Roberto's English AAR thread #2 (from 1526) (ver 1.07c)

[Roberto]

INTERLUDE: GAME STATUS AUGUST 1609

Points:

England 1551
Spain 1528
China 744
Portugal 717
Austria 583

Badboyz:

England -3
France -2
Austria -1
Holland -6
Portugal -10
Russia -6
Spain +6
Sweden -8
Turkey -1
Poland +13

THE SECOND SPANISH WAR

England declared war on Spain on 1st September 1609. Spain was supported by her allies Cologne, Lorraine, Tuscany and Scotland, but deserted by the Incas. England called on her allies and vassals and all joined the war: Hannover, Hessen, Saxony and Brandenburg.

Strategy was to follow the pattern of the First Spanish War, with attacks from English France into the Spanish Netherlands but no attacks on Spain itself, nor the Spanish islands in the Caribbean. The main target would be Mexico where siege armies would attack Jalisco and Zacatecas, while cavalry captured (unfortified) Saltillo and raided the Spanish trading posts to the north.

The first success was the capture of Saltillo, on 12th September.

By the end of September, it was clear the once again the Spanish had no standing armies in the Spanish Netherlands, and were frantically raising local levies. Another leaf was taken from the book of the First Spanish War; the Channel Fleet sailed into the Channel and embarked the reserves from Kent. More surprising was the discovery that Cologne had no standing army either.

At the beginning of October, those armies not actively involved in the war were equipped with new matchlocks (land tech 10).

As the month continued, the plans came to fruition:

2nd October - 15,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry reached a forward defensive position in Champagne.

3rd October - cavalry raiders burnt Spanish trading post in Coahuilla.

7th October - cavalry raiders captured Chichuahua

12th October - 11,000 infantry and 99 cannon began siege of Artois; 24,000 infantry and 30 cannon began siege of Hainaut and its was reported that 31,000 allied forces under Hessen command were besieging Cologne.

14th October - Scottish army of 8,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 40 cannon reached The Marches. But the realm’s forces were prepared. An army from Strathclyde advanced behind them into Lothian.

Lord Admiral Howard and the Home Fleet defeated the Scottish fleet in the Firth of Forth at the beginning of November. On 3rd November, the reserve infantry finished disembarking at Zeeland.

Scratch Spanish levies were defeated in Zeeland and Artois in early November, in Hainaut in late November and in Jailsco at the end of November. Also at the end of November, the cavalry raiders overran Spanish infantry in Chihuahua. However, a Spanish army invaded Michoagan and drove off newly raised English reserves in confusion.

December saw an attack by the army of Lorraine beaten off in Zeeland, but a Spanish victory in Coahuila. The Spanish army marching from Michoagan recaptured Saltillo, then returned to attempt a siege of Michoagan.

January 1610 began with a Spanish offer of a status quo peace, which was met with barely concealed derision. Another Spanish levy was beaten off in Hainaut - but the cavalry raiders in Chihuahua were defeated by a Spanish force twice their size. This was dangerous; if the Spanish managed to raise the sieges of Jailsco or Zacatecas the aims of the war could not be achieved.

Almost unnoticed in England, more colonists arrived at Kerala in January.

The end came suddenly in February.

7th February - Zacatecas fell.

12th February - Artois and Hainaut fell, on the same day.

18th February - the withdrawing cavalry raiders recaptured Saltillo.

22nd February - Spain accepted a offer of peace in return for Zacatecas and Saltillo.

The English armies withdrew again from the Spanish Netherlands to English France, from Lothian to Strathclyde and from Spanish Mexico into the new territories. The Scottish army withdrew to Lothian.

REACTIONS TO THE SECOND SPANISH WAR

The war party in England were delighted. Within six months, the former Aztec heartland had been taken by the realm, together with the gold mines of Satillo. And it was not just gold. Zacatecas now contained an English Centre of Trade. Travelers reported that Tenochtitlan, the old Aztec capital, was larger than London, though it was hard for any proud Englishman to accept that idea (note 1).

The traders were not as happy as they might have been. Most of the trade from Baja moved to Zacatecas, but most of the Spanish trade moved back over the sea to Andalucia. A monopoly in English Zacatecas was not worth half as much as a monopoly in Spanish Zacatecas had been when the reduction of trade in Baja was taken into account.

The North German Alliance were not happy at all. They felt they had been used - all the more so when there were no reparations to be shared out. Personal Gifts were enough to pacify the nobles of Hessen, Saxony and Brandenburg (all +180 to +200), but the nobles of Hannover were more aggrieved and it took a personal letter from the King to the Elector pointing out the advantages to all Protestants of a weakened Spain before they would express themselves content (+108 to +181 to +195).

The Spanish were furious, as were the Scots. Few in England cared.

AFTER THE WAR

At the very point the war was ending, a ship of colonists had landed to found a new colony in Savannah. More colonists arrived in Kerala in June 1610, in Savannah in October and in Kerala again in December.

Orders were given to restore the fortress in Zacatecas and to resume work on the abandoned defenses in Saltillo. In July, military spending was reduced again to peacetime levels.

June 1611 was momentous for many reasons. Further improvements were proposed for the navy (naval tech 14 - armoured mast, or possibly aft mast). And Kerala was granted a City Charter (+12,000 natives - city of 12,608). Smith and his men took to the sea with Hudson again, and landed in Madras. Behind them, troops were raised and fortifications ordered.

Also in June, Turkey (supported by Tripoli, Oman and Tunisia) declared war on the Mameluks, a war that was to end in July 1612 when the Mameluks ceded Cataract to Turkey and paid reparations of #48.

Hudson died in July, en route from Kerala to Madras.

In November, preachers arrived in Saltillo and converted the colonists to the Protestant faith. They moved on to Zacatecas, where they made no impact whatever on the native population. So far as the Aztecs were concerned, the God of Battles had changed sides (from the Spanish to the English), as often happened when insufficient human sacrifices were made.

1612 saw Spain’s decline confirmed when Mathias of Austria was elected Holy Roman Emperor.

The merchants of London sponsored two new explorers: Baffin, who set out for India by way of the Falklands and Mahe, and Button, who was sent to North America to lead the fight against pirates.

A tax collector was appointed in Zacatecas, and the fortress in Saltillo strengthened.

Colonists set out for the east coast of India. The first ship to Madras - where Smith was waiting to guard them - was lost at sea, but the first ship to Pondicherry arrived in September. They trusted to faith alone to protect them - unfortunately, as it turned out …

INTERLUDE: GAME STATUS IN JANUARY 1613

Points:

England 1929
Spain 1255
China 761
Portugal 735
Austria 637
Poland 582

Badboyz:

England -1
France -3
Austria -2
Holland -7
Portugal -11
Russia -7
Spain +3
Sweden -9
Turkey +1
Poland +12

Note:

1. In mid 1610, the populations were given as London (Anglia) 245,354 and Tenochtitlan (Zacatecas) 248,711 - London would expand faster in the long term because it contained a Fine Arts Academy as well as a Centre of Trade.

For the Aztecs’s gold in English hands see screenshot:

http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_Mexico.html

 

[Roberto]

Sorry chaps, wrong cross-reference

Correct one is:

http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_Mexico1613.html

 

[Roberto]

Narrative resumes in 1613, the tenth year of the reign of King James the Sixth and First.

1613 saw a colony established at Madras in March and more colonists arrive at Savannah in July. A further shipload of colonists sent to Madras was lost at sea.

1614 saw the appointment of tax collectors in Santee, Saltillo and Kerala and of a Chief Judge in Zacatecas. More colonists arrived at Madras in April and October. In between ,diplomats arrived at Kerala with instructions to buy the friendship of the princes of Mysore. A succession of Personal Gifts improved relations sufficiently (-89 to -20 to +11 to +27) to achieve an exchange of maps. The realm discovered Hydrabad, the Mogul Empire and the rich Centre of Trade at Delhi.

Meanwhile, in October France annexed Genoa with its Centre of Trade.

Year-end taxes for 1614 amounted to #548.

1615 saw a Chief Justice appointed in Saltillo and orders given to strengthen the fortress in Santee.

In February a group of junior officers in the Navy presented a plan to use fireships to disrupt enemy formations. It soon became accepted strategic doctrine, and obsolete ships in each of the main fleets were designated for the purpose (naval tech 15 - fireships).

In March, the realm’s Royal Marriage with Scotland expired. Although they shared the same monarch, the leading merchants of the two nations had long since reverted to their accustomed mutual hatred, caused mainly by incessant competition in the Centre of Trade in Anglia. There was no prospect of renewing the relationship.

More colonists arrived in Madras in April and October, under the watchful eye of Conquistador Smith. The colonists of Pondicherry, who had trusted to faith alone to protect them, found it fell short in October, when they were slaughtered by a native rising. Back in England, by an unfortunate accident of timing, that very month saw a celebration of the wisdom of the government’s policies (random event - good government policies - 1,000 invested in both trade and infrastructure).

In November, the King traveled to Cornwall to review the realm’s most modern ships. There were many improvements to all aspects, but the one which particularly caught his (distinctly non-military) eye was changes to the rigging (naval tech 16 - improved rigging). On his return to London, he ordered a shipyard to be constructed in Anglia, large enough to allow a full fleet to be constructed with a year. Unsympathetic Members of Parliament, who had other ideas how the money should be spent, were heard to comment that his real reason was to avoid having to travel all the way to Cornwall again. Fortunately, the flow of Aztec gold made it unnecessary to ask Parliament to raise any taxes for the purpose.

Year-end taxes for 1615 were #597.

1616 was a significant year for the realm’s colonies, both east and west. It began with the appointment of a Chief Justice in Santee and a Provincial Governor in Kerala. Colonists arrived at Savannah in February, July and December, the last with a City Charter (+1500 natives - city of 2117). Colonists arrived at Madras in March and September, the latter with a City Charter (+10,000 natives - city of 10,697). Instructions were given to fortify the new city at once. With the native peoples accepting the realm’s leadership both Kerala and Madras were self-sustaining military bases - but there was a greater prize to the north-east. No sooner had construction of the fortifications begun than Conquistador Smith and his men took ship, landing in Santal before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, nearer to home, came news on 1st October that Turkey had annexed the Hedjaz. This can only have been achieved by diplomacy, as there had been no reports of a war between them in recent years. And on 30th November Astrakhan, supported by the Golden Horde, declared war on Crimea; a brief and inconsequential war which was to end on August 1617 when Crimea paid Astrakhan reparations of 111.

In 1617, orders were given to erect a fortress in Savannah and strengthen the fortress in Madras, and a Chief Justice was appointed in Kerala.

The first colonists arrived to join Conquistador Smith in Santal in August, and a shipload of colonists arrived at Amgoun (a cold, desolate land but with the realms’s foremost centre of trade) in November.

Also in November, the army’s logistics were reformed (land tech 11 - logistics).

1618 saw the opening of a new Centre of Trade - in Mahe! This insignificant chain of islands, devoid of natives and only settled to provide a staging post for ships to India, was now of major strategic importance as the centre for trade from English India. A monopoly was quickly established.

On 11th February came news that France, supported by Savoy, Helvetia, Venice, Prussia and the Knights of Rhodes, had declared war on the Netherlands. A curious decision at first sight, for they lacked a common border - in Europe. But they shared borders in India and Ceylon - and when the Netherlands were loyally joined by its allies Persia, Hydrabad and Mysore, and it was realised that Persia had a border with the valuable French colonial city in Indus the declaration of war looked distinctly foolish. A close eye would be kept on any opportunities which the conflict might present to expand in India.

Raleigh, explorer of North America, died on 4th April at his headquarters in Savannah. His body was returned to England for an honoured burial. (Note 1)

On 16th May, Poland (supported by Bohemia, Hungary, the Teutonic Order, the Hanse and Denmark) declared war on Turkey. Whatever plans of conquest the Poles may have had were undone when, within a week, Astrakhan, supported by the Golden Horde, declared war on the Polish Alliance. Peace was signed between Poland and Turkey in November and the fury of the alliance turned on Astrakhan, which was to pay 250 reparations for peace in April 1619.

A new method of refining salpeter, discovered in September, was expected to make major improvements to the fleets’ firepower (naval tech 17 - refined salpeter).

More colonists arrived at Santal in September.

Year-end taxes for 1618 were #579.

Spain’s relative decline was confirmed in 1619 when Ferdinand II of Austria was elected Holy Roman Emperor.

Colonists arrived at Amgoun in February and Santal in September. In April, a Trading Post was established at Cochin, in place of the former French post which had been destroyed by the Dutch.

Also in April, merchants throughout the realm banded together to call for the construction of dedicated Good Manufacturies, to supply the growing demand from the realm’s constantly expanding colonies and overseas cities (infrastructure level 6).

On 11th June, Lord Admiral Howard died. Historians have not treated him kindly, remembering him mainly for failing to prevent the Spanish landing in Ireland in 1601 and losing control of the seas for the remainder of the First Spanish War, and heaping praise instead upon Frobisher, Drake and the other explorers of distant lands. But let us not forget that both the First and Second Spanish Wars were won, not lost, while Lord Admiral Howard commanded the Navy. If he was a failure his failure was only relative, in comparison with the armies of his time, and the stronger navies of later years. (note 2).

The realm’s diplomats were not idle. The State Marriage with Poland expired in August and was renewed immediately - ironically, in view of events the following year.

Year-end taxes for 1619 were #582. It was noted that the Scots of Lothian were now allied with the Netherlands, Persia, Hydrabad, Mysore and Cologne. Spain was allied with the Palatenat, Kleves and Baden.

Anybody in King James’ Court who could have predicted what the next year would bring would surely have been executed as a witch …

Notes

1. Artistic licence. The historic Raleigh fell very much out of favour under James I.
2. More artistic licence. The historic Howard was in overall command of the fleet at the time of the Spanish Armada, and must be counted a success.

 

[Roberto]

OUT OF A CLEAR SKY …

After ten years of peace, the North German Alliance of the realm with its vassals Hannover, Hessen, Saxony and Brandenburg (all at +200) was renewed at the beginning of 1620.

The following day, Spain imposed a trade embargo on the realm. The merchants were delighted. Here was a pretext to take Spain’s only remaining gold-producing province in Central America, Jalisco, and more besides.

But before any action could be taken, before the month was out - the Ambassadors of the Alliance presented themselves at Court on 28th February to announce that Denmark had declared war on Brandenburg, that Denmark was supported by Bohemia and Poland and that the German members of the Alliance were at war in support of Brandenburg, and to call on England for support.

The pretext for the war was the province of Jylland, taken from Denmark by Brandenburg some hundred years earlier (note 1), which had run its own affairs without threatening its neighbours (or, the Brandenburgers would say, had been under the control of rebel scum) for almost as long. The Danes may have expected an easy victory, since none of the German members of the Alliance had a port. But there were also reports that the King of Denmark had been put up to it by Poland and Bohemia, both of whom had armies poised to march into Brandenburg and who aspired to divide up Brandenburg between themselves.

The Court, the merchants and the factions in Parliament were plunged into turmoil. There were no plans for a war in northern Europe. The strongest armies were in English France, ready to repeat previous incursions into Artois and Hainaut and/or to deter the French from any adventures. Nor had the Navy any charts of the Baltic. There was nothing to be gained by a war, save perhaps a few Polish trading posts in Africa.

Some argued more strongly. Poland was a good Protestant friend, standing firm against the Turks and the descendants of the Mongols (note 2). Bohemia was a bastion against the Papists of Austria and Bavaria. It was a sin for war to break out between Protestant states and that sin should not be compounded by taking sides. The realm should concentrate on a conflict with Spain - or, better still, start one.

The King saw the issue differently. If the realm does not support its allies when they are attacked, he asked, will that not say that all the promises made to our allies for the past decades - promises which induced them to become our vassals - have been lies? And if all our promises were lies, who will ever ally with us - or trade with us? And he confirmed that the realm would honour its treaty, and join the war. The merchants were assured that colonial ventures would continue, and no extra taxes would be raised. Any prospect of opposition from Parliament - particularly from those who put the Protestant cause above all else - was evaded by not consulting it. An unfortunate precedent, and one that would not be forgotten.

THE NORTHERN WAR

To join the war was one thing, to fight in it another. It was quickly decided not to withdraw any troops from France. The realm’s main contribution would be by sea. The Home Fleet, freshly equipped with 18-pounder guns (naval tech 18 - 18 pounders) sailed for northern waters in April. 15 English ships engaged a Polish fleet in the Skagerack, and sunk nine Polish ships, driving the rest back into the Baltic. A few days later, two Danish ships were sunk. The Home Fleet returned to Dover to general rejoicing. So far as the Court was concerned, the war was as good as won. Just to emphasize the point, the Northern Fleet embarked a small army from Ulster and landed them in the Danish colony of Iceland in August, sinking a lone Danish warship in the process.

In India, more settlers landed in Santal in March and in September, and a Trading Post was set up in Trivandrum (a province sadly bereft of its natives). Deprived once again of markets in Andalucia, the realm’s traders formed themselves into more effective combinations (trade to level 6 in August).

1620 was a year of many portents, but perhaps the greatest was the declaration of war by Spain on the Incas on 10th July - a war that would last more than fifteen years, and bring the Spanish Empire to the brink of destruction …

1621 began with the appointment of a Chief Judge in Madras.

Any illusions that the Northern War could be left to get on with itself was dashed in February, when a Polish fleet sailed up the Channel and landed a small infantry force in Caux!!! Although they were wiped out within a fortnight, the shock resounded through England - they could just as easily have landed in Wessex, or Kent. The Fleet was ordered to sea; in a series of battles in the Straits of Dover in March, 11 English ships engaged 10 Polish ships, losing one English to three Polish.

More colonists arrived at Santal at the end of February.

Button, exploring from Hawaii, reached the coast of a great land in March. It could not be India, for that was elsewhere. He called it Australia. Parts of it appeared habitable. Colonists were sent.

In May, the lords of Strathclyde dedicated a new Naval Equipment Manufactory, constructed at their own expense (random event).

In India, the first shipload of colonists arrived for the second colonization of Pondicherry in May. In July, France ceded their colony of Indus to the Netherlands’ ally Persia. And in August, more colonists arrived at Santal with a City Charter (+20,000 natives - city of 20,697). Fortifications were ordered, and a native army raised. With the city secure, Conquistador Smith and his men embarked again … and landed in Pondicherry in November. The protection of these colonists would not be left to faith alone

Meanwhile, in two weeks of battles from mid-June, another Polish incursion into the Straits of Dover had been beaten off, and there were reliable reports that Polish and Bohemian armies were marching at will through Brandenburg. This was serious. Something had to be done. The Court balked at the idea of sending an expedition to invade Poland - but another plan was devised. On 18th October, 13,000 infantry and 50 cannon landed in the quasi-independent province of Jylland, to uphold the lawful rule of the elector of Brandenburg and suppress the rebellion. The following month, the Home Fleet set out to blockage southern Norway (naval tech 19 - long range fire - allows naval blockades) and deny passage out of the Baltic to Polish shipping.

The realm’s State marriage with the Netherlands was renewed in November (+147 to +162).

Annual taxes at the end of 1621 were #561.

Jylland fell on 19th January, and with lawful authority restored the English army was ordered to advance on Sjaelland, towards Copenhagen. On 29th January, Brandenburg paid Poland 250 reparations on behalf of the Alliance. Poland was out of the war. And on 10th March, the English army began a siege of Copenhagen.

The first colonists arrived in Wollongong in April. Button transferred his base there, and set about exploring the southern part of the great ocean.

When Bohemia requested a white peace in May there was some surprise, but ready acceptance. The reasons soon became clear. Without support from Poland, Bohemia could not defend itself. In July, it ceded Sudeten to Saxony and Erz to Hannover, paying each of them 250 reparations too. This left Hessen and Brandenburg in a separate war with Bohemia, and the Alliance at war with Denmark. A request from Denmark for a (separate) white peace in July was rejected with derision.

More colonists arrived in Pondicherry in October. Orders were given to strengthen the fortress in Santal and to raise more troops. And a new Trading post was established in Bogorodsk, along the Siberian coast east of Amgoun.

Copenhagen fell on the English army on 11th November. Frantically, the Danes offered Iceland for peace. Some argued that it should be taken. Others argued that the fleet should re-embark the army and sail for Norway, or Skane. But wiser heads prevailed. It would be the worst of folly to embark on a campaign in Norway in winter, and were the realm to claim Skane this would simply create a permanent conflict with both Denmark and Sweden. And what use was Iceland, anyway? High Representatives negotiated until the beginning of 1623, when Denmark was granted peace in return for the contents of her treasury - some #148, which was spent on letters to the realm’s allies explaining how leaving them to fight Denmark was a victory. At the same time, Brandenburg used her annual taxes to pay off Bohemia with 250 reparations. The active part of the Northern War was over.

INTERLUDE: CENTRAL EUROPE IN 1623

See link. The map dates from 1626, but the position in 1623 was the same.

Note:

Brandenburg has Jylland.
Saxony has Sudeten.
Hannover has Erz (they’re the same colour as Bohemia)
and from earlier wars:
Austria has Thuringen.
Bavaria has Wurttemburg.
Poland has Pomerania.


http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_Germany1626.html
Notes:

1. I didn’t make a note when Brandenburg captured Jylland, but it’s in a savegame from 1525.
2. For new readers: Poland has been Protestant since the government was overthrown in the late 1520’s, which Russia has made precious little impact on the Khanates.

 

[Roberto]

AFTER THE NORTHERN WAR

Narrative resumes in 1623, with England’s departure from the Northern War.

The realm’s immediate priorities were security at home and colonial expansion, and preparing for the inevitable further conflict with Spain.

Much to the disgust of the professional military commanders, the King appointed his favourite (and reputed lover) Buckingham to command the army in Lancashire. It was perhaps fortunate that he would live and die (in February 1628) without seeing military action.

To secure the realm’s position against any thoughts of revenge by the Danes, a Royal Marriage was concluded with Sweden in January 1623 (+105 to +120).

Colonists arrived in Pondicherry in March and September. In July, a token Trading Post was set up in Bombay. In August, distant Amgoun was awarded a City Charter. As in the Americas, a tax collector was appointed immediately.

In October, Button discovered Tahiti. A tropical island populated by peaceful and obliging natives - a very Paradise.

The merchants of Bristol had their eyes elsewhere - on the gold reputed to lie in Yukon. Troops were raised in Sacramento, and shipped north by the very fleet which Frobisher had once sailed to the West Coast. Landing on 11th December, they suppressed all native resistance by year’s end - which was just as well, for they needed the natives to teach them how to survive the depths of winter.

Expansion continued in 1624. Fortifications were ordered in Amgoun. More settlers arrived at Pondicherry in February and July. The first settlers arrived in Tahiti and in Yukon in September; the latter included a lady named Nell, whose subsequent adventures became renowned in song and story.

Wars erupted nearer home. Poland (supported by Bohemia, Denmark, the Hanse, the Teutonic Order and Hungary) declared war on Turkey (supported by Tripoli, Tunisia and Oman) in February, a war that was to end inconclusively with a status quo peace in January 1625. Further away Persia declared war on Iraq in October; Persia was supported (notionally) by the Netherlands and Mysore, but not by Scotland or Cologne, while Iraq was supported by Algiers.

In December, the first muskets were distributed to the regiments in France (land tech 12 - muskets - also level 3 fortresses). With this increase in available firepower, orders were also given to strengthen the realm’s frontier fortresses in Kerala, Madras, Calais, Picardie, Caux, Michoagan, Saltillo and Zacatecas.

On 19th December, a further boatload of colonists arrived in Pondicherry, with a City Charter (+10,000 natives - city of 10,696). A tax collector was appointed. Ever the restless spirit, Smith and his by now devoted band embarked on a ship for the last time. Their intended destination was the distant land of Mekong, but Smith died en route. There being no way to preserve his body for burial on land, he was buried at sea - an incongruous end for the greatest explorer of his time, the founder of the realm’s holdings in India.

Year-end taxes for 1624 were #609.

On 5th January 1625 came news of a status quo peace between the alliances led by France and the Netherlands. No provinces changed hands in Europe - but nevertheless, it was France which lost the war, driven out of its colony in Indus by Persia, burned out of its trading posts in India by the Netherlands and supplanted there by England. Worse was to follow. At the beginning of March, France was struck by rebellion and civil war. There were reliable reports that rebels had taken control of Provence, Bearn, Vendee, Poitou and Paris itself; also of the conquered Italian province of Emilia, the colony at Jaffna and the Trading Posts at Connectuicut and Penobscot. It would take years for lawful authority to be restored in Europe, and decades for control to be resumed over the lost overseas territories.

Much cursing was heard from across the North Sea. If only the Netherlands had continued the war for a few more months, was the view, they could have dictated terms. This was a lesson which the merchants and some at Court would take to heart all too well in the years ahead…

Almost unnoticed, Nippon expelled all foreign residents and merchants in February. This did not concern the realm. There was far more money to be made in Amgoun than there had ever been in Nippon.

INTERLUDE - EXPANSION IN INDIA

Compare and contrast two maps of India, in 1616 and in 1626:

- France has lost Indus to Persia.
- France has been burned out of Cochin and replaced by England
- England has also expanded into Santal and Pondicherry (cities) and has established Trading Posts in Bombay and Trivandrum while France and the Netherlands have concentrated on their war.
- Portugal has Trading Posts south of Bombay, Netherlands has Trading Posts south of Santal, France and Netherlands have colonies in Ceylon.

http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_India1616.html

and

http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_India1626.html

 

[Lord Durham]

Great AAR. Keep up the good work. Bit of a drag having to stay focused to do weekly updates, but you're right about this game becoming a way of life.

I look forward to more.

BTW, your screenshots work fine for me.

 

[Roberto]

My Lord Durham

Thanks for the feedback. There's a lot of very quiet readers out there, or possibly the same person reading over and over <g>.

Screenshots - geocities is sometimes up and sometimes down; now that I'm posting on the General's site things should be OK.

Game as a way of life - well, it's just as well I can't post from (or play at)the office

 

[Roberto]

INTERLUDE - ENGLAND IN 1625

King James died on 25th March 1625 and was succeeded by his son, Charles I. King James had his faults, but his son had more - and they were different. Where the father had been shambling and uncouth, the son was suave and refined. But where the father had been shrewd with a native Scots cunning, the son was naïve. Where the father had been strong - even stubborn - the son was weak. He was seen as easily led, particularly by his French wife. And his diplomatic gifts, for all his refinement, were negligible.

Up to 1600, the realm had enjoyed eighty years of peace, expanding by trade and diplomacy. Since then, with the two Spanish Wars and the Northern War, it had become accustomed to regular, victorious wars and to expansion by force. Queen Elizabeth had ruled in times of peace by guile and symbol. King James had little guile, and he was no symbol. During his reign, two main factions had come to contest policy.

The merchants, including but not limited to the merchant venturers of London and Bristol who were still financing colonial expansion, put their trust in wealth and saw war as a means to increase it. They saw Spain as an enemy because Spain had the wealth of the Aztecs, but they were perfectly prepared to treat as a target any realm which was not strong enough to defend what it held. They held no strong religious convictions. Once England had the wealth of the Aztecs for itself, they would have no reason to fight Spain. Increasingly after the Northern War, they questioned the value of the North German alliance.

Before the First Spanish War, the merchants had sought to stir up hatred of Spain on religious grounds. In doing so, they had encouraged those who already held such views, and in twenty-five years the religious had become a power in the land. They viewed the prosperity and success of the realm as based on Protestantism (which it surely was) and went on to argue that all that was not Protestant (or, at a pinch, Reformed) was a threat to the realm (which was not necessarily true). They hated Spain because it was Catholic. They hated France for the same reason. They hated the Northern War because it was a war between Protestants. And they distrusted the Court, because King James had personally taken the realm into the Northern War. They came to see Parliament as a means to protect the realm from the ungodly.

It was King Charles’ misfortune to fall out with both factions. He would not brook any discussion of abandoning the North German Alliance, which annoyed the merchants, nor did he hasten to declare war on Spain, despite the Spanish trade embargo in force at the start of his reign. The merchants saw the new King’s refinement as weakness, and believed the Queen was a secret sympathizer with Spain. But the religious disliked him more. They saw his refinement, his love of art and his love of religious ritual as signs of secret Catholic sympathies. They also distrusted Queen Henrietta Maria, not so much because she was French but because she was a Catholic.

THE EARLY YEARS OF KING CHARLES I

As it happened, the remaining months of 1625 were quiet. The Northern War continued, without England. A Trading Post was established in Megantic in June. More colonists arrived at Wollongong in December, but a ship sending settlers to Mekong was lost at sea.

New ships with additional guns were launched in September (naval tech 20 - lower deck battery).

1626 saw a spate of fortress building orders - basis defenses in Pondicherry, enlarged defences in Amgoun and major fortresses (level 3) at home: Anglia, Kent, Wessex, Bristol, Yorkshire and The Marches. The realm’s coffers were as good as empty, which did not please the merchants.

Iraq paid Persia 250 reparations in January to end the war which had been declared in October 1624.

The Northern War formally ended in April with a status quo peace between Brandenburg and Denmark.

Trading Posts were established in the empty jungles of Da Lat in July and the icy wastes of Sitka in November. Further traders arrived at Cochin in June and December.

Year-end taxes for 1626 were #594, but 1627 drained the coffers once more with orders to strengthen more home fortresses (to level 3): Cornwall, Wales, Lancashire, Strathclyde and The Grampians.

Spain had been at war with the Incas since 1620. By this Year of Our Lord 1627 the strain was beginning to show (war exhaustion +3 in core provinces, +6 in non-core). There were reports that rebels had taken control of Roussillon. Perhaps they were in league with the French rebels who controlled Bearn and were sieging Gasciogne.

Colonists arrived in Yukon in August and traders in Cochin in September.

Year-end taxes for 1627 were #594.

1628 began with reports that Spain had retaken control of Roussillon.

Traders arrived at Cochin in February and June, when there was scope for no more (TP at level 6), and colonists arrived in Yukon in February. Year-end taxes for 1628 were up to #591.

1629 began with the appointment of Field Marshall Fairfax (a firm supporter of the religious cause) to command the army in Caux. It was reported that France had regained control of Bearn, but a rebel army had been seen in Corsica. War exhaustion in Spain had worsened (+4 core +8 non-core), but there were no reports of further rebellions.

Orders were given to strengthen the fortresses in Pondicherry and Amgoun.

On 4th July, Russia declared war on Kazan. Fighting without allies seemed to have helped; within a year (on 19th February 1630), Kazan would cede Vorones to Russia for peace.

Poor weather claimed the year’s first ship of gold miners en route to Yukon. The second arrived safely in August.

New maps were issued to the Navy in August (naval tech 21 - cartography). The realm now had knowledge of all the seven seas.

Brandenburg became bankrupt in August and Bohemia in November. The King was heard to say this was the result of the Northern War, and demonstrated the wisdom of keeping the peace. Unfortunately, he was heard to say this by the Ambassador of Brandenburg, who was not slow to remind anyone who would listen that it had been Brandenburg upon whom that war had been declared.

1630 was a bad year for those itching to extract gold from Yukon. Another ship of miners was lost - then, in March, the natives rebelled and wiped out the garrison. The colonists fought off the natives as best they could (Nell’s role in the defense would go down in history) , but lost half their numbers in the process. More troops were shipped north from Sacramento, arriving in June, and another ship of miners left Bristol - also to be lost without trace.

March also saw a Trading Post established in Salton, a burning desert east of San Bernardino.

But all this was forgotten in England when on 7th December the Netherlands declared war on Spain. All the allies joined the war, if only in name; Netherlands supported by Scotland, Cologne, Persia and Mysore while Spain had the support of the Palatenat, Kleves, Baden and Lorraine. Spain was already exhausted by the everlasting war against the Incas (war exhaustion now at maximum +5 core +10 non-core) and there were reports of rebellion in Empalme and the conquered province of Romanga.

Year-end taxes for 1630 were #611.

There was a clamor for England to join the war against Spain. There was cause - the trade embargo was still in force. The merchants wanted the last gold province in Mexico. The religious called for the realm to support the Netherlands against the Papist armies of Spain (conveniently ignoring the Netherlands’ alliance with Catholic Cologne and decidedly non-Protestant Persia and Mysore; this war was certainly not a religious war). The King would not consent. The army and the navy, he said, were not ready. The most he would agree was to place the economy on a war footing, diverting all investment to the treasury.

1631 saw a mayor appointed in Zacatecas, and orders to strengthen further all fortifications in English India (plus Santal) (to level 3).

A new Trading Post was established in the deserted jungles of Khmer in January. Colonists arrived in Yukon in April and October, Manicougan in June, Copetonas in July and Mahe in August - but of two ships which sailed for Mekong, there was no sign.

On 28th July, the Netherlands annexed Kleves. The lack of any land border, and the determined Catholicism of the people, would store up trouble for the Netherlands in the future.

In October, France refused point-blank to enter into a further Royal Marriage (at +79!!!), a humiliation for the King who was still pursuing his father’s policy of friendship with France and a source of grief to the Queen. The religious rejoiced. The merchants eyed the French trading posts in North America longingly.

[NB: in game terms this was a refusal to renew the expired Royal Marriage, but as Queen Henrietta Maria still has a part to play in the story I have to explain it some other way].

Year-end taxes for 1631 were #888, bring the treasury up to #2929 - which the King promptly committed not to the armed forces but to new Goods Manufactories in Picardie and Lincoln, to the appointment of Chief Judges throughout Ireland and, almost as an afterthought, to the appointment of a Provincial Governor in Michoagan. If this was an attempt to please the merchants, it failed miserably. They wanted war with Spain while Spain was weak, as did the religious. And Spain was weakening fast; rebels now controlled Empalme and Coahuilha in the Americas and Champange, and were sieging Artois.

More colonists arrived at Copetonas in January and July and at Yukon in May, the latter with the long-awaited City Charter (+1500 natives - city of 2102). Gold mining could begin in earnest. A tax collector was appointed to encourage this.

The war in the Rhineland was beginning to unravel. Cologne again emptied its treasury, paying #250 reparations to Baden and #142 to the Palatenat in May and #57 to Spain in August, to escape from the war. The Spanish army extracted #250 reparations from the Palatenat in September. The Netherlands’ allies on the mainland were out of the war but Spain had paid a high price for the campaign. By September rebels had taken Artois, and in November Luxembourg. Only Hainaut remained in Spanish hands.

More colonists arrived at Copetonas in July and December, the latter with a City Charter (+500 natives - city of 1123).

1633 saw basic fortifications ordered in Yukon and a Provincial Governor appointed in Saltillo. The rest of the treasury was retained, to await the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, which surely could not be long delayed. In August, Parliament threatened to take matters into its own hands by ordering reforms to the Army (random event +1000 to land tech).

Also in August a status quo peace was agreed between the Netherlands and Baden. It was reported that the Netherlands had conquered Zeeland, but the flag of Lorraine flew over Flanders supported by Spanish bayonets.

INTERLUDE - GAME STATUS AUGUST 1633

Points:

England: 2504
Spain 1399
China 895
Portugal 854
Poland 764
Austria 733
Turkey 614

Badboyz:

England -3
France +2
Austria -4
Netherlands 0
Portugal -13
Russia -7
Spain +1
Sweden -10
Poland +12

THE DAM BREAKS

The war between the Netherlands and Spain came to a sudden end in September 1633. The Netherlands became bankrupt. Its troops could no longer be paid. But Spain and Lorraine must have been in an even worse state. On 23rd September 1633 Spain ceded Zeeland to the Netherlands by the Treaty of Vlissingen.

The Spanish army withdrew from Flanders and could now turn to the rebels. By November Spain had retaken Luxembourg and Artois and an army of 35,000 in Artois was ready to march in Hainaut.

The demand in England for war rose to ever greater heights. Merchants and religious alike united to cry that this was a golden opportunity to strike at Spain, one that was trickling away by the day. The King was overborne. On 1st December 1633 England declared war upon Spain. The Third Spanish War had begun…

 

[Lord Durham]

Another fine installment. I'm looking forward to the Third Spanish War.

As for posting from the office. My God! It would be soooo tempting!

 

[Roberto]

THE THIRD SPANISH WAR

England declared war on Spain on 1st December 1633. England’s four vassals in the North German Alliance joined the war: Hannover, Hessen, Saxony and Brandenburg. Spain was supported by the Palatenat, Lorraine and Baden.

Initial strategy was to follow the path which had led to victory in the First and Second Spanish Wars: advance into the remains of the Spanish Netherlands (now mainly rebel-held and denuded of Zeeland) from Calais, Picardie and Caux and capture territory to use as bargaining counters, while taking the real targets in Central America (in this case, Jalisco) and defending against incursions elsewhere. There was an additional aspiration, unspoken but widely anticipated, and yearned for by both the merchants and the religious - to push the Spanish Empire, already exhausted by more than ten years of war with the Incas, over the edge into collapse and pick up as many of the pieces as possible.

For two weeks, things went as expected. The Home Fleet sailed south, and defeated a (much smaller) Spanish fleet in the Cantabrian Sea. An attack on Copetonas was beaten off.

Then a fault in the strategy became apparent. In general, it was designed to fight the last war. In particular, the Spanish Netherlands were now defended not by scratch levies but by an army of some 24,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry (with minimal artillery support), bloodied by the action they had taken against the Dutch and their own rebels and under the command of General Issembourg. The first to realize this were Field Marshall Dudley’s siege army, who marched into Artois on 13th December with drums beating and flags flying, and were pulling back to Calais within a week with heavy losses, protecting the artillery as best they could. The second were the King’s Own, who advanced into Artois from Picardie with 17,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry at the end of December and by 13th January were in full retreat, with the loss of 16,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry. And the third were Field Marshall Fairfax’s Royal Expeditionary Force (an ironic name, for an army wholly raised in English France) who advanced into Artois from Caux in mid-January with 10,000 infantry and 9,000 cavalry, confronted a Spanish army by now reduced to 14,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry and in a two-week campaign lost 5,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry against 3,000 Spanish infantry and 1,000 Spanish cavalry, pulling back with perilously low morale by the end of January.

Spanish historians have depicted Issembourg as a latter-day El Cid, holding the encroaching tide of English armies out of Artois in the name of the King and Catholic Spain.

As new levies were frantically raised in English France, recriminations raged in London. Merchants and religious factions united to blame the Court for declaring war with Spain (at least) a year too late and for using the wrong strategy. There were even wild claims that the Queen was in league with the French to destroy the English armies on the Continent.

All of which rather hid the fact that the war had progressed better elsewhere. Siege armies had advanced to Tuxpan and Jalisco, and a cavalry screen to Atlixco, without incident before the end of 1633. Spanish levies were beaten off in Jalisco in January and in Tuxpan (twice) and Atlixco in February. With the resources of Zacatecas in English hands, the realm could raise more troops in Central America than Spain; more then enough to replace losses by attrition. The war at sea had not gone badly either. January 1634 saw an English victory in the Cantabrian Sea while February saw English victories off the coast of Brittany (twice) but Spanish victories in running battles off the Cote d’Argent and the Bay of Biscay. When, in the midst of this, Spain offered a status quo peace, it was refused.

News from the Americas continued to improve. Tuxpan fell on 3rd March 1634 and the siege army marched towards Atlixco. There was another English naval victory off the coast of Brittany on 7th March.

Meanwhile, at the turn of the year a new Centre of Trade had opened in distant Wollongong. It was easy to obtain a monopoly, but it was worth next to nothing. In March, a new colony ship arrived in Manicouagan with a City Charter (+500 natives; city of 1,104). In view of current hostilities, the first appointment was a Provincial Governor.

Envoys from Spain offered a status quo peace again at the end of March. Again, they were refused.

For all his skill in defence, Issembourg lacked the resources to attack the fortifications of Calais, Picardie or Caux. With Luxembourg and Hainaut under the control of hostile rebels, and his armies cut off from any prospect of reinforcement from Spain, his position was not enviable. English historians have always argued that he could not have held off fresh English armies longer than the summer. That was never tested. Responding to pleas for support from Spain’s allies, whose armies had been comprehensively defeated by the soldiers of Hannover and Hessen, he ordered his remaining forces east from the now ravaged countryside of Artois. By the end of March, came the news that no Spanish forces remained there. Two reorganized English armies, largely comprised of new recruits, advanced cautiously into Artois and then on into Champagne.

April and May brought further good news from Central America. The rebel-controlled fortress in Tampico was stormed, and English cavalry raiders scattered Spanish cavalry in Tehuantepec. The fleet from Baja sunk two Spanish warships off the coast of California. The news from South America was not so good. A Spanish army defeated the defenders of Copetonas; the English army were driven into San Matias and wiped out by Spanish reserves. Copetonas would fall by the end of June.

On 1st June 1634, rebels in Sardinia declared their independence from Spain. This was hailed as the beginning of the fall of the Spanish Empire and Sardinia’s envoys were welcomed in London as if they had conquered Spain itself. "Never was so Great a Triumph made of so Small an Thing" wrote a satirical poet, many years later.

Atlixco fell on 9th June, the Home Fleet won a battle off Lands End on 10th June and the Pacific Navy (as the fleet based in Baja had now styled itself) sunk two Spanish transports in Mazatlan Bay on 13th June. The Spanish Ambassador chose this most inopportune moment to offer Tampico in exchange for peace. The offer was not well received. It provoked fresh negotiations with the Sardinians, leading to a State Marriage on 5th August. The King then managed to outrage the religious at home by attending a High Mass of celebration at the Sardinian embassy and to damage relations with the Sardinians themselves by inviting them to join the North German Alliance. They would not ally with Protestants at any price, and promptly joined the Austrian Alliance instead.

Amid all this, the death of Button in the south seas on 28th July was hardly noted.

An attempted Spanish invasion of Isle Royale was beaten off at the end of July. Artois fell in August and Champagne on 3rd October. Now, of the Spanish Netherlands, England held Champagne and Artois and rebels controlled Hainaut and Luxembourg. There was no base for Spain to raise troops. Spain’s ally Lorraine lay defenceless, its army devoured in Germany. Field Marshall Fairfax advanced into Lorraine with 99 cannon and a protective screen of 9000 infantry and began a siege at the end of October.

Jalisco - the war’s economic target - and its gold fell on 8th October. A few argued that England should declare victory and offer peace in return for it. That argument fell on deaf ears. Too much blood had been shed and too much had been won - and the hope that the Spanish Empire would fall apart leaving the realm to pick up the pieces still burned bright.

The Hessen Army had been sieging Mainz for months. When it fell in November, they looted the treasury, claimed #250 reparations and withdrew from the Palatinat. An offer of a status quo peace from the Palatenat was accepted by England for the rest of the Alliance. Meanwhile, a small Spanish force invaded Connaught. They were wiped out in the first week of December, and the fleet which had transported them sent to the bottom of the North Atlantic. With his unerring sense of bad timing, the Spanish Ambassador offered to cede Artois and Atlixco (and return Copetonas). He was turned away. The realm would accept nothing less than - everything. Intransigence was strengthened even more when Tehuacan fell in December.

Year-end taxes for 1634 were a round figure of #600.

1635 saw the rise to high command of two members of the family Monck - Lt General Monck who took command of the army in Picardie and Vice Admiral Monck who took command of the Home Fleet in Anglia.

Spain offered Artois, Tampico and Atlixco. This was seen as a sign of weakness and refused.

New colonies were founded in Rio Grande and Matagora in February, along with a new Trading Post in Talahassee. They were the product of a new scheme by the merchant venturers - to isolate whatever might remain of Spainish Central America from the interior of North America. Trading Posts were established in Biloxi and Bayou the next month.

March saw a rebellion in Champagne, followed the next day by the fall of Metz. Field Marshall Fairfax advanced into Franche-Comte with his trusty 99 cannon and an infantry escort now reduced to 5000 men, leaving Lorraine under martial law and under the day-to-day rule of a Major-General. Lt Gen Monck ordered the army in Picardie - now strengthened to 12,000 infantry and 17,000 cavalry - to advance into Champagne.

Spain repeated its offer of Artois, Tampico and Atlixco and the realm repeated its refusal.

Screenshot from March 1635: Sardinia independent, Sicily in rebellion.


http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_Sardinia1635.html


Fairfax’s siege army reached Franche-Comte at the end of March and bean a siege of Besancon. Monck’s army reached Champagne on 4th April and put down the rebels within a week.

By this time his namesake, Vice Admiral Monck, had sailed from Dover with sixty warships on the voyage which would make him England’s greatest navel hero up to that time.

Already, in March, the fleet had sunk two Spanish warships off Land’s End and four more off Finisterre. Proceeding south in April, three more were sunk in the Lusitanian Sea. All for no losses. Then, in May came the great victory. Monck’s sixty English warships engaged thirty-nine Spanish warships and four transports in the Gulf of Cadiz. By 10th May, twenty-six Spanish warships and the four transports had been sunk, for the loss of five English. Monck pursued the fleeing Spanish to the Straits of Gibraltar, where during the rest of May another five Spanish warships and two transports were sunk, again for no English losses.

The Spanish responded with another peace offer - only Artois. In a rage (a rare thing for him) the King ordered an end to all peace talks.

On 30th June, Franche-Comte fell. Leaving another military administration under another Major-General, Fairfax withdrew to Champagne. There was nowhere in Northern Europe for Spain to raise new troops.

In July, Poland became bankrupt, which no-one in England considered of any great significance. Monck sunk another seven Spanish warships in the Straits of Gibraltar, then turned for home. Spanish sea power was broken; any threat of invasion of the realm was past.

Field Marshall Dudley died in August, falling off his horse while inspecting the army of occupation in Artois (which caused all the more hilarity the harder the government tried to suppress the truth).

The war lapsed into passivity. The Court and the merchants would have settled for what had been captured in Central America; the religious would have settled for nothing less than the dismembering of Spain itself. What the rest of Europe would have thought had this happened will never be known, for it was never on offer. Instead, when the Spanish Ambassador was admitted to make a new peace offer in December, it was not new at all: Artois, Tampico and Atlixco. The Court sent him away. They were certain the Spanish Empire could not survive another year.

But they were wrong …

Year-end taxes for 1635 were #616.

Fairfax dictated peace terms to the Duke of Lorraine - the entire contents of the treasury, including the year’s taxes. Together, it came to #65 for each member of the Alliance. The Court took the money, declared victory, signed a peace treaty on 2nd January 1636 - and watched bemused as Lorraine raised a new army from funds provided by the moneylenders of Europe.

Then, on 6th February came the astonishing news that the Dutch - still bankrupt - had torn up their peace treaty with Spain less than three years after it was made. The Netherlands declared war on Spain supported by Scotland and Persia; Spain was supported by Lorraine, the Palatinat and new allies Helvetia, but not by Baden (which was still notionally at war with England). For a time there was concern that the English and the Dutch might come to fight over the rebel Spanish provinces of Hainaut and Luxembourg. Fairfax’s siege army moved into Luxembourg. But the danger passed. In the face of an overwhelming outcry on the Dutch side, and war exhaustion on the Spanish side, a status quo peace was signed on 19th June. By then, there were rebellions in Kleves, which the main Dutch army took two weeks to suppress, and in Flanders - where there were no Dutch troops to oppose it, and no money to raise any more.

Historians can now see it was these events which were to shape the realm’s actions for the next few years, though they have never been able to agree who it was who made the decisions. Certainly, there were no immediate signs of any change. Fairfax pulled back to Artois, leaving Luxembourg to the tender mercies of their native rebels. Vice Admiral Monck sailed south again.

On 29th June, Spain signed a status quo peace recognizing the independence of Sardinia. About this time, the Spanish trade embargo of England was unilaterally withdrawn and Spain signed a separate peace with Hessen.

Monck’s fleet, now reduced to fifty-one warships, sank ten Spanish warships in a series of sea battles in the Gulf of Cadiz in July, three in the Gulf of Almeria in August and ten more in September, before turning again for home ports.

Trading posts were established in Enkan and Magadan in August. In October, the first of a new class of warships was launched at the shipyard of Anglia (naval tech 22 - Improved Hulls).

And as the war entered its fourth year and passed its fourth Christ’s Mass, debate and recrimination raged in London. War exhaustion was growing in the realm’s vital provinces overseas, while the Spanish Empire had not fallen apart, and showed precious little sign of doing so - indeed, fresh armies were being raised in Central America. Some merchants argued the realm should take Jalisco and whatever else it could get, for the Spanish Empire was too strong to fall. Others argued that it would fall if more pressure was applied. The family Monck argued (with the full support of the religious) that with all significant Spanish forces driven from the seas, an army should be landed in Spain itself. Still others argued this was too risky and other ways should be found to strike at Spain. The King seemed to have something for all sides. Peace negotiations with Spain were resumed. Orders were given to raise new armies in Scotland (the true significance of which was not realized at the time). And new orders were given to the forces in North America. The anti-pirate squadron in the St Lawrence was ordered south …

Year-end taxes for 1636 were #618.

On 1st January 1637, Ferdinand III of Austria was elected Holy Roman Emperor.

Spain’s initial peace offer was either very perceptive or very insolent - only Artois. As new beginnings go, it could have been better. When the offer was repeated in March, it was no better received.

Attacks from Spanish armies on Jalisco were beaten off in February, March and April, but with heavy losses. New infantry levies had to be raised. By way of diversion, and to concentrate the negotiators’ minds, infantry divisions were ordered to advance into Spanish territory to the south-east of the conquered provinces.

Meanwhile, the St Lawrence fleet had arrived off the coast of Santee and Roanoake, embarked troops and set out for the Caribbean. In March, it arrived off the Spanish Trading Post in Jamaica where the troops began to disembark.

In April, Parliament enacted new measures to protect the realm’s traders (trade level #7 - protectionism), complaining mightily about the conduct of the war as they did so.

April also saw English victories over inferior Spanish forces in Campeche, Tehuantepec and Chihuahua - and the burning of the Spanish Trading Post in Jamaica. Troops re-embarked, leaving a token force behind.

May saw English troops reach Honduras, where another Spanish Trading Post was burned. June saw a victory for 5000 confident English infantry over 8000 demoralized Spanish infantry in Guatemala. Troops landed in Curaco, and burned the Spanish Trading Post there.

This then was the new policy - to burn Spanish Trading Posts out of the Caribbean. Many merchants were displeased. Trade from these posts flowed to Andalusia, where English traders had now restored their monopoly. The policy would hurt England more than it hurt Spain. Those who had supported further measures against Spain now joined the peace party. Some of them suggested an alternative policy altogether. The King was a ready listener.

July saw an English victory in Tehuacan and reports that rebels had taken control of Roussillon and (Spanish) Nice, and Flanders from which a rebel army was advancing towards Zeeland. Spain was offered peace in return for Jalisco, Tampico and Tuxpan. They refused. For the sake of trying Baden was offered a white peace. They also refused. Spain responded with an offer of Artois and Tampico. This negotiation was not going well.

The Pacific Fleet arrived off Honduras in July, embarked the infantry and set sail for the Gulf of Panama, where it arrived in August. Troops landed in Mosquitos and burned the Spanish Trading Post there, then began marching east, through the wild jungles.

On 15th August, Turkey (supported by Astrakhan and the Golden Horde) declared war on their traditional enemy, the Mamelukes (supported by Oman). This war would not last long; Oman became bankrupt in September and the Mamelukes would pay #150 reparations for an alliance peace in December 1638.

August saw a Spanish attack beaten off in Tehuacan and troops landed in Barbados, where the Spanish Trading Post was burned. September saw Spanish Trading Posts burned in Isthmus and Cartagena and a Spanish attack beaten off in Tehuacan. In October, Lorraine became bankrupt and the amphibious force landed and burnt the Spanish Trading Post at Guadeloupe. And still the Spanish Empire did not fall.

November saw another Spanish attack on Tehuacan beaten off and final peace negotiations. Spain offered Artois and Tampico. England demanded Jalisco, Tampico and #250 reparations. Spain accepted. The Third Spanish War was over. English forces withdrew from Champagne and Artois and the occupied Spanish colonies in Central America. English administration was restored to Copetonas.

Orders were given to strengthen the fortresses in Jalisco (to level 3) and Copetonas (to level 2).

The first colonists arrived at Curaco.

AFTERMATH

England was now the dominant landholder in North America. Tampico was the link between the former Aztec territories and the gold provinces and the chain of English colonies along the east coast. The west coast north of San Bernardino was a chain of English colonies and trading posts.

Screenshot - North America after the Third Spanish War.


http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_Namerica1637.html


But was this a victory?

The merchants had some doubts. Four years of war had achieved nothing that could not have been gained in two. Burning Spanish Trading Posts and replacing them with English colonies would cut their profits in the short term.

The religious zealots also had doubts. The war had cost too much for what it had achieved, and had not been pursued hard enough to destroy the Spanish Empire. The inconsistency of their complaints, and the unreality of their aspiration, worried them not at all. But their complaints were as nothing compared to the rage which would consume them within two months, when the realm would embark upon what the religious would always call the Ungodly War.

 

[Deaghaidh]

An uderrated alternative to Ariels AAR

 

[Lord Durham]

Terribly underrated IMHO. It deserves support.

 

[Roberto]

Two compliments in one night! How will I cope?

But seriously - here's a poser for all the silent readers out there. Who do you think the forthcoming Ungodly War is against

Your answers won't make any difference to the storyline because (as ever) I'm posting behind the run of play. Just be interesting to see what you think - and whether my hints are being picked up.

Respect to all.

 

[Roberto]

No replies to my little poser. So much for interaction

Perchance if I changed the name of this thread to "please ignore this AAR", it would be overrun with comments

Next instalment coming up, regardless.

 

[Roberto]

Narrative resumes at the beginning of 1638, the thirteenth year of the reign of King Charles I.

Year end taxes for 1637 were #668. Part was spent on the appointment of a Provincial Governor in Santal, and part on upgrading the fortress in the Yuken goldfields (to level 2).

The realm had ended almost four years of war with Spain in November 1637. Few - except those who had planned it - could have expected another war. But on 9th January 1638, England declared war on Scotland.

THE UNGODLY WAR - PRETEXT AND REALITY

Since 1494, Scotland had been restricted to the one province of Lothian. Despite an attempt to achieve good relations in the latter years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and the unity of the crowns since 1603, the natural relationship between the lords, merchants, scholars and traders of the two realms was one of bitter hatred, permanently stoked up by fierce competition in the Anglia Centre of Trade.

Scotland was in alliance with the Netherlands and Persia, and during the past decade had built up a combined army of some 52,000 men. In declaring war on Scotland, the Court claimed they were acting to remove this clear threat to the realm. They also claimed the Scottish army had been raised with funds provided by their allies, the Dutch (a good story for which there was, and is, absolutely no evidence). And they claimed action against the Netherlands was necessary to remove the threat posed by rebel forces controlling Flanders.

Not everyone believed these reasons then, and no historian believes them now. The real target was the Netherlands. They had virtually undefended trading posts in India and North America. Their armies and navies were in a state of unprecedented weakness, having been on half pay since the Netherlands became bankrupt in September 1633. And their main armies were in Ceylon (reputed to be 62,000, but certainly without a transport fleet) and Kleves (19,000), without a land border with the realm. It was exactly this opportunity of plundering the Dutch while they were weak which had attracted the merchants.

The religious saw things differently. The Scots and the Dutch were fellow Protestants, of a sort (well, Reformed). The Northern War had been bad enough, but it had been forced upon the realm. This declaration of war divided the Protestant house against itself. They would never forgive the King for it, and they would always know it as the Ungodly War.

THE UNGODLY WAR: 1638-1640

When England declared war upon Scotland, the Netherlands joined the war but their other allies, Persia, did not. What might have happened to the best laid plans if Persia had joined the war, and/or if the Netherlands had not, is a fascinating speculation, but for another day.

England did not call upon her allies. This left the main Dutch army in Kleves stranded unless the Netherlands declared war themselves on Cologne or Hessen, a step which their fragile stability could surely not have survived. In any event, they did not.

Field Marshall Fairfax, with his trusty 99 cannon from the Third Spanish War and an enhanced infantry escort of 17,000 men advanced into rebel-held Flanders. His troops would be passed along the way by Lt General Monck advancing with 8,000 infantry and 16,000 cavalry to attack the 10,000 Dutch force in Zeeland. In India, armies advanced from Santal towards Howrah and Ganges, from Madras to Yanam and from Cochin to Madurai. Cavalry raiders advanced from San Bernardino into Altar.

All provinces bordering Scotland had standing armies, except The Marches. Sure enough, the Scots took the bait; the entire Scottish army advanced south from Edinburgh.

(The first colonists arrived in Barbados in January).

By the end of January, Yanam and Altar had been captured and burned and Madurai occupied, but not yet burned.

Vice Admiral Monck set out for the coast of Holland. A solitary Dutch ship was sunk in the Channel at the beginning of February. In a running battle off the Coast of Holland in mid-month, an entire fleet of thirteen Dutch warships was sunk for four English losses. Monck wrote, years later, that the battle had been very close with the Dutch fighting much harder than the Spanish had ever done even though they had been on half pay for years; the expressions "Dutch courage" and "half a Dutchman’s pay" entered the language as a mark of esteem. (Some of the religious argued it was the strength of their faith which sustained them, though it was not strong enough to keep them afloat).

English armies reached Howrah and Ganges by mid-February. Both were attacked by natives, and both beat them off with ease. The Trading Post in Howrah was burned, that in Ganges was not.

On 19th February, the Scottish army reached The Marches: 41,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 40 cannon. There would not be nearly enough supplies to sustain a siege for long enough to bring down the walls of Newcastle. The second part of the trap was then sprung. 9,000 infantry escorting 100 cannon marched down the low road from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, arriving at the end of March.

On 6th March Fairfax’s army stormed the rebel-held Antwerp, capturing the city for the loss of 5,000 men and two cannon, and on 9th March Monck’s army reached Zeeland, to find the Dutch army had fled. Any remaining pretense that the war against the Netherlands was limited to suppressing the rebels in Flanders was abandoned. Fairfax set out for Zeeland, and Monck set out for The Hague.

(The first colonists arrived at Guadeloupe in March).

On 28th March Poland (supported by Bohemia, the Hanse and the Teutonic Order) declared war on Turkey (supported by Astrakhan, Crimea and the Golden Horde). This war would be a major conflagration, burning for many years, though not fully reported in England.

In April, with war seemingly now a way of life, Parliament was persuaded to strengthen the power of the central government (Infrastructure - central government). Persuaded is the wrong term. "Induced" might be better. Spokesmen for the religious opposed the changes tooth and nail - they were designed to assist the prosecution of an unholy war, and would encourage more of the same - and it took all the merchant’s resources to bribe enough Members into acquiesce.

(The first successful colonists arrived in Jamaica in April).

April also saw the capture and burning of the Dutch Trading Post at Niagara, the sinking of five Dutch warships in ten days of running battles off the Coast of Holland (it took thirty-two English ships to achieve it!), the first breach in the walls of Edinburgh (to 0) and the start of a week of battles outside the Hague in which Monck’s army of 6,000 infantry and 16,000 cavalry put 3,000 Dutch infantry to flight.

The Dutch and the Scots both offered a white peace, and both were turned away.

June saw another successful sea battle of the Coast of Holland in which 31 English warships sank five Dutch, a siege begun in Zeeland, another breach in the walls of Edinburgh (to -3) and another battle outside The Hague between Monck’s army (6,000 infantry, 16,000 cavalry) and the main Dutch army (9,500 infantry, 1,000 cavalry); in two weeks of fighting Monck lost 1,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry to Dutch losses of at least 4,000 infantry and all of their cavalry. The Dutch retreated to Holland and were pursued; in early July Monck caught up with them again and 5,000 Dutch infantry were reduced to a rabble of less than 3,000, fleeing to Friesen. .

(Traders sent to Yanam were lost at sea).

By the middle of June, attrition and desertion had reduced the Scottish army in The Marches by more than half; it was reported to have no more than 19,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry and 40 cannon. Again the Scots begged for a white peace, and again they were refused.

Edinburgh fell on 27th July. Some argued for Lothian to be absorbed into England as another province. The merchants saw no great economic benefit in this, the ambassadors of the Alliance cried out with horror at the idea, and the religious were implacably opposed. In this hour of triumph the King markedly worsened relations with the religious by marching into Parliament with a troop of dragoons, seeking to arrest one Member who had said in an unguarded moment:

"There is more godliness in one preacher in St Giles’ Cathedral than in all of the Court of St James".

The offending Member was not to be found.

On the same day, an English Trading Post was established in Niagara.

August saw Monck’s final destruction of the Dutch army in five days of fighting in Friesen. He led his army back to The Hague, laying siege at the end of the month.

It was reported that a Spanish army was now sieging the rebel fortress in Hainaut.

Again the Dutch and the Scots appealed for while peaces and again they were refused.

In September, a new colony was founded in the formerly Dutch Howrah.

October saw the Dutch beaten off in a minor skirmish in Nipigon, the border between English and Dutch trading posts in North America. The English commander decided, on his own initiative, to pursue the retreating Dutch through the depths of winter.

December saw a Trading Post successfully founded in Yanam and a Royal Marriage with the Hanse (+190 to +200). The latter did not impress the religious. It was too little, too late.

Year end taxes for 1638 were #618.

By the beginning of 1639, the Scottish army in The Marches had been reduced to some 14,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 40 cannon. Orders were given to destroy it. An army of 16,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry advanced from Lancashire; it withdrew after a week of inconclusive battles in early February in which the Scots had fought like demons and both sides had lost about 4,000 infantry to battle, disease and desertion.

There were reports that Spanish forces had recaptured Hainaut.

February also saw the burning of Dutch Trading Posts in the frozen lands of Athabaska, Chimo and Winisk. Monck’s army in The Hague, now some 3,000 infantry and 11,000 cavalry, saw off 7,000 desparate Dutch levies with some ease.

Zeeland fell to Fairfax on 11th March. Over his protests his army was split. He was ordered to join Monck at The Hague with 57 cannon; the remaining army advanced on Holland.

There were reports that Hainaut was again in rebellion. It was noted that Spain was still at war with the Incas.

An English army from Yorkshire reached The Marches at the beginning of April. 11,000 English infantry and 9,000 English cavalry faced 10,000 Scottish infantry, 1,000 Scottish cavalry and 40 cannon. Again the Scots fought like demons but after two weeks they were reduced to 4,000 infantry, 31 cannon and a few hundred cavalry. The English withdrew, leaving the Scots unable to sustain a siege. The tattered remnant of the Scottish army reached Lothian at the beginning of May; 2,600 infantry and 30 cannon against the occupation force of 7,500 infantry and 100 cannon. After three days all organized resistance from the Scots had ceased.

May saw preachers arrive in Tampico and Jalisco, to convert the colonists to true Protestantism. Also in May, Crimea paid #76 reparations to Poland to escape from the eastern war.

The Hague fell on 28th August. Fairfax advanced to Friesen, which was reached after two months marching through the devastated land. Monck advanced to Holland.

Chief Justices were appointed in Santal and Pondicherry.

In October the Netherlands made its first serious offer of peace - Ganges and Madurai. It was refused, but negotiations continued. To concentrate the minds of the Dutch, new Dutch Trading Posts in Athabaska and Chimo were burned at the beginning of December, with English traders sent to replace them. England demanded that Flanders be added to the peace offer. This time, the Dutch refused.

The Scots did not offer peace. They had nothing to offer - their army and navy destroyed, their capital under English occupation.

It was noted that Spain had recaptured Hainaut from the latest rebel uprising.

Friesen fell on 29th December.

Year end taxes for 1638 were #660.

Rebellions against Spanish rule were more widespread than had been realized in London. On 1st January 1640, rebels in Franche-Comte declared themselves free from Spanish rule as the restored Duchy of Burgundy. Rebels in Luxembourg declared their accession to the new Duchy. Personal Gifts were sent to the new Duke (0 to +54) and, by way of balance, to France (+14 to +69).

It was reported in March that rebels had taken Artois from Spain, and in April that they were laying siege to Hainaut.

English Trading Posts were established in Athabaska in March and in Chimo in July. The Dutch Trading Posts in Madurai, Uruguay, Parana and Aires were burned in May. An English trader was sent to Madurai and an English colonist to Aires.

After more hard negotiations, peace was reached with the Netherlands on 30th May. By the Treaty of Antwerp, the Dutch ceded Flanders and their Trading Post in Ganges, and paid #250 reparations. Their loyalty to their Scottish allies over their Royal Marriage with England had cost them dear - their most populated and prosperous province, one of their two Centres of Trade, all their trading posts in India, (about) seven Trading Posts in America and all of their navy.

Orders were given to expand the fortresses in Flanders and Copetonas (both to level 3). A Provincial Governor was appointed in Madras.

On 22nd August came the end of the twenty years’ war between Spain and the Incas, with the Incas ceding Huanuco and paying #250 reparations. But Spain was still at war - with Burgundy.

Screenshot: Burgundy restored August 1640. Note the smoke from rebel armies in Hainaut and Champagne. Note also Flanders under English rule and Kleves under Dutch rule.


http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_Burgundy1640.html

An English Trading Post was established in Madurai in August.

Flanders revolted in October. The rebel army was estimated at 46,000 men, and it took two weeks to restore order.

A new colony was founded in Aires in November.

Year end taxes for 1640 were #570.

1641 began with the dictation of peace terms to Scotland. They were simple - all that you have, and then more. Between the contents of the treasury and the goods of the leading citizens, Scotland scraped together #908 reparations. It was enough enough.

LOSSES AND GAINS

The Netherlands had lost much - see above - but Scotland was ruined without army, navy or treasury funds. They would not be able to pose any threat to the realm for many decades.

What of the triumphant English?

In the short term, Flanders was a nest of rebels demanding a permanent standing army. In the long term, it could not be other than an asset. Antwerp was now the largest city in the realm and held another Centre of Trade, though its proceeds were so low more income could be gained from charging the Dutch merchants fees to trade there than by driving them out. And the Dutch had been driven out of India. All of which pleased the merchants.

The religious were not pleased at all. In their eyes, the war had been a sin and sin was washed away by repentance, not by victory. Worse, the King had used the war as a pretext to strengthen central control. His outrageous attempt at armed intervention into Parliament would never be forgotten or forgiven.

The Courts of Europe looked askance at the annexation of Flanders. It was the realm’s first territorial expansion on the mainland as the result of an aggressive war, and its first territorial expansion in Europe for more than a hundred years. Suspicion would be particularly hard to overcome for a Court so lacking in diplomatic skills. And the hatred of the Dutch was implacable.

To most of this, the King was oblivious. Any threat from the Scots was gone for a generation, and Flanders was now in English hands. The realm had triumphed over the enemy without; any who set themselves up as an enemy within (with particular reference to religious critics) could and would be dealt with in the same way. Convinced that the achievements of others were of his own making, King Charles took more and more power into his own hands.

AFTERMATH

1641 saw a new colony founded in Mekong in February and expanded in September, and more colonists arrive at Aires in April and September. Two attempts to send further colonists to Howrah failed. It was noted that France had established a Trading Post in Uruguay.

It was reported that rebels had taken control of Hainaut in February, and in April that they had driven off a Burgundian army from Artois and laid siege themselves.

Flanders rebelled again in June - a rebel army of some 50,000 took three weeks to suppress.

Cologne became bankrupt in July.

The war in the east began to unravel in November. Astrakhan ceded Volgograd to Bohemia in November, then signed a status quo peace with Poland. In December, Poland ceded Bessarabia to Turkey for peace.

Year end taxes for 1641 were #668.

1642 saw the appointment of two new military leaders, Lt Gen Cromwell in Picardie and Lt Gen the Prince Rupert in Anglia. Orders were given to construct basic fortresses in Manicouagan and The Falklands.

Flanders began the year by revolting yet again, though this revolt only lasted two weeks. It was reported that all three remaining provinces in the Spanish Netherlands - Hainaut, Artois and Champagne - were now under rebel control.

In what passed for a diplomatic offensive, Personal Gifts were sent to the vassals Hannover (+180 to +189), Brandenburg (+180 to +199) and Saxony (+180 to +200).

It was reported that the realm had the only merchants in six Centres of Trade:

Amgoun total TOC value 1564
Zacatecas 820
Mahe 465
Baja 99
The Falklands 64
and Wollongong 8

The largest cities in the realm were:

Antwerp 354,896
London 327,896
Zacatecas 326,793

INTERLUDE: GAME STATUS FEBRUARY 1642

POINTS

England 2955
Spain 1249
China 949
Portugal 884
Poland 824
Austria 821
Turkey 717

BADBOYZ

England +2
France +1
Austria -5
Netherlands +1
Portugal -14
Russia -2
Spain -2
Sweden -11
Turkey 0
Poland +11

Screenshot: India in 1642. Apart from England, the only European presence on the mainland is one French Trading Post and two Portuguese Trading Posts.


http://www.systemvoid.com/eu/aars/Roberto_India1642.html

 

[Lord Durham]

Very nice. You managed to include Charles use of force on Parliment and the religious turmoil resident in England at the time. Does Charles Catholic wife have a part to play in this?

As for figuring out who the Ungodly War would be against I have to admit I'm lousy with 'whodunits'.

 

[Deaghaidh]

Personally, I would have gone for annexation of both the Netherlanders and the Scots- you've been a very good boy so far. It's too bad Belgium isn't a revolter, or Spain would've lost the lowlands too.

Overall, this one's been woorth half a dutchman's pay

 

[Roberto]

Milord Durham - glad somebody spotted my attempts to weave some real history into the narrative. One reason for doing an English AAR. With another country, I just wouldn't have the background knowledge.

As you can tell, I'm trying to build up towards a civil war. Which will leave me a bit out on a limb if there isn't one (not to mention trying to explain Cromwell, who I see is fixed in the list of upcoming monarchs whether there is a civil war or not).

Deaghaidh - annexing the Netherlands was never an option; apart from Kleves (which I never attacked) they have a colonial city in half of Ceylon with a massive army and another colonial city in the frozen north of America with a level two fortress that would have reduced my troops even faster than a Russian winter.

What I could have done, as a real alternative, is to have taken Friesen as well as Zeeland, then set about diplo-annexing Hannover and the rest of the North German Alliance. A road not taken ...

Lothian's definately not worth the enhanced badboy - anyway they keep allying with the realm's enemies

There's a serious point here about badboy. This AAR is based on GC (not IGC) version 1.07c in which it worked differently from the way so clearly explained by Hunzics (?sp - can't check while ranting) for 1.08. In particular checking savegames shows:

- in 1.07c you did get badboy for taking provinces outside Europe.

- in 1.07c it went down by a point every ten years, not every four.

- most of all, in 1.07c there could be negative badboy (I think in 1.08 it could not go below zero). Therefore relative status is permanent. However long you waited between conquests, unless your neighbours were also swallowing up their enemies you would always be badder than them. You had (and I have) to play as a good boy if you don't want the whole world against you for the duration.

(Note to general readers - if you think I'm talking through my a*s about badboy in 1.08 and later, go to the thread about it in (I think) FAQ and check. You could be right. I could be wrong. And yes, I do know there's a 1.09, but my printout of the thread is about how it worked in 1.08.)

I've made it a house rule not to declare war in Europe without a CB (which in 1.08 gave you something like +5 BB straight off) and so far it has worked well, especially with the Spanish being so sensitive about their monopolies

Another part of it is that I'm playing on normal/normal which does reduce the AI's eagerness to declare war. As you'll see from my narrative, Poland is the baddest boy by far but is not having constant badboy wars.

Oh, and about revolting lowlands (my lord - the Belgians are revolting!) - I'm sure the lowlands would have joined Burgundy if they had been under rebel control at the time of the formation check. As it was, only Lux was rebel held to join FC. And rebel provinces don't join revolter states after they've been formed AFAIK. (Again, please correct me if that has changed in 1.09).

 

[Roberto]

Narrative resumes in February 1642, the seventeenth year in the reign of King Charles I.

THE LAST YEARS OF KING CHARLES I

Having reviewed the state of the realm, a Goods Manufactory was commissioned in Flanders and a tax collector appointed in Copetonas.

More colonists arrived at Aires in March, and at Mekong in June.

Also in March, Spain became bankrupt. What twenty years of war with the Incas (not to mention the Netherlands and the realm) had not caused came to pass within two years of the peace. But even this did not cause the Spanish Empire to fall; there were rebellions outside Spain itself, but no new nations broke away. By the end of the year, rebels were seen to be in full control of Ensenada, Tehuacan, Campeche, Guatemala and Yucatan, though Spanish troops had recaptured Artois.

1642 was a year for bankruptcies. Spain was followed by Persia in April, the realm’s vassal Brandenburg (for the second time) in August and Poland (also for the second time) in November.

Year end taxes for 1642 were #667.

An unexpected consequence of Spain’s bankruptcy was that Spanish merchants ceased to compete in the Andalucia Centre of Trade. For many years, the realm’s merchants enjoyed not only a monopoly but also sole occupancy.

1643 began with the fitting of new guns to the navy (naval tech 23 - naval light artillery). Orders were given to expand the fortresses in both Yukon and Tampico (both to level 3). It was reported that rebels had taken over the Spanish colonial province Tehuantepec.

Colonists arrived in Mekong in January and Aires in March.

The residue of the great war in the east rumbled on. The Golden Horde ceded Kujbyschew and paid #169 reparations to Bohemia for peace in February.

Spain accepted the inevitable in June and signed a status quo peace accepting the independence of Burgundy. Spain was now at peace for the first time since 1620, but with bankruptcy at home and rebels throughout the Empire, it would be many years before she could pose a threat to anyone.

Nevertheless, the King resolved to pursue his father’s old policy of friendship with France. A Personal Gift in June improved relations greatly (+50 to +195) and was following in August by a Royal Marriage. The Queen was delighted at this renewal of links with her homeland. The religious were not.

Meanwhile, there had been another rebellion in Flanders in July, lasting three weeks.

Another ship of colonists arrived at Aires in August with a City Charter (+500 natives - city of 1109). A basic fortress was ordered. Given a reasonable time to prepare, which Spain’s bankruptcy promised to provide, Copetonas and Aires together could provide a secure base to strike at Spanish possessions further south in due course.

Year end taxes for 1643 were #678.

1644 began with a report that Spanish rebels had overrun the French Trading Post established in Honduras in the aftermath of the Third Spanish War. Colonists arrived in Mekong in January and July and in Howrah in May. The new Good Manufactory in Flanders was opened for business in February.

Hostilies in the great war in the east finally ended with a status quo peace between Bohemia and Turkey in June. The following month, Bohemia accepted a vassal relationship with Poland - to general astonishment, bearing in mind that Poland was bankrupt. The realm’s State Marriage with Poland was renewed in September (+175 to +190).

Year end taxes for 1644 were #680

1645 saw the appointment of Chief Justices in Yukon, Copetonas, Amgoun and the Falklands. Orders were given to expand the fortress in Aires (to level 2).

More colonists arrived at Mekong in January with a City Charter (+10,000 natives - city of 10,697). Orders were given to construct a basic fortress, and more troops to protect the neighboring Trading Posts.

February saw what historians have since identified as the first example in English history of a financial panic. Trade prices collapsed and economic stability was reduced. (Possibly random event, possibly attempt to trigger a civil war?). Stability was restored by the end of July, but at the cost of liquidating half the realm’s investments which would take years to restore (half investments in trade and infrastructure lost).

This may not have been the beginning of the end for King Charles - arguably this was his armed intervention into Parliament - but it marked the point of no return. The religious had opposed him from the start of his reign, progressing to outright hatred during the Ungodly War. Now the merchants lost confidence. Having no-one else to blame for their losses, they blamed the Court. Having established what was almost a personal rule, the King had nobody to whom to pass the blame. And without the merchants’ financial support, the King had no means to control Parliament. Still, it would be a massive step to depose a King. The next few years were spent by the merchants, the religious and the leaders of the army trying to find another way - any way - to take control of the realm out of his hands. They came to see that this could only be achieved with the full support of the army. Anything less could lead to civil war - or execution for treason.

In April 1645, there were reports that rebels against Spain had taken Messina.

Colonists arrived in Mahe in July.

On 25th July, Persia declared war on Iraq - an event noted in England only because Persia was supported (notionally at least) by Scotland the Netherlands and Cologne. It was realized that the Netherlands was now in alliance with Cologne, providing a land corridor in time of war between Kleves and Zeeland. However illogically (for Cologne would never have joined the North German Alliance), the King was held to be to blame.

The war itself was scarcely noticed, ending in November 1646 when Iraq paid Persia #74 in indemnities.

A new colony was established in Rosario, inland from Copetonas and Aires, in August and more colonists arrived in Howrah in November.

Year end taxes for 1645 were #697.

1646 began with a report that Spanish troops had regained control of Messina. Orders were given to expand the fortress in Mekong (to level 2).

Colonists arrived in Rosario in January, June and November and Howrah in April, but repeated attempts to establish a Trading Post in Parlakmedi (where a French expeditionary force had slaughtered the native population) proved wholly unsuccessful.

Mahe developed into a city during the year and orders were given construct a basic fortress, to protect the increasingly valuable Centre of Trade there.

Year end taxes for 1646 were #689

1647 saw orders given to expand the fortresses in Mekong and Aires (both to level 3). Colonists arrived in Howrah in July and December and Rosario in September but attempts to establish traders in Parlakmedi failed again. By the end of the year, it was noted that not France but the Netherlands had established a Trading Post there.

Year end taxes for 1647 were #720. Tax collectors were appointed for Mekong and Aires.

The realm’s Royal Marriage with Sweden was renewed in February 1648 (+120 to +135).

On 21st February, Turkey (supported by Crimea, Astrakhan and the Golden Horde) declared war on her eternal enemy, the Mamelukes. The war would end in November, with the Mamelukes paying #250 reparations.

More colonists arrived at Howrah in April, with a City Charter (+6000 natives - city of 6,696). Orders were given to construct a basic fortress.

More colonists arrived at Rosario in September, also with a City Charter (+500 natives - city of 1,111). Again, orders were given to construct a basic fortress.

In October the Palatenat became bankrupt.

Year end taxes for 1648 were #706

1649 began with the appointment of Admiral Blake alongside Vice Admiral Monck. The Home Fleet was divided, with Monck’s ships remaining in Wales and Blake’s ships ordered to Anglia.

January saw the first English traders arrive in Tuscaloosa.

The winter of 1648-49 was particularly harsh. The River Thames in froze in London for two months. The very sea froze, to the south of Newcastle and off the coast of Kent. There were widespread food shortages in Western Europe, particularly in the ravaged remnants of the Spanish Lowlands, where rebel bands roamed at will through Artois, Hainaut and Champagne, and in English France. In this time of trial, the merchants and the religious found their instrument - or so they thought - in the shape of Oliver Cromwell, commander of the army in Picardie. Truth to tell, he was the merchants’ second choice. They would have preferred Fairfax, but he refused to have any involvement in politics.

Cromwell was the only military commander also to be a Member of Parliament. He had come to the attention of the merchants through being wholly contemptuous of, and uninfluenced by, all their attempts at bribes. He was devout; known for his devotion to reading the Bible in camp. The merchants saw in him an instrument to bring strong government. The religious saw in him an instrument to purge the realm of Catholic influences. What none of them saw, as they planned together that winter, was that Cromwell saw himself as no faction’s servant, but rather God’s instrument to bring the realm to righteousness.

The die was cast during January. Cromwell returned to England. Pamphlets were circulated, blaming the troubles of the realm and the condition of the people on the folly and sinfulness of the Court. Itinerant preachers spread the same message. The King was confronted by a deputation of the great merchants and the army commanders and persuaded to appoint Cromwell as Minister on 30th January. Immediately, the army commanders in English France, including Monck and Fairfax, declared their loyalty to Cromwell. The commanders in Scotland and England were persuaded (by religious zeal or plain bribery) to do the same (with the exception of Prince Rupert, who kept silent in public, and privately urged the King to resist. So did the Queen.).

Cromwell was decisive - which the King had never been. Prince Rupert’s army was ordered to embark on Admiral Blake’s fleet, and sail for India. Had he resisted, and called for others to defend the established order, who can tell what might have happened? But he did not. The fleet sailed in March. No sooner was it under way than a new Parliament was summoned, in the name of the King and Cromwell. The merchants - much to their later regret - were persuaded to use their influence in favour of the election of "godly men, those who know the way of the Lord". The result became known as the Righteous Parliament. They were not all saints - not by any means - but so long as Cromwell and this merchants stood together, they would follow both. Just to make sure, a substantial army was encamped at Whitehall.

And so it was that in April this Righteous Parliament declared King Charles unfit to rule and in May passed many Acts (possibly based on Henry VIII’s Break with Rome more than a century before) prescribing an Oath of Abjuration with penalties for any who acknowledged "the pretended authority of Charles Stuart, sometime King of this realm". This Oath was administered to the Army and the Navy, then to the clergy and the universities. Those who would not swear were deprived of their positions, and replaced by more "godly men". When Cromwell returned to Picardie for a visit to his old headquarters, the King, the Queen and the royal family traveled with him, and were escorted on to exile in France - where the Regent, Anne of Austria, was resolved to have as little to do with the deposed Queen Henrietta Maria as possible.

The Scots of Lothian would have none of this. If Charles I was no longer King, then the crown must pass to his eldest son. Charles II was proclaimed in Edinburgh. But in a city still scarred by the English occupation less than ten years before, this was mere words. Cromwell was willing to wait for the Scots to see the error of their ways. After all, they were Reformed Protestants and the Lord would surely lead them in the right path. But, just as a precaution, a secret treaty was entered into with the French. So long as the French kept the King and the royal family secure, and away from the Scots, English traders would not encroach into Paris, nor would England make war on France.

THE REALM UNDER CROMWELL

Cromwell had a policy which was simple to express but hard to interpret: to bring the realm to righteousness, and to bring those outside the realm to love and fear the Lord. This was to turn into a domestic policy of ever increasing religious fanaticism, and a foreign policy designed to link the realm ever more closely into Protestant Europe. At the same time, the army was the only instrument on which Cromwell could truly rely, and this reliance made war in Europe an unattractive option - for a time …

The main alliances in Europe were:

The long-standing North German Alliance: England and its vassals, Hannover, Hessen, Brandenburg and Saxony, bound by treaty until January 1651.

The French Alliance with France, Tuscany, Lorraine, Morocco and Sardinia, bound by treaty until March 1655.

The Spanish Alliance, an unholy amalgam of Spain, Portugal, Russia, the Papal State (meaning only the City of Rome and its environs), Naples and The Knights of St John, bound by treaty until June 1653.

An even less holy alliance of the Netherlands, Scotland Cologne and Persia, bound by treaty until October 1656.

Cromwell’s long term aim was to bring the Netherlands into alliance with England. This would be the ultimate recompense for the Ungodly War (well, returning Flanders would have been better, but that would never be considered); it would also save them from sinful association with the Papists of Cologne and the Moslems of Persia (and cut them off from the Scots).

Domestic policy began with the commissioning of a Goods Manufactory in Yorkshire, and Acts of the Righteous Parliament declaring Tuesdays and Thursdays to be days of prayer and supplication (preachers urged their faithful to make a point of eating meat on a Friday, because the Pope was against it). Whether or not as a result of all this additional prayer, a new Naval Infantry Corps was formed in September (naval tech 24: naval infantry). Later that month, the first English colonists arrived in distant Enkan, a fozen land far across the Pacific with nothing to recommend it save extensive gold mines.

Blake’s fleet with Prince Rupert’s army arrived in Mahe in October. After resupply, they reached Madras in December. This was not simply exile. The realm had brought trade and civilization to most of the coast of India. Soon it would be time to bring the love and fear of the Lord to the interior …

 

[Roberto]

Some comments OOC for anyone who cares:

1. It's tough explaining Cromwell without a Civil War. Not to mention all the narrative building up to one

2. As Milord Durham commented, I'm trying to reflect the religious turmoil in England at the time. No offence is intended to any views held by anyone now. Any personal bias that creeps in is wholly unintended.

3. The Thames freezing in London really did happen in the seventeenth century - there were regular Frost Fairs held on the ice for weeks at a time The sea has frozed off Northumberland (and in Pegwell Bay, in Kent) at least once during the last fifty years.