. All investments are funneled into stability to get rid of the revolts.

1609. Turkey falls back into its old habit of declaring war on Mameluks.

1610. Mameluks pay Turks for peace. Two months later we are back at Stability +3.
We sent 4 traders to Novgorod.

1610-1620: slow build up of an army in Ragusa, as well as a small fleet of transports. Alas we are unable to copy the art of galley building as we see practiced by others in the Mediterranean.

1611-1613: Expansion of Berhampur colony.

1612. 2700 Danes invade Trivandrum. They kill the population and leave a few years later. Of all nations, then Danes are the least expected.

1614. Turkey offers to share explorations, an offer we gladly accept. But their maps are a disappointment, we had hoped for the entire East coast of Africa, but alas, their maps show Tanga as their southernmost point, we do not believe them.

1615. Russians declare war on our dearest Friends, the Uzbeks. I consider declaring war on Russia, but the Russians have just very poor provinces adjacent to the Uzbeks, and Mughal has already for separate pieces of land to defend. Besides, the Persians come to the rescue of the Uzbeks.
The war ends in 1618, with the Russians paying Persia for indemnities.

Turkey declares war on the Mameluks, we declare a pro forma war.
The Spanish, together with the Hessian allies, also suppress the uncivilized Dutch rebels. The Netherlands cease to exist.

1616-1618: Construction of a fine arts academy in Delhi.
All investments go into land tech. We invent metal bullets (land tech 7).

1617. To prevent the English to settle further, we eradicate the population of Madras and settle our own trade post.

1618. The tiny Knights get involved into a war between Sweden and Denmark, but alas they keep their island fortified with 38000 men. Had they not, we might have grabbed the opportunity to expand our European foothold. Out tiny Ragusa based fleet can not carry enough troops to annex these old servants of our enemy. France tries in vain to establish trade posts in Trivandrum.

1619. Observations of the Venetians show they have a standing army of 43000 men. France thrice repeats its failed effort to settle in Trivandrum.

1620. We invent the compass (naval tech 9) and the harquebus (land tech 8).

1621. The second Venetian war.
In April, Russia breaks her royal marriage with Bohemia and declares war on her. This results in a war between Bohemia, Brandenburg and Poland on one side against Russia, Crimea, Hanseatic league and ... Venice!
We declare war on Venice, and our example is followed by Turkey. We leave it to Turkish diplomats to sort our the mess, Oman, Aden and Wallachia drop out of the alliance as they dishonor the alliance.
We send our 35.000 men from Ragusa to Illyria, while our Ottoman allies march with 17000 men to Venice owned Croatia. Here they meet death on the battlefield, crushed by 32000 Venetians. Another army of 92000 Venetians marches through Croatia north into Hungary. Did I say Hungary? I should have said Poland. At some moment Poland has annexed Hungary. No doubt a protective measure against Islam.
Our Ottoman allies make a comeback and fresh troops start to besiege Croatia.

1622. We make slow progress with the siege in Illyria, and can recruit 2000/year in Ragusa to replace losses. And these losses are going fast, the 35.000 men army have dwindled down to 13.000 in one year. An army of 20.000 raw Venetian recruits assaults our veteran army in Illyria when it has grinded it walls down to -3. They nearly succeed in breaking us, when they break first. But only after heavy casualties, we still have 86 cannon left, but only 500 of our 6.000 cavalry and 600 of our 3.000 infantry.
They lost just 2.000 men themselves....
All investments go into stability, else it would take 5 years to regain 1 stability point. And a stability of +1 causes revolts (+1 religion, +3 tax collector, -3 stability when my stability is at +1).
After this, the walls of Illyria remain at -3 despite the 86 cannon from March-December. In December, we are assaulted by a 10.000 men army. By that time we are back at 5000/900/86, but again escape defeat by a small margin.

1623. In May, after about 7 failed attempts to storm it, the Ottomans finally take Croatia. 25.000 Venetians, the united remnants of the forces defeated by Mughal, now march on Croatia again. The Ottomans however join our forces in Illyria, taking over command. One month later prince Kharam finally arrives from Iraq, where he left about a year before. Together we storm Illyria, after which the Venetians offer it in exchange for peace. Though a fair offer, this is not enough. I want maps!
The Venetians have assembled an impressive army of 30.000 men in Istria, but together with the Turks we crush it. The price however is extremely high: we enter it with 63.000 infantry, 7.000 cavalry and 368 cannon (reinforcements from Iraq) and leave the battle field as victor with just 13.000 men and 170 cannon. While the Ottomans try to storm this small fortress, we march on to Venice itself.

In august 1624 their capitol is taken, and Turkey grabs its chance to bring Croatia home as a war trophy.
January sees 9.000 Venetian foot landing in Venice. When we take Mantua, they are distracted from their siege. We defeat them with ease, and next month crush a 7000 cavalry army in the same province. On to Milan!
The conquest of Venice has partly opened the world to us. We now have knowledge of a sea route around Africa. We send colonists to Table, to supply our navy en route.
July: Harquebusiers (land tech 9).
Japan closes its trade to the west.
In December 1625, we gain Milan. Now they have just 3 islands left, and Istria. Problem: Prince Khurram is locked in Milan with 2000 infantry and 168 cannon. A strong Venetian force of over 40.000 men besieging Mantua prevents his return, and it seems to strong to attack.
The Doge keeps offering Illyria. Once Mantua was offered along, but our counter offer of Illyria, Milan and Mantua was rejected. The problem is: we can't get to the islands. Our naval tech is just not up to these guys. (ooc: our 3 warships lost from their single ship).

"This report" my boss held the paper up in his hand. "reads as a continuous series of failures. Here: Market share needs continuous attention! I translate this as: our merchants are competed away again and again. And here: Around 1611 we loose our monopoly. And here: Many minors (Wallachia, Oman, Aden) + Sweden drop out of the alliance.. So you failed to bring them into the war as well. And what's this: to get rid of the revolts. Revolts, eh? Can't you keep order? And here: Alas we are unable to copy the art of galley building. and so it goes on till our counter offer of Illyria, Milan and Mantua was rejected. Failure after failure, how long do I have to tolerate this?"
"There were successes too. We held up an absolute monopoly in Delhi for over nearly a decade, totaling all years. We successfully turned Turkeys attention around, and had it fight the European states. We gained Ragusa from Venice, and we just conquered their capitol and discovered their maps. Alas they have no knowledge of what lies east of us. But I feel confident we can conclude the present war with territorial gains from them."
"You'd better see that you do... Or else..."
"Or else?" I asked.
He did not answer directly.
"You did hear about our guy in Germany, did you?" he asked.
I did not need to know more. Some things are too bad to describe.
But he was not yet done with me. He added: "Also, you are playing around in Europe too much. Europe is under guard of a colleague of mine. He complained that you are upsetting his plans. So next time, also see to it that you get your first foothold in Indonesia."
"I understand." I turned to leave his officed.
"Don't levae before I finished! I have laboured greatly on your behalf." my boss added. You may have noticed that the Dutch ceased to exist. My European colleague has arranged this on my request. It should ease your colonization of Indonesia. You see I have done everything to ease your mission."
"You mean you are not leaving me an excuse for failure. But in reality, your action may have the reverse result. I am low on colonists - if the Dutch had settled part of the country, I would just have to conquer it. Now I have to populate the islands all by myself."
"Built a shipyard and you will see that it inspires a new love for the sea. It will instantaneously double the number of people that will want to leave."
My boss. hihi. Never suspected he even knew the word love. For our kind, it is of course one of the most distasteful words that exist. Right from the vocabulary of our enemy.

 

[Morpheus506]

Poor Mameluks!

It seems a shame to have Turkey keep DoWing the Mameluks, their brothers in Islam. If you got them into your alliance, you could turn Turkey's attention (and armies) to better places (**cough**Persia**cough**).

 

[unmerged(8545)]

Re: Poor Mameluks!

Originally posted by Morpheus506
It seems a shame to have Turkey keep DoWing the Mameluks, their brothers in Islam. If you got them into your alliance, you could turn Turkey's attention (and armies) to better places (**cough**Persia**cough**).

This is exactly the reason why I joined the Turkish alliance - to turn their attention elsewhere.
No, not Persia. Europe! Though they are a great help against Persia too.

 

[Morpheus506]

Yeah, Europe would be a more logical target, but wouldn't that just make your boss mad? After all, his person in Europe did take out the Netherlands for you.....

 

[unmerged(8545)]

Report 10.
The second Venetian war (Cont'd).
In April 1626, the Doge suggests a peace treaty for the three non-capitol provinces we control. I accept, though I could have used the shipyard well, but the new provinces will take some time to pacify. Also, the number of revolts is growing, and I don't want to loose more factories. The new provinces of Milan and Mantua bring in a lot of money, and will provide us with a population base sufficient to recruit the forces we need for the annexation of entire Venice. And we do need a shipyard, colonization is going to slow.

1626-1639: The colony in Table is enlarged with a trade post in Karroo and a colony in Ciskei. The colony itself is also expanded to 1000+ people.

We continue to use our trade income to improve the army and navy with much needed reforms:
1627: Land tech advances to increased fire range(10).
1630. The army harquebusiers are equipped with matchlocks (land tech 10). The fleets sail better when topsails are hoisted (naval tech 11).
1632: The navy equips its ships with forward guns (naval tech 12).
1636: The navy officers are equipped with early optics (naval tech 13).

1627. The Spanish annex the Inca empire.
1628. Shah Jahan rules.
1633: Illyria revolts, and though our cavalry ride them down, they have captured the town so we are oblige to sit out a lengthy siege.
1634: We start a colony in Aires, in order to have a forward base for operations against Portugal in the far future.
1636: When the Turkish alliance expires, we are unable to take the lead in it - all minors refuse us. So we accept the Turkish proposal to join it when they reform it.
1637: The concepts of Liberalism (trade level 8) enrich our merchants.
1638: A series of wars set of when First England and then Spain declares war on France.
Traders report a kingdom to our east, Ayutthaya, declared war on another kingdom even further east, called Dai Viet. We don't know the exact location of either one.
1639: In the course of the French-English war, 7000 Portuguese land in Pondicherri and burn the English trading post.
Ayutthaya pays the Dai Viet off for peace.
1639: Austria cedes Baden to France, England escapes by paying money.

(ooc: CtD! Upon reloading the game with my start of the year, the trade center in Delhi has been halved from 1000+ to 533!)

Austria hands ownership of Baden over to France, but this time Venice declares war on England. Venice has a 38000 men force in Istria. But my hope that this force will leave for the English shores evaporates. Instead, Venice recruits another 17000 men in Venice itself.
The Doge is not in a hurry, the Venetian fleet arrives piecemeal, and with newly recruited troops, and with troops brought from elsewhere the Venetian army swells to 69000 men. Only once it ships 7000 men to an unknown destination.
1640: France establishes a trade post in Pondicherri.
In October 1640 we discover how to organize Logistics (land tech 11), so we start exploring the country to our east.

In December, the Venetians finally ship part of their armies of to who-knows-where. Probably to England, which is in deeeep trouble: It even has to pay of Eire. Scotland controls and owns every thing north of Wales-Bristol-Anglia.
This presents an opportunity. We declare war on Venice, and call for assistance of our alliance. Of course all minors forego their obligations, but as usual Turkey comes to our assistance.

The third Venetian war.
Initially the war goes well, we crush a 43000 men Venetian army near their capitol. But then a 17000 men army lands, and kick us out of the lagoon. 17000 men vs 68000/15000/399, that is. They chase us on to Mantua, and defeat us their again. The remnants (13000/12000/294) limp back to Milan. On the other side the war is not going well either: the Venetians beat us time and again and siege both Ragusa and Illyria. I am lucky the Turks help us to siege Istria. When we take Istria on November, all Venetian force leave their current business and kick us out of the province. Well, their siege of Istria enables us to besiege Venice itself with our demoralized army. We make a come back and siege Istria again when the Venetian armies leave east.
1642: The navy starts to armour masts (navy tech 14).
In March 1643 we take Venice, and they offer Istria, an offer we decline.
We can ship 7000 men to start conquering the Venetian islands, but find Corfu defended by 23000 men and Crete by another 18000.
1645 brings more defeats in the field. With great effort, we land 8000 men on Cyprus. But then we can not reinforce it. 4 galleys keep beating our 13 men-of-war fleet. This years shows us also the secret of fire ships (naval tech 15).

1646 brings a Dow of Portugal on Morocco. Most minors forego their obligations, but we accept. We burn the Portuguese trade post in Goa. The Portuguese must be cowards, for 2 full years we wait in vain for a naval engagement. Nowhere can their navy be discovered.
September brings us improved rigging (naval tech 16), also allowing us shipyards. That means we no longer need to conquer Venice in order to control a shipyard, we can build our own in Kutch!

1647. In January we spot a single Portuguese transport of the coast of Table. 9 Men of war engage it, and bring home a whole series of new maps. In May their capitol falls, and we claim a separate truce for Istria and Cyprus. Their other islands are all well guarded with armies of 18.000 men or more, the effort to take them would require much of our strength. Strength we need somewhere else. In Indonesia, for example.

The first Portuguese war.
This leaves Portugal as our opponent. It turns out that Turkey has Portuguese Tangiers under siege with 39000 men. The question is: are there large armies in Portugal itself? Portugal has surprising few colonies. Its only real possession, apart from ist homeland, is Zambeli on the east coast of Africa. On the Brazilian coast they own a long series of trade posts, and a single colony with slightly over one hundred inhabitants. In Indonesia, they also own just trade posts, with the exception of Manado, where an important trade center is located in a tiny colony (200 people).

In a war between France and Spain, France receives Antigiua and Lorraine.

In a naval engagement the Portuguese sink one of our ships of the coast of Table, forcing our army of 6000 men to march overland to Zambeli. In the absence of the Dutch, we establish trade posts in Jambi and Palembang. Our trade post in Cochin is upgraded to a colony.

A revolt of 73000 men in Milan is beaten down. The Po is nicknamed 'the red river'.

1648. Cyprus revolts, but the revolts is crushed.
Refined saltpeter (naval tech 17) is an invention that will no doubt help our navies to stand up more against the Portuguese - we lost several engagements, and our Mediterranean fleet got chased away from the Portuguese coast, leaving half of the fleet behind.
The Portuguese block most of our harbors, but a small fleet succeeds in breaking the blockade in October and sets sail for Manado. Small armies from table chase the Portuguese out of Zambeli and towards the end of the year the first artillery starts arriving to siege the small fortress. With the navy catching up on the Portuguese, though not quit on the same level, we switch all investments to the army. It will take a grueling 9 years to equip our vast armies with muskets.

1649.
Advancements in the manufacturing of ship guns now allows us to equip our ships with 18-pounders (naval tech 18).
Portugal attempts a small invasion in Illyria, but our army drives them back into the sea. Illyria is in revolt, and so is Ragusa.
Manado is taken, but Portugal just goes on claiming impossible amounts of money. Zambeli remains under siege. Once we attempt to storm it, but our technology is not yet up against western technology.

Attempts to expand the trade post in Kerala to a small colony, in order to be less vulnerable, fail several times. Santal however grows to 110 people.

1650.
A surprise attack of 1000 Portuguese infantry nearly destroys our 5000/0/30 army besieging Zambeli. In December, Ragusa declares independent.
The number of revolts is growing. Independent Ragusa pesters us with small attacks, and every second or third month we see a new revolt in southern India. War exhaustion is large in the heathen provinces.

"What exactly are you trying to get done? Annexing Portugal? I told you not to interfere in European matters!" My boss had that angry look again. I didnt need more than one look to know how he felt.
"And an abysmall performance to boot!" he hissed. "Three wars with a small country, and still not annexed."
"Development has concentrated on trade." I explained. "Weapon development has suffered. Europe is clearly leading the arms race. But with the income from the rich trade in Delhi, we are catching up."
"You failed to establish yourself in Indonesia. During our last meeting, I told you in no uncertain terms to do so. You are very weak. Your coasts in India still have many provinces open for colonization. Other provinces just have trade posts which can be burned by the first ship passing along. The French have trade posts in two provinces. They can easily upgrade them to colonies, and if you dont burn them, they will certainly do."
"We only just discovered Indinesia. We needed the war with Portugal just for that purpose. If we hadnt fought that war, we would still be in the dark about its location."
"I am working on Santal. That should close the unsettled interior provinces from our enemies. After that, we just need more colonists to settle them all." I had no intention to settle them all, but he didnt need to know that.
"You contradict your own report." he remarked. "I dont mind that you lie, but at least see to it that you are not caught that easily."
"Contradict?" I raised my eyebrow.
"Yes, you say you need more colonists. But you waste them on Aires, another region outside our jurisdiction. And you wasted 13 full years to build a settlement on the tip of South Africa. A third continent where you have nothing to do. You are clearly wasting valuable resources we entrusted to you."
"Well, frankly, I thought I'd need it to take that Portuguese post in Zambeli."
He shook his head.
"This sounds like a silly excuse. I am afraid you are infected with a taste for building up stuff. If so, it should be cured. We burn, we break down. We promote progress in the minds of people, but we shouldnt fall into our own traps. Technological and Economical advancements are a great trap to keep the mindsof people occupied. If their thoughts are thus occupied, that keeps them from thinking about the words of oru enemy. WE should know that the hearts and minds of people are never affected by progress. There is no progress in that respect."
"One of the rare moments you speak the truth" I remarked. "I will remember it."

 

[unmerged(8545)]

europe somewhere around 1650:

 

[unmerged(8545)]

Report 11

1651. Venetian war, cont'd.
In a last effort to decide the war in our favor, we burn a series of Portuguese trade posts. They refuse to give up anything.
With no prospect of gaining any new territory in Portugal itself, we agree to a blank peace. Portugal regains Zambeli, it had already re-conquered Manado.
We annex Ragusa, which had revolted and declared itself independent.
In the territory lost by P., new trade posts are established in Sunda and Bandung. This represents the only benefit from the prolonged war with Portugal.

Arms race
Research of naval and army improvements continue throughout the period covered by this report:
1652. The navy discovers the advantages of long range artillery. (navy 19).
1655. Army is equipped with Muskets (land tech 12).
1661. New muskets are handed out to the troops (land tech 13) in October.
1662. Refined saltpeter (land tech 14) is the newest craze in gunpowder.
1667. Pistols (land tech 15) will add our cavalry when charging.
1668. The army discovers squadron formation (land tech 16). The navy discovers how to put gun batteries on the lower deck(tech 20).
The army groups its light pieces into light artillery batteries (land tech 17).
1669. Caracole(land tech 18). Circumvallation lines (land tech 19).
1670. Mobile artillery (land tech 20).
1671. Mortars (land tech 21).
1671. Naval tech: advanced cartography (21).
1673. Naval tech: improved hulls(22).
1674. The navy is equipped with light artillery (naval tech 23). A new navy is being built in the Med.

1654-1675. Commerce.
Knowledge of the great trade center in Manado enables us to compete with Portugal for a monopoly in this extremely rich center of commerce. This costs us shiploads of money, but is well worth it. Without the monopolies in these two centers, the advancements of army and navy would have been considerably slower. Our traders have more knowledge of trade than any one else in the world, enabling is to be the only traders in these two centers during parts of the period.

Colonization.
1662-1670: Continuous expansion of our colony in Santal. In 1670, the colony has expanded to 1000+ people.
In 1671, we establish a trade post in Sumbawa.
In 1674, Yanam is depopulated, a trade post is built and later expanded to a 100 people strong colony.

Wars and assorted bits
1653. Turkey falls back in its old habit of declaring war on the Mameluks.

1655-1656. England declares war on France. The next year, England gets out of its war with France by paying all its gold.

Civil war 1658-1661.
1658. Aurangzeb Alamgir (traits unrest & civil war) rules.
The worst fears become true right away: stability -1, half investments in infra and trade have been lost. Infra is now down to 6800 out of 23000. It will now take till 1761 to reach level 6.
One month later, the event repeats.
Nevertheless, we finally have sufficient cash to start the construction of a shipyard. Kutch has not enough tax, but Berhampur has.
In April, stability is further reduced.
In June, stability drops further, investments in infrastructure are now reduced to less than 900 (was nearly 14000). Spontaneous revolts erupt, and grow worse when heretics spread there words. In some provinces the revolt risk is 11%.

1659. Ragusa, Cyprus, Madhya, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Milan, Illirya, Istria and Nagpur are in a state of revolt by Jan. 1. But this is about as worse as it gets. The army is, if not powerful, at least numerous, and with all investments going into stability, we are back at +1 by the end of the year. Of course revolt risk is still +1 in catholic provinces, but by Dec 31 revolts are only left in Aurangabad and Istria.

1660. Revolts keep coming, but slower. Turkey declares war on Mameluks and we follow suit.

1661. The civil war is over.
We can finally switch back our money and attention to what really counts: the introduction of a new type of muskets in the army.

Sixth Persian war
In December 1664, Persia declares war on us. This is the 6th Persian war, after the wars of 1509-12, 1524-26, 1536-37, 1558-59 and 1592-93.

A quick analysis of forces:
Persia
Kars 34K
Kirkuk 15K
Isfahan 23K
Armenia 22K
Azerbadjan 6K
Persis 27K ==> total 127K
Uzbeks:
Lut 31K
Elbruz 10K
Kermak 3K
Total 44K, and actively recruiting in 4 provinces.
Our forces in this theater:
Iraq 21K
Awhaz 5K
Balucht 30K
Hormuz 23K ==> totalling 79K vs 171K, or 2.5 vs 1.
Turkey seems to have no troops in this theater, but is recruiting in all border provinces.
(ooc: Landtech:
Mughal level 14
Persia level 12
Turkey level 19
Uzbeks level 11. This is the first war in which we have a techno advantage)
The kingdom of Naples is also among our adversaries, but I hope they will refrain from hostilities.
The war starts with a defeat in Iraq (our 21K gets kicked by their 15K army from Kirkuk). The Persians storm our town and take it. It will be our strategy to concentrate on Uzbeks first, and let the Ottomans deall with the Persians. Soon we have Kermak and Khorasan under siege. The Persians fall for our trap and after taking Iraq move their armies to Syria, and soon they are besieging it with over 100.000 men.
The Turk conquers Persis - a pity, that is the one Persian province I would like to claim.
Khorasan is the first Uzbek province to fall, in December.

1666. The year starts well when the Persian capitol surenders to our armies. The Persians retake Persis.
Kara Khum falls in februari, followed by Amou Daria in September. Upon this news we suggest a peace treaty, and we receive Khorasan and Kerman, two rich provinces.
Turkey fights several battles with Persia about control of Persis, and finally Turkish money gets the upper hand. We reinforce them, and also send prince Aurangzeb - I dont know the rank of the Turkish leader, I hope we can take control.
Another target is Mekran, a poor province, but its naval equipment factory makes it worth while.

1667. Before our prince arrives, the Turks storm Persis and take the town with our aid. Persia, with its capitol and its richest province taken, suggests a white peace.

1668. We make steady progress at Kars. I'd hate to see the Turks receive Persis, but they are besieging Kirkuk, perhaps I will grant them that.
However, they make no speed at all, and when Mekran falls in December, I suggest peace for Mekran and Kars, which they accept. The Sultan in Constantinople receives a letter with our sincerest thanks for his efforts.

1673. Bohemia conquers Estonia and Pskov on Russia.

1674. Spain declares war on France. I consider declaring war too, but in the end decide against it. Some of Frances provinces have mighty fortresses, as their army tech is still light years beyond ours.

My boss frowned.
"Your war with Portugal was destined to go nowhere. I don't understand why you pursued that path so long. That’s sixth Persian war did not bring you much either. Why don’t you simple annex them? Requires less effort than all those pesky wars."
I shook my shoulders.
"I thought you'd like that joke about the letter to the Ottoman sultan"
"We are not here for jokes. I wonder if you are not taking too much pleasure in building up your empire. Remember, love for building is a desire our enemy put into the heart of all his creatures, and even we are not wholly estranged from it. Be careful not to fall into that trap."
I left, wondering if my boss knew more about me than I knew myself.

 

[unmerged(10894)]

Wow. That's odds against you. 2.5 - 1. You can do it though

You're talking about Bohemia getting Estonia and Pskov. How did they do that? have an alliance with P-L?

 

[unmerged(8545)]

Originally posted by Bocaj
Wow. That's odds against you. 2.5 - 1. You can do it though

You're talking about Bohemia getting Estonia and Pskov. How did they do that? have an alliance with P-L?

Yes, thx to Turkey. They did most of the job, and I received Mekran and Kars.

Frankly, I didnt watch that war. I was too busy fighting Persia.
Russia is part of a rather big alliance with Sweden, Hanze, Denmark, Venice and the Knights.
But in my Jan. 1673 save file, I see that Russia and the Knights are the only members at war with Poland, Spain, New Spain, and Bohemia.
On the east front, this means that Russia is up against poland + bohemia.
Russia is also still in another war against Prussia.

I guess Bohemia was lucky to conquer a few provinces in the east and asked for them at the right moment.

 

[Morpheus506]

New Spain? Did I miss something??

 

[unmerged(8545)]

I do not list al foreign wars. At some moment, some Mexican provinces (old Aztec area) succesfully rebeleld against their spanish oppressors. This happens in several games. The resulting nation is usually called New Spain.

It beats me why such a new nation is not called Aztex again. The new name of course does have some logic: many new countries were called 'new', such as New Amsterdam, later called New York, New Zealand, etc.

 

[Morpheus506]

Hmmm.... can't say it ever happened to me.......

Why didn't they call themselves Mexico?
Then, conceivably, couldn't the USA call itself New England when it's formed??

Kind of a scary thought .....................

 

[saskganesh]

new spain is an IGC anachronism.... one game i played, the spanish only conquered part of the aztecs. later rebels ran amok and seceded, taking with them the aztec capital. when the smoke cleared and dust seetled there were two nations side by side in mexico: the aztecs and new spain. they allied. however new spain, while pagan, had spain's old tech levels (at least MIL TECH 12), while the Aztecs remained mired in the stone age. so you can guess who ran the show.