1535 sees a new monarch on the throne of Sweden. 19 years of age with a 5 year old heir named Erik. A good time to size up the situation in Europe. Amazingly Wales still is standing strong in the face of England and has even expanded onto the mainland with part of Brittany under their rule. France currently is suffering through religious turmoil with Protestants taking over parts of their territory and fighting the French army. Burgundy remains strong enough as well between France and the Holy Roman Empire. Austria remains under a union with Poland with the other major powers of the Holy Roman Empire being Bavaria, Bohemia, Savoy, Brunswick and Brandenburg.
In North Africa Portugal has never reclaimed their lands there. Nor has Castile expanded there leaving the region of Morocco, Algiers and Tripoli all powerful and stable. The Ottomans and Hungary have conquered all the territory between them. Lithuania is powerful farther east as they press against Muscovy. Aragon and Naples fight in the southern Italy region. Sweden of course remains powerful in the north. Overseas Sweden leads the expansion into the new world with Portugal and Castile getting into it as well. The southern main continent seeing Castile colonies while a few small islands in the Caribbean sees Portugal and Sweden building colonies. Ulrik af Gennas is leading an internal exploration of the new continent.
“You, woman. Where is Heinrich? He should be here should he not to work with his new King?” Gustav was a young man with dark hair completely clean shaven. Not that he couldn’t grow them but the man preferred the other look. The woman he addressed was obviously some noblewoman from her fine clothes and the gold around her neck.
“Dead I am afraid sire. I am his daughter Andrea Posen.” She said firmly. It was important to establish yourself with the ruling family with the first meeting. Her blue eyes met his as she waited for him to get over his surprise.
“Ahh…I see. My condolences. I remember your father well as I was growing up. My mother and grandfather both respected him greatly. He was a good man.”
“Thank you your Highness, I am sure father will be pleased watching us from Heaven.”
“However…with your presence here in my chambers I am guessing you hope to take over his position as one of my advisors?”
“Of course sire. I am sure you can admit that after seeing your mother’s talents there is no reason to think that I can’t do the job.”
“You misunderstand me Miss Posen. Your family has worked with us for several generations now. Yet the position is not hereditary. You must prove your worth.”
“Of course Your Highness. First allow me to show you new wharf designs that can increase trade as well as new facilities that could be useful in increasing production of specific goods. Expensive but worth it I promise you.”
“Furthermore we have new military plans. We will be organizing our soldiers in the Spanish Square style as it is known. Often the weakness of military comes in with their firing. This will give our soldiers a key edge in that field.” She says handing over several documents he started to examine.
“These look expensive.”
“Quality is sire.”
“Hmm…what else?”
“We have also determined that the lands to the far west are larger than Europe easily. Our explorers are in the deep heartland and most of the northern land is only inhabited by disorganized groups instead of major nations like the Huron.”
“Interesting…speaking of major nations I have some plans I am going to entrust to you to implement. Make the matter of expanding the government infrastructure of Sweden that much easier.”
“Of course Sire.” Andrea Posen said with a low bow.
“What about Denmark? My mother wanted to conquer them but isn’t there some other way?”
“Your mother was right Sire. War is the only way. Denmark has but a single ally in Munster. A swift crushing invasion and they will be yours finally.”
“Hmm…I don’t like it but such is as it is. See about getting a good excuse to invade would you Miss Posen?”
“Right away Your Highness.” With another bow the sharp blue eyed woman departed to leave the King alone to ponder his pose for his royal portrait. His grandfather had gone with a background of Manhattan. His mother standing astride a bear she had strangled to death with her bare hands. In 1539 Denmark once again felt the invasion of Swedish soldiers. Their goal simple. Make the nation a vassal. Within two years they were a vassal to Sweden leaving the only danger at the border Muscovy to the east.
“Ahh Miss Posen, come and join me.” King Gustav was looking very not Kingly, what with being rather very naked and relaxing comfortably in a hot spring. The affairs of state were heavy things and managing two vassals, an overseas empire, and a personal union on top of normal things made the King’s winter retreat all the more pleasant for him.
“Ahh…you will forgive me if I pass Sire? I recall well your ahem…reputation and I fear I could not help myself.” The King had been a father somehow at 14 years of age. He also had a few mistresses now that he was of age and always had an eye for beauty.
“Fine fine…so what does bring you out then?”
“News from Stockholm. The bank is established.”
“The veterans of your mother’s wars wish to know your views on their display.” She said turning through some papers and studiously not looking at him.
“Ahh yes…tell them I cannot turn my back on traditions and they have my support.’
“Ulrik af Gennas has also discovered the western shore of the new world. Another ocean perhaps with new lands across on the other side. However reaching ships to such a land is beyond us…for now.”
“Really? Most interesting. Continue to fund explorations in the area I want them to verify no land routes west before we see about moving that way ourselves.”
“Very well. Norway is also starting to be integrated into the nation. We expect within a decade they will be part of Sweden completely along with the Huron overseas. At which time we plan to begin to incorporate Denmark into the nation as well.”
“Good good. Now Miss Posen.”
“Mrs. Posen.”
“Oh? Congratulations. Well Mrs. Posen what of the Reformation? I have heard troubling news in England.”
“England has converted it is true sire. As has France, Bohemia, Brandenburg, Wurttemburg, the Palantine, Gelre, Brunswick, Luneburg and Saxony.”
“So many…how troublesome. What of the overseas colonies?”
“We have been focused a great deal in the Caribbean in hopes of boxing out the expansion of Portugal and Castile. If we can hold the coasts they can’t move north and inwards. Things are going well and the lands there are very rich. The Lesser Antiles will be left to them while we take everything west of it.”
“Interesting. The Embassy is under construction yes?” He had personally designed the large sprawling building to help manage the growing Swedish realm and handle foreign dignitaries.
“Yes Sire. Should be done by the end of next year.”
“Good then take the night off Mrs. Posen.”
“Of course Sire. Do not fall asleep in the hot springs Sire.”
With that Sweden would enter a period of peace and internal growth. The improvements with the banks had led to a new way to handle debts should the nation find itself in the red. Furthermore a new scheme would limit what could be shipped into Sweden from foreign markets. This meant that the nation could be served far better by building within Sweden rather than outside and then importing. While Gustav might have not been the most charming of rulers Sweden had known he knew how to manage its sprawling territory.
Not everyone in the Kingdom was happy with things. The peasants felt that too much was being taxed from them leading to certain bribes and redistribution of coin to be done to keep them all happy. Not long after Burgundy finally called on their ally in Sweden when the Netherlands tried to break away and rule themselves independently.
While the Netherlands was able to put an impressive amount of sea power out there their land forces were quickly overwhelmed. The new cannons that the Swedish Army was using may have had something to do with the situation. While Swedish and Burgundy blades put down the rebellion the native peoples of the Huron across the ocean finally let were properly brought into the nation of Sweden expanding her rule and bringing in more wealth thanks to the fur trade. They were not the only nation to absorb a lesser partner as Portugal had been absorbed by Castile giving them not only more rule over the Iberia Peninsula but also the colonies.
