Sheridan's Heritage: A French AAR

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I'll be putting this up in parts, as when I wrote it out in Word it ran to over a dozen pages.

It was played as France in the 1.07c NA release version, all settings on normal. I was trying to unify all the lands of my personal heritage - France, Ireland, Massachusetts, Quebec and Southern California.



Part One: The Spanish Wars and the Vassal States, 1492-1515

1492 - I bring Lorraine and Helvetia into the start-game France, Savoy and Papals alliance. My Provence galleys are disbanded, the commander sent with 2 new warships to Bretagne to meet up with the other fleet.

1493-4 - Designated northern army the 1st and southern the 2nd. Took out 3 loans and promoted bailiffs throughout France. 3rd army (also 27k) mustered in Lyonnais. 4th army mustered in Bearn.

1495 - 4 existing armies increased to 40k. I watch an unsuspecting Spain take its allies (England, Poland, Milan, Naples) to war with the Hanse, Genoa, Portugal and the Knights.

1496 - 5th army mustering in Champagne. Spain is looking weaker by the day, in its war with the Portuguese and allies.

The First Spanish War
June '96-March '97 - Alliance war with Spanish alliance. The French 1st-4th armies pounce on Roussillon, Gerona, Artois and FC, respectively, with the 5th heading for Luxembourg when its mustering is completed. In the ensuing peace treaty, I get Roussillon and FC.

1497 - I spend the rest of the year reorganizing and rebuilding my armies. I combine to form the 1st in Paris, 2nd in Roussillon, and 3rd in Champagne.

1498 - Used 2 loans to pay the 3 old ones. Finish rebuilding the armies up to 40k. King Louis XII rises to the throne in April.

1499 - Fortress upgrade in Rousillon, so that it can support a 40k army. 4th army mustering in Picardie, as my military goals are now all in the North.

1500 - Rather uneventful, except I finish mustering the new 4th army. In July, Lorraine becomes a vassal state.

1501 - Navy construction, as I expect England to be a main enemy soon, especially as I want Ireland. In February, Savoy follows Lorraine's lead and becomes a vassal state. I increase my 4 armies from 40k to 45k each.

1502-3 - Naval construction continues. All loans are paid off. I start looking at another war in the North as something to pass the ten years till I can annex my vassals.

The Second Spanish War
Oct '03-Jan '04 - Alliance war with Spain. They've somehow misplaced the alliance treaty with England - a disappointing surprise to me, as it means I'll have to take on England later instead of now. A quick, bloody winter war in the Spanish Netherlands takes its toll, and I end up settling for a single territory - Luxembourg. Turns out a good thing (for me) that they did let England slide out of that alliance.

1504-10 - I spend this several years building up my armies and navy. By 1510 I have 6 45k armies - 1st in Luxembourg, 2nd in Roussillon, 3rd in Paris, 4th in Picardie, 5th in Lyonnais, and 6th in Champagne.

1511 - A rather busy year. In March I annex Savoy, designating its army the French 7th. Lorraine follows in July, and its army is the French 8th. Scotland and Baden take their places in my alliance.

1511-13 - I spend this time integrating the two annexed states and mustering their armies up to my 45k standard. I also cement my current alliances with some cash gifts.

March 1513 - A random event gives me a refinery in Languedoc.

The Third Spanish War
August '13-Nov '15 - Alliance war with Spain (Milan, Naples, Poland, Parma) vs. my French, Helvetian, Scotch, Baden, Papal alliance. Milan is coerced into a seperate peace in August '14. In January '15, King Francois I rises to the throne, and presides over a victory which yields the territories of Artois and Hainaut.



Next time: Part Two, The English Wars, 1515-1543

 

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excellent

Excellent AAR you have here. Well, since you already wrote it all, don't keep us waiting.

 

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Part Two: The English Wars, 1515-1543

As requested, Part Two. Don't want to throw it all out at one time, as I like suspense...


1515-18 - I rebuild and reorganize my forces. The fleet is up to 35 warships and 35 transports, based at Caux. The remaining armies are combined and rebuilt into 5 45ks - Artois, Roussillon, Caux, Picardie and Savoy. This distribution of forces is because all the remaining territories I want to conquer are owned by England, so a cross-Channel invasion is necessary.

1519 - Nice revolts, but the 5th army (the old Savoy Defense Corps) crushes it easily.

1520-21 - First two explorer ships appear - I send them northwest looking for the North American coast. I also build a 6th army in Normandy.

August 1520 - I colonize Quebec.

The First English War
July '21- June '23 - Alliance war with England (Genoa, Navarra) vs. my French (Helvetia, Scotland, Baden, Papals). In December 1522, much to my shock, Baden conquers Navarra. They ended up holding onto it throughout the remainder of the time period! In February '23, Genoa is forced into a cash peace, leaving England to fight solo. Fortunately for them, Baden hasn't much of a navy! I have meanwhile invaded Ireland, and in the final peace I get Calais, Leinster, and Munster. I've now completed my territorial expansion plans in mainland Europe.

1524 - I begin rebuilding and reorganizing the armies. A plague strikes the eastern frontier - Provence, Dauphine, and FC are the worst hit. I keep my armies well clear, setting them up in Calais, Bearn, Leinster, Normandie and Savoie.

1525-26 - Rebuilding continues.

1527 - Just as I finish rebuilding my troops, I lose an ally - Helvetia - to religious conversion. I decide to let them drift. I manage to get Tuscany to replace them in my alliance, which is now Scotland, Baden, Papals and Tuscany.

1528 - I am once again preparing for war. This time, my goal is the northern 3/5ths of Ireland.

The Second English War
Sept '28-May '30 - Alliance war with England (Genoa, Prussia, Venice, Naples) vs. my French (Scotland, Tuscany, Papals) - Baden dishonors the alliance. Through quick fighting and skillful troop deployments, I manage to force my way into southern England itself and end up forcing a peace treaty. For my trouble, I get Connaught and Meath, leaving only Ulster in English hands.

1530-32 - Rebuilding and reorganizing armies up to 45k once again. I station the 1st and 4th in the North, 2nd and 5th in the South, and 3rd in Ireland. I draw Sweden into my alliance to replace Baden, but they leave to convert in '34.

1534 - Portugal joins my alliance (a replacement for Sweden). My allies now include Scotland, Tuscany, Portugal and the Papals.

1533-38 - Using 5 loans, I promote judges throughout my current territories (except Quebec, which is still only a colony, for lack of settlers). All these loans are paid off in '38.

1540 - My alliance expires. I forge a new one including Scotland, Genoa, Tuscany, thus abandoning Portugal and the Papals. I gear up for another war.

The Third English War
June '41- Sept '43 - Alliance war with England. I catch them without allies, and with Scotland, Genoa and Tuscany behind me. A quick romp through southern England forces a peace (though getting the troops through the Royal Navy was tough). I force them to give up Ulster and a serious amount of cash.


Next time - Part Three, Quiet Times: 1543-66

 

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Part Three: Quiet Times, 1543-1566

1544-46 - Rebuilding and reorganizing armies. I station the 1st in Normandie, 2nd in Bearn, 3rd in Meath and 4th in Savoy.

1547 - Henri II rises to throne, and I sponsor a naval manufactory in Normandie in his honor.

1549 - Scotland leaves my alliance to convert. I am left with Genoa and Tuscany.

1549-51 - The Dutch revolts break out, so I muster a 5th army in Hainaut. As it turns out, the Dutch never do become independent.

June 1551 - King Henri II dies unexpectedly, throwing me into a regency.

1552 - The regency government musters a 6th army in Calais and colonizes Nova Scotia.

1554 - Alliance with Genoa and Tuscany expires; I renew it and bring Scotland back in. The following years are quiet.

1557- A COT opens in Spanish Ensenada. We haven't gotten that far afield yet, so the government panics into a 4 year embargo on everyone. The explorers sight St. Helena (having explored the entire North Atlantic already) and I start a naval manufactory in Luxembourg to honor this event.

July 1559 - King Francois II comes of age. The only significant event during his short (17 month) tenure is convincing the Portuguese to trade maps.

December 1560 - Queen Catherine de Medici comes to power. Under her we start thinking about colonialism, and diplomacy, more than we had previously. It doesn't hurt that I've conquered all the European territories I want!

February 1561- Genoa becomes a French vassal, though I have no plans to actually annex it.

1561-62 - We colonize Isle Royale, Fundy and Micmac, expanding from the Nova Scotia starting point. Quebec sits in the hinterlands, as I have no conquistadors to explore around it.

August 1563 - King Charles IX comes to power with the idea of establishing trading posts rather than colonies. In the next decade we set up about half a dozen.

1564 - TP's in Megantic and Laurentia, made possible by a new conquistador.

1565 - I once again get the Portuguese to trade maps, and we also set up a TP in Ticonderoga. A 7th army is mustered in Quebec, at a third strength (15k).


Next time - Part Four: The Colonial Wars, 1566-1595

 

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Part Four: The Colonial Wars: 1566-1595

The First Colonial War
April '66 - Oct '67 - Colonial warfare with England. I bring in my allies just so Scotland will tie down their armies in Britain. It works! Scotland takes the Marches, and I take over colonies in Gaspesie, Penobscot, and Chicoutimi.

1568-69 - I establish TP's in Rimouski and Manicougan.

1570 - A COT opens in Anglia. I follow with a TP in Anticosti.

1572 - A very busy year. In May, Penobscot becomes a city. In September, the naval manufactory in Normandie burns to the ground. And then...

The Second Colonial War
Nov '72-March '76 - A colonial war with England. My longest war yet, but worth it, as I eventually conquer Gander and Bangor. A TP is built during the war, in Wabana. By the end of the war, I control the entire American coast from Penobscot to Anticosti, except for Placentia, which is Venetian. As during the Spanish war of 1513, a new king rises to power during the war - in June 1574 we get King Henri III.

1576 - TP's in Belle Isle and Massachusetts. Each of these was on the edge of my territory already.

1579-80 - Naval manufactories built in Penobscot, Bangor, and Normandie.

1581 - Trade embargoes on everyone that will last into '85 are started in November.

1582-4 - I build up my navy, as my next planned war is against Venice to take Placentia.

The Third Colonial War
April '85-Dec '87 - I attack Venice. After burning the Placentia TP and putting in one of my own, I make a clean peace. In the meantime, though, the Engish alliance attacks me. This turns into a drawn out war, in which I eventually conquer Chesapeake. This leaves me with all of the North American coast from Belle Isle to Chesapeake, except 3 vacant provinces.

1588-89 - Rebuilding armies. 6 45k armies are set out - Normandie, Bearn, Calais, Savoy, Hainaut, Lyonnais, and a 7th at 1/3rd strength in Penobscot. I also put a TP in Manhattan and Connecticut during this period.

August 1589 - King Henri IV comes to power. His new leadership inspires the promotion of mayors to provincial governors, which I carry out in the summer of '90.

1590 - In addition to governor promotions everywhere, I move the 7th army south to Chesapeake and set up a TP in Delaware. My inflation - which had been nearing 20 percent - drops to zero.

1591 - Double tax income year. Civil war in Spain results in Granada and Catalunya becoming independent (Granada getting the Andalusian shipyard and COT). I forge a new alliance with Scotland, Genoa, and Catalunya. Granada survives, but Catalunya is reconquered the next year.

1593 - A COT opens in Portuguese Sulawesi. Without the Dutch to compete with, they look to have the East Indies to themselves.

1594 - I set up a TP in Roanoke.

The Portuguese War
Dec '94-Nov '95 - Alliance war with Portugal and Venice. After a quick assault on the Atlantic islands, I send my troops for Lisbon and force a peace treaty. I end up owning the Azores, which should make a decent explorer's base for working my way into the South Atlantic and beyond. The transit times from Delaware and Bretagne were getting prohibitive beyond St. Helena.



Next time - Part Five: The Civil War: 1596-1605

 

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Part Five: The Civil War, 1596-1605

1596-1601 - Civil war strikes France, and most of the armies join the rebels. The rebels also take about 2/3rds of the mainland provinces, as well as Meath and Connaught and my best general (commanding the 1st in Paris). I'm left with only the navy and the 3rd and 7th armies. The 7th, being in America and at only one third strength, is nearly worthless, so I am forced to use the 3rd to destroy the rest and reconquer rebel provinces in France. On the upside, I upgrade Quebec to a city and put TP's in Sebago and Susquehanna. The 7th is eventually shipped over to Ireland at the end of the civil war, to retake Meath and Connaught. The refinery in Languedoc is destroyed during the civil war.

1603 - I reorganize and rebuild my armies. The old 3rd becomes the new 1st, and is in Orleannais, beefed back up to 45k. The old 7th is now the 2nd, and is in Munster with 15k. A new 3rd is in Penobscot with 10k, and a conquistador's 3k is the 4th, wandering somewhere in inland Canada. In May I reach shipyard tech, but am unable for the moment to afford one.

1604-5 - The conquistador having died, I meld the 4th army into the 3rd, which is now 15k to equal the 2nd. A TP is built in Adirondak, and the Iroquois added to my French alliance, along with Scotland and Genoa. I acquire Iroquois maps for the inland areas of North America, and the shock of this kills the king, leading to another regency government.


Next Time - Part Six: Colonial Developments, 1605-1637

 

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maps?

The shock of the maps kill the king? Good one. Good AAR in general, but you gotta hate civil wars.

 

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It's all about timing - the maps thing, and that pesky civil war. After all, it struck just as I was finishing bringing my troops back to my territory after the Portuguese War. Really annoying.

Look for Part Six soon, but then I'll be silent for a couple days, going out of town. By the way, there are ten parts to the story (the later years were less eventful).

Apologies for not having any screenshots - I didn't have the hard drive space for them - I'm limping along on a 4 gig right now till my budget allows better.

 

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Part Six: Colonial Developments, 1605-1637

1607 - TP built in Catawba. Shipyard construction under way in Morbihan province.

1608 - A second shipyard is started in Quebec. This turns out to be a waste, as I hardly ever use it. Still, it looks pretty.

May 1610 - New queen, Marie de Medici. Her reign is completely quiet, as I'm refocusing on diplomacy rather than military expansion.

October 1614 - King Louis XIII arrives. Under his leadership, we quickly colonize St. Helena and acquire a COT in Penobscot during the winter of 1614-15.

1615-35 - This long time period sees me focusing on upgrading the American territories to cities. A 1618 alliance with Scotland and Genoa is quiet and runs out without notice. I establish cities in Gander in '18, Nova Scotia in '19, Fundy in '22, Micmac in '24, Rimouski in '26, Chicoutimi in '29, Massacusetts in '33, Chesapeake in '35.

September 1624 - Japan closes. I don't mind much, as I'm not there yet.

1627 - I dismiss Genoa from vassalage, since I don't plan to annex it.

Oct 1630 - I join Spanish alliance, along with Parma. The next six years are very quiet.



Next Time - Part Seven: Alliances, Indians, and Economics: 1637-1692

 

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Part Seven: Alliances, Indians, and Economics: 1637-1692

The Fourth English War
1637 - Alliance war against England and most of northern Germany, while I am allied with Spain and Parma. My outlying TP's in North America are almost all burned by the English, before a peace in which I get nothing.

1641-42 - New TP's built at Megantic, Huron, Ottawa. My alliance having collapsed due to the rest of us dishonoring Spanish aggression, I set up a new alliance with Spain, Genoa, and Parma (but this time, I'm in charge).

May 1643 - Quenn Anne d'Autriche rises to power. Her reign is a time of economic revolution in France and the territories. During 1645-47 we trade embargo eveyone else.

1644 - Naval manufactories started in Quebec, Micmac, and a refinery in Champagne.

1646 - Refinery built in Provence.

1648 - Goods manufactories built in Chesapeake, Ulster, Artois, Hainaut.

1649 - Agricultural revolution hits, increasing tax revenues. I use the cash to build refineries in Languedoc, Roussillon, Guyenee, and Gascogne.

1651 - City in Connecticut, TP's in Hochelaga and Shawnigan. Ukraine becomes independent of Poland.

September 1651 - King Louis XIV, "the Sun King", comes to power. Brandenburg joins my alliance. The first two years are very quiet.

The Fourth Colonial War
Apr '54 - Aug '55 - I am attacked by both the English/Iroquois and Saxon alliances. In the ensuing war, the TP's in Powhatan, Huron, Catskill, Megantic, Susquehanna, Hochelaga and Adirondak are destroyed. I colonize Powhatan and conquer the Iroquois, then make clean peaces with England and Saxony. During the war, Russia conquers Ukraine.

1656-7 - Colonies in Susquehanna, Catyskill, Megantic, and Adirondak, TP in Hochelaga.

1658 - City upgrade complete in Sebago.

1660 - Goods manufactory destroyed in Artois.

1661-2 - Goods manufactory rebuilt in Artois; weapons manufactories built in Auvergne, Dauphine, FC, Lorraine, Shenandoah.

1663 - Goods manufactory in Delaware, Naval manufactory in Calais. England is struck by civil war.

Apr 1664 - Random dynastic inheritance of Genoa.

1665 - City in Megantic.

1666 - Colonies in Ticonderoga, Hochelaga, Manicougan. Random event gives me a goods manufactory in Alsace. I join an alliance of Austria, Bavaria, Papals.

1670 - Cities in Hochelaga and Shawnigan completed.

The Helvetian War
1671-3 - War with Helvetian alliance. I build Conscript Centers in Lyonnais, Paris, Morbihan, Alsace, Lorraine, and Calais during the war. A random event yields a goods manufactory in Picardie, and a revolt occurs in Genoa. I eventually force Helvetia to pay for peace.

1674 - City in Ticonderoga.

1675-6 - City in Adirondak. Random event yields goods manufactory in Caux. I build Conscript Centers in the rest of the eligible provinces (all of my mainland territories except Genoa, Nice and Savoy).

The North African War
1677-80 - Alliance war with Turkey, Cyrenacia, Algeria. In an attempt to weaken Algeria (which had conquered Tripoli and Tunisia), and Turkey (which had conquered the Mameluks), I invade North Africa. I eventually come away with Kabylia, Tunisia, Tripoli, and three territories in Egypt. Following the peace treaties, I incite a war with Nubia and pull my troops out of Egypt, allowing them to capture the three Egyptian territories.

1680-92 - Diplomatic gifts to Helvetia and Western German states in an effort to secure the border for all time.

1680-85 - Massive wave of fortress construction along the eastern border and northeast of the Seine, resulting in maximum fortifications in the whole region.

1680 - City finished in Powhatan.

1681 - I join an alliance of Baden, Helvetia, Wurtemburg and the Palatinate. Tripoli declares independence from me; I don't mind, I just took it to weaken Algeria.

1682 - Cities completed in Catskill and Susquehanna. Tunisia follows Tripoli's lead and becomes independent.

Aug '83- Jun '84 - I declare war on Algeria and its allies, lose Kabylia and make peace.

1685 - Cities in Manicougan, Ottawa, Laurentia completed.

1686 - Colonies in Placentia and Wabana.

1688 - Arts academy in Paris.

1689 - Cities in Placentia and Wabana.

Aug 1691 - King Louis XIV unexpectedly dies and this pushes me into a long regency period.

1692 - City completed at St. Helena.


Next Time - Part Eight: The Third Century, 1693-1754

AND NOW A SPECIAL BONUS
Status Report 1692

European Territory: All native provinces except Flandres. Also Ireland, Corsica, Savoy, Genoa, Nice, and the Azores.

Non-European Territory: St. Helena, Isle Royale, Newfoundland, and North American territories extending to Manicougan in the northeast, and Chesapeake, Powhatan, Shenandoah, Irodekoit, the Great Lakes, Adirondak, Ticonderoga, Hochelaga and Ottawa on the southwest.

Allied with Baden, Helvetia, Wurtemburg, Palatinate.

2 shipyards, 3 COTs, 5 weapons manufactories, 7 naval manufactories, 1 Arts Academy, 6 refineries, 8 goods manufactories, and CC's in all eligible provinces.

Total military - 166 warships, 50 transports, 425k infantry, 8k cavalry, 250 cannons. All but about 75k of these forces are in mainland France. Manpower reserve is 586k, and my treasury income is 257 ducats/month.

 

[Mariani]

Louis XIV died on you?!? Oh, man, that's weak...is/was the regency at least competent?

 

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Regency

As you shall see in the next installment, the Regency was more than competent. In fact, it had ratings of four circles in every category.

When I put in the next, look especially at 1700-15 .

 

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Part Eight: The Third Century, 1693-1754

1693 - Colonies established in Sierra Madre and San Bernardino. This completes my original territorial ambitions - as stated at the beginning: France, Ireland, Quebec, Massachusetts, and Southern California. And I've picked up a few extra territories along the way; most notably the inheritance of Genoa. As a personal reward for this achievement, the Regency Council elects me as its head and grants me the long-unused title of the Duke of Alsace.

1694 - Discovered Hawaii.

1695 - Random event gives weapons manufactory in Maine.

1696 - Cities in Sierra Madre and San Bernardino completed.

1698 - Colony established at Taiwan.

1700 - The French Regency Government, led by ... the Duke of Alsace ! ... gains the Emperorship! This is a promising sign of my diplomatic progress in Western Germany.

1701-3 - Sterilization and colonization of New Zealand.

1705 - A COT opens in my colony in Taranaki, New Zealand. I start shipyards in Gascogne and Provence.

1707 - City in Taiwan. My alliance expires, and I create a new one with Helvetia, Baden, Hessen and Palatinate.

1710 - Palatinate becomes a vassal state.

1711 - Cities finished in New Zealand.

1712-15 - Baden, Helvetia, and Hessen become vassal states.

May 1712 - Company of Trade created.

Sept 1715 - King Phillippe d'Orleans comes to power. The Duke of Alsace's regency having thus ended, I return to my role as the power behind the throne. The Holy Roman Empire decides that while the Duke of Alsace made a good emperor, the new King does not, and the title goes to the King of Spain.

1718 - I renew alliance with my four vassal states.

1719 - A COT opens in my city in Taiwan.

1721 - France has maxed out all the technology chains; after this we have a huge income, as all French taxes are going directly into the treasury.

1722 - Ukraine becomes independent of Russia. Meanwhile, France is off sterilizing the Indochina region.

February 1723 - King Louis XV rises to power.

1726 - City in Hanoi completed.

1728 - Sterilizaton and colonization of Indochina completed.

1729 - City completed in Da Nang.

1733 - Alliance expires, I forge a new alliance with China.

1734 - Cities completed in Tang Noah and Da Lat.

1735 - Double tax year.

1738 - Another Company of Trade created.

1742 - A COT opens at St. Helena.

1744 - Alliance expires; I join England/Tuscany/Papal alliance. I upgrade to a city in Laos, and complete maximum fortresses throughout mainland European territories, Corsica, and Ireland.

1746-48 - City upgrades completed in Cambodia, Mekong, and Khmer.

1749 - Alliance expires; I forge a new one with Papals, Tuscany, and China.

1750 - Colony in Kauai.

1751 - Colony in Oahu; shipyards in the remaining ports in Taiwan, New Zealand, Corsica, France and Ireland.

1752 - Hawaii natives destroy the colony at Oahu. In response I order the armies in the Pacific to destroy the natives in both Hawaiian provinces.

1753 - Colony rebuilt in Oahu.



Next Time - Part Nine: It's All Greek to Me, 1754-1771

 

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Part Nine: It's All Greek to Me, 1754-1771

1754 - Military buildup in Southern France. France's generals are thinking about trying to liberate Greece from Turkey. City completed in Kauai, and a 3 year trade embargo on everyone goes into effect in September.

1755 - Alliance war with Turkey; France gets Hellas and Morea.

1757 - Another alliance war with Turkey; France gets Macedonia and the Cyclades.

1758 - City upgrade in Oahu; Random event yields a refinery in Orleannais.

1760-4 - Waves of rebellions wrack the southern Balkan region. Wallachia and Moldovia re-emerge from Turkey, and the Turkish government falls.

1765-8 - War with the Knights of Rhodes; our Chinese allies send an army all the way to the Eastern Mediterranean by sea, and that army helps ours conquer Rhodes.

1769 - War with Venice; France conquers Corfu.

Jan '70-March '71 - War with Spanish/Russian alliance; France conquers Crete.



Next Time - Part Ten: The Final Score (of Years): 1772-1792

 

[Mariani]

How very accurate to the mindset of the times that the depopulation of S.E. Asia is referred to as "sterilization". No P.C. in this age, no doubt.