The Crown of Europe - A Danish AAR.

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 1
1807-1836

In 1807, Denmark entered the Napoleonic Wars on the side of the French. In 1812, Russia and Sweden joined in an alliance in the fight against France. As a condition for their participation in the war against the French, the Swedes demanded that Norway be given to them after the war was over. England joined the colilation aganist the French alliance. With Napoleon's catastrophic defeat at Moscow during the winter of 1812 which became the beginning of the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Sweden stood firm in her demand that Denmark cede Norway, and under these serious circumstances.

On May 17th, 1814 Norway was given the Eidsvoll Constitution, it's first free constitution. On November 4th, 1814, Sweden put into effect the Swedish-Norwegian Union they had been granted under the terms of the Peace Treaty in Kiel, which had been signed on January 14th, 1814.

Now at it's current state, January 1st, 1836, Denmark controls Greenland, Iceland, and the Virgin Islands as colonies. The head of the country is King Frederik 6. Frederik's aims were to restroe the greatness of the once proud Danish Empire, reforge the Great Union between Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. It was a great task that lay ahead for a tiny nation of a two million people.

A map of Denmark at it's current state and it's former colonies.

Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Oldenburg, and parts of Northern Germany.

 

[Rensslaer]

TekCor,

Denmark is an interesting country to play. I shall be watching!

I'm also intrigued (and confused, as I don't know what you're talking about) by your .sig. Never heard of "the ordinary" series. Sounds akin to, perhaps, a modern day White Mountains series?

Rensslaer

 

[TekcoR]

Within the Grasp of Ordinary and The Realization of Ordinary are books I am working on to be published.

 

[Rensslaer]

Within the Grasp of Ordinary and The Realization of Ordinary are books I am working on to be published.

Cool! Well, best wishes with them. The story idea sounds very interesting. I'm a (semi)professional editor if you need any assistance in that realm.

Rensslaer

 

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 2
1836-1839

Denmark is a rather large country for it's population, only less than two million occupy the Danish Empire -- this includes the Virgin Islands, Greenland and Iceland. The Danish industry, although not the best, is a balanced industry with enormous poetential.

An overview of our six factories.

Our main problem would be our lack of raw materials. We do not produce any iron, coal, sulphur and timber. Our industry would have to find additional resources, but from where? King Frederik deemed that the other European nations would be a great source of raw materials, through peaceful trade.

The Danish Army was in no shape to fight a country like Prussia, Russia, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, let alone France. The Danish Army consisted of two infantry divsions, one with an attached artillery brigade, and onw cavalry divsion. The Royal Danish Navy consisted of two transports, and few man-of-wars, and other various fighting ships.

Our economy was slowly increasing it's power, while the social reforms in the country halted. Denmark would remain a monarchy, additional social reforms were suspended under the pretext of 'lack of funds'. King Frederik's decision to halt social reforms would haunt him.

The tragedy of July 1st, 1838.

The nation went into mourning as the govenor of Jutland was assassinated by a deranged ancharist. For a whole week church services were held across the Danish Empire for the slain govenor. Young noblemen, angered by the assassination and eager for revenge, formed a cavalry divsion in the name of the King. On August 30th, 1838, the noblemen joined the Danish Army.

Young noblemen rally to the flag!

In the late part of 1839, the industry was booming. Enough resources had been gathered to begin the expansion of the factories. Additionally enough resources had been gathered to cease some, if not all of the factories raw material shortages. Although the factories would fall short of the supplies every once and awhile, the economy was truly beginning to boom.

However, tragedy struck in 1839, King Frederik the 6th died. The 53-year-old, Prince Christian Frederik inherited the throne as King Christian the 8th.

 

[Rensslaer]

Wow! This is starting out like "Hamlet"! Quite appropriate for a Danish AAR.

Horatio: "And let me speak to the yet unknowing world
How these things came about: so shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts;
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters;
Of deaths put on by cunning and forc'd cause;
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I
Truly deliver. "

Rensslaer

 

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 3
1840-1845

King Christian VIII was pleased at his first year. The nation wasn't going near debt, but wasn't insanely rich either. The Danish Empire had roughly 20,000 pounds in the bank, while gaining 3 pounds a day.

King Christian VIII prefered a diplomatic stance compared a military stance on how we should regain our former possessions. With our influence growing, our enmies grew. April 1st, 1840, a spy from the German realm of Hesse-Kassel was arrested. April 4th, the spy was executed, refusing to give up any valueable information to the Danish Empire. A declartion of war was considered, but Hesse-Kassel had the protection of Prussia, an enemy far stronger than us.

The spy is executed!

Within two months of the execution, word came from St.Petersburg, Russia. The great Czar (Tsar) of Russia had offered us to join him in a military alliance. Together our great nations could rule the vastness of Eastern Europe and Asia!

The Czar's offer.

In world events, the Ottoman Empire, along with other European powers, had forced a peace deal with the renegades. Nobody asked for Denmark's support, as if they would of recieved any support in return.

The aftermath of the peace agreement.

The Russian military was looking to further improve it's ability to engage war. The Russian Bear had been slowed but not halted in Central Asia to a "few pesky uncivilized people". King Christian VIII took advantage of the Czar's offer and sent Danish officers to train Russian troops.

Russian Bear recieves Danish training! The year is 1841.

With our econmoy in a moderate swing by 1845, the expansion of the Danish military could begin. Two new divsions, each attached with an artillery brigade were going to be trained.

Two new divsions being trained.

 

[angryclown]

*subscribe*

 

[Rey]

A Danish AAR! I'll be watching this.

 

[unmerged(6775)]

Good start, very nice writing. I will be watching this one!

 

[Lort Gob]

Great stuff, lots of pictures! I'll be watching this!

 

[unmerged(18239)]

Good start, very nice writing. I will be watching this one!

Indeed, very nice writing. I am in also.

 

[TekcoR]

Thanks for the nice comments, and withour further adue, the next update.

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 4
1846-1850

By May 6th, 1846, news had reached King Christian VIII that two new nations existed upon the face of Europe. The Austrian controlled provinces of Lombardia and Venice declared their independence. They quickly went across the land looking for allies and found a bundle. Sardina-Piedmont, Tuscany, Papal States, and Two Sicilies all declared war aganist the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The newly created Lombardia and Venice.

In the early days of 1847, Prussia fearing that we would incorporate Holstein and Slesvig into the Danish Empire, sent an ultimatum. Slesvig was to be handed over to the Prussians.

The Slesvig Question.

It was on our policy that Danish land would always remain Danish. The greatest of news soon arrived from Olso and Stockholm, our brothers from up north would aid us.

Sweden and Norway send help!

With an additional 12,000 pounds in the bank, and 4 new infantry and 2 cavalry divsions, the war with Prussia looked like it could be victorious for us. Fate would play a differnt role. One month after the Prussian ultimatum, the Prussians backed down over the Slesvig Question.

Prussians back down!

Of all the colonies of Denmark, the Virgin Islands was the only one with slaves. Fearing massive revolts from the slaves, the King Christian the VIII, in what would become his last act, freed all the slaves. Days later, news reached the rest of the Danish colonies....

On January 20, 1848 Christian 8. died of a case of blood poisoning he had contracted as a result of a bloodletting which his personal physician had prescribed. He was buried in Roskilde Cathedral.

King Christian the VIII died on January 20 1848, he was succeeded by his inexperienced 39-year-old son, Frederik 7. There was much doubt about Frederik 7's skills as a ruler. He was intially received by the public with great misgivings, as he had only been the member of the Privy Council since 1841 and was not very interested in politics.

In King Frederik the VII's first act, four divsions were to disembark in a round of obtaining additional colonies. Three divsions had artillery brigades attached, one divsion had no special attachments. Six divsions were left to defend the Danish homeland.

Danish ships board Danish soldiers.

After three months of travelling around the tip of Africa, through the Indian Ocean and past several islands, the Danish Fleet arrived off the coast of Brunei. The declaration of war aganist Brunei had been signed in Copenhagen, Denmark and was to be delivered upon the arrival of the Danish Fleet.

Danish soldiers disembark from their ships, May 17th, 1848.

The fighting was sparse as Brunei only brought 20,000 poorly trained troops to the battlefield. After a few volleys from our artillery they quickly dispersed. Most of their troops heeded the warning and would never fight again, a dedicated 3,000 stayed with their king until the end.

By November of 1848 all resistance had been crushed, and the King of Brunei had been killed in the last battle. King Frederik the VII was now the King of Denmark and Brunei.

Brunei becomes part of the Danish Empire.

Two divsions of Brunei militia were being trained while the Danish regulars sailed back to Copenhagen to report of their success. Shortly after arriving in Copenhagen, groundbreaking events took place.

The signing of the new Constitution, and the prevailing of liberals.

King Frederik the VII would become one of the most popular kings in the history of Denmark, because he gave up the Absolute Monarchy and gave Denmark a free constitution by signing Junigrundloven (the June Constitution), in 1849.

News reached Copenhagen in late December of 1849, the Italian states had proven successful in the war aganist the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Papal States led the way for independence, and in 1849, Italy was united, without the help of any outside power.

The united Italia!

 

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 5: The Boring Years
1850-1855

King Frederik the VII would make himself more popular. The people already pleased that the absolute monarchy was dead, would experience additional sense of freedom. King Frederik signed in the Social Reforms Act of 1850, allowing numerous never-before-had benefits of being a citizen of the Danish Empire.

The aftermath of the reforms of 1850.

The reforms slowly brought a few thousand people into the country of Denmark. With these additional recruits two new divsions could be trained.

Two new divsions being trained.

In 1854, Russia began taking an aggressive stance towards the Ottoman Empire. Russian wished to have complete control of the Baltic Sea and declared war aganist the crumbling Ottoman Empire. The United Kingdom and France allied with the Ottoman Empire and declared war on Russia. We would remain neutral, as we were not ready.

The war would quickly end, either side would have no land gains. King Frederik the VII wished had declared war upon Russia. Perhaps with the Danish Army, the tide of the war could of been changed into the favor of British and French hands.

 

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 6
1855-1860

The shared constitution, signed in 1852, was a short lived event. By 1855, the people of Holstein had declared it invalid. While Prussia supported the idea of Schleswig-Holstein joining the German Union, the Danish government worked towards a new constitution to incorparte Schleswig as a part of the Danish Empire.

With the Danish interests in region, King Frederik the VII asked the parliament for a declaration of war aganist Holstein. The issue between which nation would control the Holstein region would be settled. On November 12th, 1855, the great nation of Denmark declared war on Holstein. The Prussians came to the aid of Holstein, the war would look grim for us, in the Prussian perspective.

However, King Frederik the VII had a trick up his sleeve. Offical documents went out to London, England, and Paris France, requesting for the immediate help.

The Face of Europe at war.

Forty thousand Danish cavalry men entered the Holstein region and quickly dispered any possible resistance. On the last day of 1855 Holstein was sent a document proclaiming the Danish annexation of their nation.

The Danish annexation of Holstein.

A document was sent to Berlin, Germany, hoping for a peaceful end of the war. However, Prussia outright refused such a peace treaty.

The French proved useful allies, as their invasion of Western Prussia quickly commenced. Meanwhile, 110,000 Prussians dug-in aganist 120,000 Danes. King Frederik the VII personally took charge of the army and ordered field fortifications be built. This province was not to fall!

The situation as of April 5th, 1856.

The French advance began with a mighty explosion. The military might that was Prussia reeled in retreat as thousands upon thousands of French troops streamed across their undefended border. However the French advance began to slow.

The French advance as of September 11th, 1856.

The rest of 1856 went by with the French advancing further into Western Prussia. The Prussian went into battle and lost, over and over and over. Meanwhile the Prussian presence continued to build south of Copenhagen. Now 172,000 Prussian troops faced the fortifcations of 120,000 Danish troops.

The situation as of January 29th, 1857.

On March 24th, 1857, the first peace proposal reached Copenhagen. Word was quickly sent back: "No."

By May 7th, 1857, the second peace proposal reached Copenhagen. This time the Prussians were willing to offer additional land for a possible peace. And again word was sent back: "No."

On December 31st, 1857, the third peace proposal reached Copenhagen. The Prussians weren't willing to offer any additional land than before. All of Western Prussia had been occupied by the French, a lesson had been taught to Prussia not to mess with the big-boys. Peace was declared on December 31st, 1857.

Peace at last!

Peace would not last long. On May 2nd, 1858, 40,000 Danish cavalry began their march towards Hamburg with a declartion of war in hand. Meanwhile, 80,000 Danish infantry began a march southwards towards Berlin. Before Prussia could react, another of their provinces had been occupied and fortified by the Danish Army. And Hamburg had been lost to Denmark.

Danish annexation of Hamburg.

Once again Western Prussia was occupied by the French before another peace treaty was signed. Prussia gave up a province to France, while giving none to Denmark. However, this was acceptable. The construction of a new factory began in Hamburg, as several thousand Germans were now looking for a job.

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Through-out the AAR, the only "cheat" I've used is to check my badboy. After the annexation of Brunei it raised to 4.00. By the time I annexed Hamburg and Holstein, it had raised to 5.63, not bad at all.

So far, I've united a small chunk of the former Danish Empire, the exception being Brunei - I needed the resources!

 

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 7
1860-1863

King Frederik the VII was 53 years old now, he was the first Danish king to give up the absolute rule. The first Danish king to expand the nation's influence in many decades. Life still shined on the aging King of Denmark and Brunei, there was still hope to fullfill his dreams of a re-united Northern Empire, Scandinavia. However, other events would center themselves upon the world stage at this moment.

Mexico finds itself in a war aganist the British Empire, France and Portugal.

We went our regards to our dearest allies, the British, on ending the problem in Mexico quickly. By early 1862, our wishes looked grim. July, 25th, 1862, the papers reached King Frederik the VII at his castle in Jægerspris Castle (located in Jutland).

The documents from the British.

The king quickly agreed to go to war aganist the Mexicans, in hopes of stablizing the region. By the time word reached back to London, the war was already over. Frederik had found his excuse for increasing the number of standing divsions in the army, the "war" with Mexico.

Two new divsions, with engineer brigades.

With the beginning of the new year, tragedy struck the Danish lands. King Frederik the VII died had died in his sleep. Frederik was the last King of the Oldenborg Line, he died at the age of 55 and was buried at the Roskilde Cathedral.

The Roskilde Cathedral, the burial site of Danish royal family since the 15th century.

Although tragedy was the beginning of the new year, even greater news spread across the lands. In his last act before his untimly death, King Frederik the VII had proposed a union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The Danish proposal to unite the kingdoms.

The response from Norway and Sweden.

The choosing of the capital, Copenhagen.

The great nation of Scandinavia.

The great nation of Scandinavia was now ruled by Christian IX, the King of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Brunei.

 

[unmerged(27589)]

Great chunk of modifications there. Tell me, how much modifications of the game did you make?>

 

[TekcoR]

The Crown of Europe
Chapter 8: War of German Leadership
1864-1866

The year of 1864 would see further social reforms under King Christian IX, the cousin of late King Frederik VII. Acceptable healthcare, minium wages, pensions, unemployment, working hours were to be the standard. The following year, into 1865, saw additional immgritation into the Danish Empire, mostly the Brunei colony.

In 1866, Prussia seeking to unite the German minors, ran into conflict with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire wished to unite the German minors into a greater empire and declared war on the Prussians.

The look of the War for German Leadership.

King Christian IX saw this as another weak point for Prussia. It's military had been humilated on the battlefield before, it's navy sunk, it's people turned into citizens of Denmark. A declartion of war was sent to Berlin, another war aganist the Prussians.

The Danish-Prussian War of 1866. Allies, United Kingdom and Russia.

80,000 Danish prepared for their march towards Berlin. First though, two German nations stood in the way. These nations were quickly desposed of as Danish princes assumed the thrones of the former rulers.

Danish troops on the march.

Lübeck accepts Danish annexation, February 11th, 1866.

After the annexation of Lübeck, 160,000 Danish troops set our for their new objectives. Spies reported that less than 60,000 Prussian troops were within a 50 mile radius of the borders.

Danish troops with their new objectives.

Mecklenburg accepts Danish annexation, April 9th, 1866.

The next installment of the war involved the siege of Berlin, the Prussian capital. For this task, four divsions - three of them with artillery attachments - were sent to capture the city.

Danish troops move south towards Berlin, virtually unopposed.

The Siege of Berlin was heating up, 24,000 loyal Germans had come well equipped to defend the city to the very last man if needed. An additional 40,000 Danish troops were being sent to reinforce the siegeing force.

By late May of 1866, the siege of Berlin was over and the city lay in Danish hands. Danish troops continued to cross northern Prussia with ease, as the majority of resistance had been crushed, or never showed up to fight.

The extent of Danish conquest as of June 17th, 1866.

Several of the German minor nations began throwing in the towel, while Prussia continued to fight on. On August 21st, 1866, Oldenburg became the last German minor to declare peace with the Danish Empire.

On September 21st, 1866, Prussia, the once great Prussia, threw in the towel to Denmark, again. Our peace terms this time were humble, fair, and just. Only one province was to switch hands, Denmark alone would share the spoils of war.

Peace at last!

 

[TekcoR]

Great chunk of modifications there. Tell me, how much modifications of the game did you make?>

Two slight modifications.

The London Treaty. Belgium will always be given it's independence.

The Slevsig Question. Sweden and Norway's chance to help Denmark

45% for full support originally 40%
45% for partial support originally 40%
10% for no support originally 20%

By the way, I am running Victoria 1.03, with the latest VIP.

 

[unmerged(28992)]

Nice work, also nice to see a Scandanavia AAR that doesn't start off with Sweden