1702 - 1734: Calm before the Storm
This 30 years period saw Russia preparing its invasion of China, gathering new allies and strenghtening its colonies in Asia, without fighting any other country.
Russia had three rulers during this period: Peter I was replaced by Katharina I in february 1725, but she ruled only two years, before abdicating in favor of Peter II Romanov in may 1727. Peter himself was a weak monarch, and governed Russia for only three years, being deposed by Anna I Romanova in january 1730.
Those rulers were unremarkable by their skills, but they followed the tracks of their ancestors, and at least were able to offer Russia a well-deserved period of peace.
Their efforts were mostly on the colonization of Asia, to serve as a base of operations against China. The outposts there were upgraded to their maximum, and several of them were transformed to full-fledged cities. The same thing was done in Persia, with the smallest provinces.
Damman, Kalat, Indus and Thar were converted to orthodoxia in 1702. Damman and Indus became cities in 1704, and Thar followed in 1707, Altaï in 1710 and Aralsk in 1713.
Some colonies were created, and soon became real cities: Tchekunda between 1708 and 1713, Chatga (1714 - 1718), Palana (1720 - 1726), Boureia (1721 - 1726) and Amgoun (1724 - 1729).
These provinces also benefited from a vast program of fortifications, in order for them to have the capacity to house the thousands of troops needed against China. The western and persian borders were also strengthened against would-be invaders, especially Sweden, Turkey and the Mughals.
Fortifications were built in Birobidjan (1703, 1704, 1705 and 1729), Khretset (1704, 1705, 1729), Wallachia (1705), Far Karelia (1708, 1723), Moldavia (1709), Nagorje (1709, 1710, 1729), Tchekunda (1714, 1717, 1718, 1729), Moscow (1719), Arkhangelsk and Vologda (1716), Finland, Tavastland, Savolaks, Karelia, Estonia and Thar (1723), Agra, Jaipur and Kutch (1725), Boureia (1727, 1728, 1729, 1732), Palana (1727), Amour (1729), and Amgoun (1730, 1731, 1732, 1733).
The administration of Russia became exemplary, with nearly every province having its own administrators.
Bailiffs were appointed in Armenia, Azerbaïdjan, Agra, Jaipur, Kerman, Lut, Hormouz, Balucht and Awhaz in 1706, in Bujak in 1708, Ichim, Omsk, Semipalatinsk, Novossibirsk and Altaï in 1710, Tchekunda, Kars, Kirkuk, Iraq, Basrah, Damman, Hamad, Mekran, Baluchistan, Kalat, Indus, Thar and Aralsk in 1713, Chatga in 1718, Boureia and Palana in 1726, and finally Amgoun in 1729.
Courthouses were built in Birobidjan (1707), Arkhangelsk, Memel, Lithuania, Galicia, Ruthenia and Dobrujda (1708), Far Karelia, Kalmuk, Azow, Kerch, Kaffa, Krementjug, Bujak, Armenia, Azerbaïdjan, Turgai, Karaganda and Baralinsk (1710), Ichim, Omsk, Semipalatinsk, Novossibirsk, Altaï, Selenga, Emba, Kerman and Lut (1713), Kars, Kirkuk, Iraq, Hamad, Basrah, Damman, Awhaz, Balucht, Hormouz, Mekran, Baluchistan, Kalat, Indus, Thar, Jaipur and Agra (1714), Tchekunda (1715), Chatga (1720), Aralsk (1723), Palana (1729) and Boureia (1730).
Governors were promoted to Isfahan, Awhaz, Basrah, Hamad and Iraq in 1705, Karelia, Far Karelia, Arkhangelsk, Kurland, Lithuania, Moldavia, Bujak, Kurgan, Irgiz, Kustanai, Orsk, Tenghiz and Ichim in 1715.
All these efforts allowed for several scientific advances. Land tech reached level 45 (a recruitment center was built in Novgorod in 1725, both against Poland and Sweden). Naval tech reached level 13, after 200 years of disinterest in this matter, and several fleets were built, in the Baltic, the Black sea, the gulf of Persia and the Pacific. Finally our commercial tech reached level 5, and our infrasturcture level raised to level 6.
Our economy was also boosted by these efforts, and by peace. In 1705 and 1707, we paid back two loans contracted to finance our war against Persia. We also built several manufactures and academies: art academy in Moscow, weapons manufacture in Polotsk and a brewery in Kaffa in 1718, and goods manufactures in Agra, Kalat and Hamad in 1726.
England declared an embargo against us from november 1706 to august 1723, then renewed it in may 1726. Spain did the same in december 1708. We in turn declared an embargo against China in june 1725 (in order to cut its revenues and anger it), then the Tzar ordered a general embargo in october 1732.
1708 and 1726 were exceptional years, with twice the usual tax income; our good politics boosted our investments in 1722, and our inflation reached -28%, under the combined action of our new governors and a -33% deflation in 1734.
Despite this period of peace, wealth and stability, several revolts occured, mainly because of nationalists movements throughout the empire. Lithuania rebelled in 1702, 1709 and 1713, Finland in 1702 and 1709, Nyland in 1702 and 1719, Tavastland in 1702, 1710, 1711, 1713, 1720 and 1723, Savolaks in 1704, 1714, 1716, 1717 and 1721 (these rebellions lowered the population to under 5000, and the province became orhodox in 1716). Other rebellions occured in Dobrujda (1704, 1708, 1714), Eastern Prussia (1704), Ruthenia (1705, 1720, 1721), Memel (1707), Wallachia (1708, 1711, 1714, 1716, 1729) and Kazan (1716).
Finally, Russia became again a diplomatic power by creating ties with several nations. Embassies were sent in Serbia, Georgia, Ethiopia and Japan, offering generous gifts to the rulers of these nations in order to restore our tarnished reputation.
A royal wedding was concluded with Serbia in november 1707, and Serbia allied with Russia in september 1709, then becoming a vassal in june 1713. Japan entered the russo-serbian alliance in april 1714.
Another royal wedding was concluded in july 1714, this time with Ethiopia, whose vassal was Georgia.
Our alliance with Serbia and Japan was renewed in september 1719, and on this occasion we traded maps with Japan, discovering 9 pacific and Chinese provinces we didn't knew of before. Ethiopia then entered the alliance in november 1722, and the alliance between Russia, Serbia, Ethiopia and Japan was renewed again in september 1729.
The Tzar purposefully degraded our relations with China, sending letters to the chinese emperor, the first letter saying that he was a cruel, ignorant and pretentious infidel, unworthy of ruling such a vast and magnificent empire as China. The second letter was an official claim to the throne of China, the Tzarina officially claimed the divine right to rule all lands in China and south-east Asia, as the only legitimate representative of the true faith in this area.
During this period, Russia avoid all implication in european politics, but nonetheless kept a close look at what happened in foreign countries.
The austrian monarchs were elected emperors of the HRE as usual, Josef I in 1705 and Karl VI in 1711. Sweden diplo-anexed Hanover in 1702, and the Hafsid became vassal of Turkey the same year. In february 1703, Genoa had to pay 250 gold to England.
France, Poland, Naples, Venice and the Palatinate DOW England, Scotland, Savoy and the Netherlands in october 1705.
This war was an error for the Palatinate, which had to pay 250 gold to Netherlands in may 1706, and finally obtained a white peace with its other enemies in june 1709.
France also had a harsh time, and even if it received 151 gold from Savoy in january 1708, it had to give Artois and 250 gold to Netherlands in may 1706, and Santee to England in may 1709.
Despite this success, England had its share of troubles, having to face a civil war in september 1711. Nonetheless,in march 1712, England answered the call of its allies, Netherlands, Savoy and Scoltland, against Spain and Mughals. Spain gave 18 gold and Barahona to England in july 1722, but received Roma from Savoy in compensation in february 1728.
France, Poland, Venice and the Palatinate DOW Austria, Sweden, Kleves and Pommerania in july 1713. As in the previous war, the Palatinate had to pay the price for having agressive allies, giving 110 gold to Sweden in may 1715, and 74 gold to Austria 7 months later.
France received Baden from Austria in november 1715, and paid 243 gold to Sweden in december 1713. It also vassalized Venice 3 years later, in december 1719.
Meanwhile, Bohemia had diplo-annexed Saxony in january 1714.
England, Netherlands, Scotland, Savoy, Naples and the Iroquois DOW France, Poland, Switzerland, Venice, the Palatinate and Mysore in january 1724, but this war proved to be more difficult than the one of 1705.
Netherlands received 235 gold from Switzerland in july 1726, and 250 gold from the Palatinate in march 1730. The Palatinate also had to pay 94 gold to Savoy in may 1727.
Netherlands also received Milan from Venice in october 1728, but had to give back Artois to France in december 1731.
France received 250 gold from Savoy in may 1731, but gave Roanoke to England in april 1734. Meanwhile, England abandoned Cambay and Trivandrum to Mysore in september 1727.
Sweden, Austria, Bohemia, Brandenburg, Kleves and Pommerania finally DOW Denmark and the Hafsid in october 1724; within a month, England, Netherlands, Savoy, Scotland and Naples also declared against Denmark.
Alone and surrounded by foes, Denmark had to give Ostlandet and 250 gold to Sweden in june 1725, then 10 gold to Netherlands and Iceland to England in march 1729.
The last event of note was Morocco becoming vassal of Algeria in august 1730.
To be continued...............................
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