Machiavellian: Thanks for the encouragement, I promise not to become drunk on it. 
The idea for the enlightenment Londoner was cobbled together from a variety of authors from that era whose works I very dimly remember, so I'm glad he comes off as plausible. Plus, any chance to get even a little revenge on the rebel scum that have been such a thorn in my side is fun. I'm still not sure who the final chronicler will be right now (I can't believe I'm nearly to that point!). Perhaps an "age of revolutions" political iconoclast?
Judge: Good to hear from you, as always! The Siberian Corridor will hopefully give me the income I need to challenge those giant blobs of orange and white in the west, but I keep being distracted from colonization by wars. Crusades aren't about making a profit, of course. I'm considering really delivering a blow to Islam via the Mamelukes or Persia right now (China's about 50 years of colonists away and its government collapses about once every three months for the past few decades ).
I've really let my armies shrink fighting rebels and poorly planned wars and will have to build them back up for an ambitious war. Hmmm, I think I've got an idea for the next installment...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From "Revolts, Rebellions and other Follies" by John Williams, London 1726.
It might now be profitable to address the ingredients for a successful rebellion. Probably my first piece of advice would be to secure a leadership position, as revolts almost universally fail and it is the common rabble that is bled white by such defeats. Meanwhile, the leader has an opportunity to line his pockets and hopefully disappear to a sympathetic nation before the hammer falls.
The question then becomes how one can insure leadership and the loyalty of the undifferentiated mass during a time of uprising. To lead a revolt one must simply focus on the inherent inequalities or injustices that are present. This is not difficult, for even the most efficient and just political system has its failings. As the leader of a revolt, it is your job to amplify these failings and then put them into a form that can be comprehended by the slowest peasant in under ten seconds worth of oratory.
Your message, then, should hit the heart first and the mind second, if at all. The best means towards this end is short and emotionally charged slogans that are easily remembered and repeated by others. The rabble has little desire to debate the ideal form of government in a reserved and dignified matter. Rather, they want inflammatory statements that can be shouted at an imagined enemy. Better "Death to the wealthy!" or "Foreigners out!" than anything that smacks of careful consideration of all possible sides and outcomes.
With a simple and easily demonized enemy now in place, it becomes a matter of proving you and your followers offer the best chance to slay this demon. Every possible theatrical trick will serve one well. Flags, special uniforms, simple hand gestures and the like can then cement your faction and give it a sense of legitimacy and importance.
The final step is the betrayal. A pitchfork or torch is little match for a musket or cannon, so defeat is assured unless the central authority has completely collapsed already. Therefore, a revolt leader should use the position to secure the maximum profit possible and disappear well before the authority asserts itself.
If this advice seems cynical, as I would imagine it does to ivory tower types, one should be reminded of some additional historical examples. A typical case was the Mozyr revolt in 1672. The German Order was at war at the time and the central control was greatly weakened. This, combined with the open persecution of Catholics following the Moscow Dispensation, had turned the province into a tinderbox.
The spark was an appeal to the existing suppression of Catholic beliefs. The Order had declared that anyone practicing a Catholic Mass would be put to the sword and open observance was driven underground. This was combined with continued attempts to bring Protestantism to the region, attempts that had been met with resistance.
Using a simple message of Catholic freedom, rebels seized control for several months. The hated Protestant churches were desecrated and mass was again held. The Polish promised they would protect the religious insurgents, a promise they had no intention of keeping.
In the end, the Catholics were defeated while Poland kept to her own affairs. Several of the rebels were able to cross the border into Poland, taking loot with them with no regard for their fellows being slain in battle. By the time the revolt ended, thousands had died and the area economy had been devastated by the excesses of the rebels.
It is with good cause that the reasonable man holds uprising in derision. They are often nothing but ploys for a handful of individuals to enrich themselves by exploiting the ignorant loyalty of the peasant. History is crowded with such betrayals, yet still the people believe that simple slogans and new flags will lead to a better life when the revolt has ended...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From "The Protestant Order" by Erick Cjeland, copyright 2001, Riga.
The final years of the 1660s were profitable for the Order. The holdings were as stable as they had ever been and the economy was also buoyed by the successful colonization of the Siberian Corridor. For the German Order a situation of peace and prosperity was never lasting, of course.
Relations with the Orthodox Church had changed following the Moscow Dispensation, but the expected improvement of relations had not occurred. While the Orthodox subjects within the Order benefited from a favored status and became easier to govern, the surviving Orthodox nations looked on the Order with disdain.
The Byzantines were weak but surviving and Constantinople was still considered the center of Orthodoxy. The attempt by the Knights to claim Moscow as the new heart of Orthodoxy was applauded by their subjects but did little to impress the embattled Orthodox nations that still claimed independence. It was seen as an act of arrogance by the Order and an attempt to usurp the rightful authority of Constantinople for their own transparent ends.
When the Order offered Armenia a peaceful annexation, the true motives of the Order began clear. The Germans had little concern for a unified Orthodoxy or for the welfare of the Armenian people. They did have a concern for the gold mines there, however. The Order planned to use these riches to fuel further wars in the south.
After Armenia coldly dismissed the offer to submit to the Order war became inevitable. The official declaration came in 1671 and a massive force of over 40,000 Germans descended on Armenia. Fighting with a zeal the Order could not match, a force of perhaps 20,000 Armenians soundly defeated the initial invasion at great cost to both sides.
The Order could better bear the cost than the tiny Orthodox nation, however, and a second invasion six months later was successful. While Armenia was allied with Austria and several lesser principalities in the west, these nations showed no interest in saving them, instead accepting separate peace offers.
The Armenians hung on bravely and did far better than anyone could have expected. For several years the Order struggled to maintain the siege, facing disease and poor foraging in the Caucus Mountains. Finally, in 1675, Armenia was defeated and annexed.
The war was a humiliation for the Order. An extremely minor power had fought them for nearly four years, even defeating the Knights in open battle. This shame would lead to a call to reform the army and bring up a massive class of new recruits. The Order was determined to restore their pride and record of military success...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Next: +3 Stability = no CB war!
The western lands and VP totals, 1676
The idea for the enlightenment Londoner was cobbled together from a variety of authors from that era whose works I very dimly remember, so I'm glad he comes off as plausible. Plus, any chance to get even a little revenge on the rebel scum that have been such a thorn in my side is fun. I'm still not sure who the final chronicler will be right now (I can't believe I'm nearly to that point!). Perhaps an "age of revolutions" political iconoclast?Judge: Good to hear from you, as always! The Siberian Corridor will hopefully give me the income I need to challenge those giant blobs of orange and white in the west, but I keep being distracted from colonization by wars. Crusades aren't about making a profit, of course.
I'm considering really delivering a blow to Islam via the Mamelukes or Persia right now (China's about 50 years of colonists away and its government collapses about once every three months for the past few decades ).I've really let my armies shrink fighting rebels and poorly planned wars and will have to build them back up for an ambitious war. Hmmm, I think I've got an idea for the next installment...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From "Revolts, Rebellions and other Follies" by John Williams, London 1726.
It might now be profitable to address the ingredients for a successful rebellion. Probably my first piece of advice would be to secure a leadership position, as revolts almost universally fail and it is the common rabble that is bled white by such defeats. Meanwhile, the leader has an opportunity to line his pockets and hopefully disappear to a sympathetic nation before the hammer falls.
The question then becomes how one can insure leadership and the loyalty of the undifferentiated mass during a time of uprising. To lead a revolt one must simply focus on the inherent inequalities or injustices that are present. This is not difficult, for even the most efficient and just political system has its failings. As the leader of a revolt, it is your job to amplify these failings and then put them into a form that can be comprehended by the slowest peasant in under ten seconds worth of oratory.
Your message, then, should hit the heart first and the mind second, if at all. The best means towards this end is short and emotionally charged slogans that are easily remembered and repeated by others. The rabble has little desire to debate the ideal form of government in a reserved and dignified matter. Rather, they want inflammatory statements that can be shouted at an imagined enemy. Better "Death to the wealthy!" or "Foreigners out!" than anything that smacks of careful consideration of all possible sides and outcomes.
With a simple and easily demonized enemy now in place, it becomes a matter of proving you and your followers offer the best chance to slay this demon. Every possible theatrical trick will serve one well. Flags, special uniforms, simple hand gestures and the like can then cement your faction and give it a sense of legitimacy and importance.
The final step is the betrayal. A pitchfork or torch is little match for a musket or cannon, so defeat is assured unless the central authority has completely collapsed already. Therefore, a revolt leader should use the position to secure the maximum profit possible and disappear well before the authority asserts itself.
If this advice seems cynical, as I would imagine it does to ivory tower types, one should be reminded of some additional historical examples. A typical case was the Mozyr revolt in 1672. The German Order was at war at the time and the central control was greatly weakened. This, combined with the open persecution of Catholics following the Moscow Dispensation, had turned the province into a tinderbox.
The spark was an appeal to the existing suppression of Catholic beliefs. The Order had declared that anyone practicing a Catholic Mass would be put to the sword and open observance was driven underground. This was combined with continued attempts to bring Protestantism to the region, attempts that had been met with resistance.
Using a simple message of Catholic freedom, rebels seized control for several months. The hated Protestant churches were desecrated and mass was again held. The Polish promised they would protect the religious insurgents, a promise they had no intention of keeping.
In the end, the Catholics were defeated while Poland kept to her own affairs. Several of the rebels were able to cross the border into Poland, taking loot with them with no regard for their fellows being slain in battle. By the time the revolt ended, thousands had died and the area economy had been devastated by the excesses of the rebels.
It is with good cause that the reasonable man holds uprising in derision. They are often nothing but ploys for a handful of individuals to enrich themselves by exploiting the ignorant loyalty of the peasant. History is crowded with such betrayals, yet still the people believe that simple slogans and new flags will lead to a better life when the revolt has ended...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From "The Protestant Order" by Erick Cjeland, copyright 2001, Riga.
The final years of the 1660s were profitable for the Order. The holdings were as stable as they had ever been and the economy was also buoyed by the successful colonization of the Siberian Corridor. For the German Order a situation of peace and prosperity was never lasting, of course.
Relations with the Orthodox Church had changed following the Moscow Dispensation, but the expected improvement of relations had not occurred. While the Orthodox subjects within the Order benefited from a favored status and became easier to govern, the surviving Orthodox nations looked on the Order with disdain.
The Byzantines were weak but surviving and Constantinople was still considered the center of Orthodoxy. The attempt by the Knights to claim Moscow as the new heart of Orthodoxy was applauded by their subjects but did little to impress the embattled Orthodox nations that still claimed independence. It was seen as an act of arrogance by the Order and an attempt to usurp the rightful authority of Constantinople for their own transparent ends.
When the Order offered Armenia a peaceful annexation, the true motives of the Order began clear. The Germans had little concern for a unified Orthodoxy or for the welfare of the Armenian people. They did have a concern for the gold mines there, however. The Order planned to use these riches to fuel further wars in the south.
After Armenia coldly dismissed the offer to submit to the Order war became inevitable. The official declaration came in 1671 and a massive force of over 40,000 Germans descended on Armenia. Fighting with a zeal the Order could not match, a force of perhaps 20,000 Armenians soundly defeated the initial invasion at great cost to both sides.
The Order could better bear the cost than the tiny Orthodox nation, however, and a second invasion six months later was successful. While Armenia was allied with Austria and several lesser principalities in the west, these nations showed no interest in saving them, instead accepting separate peace offers.
The Armenians hung on bravely and did far better than anyone could have expected. For several years the Order struggled to maintain the siege, facing disease and poor foraging in the Caucus Mountains. Finally, in 1675, Armenia was defeated and annexed.
The war was a humiliation for the Order. An extremely minor power had fought them for nearly four years, even defeating the Knights in open battle. This shame would lead to a call to reform the army and bring up a massive class of new recruits. The Order was determined to restore their pride and record of military success...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Next: +3 Stability = no CB war!
The western lands and VP totals, 1676
