Scotland the Brave (....but a wee bit cowardly sometimes....)

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Scotland the Brave (....but a wee bit cowardly sometimes....)

Who: Scotland
When: May 1453
Objectives: Create an overseas colonial empire (the Lion Rampant carried across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean)
Version: 1.3
Style: Historian-ish (with a few rants/additions....)
The small print: My first game of EU3, my first AAR, my first post (!!?!!), but hell why not.....
Updates: every 2-3 years game time (unless it is tedious….)


Scotland: free but pooped

“It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.’

Declaration of Arbroath, 1320

The 13th and 14th centuries had seen Scotland survive the Wars of Independence with England, but at a cost. She was independent, but exhausted.

James II was born in 1437, and inherited the throne at the age of seven. The child king saw noble families, particularly the Douglas’, seek to take key decisions.

Attempts to regain control of his throne lead James to feuding nobility, murder and intrigue. In 1452 James himself stabbed the 8th Earl of Douglas to death over dinner, creating intermittent civil war.

 

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Scotland: a new direction (1453)

By May 1453 James II had eliminated his rivals, and cemented his grip on the throne. But, what should he do with this new-found authority and freedom. James, and his advisors, first looked to the border in the South. England remained a potent threat, with a larger army and economy, and the ability to strike Scotland at will.

Scotland retained alliances with France and Norway, but these were likely to be of limited use in a war with England. Scotland benefited from moderate prestige with other nations, but this would not last long.

Looking to the continent James saw powerful states maneuvering for prestige and power - Sweden, France, Burgundy, Castille, Aragon. Many of their cities buzzed with new ideas, new universities, flowing trade, and merchantmen heading to the far corners of the earth. Scotland could not compete.

Scotland's society remained simple and stable, a nation of poor fisherman - surviving from the sea. Two cultures happily existed together, lowlander and highlander, united in their Catholic faith.

Scotland lacked valuable resources to trade, and James could rely on only a small tax base. Worse, Scotland remained technologically backward – the previous two centuries of conflict with England having taken their toll.

James II knew that a radical change of direction was necessary if Scotland was to prosper in the emerging Europe. He summoned the brightest and best of his court to the remote village of Bonnybridge. Weeks passed, and the debate raged. Should Scotland seek to raise an army, and once and for all put down the English threat? Should Scotland seek to pay homage to one of the rising European powers, and seek vassaldom? Should Scottish merchants be sent to the great centres of trade to build a trading empire?

James knew that trade and merchant competition would be difficult and costly (and he didnt really understand the manual.....). Military conquest was not an option for a nation so weak. Investments in trade and military technology would be a distraction. Gradually a strategy emerged that the nobility and clergy could unite behind:

• England were too powerful to be challenged, conflict should be avoided at all costs
• A new colonial empire must be founded, bringing the wealth of the world to Scotland
• Advances in stability (for increased taxation) and in government and administrative expertise would lay the foundations for a Quest for the New World

James knew the course of action would be risky. His small nation could be overwhelmed by war, he was abandoning the great Centres of Trade to bitter rivals, and his small treasury could not afford a sizeable army or navy to protect any overseas territories. Everything would rely on brave Scottish explorers, colonists and expeditionary forces. They would be thousands of miles from home, but they would hold the nations future in their hands…..

One hundred years after the Declaration of Arbroath had expressed a belief in Scottish independence, James and his advisors prepared a radical new vision for the Scottish nation. It was sealed by nobility, and clergy, and merchants, and committed all to a brave new endeavour:


"This is the destiny of the Scottish nation: to explore strange new lands, to seek out new civilisations, wealth and glory, to boldly go where no Scot has gone before"

Declaration of Bonnybridge, May 1453

 

[stnylan]

I do like Scottish AARs. Good luck on this one.

Welcome to the Forums and welcome to AAR-writing. Remember: have fun!

 

[unmerged(61606)]

try to dominate England before the colonial era, before it gets too powerful. maybe ally with France and gang up?

 

[unmerged(9046)]

Scotish tales have you either grow kick or...

Good luck!

 

[comagoosie]

hehe funny title

I'll be following

 

[Cyrus_The_Great]

Looks pretty interesting, I will have to follow. Played a Scotland game in EU2 and it was fun, but haven't tried one yet in EU3.

Best of luck!

 

[canonized]

Ahh a Scotland AAR ! Haven't seen one in a while ! Let's see how the boys do

 

[safferli]

Och, a Scotland AAR, fer creying oot loud! Yes please, and good luck!

 

[coz1]

Love a good Scotland AAR. Nice layout to start. Good luck and welcome to AAR writing.

 

[t0m]

lets hope it lasts longer than all of the other scottish AARs i have seen

 

[cocodtim]

nice! good luck with your country

 

[unmerged(92722)]

rcduggan : try to dominate England before the colonial era, before it gets too powerful. maybe ally with France and gang up?

yeah, you're probably right, the english are going to be a constant menace. trouble is, if Scotland start a fight now then any colonies will have to wait for decades while I slog it out (plus I havent worked out how to fight yet, and might try to learn against some cherokee instead....). by which time castille, portugal et al could be in the new world in strength. need to get to the new world first, and keep fingers crossed on england....


everyone else: thanks for the msgs, hopefully can survive long enough for it to get interesting!

 

[Capibara]

Nice start! Let's hope you do better than Celtic did today against Barcelona

 

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The Lamb of Leith sets sail (1457)

The Lamb of Leith sets sail (1457)

On the 17th February 1457 the small Scottish cog, the Lamb of Leith, passed the coast of Iceland, and set sail to the West. Wallace Montgomerie, her captain, had been given a clear instruction from James II, the King of Scotland - seek out rich new territories beyond the known world. But before Montgomeries' ship lay nothing but open sea and icebergs.

The stakes were high, Scotland's entire gold reserves had been set aside to fund the expedition - Montgomeries' costs, and those of the Conquistador he carried to the West. If it failed there would be no repeat attempt for at last a decade.

Montgomerie knew something else the crew did not, this was likely to be a one way voyage.

Nearer to home England and France had gone to war over Irish territories. The English suffered a series of humiliating defeats, and Calais fell to forces from France and Brittany. The English losses saw rebellion and unrest at home, fanned by French spies. In 1457 Cornwall revolted, and declared independence. A combined fleet from France and Brittany fought the English in the Channel, and won. James II looked on as the english withdrew their troops from Scotlands' border. Some advisors called for an opportunistic strike against the English. But James knew he was in no position to start a fight. Forging a Scottish New World had to remain the clear priority.

James' Declaration of Bonnybridge, and his clear renunciation of any ambitions towards territory to the South, had improved relations with England, as had a Royal Marriage of his eldest daughter to the Prince of Wales. Scotland's other foray into diplomacy, a Royal Marriage with Tyrone, had not gone well. James had been dragged into the short War of Tyrone Succession, where Scotlands' armies had failed to take the field before a white peace lowered her prestige. The experience reinforced his desire to avoid entanglements in Europe.

While his treasury funded Wallace Montgomerie's expedition James II scoured the nation for new advisors to strengthen his realm. Eventually Robert Boyd (an expert in advanced government), Gilles Binchois (an advisor on stable noble-peasant relations), and Duncan Ferguson (a skilled diplomat, expert in building Scotlands' prestige) were brought to James' court.

As Spring 1457 arrived, James waited for news of the Lamb of Leith. Would she, and Wallace Montgomerie, succeed against the odds? Would they discover territory to found the New Scotland....

 

[comagoosie]

New Scotland, it does have a ring to it, doesn't it.

 

[unmerged(86922)]

Scotland forever!!!WALACE!!!!!!!!WALACE!!!!!!!!!! Include parts of them talking about him!! He was Braveheart. I like this aar.

 

[Rabid Bogling]

New Scotland, it does have a ring to it, doesn't it.

Sounds even better in Latin.

 

[coz1]

One has to hope so. As soon as England settles it's problems, I imagine they'll be looking towards you. Good luck in your expeditions, definitely.

 

[stnylan]

Yep, get the colonies early.