There'll Always be an Angevin: the first Provence AAR

[Norrefeldt]

The latest version of EEP have eliminated the Chinese bug. The easiest way to fix any corrupt save file is using Fiden's Save File Checker in the Mod forum. I don't think the tech support forum covers problem with mods. At least these questions seems to be moved to the mod forum at once.
Looking forward to the next update!

 

[unmerged(15337)]

Wow, those White Lotus guys must be really tough if they collapse Provence as well as China! I'm glad you got your save game fixed up, and I eagerly look forward to the eventual resurrection of Siena when Provence falls apart in unrecoverable revolts after a generation or two. You don't really want to annex your best source of CRTs, do you? Do you? Sniff, sniff.

Hmm, looks like I have to work on a better version of that Siena virus...

 

[Farquharson]

Norrefeldt - I was just thinking it would be really useful to have a "save file checking" program - I should have looked around myself! I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the tip.

jwolf - well, brace yourself, here comes the update... As you'll see, I've at least tried to make it entertaining for you!

 

[Farquharson]

Chapter 27: 1638 - 1652
Siena gets Burnt​

Nicolas François, King of Provence had several different problems on his mind. One was to make sure that the throne passed to his children and not those of his brother Charles, who had abdicated in 1634. The situation was somewhat open in 1638 as Nicolas François and his wife Claude had no children and Charles, who had divorced Nicoläa in 1635 and married Beatrice de Cusance, had had a son in 1637 who lived to the ripe old age of five months then died. But then in 1639 Claude gave birth to her first son, Ferdinand Philippe, who was duly proclaimed heir to the throne of Provence.

The next thing that occupied Nicolas François was the colonization of North America, and none did more for him in this domain than the famous explorer and colonizer, Arnaud Trogale, who had first offered his services to Charles IV in 1632. Charles had given Trogale carte blanche to wander about North America at random, but Nicolas François realized that his expertise was being greatly underused and began issuing him with more specific orders. Between 1639 and 1641 Trogale oversaw the founding of no less than seven new colonies including on the islands of Newfoundland and Isle Trogale, which was named in his honour.

In 1641 the ex-King Charles IV returned to Marseille. He had travelled far and wide and he had learned, among other things, that some Frenchmen were really quite nice. He was now therefore much more willing to accept France in the Provençal Alliance and by popular consent he was re-instated as King of Provence. He was, after all, a rather better monarch than Nicolas François, and his name was easier to type, which also made him popular with royal biographers. Nicolas François accepted on condition that his son Ferdinand Philippe remained heir to the throne. Charles IV, who now had a daughter but still no surviving son, agreed to this, to the annoyance of royal biographers.

Back in North America, Charles IV was astonished to see the progress that Trogale had made in establishing new settlements, and he immediately ordered him to take a ship and sail round the southern tip of Florida into the Gulf of Mexico, from where he could explore the apparently uninhabited lands which lay to the west of the territories of the native nations. Trogale opened up vast new areas for future expansion of the Provençal Empire, but it was his winning way with the inhabitants of these regions that was most astonishing:

Arnaud Trogale penetrates the interior of the continent with help from natives​

Arnaud Trogale, the famous Provençal explorer, meeting with a village chief in newly discovered Illinois: Well, hello there! My name’s Arnaud Trogale, but you can just call me Arnaud. I’m just doing a bit of exploring for the King of Provence. And you would be Chief...?

Illinois Village Chief: Chief Jumping Wolf. But tell me, Arnaud, why do you guys paint your faces white like that?

Trogale: Well, I’m afraid they’re naturally this colour - we don’t paint them at all.

Chief Jumping Wolf: Weird! So where is your homeland? Somewhere in the east I imagine, where all the other Great Tribes live?

Trogale: Actually Provence is in a place called Europe on the other side of a great sea called the Atlantic Ocean which lies further east than the lands of the Great Tribes...

Trogale: Whoa there, Arnaud, old boy! You’re talking to a guy who’s never been more than three miles from this village and you’re bandying around oceans and lands and kingdoms nobody has ever heard of!

Trogale: I’m terribly sorry Chief.

Chief Jumping Wolf: Hey, just call me Jumping.

Trogale: Sure thing, Jumping! Anyway, I wish you could see our wonderful Kingdom, I’m sure you’d like it.

Chief Jumping Wolf: Can’t I go there?

Trogale: Er... Well, yes I suppose so. Yes - you could go as an ambassador to King Charles himself, and report to him first-hand about all the new lands I’ve discovered.

Chief Jumping Wolf: Great! Let’s leave tomorrow!

Trogale: But what about your responsibilties as village chief?

Chief Jumping Wolf: Hey, I have a son who’s eight years old now, Jittering Wolf. He’s pretty smart - could run a whole empire I would think. He’ll look after things while I’m gone.

Trogale: Well, I’m afraid I can’t go with you, Chief Jumping. I’m under royal orders to explore as much territory as possible so I’d better not return with the task unfinished. Six of my men will accompany you, however, and I will give you a letter of introduction to our great king, Charles IV.

Chief Jumping Wolf: Cool - what an adventure!

Meanwhile, back in Marseille, Charles IV had other matters to see to. Louis XIV came to the throne of France in 1643. He remained Charles’ loyal vassal, but France was still at war with England and the Netherlands. Pizza packages were still being sent regularly to Siena, and the Sienese were still regularly refusing to become Charles’ vassals. In June 1643 Charles had just received a letter from the Sienese and was studying it grimly when Chief Jumping Wolf was ushered into his presence and introduced as a friend of the explorer Trogale and ambassador of the peoples of North America:

Jumping Wolf: Your Majesty! What an honour it is to meet you - I am overwhelmed by your magnanimity!

Charles IV, still studying the letter: Hmm. Yes. Lots of people are, actually... But NOT these insufferable Sienese, I have to say!

Jumping Wolf: Your Majesty?

Charles IV: Would you take a look at this letter?

He brandishes the letter before the confused chief.

Charles IV: Oh - er, can you read, by the way?

Jumping Wolf: Your loyal men gave Your Majesty’s humble servant some rudimentary lessons during our long voyage - er, let me see... Oh - it’s quite short!

Charles IV: Short is one word for it...

Chief Jumping Wolf concentrates on reading the letter​

Jumping Wolf, reading slowly: “Where’s... our... pizza?” Er - this is from these, how did you call them, “Insufferable Sienese”?

Charles IV: Siena is a small province in Italy with whom we have been allied for many years. We have regularly lavished them with gifts of the highest quality, always on the understanding that they would return the favour and accept to become our vassals. But now - this!

Once again he waves the letter angrily in Chief Jumping Wolf’s face.

Jumping Wolf: Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding, Your Majesty?

Charles IV: Too right, there has! This time those stubborn Sienese have gone one step too far! They’re going to pay for this insult - in blood!

Jumping Wolf: Your Majesty’s wisdom no doubt exceeds even his magnanimity, but it always seems so sad to see men unable to settle their differences without resorting to bloodshed...

Charles IV: What? If I didn’t know you were from some barbaric region on the other side of the Atlantic, I’d almost suspect you of having some secret sympathy for these Sienese.

Jumping Wolf: Oh, not at all, Your Majesty - I am merely saddened to see men taking up arms against their fellow men. But no doubt Your Majesty has carefully weighed all the alternatives and has reluctantly come to the conclusion that there is no other way.

Charles IV: Yes, well, er... Hey, do you want a job as my PR officer? That sounded really good.

Jumping Wolf: Your Majesty is joking of course...

Charles IV: Nonsense - you’ve got the job. Now - I want you to write some speeches... Can you write by the way?

Jumping Wolf: Er, well... your loyal men did give Your Majesty’s humble servant...

Charles IV: ...some rudimentary lessons during the long voyage, right. So you can write some speeches convincing the populace that we need to ban Siena from our alliance, break off our ties of royal marriage and declare war - all within the next year!

Jumping Wolf: You want me to help you with your war against Siena, Your Majesty? Er - I don’t think I could do that, really...

Charles IV, suspiciously: Why not?

Jumping Wolf: Because... er.. because - I’m dyslexic! Yes, that’s it! I’m terribly dyslexic - anything I wrote, nobody else could possibly manage to read!

Charles IV, sighs: Ah well, I’ll just have to write my own speeches, then.

But King Charles’ own speeches were somewhat inferior to what Jumping Wolf could no doubt have penned, and there was widespread discontent in the realm and mutterings about “warmongering” and “gunboat diplomacy” as Charles IV manoeuvred into position for the inevitable showdown.

The crunch came in May 1644 when Provence declared war on Siena and their newfound allies, Cologne and Münster. Charles did not invite France to join the war, in case they ended up running the show. The war did not begin well for Provence, with two defeats at the hands of Cologne forces who invaded Lorraine, however the main Provençal Army marched into Siena, defeated the Sienese Army and began a siege. During the siege Sienese forces tried many times to break it but without success. Meanwhile, Cologne were bought out of the war for 40 ducats in November, greatly simplifying the campaign in the north.

A reserve army did not quite reach Marche in time to break a Sienese siege of Ancoma, which fell in July 1645, however Siena was by now running out of troops. Pfalz was captured by Provence in October 1645, Siena in April 1646 and finally Ancoma was recaptured in June 1646. The Sienese were brought to the peace table, forced to hand over Pfalz to Provence, along with all their treasury, and to become Charles’ vassals. After the treaty was signed, the Sienese delegation were offered pizza for dinner, which for some reason they declined.

The period following the Sienese War was generally quiet and prosperous for Provence, although it took some time to restore the customary stability to the realm. Charles continued to build up the Provençal territories in the New World, while also trying to improve relations with his neighbours in Europe. Soon after the war the Palatinat was recreated in Pfalz as a vassal-state. In 1649 the House of Anjou entered a royal marriage with the House of Hapsburg and in 1652 two more weddings were arranged with the royal houses of Cologne and Oldenburg.

Jumping Wolf had remained in Marseille for some time, before returning to Illinois, to his wife and family, and to his own people. Charles still had fond memories of him, though, and when a boundary dispute flared up with the Sienese in 1651 the King was reminded of the chief’s wise words, and quickly settled the problem amicably. Relations with Siena improved, as did the stability of the realm. The great explorer Arnaud Trogale had died back in 1644 just before the war, but his memory lived on, especially on the island that bore his name.

Europe in 1653
If you include his four vassals (France, Helvetia, Siena and Pfalz) Charles IV rules over a fair bit of it​

The vast unclaimed lands of North America beckon Provençal adventurers
But what are those Creek and Aztecs doing using Provençal brown???​

 

[unmerged(15337)]

Two thumbs up for that one! Your attention to detail with the Illini is commendable, although I have to admit that Chief Jumping Wolf has a far more noble countenance than mine. But without question Jittering Wolf is more than capable of running things in the Chief's absence.

Poor Siena! But they're not annexed yet, so where there is life there is hope, even if not very much of it! Actually as I was reading the account of the war I had forgotten about Pfalz so I expected Siena to be annexed. Oh well, just make it peaceful. They do make loyal allies.

It is very odd that so many nations have their colors changed to Provencal shades of orange and brown. Is that an EEP conspiracy?

Does the Provence monarch file really change back and forth between the two brothers Charles and Nicolas? That seems very strange to me.

Congratulations on a great story. And if Siena has to go, just make sure France suffers the same fate!

PS -- Scott "Jittering Wolf" is currently playing a GC as China. I'll tell him to annex Provence. Come to think of it, in my Granada game (1790) I have the most powerful country in the world and Provence still exists. Maybe I should change that.

PPS -- There's still time to perfect that Siena virus....

 

[coz1]

Good Lord, look at Saxony?!? What alliance are they in? And I do not envy your frustration over the never-ending French war. That must be hell! Nice work with Siena and so nice of you to release The Palatinate. Is it time to take it to Spain again?

 

[unmerged(19936)]

I claim these lands for the glory of Farquharson... er, Provence.

I didn't really 'die'. I just retired to my vast estates on my eponymous island and spent the rest of my days drunk on pastis and pizza, as any good Provencal would.

You certainly went above and beyond. It's too bad I couldn't discover my homelands in Southern Ontario. Maybe Jittering Wolf can do that

 

[unmerged(27214)]

Good God, Granada has Andalusia?

God will hate you eternally if you don't conquer it from them RIGHT NOW if for no other reason than to spite the Spaniards and get yourself a pimpin' new COT.

 

[Van Engel]

Yeayh Sienna was finally burnt! (not to death, but you can't everything)
And since Jwolf and troggale have had guys named after them, maybe you could name 1 after me, I would be honored

 

[VPeric]

And since Jwolf and troggale have had guys named after them, maybe you could name 1 after me, I would be honored

*cough, cough*

 

[Rhodz]

I'm SURE an intelligent Castilian by the name of Jamon Serrano will make an entrance into this story, right?

 

[Van Engel]

*cough, cough*

Owh yeah and Vperic
Pretty Please with sugar on top

 

[unmerged(15337)]

Regarding Granada, is that the original Muslim Granada? The reason I ask is that in my recent Ukraine game Spain fell apart in revolts sometime and both Catalunya and Granada appeared, although this Granada was Catholic. So I am wondering if your Spain had similar problems; that seems a lot more likely than the survival of the original Granada from 1419, but that would make a great story if it were true!

 

[Machiavellian]

I agree with Coz1, that sure is a weird partion of Germany. Saxony and Brandenburg seem to have set clear lines of influence in the north, while Austria seems to have been kicked for the most part into the domains of Hungary.

Have any of the other European powers begun more promising attempts in the new world?

 

[Farquharson]

jwolf - I'm afraid this update might be a little difficult for you... Regarding monarchs, Charles did come back historically, but only for a few years and then Nicolas Francois returned. In the game he stays till he dies, but it's Nicolas Francois' son who takes the throne after that :wacko: Scott is welcome to try to annex Provence, but France might just beat him to it

coz1 - yes those filthy Lutherans in Saxony are getting a little... large, shall we say?

Troggle - sounds like a nice retirement. Which province exactly should Jittering Wolf be aiming for?

Just Too Uber - um, yes, and check this out:

They succeeded too!

Van Engel - Heh, heh! I knew this would happen! Of course I'll do my best to oblige with all requests, but you may have to be patient for the right moment.

VPeric - that's a nasty cough you have there. Are you taking something for it?

Rhodz - I'll see what I can do!

jwolf - Yes, as pictured above, they're definitely Muslim!

Machiavellian - Sweden, for one - see next New World screenie!

 

[Van Engel]

Van Engel - Heh, heh! I knew this would happen! Of course I'll do my best to oblige with all requests, but you may have to be patient for the right moment.

Yea

 

[unmerged(19936)]

Well, I was born in North Bay which would be in Nippising province, but grew up in Brampton, which would be in Niagara province, and currently live in Hamilton, which would also be in Niagara province. This is just FYI, you certainly don't have to name two provinces after me.

Did you change the Spanish AI moron to brain-dead before you started? I don't think I've ever seen Granada survive and then take Andalusia away. Crazy.

 

[Farquharson]

Did you change the Spanish AI moron to brain-dead before you started? I don't think I've ever seen Granada survive and then take Andalusia away. Crazy.

It wasn't me (I don't think) but, as mentioned before, Spain certainly haven't shone in this game. They haven't even set foot in North America yet, for example.

 

[Farquharson]

Chapter 28: 1652 - 1665
King of Jerusalem​

Charles IV King of Provence was very pleased. The stubborn Sienese had at last become his vassals, though not exactly of their own free will. The colonization of the New World was continuing satisfactorily. And the year 1653 proved to be an exceptional year, exceptional even as exceptional years go - an extra 300 ducats found their way into the royal treasury and inflation dropped by a staggering 15%.

In December of that year Charles found himself with a new neighbour when Ukraine, an ally of the Habsburgs, annexed the breakaway state of Tyrol. Curiously, this news seemed to reach the ears of Chief Jumping Wolf, in far away Illinois, who sent a short message, quoting an old Indian proverb: “He who treats his neighbour as a friend has one less enemy.” “What?” thought Charles to himself, “Not the Ukrainians as well?”

By 1656, after a gift had been sent to Siena formulated to the highest pizzometrical standards, relations were high, but not quite as high as they could be. Charles invited the Sienese into his alliance now comprising Provence, France and Strassburg, which they enthusiastically accepted. Six months later, indeed at the first possible opportunity, the Sienese accepted full and complete integration into the Kingdom of Provence. Where diplomacy on its own had failed miserably, a delicate cocktail of carrot and stick had worked wonders.

In 1657 Charles recieved an unexpected visitor to his court, a ragged and travel-stained figure who nevertheless held himself with pride and dignity. He announced himself as one Vlada Peric, a citizen of the newly declared state of Serbia, who were in rebellion against their former Turkish overlords:

Vlada Peric, herald of Serbia: My Lord, I bring warm greetings from the people of Serbia to His Exalted Majesty Charles IV, King of Provence and Jerusalem.

Charles IV: Well, I must say that’s very nice. Very nice indeed. Please do take my... Wait a minute, what did you just say?

Vlada Peric: My Lord, I bring warm...

Charles IV: No, no - about Jerusalem. Didn’t you just mention Jerusalem?

Vlada Peric: Ahem, yes, My Lord. Your Majesty is, I believe, King of Jerusalem, yes?

Charles IV: Er... no. I mean, I don’t think so. Not last time I checked...

A royal courtier hurriedly approaches and whispers in Charles’ ear.

Charles IV: Ahem - that is, I might be.

He gestures to the courtier who hurries off.

Vlada Peric: It’s just that I was told that this was the correct way to address Your Majesty.

Charles IV: Hmmm. Yes, well I daresay you could be right. I am having the matter investigated at this very moment. In the meantime, perhaps I can press you to take some refreshment with me, while you fill me in on the news from your country.

The City of Jerusalem - was it or was it not part of Charles’ rightful domains?​

Servants bring in the customary trays laden with mouth-watering pizza, which the King and his visitor start to consume.

Vlada Peric: My Lord, we are a small country at war with the mighty Ottoman Empire. The Turks have oppressed us as they have oppressed countless nations and peoples for centuries. But now, My Lord, there is a wind of change blowing through their Empire. The foundations are crumbling. Those very nations that the Turks have oppressed for so long are now rising in revolt. Tripoli, Nubia, my own Serbia and the latest nation to declare their independence, Albania. It is said that there are movements afoot in Transylvania and Bosnia as well, not to mention the Mamelukes and the people of the Hedjaz. The once mighty Ottoman Empire is crumbling to dust!

Charles IV: Hmm, well, I must say that’s a very satisfying thought. I must congratulate you on your heroic stand against those despicable infidels.

Vlada Peric: My mission is to present our plight to the great and mighty kings of Christendom, Your Majesty, for if all unite together today, tomorrow we may see the Turk vanquished completely!

Charles IV: Yes, well, that’s as may be. The trouble is, we in Provence have never actually had any quarrel with the Turks as such and... excuse me a moment.

While they are talking and eating, the courtier has returned with an old and dusty scroll, which Charles takes from him and reads. He then looks up with a strange expression on his face, a mixture of anger, pleasure and pride.

Charles IV: Well, well! It would seem that indeed I am King of Jerusalem, according to this Papal Edict issued in 1296. Amazing what you find when you start dredging through the royal archives, eh?

The Papal Edict of 1296​

Vlada Peric: Allow me to be the first to congratulate Your Majesty on this historic discovery!

Charles IV: Thankyou. Now, who is it exactly who is unlawfully occupying Jerusalem right now?

Vlada Peric: Ahem - I believe it is currently in, er... Turkish hands right now, Your Majesty.

Charles IV: Hah! Those worthless heathen scum! I can assure you their arrogant occupation of my lands will not last long!

Vlada Peric: Excellent, Your Majesty - I am overjoyed to hear it!

From that day onward, it became Charles’ one overriding pre-occupation to wrest the city of Jerusalem back from the heathen Turk and see it brought into the Kingdom of Provence. Immediately he began raising an army in Sicily purpose-built for this mission. Brittany was also brought into the Provençal Alliance, though they were not expected to be much help in the Eastern Mediterranean. By 1662 the army was ready and a fleet of ten warships freely gifted to the war effort by the loyal citizens of Newfoundland was sailing across the Atlantic to join the main fleet in Messina.

All that was required was a justified reason to declare war. Unfortunately, Charles found only sketchy support for his claim on Jerusalem, even among his allies, although he did manage to bring Austria into his alliance in December 1663. Then, in February 1664 the Turks were unwise enough to re-annex the breakaway state of Bosnia. This was a disturbing sign of recovery on the part of the ailing Ottoman Empire and Charles’ cause suddenly seemed to receive broad approval from the international community. The invasion force was loaded onto the ships and by June they were off the coast of Palestine and war was declared.

Rather alarmingly, France, Strassburg and Austria all abandoned Charles at this point and only the Bretons remained loyal to the Alliance, however France and Strassburg were soon persuaded to rejoin. Neither contributed much in the way of help, however, and Austria, the ally whose help Charles had most been looking for refused to rejoin, forming a new alliance with Venice instead.

The siege of Jerusalem, which was currently held by rebels, lasted less than a month before the city fell to an assault by the jubilant Provençal armies. Unsurprisingly, the Sultan Mehmed IV refused to hand over the city and the invasion force accordingly marched into Jordan, defeated a small Turkish army and laid siege to Amman.

Unfortunately, the Ottoman fleet had by now swung into action and proved to be more than a match for the Provençal Fleet, even with the ten new warships from America. Soon Turks were swarming over the lands of southern Italy, even penetrating as far north as Milan. Things were not going so well in the east either. An ill-considered assault on Amman had ended in defeat and left the army weak and vulnerable, which of course was when the Turks chose to counter-attack. The Provençal army was driven back to Jerusalem, but they managed to make a stand there against further attacks.

Fortunately there were plenty of Provençal troops in Italy and more were brought south from France. They were repeatedly able to defeat the pillaging bands of Turks wherever they caught them, and it was this in the end that swung the tide of victory in Provence’s favour. By December 1665 the Sultan had had enough and accepted Charles’ offer to end the war in return for the province of Judea, with its capital city, Jerusalem. It was a historic moment - for the first time since the title had been conferred on his ancestor nearly four hundred years earlier, Charles IV King of Provence was also truly King of Jerusalem.

Preparations are made to defend the Holy City against the surrounding heathens​

Europe in 1665 showing the shrinking Ottoman Empire
Austria have annexed Venice, but the Italians are of course revolting - Charles IV awaits the outcome with interest​

On the other side of the Atlantic all was reasonably peaceful in the growing Provençal Empire. The French had thoughtfully arrived and burned down the Dutch trading post in Chesapeake, allowing Provençal settlers to move in in their place. On the other hand, the Swedes had also appeared and established a trading post of their own in Roanaoke.

The New World in 1665 showing the extent of Provençal colonization
The Creek Indians have now been forced to change colour!​

 

[Semi-Lobster]

Wow! You went crusading! Great work! Now convert Jerusalem! Maybe this could be the start of a new Middle Eastern expansion