17
The not so rocky roads of Sierra Nevada
1599-1612
The new century starts with the war of Funj succession, in June 1600, between Astrakhan and Swahili. Unsurprisingly the Ottomans (allied to both) stay with Astrakhan. And I help as well.
Taking sides against Swahili causes my mission to improve relations with them to utterly fail. Next one is 'Improve relations with Khorasan'... don't hold your breath on this one either.
Nothing remarkable about this war: the Mamluks sing a white peace early on and I take Mogadishu and some ducats from Swahili, not to leave empty-handed
Of course Astrakhan wins and seals the PU with Funj, for what it's worth.
And look, if you thought enlightened, doubly-westernised peasants were free from superstition...
To offset this I get news that my colony in the Andamans will be producing spices, and I start building my first naval equipment manufactory in Beirut.
In 1605 Sicily enters in a war with Austria through a guarantee, so I can't defend them: they lose Messina and become an Austrian vassal
After this, and seeing that Castille is in no rush to DoW me after the truce expires, I DoW them myself in 1606. They've allied Poland since the last war, which is just as well, now Astrakhan can have some action too. Sweden supports Castille again, all my allies come to my call.
I don't mess with half armies this time, I deploy 50 regiments in Iberia to make sure I can make decent gains there. The strategy is simple: neutralise their navy, attack weak armies in Madrid and Toledo and retreat to Valencia/Alicante to reinforce and defend when more serious forces come around. New 5-shock general Rashid Fazil does a pretty good job.
Besides, Enrique VI is just not as good as his father. Unfortunately my help in Granada is not enough; Granada and Gibraltar fall to Castillian troops.
And Granada surrenders giving away Gibraltar in February 1607
But that is the last Castillian victory. All their remaining forces in Iberia gather and attack me one final time in Valencia in June, only to get routed.
From then on it's just a matter of deploying infantry in sieges and using the cavalry to finish off any new regiments and rebels. I sign peace with Poland, rewarding Astrakhan with Polesia (Astrakhan was starting to get too many rebels due to high WE). And I sign a white peace with Sweden. Castille is on her own.
Ethiopia DoWs me again, it must be something to do with them constantly claiming the title of defender of the faith
Granada takes this chance to forfeit our alliance; they are Catholic after all. A bit more serious is an Austrian DoW in December 1609 (with Aragon, Sicily and Tver joining them).
Luckily I'm nearly done with Castille by then. In April 1610 Andalucía falls and I have enough war score for a substantial peace. I don't bother with north African provinces, I take as big a chunck of al-Andalus as I can get with 82% WS. I can't link my new provinces to Valencia yet, for some reason Toledo is Castille's capital (it should be Valladolid, I wonder whether this is intentional or Castille moved capital earlier in the game).
Now I can focus on Austria, and hopefully get Sicily
Aragon is quickly neutralised, the strait of Messina blockaded and Sicily invaded. An excellent minister gives me some welcome BB relief, if nothing else.
Granada, after sending a warning and an insult, decides to join in the party, DoWing in September. Then Swahili and the Mamluks. Well, it saves me diplomats and BB!
From the Mamluks I take Nubia in December. From Swahili I take Lamu, another ivory province.
From Granada I take Murcia and Almeria. With a bit of luck they'll be allied, vassalised or annexed by Castille by next war. That'll teach them to betray the caliph.
Astrakhan deals with Tver in a few months. I let them have most provinces in the peace deal, but I leave the ones that border with Swenden out for now.
The occupation of Sicily and a full blockade of Austria give me 23% WS, not enough to get both Sicilian provinces (Palermo is actually quite rich), so I'll take Corfu as well and see if that is enough, otherwise I'll have to settle for just half the island.
While I wait for Corfu to fall Government tech 22 is reached, opening a new NI slot. Since I already have two naval NIs I should probably go for something different this time, maybe land-based given that money is no longer a problem. Suggestions?
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Syria in 1612
Provinces: 91
At war with Austria*, Sicily.
Allied with Astrakhan, TE, Algiers, Tripoli. CB on France, Austria, Aragon and Iraq. Guaranteeing OE, Brunei and TE.
Vassals: Oman, Algiers, Tripoli, Adal, TE.
Stability: +3
BB: 12.03
Monarch: Caliph al-Kamil II (8a/6m/4d)
Army: 125 (50/75/0)
Navy: 111 (66/12/4/29)
WE: 0