NOW!
Part One, 1492-1496
In the year of our lord 1492, I was chosen to replace the late Louis de Lombard as a member of the council of the glorious King Charles VIII. Very much humbled and honored by this momentous new position, I took careful notes on my meetings with the various ministers of the court.
The treasury contains 300,000 francs, but in mercantile technology and internal organization we are behind our neighbors (Trade and Inf tech level 1). I make a special note of this, in order that it be brought to the kings attention.
The Minister of the Armies, Chief Judge Foix, is stationed in Paris with the Armee du Roi. This force stands at a potent 18000 footmen and 9000 chivalry of France. Foix's able second-in-command Lt. General La Palice, is stationed in Languedoc with his Armee d'Italie. He guards the Spanish borders with 22000 footmen and 5000 chivalry. I have met him several times, and he is a soldier worthy of Roland himself.
The Minister of the Navy, Chief Judge Bidoux, sends his report from his headquarters in Provence- a lovely place for a headquarters this time of year. There the Escarde Levant, 14 strong war galleys, are stationed under his direct command. The rest of the navy, the Escarde Ponant, is stationed in Gascone. It is 10 warships strong- though commanded by an unremarkable commadore whose name escapes me at the moment.
The Head of the Diplomatic Corps, Marquis Fouriner, reports on the state of afairs in the courts of Europe. Our own alliance includes the italian state of Savoy (+40) and the Holy See (+40). While a potent force within italy, these may not be of much help against the Anglo-Spanish coallition. However, the Marquis informs me that the crowns of Spain and England have grown estranged. Mutual fear and hatred of France holds them together, but only so long as they hate us more than each other. When push comes to shove, its unclear whether one would really face us for the others sake.
The Minister of internal affairs reports realative tranquility and prosperity in the realm (stability +1)
New Years Day- The Helvetians are invited into our alliance, and happily except (+60), giving us a club hanging over the head of Spanish Franche-comte.
As war does not seem imminent, military budgets are reduced to peacetime levels, roughly 50% of their peak budget. In order to help close the technology gap, I advise that only the absolute minimum necessary to pay maintenance be drawn from the monthly budget, with the rest allocated to across-the-board increases in reaserch spending. The King Heartily agrees- I expect he was going to do so anyway, as he has been reigning well long before I came to advise him. Mesuiers Foix and Bidoux somewhat resent their budget cuts, though the King assures them they will have enough to pay the soldiers and sailors, as well as maintain their estates.
April 19- The Spanish complete their reconquista by annexing Granada. The King praises the Spanish conquistadores, also calling to mind the exploits of Charles Martel, the French hero who turned the tide against the Moors at Tours ages ago. Privately, the council expresses concern- would the militaristic Spainards turn to expansion in the North? It seems unlikely that Ferdinand and Isabella will sit in peace, content to simply sponsor crackpots like the Msr Columbo, who they have funded to find a new route to Asia. King Charles dismissed his petition years ago, and chuckles at the foolishness of the otherwise able rulers.
May- the dutchy of Lorraine (+99) joins our alliance, forming a ring around spanish Franche Comte. Some argued that Scotland would have made a better choice, but Msr Fouriner pointed out that Lorraine might be peaceable brought under their rightful ruler, king Charles, whereas the Scots are jealous of their independance.
1493- After a quiet year, we recieve our annual taxes of 280,000 francs. A joyous celebration is held in Paris as Msr Foix is married to the daughter of a swiss aristocrat (RM w/ Helvetia, +75). The wedding guest list is a veritable who's who of Paris.
A much less happy occasion causes the Minister of the Army to cut short his vacation in Zurich on February the 28th, however.
The War of Irish Defense (February 28 1494- May 21 1496)
The defenseless people of Ireland are visited with a new terror today, as their overlord in England, King Henry VII declares war upon them. They have not violated the terms of their vassalhood, King Henry just craves conquest, and Irelands lack of forts and small army is an easy target.
The declaration draws condemnation from many of englands nobles, who may lose their possessions in the Emerald Isle as a result of Henry's ambition. It also further strains realations between England and the rest of the Catholic world. Eire is a nation that has offended virtually noone outside the British Isles. Many a beautiful monestary in northern france, especially the eccentric province of Bretange, owes its existance to Irish clerics. To see these harmless people so trampled upon pains the French, who have allways felt an affinity for the Irish, with whom they share an ancient enemy.
On March 1, the King convenes the council in Paris. Foix is still en route from Helvetia, but even without him the king resolves to put the army and navy on war readiness in preparation for an intervention into the Irish assault. The Armee du Roi is ordered by the king to move to Picardie, to be ready to assault Calais when Foix catches up with them.
March 26- while passing through Bourgone, Foix orders levies of 8000 footmen and 5000 cavalry to be raised in case the spanish in Franche-Comte try to relieve the English. He is confident that if needs be the army can fight both the Spanish in the south, as well as the English in Calais and the Spanish in the Low countries, but he is concerned about our allies ability to keep Franche-Comte from becoming a distraction. He does not tarry however, as his army awaitshim in Picardie.
May the First- A declaration of War was delivered to the English ambassador, who was then graciously given an entire day to vacate the country. There is some grumbling from conservative nobility that we have no buisness getting involved in "this Irish buisness". But besides preventing the Emereld Isles conquest, the King also plans to wrench from England their vestigal continental presence in Calais.
A beeming Msr Fouriner reports that all of our allies, Savoy, Helvetia, Lorraine and the Pope, have rallied to our cause. The Pope also issued a scathing bull chastising the English, giving our war added legitamacy in the eyes of Europe.
But that's not the only good news- Msr. Fouriner reports that all of Englands allies have deserted her. She now stands against us in a bad state, with internal chaos reigning and the formost power in Europe poised to strike her as she stands alone, prepared only for a brief war of conquest against an overmatched foe.
Msr. Chief Judge Foix has taken command of the Armee du Roi once again, and marches on Calais. His normally white-hot hatred of them has only increased as they have now interrupted his honeymoon with his lovely wife Annabelle <not a swiss name, I know, but what IS a swiss name?>. She waits for him now in Paris, and I have found her to be a most charming companion.
The Escarde Ponant sails from Gascone to patrol the English channel the same day, as Chief of Navies Msr Bidoux remains in Provence to oversee our overall naval strategy.
May 16- Foix and the Armee du Roi besiege Calais, which was left without a standing army. He vows to take the city or die trying- quite morbid talk from a newlywed! T'would be a shame to make Annabelle a widow so quickly...
June 29- The garrison force Chief of Armies Foix ordered is ready in Gascone, and has been dubbed the Armee Royale. With Spain comfortably neutral, the King proposes a new use for these men- to aid the Irish in taking Dublin, which word has it is under seige. They are therefore dispatched to Normandie, where two transports are ordered to add to the Escarde Ponant, who will meet them there.
Aug 1- A grand occasion in Scotland as Princess Jacqueline, the Kings youngest daughter, is married to King James of Scotland. The date had been set months ago, and both Kings refused to postphone it because of the War. Fortunatly, the English did not disturb the princesses ship, which sailed under a flag of truce.
November 3- The english ambassador laughably proposes what he calls a white peace, wherein we essential give up and let the English conquer Ireland. The King inquires why he did not leave the country as he had been ordered, and then the ambassador is forcably removed from Paris by the Royal Guard.
Msr. Fouriner then leaves for Tuscany, where he is engaged to the heiress of a wealthy merchant family. He makes quite an impression there, and Tuscan regard for France increases (RM w/Tuscany +135)
December 2- Foix, seeing a breach in the defenses of Calais, orders a full-out assault upon it. In eight days of harrowing combat, the city is finally taken. Church bells ring in celebration throughout France as Englands last presence upon our shores is removed forever.
December 16- The english ambassador doggedly tries to bring his offer of "White Peace" before the King. Msr. Fouriner reminds him that France is winning the war, and that the King has twice banished the ambassador. He will not even consider any peace without English concessions regarding Calais and Ireland. The English ambassador stomps petulantly, and then walks away.
New Years 1494- The additional transports are ready, and the Escarde Ponant is loaded with the Royal Army off the coast of Normandie. On the 21st, they sail for the Irish Sea.
February- The Winter Of Learning brings breakthroughs in Trade, Infrastructure as well as new methods of casting metal cannonballs (Inf. & Trade to level 1, Land mil tech to level 2) A horde of merchants descend on Paris from accross the kingdom, and the minister of trade is placed in charge of their regulation (autosending merchants).
Capping off the winter is the marriage of Chief of Navies Bidoux's daughter Collette to a Parman nobleman (Rm w/ Modena, +75)
In March the Escarde Ponant catches and sink a English transport ferrying supplies to Dublin before unloading the Armee Royale to join the 17000 irishmen besieging the city.
On April 24 the Armee Royale reports for orders to the Irish leader, one Micheal Northumberland, an Irish nobleman of royal berring. The fleet returns to Bretagne, having seen no sign of the vaunted English Navy.
In May, Moira ni Sullivan, an Irish lady whose family sent her to Paris when war broke out, has been engaged to an up-and coming Navy officer by the name of Polin, who was on leave from his post commanding a warship in the Escarde Ponant. (RM w/ Eire, +195!)
In August, the lull in fighting continues as I attend the wedding of Pauline of Lorraine to Prince Louis, the Dauphine. This move is obviously ment to bind Lorraine more closely to the crown with an eye to eventual annexation (+114)
On September the 20, the stubborn English Ambassador somehow gains audience with the King to reiterate his "white peace" plan. The King flies into a rage, demanding to know why he continues to disobey his order not to return without concessions. Before the bewildered diplomat can respond, the king snatches the parchement from him and hurles it into the fire, ordering the diplomat to leave France before he brings Royal Wrath upon himself.
Foix orders the Escarde Ponant to sail to the Straights of Dover to intercept any English attempt to recapture Calais. Young Capitan Polin sails with them after his honeymoon. I believe this fellow may become one of France's finest officers, perhaps a full-fledged admiral in a few years.
November 1- The Kings eldest daughter, Princess Yvette, is married to the Holy Roman Emporer. The King hopes this will assuage fears the Austrians have of French expansion into the HRE (RM w/ Austria -86)
Nov 18- A small English force slipped accross the channel to besiege Calais. The Escarde Ponant had not yet arrived to block the channel, and the Armee du Roi had moved to Picardie for logistical reasons. Foix marches them to relieve Calais, as well as calling for 8000 footmen to reinforce the army after the battle.
The same day, the Escarde Ponant, 11 proud warships and 3 transport vessels sights and engages 16 English warships in the Straits of Dover, hoping to cut off the flow of men and materiel to Calais. Though outnumbered, our ships outmanuver the English, and by December 11 the entire English fleet was in retreat toward Kent. A single French Ship had been lost, though Capt. Polins Forte du Roi sunk two english warships in the thick of the fighting and bought the crew of the sunken French ship time to abandon before she capsized.
Just a few days later, another victory is one as the Armee du Roi annhiliates the English raiders in Calais. Foix reports the army has been depleted to 3619 infantry and 6124 cavalry in the fighting, so it is fortuitous that the recruits are mustering in Picardie.
On December 15, the Marquis de Fouriner saves the life of the English ambassador who bears a new copy of his White peace proposal to give to the king, despite the recent string of French victories. By preventing him from entering Paris, the Marquis shows the magnaminous generosity and tact that earned him his post. He also sent back word to England not to come back unless they were willing to make concessions to France.
On December 22, as all godly people were preparing for Christmas, the English launched an assault on the Escarde Ponant. At first it goes badly, as two ships are lost, including the one bearing the Commodore. Then, young Captin Polin seizes command in the confusion and routs the English back to Kent without further losses. For this act of conspicous valor, he is promoted all the way up to Admiral and given offical command of the Escarde Ponant. His star seems to be rising faster than anyone expected!
January 10 1495- Word arrives in Paris that Dublin has fallen to the Irish forces. The War that threatened them with destruction now seems to promise a reunification and an age of freindship, as the commradery between the French expeditionary force and the Irish soldiers has grown. The Escarde Ponant is dispatched to retrive our men for a heros welcome in Paris, though Polin is delayed by the necessity of quickly routing the English again on the 15th.
On January 26, the English ambassador returns, announcing that King Henry VII is ready to make some concessions. He is admitted to court, and he presents the King with the following terms.
Article the First: That England shall henceforth renounce any claims to the city of Calais and all other possessions on the French mainland in perpituity.
Article the Second: That England shall take measures to secure an acceptable peace with the Irish.
Article the Third: That neither England nor France shall take up arms against one another for a period of no less than five years.
The Marquis finds the wording objectionable in Article two- Acceptable to whom shall the peace be? Still, the King is in favor of ending French involvement in the war in exchange for Calais. Fouriner sucessfull amends article two to have "Through negotiations in good faith" attached to the end, and the treaty is signed. The entirity of the French court expected a treaty to be signed giving offical recognition of Irish independance and sovreignty within a few months of diplomatic harrangueing (sp?). Fournier sends a deputy to help advise the fledgling Irish government negotiate with their former masters.
Peace brings new technologys, as Minister of Armies Foix reports that the army has perfected their experemental field artillery, as well as the cannon foundry. This allows us to build cannons, which he urges we add to all armies as soon as is practical.
Simultaneusly, Minister of Navies Bidoux announces a similar advance in warship design (naval tech level 2)
In May, the Armee Royale sets sail from Dublin to return home to France. They pass a massive English fleet, brimming with soldiers in the Irish sea. Polin is under strict orders not to engage the English, so he sends his fastest ship to warn the Irish General Northumberland of the approaching Armada. They have no choice but to retreat as 30,000 english soldiers swarm the beaches around Dublin and lay seige to it.
When word reaches the King, he summons the English Ambassador. He demands to know the meaning of this invasion. The English Ambassador is nonplussed, and simply states that as England is still at war with Eire, it is simply conducting its campaign. When the King reminds him of clause two in the peace treaty the Englishman says that it is not at all unusual for hostilities to continue during negotiations- sometimes they even continue after the treaty is signed, since the battlefield commanders do not learn until late the outcome. He is dismissed in disgust.
To send a message to the English, the Army and Navy remain at war readiness. Admiral Polin lobbies strongly for renewed hostilities, saying the English have violated the treaty and betrayed both france and Eire. But Msr. Fouriner points out that in the eyes of Europe we would bear the blame for breaking the peace, and that disgrace the King can not bear to bring on France. Fouriner is ordered to use all his resources to pressure the English into making peace.
August- To further underline his concern, the King publicly announces that he will be personally paying 300,000 francs to the army to prepare for potential renewed hostilities. (Bonus, Reformation of Army, +300 land tech).
He also marries the Earl of Poitou to the heiress of Baden, in order to improve realations with the German electorate. He is said to harbor dreams of his son being Holy Roman Emporer, and reuniting the realm of Charlemagne. (RM w/ Baden +55)
October- The internal affairs ministry is athorized by the King to modernize the tax collection system of the realm. As such, a sweeping plan is put into motion, as professional tax offices are ordered to be built in Paris, Picardie, Champagne, Orleans, Normandie, Bougogne, Gascone, Guyenne, Lyonnais, the Dauphine, Languedoc and Provence. This is expected to greatly increase national resources for the future plans of the King for Frances Economic growth.
In November, the King gives away his second daughter Elanor to the Prince of Cologne, as part of his drive to get his line in power in the HRE. Also, Poland declares war upon the Teutonic Order. On Poland's side come its anti-turkish league of Moldavia, the Mameluks and Spain, who joined after dissolving its pact with England.
New Years Day 1496- 50 cannons are ordered for both the Armee du Roi (now reinforced with the veterans of the Armee Royale) and the Armee d'Italie. This takes considerable amounts of cash and the Internal Ministry is only able to appoint one tax collector, in Poitou, to oversee La Rochelle.
In March, a royal mariage is arranged between the kings niece and the 'King' of Navarra (+75) In order to ensure peace in that portion of the Pyrennes.
May 21- Eire and England finally make Peace. The thirty thousand Englishmen had finally broken Dublin. However, fear of our re-entry into the war, as well as the 21,000 Irishmen remaining in Leinster has banished all thoughts of annexation from the English mind. Our diplomatic backing has some fruits, though less than we expected when we made our own treaty.
The Treaty of Dublin
Article The First, that Ireland shall be free of English vassalhood in perpetuity.
Article the Second, that the city of Dublin and the surrounding area of the Pale remain in English hands.
Article the Third, that neither nation war on the other for a period of no less than five years.
So Ireland secured independance and safety, though not unification, thanks to the slimy diplomatic manuevering of the English. King Charles expresses his desire to integrate the Irish into the Frankish Alliance, but Msr Fouriner says that there "Isn't enough room" in the alliance, whatever that means. And France can settle in for a period of peace- but not too long of one...
I can't believe there haven't been more French AAR's, I 'm finding more interesting than England or Russia ever were.
