1672-1725 The Golden Age
The Commonwealth is now fairly secure and (thanks to its CoT in Malacca) rich. The Old Alliance is very strong, and the borders are secure from raiders. Many nations (particularly the Turks) like us very little, but we have Royal Marriages with every Christian nation on our borders, so their stability would suffer if they attacked us.
At the start of 1672, the intellectual development that has transformed the Commonwealth receives another boost when my other colony - Huron - also receives a new CoT covering Canada and the NE US. 600D a year comes from that - Malacca's COT is already up to 1900D.
The next few years are very peaceful. I concentrate on economic development at home, and with new land techs coming every few months, before long all my border provinces are fortified with level 6 fortresses, and I have over 150,000 men and 1,000 cannon under arms.
Some minor wars occur elsewhere in the world, but in general this is a quiet time for Europe. Persia and the Mameluks fight the Turkish alliance (with the Hedjaz, Algeria and Iraq) twice (in 1673 and 1686), with Turkey taking Syria in the latter war. A civil war in Spain is quickly ended, and Russia, Sweden, Kleves and Georgia fight Denmark in a brief war that ends in a white peace.
In 1697, Corsica declares independence after yet another civil war overthrows the Spanish government. We found New Polotsk (in Ottawa) in the same year.
Spain annexes the Aztecs in 1698.
In 1699, after almost 30 years of peaceful development, and with the cash rolling in, an unexpected event happens. On May 1st the last King of Hungary dies and - having looked enviously over the border for many years - bequeathes his entire kingdom to the Commonwealth. This brings us his entire army (over 60,000 strong), all the Hungarian provinces, Bulgaria and the three provinces Hungary took in our earlier alliance war with Astrakhan and the Horde. It also brings us a large number of rebellions, which are all quickly crushed, and drops our relations with the rest of the Old Alliance quite severely. A continuing programme of 'development aid' is needed to bring our relationships back up to an acceptable level (+180). Hungary also contains a couple of reformed provinces, so our religious tolerance is tweaked slightly to allow for that. This means any future stability drops could have serious consequences, so we need to be careful.
In 1702, just as we reach the highest military tech level and our armies have 'invincible' morale, Sweden, Georgia and Kleves declare war on Denmark, Provence and the Knights. Sweden takes Jamtland and Ostlandet in the subsequent peace treaty. In 1703, we establish a new colony at Cuttack on the Indian coast.
In June 1704, our financial stability is increased by the founding of a Stock Exchange in Warsaw.
1706 sees the diplomatic annexation of the Palatinate by the Netherlands, and the ceding of Kalmuk to Persia by Turkey, after a short war. Turkey has now lost all but one of the Crimean provinces it peacefully annexed earlier on, and looks to be in the final stages of collapse.
In 1714, the Palatinate declares its independence, and that is recognised by the Netherlands shortly afterwards. In 1718, we create a new colony in Kuala Lumpur. A company of trade follows in 1719, just as Prussia vassalise themselves to England.
Early in 1720, France, Kleves and Denmark take on Venice, the Hansa and Corsica, with France gaining Western Pommerania.
In February 1720, Turkey bans my traders from Constantinople. Well, I'm not having any of that! I build up my forces (Ukraine, with a conscription centre, can now build 40,000 strong armies in four months), and wait for the expiration of the Turkish alliance.
That comes on February 4, 1721, and I declare war on Turkey alone, with my allies joining in. Turkey's main army, under Karim Bey, is stationed in Bosnia, and is swept aside by 30,000 Commonwealth troops on their way to Macedonia. This seems to be the last of the Turkish military strength. An army of 300 men hangs around sheepishly in Smyrna for a while, but before long they disappear somewhere deep into the heartland, and we are left to our own devices. The Austrians have a general (while our forces are all commanded by colonels), so they do most of the conquering. One thing that our troops take credit for is the second fall of Constantinople. Commonwealth troops overrun the walls in December 1721. It's particularly gratifying that the final charge is led by one Colonel Wolodyjowski. He's making quite a name for himself
By early 1722, the other Moslem nations are realising they can't let the Old Alliance gobble up Turkey unhindered. The Persians and Astrakhanis separately declare war on me in January of that year. I make a swift white peace with the Persians. Astrakhan's forces, however, are annihilated, and their country forcibly annexed on 9 January 1723.
Meanwhile, the one-province no-allies Kazan have also declared war on me. They have 7,000 men, while I have 25,000 in Ryazan alone. On hearing of this, the King memorably remarks 'Come and have a go, if you think you're hard enough.' Within a month, Kazan is annexed, securing my north-eastern border. The only remaining threat in the north, given the vast fortifications in Ingermanland, is the mighty Russian army, currently standing at 35 men. No, not 35k.
On 25 December 1722, Austria takes Hellas and Macedonia in a peace treaty with the Turks. In 1724 Spain takes Smyrna as its reward, while I wait until May 1725 for the Sultan to cede me the Cyclades and Morea, along with 1500D. The Commonwealth now has a Mediterranean coast, and I can go on holiday on some lovely unspoiled Greek islands. Not sure that retsina will ever catch on in Warsaw, though.
Just after we make peace with Turkey, Prussia declares war on us - at last the 50,000 troops we stationed on our northern border will get their share of the fighting. However, all Prussia's allies desert her, which is the price you pay for leading from the front.
Even alone, though, Prussia aren't going to be as much of a pushover as the Turks. They have 60,000 men led by General Schwerin. Just for a taster, they rampage into Poznania and destroy 17,000 Austrian troops (and an Austrian General) to the last man. Then, they turn their attention to their home province again, where 18,000 Commonwealth troops are laying siege. The other 30,000 of my northern army are bearing down to relieve Poznania. However, Schwerin manages to escape the larger force, and attacks the others in East Prussia.
The crucial battle is joined under the walls of Krolowiec on 3 September 1725. 18,000 Commonwealth troops fight alone against Schwerin's 42,000 Prussians. The result is a total triumph. The Commonwealth's highly advanced tactics completely bewilder the Prussians (who are used to being the most advanced army on the field). The old-fashioned husaria charge finally finishes the Prussian army off, and the Commonwealth wins the day. Of Schwerin's 42,000 troops, only the General and 505 men manage to escape into the Lithuanian forests. This time there is no quick peace with Spain, and exactly three months later, Augustus II sees the white eagle banner raised over Krolowiec's citadel. The Duchy of Prussia is no more.
Eight years after the 'Silent Seym' occurred in real history, things are looking good for the Polish-Lithuanian-Hungarian Commonwealth. Of the three partitioning powers, we have reduced Russia to a single province and three colonies, Austria is our vassal and we have annexed Prussia. We have also captured Constantinople twice. The rest of the world hates us, but the members of the Old Alliance all have relations of 190+, which is the important thing.
