Gilded Ambitions: Concert of Europe Part V (Gameplay Thread)

[Spamage]

Gilded Ambitions: Concert of Europe Part V
Turn 1: 1900

Map of the World in 1900
(Source: Made by Me)

Cast and Characters
Kingdom of France: King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen (Dereich)
Russian Republic: President Pavel Milyukov (KaiserDave)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover (Ypestis)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Queen Mary III of Hanover (S019)
Empire of Quebec: Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti (Windjammer)
Commonwealth of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans (Dkrol)
Kingdom of Mexico: King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans (Laki)
Chinese Republic: President Zhang Zhidong* (HCP & DevoutCentrist)
Republic of Japan: President Tokugawa Iesato
Kingdom of Naples: Francis III de Bourbon-Naples (GoTfan)
Qajar Iran: Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (PSOL)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez (Kuumo)
Ottoman Empire: Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha (Spiral)
United Provinces of New Holland: Stadtholder Samuel van Houten (Atlas Politician)
Holy Union of Spain: President Arsenio Linares y Pombo (DwarvenDragon)
Confederation of New England: Chairman James Blaine* (OBD)
Durrani Empire: Abdul II Shah Durrani (AverageFoodEnthusiast)
Korean State: First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon (oldkyhome)

Popularity
Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha: High, Divisive
King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon: High, Divisive
Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen: Moderate-High, Impassive
President Pavel Milyukov: Moderate, Divisive
King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Impassive
King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez: Moderate, Divisive
Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern: Moderate, Divisive
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar: Moderate, Divisive
Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti: Moderate, Divisive
Stadtholder Samuel van Houten: Moderate, Impassive
Queen Mary III of Hanover: Moderate, Impassive
President Arsenio Linares y Pombo: Moderate, Impassive
Abdul II Shah Durrani: Moderate, Impassive
King Francis III de Bourbon-Naples: Moderate, Divisive
First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon: Moderate, Impassive
King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover: Moderate-Low, Impassive
Chairman James Blaine: Low, Divisive
President Zhang Zhidong: Low, Divisive

Economic Standings
Commonwealth of Louisiana: Strong
Empire of Quebec: Strong
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Strong
Kingdom of France: Moderate-Strong
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate-Strong
Holy Union of Spain: Moderate-Strong
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate-Strong
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Moderate-Strong
Habsburg Monarchy: Moderate-Strong
Confederation of New England: Moderate
Chinese Republic: Moderate
Qajar Iran: Moderate
Republic of Japan: Moderate
Kingdom of Mexico: Moderate
Divine Republic of Brazil: Moderate
Russian Republic: Moderate
Ottoman Empire: Moderate
Korean Republic: Moderate-Weak
Durrani Empire: Moderate-Weak

Kingdom of France

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-King Louis XX, you outshine even your distant grandfather King Louis XIV in terms of your grandeur. The France you have forged is dominated wholly by royal authority. Despite your strength and popularity, there are many who still challenge your government. Many of the cowards who attempted to topple the royal regime in the Coup of 1890 such as the wretched Georges Clemenceau operate abroad and spread slander about your government. Closer to home, terrorist cells have assassinated some close advisors, such as Boulanger. Liberals, secular socialists, Dutch nationalists, Italian pan-nationalists, and even Catholic-Republicans have been accosted attempting to plot against your rule in the past decade. Some at Versailles urge you to ease up on the intense repression and rein in the Sons of St. Louis in order to decrease subversive activities. Others believe that your actions so far should merely be a prelude to a more rigid enforcement of thought and belief within France. Will you ease up on domestic repression, or should the authoritarian system be maintained, so much work having gone into establishing it?

-France has many friends, or at very least acquaintances, on the global stage, but few formal allies. In Europe, only minor powers such as Portugal and Romania demonstrate any real positivity towards your government. Further afield, Brazil likewise has emerged as a partner, albeit only in a limited fashion. What diplomatic path will you take for France? How will you overcome the objections of other governments who deem you as too erratic and unpredictable a partner?

-Looking out into the world, some hawks see numerous opportunities for France to assert its glory. Aceh was promised to your realm in the Congress of Copenhagen as compensation for losses in the East Indies, but its distance has meant that little action has been taken against the Sultanate there. Also in Asia, there is still a sense among many that France was grievously insulted during the Congress of Copenhagen, the Durrani, Chinese, and Mysore allowed to pick away at the French Raj. Some would have you avenge these insults, though it risks enflaming the wrath of other major powers in the region? Further options for colonial glory exist in taming the currently unoccupied parts of the Sahara for through the sending of French forces as ‘volunteers’ into other theaters of war. Will you involve France in colonial wars, or is it best to focus on maintaining your current possessions rather than trying to grab new ones?

Habsburg Monarchy

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry, the realm looks to your steady hands for guidance after the tragic assassination of your nephew Charles IX. As the sole adult male Habsburg in the realm, you have assumed the role of preeminent regent, caught between young Maximilian V’s feuding mother and grandmother. Domestically, Empress Dowager Vittoria de Bourbon-Savoie (Maximilian’s grandmother) has been associated with the Habsburg liberals, in line with her father’s (the slain Prince Xavier) beliefs. The Empress Mother Chistina of Hanover, meanwhile, is a reliable conservative vote. You have been fairly flexible in the past, during your regency your reformist streak winning the admiration of liberals, while the commitment to order kept conservatives in line. The Habsburg Monarchy is a far bigger and more complicated realm than Poland was however. Will you align with Vittoria and the Liberals or Christina and the Conservatives? Or would it be best to maintain a sort of neutrality and balance the factions against one another?

-Many see the glory of Habsburg colonization of Africa as incomplete. Despite extensive claims on both Abyssinia and the Sahel, the two regions remain largely outside of your control as the new century begins. Perhaps there is no way better to unite the people behind the ruling regency than through prestigious victories in foreign lands? These calls for adventurism have been tempered with others who argue that Asia was, and remains, Austria’s primary colonial cash source and that Africa is but a sideshow that can be subdued sometime in the future. Will you pursue colonial expansion? What will be your other policies in order to protect the existing outposts you already possess as far afield as Singapore and Ningbo?

-The Third Imperial Reform was shelved in the initial aftermath of your nephew’s assassination. Yet, many believe that by doing so, you have let the assassins win. Despite the relative youth of Maximilian V, there are factions at court calling for a reintroduction of the proposal. It is hoped that the memory of the slain sovereign and an appeal to German nationalism could be used to centralize the Empire one step further. Yet, given Louis XX’s tantrum last time, let alone Russia’s stony silence, it would be wise to take great care should you do so. More ambitious advisors remind you that this could be a rare window where the reform would succeed, urging you to capitalize on this political moment while it lasts. What will you do about the Empire?

Russian Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Congratulations on your victory, President Milyukov. You come to power as a Chicherin loyalist, winning a narrow pro-democratic big-tent plurality against more extreme options on both the right and left. You even managed to defeat Suvorin’s son, an act of redemption on behalf of your former mentor President Chicherin. Yet, the legislative vote looms. Many fear that the radicals will be boosted by the desire to limit your authority. How will you deal with the upcoming campaign? Will you involve yourself, if so in what capacity? Beyond that, what will you do about the violence increasingly present on the Russian political scene? Your very own election saw street fighting not only between Argunov’s Socialists and Purischkevich’s Nationalists, but your own supporters as well. Should this level of disorder be tolerated, a natural part of spirited political campaigns, or are crackdowns in order?

-You inherit a Russian government and military are staffed by a wide variety of political appointees. After six years under President Mikhaylovsky, many civil servants are vocal leftists and opposed you in the 1900 vote. Further back, some of Suvorin’s appointees still lingering on likewise remain somewhat hostile to you as leader, a fair portion having abandoned traditional conservatism in favor of Purishkevich-nationalism in the last decade. Mikhaylovsky chose to allow existing appointees to stay on, fearful of making too many enemies, but that need not necessarily be the case for you. Given the importance of the military, in particular, some of your allies have argued for a wholesale reorganization of that organization’s leadership. How will you tackle this prickly political issue?

-Diplomatically, Russia has remained aloof from European affairs. While your government expressed opposition to the Habsburg-led Third Imperial Reform, little concrete action was taken. Instead, Russian policy has been focused to the south, on keeping Iran in check and halting the northward spread of French India. After all, Russian aid was a key part of the Ottoman decision to assault Cilicia in the opening stages of the Qajar-Ottoman War. After several decades of this, is it perhaps time for a reassessment of Russia’s diplomatic position? The growth of China has been viewed with great concern in particular, despite the shared republican nature of both your states. What diplomatic initiatives, if any, will your government take during its first year in power?

Kingdom of Scandinavia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Charles XIV, as the first Hanoverian sovereign of Scandinavia, you have had to forge your own path. Just a year and a half into your reign, there remain many domestic issues that require your attention. The assassination of Prime Minister Boström early last year has shaken Scandinavian politics. While you’ve named an interim prime minister, another member of the Conservative Party, there are many who believe fresh elections are necessary in order to gauge the electorate’s opinion after such a major development. The last vote was in 1897, so there is still time if you wish to hold off.

-The Senussi Rebellion in Egypt had begun to draw greater attention at home. Many in the colonial offices fear that further successes on the part of the rebels could embolden further anti-colonial action in other parts of Africa. Yet, the issue is controversial, especially given Egypt’s vocal reluctance to welcome more Scandinavian troops. There are also complications caused by the inhospitable nature of the Sahara. Will you commit more men to the Senussi Rebellion, or is it best to let the Egyptians handle matters on their own? Beyond that, what will be your broader policies for Scandinavian Africa?

-Scandinavia has clung tight to the Habsburg Monarchy for several decades now, your combined efforts having been crucial in subduing the Prussian Eagle once and for all in the 1870s. Your sister acts as one of the three regents operating in Vienna, while your niece governs Britain. Yet, many in Stockholm have become uneasy about the trajectory of the Habsburg-led Holy Roman Empire. The Austrian attempt to consolidate authority was thankfully, albeit tragically, stalled by the assassination of Charles IX, but the issue still has many concerned. Some have even questioned the longstanding ties to the House of Habsburg. After all, did Gustav Adolphus not ride south to prevent the centralization of the Empire under the Habsburgs three centuries ago? Scandinavia has a reputation for diplomatic flexibility, so it would not be unheard of for you to pivot in a different direction, whatever that ultimately looked like.

United Kingdom

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-Queen Mary III, you have succeeded in the face of many men underestimating you solely because you are a woman. The Transatlantic Monarchy needs your guidance more than ever. The Scramble for Africa continues in full swing. Growing voices in favor of political and social reform have emerged in Britain and Ireland. The Americas, the Cape Colony, and British Australia all sit at risk of foreign attack. Parliament under Prime Minister Salisbury looks to your leadership to determine the domestic political agenda for the coming year. What are your primary policy goals in such turbulent times?

-Britain, by virtue of being present on both sides of the Atlantic, has tremendous diplomatic commitments. In addition to your dynastic alliances with Austria and Scandinavia, your realm has also been a close partner with Colombia. Traditionally these were used to ensure balance in Europe and defense of British North America. Yet, recent developments have some questioning the old ways. Some in Parliament believe that Stockholm and Vienna can maintain peace in Europe without your help, arguing it is best to be noncommittal in continental affairs. In the Americas, the instability in both Quebec and Mexico have provided you the opportunity to poach members of the North American Alliance, such as New England and Louisiana. Will you seek to realign London’s diplomatic policies, or did you father and his government make the correct calls?

-Perhaps it was inevitable, given your age (20) and sex, but Parliament, the Church of England, and your palace staff have all been providing intense pressure that you should marry. Yet, the question is to whom, or if at all? While a foreign prince could cement diplomatic ties, it raises the uneasy issue of a foreign dynasty ruling over Britain through your children, let alone any potential religious differences. A spouse from the British nobility could be wise, but that invites factionalism and domestic partisanship into the royal household. Should you wish to keep the House of Hanover on the throne, you could marry a cousin from Charles XIV, though your family’s inbreeding with the House of Oldenburg in the last century had repeated disastrous consequences. There is also the option of remaining unmarried, like your esteemed predecessor Elizabeth I, leaving your half-sister, 10-year-old Princess Helen as the next sovereign. What path will you choose on this sensitive dynastic matter?

Empire of Quebec

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Wilhelmina, your seizure of the throne just several years ago still remains one of the most controversial developments in Quebec’s short history. Despite your father’s clear wish that you ought to succeed him, there are malcontents who still seek to undermine you. With many of your pretender relatives having taken refuge abroad, the domestic squabble has gradually taken on a new dimension, given the increased likelihood for foreign meddling. Given your pregnancy, and all the perils it entails, how will you handle the matter of your own succession? Furthermore, what is to be done about the malcontents within your grasp, such as your aged loudmouth granduncle Prince Louis and his immediate family?

-Your show of strength cowed both houses of the legislature into public displays of loyalty shortly before your coronation. Yet, the fact remains that Prime Minister Amedee Papineau had slow-walked the Pragmatic Sanction of 1895 through the National Assembly, the stress of this likely indirectly contributing to your father’s early demise. Clearly you have no friend in Papineau, or the SUQ for that matter, but the question remains what to do about it. Your moderate supporters believe you should work with the elected government, even if you are both not fond of one another, for the good of the nation. More conservative and militarist advisors believe this to be a sign of weakness, allowing vipers to share a bed with yourself. They would have, at very least, new elections called. Some go further call for cracked skulls or even a suspension of the constitution, reminding you of your aunt Charlotte’s success in wrangling the French nobility through her iron-fisted leadership. What will you do about the SUQ majority in the National Assembly? Will you call new elections? Or perhaps would it be worthwhile to work towards a genuine reconciliation with the SUQ, putting the past behind you?

-Your taking of power and the sidelining of your young nephew’s silly claim to the throne have chilled relations with New Orleans. This is not to mention your government’s distaste thus far with developments in Mexico, especially their socialist flavoring. The North American Alliance seems moribund, at least for the time being, and there are some diplomats that would have you look elsewhere. Cooperation with Britain, once unthinkable, could be a means of protecting your borders and ensuring dominance of the high seas. Should you elect to retain a hostile attitude towards London, perhaps alliances could be cultivated with the Cape Republic or New Holland? Are there other diplomatic paths you will undertake in this new century?

[Spamage]

Divine Republic of Brazil

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti, Brazil is in need of your leadership if the true strain of Catholic Republicanism is to endure. Under threat from foes both outside and within, it is now more important than ever that the Divine Republic stands as a loyal servant of God. You were elected as Archbishop-President by your fellow clerics with the promise of reforming the existing system and breaking the stagnant attitude adopted by your predecessors. Yet, thanks in part to the Andean Crisis, many of your goals remain unfulfilled. Mandatory public service has yet to be fully implemented despite igniting the Upper Peruvian rebellion. Promises for expanded social services have likewise been sidelined by the need to increase the military budget. How will you ensure that the promise of true Catholic Republican doctrine is implemented in Brazil, even during this dire time?

-A key source of wealth for your realm has been Brazilian Africa. The mission states are undoubtedly one of the crown jewels of the Divine Republic, helping to corner the market in rubber, sugar, and timber. Yet, some parts of your claims remain outside your control. Expansionists in your government have urged a more active colonization strategy to secure the outlying regions, even if it means beating down local opposition from the tribal peoples. This would likely entail some level of military commitment to that effort. The mission-states are also known for the high level of exploitation of the populace. Many foreign observers have demanded a reform of the brutal practices inflicted by many of your citizens on the residents, though you have been warned that loosening up could damage production. Will you reform practices in the mission-states, or has the existing system worked well enough that it is not worth tampering with?

-The Andean Crisis is in full swing. To your south, the La Platans seem to be on the verge of collapse, the people fed up with the harsh dictatorship of Reginaldo Toro. He has been adamant in refusing any Brazilian intervention so far, fearing you will undermine his position as leader. Yet, even so, some in the foreign office would get involved, fearful of the unrest spreading and destroying your own realm. It must not be forgotten that within your own borders, the Andrean Free State has risen against Brazilian control of Upper Peru. Your men have been pushed to the Peruvian coast, some fearing defeat there could unravel the Divine Republic’s image of strength. How will you handle the Andean Rebels and the events unfolding in La Plata to your south?

Commonwealth of Louisiana

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis-Philippe III, you have come to power as the political system is facing some of its greatest threats yet. Separatism is alive and well in Louisiana, as the election of 1898 demonstrated. Columbian morons have easily been swayed by a work of fiction and romanticism into voting for the CNP, ignoring all your family has sacrificed on their behalf. Smaller groups in both Cuba and Liberia also embrace the separatist mantle. Beyond them, however, other radical forces have been on the rise. The CeC seeks to use the Crown to restore domestic order by any means necessary. The Socialists and Famer’s parties both want to undermine the economic system that has helped your nation thrive. With the weakening of the ULP, will you seek to align with one of these political forces or perhaps play them off against one another? Should the government heed radical demands like those of the CeC and crack some skulls, or is the best way to foster stability governing in line with democratic principles?

-Diplomatically, Louisiana has been challenged by developments in both Mexico and Quebec. Your onetime allies have each committed egregious offenses against your family and your realm. Henry-Philippe is ignored by his aunt Wilhelmina when by all rights he ought to be her heir, while Luis II continues his descent into madness down in Mexico. Given the instability, some have proposed reconciliation with Britain as the best path forward. Others believe a more autonomous, isolationist foreign policy is in order, to keep all options open. Or, perhaps, somehow the North American Alliance could be revived, as unlikely as that seems. What will you do about Louisiana’s diplomatic policy?

Kingdom of Mexico

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Luis II, no sovereign has electrified American politics as much as yourself. In the face of tremendous domestic opposition, you have crushed internal foes and started to forge a new Mexico. Your victory in the Border War has given you a fairly unchallenged control over the domestic situation. What direction will you take domestic policy? Reactionary-socialist ideologues would have you sweep away the last vestiges of your grandfather’s representative liberal monarchy by shuttering all regional assemblies, not merely those that were disloyal to you in the conflict. Furthermore, there is ample legislation to consider, relating to social policies, military expansion, economic recovery, and worker’s rights. You must also decide what is to be done with the Augustinian rebels that have fallen into your hands over the past several months, the last bands of those who sought to topple you in favor of your uncle having surrendered just months ago.

-Ties have undoubtedly been strained with your onetime North American allies, who have expressed disapproval over your actions in Mexico. Perhaps even more insulting was the aid of many Louisianans to the Augustinians in the Border War, even if the involvement of New Orleans itself cannot be conclusively proven. In light of these developments, perhaps it is time to reconsider Mexico’s foreign policy. Some believe that cooperation with either Colombia or Brazil could be fruitful. Also on the table is closer ties with France, though this could engender backlash from other powers more hostile to Paris. There have also been whispers of a joint partition of the haughty Louisiana alongside either Britain or Quebec, though this possibility seems rather remote. What diplomatic actions will you take in 1900?

Chinese Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The elections of 1900 are widely recognized to be pivotal for the future of the republic, likely determining the trajectory of the government for decades to come. The public has been electrified by mass rallies and a spirited, splintered campaign. The Black Banner movement calls for a reassertion of Chinese strength under Ma Yukun, while the Socialists demand wholesale economic reform under Cai Yuanpei. To the center, the NPP has shifted in a liberal direction under Kang Youwei, while the conservative Republican Party has nominated Xu Yingkui. How will the Chinese election shake out in such dire times?

-Diplomatically, China has been content to be relatively isolated for quite some time. After the trauma of major civil wars and the Korean invasion, most citizens enjoyed the respite provided by the past two decades of peace. Yet, as memories of the misery of the past conflicts have faded, calls for a reassertion of Chinese hegemony in Asia have grown. Russia’s control of Manchuria and Mongolia is still widely viewed as illegitimate. Likewise, the European outposts at Ningbo (Austria), Macau (Portugal), and Hainan (Scandinavia) are viewed as foreign impositions. This is not even mentioning other European imperial projects that blanket much of the Asian continent. More cautious voices have warned of potentially drastic consequences for rash actions though, suggesting perhaps it would be best to find a foreign partner. Will you take action on the diplomatic front?

Kingdom of Naples

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Francis III, you come to power in a Naples divided. Your father’s deposition of your cousin Philip V, and the subsequent authoritarian creep, have meant many of the liberal ideals of the 1870s have been rolled back. While this gave Alfonso III the room needed to suppress Catholic-Republicanism and other subversive ideals within your realm, it also worsened relations with the prickly Pope Clement XIV. Your accession was greeted by protests in some corners, some in Naples proper believing that only by restoring democracy can the realm be saved. Others are more wary, including many of the conservative nobility and leadership of the army, remining you of the radical Italian nationalism inculcated into the youth and warning events could quickly spiral out of your control. Will you loosen the authoritarian regime instituted by your father in the aftermath of the Quiet Coup, or is a more authoritarian form of government necessary to protect your subjects from chaotic radicals?

-Naples may be master of the Mediterranean, given the unique ability to split the sea in half with your possessions in Sicily, Malta, and Tunisia, but that does not mean you can afford to stand alone. Past involvement with both France and Austria has been frustrating, both those realms seeking to stifle the voice of the Italian people, so your close ties with Russia were probably somewhat inevitable. Your loose alliance with Spain has likewise been fairly fruitful, though many at court watch developments in Madrid somewhat nervously, wary of a slip into radicalism. Other potential partnerships remain on the table. Perhaps Greece, the Ottomans, or Iran could be coerced into a partnership? Even powers further afield such as Britain or Louisiana could be valuable to have in your corner. What will be Naples’ diplomatic position during the coming years?

Qajar Iran

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Naser al-Din Shah, you are the great survivor. Your reign has been a triumph. From the conquest of the Levant to the defense of the homeland in the Qajar-Ottoman War, you have largely protected your gains thus far. Despite a recent slowdown, your rule also has coincided with tremendous economic expansion. Yet, the winds of change blow even in Iran. As was illustrated in the Mutiny at Antioch, you are no longer unquestioned in your rule. Malcontents among the clerics, liberals, socialists, and other radicals largely operate underground, surfacing only to assassinate your ministers and publish pamphlets calling for radical reforms such as parliamentarism, abolition of slavery, and mass suffrage. This makes for a somewhat tense domestic political environment, given there are many perfectly content with the way that things are. Will you heed these calls for reform or double down on the repression that has served you so well thus far?

-The succession remains a crucial issue at court. As was so recently illustrated by the collapse of the Durrani into civil war after the death of Ahmed Shah, a strong heir is essential for the protection of your legacy. Your current heir, Mozaffar ad-Din is seen as a wastrel, spoiled by life in opulence, despite his superior pedigree among your children. Some reformists have called on you to defy tradition and alter the succession in favor of your others. The eldest Prince Mass'oud Mirza is fairly popular, but has been barred from the throne thus far due to his mother’s non-Qajar background. Your youngest son Kamran Mirza could also be an option. Either choice would likely enrage the conservatives and traditionalists in your government, even if it was for the good of the realm. Will you alter the succession to serve the immediate needs of your dynasty, or would it be wiser to stick to tradition. After all, were you yourself not a product of the existing succession rules?

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez, Colombia has achieved much in the decades since it was granted independence. Your predecessors expelled the colonizers, fashioned a small colonial empire, and liberalized what had been a fairly doctrinaire authoritarian regime. These developments are now under threat. Provincial bumpkins and corrupt local politicians fought to undermine a rationalization of domestic politics. Brazil, thought once a friend, has become a jealous rival for leadership of the Catholic-Republican cause. The LPC has emerged on the fringe, threatening to pull the realm backwards. Matters have not been helped by an inconclusive election in 1898, forcing a broad coalition into power to keep the radicals out. This opening has led many to look to you for guidance. How will you tackle the bevy of domestic diplomatic challenges facing the Holy Republic?

-Colombia has benefitted greatly from its longstanding ties with Britain, let alone the loose network of Catholic-Republican allies cultivated through the Holy League. Yet, there are many who feel that these current ties are insufficient, leaving the realm vulnerable. Involvement in the exploding Andean Crisis to your south could provide you with a firsthand chance to fashion more allies wholly loyal to Bogota. Yet, one need not necessarily have to build allies from scratch. Given your presence in Asia, there are calls for a rekindling of ties with New Holland, reconciliation with Tokyo, or perhaps approaching Beijing and establishing a friendship there. Closer to home, perhaps Colombia should take advantage of the North American Alliance’s confusion and use it as a chance to overcome the heretofore impenetrable Quebecois veto of further diplomatic cooperation? Should you elect to not get involved in the south, maybe even the impossible could be achieved, through a rapprochement with Brazil?

Ottoman Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Oh, grandest of viziers, your reign over the Ottoman state is absolute. The young sultan is safely in your custody, isolated from those in the public that would use him to achieve their own ends. The government has been purged of all those who question your authority, while the people have rallied to your cause under the banner of nationalism and revanchism. Enlistments are at an all-time high, young men fervent in their desire to right the wrongs done to their fathers. With this ironclad grip over domestic affairs, what will your major actions be at home? How will you reconcile your supporters’ hardcore Turkish nationalism with the presence of numerous minorities such as Greeks within your borders? Is heretofore unbridled western modernization to be continued apace, or rolled back in the name of Turkish traditionalism?

-Under your leadership thus far, the Ottoman Empire has remained a neutral power, playing off would-be foreign allies against one another. France and Russia each have in the past expressed their desire for closer ties. While Paris may share your proclivity for authoritarian ideology, Russia remains a far closer neighbor. Still, the thought of allying with the power that ripped out the beating heart of the empire and renamed it Konstantingrad certainly has many uneasy. Yet, something likely must be done, a wholly neutral Ottoman Empire an easy target for Iranian aggression. In terms of enemies, the consensus is that both Greece, Scandinavia, and Iran are not to be trusted. The presence of the Senussi Rebellion, targeted as it is against Scandinavian Egypt, could be a tempting means of poking them in the eye after they so heartlessly betrayed your onetime alliance decades ago. What form will Ottoman diplomacy take under your clear-sighted guidance?

United Provinces of New Holland

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Welcome, esteemed Stadtholder Samuel van Houten. Back in power following the 1898 elections, you and your Liberal plurality in the States General have been courted by all sides to form a government. While you have governed with the conservatives in the first year or so, the chance of flipping to an alliance with the socialists remains on the table. Only the fiery, right-wing PVDO expresses no desire to join your administration. Will you pivot to an alliance with the socialists, or is the existing arrangement satisfactory. Beyond that, what will be your major legislative goals in the upcoming session of the States General? How will you bolster your domestic popularity in a fairly partisan environment?

-New Holland nimbly navigated the diplomatic situation back in the 1870s, employing an opportunistic manipulation of alliances in order to reconquer a fair portion of land lost during the Korean-Japanese assault way back in the 1840s. Yet, many of your neighbors still remain distrustful of your government’s sincerity, decades on from your wars of reconquest. If New Holland is to truly thrive, it must have some partners. While outright choosing France or Austria is perhaps a bit perilous, given the chance of becoming embroiled in European squabbling, there are other potential allies in the region. China, isolated as it is to the mainland, could be a potential partner in reversing Japanese and Colombian gains in the region. Or, vice versa, Japan could be allied as a means of containing China. The prospect of alliance has also been raised by Siam, a regional power eager to undermine Dai Viet and regain territories it lost to Cambodia. What will be your initial attitude to diplomacy? How will New Holland navigate the fairly complex diplomatic situation it finds itself surrounded by.

Holy Union of Spain

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Arsenio Linares y Pombo, you lead the Spanish nation at a crucial turning point in its history. Finally, the misery and ruin of the old Spanish Civil War is in the past, the Holy Union entering a new era. Nearing its third decade under Catholic Republican leadership, there are numerous different opinions on how to forge ahead in domestic politics. Thus far, your reign has largely been a continuation of the military-backed authoritarian of your two predecessors. Many have called for change. Reformists urge you to follow the Colombian example and liberalize, organizing elections and a new constitution. The traditionalists and radicals reject these calls. Despite their failure to seize control of the government in 1885, many in the Spanish Church view your government as being too ideologically lax. They would have a return to harsher repression and enforced compliance with Catholic doctrine. How will you handle domestic politics? What direction will the Holy Union of Spain take under your leadership.

-Diplomatically, Spain has long maintained defensive alliances with Naples and Colombia. Despite ideological differences, the Kingdom of Naples has been a fairly reliable check against French intervention. Colombia, meanwhile, was crucial in the establishment of the current regime and the final defeat of the liberals in the Spanish Civil War. Still, there are some who would forge a new diplomatic path. The deposition of Philip V and the eventual rise of Francis III has many questioning whether the agreements with Naples are still binding. Colombia, while a loyal friend, is also rather distant. Will you shake up the Spanish diplomatic policy, or is it best to remain close to proven friends?

[Spamage]

Confederation of New England

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The elections in New England are going to be pivotal in determining how the Confederation will respond to the changing world it finds itself in. With immigration, foreign affairs, and political reform all being hotly debated, the vote could go in any direction. Whether it’s George F. Hoar and his reformist Progressives, John Fitzgerald and his immigrant-backed Federalists, or Henry Cabot Lodge and his Yankee Centralists, the coming months are going to be crucial. What direction will you head? What tone will the victors strike and how will the new government tackle domestic politics?

-The North American Alliance is damaged, perhaps fatally. Quebec, already straining ties with New England by constructing the St. Lawrence Seaway, has caused great alarm through Empress Wilhelmina’s authoritarian accession. Mexico, meanwhile, seems on the verge of psychotic extremism. While Louisiana remains much as it has during the past several decades, the factionalism in that realm also has many concerned. In the face of such diplomatic uncertainty, a growing faction in government calls for New Englander neutrality or even a rapprochement with Britain. Your realm, while sturdy as the North American War proved, will likely require a formidable foreign partner. Who will it be?

Durrani Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-A key issue during your father’s reign and the subsequent Durrani Civil War, was the degree to which westernization should be balanced against traditional Pashtun and Islamic practices. Your father was a modernizer, while your rebel uncles both fell more along the traditional side of the spectrum. While you have won control of the realm, seemingly settling the dynastic squabbling for the time being, the question of reform remains unanswered. Some close to you believe that adopting European methods and practices is necessary if the realm is to survive, while others fear the domestic consequences of forcing these on a traditional populace. What tone will you set in regards to reform and, if you choose to do so, what are key areas on which you will focus?

-The tensions between Russia and Iran have placed you in an awkward position as a friend to both powers. Russian aid was undoubtedly crucial in helping you win the throne against your treacherous uncles, but Iran is a far closer power with a vested interest in your survival. Will you favor one power over the other? How will the Durrani Empire navigate this uncomfortable diplomatic situation? Or is it perhaps time to take diplomacy in a new direction, with rapprochement with France or a further solidification of ties with your anti-colonial allies?

Korean State

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon, the past few decades have not been kind to Korea, but the people have endured. After the collapse of the Joseon Dynasty with the Daeboreum Revolution in 1877, many Koreans hoped that a new era of domestic prosperity would emerge. This was not the case. The First Republic was a peasant-led, chaotic regime. Mob rule determined major political decisions as local authority gradually faded away. A coup by several high ranking military officials in 1882 saw the initial leadership deposed. Yet, recognizing their unpopularity and inability to restore order to the outlying provinces, the military junta was quick to call to China for aid. Chinese soldiers poured into the republic with the government's permission, slowly stabilizing the peninsula. By 1886 the last of the minor warlords was defeated, yet the Chinese soldiers remained. Beijing viewed your nation as a key source of technology and commerce. Similarly, despite their promises to hold elections, the military junta continued the state of emergency that they had initially used in their 1882 coup. The next decade was a time of great repression, the government brooking little opposition to themselves. Only with the withdrawal of the Chinese army in 1895 did the people gain room to breathe. Public pressure and small-scale civil disobedience brought down the old government in 1897, paving the way for you and your political allies to seize power. The future nature of the Korean state is in your hands, all options on the table. Some would have the Joseon Dynasty, exiled in far-off Vietnam, restored to power. Others have called for you to exercise power in your own right, envisioning a repressive system far more impressive than that of the military. Still, there also remains the option of democratizing and promulgating a new constitution. What path will you forge for the Korean people?

-Korea was once the terror of Asia. As the first power to modernize, it was Korean ships that helped to conquer the Dutch East Indies, forming a massive colonial empire that saw many European realms recognize you begrudgingly as their equal. Yet, mismanagement by Emperor Yi Ho, especially with his disastrous decision to invade China in a misguided attempt to claim the Mandate of Heaven, saw the Joseon dynasty deposed and Korea humiliated. After the peace with the Chinese Republic, your realm was initially dominated by Beijing, only the passage of time and Japanese pressure reducing the stifling embrace of the Chinese Republic. Chinese garrisons and political attaches only withdrew in 1895 after Japan’s saber-rattling, granting you relative freedom in terms of diplomacy. What will Korea’s diplomatic aims be, situated as it is uncomfortably between a rising China and an authoritarian Japan? Will you seek to rebuild the old Korean Empire, this time republican in fashion, or is mere survival to be preferred? Perhaps one of the European powers could be succored, providing an honest broker against the designs of your neighbors…?

Army Strength:
Kingdom of France
30 division Army of France
15 division Army of Padania
8 division Army of Delhi
5 division Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
5 division Army of Algeria
2 division Army of the East Indies
(65/655 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Russian Republic
20 division Army of Moscow
13 division Army of Ukraine
10 division Army of Pskov
5 division Army of Mongolia
5 division Army of the Caucuses
5 division Army of Turkestan
5 division Army of the East
(63/630 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Chinese Republic
20 division Army of Beijing
10 division Army of the South
10 division Army of Xi'an
10 division Army of Shanghai
6 division Tibetan Defense Force
3 division Burmese Defense Force
(59/590 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Habsburg Monarchy
10 division Army of Austria
10 division Army of Lombardy
10 division Army of Galicia
10 division Army of Hungary
5 division Army of Bohemia
2 division Army of Abyssinia
1 division Army of Singapore
1 division Army of the Sahel
1 division Army of Ningbo
(50/503 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Great Britain, Ireland, and Americas
15 division Army of the Mississippi
10 division Home Guard
3 division Army of the Cape
2 division Army of Australia
(30/300 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Republic of Japan
15 division Army of Tokyo
5 division Imperial Guard
5 division Army of the Pacific
1 division Army of Hokkaido
(26/265 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Divine Republic of Brazil
15 division Army of La Plata
10 division Army of Brazil
9 division Army of the Amazon
(34/170 divisions possible raised, 20% mobilized)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
5 division Army of Sweden
4 division Army of Hanover
3 division Army of East Africa
2 division Army of Cameroon
2 division Egyptian Expeditionary Force
(16/165 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Qajar Iran
8 division Army of Mesopotamia
4 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Azerbaijan
(16/160 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Naples
10 division Army of the North
3 division Army of Sicily
2 division Army of Tunisia
(15/156 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Union of Spain
10 division Army of Castile
5 division Army of Catalonia
(15/155 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Commonwealth of Louisiana
8 division Army of Texas
4 division Army of the Northern Territory
2 division Army of Cuba
(14/145 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Durrani Empire
5 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Herat
4 division Army of the Indus
1 division Army of Baluchistan
(14/140 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Mexico
7 division Army of the North
3 division Army of the Yucatan
3 division Army of the Capital
(13/131 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Empire of Quebec
5 division Army of Montreal
3 division Army of Vaudreuil
2 division Army of Hawaii
2 division Army of the Plains
(12/120 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

United Provinces of New Holland
5 division Army of Batavia
3 division Army of Malaya
3 division Army of Willemstad
(11/115 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia
5 division Army of Bogota
4 division Army of Venezuela
1 division Army of Peru
1 division Army of Malaya
(11/110 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Ottoman Empire
5 division Army of Ankara
4 division Army of Sinope
1 division Army of Cyrenaica
(10/101 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Korean State
4 division Army of the Capital
4 division Army of the North
(8/85 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Confederation of New England
5 division Army of Boston
(5/45 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Naval Strength*:
Naval Technology
First-Rate: This navy employs all of the latest technologies across its fleet including new tactics, equipment, and training. Truly among one of the best seafaring fleets in the world.
Innovative: New strategic ideas are planned and tested, further modifications have been made to equipment for more efficient operation.
Advanced: Ships are modernized and equipment is top of the line. Overall better organized than modernized fleets.
Modernized: Navy is at standard levels of development for time period.
Reformed: The naval equipment is near-modernized, though experience and training with new supplies is lacking.
Modified: Although still dominated by old ships and methods, efforts have been made to reform the navy, including the purchase of ships from more advanced powers.
Traditional: This navy still employs tactics, methods, and equipment from the 1870s or earlier. Limited sea capabilities and stagnant mindset.

Naval Size
Dominant: This power truly has a global naval reach. Advanced fleets at various points of the world and the ability to supply said vessels with relative ease. More than two hundred vessels in active service
Massive: Extensive naval reach, able to operate in most areas, assuming supply is secured. Around two hundred vessels.
Sizable: Naval reach includes most of surrounding seas. Roughly one hundred and fifty vessels, with the ports able to supply them.
Standard: Naval strength can be projected in the region, with further excursions when necessary. Around one hundred ships.
Limited: Several dozen ships. Extensive and long-distance operations are possible, but only on rare occasions.
Small: A dozen major ships, limited regional navy.
Nonexistent: Primarily applies to landlocked countries. No navy in existence.*

*-Not applicable for anyone right away


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (Innovative, Dominant)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Massive)
Confederation of New England (Innovative, Limited)
Republic of Japan (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Sizable)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia (Advanced, Standard)
United Provinces of New Holland (Advanced, Standard)
Russian Republic (Modernized, Massive)
Divine Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Sizable)
Commonwealth of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Holy Union of Spain (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Mexico (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Korean State (Modernized, Small)
Chinese Republic (Reformed, Standard)
Qajar Iran (Reformed, Limited)
Ottoman Empire (Modified, Small)
Durrani Empire (Modified, Small)

[Spamage]

Royal Families of the World

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

House of Habsburg-Lothringen (Habsburg Monarchy)
House of Bourbon (France)
House of Bourbon-Orleans (Louisiana)
House of Bourbon-Orleans (Mexico)
House of Bourbon (Naples)
House of Hanover (Britain)
House of Hanover (Scandinavia)
House of Hohenzollern (Quebec)

[Spamage]

1900 Midturn Update

Third Franco-Mysore War
France Launches Surprise Assault in India

French Invasion of Mysore, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   With so much global attention on developments in the Americas, France shocked the world with a surprise assault on the Mysore to its south. On March 15th, 1900, Versailles formally issued a declaration of war against the kingdom, pledging to restore the rightful order in southern India. Hours later, hundreds of thousands of French troops stationed in the Raj sprung into action, crossing the border and beginning to seize control of the country. Clearly the attack was premeditated, Paris hoping for a quick smash and grab operation while the world was occupied. Pondicherry on the eastern coast fell within days, following in quick succession by Arcot.
   Despite regional shock at the move, perhaps it should not have been so surprising. The relations of France and the Kingdom of Mysore have long been fraught. For Louis XX, it was also a family matter. Queen Charlotte had launched the First Franco-Mysore war in 1860, seeking to expand the then reigning Louis XIX’s territory. The Indian realm took several years to tame, becoming a French vassal in 1863 in a compromise peace. Yet, they resented their servile status, using the Durrani invasion of India in 1874 and chaos of the War of the Regency to rebel. The Second Franco-Mysore War was only ended with the Congress of Copenhagen in 1880, a rare stain on Charlotte’s regency. Both sides left Copenhagen with the impression that the agreement was a truce and would not last, but the peace endured for two decades.
   The initial French onslaught was punishing. After capturing the whole of the eastern coast, a second push emerged from the north, more French divisions joining the fray. The Mysorean soldiers were routed In the north. Vijayanagara, the esteemed and historic city, was shelled into submission and fell in early May. By June, half of the kingdom of was under French occupation. It seemed in the initial chaos and disarray that the regime would crumble and France would have an easy march towards total victory in a matter of months. Some wondered aloud if the whole conquest of the realm could be completed within the year.
   Yet, this was not the Mysore of 1860, or even of 1874. Once the initial shock of the invasion had worn off, Sultan Fateh Ahmed Sahib declared he would expel the French and called for foreign powers to come to his aid. In the meantime, his people would fight. In the long peace with France, Mysore had traded extensively with and been given weapons training by Iran, Colombia, and China. Their armies, while significantly behind the French in terms of technology, were still far more formidable than they had been just several decades ago. Similarly, the realm had 37 million inhabitants, more than Brazil, Louisiana, or Quebec. While the French advance had not stalled by June, it had certainly been slowed, at the cost of thousands of Mysorean lives. At the year’s halfway point the key cities of Mysore (the capital), Bangalore, Mangalore, and Mahe remained in the Sultan’s hands.
   Yet, looking forward, the odds do not bode well if Mysore stands alone. It is outgunned, outnumbered, and undersupplied. French control of the seas has effectively placed the sultanate under blockade. Still, the realm hopes for a foreign power to aid it. Many look to see how regional powers such as the Durrani, Iran, and China will respond to the unrest. Nepal and Assam, two powers that, like Mysore, were once in the French orbit but have drifted in independent directions have openly requested security guarantees from Beijing. Further afield, some in Europe have questioned whether or not Stockholm and Vienna have been duped into a cordial relationship only so France could consolidate its position abroad before turning its attention back to Europe. Indeed, this move is one of the greatest adjustments to the boundaries set by Congress of Copenhagen 20 years ago to date.  
   In France proper, however, the struggle has been framed as a great patriotic crusade, the correcting of a grievous injustice done to the House of Bourbon and restoring the natural order in India. Thousands have participated in rallies all throughout the realm, telegraphs returning news stories of soldier’s heroism in the far-off front. Queen Mother Charlotte herself received thousands of roses sent by loyal royalists. For a nation that never truly accepted the Congress of Copenhagen and its dictates, it clearly has been a satisfying first step.

Plethora of Elections: Voting All Across the World

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Chinese Presidential and Legislative Elections
   The Chinese Presidential Election of 1900 was a campaign steeped in harsh rhetoric and high passions. Many understood the significance of the vote, especially with the Black Banner Movement facing the electorate for the first time. Given the extreme length of the term (10 years) this was deemed one of the most important moments in Chinese history. Ma Yukun led mass rallies condemning China’s ‘subjugation’ to foreign powers and reiterated his calls for the expulsion of foreigners. He was met with thunderous applause. The Socialist campaign, somewhat inspired by alarming developments in far-off Mexico, called for a wholesale reorganization of the Chinese social order, including seizure of private property. It seemed as though mainstream Chinese politics was on the verge of collapse.
   Yet, not all were enamored with this growing radicalism. The widely-respected Former President Li Hongzhang came out from retirement early in February to blast the Black Banner Movement, deeming it ‘misguided, poisonous, and insane’. Li was ill at this point, suffering from liver issues, and many believed him close to death. His words took greater importance given his limited remaining time. He was not alone in his disgust with the new radicals, millions of Chinese seeing in Ma Yukun a betrayal of China’s historical principles. There was a sense of pragmatism among these mainstream Chinese voters, who recognized that Kang Youwei may have been too reformist for their personal tastes, but was far preferable to the ideologues on the extremes.

Chinese Presidential Election, 1900:
Kang Youwei (NPP): 21,964,570; 37.84%
Ma Yukun (BBM): 19,381,527; 33.39%
Cai Yuanpei (SPC): 9,269,931; 15.97%
Xu Yingkui (Rep): 7,429,875; 12.80%

   When the votes were counted, indeed Kang triumphed with a substantial plurality of the vote. With more than 58 million citizens participating, this was the highest turnout election in Chinese history. By consolidating his existing support among center-left and liberal voters with moderate conservatives and socialists, Kang triumphed with a narrow coalition.
   Still, in a certain lens, the night was encouraging for the radicals. The combined BBM and SPC vote was 49.36%, almost half of the electorate opting for one of the radical factions over the two largest mainstream parties. While the downballot races would tell a different story, thanks to the presence of independents and more political parties, it was still a shock to many how rapidly their neighbors had fallen to radical ideas. Less impressive was the performance of the center-right. The conservative Republican Party, tainted by President Zhang Zhidong’s perceived corruption, finished in last place. They were squeezed for support on both sides. Moderates, fearing the Black Banner Movement, voted strategically for Kang Youwei, while the more ideological members often defected to Ma Yukun’s camp.

Chinese Lower House Results (1500 total, 750 Seats Needed for Majority)
National People’s Party: 664 seats (44.26%)
Black Banner Movement: 426 seats (28.40%)
Socialist Party of China: 197 seats (13.13%)
Republican Party: 112 seats (7.46%)
Independents: 59 seats (3.93%)
Ethnic National Interest Parties: 42 seats (2.8%)

  The NPP enjoyed more success in the lower house, where it’s role as the largest of several splintered parties helped it win numerous districts in tight races. This was coupled with the presence of more political parties, which ensured that it was not entirely the NPP and radicals in the body. Still, lacking an outright majority, some level of coalition building would be necessary for Kang to ensure that he would have a cooperative legislature.
   President Kang assumed office on May 1st, inaugurated in an uncertain world. How he would handle the growing tensions all across the world over the coming decade would be of great importance.

Russian Presidential and Legislative Election
   As in China, sanity seemed to prevail in the Russian Presidential Election in January. President Pavel Milyukov stunned the Russian political scene with his victory over the various splintered political parties. He had cobbled together a broad enough coalition to keep the extremists in check, though the victory would undoubtedly ring hollow should his party prove unable to win the Duma months later.

Russian Presidential Election, 1900
Pavel Milyukov (CL): 9,867,443; 38.81%
Andrei Argunov (ULP): 6,129,967; 24.11%
Vladimir Purishkevich (NF): 6,091,830; 23.96%
Mikhail Suvorin (APA): 2,278,081; 8.96%
Konstantin Pobedonostsev (UHR): 1,057,680; 4.16%

   Milyukov took office as tensions remained high, though the victory was substantial enough that he was able to avoid accusations of fraud. Clearly there was a portion of the Russian population over the constant threats to the democratic order. Yet, as the politicking turned to the Duma, the crisis deepened. While the new administration was firm its resolve to restore the strength of the local police forces, this could not be achieved overnight. Street battles raged throughout the country. Purishkevich preached vitriol on an unseen level, spewing hate against the government, ethnic minorities, and the socialists. An attempt on his life after a fiery speech in Tver boosted the fortunes of his party during the campaign. Shot by a socialist, the man was beaten to a bloody pulp before the police were able to apprehend him. After he confessed to the deed, a mob even stormed the prison and executed him extrajudicially.
   Street battles continued as well, though now officials were not openly allowing them to proceed unimpeded. In an embarrassment for Milyukov, when the police force of Kazan sought to separate the feuding Sword of Nevsky and Red Guards, they found themselves surrounded and had to flee into a nearby apartment complex. Still, in both Moscow and St. Petersburg, the later stages of the campaign demonstrated Milyukov’s reforms were having an effect. The Nevsky Front riots that erupted on April 5th (the day Alexander Nevsky had won the Battle on the Ice and a national holiday) were quelled within hours. By early May, when the vote was to take place, there had actually been several weeks of relative calm, parties turning towards the get out the vote operation as the election approached.

Russian Duma Election, 1900: 600 Seats (300 needed for a majority)
Constitutional Liberals (Liberal): 199 seats
Nevsky Front (Proto-Fascist): 124 seats
United Labor Party (Socialist): 75 seats
All Russian Patriotic Alliance (Conservative, Suvorinist): 64 seats
Party of Popular Socialists (Social Democratic): 34 seats
Ukrainian Duma Association (National Interest): 32 seats
Fatherland Loyalists (Conservative): 28 seats
Peasant’s Party (Socialist): 11 seats
Union for Holy Russia (Reactionary, Monarchist): 11 seats
Jewish Labor Bund (National Interest): 8 seats
Tatar Political Association (National Interest): 7 seats
Don Cossack Ballot List (National Interest): 5 seats
  
   The election left the Duma greatly divided. As in the Presidential vote, a significant plurality chose Milyukov’s path, while the opposition splintered into numerous different camps. Given their substantial lead, most expect the Constitutional Liberals will find some way to form a government, though it is unclear exactly how they will cobble together a working majority. Many of the national-interest groups have expressed a willingness to cooperate with the government, though even with all of them, Milyukov is still short by several dozen votes of 300. Concessions to one of the larger parties will probably be in order.

Neapolitan Election and Parliamentary Vote
   With Francis III’s decision to restore the constitutional order, there was widespread celebration among those who had long been sidelined by the government. Political liberalism blossomed back overnight, the system showing surprising resilience despite 12 years under royal, autocratic authority. This soon gave way to organization and heated campaigning.
   In addition to ideology, there was the future of the dynasty to contend with. Under the constitutional system, there were many who wondered why Francis himself had a right to sit on the throne, given his father had usurped it from Philip V. Thus, parties were forced to identify themselves as either Franciscan (loyal to the current monarch), Philipist (loyal to the deposed and exiled king), or even republican (anti-monarchy).
   The Catholic-Republicans initially seemed on the upswing. While greatly weakened after more than a decade of persecution under Alfonso III and Francis III, the movement seemed invigorated with the call for an election. The Brothers of Giufà was reestablished at a convention in Palermo on February 5th.  Yet, this energy was undermined by scandal. News emerged in mid-March of Brazilian aid to the Catholic-Republican cause in Naples, including extensive funding and political advice. Political interference on this scale outraged many, bolstering support for the right-wing nationalists. The Neapolitan police had been waiting exactly for this sort of development, arresting several dozen Brazilian nationals on the ground in Sicily. Likewise, those Catholic-Republican leaders implicated in the scandal were rounded up for violating election rules. While many in Sao Paolo would plead ignorance, this news caused a major rift between the already strained governments.
   Even with the stumble on the part of the Catholic-Republicans, that did not mean the opposition was weakened. A newly-founded Reactionary Socialist movement in Naples (Cross of Blood) swept up some of those disappointed by the Catholic-Republicans. Likewise, more moderate forces, loyal to the memory of the deposed Philip V, formed the Legitimist Party and called for the restoration of the senior branch of Bourbons. Against all of this the old mainstream parties sought to extend their grip on power.

Chamber of Deputies, 350 Seats (176 needed for a majority)
Sicilian Union (Franciscan): 89 seats
Cross of Blood (Philipist): 62 seats
Legitimist (Philipist): 58 seats
Pan-Nationalists (Franciscan): 38 seats
Progress Party (Franciscan): 38 seats
Worker’s Party (Mixed): 37 seats
Brothers of Giufà (Republican): 23 seats
Independents (Mixed): 5 seats

   While the vote saw the mainstream conservatives emerge as the sole largest party, concerning for powerbrokers in Naples was the success of radical groups. This was coupled with fears over the fact that the Franciscans had only garnered 165 seats outright, the potential for dynastic issues seemingly a very real possibility.
   Indeed, immediately upon the reconvening of the National Assembly for the first time in 12 years, deputies from the Cross of Blood pushed a motion calling on Francis III to be removed from the throne and the position left vacant until a suitable path forward was chosen. Violence erupted on the legislative floor between the reactionary-socialists and the conservatives. Yet, when order was restored, the vote was in fact held.

Force Francis III From the Throne?
No: 193; 55.14%
Yes: 157; 44.86%

   Francis III was saved by the independents and a split in the Worker’s Party. While some socialists were republicans outright, there were social democrats in the group that favored the current system, reminding their colleagues that Naples’ democratization had only been possible thanks to the intervention of the Crown. There was also wariness about the optics of working with the Reactionary Socialists and the Catholic Republicans. The king was spared a humiliation as the government moved on to other matters, though it would be up to him to select a coalition to move forward with.

New Englander Chairman, Delegate, and Senatorial Elections
   The Confederation of New England entered a new political era with the ascent of John F. Fitzgerald to the Chairmanship in the election of 1900. As an Irish-Catholic, just years ago this sort of political development would have been deemed unthinkable. Still, capitalizing on the schism between the Progressives and the Centralists, he came into power with a plurality of the vote, albeit very close to an outright majority. The infighting among the former centralists meant that he would carry not only Massachusetts, but Rhode Island and Connecticut as well. Hoar won Vermont and Adirondack, while Lodge carried New Hampshire.

Chairmanship Election, 1900
John F Fitzgerald (Fed): 49.54%
Henry Cabot Lodge (Cen): 28.10%
George F Hoar (Pro): 22.36%

House of Delegates, 1900: 150 seats (75 needed for majority)
Federalist Party: 94 seats
Progressive Party: 32 seats
Centralist Party: 24 seats

Senate Composition, 1900 (Half Seats Elected in Current Year)
Federalist Party: 34 seats
Centralist Party: 18 seats
Progressive Party: 8 seats

   Down ballot, the Federalists managed to maintain their majorities in the legislatures as well. As in the national vote, they were aided by the infighting between the Centralists and the Progressives. It seemed that James Blaine's legacy had cast a shadow over that entire half of the political spectrum. New England could pride itself on little drama, especially in comparison to the foreign interference in Naples, street fighting in Russia, and lack of majority in China. This was thanks, in large part, to an ingrained, republican tradition. The confederation looked to be a stable power.

[Spamage]

1900 News of the World

Third Imperial Reform

Emperor Maximilian V (right) and his two younger brothers, Archdukes Xavier and Henry
(Made by Me via Midjourney)

   With France preoccupied by India and the Americas and Russia consumed by the coalition-building in the aftermath of the Duma election, Louis-Henry determined to push forward with the Third Imperial Reform. This was a rare show of unanimity by the Habsburg regents, all three accepting that it was the most fitting way to honor the late Emperor Charles IX. The measure was reintroduced to the Imperial Diet on June 10th, 1900. After a brief, yet spirited debate, it passed that house on June 25th, heading to the Electoral College, where the major princes would vote. Here too the decision was rushed through, the measure adopted, calling for elections in early 1901 and the formalization of the new system on July 1st, 1901. 
   It was a milestone in Imperial history. Only twice before had such major changes been enacted to the system, during the reign of Maximilian I in 1495 and that of Francis II in 1849. A massive service of Thanksgiving was held in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna of September 1st, the young Emperor Maximilian V, his siblings, the regents, and representatives from all corners of his dominions taking part. Even the Saxon, Polish, Serbian, and Prussian kings were coerced into attending. Despite all the novel developments in the continent, be it Russian democracy or French reactionary-socialism, this ceremony demonstrated that Old Europe was still alive and well, with all of its ceremony and traditionalism. Subjects crowded the streets, banners celebrating the success of Louis-Henry’s policies.
   Yet, all were not pleased. Habsburg police forces put down several protests in Budapest against the adoption of the measure, some Hungarians arguing that their realm would be even more neglected by the Viennese German-speaking regime. Just 19 years on from the Katona Affair, there is still a sizable faction in that realm that would bolt from the Habsburg Monarchy if given the chance.
   Similarly, the reaction outside of Germany was far from positive. For centuries France has been the defender of ‘German Liberties’, seeking to keep the Empire weak and sabotage attempts at consolidation. From Francis I to Richelieu to Louis XIV, the French monarchy sought to keep Germany down. Now, some wondered whether Louis XX has been lured too strongly about the prospect of colonial glory, abandoning what has heretofore been a key diplomatic goal of his realm. Similarly, in Scandinavia attempts to bolster the popularity of Charles XIV were undermined by Scandinavia’s impotence in the face of Habsburg determination to adopt the measure. The realm of Gustav Adolph has meekly assented to the Third Imperial Reform, many seriously concerned about a weaking of sovereignty over the territories so recently seized from Prussia.

Fighting in South Asia Expands

French and Aceh Soldiers Engaging in Combat, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Fate of Mysore
   Mysore had little hope as the second half of the year commenced, a second sustained French onslaught preventing the realm from organizing sufficient resistance. While the writing seemed on the wall, news of China’s intervention bolstered the cause for a time. Still, in the absence of material support from a nearby ally, the cause could not endure. Mahe fell on August 15th, Bangalore on September 5th, and Mangalore on September 22nd. The Sultan was forced into the city of Mysore, his last remaining territory, besieged with his 20 remaining divisions in the city by the French.

French Conquest of Aceh
   Long-promised to Louis XX with the Congress of Copenhagen, the French government decided 1900 was the proper time to make good on its claims to the Sultanate of Aceh. The matter was helped greatly by that sovereigns vocal and insistent sympathy with Mysore amidst that realm’s continued defeat. 30 French divisions landed in September at Banda Aceh, demanding the sultan surrender. Sultan Alauddin Muhammad Da'ud Syah II determined to resist, having long condemned the colonization of the East Indies. Calling on all faithful Muslims to take up arms against Paris, he and his forces fled into the mountains of western Sumatra and have begun to resist the French invasion. Still, the initial chaos of the French arrival prevented a full mobilization of the Aceh military forces. Guerilla fighting has erupted in the countryside. While the French have easy control over the major cities, their reach is tenuous outside of these. Many envision a multi-year long military campaign being necessary in order to bring the region to heel.

China Strikes!
   Europe may have forgotten the importance of the Congress of Copenhagen, but China had not. President Kang Youwei would not stand idly by while another regional nation was swallowed by the rapacious European colonial realms. Determined to teach the French a lesson, and explicitly calling solely for the restoration of Mysore to its pre-war borders, Chinese soldiers poured across the border of their sister-republic in northern Burma into French Burma. They met token resistance, the bulk of the French forces in the Raj deployed in the final onslaught against Mysore. Chinese gains were ample. While many of the Burmese Catholics looked on in horror, terrified to have seemingly been abandoned by Versailles, the region rapidly fell. A last-ditch attempt to hold onto Rangoon by a group of Burman loyalists to the French cause was too disorganized to succeed, the city falling to Chinese occupation on October 5th. While there were plans for a follow-up push into Bengal, by the end of the year delays caused by initial supply difficulties and hold-outs in several stubborn communities meant the campaign would have to wait.   

Colombian War

Colombian Soldiers at the Battle of Pisco, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Surprise Assault
   The fight in South America exploded northwards with the new century. Brazil determined to settle its long-term disagreements with its northern neighbor by the sword, assembling a coalition with Quebec and France. The Hohenzollerns of Quebec had never forgiven the Colombian bishops for the execution of King Frederick I of Colombia in 1838, though more cynical observers noted they also coveted Colombia’s Pacific possessions. France, meanwhile, seemed determined to expand its reach in the Americas to counter extensive British influence in the region. Together they plotted to subdue Colombia, hoping to knock out the nation in one stroke.
   Tensions between Colombia and Brazil had been simmering for so long, perhaps there was a degree of complacency. On the morning of May 20th, allied vessels cut telegraph lines across the Atlantic, hoping to slow word of their actions spreading into Europe. Yet, that continent was aware something was afoot when all communication from the region went dark. A sense of foreboding emerged as governments waited for news from the region.
   The Colombian fleet on the Caribbean was met with a surprise Franco-Brazilian assault, opening with a punishing round of torpedoes. The vessels, caught unawares, took crucial time to respond and make ready for combat. Battleships such as the ARC Vicente Arbeláez and ARC Arauca were sunk within the hour. While countermeasures were taken against the initial onslaught, the appearance of Brazilian and French battleships on the horizon further paralyzed the Colombian fleet. After several brief engagements, including a well-placed hit on the FS Marie Fernandina, the fuel tanks exploding and killing most of those onboard, the battered Colombian vessels made for port. They fled as rapidly as possible to the protection of the guns of Cartagena, where they made port, effectively ceding the Caribbean to the Franco-Brazilian forces. The tonnage lost in the Atlantic for the Colombians has been a significant blow.
   Less effective was an attempt by the allies to sabotage the Colombian Pacific fleet. Relatively speaking, due to fewer friendly ports and Colombia’s sprawling Pacific presence, this navy was far better prepared to deal with an unexpected assault. Not only did they sink most of the torpedo ships that had attempted to sabotage them, but major hits were landed on the NMB São Pedro and the NMB Concepção Imaculada. Disorganized and lacking a clear plan in the event of Colombian resistance, the Franco-Brazilian fleet was forced to cede the Pacific to Colombia, limping back to the Galapagos where their future course of action was debated.

Caribbean Campaign
   With the Colombian Atlantic fleet crippled, the Triple Alliance had free reign over the Caribbean Sea. This was crucial for their operational goals during the year. Despite Colombian attempts to bolster the defenses of Panama, a French operation out of Brazilian Central America overwhelmed their defenses. A further push by General Jacques Duchesne into the Darien Gap proved to be ineffective, the difficulties of navigation and lack of infrastructure forcing the French back into Panama proper and preventing them from achieving their key goals of grabbing Bogota and Medellin. Clearly, the gap would have to be bypassed by sea. Still, control of the Panama Canal has been seen as a major coup, at very least giving the Anti-Colombian Alliance a bargaining chip.
   Yet, Panama was not the only site of allied operations. Well-aware of the affinity between Haiti and Colombia, France unilaterally declared war on that island nation as well. A century and a half after King Louis XV had granted the island to the Portuguese in the 1750s, the French returned. The Haitians, having not faced a serious threat to their independence since the Spanish had been expelled almost seventy years ago, were aghast at this blatant act of imperialism. Port-au-Prince was shelled into submission, but the people vowed defiance. President François Denys Légitime joined thousands fleeing the city with the arrival of the French, determined to take the fighting into the vast wilderness on the island. While further French operations secured the city of Santo Domingo on the Spanish-speaking half of the Haitian Republic, the Battle of Belladere saw a French effort to exert control inland repulsed. The Haitians were determined to never return to bondage again. Though France may have abolished slavery, many had little illusions about how life would be under Louis XX.
   Quebec took its first offensive moves in the Americas around this point as well. The Quebecois fleet, having hung back during the initial skirmishes between the Colombians and the Franco-Brazilian squadrons, conveniently appeared and set about occupying outstanding Colombian possessions. Trinidad, Curacao, and Aruba all fell with little resistance, the region caught surprised by the onslaught.

Venezuelan & Amazonian Campaign
   In addition to operations in the outlying territories, several tremendous stabs would be made into the Colombian heart. A joint Franco-Brazilian effort to conquer Venezuela marched north along the Atlantic coast. They met little resistance as Colombia sought to organize its defenses. Bogota could only watch in horror as its defenses were brushed aside, Caracas, the second city of the Holy Republic besides Bogota, falling into the hands of its assailants. By the end of 1900, with much of the Venezuelan coast under their control, the allies could look back with satisfaction on their success in that theater.
   Despite attempts to provision their soldiers effectively, a Brazilian push into the Amazon proved to be disastrous. Not because of any Colombian resistance, but because of tremendous difficulties caused by the never-ending jungle. As the 35 divisions headed upriver, conditions went from poor at Macapa, to bad at Santarem, to worse at Manuas. Navigation of these barely-charted regions proved to be next to impossible. The humidity and weather spoiled rations and eventually diseases such as yellow fever began to spread among the ranks. As boats required repair, movement slowed. There were whispers of mutiny, thousands of men deserting the cause and attempting to march back home, almost universally dying in the vast wilderness. This was coupled with repeated raids by the indigenous Amazonians, seeking to expel the intruders from their homeland. Many wondered why and how the government had agreed to such a scheme, leaving them lost far upriver and away from the true scenes of fighting.

Peruvian Campaign & Andean Aid
   Along with the success of the Pacific Fleet in staving off the Franco-Brazilian assault off the coast of Ecuador, the Peruvian theater proved to be a rare bright spot for the Colombian regime in this otherwise disastrous year. Contingency orders for mobilization in the event of a Brazilian invasion came in handy, even if the planners had not realized the scale of the onslaught.
   The Andean Free State recognized the perilous position it would be placed in if it was separated from Colombia’s potential aid. In a unanimous vote, the tripartite governing council elected to join the Colombian soldiers in the defense of Peru from a two-pronged Brazilian onslaught. While this meany they were uninvolved in the La Platan land-grab, leadership remembered that Brazil was their primary foe. Their forty-something division force from the mountains bore down on the Brazilian Army Group 4, which had disembarked in Arica, aiming to shoot north and conquer Lima and the rest of coastal Peru. They shadowed the Brazilians as they headed north, coordinating with the Colombian forces.
   Actual engagements began with the Battle of Pisco. The gruesome fight saw the Colombian-Andean forces face the Brazilian invaders. It was not necessarily decisive on its own, the Brazilians repelling repeated onslaughts on the part of their enemies, but it halted their offensive, Lima just 231 kilometers away. In a sign of how hated the Brazilians were by the Andeans, prisoners were often tortured or mistreated, only Colombian intervention sparing them from outright execution. Brazilian general Hermes da Fonseca saw no other option than to dig in, his supply lines cut and enemies all around. Mass trench networks have been constructed around the city of Pisco, daring the Colombians and Andean soldiers to assault the city, which has become a fortress. The guns meant to shell Lima into submission have now been employed in the defense of the Brazilian position. Thousands of Brazilian soldiers sit besieged, hoping that their fleets will wrest control of the Pacific from the Colombians based at Quito and rescue them. Well-provisioned, it is expected they will be able to hold out slightly longer than a year, if need be. There has also been talk of an effort to break out and restore the war of movement, though it remains to be seen if General da Fonseca will pursue this avenue. 
   Navigation of the Western Amazon proved rather difficult for the Army Group 3, the second force of Brazilian soldiers aiming to cross the jungle and commence a full-fledged assault on Colombian Peru. They faced many of the same difficulties as Army Group 2 in the middle of the Amazon (disease, supply difficulties, lack of infrastructure, and frequent misdirection due to faulty intel). Unlike Army Group 2, however, commanders elected to turn back before the situation got too dire, fully realizing the infeasibility of carrying out such a massive operation through the Amazon. While some condemned them for disobedience, especially given the situation developing at Pisca, others lauded them for saving the lives of thousand of Brazilian men, who ended their year at Matto Grasso rather than deep in the rainforest.

The Pacific & Asia
   Colombia’s colonial empire was left vulnerable to the onslaught. Colombian Malaya was easily nabbed by a French expeditionary force, the small colonial garrison overwhelmed. The Philippines, loyal to their sister-republic, stood defiant, and joined the war against the Anti-Colombian Alliance. They declared war on each of the three powers in turn. Quebec, who had initially offered generous terms, grew impatient with the regime and elected to shell the city of Manila into submission. While the city was then occupied by the Quebec fleet, the Filipino government merely fled into the countryside and determined that the struggle would continue. Given the vast extent of that realm, there were many pessimistic about the prospects of conquering the region.
   Quebecois operations also commenced against Colombian territories to the south. The Sunwon Islands rapidly changed hands, lightly manned settlements surrendering in the face of overwhelming force. Fiji was stormed, sacked when the garrison refused to surrender, and occupied by Empress Wilhelmina’s soldiers. Further operations against Papua New Guinea saw the southern coast secured, though this caused great alarm on the part of both New Holland and British Australia. Still, the vastness of Colombia’s colonial holdings has meant that even by year’s end, dozens of islands in the South Pacific remain under Bogota’s command, as well as most of Papua New Guinea. 1901 will likely witness continued struggle for this vast region.

Return of the King

The Restored Henry V & I, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Despite the chaos to the north, a clearer situation emerged in Santiago. The Regency Council unanimously called for the restoration of the deposed Henry V of Spain, inviting him to return from exile and lead the Chilean people against the forces of religious tyranny. His Quebecois in-laws granted their blessing and an escort to end the sovereign’s three decades in exile. On June 7th, 1900, a Quebecois escort fleet docked in Santiago, the king returning to the soil from where he had been abducted for his own safety during the last stages of the War of the Triple Alliance.
   A 32-year-old had left and a 60-year-old returned. Absence had made the king a beloved figure, any quibbles with his Spanish origins evaporating with the glow of respectability he had won with his past bravery. Henry was greeted with an outpouring of widespread public support, crowds massing at the docks and escorting him into the center of Santiago. The king’s first act as to kneel, praying for the soul of his late brother Prince Charles, executed after the fall of Santiago in 1872. A Catholic service of Te Deum was then held in the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral. To the people he represented an end to Catholic-Republican tyranny and a restoration of order.
   The king, filled with gratitude to the people of Chile, decided to be crowned once more on July 13th, the feast of St. Henry. He adopted the title Henry V & I, King of Spain, Chile, and the Mapuche. Conscious of his unique status, he proclaimed that the titles would split upon his death, the Spanish claim and rule of Chile passing to his two sons Henry and Antonius. Yet, despite all the celebrations, the war continued.
   The return of the detested Bourbons, a family so vilified by the Catholic-Republican regime in La Plata, proved Archbishop-President Toro’s impotence, even to his most loyal followers. With Brazil showing no signs of involvement, action was finally taken. Parties with grievances against the regime hastened to take revenge. To the north, Guarani and Tupi leadership, inspired by the Mapuche, declared their independence easily expelling those of the La Platan soldiers that did not desert to their cause. The region of Paraguay had long sought autonomy, only to be subjected to decades of repression under Toro’s regime in far-off Cordoba. La Platan liberals, seeking to return to the ideals of the 1830s, assembled in Bahia Blanca and decreed a new Frederation of La Plata, assembling a congress and inviting deputies from the rest of the old Sacred Union to send representatives.
   By the end of the year, Toro continued to cling to power in Cordoba, though increasingly surrounded by enemies. Paranoia ruled the city, mass killings carried out against those showing signs of dissent. Perhaps this was with good reason, armies sent against his multiplying rivals have either melting away or changing sides outright. Only time will tell what 1901 has in store for the crumbling Sacred Union of La Plata.

[Spamage]

Parties, Elections, and Politics

Prince Imperial Frederick of Quebec, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Scandinavia
   Charles XIV decided to in fact call an election in mid-1900, the vote scheduled for August of the year. What followed was a spirited Riksdag campaign, the future of Scandinavia being hotly debated as crises erupted all around the globe. While the Crown remained neutral, there were many who suspected tacit support for the governing conservatives on the part of the king.

Scandinavian Riksdag Election, 1900: 350 Seats (175 needed for a majority)
Lantmannpartiet (Conservative): 146 seats (-36)
Liberlerna (Liberal): 77 seats (+5)
Socialdemokraiska Arbetarepari (Socialist): 70 seats (+4)
Skandinaviska Folkets Förbund (Right-wing nationalist): 32 seats (+32)
Parti av Livlands självstyre (Livonian Autonomists): 12 seats (-3)
Deutsche Volkspartei (German Nationalists): 12 seats (+-0)
Suomen Kansanpuolue (Finnish Particularists): 5 seats (+1)

   A notable result in the aftermath of the Third Imperial Reform was the overperformance of the newly-emerging Scandinavian right-wing nationalist political party. Inspired by Vladimir Purishkevich and the Nevsky Front, the Scandinavian People’s Union (SFF) had been founded back in 1898, but seen only limited success. Yet, with the reign of Charles XIV and the Third Imperial Reform, it was one of the few political groups to vocally criticize the crown. Leader Gustav Alriksson vocally condemned the incumbent government in fiery addresses. Overnight the SFF leaped into political relevance, garnering 10% of the vote when all was said and done. While this only meant several dozen seats, it demonstrated the very real risk faced by the Lantmannpariet in being outflanked on the right.
   The conservatives lost their majority, hemorrhaging 36 seats and being forced into an awkward dilemma. They could either align themselves with the controversial and borderline authoritarian SFF or form yet another grand coalition with the Liberals. While many expected that Tage Reedtz-Thott would remain on as Statsminister, he deferred to the crown on how to proceed. At the end of the year, coalition negotiations still remained stalled, all sides looking to Charles XIV for advice.

Quebec
   On July 15th, 1900, just as operations in Colombia were really beginning to take off, Empress Wilhelmina went into labor. After 12 grueling hours, the great news emerged, a son had been born! The child was immediately christened Frederick, in honor of Frederick II of Prussia, the man who had done so much to advance the dynasty. Cannons were sounded, widespread celebration being proclaimed throughout the realm. While the birth has not quieted the issues of the succession, given Crown Prince Frederick’s claim is predicated on his mother’s, it has gone a good way to aid the cause. At the child’s baptism in early August, he was held by Prime Minister Papineau. The child’s godparents included Princess Paulina of Prussia (the intended bride for Wilhelmina’s late brother), Helena of Prussia (Augustus Leopold’s sister and the child’s paternal aunt), Henry V & I of Spain and Chile (in absentia), and the ancient Prince Louis (his great-great uncle). Indeed, the appearance of the 81-year-old Quebecois prince demonstrated a rapprochement between one of the claimants and Empress Wilhelmina, Louis finally reaching a suitable agreement with his grandniece in exchange for reconciliation. 
   

Schism in the House of Orleans
War Between Louisiana and Mexico; Poison Gas Employed!

Army of Prince Guillermo Seizes Durango, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The two monarchies of the House of Bourbon-Orleans sealed their enmity at the start of the new century. There had been hopes the diplomatic dispute would be settled peacefully, but the ratcheting up of tensions with the Louisianan embargo and the subsequent Mexican blockade only served to enflame tensions. The resulting war between the two has been chaotic and convoluted, a true family feud as the dynasty tears itself apart. It is a visceral struggle, New Orleans standing in defiance of the Treaty of Trois-Rivieres through its use of chemical weapons. Particularly notable to most observers has been the ample supply of weapons each side possesses, foreign powers clearly seeking to cash in on the disorder in North America.

El Gran Miedo
   For those middle and upper-class Mexicans that had remained apolitical or neutral during the Border War, the Luis Reforms came as a shot across the bow. Panic gripped mass segments of Mexican society, many especially terrified by the loss of private property. The richest of Mexico’s old nobility and landholding families grabbed what they could carry and fled, either north towards Louisiana or to the major port cities. As military clashes erupted, thousands found themselves caught on the frontlines. Other wealthy Mexican families, far from the border, were forced to barter away their precious jewelry and material for massive discounts in order to purchase passage on rickety vessels, seeking refuge in either Cuba or Louisiana proper, hoping to evade their own government’s blockade. Thousands died when these vessels struck the underwater mines that had been placed in the Gulf to prevent Louisianan incursions.
   Meanwhile the dispossessed and impoverished took action into their own hands in the countryside, ofttimes exceeding royal orders. To them, it seemed the rich oppressive class was finally receiving its comeuppance. These radicals supported the king, dubbing themselves the “Royal Army” as they stormed into the remaining large landholdings, capturing those stubborn landholders that had remained behind, and executing them on the spot. Local business elites, often genuinely guilty of price gouging and oligopoly behavior, were murdered by their onetime employees and customers.
   The scenes were particularly dramatic at Veracruz. As word reached the city of war between Mexico and Louisiana, mass riots erupted, led by many of these led by these fleeing middle-class Mexicans. The mobs stormed through the city, expelling Luis’ administrators and declaring Veracruz to be an ‘open city’. This suited the designs of the Louisianans nicely…

Texas Campaign
   It was not clear to observers on the ground which side was to blame for the outright eruption of hostilities. Louisianan observers reported a Mexican crossing of the Rio Grande, though the Mexican commanders alleged this was because of shots fired against their position. Regardless of who was at fault, the situation spiraled rapidly out of control. Roughly 90 Mexican divisions were deployed for various operations in that region. Many noted that a good deal of these men had a different Spanish accent than the Mexicans, clearly being involved from some other theater, but answers remained elusive.
   The Texas campaign proceeded in two stages. To the west, a massive number of men crossed the Rio Grande and occupied the Big Bend region of Texas. They captured border settlements such as El Paso, while secondary operations out of Arizona and the Mojave captured Albuquerque and Santa Fe, before pushing west into the Llano Estacado. While this resulted in the capture of a vast amount of territory, this region was sparsely populated and somewhat limited in its importance aside from the oil reserves that came with it. 
   The crucial fighting occurred further to the east. The bulk of the Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande, pushing back the Louisianans to the Nueces River. Louis-Phlippe’s men held there for a while, before their position gradually began to deteriorate, when they withdrew back further to the Colorado River. They held here again, withdrawing in good order to the Brazos River. This strategy of employing natural barriers for defense coupled with good-order withdrawals worked marvelously to slow the Mexican push inland, though it came at the cost of thousands of lives on either side. By the end of the year the Louisianan and Mexican forces stood face to face on a front running the length of the Brazos River, the government in New Orleans daring King Luis to order yet another assault. While their defense has been admirable though, it must be noted that a good deal portion of Texas has been lost.

Louisiana Prepares for War
   With the outbreak of war, King Louis-Philippe was taking little chances with any sort of internal dissent. The formation of a coalition between the ULP and the CeC (reactionary, pro-monarchist party), signaled the king was adopting a strong attitude in domestic affairs. In that same vein, the crown embarked on a mass arrest of supposed dissidents, particularly the Columbian separatists. Incriminating materials were uncovered in the papers of John Brown Gordon linking him to secessionist plots, resulting in a mass crackdown on the CNP. Dozens of Anglophone separatist leaders were rounded up and sent to prison, throwing the movement into temporary disorder. Conveniently, this move also freed up roughly a dozen seats in the National Assembly.

Louisiana’s Push South
   The Louisianan and Mexican fleets met in the Gulf of Mexico, each seeking to wrest control of the sea from the other. The two armadas were relatively evenly matched, the battleships clashing several hundred miles off the coast of Galveston. The fighting was particularly challenging because each side knew the maneuvers of the others after decades of brotherly cooperation in the North American Alliance. Yet, Mexico’s forces were spread a bit thin, especially through its ongoing attempt to blockade the Gulf. After several hours of inconclusive skirmishing, a lucky Louisianan shell hit the ADM Montezuma, sinking that vessel and increasing Louisiana’s advantage. As the damaged Mexicans withdrew to Cozumel, goading the Louisianans to follow them and try to break out of the south, the Louisianan fleet instead continued down the coast, landing at the Free City of Veracruz and disembarking thousands of men there. The Southern Army of Louisiana, accompanied by thousands of Augustinians, disembarked and declared their intent to cut the heart of out Luis II’s empire.
   The Louisianan expeditionary force sought to march on the capital straight away, swatting aside initial feeble attempts by local garrisons to expel them. It seemed as though Mexico City would fall any day. Yet, the invaders had not factored in the support of the common people for Luis’ reforms. Many of the indigenous Mexicans near Oaxaca joined with the armed peasant bands in the ‘Royal Army’ setting themselves between the Louisianan forces and the city. While they were, in truth, ill-prepared and undertrained fighters, they made up for their poor quality with quantity. Louisianan general John A. Lejeune was beaten back three times as his men tried to march on Mexico in the Battle of the Rio Blanco, being denied a chance to ascend onto the Mexican Plateau. On the third day, in a desperate attempt to scatter the local partisans, mustard gas was deployed, with limited effectiveness due to their scattered and disorganized fighting style. Calling on reinforcements from New Orleans for a second push on the capital, Lejeune contented himself with securing most of the province of Veracruz for Louisiana.

Civil Resistance in the North
   In the aftermath of El Gran Mierdo, those elites that elected not to flee determined to fight. The ranching classes in northern Mexico in particular armed themselves and prepared for war. The embers of the Border War exploded in this region once again, many of the new rebels having previously tried to defeat Luis, only surrendering with the defeat of Augustine in 1895 and their subsequent royal pardon. Denouncing the Luis Reforms, they proclaimed themselves the ‘Army of Guillermo’, taking up the cause of the infant prince who had been displaced in the succession by his father’s order. They were joined by formerly exiled Augustinians, funneled back into Mexico through Louisianan connivance. Chihuahua and Durango became hotbeds of insurrection once more. Recognizing they could not win in a field battle against the forces of the government, most of these rebels adopted hit-and-run tactics. The railroad running north through Chihuahua was cut off, Mexico forced to supply the Texan campaign by the coastal line, slowing supply and preventing the fulfillment of its second stage of operations in that theater.

War in Arabia & Its Environs; Crisis Expands

Assassination of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Scandivian-Omani War
   Iran and Scandinavia plotted together to humiliate Oman and carve up the remaining independent regions of the Near East between themselves, signing a tacit agreement to that effect very early in the year. The mistreatment of a Scandinavian merchant in Muscat by local authorities in May proved to be all the cause the two parties needed to take action. Stockholm declared war, Tehran following suit just hours later. Oman instantly found itself beset by foes. Sultan Faisal bin Turki reportedly geared the worst, especially when the Scandinavian fleet appeared off the coast of Muscat and demanded surrender. Yet, perhaps through divine intervention, fate would save the realm from total destruction. While Muscat did in fact fall, the Sultan fleeing into the desert, the struggle would only be against one power, not two.

Assassination of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar!
   Just as Iran prepared for war, declaring on the Omani Sultanate, the realm would be rocked by the death of their beloved sovereign within the day. Naser al-Din Shah was murdered in cold blood upon departing a mosque on May 11th, 1900, after a reign spanning decades. The assailant rapidly turned the gun on himself, denying the Iranian police the truth of who was behind it. While the Shah was beloved, his enemies were many. The Iranian reformists, the Shi’ite clergy, Armenians and Kurds discontented with the land swaps and annexation, the Omani, the Saudis, the Russians, and even his own sons were all deemed as potential culprits in his murder. The world may never know which party was truly responsible.
   Still, the death of the Shah had major implications for the realm. While Naser al-Din had been clear that the succession ought not to be changed despite his son and heir being a wastrel, many felt this was the wrong choice. Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar had little experience with government, having been shut out of decision-making by his father for his entire life. The new ruler felt himself unable to lead a war-effort, putting a hold in the intended campaign against Oman and leaving Scandinavia out in the cold. Yet, despite his efforts to avoid war, it was coming to him regardless.

Rashidi-Saudi War
   The death of Naser al-Din Shah was all it took for the fragile Saudi-Rashidi truce in the Arabian Peninsula to erupt into open warfare once more. The new Shah, lacking discretion, relayed the intent to divide up Arabia with Scandinavia to several Sunni clerics, who passed along the intelligence to the Saudis. Unwilling to sit meekly by and be made into a protectorate, war erupted on the sands. Declaring his alliance with Oman, a punishing push north by the Emir Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud caught the Rashidi by surprise. He maintained the initiative through the duration of the year, many Arabians siding with him over the Rashidi, widely accepted as Iranian puppets by this point.

Ethiopia
   Not to be outshone, the Austrian government decided to make good on some of its claims to Ethiopia. A token expeditionary force was sent into Tigray, a direct violation of Ethiopian sovereignty and a challenge to Emperor Menelik II. Not a man to take this threat lightly, the Ethiopians responded, sending several of their own divisions against the Habsburg forces. The two sides met at the Battle of Mekele, where the Austrians and their machine guns put the Ethiopians to flight. In the aftermath of the scuffle many local elites swore token homage to Emperor Maximilian V, the region falling under nominal Habsburg control. Yet, there are concerns this skirmish merely presages a broader war in the region, Menelik II declaring his intent to see the territory liberated and calling for an expulsion of the foreigners.

[Spamage]

Gilded Ambitions: Concert of Europe Part V
Turn 2: 1901

Map of the World in 1901
(Source: Made by Me)

Cast and Characters
Kingdom of France: King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen (Dereich)
Russian Republic: President Pavel Milyukov (KaiserDave)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover (Ypestis)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Queen Mary III of Hanover (S019)
Empire of Quebec: Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti (Windjammer)
Commonwealth of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans (Dkrol)
Kingdom of Mexico: King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans (Laki)
Chinese Republic: President Kang Youwei (HCP & DevoutCentrist)
Republic of Japan: President Tokugawa Iesato
Kingdom of Naples: Francis III de Bourbon-Naples (GoTfan)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez (Kuumo)
Turkist Empire: Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha (Spiral)
Holy Union of Spain: President Arsenio Linares y Pombo (DwarvenDragon)
Confederation of New England: Chairman John F. Fitzgerald (OBD)
Durrani Empire: Abdul II Shah Durrani (AverageFoodEnthusiast)
Korean State: First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon (oldkyhome)

Popularity
Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha: High, Divisive
Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen: High, Impassive
King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon: Moderate-High, Divisive
First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon: Moderate-High, Impassive
President Pavel Milyukov: Moderate, Divisive
King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez: Moderate, Impassive
Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern: Moderate, Divisive
Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti: Moderate, Divisive
Queen Mary III of Hanover: Moderate, Impassive
President Kang Youwei: Low, Divisive
Chairman John F Fitzgerald: Moderate, Impassive
President Arsenio Linares y Pombo: Moderate, Impassive
Abdul II Shah Durrani: Moderate, Impassive
King Francis III de Bourbon-Naples: Moderate, Divisive
King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover: Moderate-Low, Impassive

Economic Standings
Habsburg Monarchy: Strong
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate-Strong
Empire of Quebec: Moderate-Strong
Chinese Republic: Moderate
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Moderate
Commonwealth of Louisiana: Moderate
Holy Union of Spain: Moderate
Kingdom of France: Moderate
Republic of Japan: Moderate
Russian Republic: Moderate
Turkist Empire: Moderate
Korean Republic: Moderate
Durrani Empire: Moderate
Confederation of New England: Moderate-Weak
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Weak
Divine Republic of Brazil: Weak
Kingdom of Mexico: Weak

Kingdom of France

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-France is strong, but France must fight. War stalks the world and lesser powers would see your government humiliated. Haiti, Aceh, and the remnants of Mysore require cleaning up. Colombia stands defiant and has a substantial Brazilian army encircled in Peru. Most shocking of all, though, has been the Chinese invasion of Burma. The uncivilized savages have sought to avenge the Mysorean cause, ignoring the illegitimacy of that cause on the first place. How will you handle these diplomatic crises? What steps must be taken to ensure that French greatness continues?

-To place your government on an effective war footing, some in your administration would expand upon your economic authority presently guaranteed by the Loyalty Act of 1885. At present, companies chartered after 1885 have been required to give the government a stake in ownership. Inspired by Luis II in Mexico, some believe it is time to go further. Only a strong leader can guarantee production quotas and supply lines, they argue. Perhaps it is time for the government to take total control of most of these private enterprises, at very least the weapons manufacturers and food supply. This could be achieved either through outright requisitioning on the passage of a formal law. Such a move would have the effect of punishing the remaining bourgeois, while also giving you unprecedented control over French society. Others are wary and have urged caution, concerned over potential economic corruption, mismanagement, and instability. How will you handle the French economy?

-It has been more than sixty years since Padania was established, cementing northwestern Italy to the French Royal Family. The union has endured. Yet, some in Paris question whether maintaining Padania as a separate political unit, complete with its own nominal political system, makes sense any longer. Intense Gallicization efforts have resulted in roughly half of the populace using French as their primary language, with 80% being able to speak it in some capacity. Some in your administration call the existing distinction between France and Padania meaningless, especially with the suppression of liberalism under your reactionary-socialist regime. Indeed, it must not be forgotten the role Padania played as a Xavier stronghold in the War of the Regency. These advisors would have it fully absorbed into France proper, given the ongoing emergency, in order to promote more efficient governance. Still, while perhaps rational, this could risk the enmity of either Austria or Naples. What actions will you take in regards to Padania?

Habsburg Monarchy

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The global diplomatic situation is a mess. France is at war with no less than 5 powers. The Americas as a whole have exploded into a massive, intercontinental conflagration. Perhaps even more concerning is the assertive anti-colonial attitude adopted by the Chinese who have allowed anti-imperialist socialists into their government and followed up with an intervention in French Burma. Indeed, many have been alarmed by the anti-European screeds published in Chinese newspapers. The business community in the realm has also become increasingly concerned over fighting at the Straits of Malacca. Your outposts at Singapore and Ningpo have had business operations disrupted by the presence of warships of the various combatants. How will the Habsburg Monarchy navigate this uncertain situation? What steps will be taken to keep Europe from falling into similar sorts of crises?

-With the Third Imperial Reform adopted comes the prospect of elections to the reformed Diet. Given the novel nature of this vote, and the precedents the first session of the reformed body will undoubtedly set, the selection of candidates will be critical. Already there are talks of party alliances beyond the existing borders, Prussian and Saxon liberals reaching an agreement late in 1900 to act as a unified bloc in the Empire. Though it would perhaps be unseemly for you as a regent to get too involved, there are tacit ways the government can back the various political groupings. Will you back docile conservatives or headstrong liberals? Or perhaps the power of government could be used to suppress less savory political ideologies such a socialism, pan-nationalism, or extreme ideologies such as Catholic-Republicanism. How will the regency handle the matter of the 1901 Imperial Reichstag elections?

-The ‘Emperor’ of Abyssinia has ignored your grandnephew’s rightful claims to the Tigray region and is making noises of countermeasures. Even though your men easily dispatched his forces last year, he will likely send more for a second attempt to expel you. While some would involve you in the conquest of the region, putting the matter to rest once and for all, others see the prospect as too risky with fighting erupting in Oman, India, and further to the east. What is to be done about the simmering tensions in Abyssinia?

Russian Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Milyukov, the Duma has given its assent to your request for formalize a new constitution for the Russian Republic. A broad swathe of the political world has joined your cause, inspired by the prospect of formal and lasting change to the character of the Russian state. Even the Great Redeemer himself has come out of retirement, filled with ideas and proposals how the new government could avoid some of the mistakes of the old. While the extremists condemn the move, Purishkevich mocking the process as partisan democratic theater, hope remains in the air. What constitutional system do you envision? What will be your primary goals with the reform?

-Instability shakes the world on all sides of Russia. China has intervened in Burma, determined to chastise the French for their invasion of Mysore. With the death of Naser al-Din Shah, decades of tensions on the boiling point seem on the verge of exploding. To the west, Russia has been forced to stand idly by as the decadent and inbred nobility of the Holy Roman Empire centralize that entity yet further. What shape will Russia’s diplomatic policy take in 1901? What will you do about this chaotic global situation?

-Despite your efforts to bolster the police, both the Red Guard’s and Nevsky’s Sword are active on the streets of the republic. Indeed, as some incidents demonstrated in the recent election, they often outgun local police departments. Some wonder if it is time to put an end to the paramilitary chaos that has stalked the Republic ever since Mikhaylovsky meekly acquiesced to their arrival back in 1898. Still, others warn that the roots of these movements run deep and challenging them could have grave consequences for both the republic as well as internal stability. There is talk of a “Republican Guard” by your own supporters to enter the fray as well. Now that the elections are concluded, should something be done?

Kingdom of Scandinavia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The election results are in and it will be up to you to form a government. The loss of a conservative majority is perhaps a bit frustrating, but the defeat came from the growth of the right-wing radicals rather than a liberal comeback. Some of your advisers have wondered aloud if a Conservative-SFF coalition could be an effective means of advancing royal authority, looking to Louisiana for inspiration, though others argue that a grand coalition ought to be encouraged instead. Still, perennial grand coalitions risk driving more voters to the extremes, even if they are the most stable means of governance. How will you deal with the fallout of the 1900 Riksdag election?

-Scandinavian investments have been placed in peril by the developments of the last year, causing much economic anxiety. The waters around the Scandinavian Caribbean islands are full of warships, Scandinavian business assets in Colombia are at risk of falling into anti-capitalist Brazilian hands, and the Mexican-Louisianan War has halted all trading out of the Gulf of Mexico. While not as severe as the Suez economic panic several decades ago, the prices of imported goods such as bananas, sugar, coffee, and tobacco are soaring. These are consumer goods and the fear is that the turmoil in Oman, Abyssinia, and Asia could lead to further inflation, squeezing the Scandinavian people yet further. What steps will you take to stabilize the economy before the situation gets too far out of hand?

-Scandinavia now finds itself embroiled in several conflicts in and around Arabia. While most of the Senussi-controlled population centers have been seized, the rebellion continues to simmer in that region. There is increasing evidence that elements within the Egyptian Army are passing along intelligence to the enemy. To the southeast of that conflict you have been involved in the growing war in Arabia. Some have gotten the sense that Iranian strength may have slipped with the death of Naser al-Din Shah. Perhaps it is time to rethink your strategy in that arena? What actions will you take in 1901 after the developments of the last year?

United Kingdom

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-Queen Mary, the prospect of marriage to the Duke of Hamilton has been positively received throughout the realm. The idea of a British family taking the British throne for the first time since the death of Queen Anne in 1714 has many nationalists excited. Indeed, your prospective husband’s family has roots in Scotland dating back to the time of Mary, Queen of Scots. His ancestors played major roles in the English Civil War and had descent from earlier Scottish monarchs. The English public, filled with romantic sentiment over old Scottish culture, seems all to happy to back the pairing, even if he is a good deal older than you. Will you marry in 1901?

-War has erupted on all sides of Britain. Your realm’s extensive investments in Colombia are under threat in the face of a Franco-Brazilian-Quebecois assault on your nominal friend. To your west Louisiana and Mexico have started to kill one another, each side seeking to become the dominant Orleanist power in North America. Many would have you intervene in some fashion in either of these conflicts, though there undoubtedly are risks in doing so. What diplomatic actions will you take amidst this chaotic situation in the Americas?

-Whatever you decide on the American situation, the instability there has not been good for the British economy. Nor has the clashes between France and Aceh near the Strait of Malacca. The cost of imports from South America and Asia have risen quite drastically over the past year. Shareholders in Colombian ventures have been in a rush to sell their stocks, fearing tremendous monetary losses. While the economic damage has only been slight so far, there are concerns that it could snowball into something greater, given your realm’s mercantile tradition. Given the preexisting tensions with domestic labour movements, this is less than desirable. How will you guarantee the economy stays on track?

Empire of Quebec

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Americas are aflame and you are most certainly involved. Colombia did not fall as easily has had been hoped, though you were fortunate in being able to nab a good portion of their colonial empire. Yet, the fight goes on. More alarming has been the feuding between Mexico and Louisiana, that conflict weakening both powers as your territories remain unaffected. While there’s little love lost towards Louis-Philippe III, the idea of a Luis II in control of both Louisiana and Mexico fills Montreal with dread. Both conflicts rage at your doorstep, what steps will you take to handle them in the coming year?

-It seems you have placated the SUQ for the time being, especially with your offer of substantial social reform. Yet, given the outbreak of war, some would have you shelve the skeletal outlines of the Quebecois ‘Fair Deal’, arguing that government revenue ought to be directed to the armed forces and businesses are too hard-pressed at the moment to deal with another tax. This was a key aspect of your compromise with Papineau and the SUQ will likely feel a grave sense of betrayal if you do not follow through. How will you handle this sensitive economic matter?

-Quebec has not been immune from the economic contagion caused by developments to the south and across the Pacific. Decades of economic cooperation between the North American Alliance meant that numerous, robust supply chains have been disrupted by the Mexican blockade of the Gulf of Mexico and the Louisianan embargo of Mexico. Similarly, operations in the Pacific and Caribbean have deterred many firms from sending their vessels on fairly routine cargo hauls, fearing seizure or being mistaken for a combatant. The economy has experienced a dip at the moment, what will you do to guarantee it does not become a full-scale crisis? With consumer goods spiking in price, especially those coming from Mexico, what is to be done?

Divine Republic of Brazil

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your decades-long tensions with Colombia have at last erupted into outright war. While there were some amazing achievements to be celebrated in the last year, including the conquest of Caracas and the savaging of the Colombian Atlantic Fleet, other parts of the campaign proved less inspiring. Many in the government feel as though your government was done wrong by your allies, who urged you to involve yourself in some rather treacherous theaters while they took the low-hanging fruit in Panama, Aruba, Curacao, and Malaya. Indeed, the northern attempt to stab through the heart of the Amazon has been particularly frustrating, many in the military high command pointing fingers at one another. Yet, the past is done. Looking forward some method of rescue must be decided for your soldiers encircled in Peru. Some have urged you to order them to break out of their fortress and march south towards the Andean Free State and La Plata, far closer to Brazilian territory. Others believe sweeping the Pacific of Colombian vessels instead would be preferable, so you could resupply your men by sea, but this poses the risk of further Colombian successes on the water. How will you deal with the Colombian war in the coming year?

-Your commission on the improvement of conditions for African Catholics has released its findings. A wide range of potential policies have been proposed, ranging from small tweaks to wholescale policy flips. Proposals include the construction of monasteries and convents and giving the clergy full control of the proselytizing, full-scale population transfers (moving the Catholics out of mixed communities lest they be tempted by heresy), as well as official efforts to teach the Africans Christianity in their native languages. There’s also been talk of reforming the way ‘missionaries’ are approved by the government. Still, the colonial lobby remains opposed to too much interference from your government, warning of economic consequences should too much meddling take place. What will you do about the commission’s findings?

-The situation in La Plata has continued to deteriorate. Toro rules an insane, crumbling regime in Cordoba, executing those deemed to be traitors, while a plethora of other forces have arisen from the ashes of his Catholic Republic. Liberalism once again is trying to blossom in the region with the formation of the United Provinces of La Plata at Bahia Blanca. Paraguay has declared its independence outright. There are whispers of other warlords arising or even an attempt by the liberals to crown Henry V & I as the sovereign of the region in absentia. Perhaps the time for noninvolvement has come to an end? Or will you allow the situation to continue unanswered until both the Andean Free State and Colombia are handled? What will Brazil’s course of action in regards to regional politics be?

[Spamage]

Commonwealth of Louisiana

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Louisiana is in a fight for survival. Mexico has not only betrayed your former friendship, but also the dynasty. Their assault has gotten as far the Brazos River, your government mobilizing men in a desperate defense of the homeland. The fighting there has slowed to a crawl, effective defense networks creating a broad frontline. Yet, your own ambitious raid towards Mexico City was undercut by the loyalty of the lower classes to the ‘Red King’. With fighting likely to continue into the next year, how will you handle the war effort? Though you were not a signatory in the Treaty of Trois-Rivieres, there were likely be consequences from your use of Mustard Gas as well. How will these be overcome to guarantee your victory?

-The forming of a coalition with the CeC, coming as it did with the outbreak of the Mexican War, has effectively given the Crown a free hand to dictate what measures go through the National Assembly. You possess an ironclad majority; the next step is putting it to work. Some of your advisors believe that emergencies require strong leadership and there are many calling for drastic action on the domestic front, including the suppression of the CNP, that group already in disarray with the arrest of their secessionist leadership last year. Yet, more moderate wings of the ULP remind you this would erode the democratic traditions that have defined the Commonwealth so far in its history. Others believe you should use the opportunity to push through social reforms long promised, but left unfulfilled in the past several decades, inspired by the Fair Deal of the 1880s. What will be your actions in regards to domestic politics in 1901?

-Your search for brides for the young Prince-Emperor Henry-Philippe has resulted in several suitable matches. Perhaps a royal wedding could be used to patch up some of the strained ties with your European cousins in the aftermath of that unfortunate incident with mustard gas last year? Princess Therese of France is one of Louis XX’s middle children, just a year younger than Henry-Philippe. Princess Theodora of Greece has Scandinavian and Austrian heritage, in addition to being a member of the Greek Royal family. She too is just a year younger than Henry Philippe. Other options of a similar age include Princess Jadwiga of Poland, Princess Augusta of Prussia, and Princess Eleanora of Saxony. Any would undoubtedly be lucky to wed into the illustrious House of Bourbon-Orleans. 

Kingdom of Mexico

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-War has commenced. Clearly only one of Mexico or Louisiana can be triumphant on the American continent, now the question is which. Your men have seized vast swathes of Texas, though the goal of reaching New Orleans proper was left unfulfilled due to domestic chaos and organized Louisianan resistance. As the conflict enters its second year, there are questions you must answer. Will you seek to bind this struggle to the Colombian-Brazilian War to your south, where France, Quebec, and Brazil have struck at your neighbor? Or is combining conflicts too risky, lest Louisiana bring in allies of its own. How will you prosecute the conflict in the coming months?

-Despite the war and domestic upheaval, much of the realm did participate in the election of 1900. The results, fittingly perhaps, have been somewhat chaotic. In some areas of the country the opposition refused to participate, resulting in a victory for your supporters with near unanimity. In others, when opponents of the regime were chosen, they made it clear they would not attend the Parliament in Mexico City. Other districts, such as those in Chihuahua and Durango, did not hold elections at all, damning the system for illegitimacy. Even the merchant councils, with their guaranteed 250 seats, fractured, only a portion taking their allocated spots. What will be the aims of the new Parliament? Will you select a Prime Minister? The breakdown of active members of the Mexican Parliament is as follows:

Mexican Parliamentary Elections, 1900: 3500 seats (1750 needed for a majority)*
People’s Alliance (Crown Loyalist, Socialist): 1821 seats
Absentee Opposition (Conservative, Liberal, and others): 491 seats
Vacant: 354 seats
Socialist Party of Mexico (Opposition Socialist): 218 seats
Merchant Council Seats: 184 seats
Catholic Alliance of Mexico (Catholic-Republican): 123 seats
Pan-Mayan Union: 58 seats
Non-Partisan Clerics, Admirals, and Generals: 250 seats
Royal Delegates: 50 seats
*-Only 1573 needed for a majority due to vacancies

-The Luis Reforms have divided the realm. The reactionary Army of Prince Guillermo formed to the north, chaos and betrayal ruled Veracruz, and discontented grumbles occurred throughout the rest of the realm. The Church is irate over the loss of control over education. Domestic price controls, coupled with the disruptions to global trade, have led to shortages of some goods and mass surpluses of others. The ‘Royal Army’ uses your name to commit murder on those they deem to have been economic parasites. Clearly, the situation in the country is volatile. How will you bring order to this chaotic realm?

Chinese Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Congratulations on your election, President Kang. Your term has commenced with quite a bang. The Chinese strike into Burma was nothing if not bold. Yet, now you have aroused the ire of France and, with the impending collapse of Mysore, you very well could find yourself facing that realm in solo conflict. There are also some wary about the prospect of other colonial powers such as Austria and Scandinavia joining the fray. Will you carry on the invasion of the French Raj? How will the war be prosecuted in 1901?

-The Socialists accepted your offer of a coalition, giving the government an 861-seat majority in the Lower House. In exchange for their support, they expect to see actionable steps taken to root out corruption, especially those local party bosses backing the establishment. Similarly, it is hoped the government will achieve some sort of social reform, even if it is ultimately limited to urban areas, given the difficulty of implementing policy in such a vast nation. This is coupled with your own party’s policy goals. What legislative actions will you take in 1901?

Kingdom of Naples

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The broad, perhaps overly broad, coalition you have assembled to govern Naples has taken charge. Prime Minister Tittoni was confirmed in office late last year and now looks to your guidance for domestic legislative goals. In addition to your extensive promises made during your horse-trading with the Worker’s Party, there’s the goals of the other political parties to consider. Regardless of what you decide, it’s clear the opposition is determined to be frustrating. The Legitimists have taken an abstentionist view of Neapolitan politics, declining to attend sessions except for during the election of Prime Ministers, while the Catholic-Republicans and Cross of Blood act like hooligans on the floor of the legislature. What will be on Naples’ policy agenda in the coming year?

-The Pope is increasingly becoming a nuisance with his attempts to interfere in Neapolitan politics. While your government has thus far respected Clement XIV due to his sacred office, the pontiff shows a marked sympathy for the Brothers of Giufe as well as the Philippist cause as a whole. Perhaps it is time to teach the old meddlesome man a lesson in some form after he has constantly denigrated both your father’s and your own governments. Some have even advised blockading the Vatican until he reverses his misjudgments, though this could merely increase tensions. Others have suggested a path of conciliation with the Pope and the Church as a whole, as a means to stabilize the situation. How will you handle the loudmouth pontiff?

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-War it is. The wretched triple alliance of Brazil, Quebec, and France has sought to murder you. Their cowardly surprise attack has savaged your Atlantic fleet and resulted in the loss of both the Panama Canal and the populated areas of Venezuela. Still, hope remains. The Brazilians have been holed up as Pisco and the Pacific fleet has survived. As the fighting continues and you cannot rely on mother nature to protect you forever. How will you prosecute the fight in 1901? Will you call on Spain and Britain, your historical partners, for aid? Perhaps cooperation with far-off China, a mutual enemy of France, could help to savage your deteriorating position in Asia…

-The war has solved one issue, the numerous parties of the National Assembly agreeing to form a Wartime Coalition. Even half of the LPC, with all of its subversive reactionary-socialist ideas, has joined the grouping, emphasizing loyalty to the Colombian Republic over aid to ideological allies. In an instant the paralyzed body now seems active and energetic. Ministers have called for legislation enacting wartime measures such as rationing, weapons manufacturing, and state requisitioning for the duration of the conflict, emphasizing the state of emergency. Will you pursue any of these? Similarly, how will the legislature keep the Colombian economy afloat while invaders storm the borders?

Turkist Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-A tremendous building effort has been inaugurated within the Turkist Empire, on an unprecedented scale. Your government has harnessed its vast control over society to get the Turkish people to work. Yet, there are some who wonder openly if foreign capital could prove even more effective in achieving an economic boom in Anatolia. Perhaps a loan is in order from a creditor nation such as New Holland, Britain, or Scandinavia? Or maybe your new Mediterranean allies could be brought aboard, partial ownership of the new enterprises in exchange for providing further capital? Will you seek an influx of capital to help amplify the economic boom and speed up the construction of new industries, or is it best to keep such matters in Turkish hands?

-For all his faults, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar was a capable ruler. His son seems to be made of softer stuff. The assassination of the old Shah has rocked the Iranian monarchy to its core, coming on the heels of decades of bubbling internal tensions. Will you capitalize on this crisis and launch as Second Ottoman-Qajar War? Or is this asking for trouble, risking your regime for an unnecessary imperial adventure. Whatever the case, with Scandinavia demonstrating an increased interest in Arabia, perhaps there is little time to lose. How will you handle the developing situation to your east?

Holy Union of Spain

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Linares, the Spanish people went to the polls to choose their delegates for the Constitutional Convention, a novel development after several decades of authoritarian control. The results have been fairly encouraging. In addition to your appointed delegates (45%), the ideological breakdown of the remaining half of the assembly is as follows: 13% hardline Catholic-Republican, 14% monarchist, 12% liberal reformist, 8% socialist, 8% various national-interest groups (Basque, Catalan). The body has now convened, preparing to draft up a constitution and it appears you will be able to cobble together a majority for whatever changes you deem necessary. You have discussed your wishes for a legislature, should it be unicameral or bicameral? How will seats be allocated? Is a bill of rights in order? What other broad wishes do you have for the new Spanish constitutional system?

-The Spanish people have been shocked by the brutal assault on your Colombian friends with no seemingly justifiable reason. The matter is even more important in Spanish consciousness because of the Treaty of Zaragoza signed last year which obliges Spain to “support [Colombia] militarily in the event of an attack from any foreign belligerent, upon the written request of the defending nation.” While no written request has yet been received, this could mean your government is on the cusp of war with France, one of Colombia’s assailants. Will you honor your end of the treaty, or are those who say that internal matters are currently more pressing correct and the treaty should be disregarded?

Confederation of New England

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Chairman Fitzgerald, your inauguration as leader has come at a time when the world descends into chaos. While past administrations may have had the luxury of avoiding conflicts far away in the tropics, the interconnectedness of the North American economy has meant that the ripples of this disorder has reached even New England. Your mercantile fleet has slowed operations, wary of trading in a Caribbean beset by warships, blockades, and embargos. As a result, mercantile firms are warning of potential layoffs on the docks at the same moment the price of many popular imports such as bananas, coffee, and sugar are on the rise. What steps will New England take to stabilize the economic situation? Will you leverage your naval strength by involving yourself in one of the myriad of conflicts?

-Your government managed to enact both the Immigration and Labor Acts last year, a tremendous way to open up a new term in office. Yet, the underlying tension between the ‘New-New Englanders’ and the ‘Old Yankee Stock’ continue. The different groups of the Confederation lead parallel lives, many Yankee elites wanting nothing to do with their neighbors. Businesses still practice discriminatory hiring, going so far as to continue the tradition of ‘No Irish Need Apply’. As the first person of Irish descent to take the Chairmanship, many in your voting base seek to put an end to this, perhaps through the passage of legislation barring discriminatory hiring. While undoubtedly this would enjoy the support of your party, its unlikely the Progressives or Centralists (those old Yankee institutions) would permit it through the Senate without a compromise. What steps will you take to reconcile these very different groups?

Durrani Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your internal reforms have struck a positive balance. Devout Muslims appreciate that, despite the reformation of the Army, the traditional exemption for those outside of the Ummah remains. The resumption of railroad construction signifies to many the seriousness of your government to improve internal cohesion. Most notable, however, has been the discovery of vast quantities of iron at Bamyan. Given the difficulties of establishing a mining operation, let alone obtaining equipment and constructing suitable transport for the ore, there are some who believe you should work with private capital from other nations in order to expedite the project. Indeed, other nations undoubtedly have more experience with this type of project. Will you welcome foreign private capital, seek to cooperate with a friendly regional government, or attempt to set up this operation on your own, thereby ensuring you keep all the profits. What is to be done about this potential tremendous source of wealth for the Empire?

-The assassination of Naser al-Din Shah, Scandinavian intervention in Oman, and the dastardly French conquest of your former Mysorean allies have caused great unease to spread throughout the Durrani Empire. Some fear your realm will be next, especially now the Congress of Copenhagen seems to be a dead letter. Astute diplomacy will be required if the realm is to survive and prosper. There are talks of closer ties with China and Russia as a means of countering France, though this could very well ignite war all on its own. More militarist advisors believe the only way to save the empire is to increase its strength, perhaps through a stunning intervention either to your east or west. How will you handle diplomacy in the coming year?

[Spamage]

Korean State

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Congratulations President Gwon, the Constitution of 1900 was adopted and marks a significant turning point in Korean history. News of the ratification was met with widespread public celebration, crowds lauding you for fulfilling the ‘Promise of 1877’. While the Peasant First Republic was ineffective and the military junta outright authoritarian, it is hoped that Korea can move forward at long last, a true Asian Republic along the lines of China and Russia. With ratification achieved and the document set to come into effect in a year, this will be a year of campaigning. Most are expecting you to formally run for president under the document and you will likely face token opposition, if any. More important is the upcoming legislative elections this year. You have thus far been fairly apolitical, acting as a neutral party between traditionalist conservatives, militarist and revanchist nationalists, reformist liberals, moderate social democrats, and many other ideological groups. As these blocs have begun to form actual political parties, many have wondered whose side you will take. With the legislature playing such a significant role in Korean politics, it is imperative they be in concert with your own views. Which political group will you lean towards?

-The reform of Korea's military and intelligence services is a pressing issue. The modernization of the armed forces has been a key part of your strategy to safeguard Korean sovereignty. However, with the rapid advancements in military technology and doctrine globally, continuous reforms are necessary. While Korea was on the cutting edge of military technology during the late Joseon era, intervening years have led to a stagnant mindset, especially when leadership was more focused on governing in the junta than technological advancement. Balancing the budgetary constraints with the need for a modern, effective military is a challenge. How will you ensure that Korea's military remains a formidable force in the region?

Army Strength:
Kingdom of France
104 division Army of Mysore
49 division Army of Panama
30 division Army of France
29 Army of Aceh
24 division Army Group 1
23 division Army of Haiti
15 division Army of Padania
5 division French Malay Army
5 division Army of Algeria
2 division Army of the Sacred Heart (Bengal)
2 division Army of the East Indies
(288/658 divisions possible raised, 44% mobilized)

Russian Republic
20 division Army of Kuropatkin (Moscow)
13 division Army of Krodatenko (Ukraine)
10 division Army of Ivanov (St. Petersburg)
10 division Army of Subotic (Vladivostok)
5 division Army of Dragomirov (Konstantingad)
5 division Army of Alekseyev (Circassia)
5 division Army of Mishchenko (Turkestan)
5 division Army of Linevich (Mongolia)
(73/635 divisions possible raised, 11% mobilized)

Chinese Republic
67 division Army of Burma
25 division Coastal Defense Force
20 division Army of Beijing
10 division Army of the South
10 division Army of Xi'an
10 division Army of Shanghai
6 division Tibetan Defense Force
3 division Burmese Defense Force
(151/590 divisions possible raised, 26% mobilized)

Habsburg Monarchy
10 division Army of Hungary
9 division Army of Lombardy
9 division Army of Ruthenia
8 division Army of Austria
6 division Army of Abyssinia
4 division Army of Bohemia
2 division East Africa Reserve
1 division Army of Singapore
1 division Army of the Sahel
1 division Army of Ningbo
1 division Gibraltar Garrison
(52/505 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Great Britain, Ireland, and Americas
15 division Army of the Mississippi
10 division Home Guard
7 division Army of Virginia
4 division Army of the Cape
4 division Army of Australia
(40/302 divisions possible raised, 13% mobilized)

Republic of Japan
15 division Army of Tokyo
14 division Army of Nagasaki
5 division Imperial Guard
5 division Army of the Pacific
1 division Army of Hokkaido
(40/268 divisions possible raised, 15% mobilized)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
5 division Army of Sweden
4 division Army of Hanover
4 division Army of Oman
2 division Army of East Africa
2 division Army of Cameroon
2 division Egyptian Expeditionary Force
(16/167 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Divine Republic of Brazil
46 division Army of Pisco
49 division Army of Matto Grasso
29 division Army of the Amazon
15 division Army Group 1 (Caracas)
(139/163 divisions possible raised, 85% mobilized)

Qajar Iran
8 division Army of Mesopotamia
4 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Azerbaijan
(16/160 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Naples
10 division Army of the North
3 division Army of Sicily
2 division Army of Tunisia
(15/156 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Union of Spain
10 division Army of Castile
5 division Army of Catalonia
(15/143 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Commonwealth of Louisiana
75 division Army of the Brazos
6 division Army of Veracruz
4 division Augustinian Volunteers at Veracruz
4 division Army of the Northern Territory
2 division Army of Cuba
(85/131 divisions possible raised, 65% mobilized)

Durrani Empire
5 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Herat
4 division Army of the Indus
1 division Army of Baluchistan
(14/140 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Mexico
54 division Army of Texas
15 division Army of the Llanos
15 division Army of the Big Bend
13 division Volunteer Force (Brazos)
8 division Army of the North (Sonora)
(90/117 divisions possible raised, 77% mobilized)

Empire of Quebec
20 division Army of the Pacific
9 division Quebecois Army of the Caribbean
5 division Army of Montreal
3 division Army of Vaudreuil
2 division Army of Hawaii
2 division Army of the Plains
(42/121 divisions possible raised, 34% mobilized)

United Provinces of New Holland
5 division Army of Batavia
3 division Army of Malaya
3 division Army of Willemstad
(11/115 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia
25 division Army of Colombia
2 division Army of Medellin
16 division Army of Peru
1 division Army of Malaya
(44/94 divisions possible raised, 46% mobilized)

Ottoman Empire
5 division Army of Ankara
4 division Army of Sinope
1 division Army of Cyrenaica
(10/103 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Korean State
4 division Army of the Capital
4 division Army of the North
(8/86 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Andean Free State
39 division Army of Peru
6 division Army of Upper Peru
(45/49 divisions possible raised, 91% mobilized)

Confederation of New England
5 division Army of Boston
(5/46 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Mysore
20 division Army of Mysore
(20/20 divisions possible raised, 100% mobilized)


Naval Strength*:
Naval Technology
First-Rate: This navy employs all of the latest technologies across its fleet including new tactics, equipment, and training. Truly among one of the best seafaring fleets in the world.
Innovative: New strategic ideas are planned and tested, further modifications have been made to equipment for more efficient operation.
Advanced: Ships are modernized and equipment is top of the line. Overall better organized than modernized fleets.
Modernized: Navy is at standard levels of development for time period.
Reformed: The naval equipment is near-modernized, though experience and training with new supplies is lacking.
Modified: Although still dominated by old ships and methods, efforts have been made to reform the navy, including the purchase of ships from more advanced powers.
Traditional: This navy still employs tactics, methods, and equipment from the 1870s or earlier. Limited sea capabilities and stagnant mindset.

Naval Size
Dominant: This power truly has a global naval reach. Advanced fleets at various points of the world and the ability to supply said vessels with relative ease. More than two hundred vessels in active service
Massive: Extensive naval reach, able to operate in most areas, assuming supply is secured. Around two hundred vessels.
Sizable: Naval reach includes most of surrounding seas. Roughly one hundred and fifty vessels, with the ports able to supply them.
Standard: Naval strength can be projected in the region, with further excursions when necessary. Around one hundred ships.
Limited: Several dozen ships. Extensive and long-distance operations are possible, but only on rare occasions.
Small: A dozen major ships, limited regional navy.
Nonexistent: Primarily applies to landlocked countries. No navy in existence.*

*-Not applicable for anyone right away


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (Innovative, Dominant)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Massive)
Confederation of New England (Innovative, Limited)
Republic of Japan (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Sizable)
United Provinces of New Holland (Advanced, Standard)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia (Advanced, Limited)
Russian Republic (Modernized, Massive)
Divine Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Standard)
Commonwealth of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Holy Union of Spain (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Mexico (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Korean State (Modernized, Small)
Chinese Republic (Reformed, Standard)
Qajar Iran (Reformed, Limited)
Turkist Empire (Reformed, Small)
Durrani Empire (Reformed, Small)

[Spamage]

1901 Midturn Update

A Sun Rises in La Plata
Habsburgs Enter the New World

Leopold I of the Pampas, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The liberals in La Plata received support from an unlikely source in early 1901. After secret negotiations initiated by Vienna, it was agreed that their proposed government would follow the Chilean formula. The Federation of La Plata reorganized itself into the Kingdom of the Pampas, proclaiming the establishment of yet another constitutional monarchy in the rotting corpse of Toro’s Catholic-Republican state. For their sovereign, the Pampeano people accepted Archduke Leopold von Habsburg-Ansbach, a cousin of both Emperor Maximilian V and Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry. The Bourbons and Hohenzollerns had entered the Americas decades ago, now the Habsburgs would have a realm of their own across the Atlantic as well.
   As had been the case in Santiago, the new king was welcomed by throngs of supporters upon his arrival in his new realm. Leopold gave a rousing speech, promising to protect the ‘natural liberties’ of his people and vowing that tyrants would never control the region again. From there he proceeded to the half-finished Church of Our Lady of Mercy, where Austrian priests (untainted by past associations with Toro’s regime) crowned him sovereign of the Kingdom of the Pampas. Some considered the half-finished cathedral symbolic, representing the reconstruction of the realm that would be necessary after decades under authoritarianism. Indeed, Bahia Blanco itself was a modest settlement of less than 100,000, overshadowed by the historic capital of Cordoba. It was hoped that under new leadership the nation would blossom once more.
   The Pampeano people would not be alone. In exchange for their acceptance of the new king, Leopold was escorted to Bahia Blanca by Austrian warships, which remained docked at the city to demonstrate the government would be under the protection of their Viennese patrons. These were accompanied by Habsburg weaponry, subsidies for restoring order, and military advisors to aid in the civil war. Closer to home came the happy news of the betrothal of the 48-year-old King Leopold of the Pampas with 29-year-old Princess Isabel of Spain-Chile (daughter of Henry V & I). In exchange for a pact of non-aggression and treaty of friendship, the Chilean House of Bourbon would tie its fortunes to the Pampeano House of Habsburg.
   Perhaps these friendships would not be necessary. The news of Austrian meddling was the last straw for the old government, Toro’s rickety regime and the Sacred Union of La Plata as a whole collapsing at long last as news emerged that the Pampeano forces were marching on Cordoba. On April 17th, 1901 the city erupted into riots, the mob taking out decades of pent-up fury on their tormentors. The inquisitors were massacred in the streets, La Platan soldiers deserting in droves. Statues of Archbishop-President Toro, the late Brazilian leader Andrade, and ideological founder of Catholic-Republicanism Pietro Verri were pulled down and melted by the populace. Toro would not give the people the satisfaction of doing the same to him, shooting himself in his private apartments just hours after the unrest erupted. As the city caught flame in the tumult, those that remained opened the gates to Leopold’s forces. Within the following weeks the last holdouts to the Catholic-Republican cause would either surrender, flee across the border into Brazil, or go into hiding. Only several small outposts near the Tierra del Fuego remain loyal to the old regime. Looking forward, many hoped that now the region would rebuild, the horror starting in 1898 hopefully nearing an end. Representatives from Chile, the Mapuche, the Pampas, and Paraguay have convened in Coquimbo, eager to finalize their new borders and cement the ties between their governments.
   While Chile responded warmly to the declaration of the Kingdom of the Pampas, not all powers have been overjoyed to see Habsburg intervention in South America. Some in Brazil, in particular, have voiced concerns about the developments, even if it is seen as a fair accompli. It remains to be seen how other powers will respond to the birth of a new monarchy in this tumultuous region.

The Unmaking of a Monarchy?
Revolution in Trebizond

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   As one monarchy was being established in the Southern Hemisphere, so another was toppled in the north. The Russian-backed Kingdom of Trebizond has been a survivor. Born from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, the realm had been established by the insistence of Romania and France in 1876, granting the Bourbons yet another prestigious and historic throne. Prince Joseph of Romania overnight became King Alexios VI of Trebizond. His accession was accompanied with the brutal expulsion of the Turks, thousands being forced west by the Laz and Greeks. Yet, the realm was soon embroiled in the Turkish Civil War, losing a significant amount of its territory to the resurgent Ottomans by the end of the decade. Only Russian intervention, and the subservience that entailed, saved the realm from total reabsorption.
   Yet, despite the initial joy over the reestablishment of the realm, the people of Trebizond were unimpressed with their sovereigns. While Alexios VI did try to govern in earnest, setting up various administrative agencies and working to establish a government, he also preferred to spend his time in the company of fellow Frenchmen, integrating little into Trapezuntine society. Upon his death in 1898, the throne passed to his eldest son Alexios VII.
   If Alexios VI was bland, Alexios VII was terrible. Coming to the throne just 22, he was ill-prepared to govern. The young man preferred the pursuit of pleasure to actual work. The palace was filled with mistresses and government accounts funded his luxurious tastes. Despite the realm being extremely distant from manufacturers, he had a new French automobile imported with which he would take his consort-of-the-month on tours of the city, honking the horn to scare horses for fun. Despite his poor behavior, the king felt secure in the support of his Russian patrons as well as his Romanian and French cousins. Indeed, ties with Romania were reaffirmed by the wedding of Princess Tamar (Alexios VII’s sister) to King Augustus II in 1900.
   The birth of a child to the happy couple, Prince Augustus of Romania, in early 1901, saw Alexios VII and most of his royal relations (mother and siblings) travel to Bucharest for the child’s baptism, the proud uncle named as godfather. In his absence the spirit of discontent stirred.
   With exciting news emanating from Russia, people following stories of the drafting of the new constitution with great interest, the spirit of discontent was in the air. The tax deadline of March 1st proved to be all the spark needed for a full-blown rebellion. Speakers in the streets damned Alexios VII and his greed, calling for a new era in Trapezuntine society. Within days, despite the best efforts of the local soldiers to keep order, the protests spread. Even clerics joined in, condemning the sovereign for his failure to take his duty seriously. While Alexios VII stirred, finally realizing the situation was grim, he was unable to make it back in time. He was on the Black Sea in his yacht as word reached him of subsequent developments.
   Lacking any base of support, and the King absent from the scene, the Bourbon regime cracked almost instantly. The token Trapezuntine military sided with the protestors, refusing to suppress the crowds. Many royalists would note the refusal of Russian soldiers to get involved, conveniently looking the other way as their supposed puppet regime crumbled. A joint Laz-Greek Liberation council convened in the capital, drafting a series of demands. Declaring themselves the “Free Republic of Trebizond” they formally requested admission into the Russian Republic, seeking to be covered under the new constitution. This only reinforced suspicions of Milyukov’s involvement, though no direct evidence surfaced tying the two causes together.
   Thus, Russia faces a choice. Naturally, there are many in the government inclined to admit the region into the Russian Republic in the spirit of democratic brotherhood. Still, the annexation of Trebizond would likely anger both Romania and France. While Louis XX likely cares little personally for his cousin, the realm of Trebizond was a testament to French prestige and the strength of his family. To allow it to crumble would be viewed rather unfavorably by staunch royalists. Closer to the region, both Iran and the Turkist Empire have watched developments closely. Indeed, many Turks still thirst for revenge on the Laz and Greeks for their cruelty. The idea of Russian control over the Black Sea increasing yet further has many alarmed. Georgia, Russia’s other puppet regime, has remained silent on the matter, watching but acting little. While Alexios VII, surrounded by those of his sycophants able to escape, would continue to issue royal proclamations on behalf of the Kingdom of Trebizond, he was been relocated from Bucharest and sits on one of Augustus II’s estates as an honored ‘guest’.

[Spamage]

Treaty of Mutual Guarantee between the Kingdom of Scandinavia, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Republic of Japan

The Kingdom of Scandinavia, the Habsburg Monarchy, and the Republic of Japan, hereinafter “the High Contracting Parties,” declare that their common purpose shall be the maintenance of peace, trade, and commerce in East Asia.

Article I:
The High Contracting Parties collectively and severally guarantee the maintenance of the territorial status quo of the frontiers of their territorial concessions in Hainan, Leizhou, Ningbo, Formosa, and their attached territories against all outside interference.

Article II:
The Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Habsburg Monarchy collectively and severally guarantee the maintenance of the territorial status quo of the Japanese Home Islands against all outside Great Power interference.

Article III:
In view of the undertakings entered into in Articles I and II of the present treaty, the High Contracting Parties undertake to settle by peaceful means all questions of every kind which may arise between them.

Article IV:
In case of a flagrant violation of Article I or II of the present Treaty, each of the High Contracting Parties hereby undertakes immediately to come to the help of the Party against whom such a violation or breach has been directed as soon as the said Power has been able to satisfy itself that this violation constitutes an unprovoked act of aggression and that by reason either of the crossing of the frontier or of the outbreak of hostilities immediate action is necessary.

xCharles XIV, King of Scandinavia and Emperor of Africa

x- President Tokugawa Iesato

[Spamage]

1901 News of the World

Royal Revolution
After Trebizond, Romania Forges a New Path

King Augustus II of Romania and his wife, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

  The Russian decision to annex Trebizond, rather than restoring the deposed Alexios VII, had dramatic and unforeseen consequences. King Augustus II, besides lodging an official protest on behalf of his brother-in-law, was convinced that Moscow would soon turn its attentions on his realm and undermine his monarchy. Not willing to step aside and let that happen, he decided to act, finally challenging the democratic concessions his mother had been forced to make during his regency. He was backed by the military.
   On October 15th, 1901 Parliament was surrounded by several battalions, the body being fully blockaded from the rest of the city. Prime Minister Ghica received a message from the Crown demanding the formal dissolution of the body. Ghica refused. While he was loyal to the king and a true conservative, he was unwilling to see any roll-backs to the Constitution of 1889. Thus, the building was besieged for several hours, the Prime Minister confident the people would come to his aid. He underestimated the broader frustration of the populace with the inefficiencies of democratic rule and the elitist nature of governance thus far. Little aid came, most residents of the capital merely contenting themselves to watch the proceedings from behind the military lines.
   In order to hurry along the process General Ioan Culcer had artillery shells fired on the building after nightfall. One even burst near the chamber, killing several members of Parliament who were off the floor of the legislature. The delegates, now fearing for their lives, hastily dissolved the body and surrendered to the Crown. While Ghica held out for several more hours, barricading himself in his offices, he too was forced by circumstance to yield.
   As dawn broke telegraphs were distributed throughout the country. King Augustus II declared a new day for the people of Romania. Denouncing liberal interference over the past decade, he promised substantial reforms to alleviate the difficult situation faced by many Romanian peasants. The government would no longer work for those few elites that had suffrage, but instead for the entire Romanian people. The Constitution of 1889, signed ‘under duress’ was to be thrown out. In a clear sign of his Reactionary Socialist leanings, he denounced the ‘bourgeois leeches’ and ‘tyrants of the estates’ that sought to frustrate true social progress. By returning to Orthodox principles and ending flirtation with modernism, Romania could thrive once more.
   Romania’s neighbors have expressed grave concerns over the developments. The global financial community has watched warily, wondering what this meant for their investments in the region. Habsburg Austria suddenly finds itself with a Reactionary Socialist realm now to its east, on top of France’s looming presence in the west. Some feel the realm is being encircled by the toxic ideology. Russia, whose actions helped to precipitate the crisis, has likewise watched Augustus II’s actions with alarm, refraining from direct intervention. Few missed the denunciation of liberalism as a repudiation of Milyukov’s ideology. Trebizond had been a key intermediary in Russo-Romanian relations. With it now a Russian oblast, some question if the governments will truly be able to effectively cooperate. In Bulgaria, the stress of the crisis was likely too much for the aged King William-Henry, who suffered a stroke and died on November 7th, 1901, leaving the throne to the 45-year-old Charles of Bulgaria. Charles publicly blamed Augustus II for his father’s death, increasing tensions between the two families.
   Only in France was the Romanian Revolution greeted with genuine enthusiasm. After decades of tenuous balancing between Paris and Moscow, it seems the Romanian government is now decidedly in the camp of Louis XX. Some have wondered if the Royal Revolution was not tacitly coordinate with Versailles, perhaps as revenge for Habsburg meddling in La Plata and Russia’s annexation of Trebizond. Only time will tell if the developments here will spiral further out of control.

A 'Great' War?
Britain, Colombia, and China vs. France, Japan, Quebec, and Brazil

John Bull Stirs

Battle of the Channel, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   For Britain the year opened with celebrations and peaceful intent. Queen Mary III wed the dashing Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton in Saint Paul’s amid widespread public acclaim. With this union it seemed assured that a truly British family would one day rule the United Kingdom once more. Many Scots, in particular, were jubilant while the broader English public leaned into the romanticization of Scottish life that had been in vogue as of late. The North Americans also relished the occasion, many American MPs crossing the Atlantic for the occasion. While peace and eternal bliss were toasted after the ceremony, the distant drums of war grew yet louder.
   London could not stand idly by and allow the mutilation of Colombia to continue unchallenged. Britain and France had been at peace since the end of the First War of the Grand Coalitions in 1763. They had remained uninvolved in one another’s affairs during the First North American War, the French War of the Regency, and the Scramble for Africa. Yet, to British eyes the French threats to their economic interests and the world order could be tolerated no longer. At Queen Mary’s request, with the assent of Parliament and Prime Minister Salisbury, the United Kingdom declared war on France, Quebec, and Brazil on May 15th, 1901. 138 years of peace were over. The bloodshed began at once.

Carnage in the Channel
   The British entry into the war triggered contingency plans on the part of the French. It was a mad scramble on the water. Both powers sent their fleets into the Channel, seeking to wrest control of the seas from the other before any side could seize a clear advantage. Battleships pounded one another in punishing volleys, the awful sound echoing from the White Cliffs of Dover to Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy. Civilians on both sides crowded the shores, watching the flashes in the darkness as the two foremost naval powers beat each other senseless. France launched ships from Pays-Bas and Normandy, while the British poured out of harbors on the Thames and Falmouth.
   Yet, the British held the initiative from the start. Royal orders specifically commanded more than half of the vaunted Royal Navy to be present, so important was deemed the necessity of a French blockade. The French Admiralty was already overseeing operations in the Caribbean, East China Sea, and Indian Ocean. War with Britain meant more actions in the Mediterranean and the Channel. Needless to say, facing the bulk of the largest fleet on Earth in a surprise attack, they could only do so much. The British Navy struck hard and fast. The French fought admirably, but vessels were forces to scatter as time continued to pass. Most returned to the safety of Bourdeaux, where they could be safe under the protection of land artillery. In a particularly awkward diplomatic situation, one crew ran their vessel aground right off the coast of Scandinavian Norway, out of fuel and seeking refuge. The men were arrested and interned by the government in Stockholm while it crafted a diplomatic response to both the British, demanding the handing over of the crew, and the French, urging their release.
   Britain followed up its victory in the Channel by opening up an incomplete blockade on northern France, from Brest to the Pays-Bas. While initial plans had called for a wholesale blockade of the French Atlantic positions, the survival of a substantial French fleet at Bourdeaux made including the Bay of Biscay seen as too risky. The Admiralty thus settled with the closure of Breton, Norman, Dutch, and Belgian ports in return for a stronger naval defense of the British Isles rather than overextending itself. Bourdeaux, meanwhile, was the sole major French Atlantic port left open to the sea. Yet, few are willing to brave the perilous North Atlantic now that war has erupted on the waves. French trade has been effectively halved, only able to trade by land or via the Mediterranean and Suez. The economic implications will likely ripple well beyond the French borders, market distortions already becoming evident in Spain, Austria, and Scandinavia. The British blockade also bottled up commerce along the Rhine, which flows through the heart of the newly-centralized Holy Roman Empire.

Pillars of Hercules Slammed Shut
   A mutual blockade at the Straights of Gibraltar emerged just days after the horrific carnage in the English Channel. The French fleet, operating out of northern Morocco, was ordered to bar the entry of British warships into the Mediterranean. The British, themselves operating out of their base on the Canary Islands, were determined to prevent the French from leaving the sea. What has resulted is an effective halt to all trade in that theater in an uncomfortable standoff. Though both powers claim only to be targeting, boarding, and inspecting hostile vessels, the severe delays and potential for mistaken identity have deterred most commercial freight from the region. Trans-Atlantic trade between North America and Europe has effectively ceased, barring the bold seafarers heading to French Bourdeaux, Spanish ports such as Vigo, and a far northern route via Iceland and south into Norway and Denmark.

Blockade of Quebec
   Yet, there were blockades on the western Atlantic as well. Operating out of New York and Norfolk, the British were similarly determined to teach the Quebecois a lesson. Empress Wilhelmina and her government could only look on with dismay as the Royal Navy fully barred the transit of ships out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On a scale unseen since the days of the North American War, Quebec has been placed under a blockade. Unlike in the past, when the British had to contend with similar blockades in Mexico, Louisiana, and New England, Montreal stood alone.
   The British fleet was extremely lenient to New England in this theater, eager to reassure them that they were a noncombatant. Still, even though the New Englander vessels were granted passage and could come and go as they pleased, there was little places available for them to trade, given the various blockades and active military theaters all throughout the planet. The already perilous situation of Boston, Nantucket, and Portland’s mercantile economies has tottered towards collapse. Whispers on the docks of worker’s cooperatives apparently emerged, some questioning if their government cared at all for their plight.
   Further to the south, smaller British squadrons surprised Quebecois garrisons at Trinidad and Puerto Rico, both islands falling into enemy hands in a fell swoop. Yet, with the Franco-Brazilian fleet still lingering in the Caribbean off the coast of Colombia, some wonder if these recent gains will be able to endure. Still, the development undoubtedly has been a morale boost for the beleaguered Colombians.

Battle of New Cornwall/Nouvelle-Cornouailles
   Britain’s actions would not merely be confined to the waves, the United Kingdom mobilizing for a conflict on land in North America once again. For the fourth time in roughly a century, the courts of London and Quebec find themselves at war. Despite its repetitive nature, this iteration was novel. Quebec had stood with its North American allies in the most recent two conflicts. Yet, with Louisiana fighting for its survival and New England caught between the two feuding titans, it seemed it would stand alone this time. While newspapermen in both realms would dub this the ‘War of the Women’, pointing to the genders of Wilhelmina and Mary, it was the men who would bleed.
   And bleed they did. Lakes Erie and Huron became naval battlefields at once, small vessels raiding the opposite shore as civilians scrambled to get off the bodies of water. By land, the British issued a push into their former colony of New Somerset, seeking to eject the Quebecois occupiers and redeem the North American cause. Quebec had prepared for such an eventuality. While the element of surprise gave the British an initial edge, much of the region falling in their push along the Plains towards the Mississippi, Quebecois defenders held the line in Michigan and established a frontline near Wisconsin.
  

The Sun Rises to the East

Japanese Soldiers Land in the Philippines, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Britain was not the only power to see opportunity in the crisis. The Japanese Republic had never forgiven the Colombians for their treachery. It had been to the Catholic-Republicans they were forced to cede their first empire in the Pacific, losing both the Philippines and New Guinea to the zealots. Now, in Colombia’s hour of need, they were succored by both France and Quebec. Tokyo was promised the prospect of revenge and restoring its position as a great power. President Tokugawa Iesato, eager to demonstrate the enduring strength of the nation, emperor or no emperor, declared war on May 17th, unaware that the British too had acted just a day prior.

Philippines Campaign
   Closest of home, and seeming ripe for the taking, the Japanese focused first on subduing the Philippines, taking over operations in that region from the smaller Quebecois fleet. Thousands of Japanese soldiers were disembarked at Manila, the invaders following up with landings all throughout the islands in the coming weeks. The restoration of the Japanese Philippines was proclaimed by a newly installed Governor Tokugawa Satotaka, brother of the Japanese president.
   The response of the inhabitants ranged from rage to despair. Filipinos had been willing to repel Quebec out of duty, expelling the Japanese was a matter of survival. After decades of independence, there was little desire among the population of the islands to return to colonial subservience. Even with overwhelming Japanese numbers, firepower, and training, the Catholic-Republican government of the Philippines resisted. Brutal fighting exploded in the countryside, the Filipino forces maintaining control of central Luzon. The Japanese, for all their martial glory, faced people desperate to keep them out. Both sides employed tactics deemed ghastly to outside observers. Atrocities towards the locals by the Japanese fueled the flames of continued resistance, while the brutal punishment of ‘collaborators’ alienated some Filipinos hostile to the old government. Still, attempts by the Japanese to capture the Archbishop-President in the initial invasion were foiled, Donato Guimbaolibot vowing the people would resist as long as necessary. Reportedly the cleric was living out of a remote cave somewhere in the islands, commanding his forces from hiding.
   Yet, not all on the islands were loyal to the old regime. The predominantly Muslim population in the southern islands had persecuted for decades under the Catholic-Republicans. Seeing in Japan a means of reversing their fortunes, many defected in this region. Parang and Iligang City welcomed Japanese occupation, thereby opening up the front on Mindanao as divisions poured south via ship from Manila.

Battle of Nauru & War in the Pacific
   Britain and Japan, two late entrants to a war (that neither had started) raging on the other side of the planet from either of their homelands, found themselves at odds, clashing in the Pacific when their mutual operations found themselves in the path of one another. This was a shocking development for each side. When London and Tokyo had each went to war, they only perhaps envisioned peripheral operations against one another. Yet, given the contested state of the Pacific, this was wishful thinking. The Battle of Nauru would force each side to alter its plans for the remainder of the year, having a chain effect that would see other goals elsewhere go unfulfilled.
   The vessels stumbled on each other wholly on accident. The Japanese were sending their initial invasion force down to Papua New Guinea to take over that campaign from Quebec. The British were steaming north, seeking to dislodge the Quebecois from the occupied Caroline Islands. It was an awkward and confused engagement. While the British ships were undoubtedly superior, they were fewer in number. Both sides scrambled to shell one another, battleships blasting away off the coast of the remote island.  
   Nauru was ultimately inconclusive, neither side willing to gamble on all-out victory. Japan carried the field, disembarking its men at New Guinea and relieving the Quebecois force there, but the British fleet remained a potent threat. Still, the northern squadron of the Royal Navy’s Pacific Fleet was prevented from engaging in a blockade of Quebecois shipping along the coast of Mexico as had been planned earlier. Instead, it played a supporting role to the other British squadrons aimed at restoring the Colombian position in the region. In a reversal of fortune, the Quebecois garrison on Fiji was shelled into surrendering. Secondary operations also saw Quebecois Polynesia fall into Anglo-Colombian hands. While Japan and Quebec controlled the north of the ocean (the Caroline Islands and Hawaii), the British and Colombians have successfully seized the south.

Galapagos and Ecuadorian Expeditions
   Quebecois and Japanese vessels rendezvoused at Hawaii. While the Japanese squadron was reduced as a result of delays caused by the Battle of Nauru, nevertheless, both powers felt confident that they would outnumber the Colombian squadron. They made for the Galapagos, hoping to relieve the fleet besieged at that port before then launching relief operations for the Army of Pisco.
   They had anticipated finding the bulk of the Colombian fleet besieging the port, instead being stunned by only a few token vessels, Bogota instead having elected to deploy its ships elsewhere in a stunning act of deception. Still, this gave the Japanese-Quebecois fleet the freedom it needed to land the French expeditionary force at Ecuador, engulfing yet another constituent republic into the horrors of war. Their efforts were costly however, the Colombians having deployed extensive minefields around their ports. The Japanese, in particular, expressed great reluctance to continue operations so far from their own theater moving forward, especially as more and more stray ships were either damaged or sunk outright by the minefields.

[Spamage]

Fight for Colombia

Anglo-Colombian Raid on Rio de Janeiro, 1901
(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

Propaganda War
   France was particularly unabashed in its sponsorship of malcontents and disorder. Propagandists flooded the countryside, proclaiming that the Archbishop-President was a ‘devil-worshiping pedophile who fornicates with a three-eyed, black-furred talking sow’. These turncoats argued that Federico González ‘bathed in the blood of altar boys and signed his name with ink of sulfur in the devil's black book with a pen made from the shin bone of a Catholic babe snatched from her mother's breast and slaughtered in a blasphemous Pagan human sacrifice.’
   Yet, this effort to demoralize the people of Colombia failed for two reasons. First, the passage of the Sedition Act of 1901 in the Colombian legislature preemptively targeted this exact sort of action, the regime willing to curb free speech liberties given the dire situation. French propagandists were brutally executed, drawn and quartered in some situations by vengeful Colombians. Indeed, the Colombian Church sponsored counter protests, framing Louis XX as the anti-Christ, the son of the ‘Jezebel witch Queen of France, Charlotte’. To most, especially as fighting reached Colombia proper, the Franco-Brazilian invading force was evil incarnate. The populace was willing to make grave sacrifices if it meant killing the attackers who had so unjustly assaulted the Holy Republic.

War in Colombia Proper
   The Battle of Colombia has been brutal. The masses of Franco-Brazilian soldiers pour into the region, countered by perhaps the strongest resistance on the part of the people ever before seen. Mass amounts of manpower were deployed by each army. Colombia, in addition to its own forces, was bolstered by the arrival of ‘volunteers’, similar to those observed in the Mexican-Louisianan War last year.
   Initial operations were a lopsided victory for the allies. While their offensives were repeatedly slowed by Colombian schemes, their sheer numbers and continued landings proved too much for most coastal settlements. The fall of Cartagena was a major coup, that city coming with the battered remnants of the Colombian Atlantic fleet, albeit not much at this point. Army Group 1 meanwhile sauntered across the coast of Venezuela as far west as Maracaibo, linking up with their allies and ending Colombia’s presence along the Atlantic Ocean.
   Yet, ‘God could not have made a safer country than Colombia’, the Archbishop-President reportedly stated to the people at the start of the year. Indeed, the invaders faced a daunting task. In addition to the already unfamiliar climate, they had to contend with intense local resistance, the destruction of infrastructure, harassment of their supply lines, disease, and the Colombian Army. Bogota, the sought-after target, was well-above sea level in the mountains, the only way to reach it being the long Magdalena River valley.
   Extended war perhaps tends to favor the defenders. In a true demonstration of Colombia’s resolve, infrastructure was completely devastated to slow the assault. Railway tracks were dismantled after Colombian troops had safely evacuated. Rivers were crowded with mines, some locals even using small-scale materials to deploy their own amateur copies. The most significant development came near the end of the year, when the dams along the Magdalena River, constructed to provide hydroelectricity for Bogota and Medellin in the 1880s, were unceremoniously destroyed as the allied forces attempted to move upriver, killing thousands of allied troops as they attempted to march south into the heartland. While much of the Colombian coastal lowlands have been captured, Bogota remains elusive.

Siege of Pisco
   The Colombians made sure that the Army of Pisco had no respite. Prior to the arrival of their naval relief, the besieged men were shelled from the sea and subjected to occasional low-level bombing raids by Colombian dirigibles. By far the most damaging development, and perhaps one that will set a worrying precedent, was the Colombian dropping of horse manure into the water supply. Among the already malnourished men, disease ran rampant. The region, already inhospitable, became intolerable. Thousands died as food supplies ran out and the leadership formally began to debate surrender, only refraining for fear that the Colombians and Andeans would massacre them outright. Indeed, the level of attrition here made the Brazilian losses in the Amazon pale by comparison.
   Yet, with word of an approaching Brazilian Army from the south, the Colombians made their move, numbers bolstered by the volunteers joining their ranks from some other power. A massive three-way assault commenced along the besieged settlement. For two days the sides did battle, extensively savaging one another. Yet, for all their fortifications, the defenders could only hold out for so long. Constantly shelled, starving, and ill, the remains of the Brazilian Army surrendered. Colombia had won a decisive victory, capturing dozens of Brazilian divisions that remained, the men being led to internment camps to the north in Peru. For most, life in Colombian captivity entailed better living conditions than they had endured in the waning days of the siege. While Colombia’s numerical losses had been significant, taking a whole Brazilian Army out of commission was deemed to have saved Lima and forestalled any enemy actions in Peru.
   Yet, the Colombian-Andean decision to focus on eliminating the force at Pisco meant that a second Brazilian Army of the Andes, was able to deal the Free State a crippling blow. La Paz fell, as did most of the urban areas. By the end of the year Brazilian forces had even reached the Pacific, ominously facing the recently victorious Colombian-Andean force to the north, fresh of its victory at Pisco.

Invasion of Paraguay
   While the Brazilians had eventually been willing to make peace with the collapse of La Plata, that did not mean they did not see opportunities to be had in it. Without so much as a declaration of war, Brazilian battalions crossed into Paraguay and began to seize control of settlements from the locals. The populace, indignant, fought back. Gravely outnumbered, many doubt that Paraguayan resistance can continue for long, that nation having only a brief period of independence before being returned to the Catholic-Republican fold. By the end of the year, the forces of Rio stand at the gates of Asuncion, most of the Guarani resistance focusing on fighting in the countryside rather than defending the meager urban settlements in the region.

Brazilian Surprise!
   Yet, the true destination of the Colombian fleet, absent as it was from the Galapagos, was uncovered soon enough. In a surprise development, it crossed Cape Horn, capturing the Brazilian Malvinas Islands. Several Brazilian divisions sent to occupy the extreme south of former La Plata found themselves accosted by the Colombians, who forced them to surrender. The surprise expedition swept north. Montevideo, the capital of the Cisplatine Republic, was bombarded extensively, spreading panic among the populace, wholly unprepared to be the subject of an assault. Already struggling with the influx of refugees during the collapse of La Plata, the regime in Montevideo buckled yet further with their inability to defend themselves from the attack.
   Yet, the true target of the expedition was evident soon enough. In concert with the British Cape Fleet, the Colombians appeared off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Holding little back, a full-scale bombardment commenced. Buildings caught flame, a particularly concerning explosion occurring at the docks as the oil tankards were struck by enemy shells. Flames whipped through the city, which descended into utter anarchy. Archbishop-President Cavalcanti himself had the good sense to flee the city for the inland, determined not to meet the fate of his liberal predecessors who had been killed in a similar strike earlier last century.
   Still, the Anglo-Colombian Fleet had little chance of holding the city, withdrawing in good order back to the Malvinas in the south and leaving the region greatly disturbed. Not everything would be good news for the British though, word emerging that the French had begun their own blockade of the Cape Colony in concert with the Prussian Republicans at New Potsdam.
   The Brazilian public had felt a sense of security around the Colombian war since its start. While the economy had certainly worsened, many people were willing to bear it so long as stories of national glory came from far-away battlefields. In one stroke, the Colombians brought the fight to the Brazilian homeland, shattering this sense of security.  With the economic situation deteriorating and the attack on the capitol, there are for the first time in decades public grumblings against the regime. In particular, the tremendous demands of mobilization are starting to show their cost as the conflict seems set to enter its third year.

CANAL SABOTAGED; INOPERABLE FOR “YEAR OR TWO AT BEST”
   The Panama Canal passes through varying terrain, requiring a lock system in order to allow vessels to enter, gradually be raised or lowered to the height of the next segment, and then eventually enter or exit the body of water. At the time of construction, the system was deemed a miracle of engineering, celebrated by the various builders. Yet, unlike the relatively level Suez, the lock system made for a relatively easy target. Under the cover of darkness in the middle of one night a series of explosions occurred at both the Pacific and Atlantic lock system. While the Atlantic section escaped relatively unscathed, thanks to inaccuracy due to the darkness, the Pacific side was severely savaged. The machinery for operating the canal has been rendered in operable and some of the absolutely massive gates have been left open, their water spilling and draining outwards. Local observers have looked on in horror, keenly aware of what the development means from the already skeletal remains of global trade and transit.
   Unlike damage to the Suez in the 1870s, this inoperability of the locks would normally be able to be fixed within a year or two, when proper equipment was delivered. Yet, given the perilous state of the global diplomatic situation and the unending conflict in the region, the possibility of dispatching a repair team, supplies, and materials seems extremely remote. Thus, the Atlantic and Pacific have been ripped apart once more, the only way to operate between the two by water being around the treacherous to navigate Cape Horn.
   Some soldiers on guard have sworn that aeronautic ships were seen in the skies above the dark, though no hard evidence of such bizarre claims has been substantiated. Others claim the explosions occurred in the water itself, blaming some sort of underwater vessels. Blame has been spread in every direction. The French and Brazilians were the ones operating the canal when the damage occurred, some thinking this was a way to avenge themselves on the Colombians. Those powers have blamed the Colombians, pointing to their willingness to blow dams and destroy infrastructure to slow the allied advance. The Mexican push into Brazilian Central America seemed suspiciously close to the occurrence as well, many noting Mexico’s past threats to blockade the canal and provide its own alternative. Yet, without hard evidence there’s also been theories positing a wide range of other powers as responsible. Panamanian separatists, Britain, Scandinavia, and Louisiana have all been accused with varying degrees of credibility. Regardless, the collapse of the Panama Canal is a tremendous headache for all the powers in the Americas, even those with Transcontinental rail lines.

Mexico Acts!
   Determined to show itself true to its word, and seeing an opportunity, Mexico launched a separate operation south into Brazilian Central America. Calling for a protection of the Panama Canal, they plunged into the lightly defended Nicaragua and Costa Rica, subduing the region in rapid fashion. While there was some vocal grumbling on behalf of the locals irritated by the military presence, in truth many felt little loyalty to the far-off Portuguese-speaking regime way off to the south. Perhaps rule by Mexico would be preferable to the decades of authoritarian rule by the Church?
   While the Mexicans were successful, the bold move catching the Triple Alliance off-guard, full occupation of Panama was held-off for the time being, there little appetite among Mexican commanders to engage in a scuffle with the French force garrisoning the region. Still, tensions between Paris and Mexico City have now escalated to an unprecedented level. Will the two American conflicts merge into one massive war?

Franco-Chinese War

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Fall of Mysore
   It had perhaps been clear since the start of the year that Mysore was doomed. It may have been the start of the war that was now engulfing Asia, but it certainly would not survive to see the conclusion, whatever that ended up being. The Sultan, trapped in his capital, was besieged by the French in an increasingly desperate situation. Seeing no other alternatives, especially despairing when news reached him of the Franco-Durrani Treaty, the Sultan of Mysore surrendered on September 10th, 1901. After almost 60 years of intermittent warfare, France had seemingly tamed Mysore completely. Eager to blunt the religious or nationalist appeals, the French quickly established a new puppet regime to govern their conquest. The Hindu Wadiyar Dynasty was restored to the throne of Mysore as Maharaja, ending the decades-long interlude of rule under the Muslim Sultans.
   As the last independent Indian principality, this represented a major watershed in the eyes of many. Staunch loyalists to the defeated sultan would curse the Durrani, calling them false friends for their abandonment of their onetime ally. Over it all, one question lingered. Would southern India ever be the same again?

Blockade of the Middle Kingdom
   China may have had the largest population of any nation in the world and a tremendous land force, but it also was severely behind in terms of naval capabilities. With the French decision to strike back at the Chinese came a tacit agreement with the Republic of Formosa for naval basing rights. While Japan publicly protested the agreement, arguing that Formosa ought to be neutral, many Chinese observers saw this as a fig-leaf, given their dominant position in the Formosan Republic. French ships poured out of the Indian Ocean, across the Strait of Malacca and into the East and South China Seas. From a base at Taipei, the vessels began to spread out and block all Chinese trade, save for vessels going to and from the various European concessions. Starting at the Gulf of Tonkin, within weeks the blockade extended as far north as Shanghai, then yet further to Tianjin. China was cut off from the Pacific and the various maritime trade networks the Republic had established over the past decades. While many protested, particularly New Holland who was hurt by blockade of one of their largest trading partners, little effort was made to stop it. The Austrians, Scandinavians, and Portuguese expressed their displeasure but did little, a sentiment becoming quite common in their diplomatic pronouncements. So long as their trade continued unmolested by France, it was felt that the East Asian war was not their problem.
   Yet, France sought a loophole in its agreements with the other powers. While it had been agreed that no shipping going to and from the concessions would be impeded, the negotiations said nothing about commerce by land. A series of French landing parties attempted to seize the land around Leizhou, Ningbo, and Macau, thereby impeding Chinese trade with the European powers. While the existing Chinese coastal defense force repelled the landings at Ningbo, there was success further to the south. Both Leizhou and Macau were encircled by French forces, who then seized any commerce bound for the outposts. The French scrupulously refrained from direct violation of Scandinavian and Portuguese sovereignty by giving the border a wide berth, but the fact remained that the cities effectively were forced into the blockade against their will. More severe was the prospect of food shortages in the concessions, as they had relied on Chinese produce to feed their burgeoning population rather than expensive European imports. Many in both Stockholm and even nominally friendly Lisbon have castigated France for the move, wary of famine in their possessions.

The Return of the Emperor
   There was no lengths France was not willing to go to in order to chastise the Chinese government for its perceived treachery. A figured almost wholly forgotten about, the Réncí Emperor, was returned to China via an elaborate scheme, fleeing his ‘refuge’ in Dai Viet dressed as a peasant under the cover of darkness. He was given passage aboard a French vessel for Calcutta, then embarking on a perilous overland journey in the company of roughly one hundred retainers through the eastern passes of the Himalayas. The emperor had been a young, headstrong thirty-year-old when he had faced the dual threats of the Korean Invasion and the Chinese Civil War. Captured by the Koreans, he had then spent several years in captivity, before joining the Joseon family in exile in Dai Viet after the Daeboreum Revolution. Now in his sixties, discontent after decades of dull exile and seeing one last chance to retake the throne of his father, he elected to follow the French plan. With him was an ample supply of weaponry, gold, and several dozen French soldiers. It was a perilous journey, through the extreme heights and remote regions. Alfred Le Chatelier, a noted French adventurer, led the trek. The party resurfaced more than a month later in Chengdu, keeping a low profile and moving north towards their ultimate destination.
   On October 10th, 1901, the Xing Dynasty was formally proclaimed restored, the Réncí Emperor being enthroned in the lightly-defended city of Xi’an, his old capital. With the central government so focused on operations on the coast and in Burma, little thought had been given to garrisoning the city. The populace of the city awoke to news of the emperor’s return. At first the people reacted with incredulity; many had believed the former sovereign deceased. It was only after several former palace attendants confirmed the identity of the aged man standing before them that true emotional responses began. The elderly instinctively deferred to their onetime absolute sovereign. Hundreds flocked to his cause and the city’s republican government found itself arrested before it had even become aware of the disturbances. As news spread to the rural populace, the people flocked to the cause of their old leader. The region had been a haven of pro-Xing sentiment, even during the dynasty’s perilous collapse.
   For better or worse, Xi’an was well on the periphery of the Chinese heartland and it took weeks of confusing reports before Kang Youwei’s government was aware what had occurred. By that time the movement had picked up real momentum, gathering the support of the numerous villages and smaller settlements all around the Qin-Ling Mountains.
   Yet, it must be kept in mind that this is not the China of the 1870s. While the Shaanxi Region has flocked to the cause of the aged dynast, there are many who look back on the Chinese Republic’s first three decades with satisfaction. Support for the Emperor is reportedly rather soft among the urban youth, many of whom know little other than republican rule. Indeed, of the Réncí Emperor’s dominions, Xi’an itself is perhaps the weakest link.

[Spamage]

Siam Enters the Fray & War in Burma
   It initially seemed as though the Burmese front would be quiet in 1901. Both the French and the Chinese dug themselves in, each side using elaborate fortifications along a growing frontline between them. They both assumed the other would attack, no assaults being forthcoming as they eyed one another warily across their defensive positions. France attempted to spring an elaborate trap with mines and booby traps in the foliage, while the Chinese contended themselves with elaborate earthworks and defensive positions.
   It would be Siam’s sudden entry into the war that would get the front moving once more. Chulalongkorn, the king of that realm, had been less than pleased by Chinese talk in 1900 of freeing Siam and Vietnam from ‘reactionary, backward looking monarchies.’ When the French approached with suitable proposals, and after several rounds of negotiation, their joining the war was agreed. In addition to another source of manpower, the Siamese opened up a front to the south, surprising the Chinese with their assault over the border into Burma.
   The Chinese defended themselves well, but it was increasingly clear to commanders that they would be vulnerable to encirclement should the Thai and French forces attempt to link up through joint operations to the north. This was coupled with a numerical advantage for the Franco-Siamese Armies. Thus, an orderly withdrawal from the region was commenced. While the French lines would open fire when it became clear that the Chinese forces were retreating, casualties were scant, the hasty withdrawal aided by China’s forces using existing supply lines.
   As the French and Thai forces liberated southern Burma, there would be a series of extremely shocking discoveries. Amidst the Chinese supplies left over were numerous caches of ammunition and guns with Cyrillic writing on them. Further investigation revealed a striking similarity to known Russian weaponry. Many French colonial officials have screeched with fury about the prospect of Moscow supplying the Chinese Republic with guns and munitions employed against the French.
   Even worse, however, was the sabotage of facilities conducted by the Chinese before their departure. Yangon’s port was rendered practically inoperable by the severe levels of sabotage, minimizing its role as a supply hub in any further engagements in the region and preventing ships from docking in good order. The Chinese forces had also left behind booby traps of their own. Several dozen French soldiers attempting to go to mass in a liberated Catholic Church in Yangon were killed alongside the Burmese congregants when a bomb exploded. Likewise, the countryside was riddled with Chinese holdouts, using the remote terrain to their advantage.
   The main Chinese Army turned to face the invaders at a defensive position more to their liking, in the mountainous Shan highlands. While the French and Siamese have followed, the frontline shifting to this new area, the Shan hills will be a difficult region in which to launch an offensive for either side.

Chinese Guy Fawkes?
   In such a tense political situation, anyone within China possessing a modicum of French connections were under suspicion from the start. These fears were seemingly confirmed when a series of Chinese agents on the French payroll were uncovered in Beijing with stacks of dynamite and weaponry. Led by a strident Francophile, Duàn Zhaohui, the group had been plotting to set the city ablaze by exploding their caches and assassinating President Kang. Duàn had led an interesting life, working as local staff for the French embassy in the capitol until war had forced Paris to shutter the offices. The scheme was certainly elaborate, but betrayed interestingly enough by a Black Banner ultranationalist who had infiltrated the group. Duan and his dozen or so coconspirators were caught in the city’s sewers. Their attempt to destroy their evidence was, in the eyes of the public, comedically thwarted by when the leader slipped in the sewage, falling into the authorities’ hands. The scant western press corps in China has dubbed the event the ‘Chinese Gunpowder Plot’. The conspirators were incarcerated well away from the city where they confessed to having received direct orders from French intermediaries before being summarily executed for treason. 

French Landings and Fall of the Capital
   The main thrust of the French war against China would not occur in Burma, like most had predicted, but instead in a surprise assault against the Chinese heartland. Indeed, the ‘Chinese Gunpowder Plot’ would later be seen to have presaged the landing and deployment of thousands of French soldiers on the Chinese mainland
   Initial landing parties disembarked at Rizhao and set about securing Weifang and Linyi. Their operations were slowed by the beefed up Chinese Coastal Defense force, providing the central government in Beijing valuable time to assess the situation. Still, the sheer number of French arrivals proved overwhelming for the Chinese, who temporarily disengaged. In the meantime, the French captured both Weifang and Linyi, eventually securing the Shandong Peninsula in coming days. Their activity in the first few weeks then shifted to a dart northward, hoping to capture Beijing and decapitate the government in one stroke. President Kang was no fool however, and had relocated all essential operations to Wuhan, well within the center of the republic. He lingered on in Beijing for several days himself, only leaving the capitol when news reached him of the French moves. Despite a spirited effort on the part of the invaders to locate the president, even arresting dozens of men deemed to resemble the Chinese leader, President Kang resurfaced in Wuhan within several days and vowed to fight on.
   The fall of Beijing is undoubtedly a blow to the Chinese war effort, though Kang was quick to dismiss it in his address to the national assembly, reminding them that ‘the Koreans had occupied Beijing too’. The city meanwhile, witnessed the unusual sight of the French white field of fleur-de-lis being unfurled atop the Qing Era Forbidden City. France had come to China and the republic would be fighting for survival on its own soil once more. Was the republic strong enough to endure?

The Harmonious Union
   The French invasion of Chinese soil, and the reappearance of the old emperor in outlying Xian had broad implications for Chinese politics. In a moment the situation was thrown up in the air. Factions such as the virulently anti-European Black Banner Movement, seethed at the arrival of ‘barbarians’ in the Middle Kingdom. In their anger they joined with the government, pledging to nominally support the regime for the duration of the war and volunteering in droves. All throughout South China, a mass movement among these extreme nationalists riled up the populace and called on the people to resist the invaders at any cost. Any sort of disunion within the national assembly has been quieted, the parties from left to right locking arms in the face of this blatant foreign incursion into their homeland, opposition leaders calling for a ‘Harmonious Union’ in the face of the chaotic French maelstrom.

Parties, Elections, and Politics II

(Source: Made by Me)

Holy Roman Empire
   Perhaps a bit overshadowed in the brewing global crisis was the first election to the Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire. Occurring in July 1901 it came after the state of general warfare had become known, but before more horrifying details such as the damage to the Panama Canal and British blockade of France became known. The results were, perhaps typically given the nature of the Empire, complicated. A wide variety of parties had competed and a wide variety would be represented in the body. While the predominantly Catholic Conservatives would undoubtedly form the core of any subsequent Imperial government, thanks to the system’s total bias in their favor due to the presence of the noble Knights, they lacked a majority and would have to form a government in league with some of the other political factions.
   Of these there were many. Protestant rural conservatives, eager to preserve their religious identity and advocating for a weak central government, rallied together under the banner of the Pietist Party, more popularly referred to as the ‘Lutheran Coalition’. This group dominated in Prussia, Silesia, and most nominally Protestant areas of the Reich, especially those fed up with extremist politics after decades under the Hohenzollerns in their prime. Yet, the other predominantly Protestant political movement took a very different form. Dubbing itself the “German People’s Party”, the nominally anti-Scandinavian German nationalists overperformed in Hanover and Pomerania. While not advocating for outright Prussianism, as such a move would be illegal, the movement sought to ensure a strong Empire to balance the overarching control of Stockholm in their daily affairs. They were solely an Imperial Party, not contesting Scandinavian local elections. The United Liberals benefitted from being competitive in almost every corner of the Empire. While many liberal seats were won by narrow margins, especially in races where their candidates faced four or five opponents, a win was a win. The League of German Socialists overperformed expectations, thanks to a strong performance in coal-mining regions and the growing industrial portions of the Empire. Yet, this alliance was rather loose, containing everything from borderline reactionary socialists to moderate social democrats to socialist republicans. As one critic put it, the party was ‘everything to everyone in different ways.’
   Beyond the ideological parties were the various national interest groups, aiming to give their people a seat at the table in a German-dominated institution. The Czech, Pole, Slovene, and Sorbian interest groups combined managed to carry 31 of the 400 elected seats, a respectable showing, even if it was diluted further thanks to the seating of the Imperial Knights.
   Now the Reichstag would have to determine what it truly stood for and how it would operate. No doubt 1902 would be a crucial year in setting both the tenor of the body and broader political norms in the aftermath of the Third Imperial Reform. Would the Diet become a laughingstock like the Regensburg Perpetual Diet had been, or something more effective?

New England
   Amidst the global carnage, positive news emerged out of New England, the Confederation making history with its approval of female suffrage. Passed through a broad cross-partisan coalition, the legislation was historic. While Mexico had legalized women’s right to vote in 1900, the war and domestic civil conflict had many questioning the legitimacy of that election. Similarly, Maria the Mad of Portugal had likewise sought to enfranchise the women within her realm during the 1790s, shortly before her overthrow. With New England the first republic has taken this major step. 
   Chairman Fitzgerald hosted a wide variety of activists for whom the cause was very dear at his signing of the bill. In peak symbolism, the ceremony occurred in the shadow of the still under construction State of Liberty donated on the part of the Russians, the statue clad in a kokoshnik looking down as her counterparts received equality before the law. Susan B. Anthony, a lifelong New Englander, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a New Englander by virtue of the Adirondack Annexation, both were present. They praised the wisdom of the chairman and pledged their vocal support for his reelection in 1905, joining him on a whistlestop tour of the republic to celebrate the development. While some have vocally criticized the move, in general the mood has been one of surprising elation, many perhaps realizing how long overdue to the development truly was. Would other realms take note?

Korea
   It had initially been expected that the first Korean elections would be rather perfunctory. Indeed, given First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon's popularity as a result of the promulgation of the new constitution and the general loosening of the autocratic controls over Korean society, it was believed a new day was dawning. Yet, the matter of the constitution would eventually become a background issue in the campaign, Korea finding itself caught in the middle of a chaotic diplomatic situation in 1901. With the Franco-Chinese War raging to the west, a French blockade barring Korean commerce with their largest trading partner, and Japan's campaign in the Philippines came economic and diplomatic challenges for the young government.

Korean Presidential Election, 1901
First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon: 3,892,764 (90.42%)
Ambassador Lee Hoe-Yeong 412,568 (9.58%)

In the presidential election, Gwon faced token opposition from Ambassador Lee Hoe-Yeong, though it was merely a symbolic challenge in order to emphasize the newly democratic nature of the Korean system. He was truly the people's choice to lead them through the next five years. A more varied result occurred in the National Assembly vote.

Korean National Assembly Election, 1901 250 seats (125 needed for majority)
Liberal Party of Korea: 94 seats
Korean National Party: 77 seats
United Popular Front: 47 seats
Peasant Socialist Revolutionary Party: 32 seats

Gwon's party fell just short of an outright majority, thanks in large part to a last-minute surge by the militaristic Korean National Party. With such a precarious diplomatic situation, the electorate flocked to a party that championed the armed forces and made many voters feel safe. By the same token, the war was seen as much more challenging for both the conservative United Popular Front and Socialist Revolutionary parties to overcome. The President must now assemble a coalition of he is to truly achieve his goals in the coming years.


Spain

   While many celebrated the new era in Spain with the easing up of authoritarian rule and the implementation of a constitution, it had not fully been evident how truly divided the populace was. Following ratification, a spirited campaign erupted in the normally subdued nation. It seems that some of the issues dating all the way back to the First Spanish Republic in the early 1870s continue to this day, namely the lack of any clear ideological or political majority. When the votes were case the liberals had triumphed, yet were well short of the 400 seats (393 in truth, given the Anarchist refusal to participate in the body).

1901 Spanish General Election, 800 Seats (400 Needed for a Majority)
Liberals, Republican: 153 seats
Conservatives, Monarchist: 120 seats
Hardline Catholic-Republicans: 118 seats
Conservatives, Republicans: 89 seats
Socialists, Republicans: 70 seats
Moderate Catholic-Republicans: 65 seats
Catalan National Interest: 56 seats
Reactionary Socialist, Monarchist: 44 seats
Basque National Interest: 36 seats
Castilian Supremacists, Republican: 25 seats
Anarchists, Abstentionist: 15 seats
Galician National Interest: 9 seats

   The result was so fractured for a variety of reasons. After decades under the old Catholic-Republican system, many regions had become accustomed to broad autonomy, something reformed in the new constitution. Thus, there was a ready base of support for the regional interest groups. Ideologically, Spain had swung from Kingdom to Republic to Catholic-Republic over the course of the past century. It was only natural that each group would continue to wield significant political influence in the minds of the electorate. The Monarchist Conservatives have been aided in particular by the success of the former King Henry V in Chile, absence making the heart grow fonder. After Naples' election fraud, there are also many Spaniards concerned that foreign powers may have meddled. President Tristany will have to horse-trade his way into a government or perhaps call another election if he is to get a pliable majority in the body. 1902 will undoubtedly be yet another novel year in this newly-opened Spanish political scene.

A Night at the Opera
Russia Rocked by Political Assassination

The Bolshoi Theater, Site of the Bombing
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   August 31st, 1901 seemed a normal night in Moscow. Russia was at peace, a rare island of stability in a world increasingly engulfed in conflict. The populace seemed willing to make the most of the situation, the whole city out and about, enjoying the splendid summer evening. At the Bolshoi Theater, the Russian Premiere of Puccini’s ‘Tosca’, an opera set during the collapse of Pietro Verri’s regime and the chaos in Rome, was talk of the town. Dozens of major political figures were in the stand. Prime Minister Lvov, Foreign Secretary Mikhail Suvorin, and Chairman Muromtsev were all seated together with their wives in a box. President Milyukov had been due to attend as well, delayed by pressing reports of the current situation in China. Even part of the opposition was present, both the right-wing Nikolai Markov (the co-chair of the Nevsky Front) and Peter Struve (more moderate socialist) were also seated in the illustrious hall.
   The evening progressed as normal until an explosion at the end of the Second Act burst amidst the crowded theater, the lights cutting out and screams of pain and confusion spreading. The building cleared in a panic as the Moscow police attempted to restore order. A fire erupted in the aftermath of the blast, set pieces going up in flames. There was little doubt the explosion was intentional. It took hours to restore order to the blaze, severe damage being done to this prized Russian construction.
   When the smoked cleared and the dead were counted, more than a dozen had been killed and roughly thirty severely wounded. Muromstev, Lvov, and Suvorin’s wife had perished. Suvorin himself and the wives of the two dead men had been spared, stepping out to partake in drinks prior to the start of the second act. Markov too had been injured, severe burns on his skin. It was only in the following hours that a broader understanding of the attack took place, Milyukov himself supposed to have been in attendance. Someone had wanted to the President, and his government, dead.
   The initial investigation has revealed little evidence, but the public has run wild with theories. The left blames the right and the right blames the left. The attack has been an excuse for the latest round of street scuffles between the various extremists. Some have framed the military or spies hired by the House of Romanov. Foreign powers have been blamed, Russian nationalists eyeing France, Scandinavia, and Austria warily. Whoever it was had covered their tracks it seems. Immediately there were calls by many for a thorough investigation and brutal punishment for those who sought to break domestic peace.

[Spamage]

Trouble Among the Qajar

The Hapless Shah and his Advisors, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Armenian-Kurdish Feud
   The Armenians and Kurds had a long and checkered history, dating back centuries. Each of their fortunes had ebbed and flowed, the two nations witnessing the rise and fall of numerous powers in their neighborhood. They had both been independent realms, vassals, and provinces at various points. Yet, despite their shared history, there was little love lost between the two peoples. Racism, religious differences, and different economic circumstances made for a relatively tense relationship.
   Yet, outright feuding had been avoided for decades under Qajar rule. Naser al-Din had been a watchful ruler, keeping those seeking to breach the peace in check and using the specter of an Ottoman resurgence to keep both obedient. It was in his last year that the normally wise sovereign made a rare misstep that brought unrest to the region and caused sparks to fly.
   Eager to shore up his position in the Caucuses, the Shah had proposed to annex the Armenian Kingdom under direct Iranian control in return for a generous compensation of local elites and continued local administration. The Armenians had been perhaps a little reluctant, only agreeing after Naser al-Din promised the transfer of Diyarbekir to their control. The city was nominally Armenian populated in a Kurdish region. The Kurds themselves were bought off through the transfer of all the lands on the border with the Turkist Empire to their control. With this, it was hoped to create a buffer to future aggression from Anatolia.
   Yet, while the agreement seemed perfect on paper, it was more complicated in practice. From the start feuding erupted between the Kurds around Diyarbekir, resenting their lowered status, and the newly haughty Armenians. Scuffles turned into brawls that turned into feuds. Dozens were killed within months of the formal land transfers, as families in either nation vowed revenge. Both sides appealed to the central government and Sultan Mozaffar to do something, but he dithered, fearing showing too much favor to one side would alienate the other. The result was a growing conflict well-within the borders of the Qajar Empire.
   Yet, beyond the internal implications of the unrest, was broader geopolitical concerns. Both Russia and Turkey had been unaware of Iran’s decision to annex Armenia, a key historical region. Mozzafar belittled their ambassadors, claiming the matter was an ‘internal affair’ and arguing it was akin to the Russian annexation of Trebizond. Tensions in the Near East ratcheted up further.

Battle of Al-Shinan & Aftermath
   A decisive blow was struck against the Rashidi Arabians at the Battle of al-Shinan on July 5th, 1901. The Saudis seemingly abandoned their nominal Omani allies to their fate, determined to wrest control of the Arabian Peninsula from their historic enemies once and for all. The two sides clashed in the middle of the desert, both Emirs Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud and Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid on the field themselves. The engagement turned in favor of the Saudis through a shift of the winds and the deployment of heretofore concealed Turkish weaponry. The Rashidi, largely abandoned by the indecisive and incompetent Shah in far-off Tehran, were shredded by concealed machine gun fire. Muhammad himself fell on the field of battle, throwing his cause into disarray at the most inopportune moment. In the following weeks tribes would defect to the Saudi cause as much of the moribund Kingdom of Arabia joined Abdul Rahman. Yet, some fear the triumph has been counter-productive, as the indolent Mozaffar stirring at long last.
  
Dynastic Drama
   The Court of Tehran rapidly descended into paranoia and intrigue throughout 1901. Most had known Mozaffar was not necessarily cut of the same cloth as his father had been. They were unaware of how truly ineffective he was. While the Kurds and Armenians feuded, the Scandinavians encroached in the region, and the Rashidi satellite realm was fighting for survival, the Shah refused to commit men to any front, wary of destabilizing the realm yet further. His elder brother Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan attempted to restore some sanity to the situation, leaving his base at Ishfahan alongside some retainers to bring his brother to his senses in late July. Yet, in this the paranoid Mozaffar saw a plot against his life. Retainers in his circle filled his head with the idea that his brother, the longtime favorite of his father and the public, was coming to topple the government.
   Thus, Mass’oud was promptly arrested upon his rival in the city, his retainers scattered or incarcerated themselves. Mozaffar sealed the gates of the palace, having his guards thoroughly inspect anyone entering or exiting. Kamran Mirza, the younger brother of the two feuding Qajars, elected to flee Tehran for Mashad, where he refused summons for his return. Many suspected the Durrani at least of nominally protecting the rogue prince, who vocally questioned his brother’s actions and called for the release of Mass’oud.
   It was at this moment that the liberal cause in Iran became public once more. Thousands took to the streets to protest the clear incapability of Mozaffar to govern. The reformists came from many quarters in society, ranging from clerics to the growing western-educated ideologues. Matters were not helped by a growing economic malaise caused by a decline in commerce with Scandinavia and China. Yet, at the end of the day, the regime was still willing to use force to bring about order, still loyal battalions of the ethnic minorities such as the Cilicians and Alawites opening fire and dispersing the mobs before the situation spiraled out of control.
   Yet, it seemed initially the unrest was a wake-up call for the weak and indecisive sovereign. Divisions were tasked to Arabia, where they were to shore up the threatened Iranian control over Hejaz and the eastern coast of Arabia before full-scale intervention into the Arabian interior. Likewise, divisions were sent as a peacekeeping force to stop the growing feuding between the Kurds and Armenians, hundreds of locals dead in the brutal low-level conflict between the two substates. With the reformists sulking in the shadows, nursing their wounds and cursing the shah, many wonder if this pivot is too little, too late?

American Carnage

Louisianan Troops Training for Combat, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Liberia & California
   King Luis II called on the Liberians to rise and end their subservience to New Orleans. Only by shattering the Commonwealth could the Black Louisianans truly achieve full self-determination, Mexican propaganda smuggled into the region stated. Indeed, there was a substantial internal divide in how to proceed. Many Liberians were excited to see the whites humbled with their loss of much of Texas in the previous year. Still, Mexico was not viewed as a reliable partner, the Luis Reforms exceptionally off-putting for the majority on the Great Salt Lake.
   Yet, the regional government in Freetown remainder staunchly in favor of the established order. Warning of Mexico’s socialist radicalism, incumbent Governor Byron Gunner refused to entertain the prospect of defection. Other elements sought to challenge this, though an attempted coup by the Black Socialist Liberation Army, a paramilitary group operating out of the Wasatch Range, was foiled on September 20th, 1901. The militia had attempted to march on the Liberian capital and arrest the assembly, losing in a firefight to the police and the small Louisianan Army garrison. Those captured following the scuffle were arrested and executed, while surviving BSLA members fled back into the mountains to continue low-level resistance.
   Further to the west, Mexico was largely unchallenged as it pushed into California, the 10 divisions meeting token resistance as they pushed along the coast northwards. While unease in San Francisco has grown, the people of the west coast wary of the radical Mexicans nearing their largest city, there was little interest on the part of the Mexican command on taking the settlement, at least for the time being.

Battles of St. Vrain (Denver) and De Bore (Dallas)
   The key offensive along the Mexican-Louisianan front occurred north of the Brazos River. Mexico sought to bypass the growing mutual entrenchment along the Texan river by bypassing it entirely. One force struck north, hoping to seize St. Vrain and the surrounding region, thereby cutting Louisiana in half and sparking a rebellion in Liberia. A second force moved along the Red River, hoping to pound the Louisianans and encircle their forces further to the south. Yet, Louis-Phillippe himself had sought to exploit the same opening in the frontlines, sending thousands of its own men on offensives in the directions of New Mexico and the Rio Grande. Given the open nature of this terrain, the result has been the two largest mobile battles yet fought between the combatants.
   The Mexican offensive into Colorado showed initial promise. The city of Pueblo fell on July 5th, cutting off yet another of the transcontinental rail routes between Louisiana’s western and eastern coasts. Yet, the Northern Pacific Line (analogous to the OTL Central Pacific) remained free of enemy control, barring occasional acts of sabotage by the BSLA along the Wasatch Range. As Mexico made to seize that line, marching north towards the city of St. Vrain, they ran face-first into the oncoming Louisianan onslaught. The Louisianan Army of Colorado was led by Prince Jean, the king’s younger brother. Taking advantage of the vast openness of the Plains, he lulled the Mexicans into a false sense of security after their seizure of Pueblo, emerging at once as they neared St. Vrain. Luis II’s men were caught off-guard by the initial artillery barrage. An aggressive pincer movement saw the Mexicans split in half and scattered in confusion. Half the force was captured, including Mexican General Gregorio Ruiz. The survivors staggered back to Pueblo, outnumbered and bracing for a counteroffensive in 1902.
   The Battle of De Bore would be largely inconclusive further to the south. The Louisianans had anticipated Mexico’s action, the two forces of men meeting on a vast, dry front in the middle of nowhere. While the sparse population meant that civilians were spared from the carnage that ensued, the two sides becoming locked in weeks of back-and-forth offensives and counteroffensives, the region was devastated. Supply proved to be difficult for the Mexicans, who had come over the Llano Estacado and lacked an integrated transportation system like the Louisianans, who were aided by their supply depots being close at hand. The Mexican command was forced to call off the offensive, at least temporarily, by the end of the year, having been unable to crack the shell of Texas in 1901.

The Second Border War
   Amidst all of the struggles on the frontlines to the north and south, civil conflict continued as well. Luis II dispatched 7 divisions to clean up the rebellion in Durango and Sonora. While the number of men was a significant boost, overwhelming the guerilla forces that were blocking the railroad north, the terrible state of the economy saw continued sympathy for the rebels on the part of the locals. The situation was perhaps illustrated best when Luis II’s men recaptured the city of Durango in late October. Upon entering the town they found it utterly abandoned, the populace having fled for the countryside to carry on the fight. Instead their supply shipments were raided and locals encountered proved wholly uncooperative.
   Matters were not helped by the brutality demonstrated on the part of Royal Troops. Combatants caught under arms were summarily executed and given no quarter. Subjects deemed to be aiding the rebels had their property seized by government patrols, driving them into either poverty or starvation. While the rebellion against the Crown has remained confined to the primarily white northern Mexican settlements, there are some who worry that the economic malaise could cause tensions to rise even among the King’s more loyal constituencies.
  
LeJeune’s March North
   It became readily apparent to General LeJeune and the Louisianan Army based at Veracruz that their position was growing untenable. The Mexican capitol, so close in terms of distance, remained out of reach. Rather than waiting to be boxed in and besieged, the commander acted on his own initiative. After receiving a small number of reinforcements from New Orleans, Veracruz was sabotaged and abandoned, the city set aflame as the Louisianan forces departed and the ports rendered borderline inoperable. The Louisianan-Augustinian force smashed north against the Mexicans organizing their initial siege of the city. Indeed, with the confusion, the forces of Luis II were placed in a reactionary position for the remainder of the year, shadowing the invading army as is moved one step ahead of them.
   Conscious of the need to keep his men supplied without a port of his own, LeJeune ordered his men to live off of the land. As his men marched north towards Tampico, they left destruction in their wake. Crops were trampled or stolen, while farm animals were requisitioned and slaughtered. Many of the Mexicans in the region were left in desperate need of food and supplies from the central government by the end of the year.
   Tampico itself was briefly occupied, looted, and sacked before the Louisianans made the wholly unexpected decision to turn inland. Finally, the general’s aims became clear, his strike towards San Luis Potosi indicating a desire to link up with the rebels in Durango and Sonora. By the end of the year he would be in that city, the Mexican forces on his tail, winded and undersupplied after having wandered through their depleted countryside for several months. While newspapers in Mexico City castigated LeJeune as a modern-day Attila or Alaric, in Louisiana he was celebrated as a bold war hero, willing to take decisive action in order to aid the cause.

The Louisianan Homefront
   In a shocking act of wartime censorship, the Columbian Nationalist Party was formally proscribed and suppressed. In a series of midnight raids echoing of authoritarianism, hundreds of members were arrested all throughout the region. Columbian Nationalist newspapers saw their printers smashed and party offices were firebombed. The civilians were stunned, but the show of force prevented any sort of formal action. Instead, their hatred was channeled towards local scapegoats, Black Louisianans being the targets of brutal racist relation, many white Columbians detesting their vocal support for the Crown’s actions. Still, already there have been whispers that the Columbians will not take this lying down. There is talk in the air of the 'Columbian Republican Army', though no such group has been in evidence as of yet.

[Spamage]

Gilded Ambitions: Concert of Europe Part V
Turn 3: 1902

Map of the World in 1902
(Source: Made by Me)

Cast and Characters
Kingdom of France: King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen (Dereich)
Russian Republic: President Pavel Milyukov (KaiserDave)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover (Ypestis)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Queen Mary III of Hanover (S019)
Empire of Quebec: Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti (Windjammer)
Commonwealth of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans (Dkrol)
Kingdom of Mexico: King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans (Laki)
Chinese Republic: President Kang Youwei (HCP & DevoutCentrist)
Republic of Japan: President Tokugawa Iesato
Kingdom of Naples: Francis III de Bourbon-Naples (GoTfan)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez (Kuumo)
Turkist Empire: Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha (Spiral)
Spanish Republic: President Arsenio Linares y Pombo (DwarvenDragon)
Confederation of New England: Chairman John F. Fitzgerald (OBD)
Durrani Empire: Abdul II Shah Durrani (AverageFoodEnthusiast)
Republic of Korea: President Gwon Jung-hyeon (oldkyhome)

Popularity
Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha: High, Divisive
Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen: High, Impassive
King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon: Moderate-High, Divisive
President Gwon Jung-hyeon: Moderate-High, Impassive
Abdul II Shah Durrani: Moderate-High, Impassive
Chairman John F Fitzgerald: Moderate-High, Impassive
Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez: Moderate-High, Impassive
President Pavel Milyukov: Moderate, Divisive
King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover: Moderate, Impassive
Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern: Moderate, Divisive
Queen Mary III of Hanover: Moderate, Impassive
President Kang Youwei: Moderate, Impassive
President Arsenio Linares y Pombo: Moderate, Impassive
King Francis III de Bourbon-Naples: Moderate, Divisive
Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti: Moderate-Low, Divisive

Economic Standings
Habsburg Monarchy: Strong
Turkist Empire: Strong
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate
Spanish Republic: Moderate
Russian Republic: Moderate
Durrani Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate-Weak
Republic of Japan: Moderate-Weak
Republic of Korea: Moderate-Weak
Empire of Quebec: Weak
Chinese Republic: Weak
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Weak
Commonwealth of Louisiana: Weak
Kingdom of France: Weak
Confederation of New England: Weak
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Very Weak
Divine Republic of Brazil: Very Weak
Kingdom of Mexico: Very Weak

Kingdom of France

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-France fights on, your soldiers showing élan despite dirty tricks and less than ideal conditions. In Asia, Beijing has been seized, the Chinese capitol now under French occupation. Further to the south, your landings have established a modest beachhead near Macau and Hainan. The war in Aceh continues, the sultan refusing to yield. In the Mediterranean your ships face a counter British blockade, while access to the Atlantic hangs by a thread at Bourdeaux. In the Americas, Haiti endures, albeit rather battered. France has found a new foe in the treacherous Mexico, while Colombia seems determined to use all means at its disposal to kick you out. With such a global presence in a chaotic world order, what will your strategy be in 1902?

- British blockade has had substantial effects on the French economy, both the Loire and Rhine closed. Brest, Le Havre, Caen, Antwerp, Ostend, and Amsterdam have all been forced to shutter their ports, thousands of men put out of work. For the first time in decades, there have been grumblings against your authority in the outlying provinces, many people fed up with far-off wars that have only seen their living conditions deteriorate. You will need to address two things in the coming year. How will you handle the economic damage to numerous communities affected by the blockade and continued wars? Secondly, what will you to about those whispering against the regime? Some say the Sons of St. Louis should increased in strength and given free reign to punish dissent, others are wary that extreme repression could only serve to harden the hearts of malcontents.  

-War is expensive and action must soon be taken to deal with the spiraling cost of all your various operations. While French soldiers have acquitted themselves well on the battlefield, such moves will be useless if the government runs out of money. While this matters little internally, where the king’s word goes, unfortunately foreign firms do not feel bound to follow French decrees and would prefer cash. There are a variety of strategies available to you in order to alleviate the cost. Taking advantage of the authoritarian nature of your rule, some advisors call for a onetime ‘patriotic requisition’, seizing the wealth of individuals for the greater good of the French cause. Likewise, you could simply raise taxes, though some fear doing so with heightened unemployment. Rationing on the homefront could alleviate some of the strains of war as well. Others believe it is time to start looking for foreign credit, either private or public. The European powers at peace, such as Austria and Scandinavian, undoubtedly would be able to help fund your operations, though such a move could leave you indebted to them in the longer term and deplete French bullion. Others have argued for private credit instead, by approaching banking houses in Switzerland or Germany. While you could extract wealth from your conquests, this would probably only be a shorterm solution to a growing problem. How will you ensure that your funds continue to flow?

Habsburg Monarchy

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Archduke-Regent, the global situation is more dire than your government had even imagined just one year ago. Britain has, for better or worse, elected to challenge the French efforts in the Americas, bringing tumult to Europe proper. France has done itself no favors in terms of public opinion through its attempted surrounding of Ningbo and reckless disregard for international norms. Romania, with its upstart king, seems poised to become a staunch ally to Louis XX. Russia, rocked by political divisions and attempted assassinations hardly seems the picture of stability. The Habsburg Monarchy been around for a long time. Yet, it never has perhaps witnessed warfare on such a global scale. How will you lead the realm through the year 1902?

-The first session of the Reichstag will convene in Regensburg this year, a major milestone achieved at long last. While young Emperor Maximilian will open the assembly, it will be largely up to you to fashion a majority in the legislature. Given the novel nature of the proceedings, it is expected that the first couple of years could very well set the long-term tone and influence of the body. Will it descend into an ineffective meeting of diplomats like the Perpetual Diet of the 1700s, or will the body become a major political force in its own right. Who will serve as Chancellor? What legislative pushes will be adopted? How will you deal with any situations where your own or Scandinavian legal codes conflict with Imperial laws? There is much to be done.

-The economy in Austria proper has shown surprising resilience, despite the onset of the Mediterranean blockade and absolute chaos all throughout other regions of the globe. Trade ports in Lombardy-Venetia still maintain access to your Asian colonies, for the most part, through the Suez. This is coupled with the fact that the realm is, by and large, not a mercantile state along the lines of Britain and Scandinavia. In fact, the Austrian trade balance has turned negative, an inflow of foreign capital resulting in substantial domestic inflation and relatively full employment. More alarming has been the situation along the Rhine, thousands of men thrown out of work by the collapse of the trade industry. Goods have become substantially more expensive for these Germans, the rail lines not prepared to handle the necessary diversions caused by the British blockade. Two issues must be addressed. How will you guarantee the internal economy does not run too hot and create a bubble? Secondly, what will the government’s response be to the economic distortions occurring in the Rhineland?

Russian Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Suvorin, nothing has consumed the attention of the republic so much as the attempt on your life. Two good men and one faithful wife have been slain by attackers unknown. The political scene has been rocked by the development, members of most of the political parties attending the funeral for the slain in Moscow. Above it all hangs the question of who is responsible. No groups have as of yet claimed responsibility, only serving to rachet up paranoia and concern. While there has been some political finger-pointing, the presence of such a broad swathe of the political spectrum at the ill-fated performance of ‘Tosca’ has given many pause. Even more unnerving is the prospect that someone outside of the Republic is responsible. French actions in China, including the attempted assassination of President Kang, have definitely aroused the suspicions of some observers. Scandinavia is a know intriguer and has intermarried with the Romanov’s. Perhaps even the hapless Shah of Iran was trying to preemptively prevent a Russian resurgence in the Near East? There are few leads, though many in the secret police have urged you to question anyone involved ‘sharply’, starting with the theater staff. Others believe for the good of the republic that you should seek to move forward, fearing what will be uncovered. How will you deal with the aftermath of the attempt on your life?

-Madness fills the world. The King of Romania has toppled his parliament and thrown out the constitution. The Qajar are proving increasingly inept in maintaining control over the Near East. France leads two invasions on opposite sides of the globe, the scuffle with Britain trashing Trans-Atlantic commerce. China has lost Beijing, the old emperor returning to the fray. Russia’s strength and neutrality undoubtedly give great weight to your actions this year. How will you steer the Russian ship of state during this diplomatic maelstrom?

-Russia finds itself in the rare and enviable position of relative economic stability while the rest of the world is in chaos. Aided by your extensive overland and railway networks, foreign trade has been little disrupted for the vast bulk of Russians, only port cities such as St. Petersburg and Konstantingrad experiencing any notable slumps. It seems the humiliation of the Panic of 1888 may soon be reversed, your government now finding itself in the position as potential creditor for a wide variety of more desperate powers. Similarly, largely due to a European reliance on your agriculture, there has been a substantial trade surplus for Russia, fueling inflation as an influx of bullion proliferates. What will Russia’s economic actions be in 1902?

Kingdom of Scandinavia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Charles, darkness seems on the horizon. The world has erupted all around your realm and various colonial possessions. Leizhou and Hainan sit under a de facto French blockade, Paris blatantly disregarding the spirit of your agreement regarding trade in China. Britain and France have battle it out for control of the Atlantic, the result bringing trade across the ocean to calamitously low levels. Public opinion is decidedly tilted in favor of your dynastic partner and close economic partner Britain. The Mediterranean impasse is viewed with extreme concern, given the risk it poses to your access to the broader colonial empire. What course will you take in the coming year? Should you act in concert with Austria or perhaps take a clear stand on your own? Another dilemma to be addressed is what is to be done with the interned French crewmen that washed up on your shores last autumn…

-1901 witnessed both triumphs and frustrations for the Scandinavian operations in North Africa and the Near East. The Senussi and their ill-fated rebellion were at long last crushed by joint Scandinavian-Egyptian-Turkish operations. The last of the bandits has surrendered, with even Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi falling into your custody. What is to be done with the captured foe? Further afield, your government was gratified to see the tacit acceptance of the Saudis to your overtures. Still, the war with Oman continues, that sultan stubbornly refusing to surrender in the hopes that your attention will be drawn elsewhere. Perhaps this was somewhat prescient, given what the Mediterranean blockade has done to your access to your colonial holdings. What will your actions in this theater consist of during the coming year?

-Domestically, you were able to increase your popularity with the long sought after reconciliation with your Hesse-Darmstadt cousins. With them happily in the royal fold, it has been hard for your government's opponents to paint them as a figurehead for the opposition. Yet, there have been challenges elsewhere. The economic slowdown of last year seems to be turning into a full-blown slump, as a result of the intense naval warfare pervading the Atlantic Ocean. It is feared the lower classes could become restive if conditions don't suitably improve. Also alarming have been the Imperial and Hanoverian Elections. Within your possessions, many subjects took advantage of looser Imperial laws by voting for the German People's Party, a borderline Prussianist organization. The Hanoverian elections, not contested by these radicals, have resulted in the influx of a significant number of German-interest parties. How will you handle this plethora of local issues?

United Kingdom

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-Queen Mary, Britain has joined the fray. Your determination to teach the French a lesson was met with hearty approval in most of Britain and the Americas. While the Irish were indifferent, and the growing Labour movement questioned the necessity of direct intervention, the vast majority of British subjects are behind the cause, determined to teach France, Quebec, and Brazil a lesson for their flagrant disregard for the global order. Fighting continues. Your fleet has secured a blockade of the northern French coast, but it is an open question as to whether or not it is worth it to close down the French Atlantic coast entirely. Further afield, will you continue the existing blockades of Quebec and the Mediterranean? On the ground, what actions will you undertake in the American theater? Will British soldiers be engaged elsewhere?

-Blockades have proven to be tremendously successful in disrupting economic activity. They also have led to protests from neutral powers, who find their shipping prohibited from reaching some crucial trade destinations. In order to manipulate the market and keep global opinion on your side, some in Parliament have proposed reimbursing countries for goods seized and purchasing surplus goods from other powers that might fall into enemy hands. While this would undoubtedly be an effective action, it is also rather expensive and could erode London’s financial strength as bullion is gradually given to foreign creditors. Will you undertake reimbursement for seized cargo? Beyond this, will Britain enact any economic changes now that the realm is officially at war?

-You are in an interesting position as queen, conducting a Transatlantic war on a scale never before seen. North America’s position in Britain has changed markedly over the past several decades, a majority of your subjects residing there rather than the British Isles. Some American MPs, such as the indominable Theodore Roosevelt, well-aware of anti-Royal elements present in nearby Ireland and the socialist industrial areas in Britain, have called on you to lead the war effort from North America proper with Parliament in tow, overseeing operations firsthand as sovereign. In truth, the war does present an opportunity to enact such a bold reorganization of the political status quo. In Britain, it is proposed your stepmother or half-sister could act as regent in your absence. Such a move would undoubtedly go a long way to bolstering morale in that theater. Others are loathe to leave the perceived safety of the British Isles, given the understood strength of Britain on the high seas. Will you go to America?

[Spamage]

Empire of Quebec

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The struggle has come to your own doorstep, Empress Wilhelmina. Britain has awoken, charging back into its former colonial possessions and blocking the transit of your sea traffic. Puerto Rico and your newly-captured Caribbean islands have fallen out of your hands. On the Pacific, the combined might of the British and Colombian Navies have kept the struggle alive in that region, frustrating your attempts to achieve total victory there last year. Your allies in France and Brazil continue to try to devour the Colombian realm, facing searing resistance. With the struggle entering its third year, what actions will you take?

-The British blockade is the most serious threat to the Quebecois economy in decades. While the Pacific remains free, the vast majority of Quebec’s exports cross via the Atlantic trade route. With that closed, prices for the numerous raw materials and crops produced have cratered. Wheat intended for export to Europe rots in fields on the Quebecois Plains, it being too expensive for farmers to harvest it. Timber prices have cratered and numerous companies are on the verge of bankruptcy. Your realm finds itself precariously isolated on the economic front, only being able to trade with the smaller New English economy. While in the past Louisiana might have worked as a pressure-release valve, that realm has naturally adopted protectionist economic policies with the outbreak of war with Mexico. Two competing tendencies have revealed themselves with this severe economic challenge. Business leaders argue that the reforms of the État-social are causing needless expenses and want them rolled back or postponed until the fighting is over and normal economic order emerges. Prime Minister Papineau, on the other hand, has called for an increase to the welfare state, advocating at least nominal unemployment relief for the destitute, though this could be quite expensive given the ballooning costs of war.

-Despite the outbreak of war, Quebec is due for a general election early in the year, the National Assembly’s mandate expiring in February after being briefly extended due to the British assault last year. Perhaps a vote could be a means of ending your awkward partnership with Papineau, though much has been achieved by this relationship. Some have argued that the vote ought to be postponed until the British threat has been handled and peace restored, others more warily urge you to stick to democratic norms now more than ever. Will the people go to the polls in 1902?

Divine Republic of Brazil

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Brazil yet stands, though there are enemies all around. The war in Colombia is entering its third year. While there were gains in the last few months, including tremendous acquisitions in northern Colombia and Venezuela, the shelling of Rio has shaken your realm and the constituent republics to their core, a sense of security and stability shattered in a single afternoon. Still, triumphs elsewhere must not be overlooked. Much of the Andean Free State was captured, as well as most of the Colombian lowlands. How will you manage the war in the coming months?

-The economic situation is growing rather dire, a product of three years of near-full mobilization. At home, there is a growing restlessness among the women and children left to manage day-to-day activities. Productivity overall has decreased, so many men away at the frontlines. The disruption to Trans-Atlantic trade has further increased the misery, the price of raw goods in Brazil proper cratering. There have been whispers of strikes and further unionization, especially in the effected industries. Some believe the government ought to step in an take direct control over these ailing industries. It would also be helpful to find a source of funds for continued operations in the war, be it a foreign power or direct contributions from within the republic. How will you keep Brazil from economic calamity during the coming months?

-As stated previously, the shelling of Rio de Janeiro has caused some to publicly question the decision-making process of your government, other radical elements going so far as to question your government entirely. Of particular concern is the situation in Cisplatina and the Republic of the Parana, where even some local officials look towards Chile and the Pampas as potential sources of inspiration. While better economic circumstances or a clear victory would undoubtedly quell such discontent, there is no guarantee of either for the time being. In the interim, the hardliners within the Catholic-Republican movement call for a crackdown, warning that a trickle of criticism can quickly snowball into an avalanche of protests. Others argue that too harsh of treatment will enflame the situation and only cause the radical elements to become more entrenched in their views. How will you deal with internal opposition to your government? Or is the matter best ignored, domestic political opinion too much of a perilous minefield?

Commonwealth of Louisiana

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis-Philippe, the war with the Mexican invaders continues into another year. Your men acquitted themselves admirably last year, holding off a fall of Texas and preventing the Commonwealth from being cleaved clean in half. Yet, it does not seem to be near a conclusion. Minor rebels operate out of the Wasatch Range in Liberia, while the Mexicans have gained ground in California. Further afield, the rest of North America has descended back into violence, Britain intervening against Quebec. What will your military instructions be in 1902?

- Elections are scheduled to be held this year in line with the Constitution, though some have called for delaying them until hostilities have ceased. Will you hold the vote at this time or crisis? If so, will the Crown get involved in favor of any of the various political factions? Columbia simmers, irate over the loss of its nationalist political representation, the suppression of the CNP opening up numerous seats in the National Assembly. Most of the other parties have been lockstep behind the war so far, though there are some beginning to question what the Commonwealth’s endgame will be. The political situation will undoubtedly continue to play a role of great importance in the coming months.

-The wretched Treaty of Trois-Rivieres has resulted in a punishing embargo of Louisiana by many major powers willing to ignore the fact you had never signed the document. Brazil is the only major regional power to keep up trade with your government. The conditions of the various signatories for lifting the embargo include a foreign inspection of chemical manufactories and a public commitment not to employ chemical weapons again, among other stipulations. Some believe it is best to agree to their demands and move forward, willing to foreswear this weaponry in order to ease up the economic pressure. Others believe that you are tying your hands in terms of strategy by doing so, also cognizant of the fact that Mexico may have additional demands. What will you do about the chemical weapons embargo?

Kingdom of Mexico

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Luis, Mexico stands against the various foes seeking to roll back the clock and reverse your reforms. While the gains along the Colorado-Texas front were less than ideal, your men did make significant advancements into California. Many have also praised the decision to seize Brazilian Central America, ejecting that power from its awkward border with your kingdom after almost eight decades of uneasy neighborly relations. Still, problems exist as well. The rebels at home are growing in strength, as the Louisianan Army at San Luis Potosi operates well within your homeland, wreaking havoc and causing widespread devastation. What actions will you undertake in the coming months on the military front?

-The deteriorating economic situation will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for Louisiana’s internal politics. The changes brought about by the Luis Reforms, coupled with the total mobilization of society, and the severe impediments to global trade have utterly savaged the domestic economic situation. While the poorest of the poor recognize your struggle as just, identifying with the cause, the more troublesome groups to handle are those from the upper and middle classes than have seen their economic positions deteriorate with the onset of fighting. From those camps further upheaval, rebellion, or domestic unrest are feared. Some call for preventative, proactive action through the silencing of the loudest dissidents before their venom spreads. Others believe that doing so would only create martyrs. Above it all is the question of how you propose to keep up the fight economically? Many believe this opposition is motivated by empty stomachs and ballooning government expenses. Perhaps foreign creditors such as the British, Scandinavians, or Austrians could be approached in order to keep the regime solvent in global finance?

Chinese Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Kang, China battles the biggest threat the republic has ever faced. French troops have landed in your realm, seized the northern capitol, and begun to punish your people for intervening in Burma. To the west the ghost of the emperor has risen once more to haunt the country. In the south, your men have lost control of southern Burma, though not before giving the city of Yangon a good thrashing. Japan, meanwhile, has been perfidious in the east. While not officially declaring war, their puppet serves as a staging ground for a punishing French blockade. As the war continues the people have rallied to the cause, determined to defend the homeland. How will China prosecute the war in the coming year? What will be done to preserve your democratic republic in the face of foreign opposition?

-The war undoubtedly has great implications for the economy. While China has never been wholly reliant on foreign imports, the closing of the sea is a nuisance. Overland routes endure with Russia and Vietnam despite the blockade, but the loss of Beijing has effectively curtailed commerce with Korea. The French incursions, meanwhile, have disrupted internal supply lines. As economic cohesion is challenged, several issues must be addressed. Some advisors call for the implementation of rations, government requisitioning of production, and mobilizing the whole state for the conflict. Others fear too harsh of conditions could drive people into the arms of the emperor or the invaders. Even without rationing, many officials believe that the government needs to take a more active role in the distribution of food stuffs throughout the republic, in order to prevent famine in regions closer to the frontlines. There has also been talk of securing foreign credit so you can buy necessary goods to carry on the fight, the Russians in particular seeming an attractive option. What economic actions will you take in 1902?

-Given the vastness of the republic, and the various centers of command that will be required along the frontlines in North China, Hainan, and Burma, some of your advisors and military commanders have proposed creating several autonomous command areas, where broader latitude will be given to local generals and political figures to coordinate resistance to the French expeditions. The Black Banner Movement has been particularly enthusiastic about this proposition, promising that it could raise thousands more volunteers from the Southern Chinese countryside. This seemed well in-evidence during their mass anti-French rallies following the initial landings in 1901. While such a move would undoubtedly aid the war effort, longer-term thinking has some concerned that the new commanders would be reluctant to give up their authority and in effect establish personal fiefdoms within China. Will you delegate authority or maintain full control of the war effort from your new capitol in Wuhan?

Kingdom of Naples

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Francis, as one of the key players in the Mediterranean, your realm undoubtedly has a significant role to play in resolving the intolerable joint Franco-British blockade at the Straight of Gibraltar. This act of economic warfare has severely damaged the Neapolitan economy, which relies on commerce and seafaring. While intervention as a neutral power, perhaps alongside your Spanish and Neapolitan allies is a potential solution, other militarists have called for ultimatums or even military actions against either of the belligerents. There’s little love lost between Naples and France after decades of feuding, so perhaps it would be wise to strike them while they are preoccupied. Others believe that a détente with the old foe could open up potential gains elsewhere and a realm free of French meddling. Perhaps your Russian friends could be coerced into joining whatever course of action you adopt?

-Tunis has long been an integral part of Naples, a key aspect in your control over the central Mediterranean alongside Malta and Sicily. Yet, in recent years, domestic outrage over the actions of the great powers against the uncolonized such as France in Haiti and Mysore, Austria in Abyssinia, and Scandinavia in Oman, have generally been met with revulsion on the part of the Neapolitan populace. In such circumstances, many have begun to reconsidered the role of Tunis within the realm. The issues divides even your own government, Prime Minister Tittoni has been forced to straddle the divide between Socialists, who would grant the region significant autonomy or outright independence, and the nationalists, who would rather end its status as a colony and make it an indivisible part of Naples proper. By naming your son Prince Alfonso as Viceroy, you have demonstrated that some degree of delegation is possible. How will you tackle the Tunisian problem? Or is it best to hold off until the nearby diplomatic situation stabilizes somewhat?

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The struggle for survival continues, the people of Colombia lock-step behind your leadership in this never-ending slog. The Atlantic has been lost for the time being, but Colombia did experience some significant successes over the past year, namely the reconquest of the South Pacific and the victory at Pisco. Similarly, the shelling of Rio helped shake Brazil to the core, many hoping that the pain on their home fronts will force the attackers out. Still the French and Brazilian devils keep up their advance, even as thousands now lie moldering in the ground. The Andean Free State has been savaged and there are concerns over what the enemies next actions will be. How will the war be fought in the coming year?

-The economic situation grows worse almost every single day. While necessary, the destruction to domestic infrastructure is a heavy cost for the Holy Republic to bear. This is coupled with the extensive government expenses relating to supplies and other military expenses. Along with many other combatants, many believe it would be wise to find a source of funds to keep the struggle going. Britain is an obvious partner, given your alliance, but other avenues could be pursued as well. Perhaps Russia, Austria, New Holland, or Scandinavia could provide loans to keep the war machine well-oiled? Domestically, perhaps it is also time to consider government requisitioning in still-controlled territories, though this undermines the liberal economic principles your government has embraced in the past several decades. How will you act regarding the economy?

-While the loss of Guayanquil was lamentable, your project in Lima has been successful, yielding numerous prototypes and working models that probably can be safely employed in the coming months against your enemies. What strategy will you adopt regarding this matter?

Turkist Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The situation in Tehran grows rather grave, the feuding Qajar brothers demonstrating the dynasty’s growing decadence. Your intrigue may have been crucial in helping the situation along. Closer to home, the annexation of Armenia has been received with loud objections from Turkish society, especially as it came on the heels of the Russian annexation of Trebizond. It is felt that your nation is being slowly strangled, many calling on you to take action. There may be some windows opening to do so as well. The Armenians and Kurds feud, requiring the inept Mozaffar to send his men as mediators. In Arabia, the Rashidi have been thrashed and it seems the Saudi will seek to eject the existing Persian garrisons in the holy cities. Further to the east, the defiance of the young prince at Mashad demonstrates that the dynasty is not fully onboard with the status quo. Will you involve the Turkist Empire, or is the time still not yet ripe to meddle in the affairs of your neighbor?

-While there may be economic malaise in much of the world, the Turkish economic boom is a thing of wonder. It seems as though a new nation is rising from the decadent Ottoman past, the level of economic dynamism coupling with your numerous military, political, and infrastructural reforms. Unemployment is actually extremely low, the result of so many available jobs in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and the government. This labor shortage is causing some inflation, workers exploiting their superior bargaining position for higher wages. In order to alleviate the economic heat, some have called to follow the Russian example and allow for foreign workers to operate, such as Bulgarians, Bosnians, Albanians, or even Iranian Kurds. Still, with your fundamental ideology being one of unrepentant Turkism, this could stoke backlash among your nationalist base. Will you respond to the calls from the business community to loosen up the restrictions on foreign labor?

[Spamage]

Spanish Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Tristany, a new era has dawned in Spain. While the election may have been overshadowed by developments elsewhere, it is no less significant for the future course of your country. The electorate has delivered a fractious and divided National Assembly. Ranging from outright unrepentant monarchists to socialist republicans, a wide variety of ideologies are represented in the body, courtesy of such a decentralized electoral system. It will be up to you to establish a working majority in order to deliver for the Spanish people. What political forces will you seek to court? Upon doing so, what will be your legislative priorities in this crucial year of Spanish history? How will you handle the seemingly irreconcilable factions such as the radical Catholic Republicans and Reactionary Socialists?

-War is everywhere. While Spain has been spared the indignity of being directly blockaded, the closure of the Mediterranean by the British and French has been an inconvenience. In the initial chaos, hundreds of foreign vessels docked at Spanish ports such as Cartagena, Vigo, and Barcelona. Dozens of Spanish ships, meanwhile have been left stranded far from home, many unwilling to risk traveling through warzones. Further afield, France continues to battle Colombia for supremacy in the Americas, that conflict similarly having curtailed the access of your merchants to the region. In order to prevent the deterioration of the economy, some advisors are calling for bold steps, perhaps even a guarantee of investments or subsidies for the shipping companies suddenly finding themselves challenged with operating in a warzone. The newly-elected socialists, meanwhile, are using the growing economic troubles to call for unemployment payments and the permitting of unionization efforts in Spanish society. Others believe the central bank ought to take action to stabilize the economic situation. What steps will you take to maintain Spanish economic stability at this tumultuous time?

Confederation of New England

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-1901 was a year of tremendous legislative success for New England, your Federalists aligning with the Progressives to undertake bold reform. Women gained the right to vote and ethnic discrimination was prohibited, two wins in social fights that have been raging for decades. Less celebrated, but no less significant, was the legislation reworking term length and election dates, set to go into effect in 1904 when both you and Congress will face the electorate. Yet, these great successes were overshadowed in an instant by the outbreak of war, Britain attacking Quebec for its alliance with France and Brazil. New England has never felt so isolated, its two titanic neighbors beating one another to a pulp as the Confederation sits idly by. How will you handle this diplomatic situation?

-The blockade and its economic effects have had severe repercussions for the Confederation. The sea has always been a cornerstone for New England. Boston is a hub of vessels coming and going, whaling and fishing being major commercial enterprises alongside tremendous investments in freight and a sizeable merchant marine. Yet, even while New Englander vessels have been permitted passage, the outbreak of war ruined thousands of livelihoods overnight. Unemployment in coast cities such as Nantucket, Portland, and Boston itself is ballooning. There is unrest as well, those few still at work threatening strikes and collective action as destitution spreads. An extremely notable development occurred on December 6th of last year when Philip Van Patten formally founded the Socialist Worker’s Party of New England, vowing to contest the 1904 elections. What steps will you take to stabilize the economy so radicals like Van Patten are kept out of the halls of power?

Durrani Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The diplomatic situation is quite alarming. To your east, France and China have locked into a serious struggle, greatly destabilizing the region. To the south, the prospect of a free Mysore seems to be fading into the history books, France dominating the Indian subcontinent. To the west, Iran seems on the verge of numerous crises, the Shah proving an inept buffoon, his younger brother operating out of Mashad as a tacit denunciation of Mozaffar’s incapability. The Empire could probably act in any of these directions, should it so wish, though they all would have serious implications. How will you navigate the dire diplomatic situation in the region?

-There have been talks of further formalizing the Loya Jirga into an actual legislative body. While indeed, the assembly is certainly not ready to be chosen through anything like direct elections, there is pressure from some established leaders, particularly from the Ghilji, who are frustrated by the approval of infrastructure projects such as the Bamyan Mine near their regions without any means of consenting. All are well-aware that you could dissolve their assembly on a mere whim, so it is hoped that some sort of constitution, or even a simple compact, agreed by you as Shah would cement their status. Still, numerous advisors at court are loathe to cede any sort of power to these factionalist provincials, fearing it will undermine your position. How will you respond to these informal demands?

Republic of Korea

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Congratulations on your election as the first President of Korea, Gwon Jung-hyeon. You have seemingly achieved the true aims of the public decades ago through the establishment of a functioning, mainstream democratic republic. A new era opens to your nation, though true action cannot begin until you form a government. Your allies in the Liberal Party have secured a plurality in the National Assembly, but are still 31 seats short of a majority. Any of the other political forces could probably be convinced to join a coalition, though each would have significant repercussions for the first session of government. Working with the socialists would require quite a bit of labor and government reform undoubtedly, in a pro-worker direction. This could alienate traditional business interests at a time when you’re attempting to foster economic growth. The conservative United Popular Front is a secondary option, though working with them could taint your government with the corruption of the old regime. It’s also feared that they will be the opposite of the socialists, in that they are too cozy with the established elites. A wildcard choice would be working with the Korean National Party, especially given the geopolitical situation, but they are insufficiently committed to the Constitution and could be an active impediment in its continued security. Who will you partner with to achieve your political goals in 1902?

-Korea finds itself surrounded by war. China, by far your largest trading partner, has been cut off from your markets thanks to the French naval blockade and the loss of Beijing. There’s already growing signs of an economic slump as trade further afield is deemed as too risky due to French and Japanese operations all across the Asia-Pacific. In such a chaotic region, perhaps it would help to tighten your ties with Russia yet further, to dissuade others from taking too much of an interest in Korean affairs. Others would have you join the fray, either as an opportunist seeking to grab bits of China or an Asian liberation movement seeking to eject the French colonizers. What will your diplomatic actions consist of during the coming year?

Army Strength:
Russian Republic
20 division Army of Subotic (Vladivostok)
20 division Army of Kuropatkin (Moscow)
15 division Army of Linevich (Mongolia)
13 division Army of Krodatenko (Ukraine)
10 division Army of Ivanov (St. Petersburg)
5 division Army of Dragomirov (Konstantingad)
5 division Army of Alekseyev (Circassia)
5 division Army of Mishchenko (Turkestan)
(93/637 divisions possible raised, 14% mobilized)

Kingdom of France
170 division Army of Burma
75 division Army of Beijing
49 division Army of Venezuela
39 division Army of Panama
30 division Army of France
28 division Army of Mysore
18 division Army of Haiti
13 division Army of Aceh
15 division Army of Ecuador
10 division Army of the Darien
10 division Army of Padania
25 division Army of South China
(482/612 divisions possible raised, 79% mobilized)

Chinese Republic
112 division Army of Burma
39 division Coastal Defense Force
27 division Army Central Army
9 division Army of the South
10 division Army of Shanghai
26 division Tibetan Defense Force
3 division Burmese Defense Force
(226/536 divisions possible raised, 43% mobilized)

Habsburg Monarchy
10 division Army of Hungary
10 division Army of Abyssinia
9 division Army of Lombardy
8 division Army of Ruthenia
8 division Army of Austria
4 division Army of Bohemia
2 division East Africa Reserve
1 division Army of Singapore
1 division Army of the Sahel
1 division Army of Ningbo
1 division Gibraltar Garrison
(55/507 divisions possible raised, 11% mobilized)

Great Britain, Ireland, and Americas
41 Army of New Somerset
36 division Home Guard
34 division Army of the South Pacific
30 division Army of Virginia
15 division Army of the Mississippi
8 division Army of the Cape
7 division Army of Virginia
4 division Army of Australia
(175/297 divisions possible raised, 59% mobilized)

Republic of Japan
71 division Army of the Philippines
18 division Army of New Guinea
15 division Army of Tokyo
14 division Army of Nagasaki
5 division Imperial Guard
5 division Army of the Pacific
1 division Army of Hokkaido
(129/255 divisions possible raised, 50% mobilized)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
5 division Army of Sweden
4 division Army of Hanover
7 division Army of the Persian Gulf
6 division Army of Oman
2 division Army of East Africa
2 division Army of Cameroon
2 division Egyptian Expeditionary Force
(25/166 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Qajar Iran
10 division Army of Kurdistan-Armenia
10 division Army of Mecca
10 division Army of Iraq
8 division Army of Mesopotamia
4 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Azerbaijan
(46/161 divisions possible raised, 29% mobilized)

Kingdom of Naples
10 division Army of the North
3 division Army of Sicily
2 division Army of Tunisia
(15/157 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Durrani Empire
5 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Herat
4 division Army of the Indus
1 division Army of Baluchistan
(14/141 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Union of Spain
10 division Army of Castile
7 division Army of Catalonia
(17/126 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Commonwealth of Louisiana
68 division Army of the Brazos
21 division Army of Colorado
4 division Army of San Luis Potosi
4 division Augustinian Volunteers at Veracruz
4 division Army of the Northern Territory
2 division Army of Cuba
(99/121 divisions possible raised, 83% mobilized)

Divine Republic of Brazil
46 division Army of the Andes
20 division Brazilian Reserve Army
10 division Army of Southern Brazil
**26 division Interned by the Columbians**
(76/111 divisions possible raised, 69% mobilized)

Kingdom of Mexico
27 division Army of Texas
28 division Army of Nicaragua
20 division Volunteer Force (Texas)
19 division Army of Tampico
17 division Army of Colorado
10 division Army of California
7 division Army of Durango
(108/108 divisions possible raised, 100% mobilized)

Empire of Quebec
34 division Army of Michigan
20 division Army of the Pacific
10 division Army of the Caribbean
8 division Army of Wisconsin
5 division Army of Montreal
3 division Army of Vaudreuil
2 division Army of Hawaii
2 division Army of the Plains
(84/105 divisions possible raised, 80% mobilized)

United Provinces of New Holland
5 division Army of Batavia
3 division Army of Malaya
3 division Army of Willemstad
(11/116 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Ottoman Empire
10 division Army of the East
5 division Army of Ankara
4 division Army of Sinope
3 division Army of Cyrenaica
(22/104 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Korean State
4 division Army of the Capital
4 division Army of the North
(8/87 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia
32 division Army of Peru
35 division Army of Colombia
8 division Volunteer Force (Peru)
7 division Venezuelan Liberation Force
1 division Army of Tahiti
(83/83 divisions possible raised, 100% mobilized)

Confederation of New England
5 division Army of Boston
(5/47 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Portugal
10 division Army of Lisbon
2 division Army of Angola
2 division Army of Goa
(14/42 divisions possible raised, 33% mobilized)

Andean Free State
36 division Army of Peru
(36/36 divisions possible raised, 91% mobilized)


Naval Strength*:
Naval Technology
First-Rate: This navy employs all of the latest technologies across its fleet including new tactics, equipment, and training. Truly among one of the best seafaring fleets in the world.
Innovative: New strategic ideas are planned and tested, further modifications have been made to equipment for more efficient operation.
Advanced: Ships are modernized and equipment is top of the line. Overall better organized than modernized fleets.
Modernized: Navy is at standard levels of development for time period.
Reformed: The naval equipment is near-modernized, though experience and training with new supplies is lacking.
Modified: Although still dominated by old ships and methods, efforts have been made to reform the navy, including the purchase of ships from more advanced powers.
Traditional: This navy still employs tactics, methods, and equipment from the 1870s or earlier. Limited sea capabilities and stagnant mindset.

Naval Size
Dominant: This power truly has a global naval reach. Advanced fleets at various points of the world and the ability to supply said vessels with relative ease. More than two hundred vessels in active service
Massive: Extensive naval reach, able to operate in most areas, assuming supply is secured. Around two hundred vessels.
Sizable: Naval reach includes most of surrounding seas. Roughly one hundred and fifty vessels, with the ports able to supply them.
Standard: Naval strength can be projected in the region, with further excursions when necessary. Around one hundred ships.
Limited: Several dozen ships. Extensive and long-distance operations are possible, but only on rare occasions.
Small: A dozen major ships, limited regional navy.
Nonexistent: Primarily applies to landlocked countries. No navy in existence.*

*-Not applicable for anyone right away


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (Innovative, Dominant)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Massive)
Confederation of New England (Innovative, Limited)
Republic of Japan (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Sizable)
United Provinces of New Holland (Advanced, Standard)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia (Advanced, Limited)
Russian Republic (Modernized, Massive)
Divine Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Standard)
Commonwealth of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Holy Union of Spain (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Mexico (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Korean State (Modernized, Small)
Chinese Republic (Reformed, Standard)
Qajar Iran (Reformed, Limited)
Turkist Empire (Reformed, Small)
Durrani Empire (Reformed, Small)

[Spamage]

OOC: A very original treaty that I definitely didn't crib from Wulfric because I needed a template; do not steal!

The Treaty of Lisbon (1900),
A Treaty between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of France

1.) The signatories agree to the following:

2.) The mutual reduction of tariffs by 20 percent between the signatories.

3.) A non-aggression pact between the signatories subject to renewal by the consent of both signatories ten years from this day.

4.) A defensive alliance, whereby each signatory pledges to support the other militarily in the event of an attack.

5.) The signatories shall grant each other favored nation status for the purposes of trade.

X Louis XX de Bourbon, King-Emperor of France

X Antonio II of Portugal

(Missed this, oops!)

[Spamage]

Treaty of Chișinău
The signatories hereby recognize the historic and significant cultural bonds between the French and Romanian people, rooted in their shared Latin origins and Christian faith.
Both governments recognize the inherent Truth of Reactionary Socialist principles, an ideology rooted in natural law and justice.
Princess Therese of France will be betrothed to Crown Prince Augustus of Romania, to be married upon both parties coming of age.
France and Romania agree to a full defensive alliance up for renewal every decade following the signing of this treaty.

X- King Augustus II of Romania

[Spamage]

Convention Regarding Merchant Transit in the Strait of Gibraltar Signed at Portici

Article 1. The High Contracting Parties recognize and affirm the principle of freedom of transit and navigation by sea in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Article 2. In time of peace, merchant vessels shall enjoy complete freedom of transit and navigation in the Strait, by day and by night, under any flag and with any kind of cargo, without any formalities.

Article 3. In time of war, the High Contracting Parties not being belligerent, merchant vessels, under any flag or with any kind of cargo, shall enjoy freedom of transit and navigation in the Strait.

Article 4. In time of war, the High Contracting Parties being belligerent, merchant vessels not belonging to a country at war with said Parties shall enjoy freedom of transit and navigation in the Straits on condition that they do not in any way assist the enemy. Such vessels shall enter the Straits by day and their transit shall be effected by the route which shall in each case be indicated by relevant authorities, if any.

Article 5. In time of war, the High Contracting Parties not being belligerent, shall, should such a request be agreed to by the parties and after being duly announced, enforce the principles described in previous articles by joint naval exercises that will take place among the High Contracting Parties utilizing the Port of Cadiz, the Port of Gibraltar, and the Port of Málaga as necessary for this purpose.

Article 6. The present Convention shall, as from the date of its entry into force, be open to accession by any Power regarding Articles 1 through 4. A Power will be permitted accession regarding the full convention by agreement of the High Contracting Parties.

Article 7. The present Convention shall remain in force for twenty years from the date of its entry into force. The principle of freedom of transit and navigation affirmed in Article 1 of the present Convention shall however continue without limit of time. If, two years prior to the expiry of the said period of twenty years, no High Contracting Party shall have given notice of denunciation to the Imperial Government which bears this document, the present Convention shall continue in force until two years after such notice shall have been given.

Done at the Palace of Portici by the following representatives:

-Graf Lexa von Aehrenthal, Ambassador to the Court of Naples on behalf of Emperor Maximilian von Hapsburg

X President Linares y Pombo

I understand if my legislature is skeptical of this, but I would urge them to keep an open mind and let it have a chance to work before considering revocation.

X-King Constantine II of Greece

X-Prince Xhemal Bushati of Albania

[Spamage]

1902 Midturn Update

Balkan War!
Greece Assailed from All Sides

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   With Europe’s attention so focused on the Straits of Gibraltar (though that matter would be swiftly resolved with the Habsburg-led end to the blockade, both France and Britain backing down), a window of opportunity emerged in the Eastern Mediterranean. A series of heretofore uninvolved powers sought to settle the regional score. Greece sat vulnerable, its nominal patron in Stockholm otherwise occupied by the blockade and operations in far-off Oman. On the borders of the kingdom, the vultures circled. Newly-crowned King Charles of Bulgaria was an untested ruler and sought to prove himself as a true heir to his late father. Eager to break Bulgaria’s confinement to the Black Sea, and rearrange the regional balance of power, he sent envoys to the Turkist Empire, the two governments plotting the downfall of their mutual rival. Albania, still maintaining dreams of a larger realm, was all too happy to go along with its larger neighbor’s proposal. Greece was to be ambushed.
   Indeed, the attack was a quick smash-and-grab. Bulgaria declared war on February 1st, 1902. Turkey followed just hours later, Albania waiting several days before likewise joining the fray. In the past thirty years of peace, the Greek Army had grown somewhat complacent, lacking land experience and underfunded by a parliament too focused on other matters. The eruption of hostilities caught Athens wholly off-guard, King Constantine II forced to cut his holiday in the Peloponnese short and return to the capital. With dozens of Bulgarian-Albanian divisions pouring across the border from the north, news became grave rather fast. There was disarray, Turkish special forces decimating Greek supply and rail lines and hindering mobilization.  It was quickly apparent the Greeks were greatly outnumbered. The Battle of Janina saw a joint Bulgarian-Albanian force expel the Greeks from the northeast. Further to the west, Xanthe fell within the first week, with the coastal city of Kavala put under siege by the Bulgarians. Several Greek divisions were trapped in the city, hoping their navy would arrive to save the day.
   Yet, news on the high seas was also far from encouraging. A Bulgarian fleet emerged from the Dardanelles the same day war was declared (before Russia could respond in any way). They seized islands in the Aegean, setting up bases to harass their foes and lure them north. The hammer blow then came from the Turks. Their fleet bypassed Smyrna entirely, Greek war plans previously having expected that city to be the center of any Turkish campaign. Instead, they smashed the Greek vessels speeding north towards the Bulgarians at the Battle of Mikonos on March 15th. Many noted that the Turkish navy seemed rather stronger than expected, foreign aid to their cause seeming a possibility. The Greek ships were savaged, several dozen sinking in the chaos.
   Only once the sea had been secured did the Turks join the land campaigns in any serious fashion. The spring continued in favor of the attackers. The nearby Aegean islands fell in quick succession, the locals looking on with dread as the Turkist forces raised the star and crescent. Smyrna was itself besieged, though held out. To the south, some Turkish divisions disembarked at Crete, easily capturing the city of Heraklion and nominal control of the island. In the north, the Bulgarians captured Thessaloniki, the second city in Greece, while the frontline only restabilized near Larissa, much of the country already occupied.
   Yet, the coup-de-grace in this lightning war came from the Greek capital. Athens had been left vulnerable; the bulk of land forces being mobilized to the northern front. Here the Turks approached from the sea, shooting shells into the city to goad it into surrendering. The remains of the Greek navy sought to repel them, but were easily swatted aside. Seeing the writing on the wall, the King and government left the city to its fate and fled to Patras. When the initial demand for surrender was rebuffed, several dozen Turkish land divisions disembarked. Athens fell on May 15th, 1902, the mayor himself offering its surrender to the Turkish general.
   King Constantine II and the government, despairing their cause, seem on the brink of surrender, utterly overwhelmed and outmaneuvered. Indeed, the year has begun with what seems to be a decisive Turko-Bulgarian victory, their alliance having caught Athens flat-footed. Some have already begun to discuss the eventual diplomatic settlement and what it will mean for Greece’s position in the Mediterranean. Indeed, Patras seems to have issued initial overtures to the assailants, hoping the terms will not be as harsh as many envision.
   The war has caught the regional powers by surprise, not to mention the greater powers further afield. It seems familial ties have not been strong enough to stabilize this volatile region. King Charles of Bulgaria’s daughter-in-law, Princess Alexandra of Greece, has harshly cursed her husband’s father for his betrayal of her family. Serbia too has protested at the assault, though perhaps more out of envy with Bulgaria’s growth than familial sympathy with the House of Huitfeldt-Kaas.
   More alarming though, has been the broader implications of the war. The Russian diplomatic delegation has seemed utterly surprised, despite their close ties with the government in Bulgaria. Habsburg diplomats would note the republic was too focused on the attempted assassination to 'keep their Bulgarian dog on its leash'. Coming on the heels of the Romanian Revolution last year, many have begun to wonder if great power control over the Balkans, where they have treated the independent realms as loose, pliant satellites, has been an illusion all along? It seems the governments in the region possess minds of their own...

SHOCK IN KABUL
SHAH WOUNDED IN FREAK ACCIDENT, APPOINTS GOVERNMENT BEFORE BECOMING COMATOSE

Prince-Regent Timur Durrani
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   News out of the Durrani Empire was ofttimes muddled and contradictory, the remoteness of Kabul leading to a disinterest in its affairs among many other powers. Yet, in late spring, the situation has becoming bizarre on an unprecedented level, many unsure of what truly has come to pass in the Afghan capital as competing narratives take hold.
   What is clear is that the Shah was severely wounded on June 10th. At the annual state banquet for foreign dignitaries, Abdul II Shah and his court were dining with diplomats from Russia, Hui China, New Holland, and neighboring Iran. The night was initially rather cordial. Despite Islam’s prohibition of alcohol consumption, it seems all present were imbibing. The diplomats discussed current events, marveling at stories of zeppelins from the Habsburg Monarchy, discussing the distant Mexican-Louisianan War, and how the French invasion of China was progressing. The talk only became tense when it turned to foreign affairs closer to home. A representative from one of the powers, all those present accusing someone else, inquired as to why the Shah had not aided the Mysoreans in their late conflict with France. The debate became rather heated, certain elements in the Shah’s retinue essentially making in clear that they disagreed with his handling of the situation.
   As talks grew loud one of the guests, a some minor Barkazai servant, clearly inebriated, began to wave a weapon around, threatening a servant who was trying to collect table scraps during the heated discussion. A member of the Hui Chinese diplomatic staff wrestled with the man, seeking to take away the gun. In the scuffle, the gun went off. The Shah, who had gotten up to separate the men, was struck in the neck, collapsing in a heap of blood and being rushed from the room. In the tumult the gunman escaped. The diplomats were left in an awkward silence, the Shah’s blood staining the carpets and the room in utter disarray.
   Abdul II remained conscious and coherent for the next hour, fearing himself on the brink of death. His younger brother Timur, was named regent and prospective heir should he pass. He was then rushed to his chambers into the care of his western physicians, who ordered his room sealed as they attempted to save his life. They were successful in dislodging the bullet and stabilized the patient. But, he took a while to regain consciousness. While the Shah has seemingly recovered at times, his condition seems rather unstable, no question of his resuming full-control over the government as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Access to his chambers has been greatly curtailed. Timur has taken up the role of regent with vigor, determined to find the cause of his brother's would-be assassination.
   Yet, the assassin himself was found outside the palace grounds that same night, a gunshot wound to the head. This alone has caused tongues to wag. Could the event be more than it seems? Is intrigue afoot? Some believe that he was killed by spies, either Russian, Iranian, French, or even within the Durrani family. This is not to mention the Shah's numerous other domestic enemies. Others argue it was suicide of a man scared by his accidental act, given he held a gun in his own hand. Regardless, Timur has vowed to pursue justice as his government maintains order in the aftermath of the attempt on his brother's life.

[Spamage]

1902 News of the World

Qajars Imperiled: Region Thrown into Chaos

Iranian Rebel Soldiers, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Arabian War
   The fight in the desert would continue to swing in favor of the Saudis. Armed with Turkish and Scandinavian supplies, bolstered by fervor, and possessed with superior morale they seemed to herald a new era for Arabia. Yet, the Iranians would not give up without a fight. Whatever Mozaffar’s flaws as a leader, and there were many, he still understood the significance of control over Hejaz for his government and legitimacy. The Iranian army dispatched the previous year was intent on restoring order and finally exterminating the Saudis once and for all.
   The Iranian commanders were operating with outdated and inappropriate assumptions, many having served in the Qajar-Ottoman War and the straightforward maneuvering that entailed. Matters were not helped with the purge of the military leadership. The new commanders were unprepared for the more mobile Arabic tactics.
   The Battle of Taif saw the Saudis launch a bold strike at the holy cities of Islam. They had prepared for the fight by harrying Iranian supply lines for weeks. With little respite, having to be on guard at all times for potential attack, the Qajar men were exhausted. The two sides clashed for three straight days, fighting ranging from sunrise through the evening. Yet, the Arabs continued to attack under the cover of darkness, wearing down the defenders willpower. After the third day, on July 15th, several Iranian battalions broke and fled the field. This was the turning point, the whole Qajar line collapsing in a panicked retreat, hoping to reach the safety of Mecca. Thousands either perished or surrendered in this disordered and sloppy route. Those first men that reached the holy city found themselves outflanked by the more mobile Saudi troops. Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud entered the holiest city of Islam in triumph on July 21st. Medina fell within a week, the whole of Hedjaz effectively collapsing as the remaining Iranian divisions either withdrew or dissolved.

Aborted Revolution & Qajar Civil War
   While Arabia burned and tensions simmered, Mozaffar Shah was more concerned with personal squabbles. His advisors filled his head with paranoia, whispering that his brother Kamran was plotting to topple the regime and had infected the government with loyalists. Agents convinced him that the Durrani, not the Saudis, ought to be his primary concern, given their tacit aid for the rogue prince. In preparation for a bold campaign against the wounded Abdul II, Mozaffar engaged in a wholesale purge of Iranian civil society, targeting generals, police, and local administrators deemed ‘hostile’ to his government. There were grumblings of discontent, but it would take the news from Mecca for the opposition to act.
   When news reached Tehran of the defeat at Taif, all hell broke loose. Yet again, the war in Arabia spurred developments at home in Iran. The loss of Mecca and Medina, those most holy cities of Islam, shook the regime to its core. Liberals, clerics, and the dynastic opposition made common-cause. At long last, fed up with the regime’s incompetence and finding an ally with Prince Kamran in Mashad, the people rose up. There were three goals: to force Mozaffar to adopt a constitution, relinquish nominal political authority to his younger brother as regent, and release Prince Massoud. Protests, led by many notables who had been so ignominiously dismissed by the Shah earlier in the year, exploded in Qom, Tehran, Isfahan, and other major Iranian cities. While Mozaffar’s soldiers restored order to the capitol and surrounding region, the rebels dominated in the south. Mass defections in the army and civil service have Kamran a formidable fighting force as he vowed to restore ‘the good rule of my beloved father, Naser al-Din Shah.’
   Mozaffar was not without his own backing, thousands seeing a true affront to traditional dynastic succession in the realm through Kamran’s attempt to usurp the throne. These traditionalists, loyal to the regime and old order, had little desire to acquiesce what was seen as liberal weakness. They viewed the calls for reform as counter-productive, undermining the state and the monarchy. Iran has ended the year in a state of civil war, regional power vacuum forming as Tehran looks inwards in the face of tremendous domestic upheaval.

Collapse of the Satellite Regimes
   In the absence of any central authority, the Iran descending into internecine destruction, the various satellite states and puppet regimes suddenly found themselves free to act without interference from Tehran. Feuds, held in stasis by decades of Persian hegemony, were free to continue where they had left off. The Kurdish and Armenian struggle erupted into an all-out war, the small Iranian garrison overwhelmed by the desire of the two peoples to destroy one another. Armenia, though nominally an integral part of Iranian territory, effectively returned to its position as an autonomous state, organizing its own militias. Cilicia, formed through an unequal balance of Greek, Armenian, and Alawite interests descended into anarchy as Kurdish and Armenian minorities in that realm sought to secede due to their sympathy with the national cause. While the Azeris, the ethnic backbone of the Qajar family, remained loyal to the dynasty, in the far north a Georgian minority rose up and called for union with their brethren in Tblisi.  

The Balkans: Stirring of the Giants

Bulgarian Soldiers Advance, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Greek War
    The allied attack on Greece was the last straw for Vienna and Stockholm, the forces of order at long last acting against the spreading global instability. For Scandinavia, in particular, the fight was personal. Charles XIV rallied his Viennese ally to his side the two aligning on a defense of Limassol and the existing order in the Balkans. Greece would not be left to die alone.
   While the two titans undoubtedly possessed far greater strength than either Turkey or Bulgaria, the Greek situation was perilous while its allies mobilized. The frontlines near Larissa crumbled in the wake of a Bulgarian onslaught and a Turkish push north. By the time the first Scandinavian aid arrived, the Greeks were confined to the Peloponnese, an arc of land around Agrinio, and Cyprus. Truly the government of Constantine II was on its last legs. Fighting was particularly fierce near Corinth, the allies attempting to cross the isthmus and break into the last serious outpost of Greek resistance.
   Scandinavian naval assets proved to be the first sign of their presence in the region, both the Bulgarian and Turkish fleets steering clear rather than risk annihilation by the far-better equipped vessels. Naval aid proved crucial in preventing the fall of Corinth and ensuring the survival of the Greek government in Patras. While plans for a counter-offensive across the isthmus were likewise shelved, the Bulgarian and Turkish forces having established their own defensive lines, the Scandinavian fleet cleared the Aegean of enemy vessels and restored order to the numerous occupied islands in that sea. In an attempt to show their utter mastery of the seas, their fleet also seized the Turkish ports of Bodrum and Marmaris, an effort to nab Thessalonica failing due to looming Bulgarian artillery.
   The Austrians smashed south through their Serbian puppet, the government in Belgrade cheering the forces of young Emperor Maximilian as they smashed into Bulgaria and Albania. While there were some setbacks relating to insufficient Serbian infrastructure, these were soon overcome, the borders to the enemy seeming wide open. The Albanians were certainly the least-prepared to deal with the arrival of Habsburg soldiers, their attempts at resistance beaten back in their initial surprise. While Tirana yet held in 1902, the prospect of the region falling fully into Habsburg clutches remained a very real possibility. Bulgaria benefitted from superior manpower relative to its Albanian ally, but too found itself forced back by the arrival of Austrian troops. Sofia, one of that realm’s largest cities (albeit not the capitol, which is at Burgas), found itself on the frontline as the year came to a close.
   The remainder of the year was not wholly bleak for the Turks, who captured Smyrna, the situation in that city becoming hopeless even after the allies had joined the war. The Greek garrison was ferried to the safety of Patras in good order as the Pasha’s men extinguished the last Greek military presence in Anatolia.
   The intervention of the great powers has utterly changed the stakes of the war, all eyes in the region watching developments closely. To the Bulgarians and Turks, it seemed the elites were determined to keep them down, the populace rallying around the cause. In Vienna and Stockholm, the cause is viewed as just, helped by the romantic sentiment towards Ancient Greece that emerged during the past half century. In Russia, the news from Bulgaria was utterly painful, the conservative Slavophiles in Milyukov’s coalition agonizing over news from the Balkan and going so far as to hint at leaving the coalition over the matter. The more radical elements in Russian society, goaded on by Purishkevich’s screeds, seethe over the abandonment of Slavic brethren. Romania, meanwhile, has been uncharacteristically silent, watching closely but saying little about the situation.

Russian Arrests! Assassins Apprehended!

Vera Zasulich (left) and Maria Spiridonova (right)
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The aftermath of the opera bombing consumed Russian politics in 1902, only overshadowed eventually by the Greek War. In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, three women were deemed to be suspect. Employees of the Bolshoi Theater, they fled Moscow rather than face interrogation by the police. Maria Ivanovna, Anastasia Alexandrovna, and Vera Alekseevna were the talk of the Russian press. Though no photos of the women were found, an intense manhunt consumed the nation's interest. Clues were sparse. The women were known to have spoken Polish or Belorussian in the company of another man, though his identity likewise remained a mystery.
   Russian police seemed always to be one step behind. The women were known to have fled to Voronezh, then onwards to Tblisi. While there was a little tension between the Georgians and the Russians in the aftermath of the annexation of Trebizond, the two police forces fully cooperated. Yet, when their train arrived in Tblisi, it was empty. Tipped off, the three suspects had exited early. Back in Russia proper, further digging had revealed the women were perhaps concealing their true identities.
   It quickly became apparent the women were radicals, inspired by Marxist teachings and Chernyshevsky's 'What is to Be Done?' a book featuring the 'perfect revolutionary.' They disdained the bourgeois republic, seeking to use assassination and the existing political polarization to accelerate the true revolution.
   The chase took authorities to the city of Gori, where they engaged in a house-by-house search. The women were not in the city, one resident tipping authorities off that they had fled into the countryside. At Uplistsikhe, an ancient rock hewn ruin south of the city, they were found, holed up with several dozen men in the cave city. A firefight ensued, 6 government men dying in relation to 8 of the women's defenders and 1 of the three women (Anastasia shooting herself when the cause was deemed to have been doomed).
   7 have been apprehended. Interrogation has revealed that Vera's full name is Vera Ivanovna Vasulich. Her counterpart was Maria Alexandrovna Spiridonova, while the slain Anastasia was Anastasia Alekseevna Bitsenko. The women, after perhaps inhumane questioning, have revealed they are part of an underground, far-left revolutionary network, dubbed the 'People's Cause'. They allege a widespread network of sympathizers throughout the republic, as well as intimating that they have received funding from a foreign benefactor, though they refuse to say whom. The flight to Gori had been arranged by one of their number, a young Ioseb Jughashvili, who had believed his hometown remote enough to serve as a viable refuge. He too sits in prison, alongside 4 of his men.
   Still unaccounted for is the man who accompanied the female assassins in Moscow, there being a growing paranoia about the identity of the man. Many pray Milyukov and the authorities will find his identity before his fanatic followers strike again. The investigation and domestic political drama seems set to continue into 1903.

Austria Bloodied in Abyssinia: The People's Revenge

Battle of Beheret, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The Ethiopian theater had been relatively quiet with the coming of the new century, Austrian encroachment on their territory only being met with a mild, half-hearted resistance. The Habsburgs had seized Tigray and marched on Gondar, ancient territories of the Ethiopian people falling under colonial rule. Many officials in Vienna were guilty of arrogance, believing that it was the 'primitive' and 'backwardness' of the locals that brought about their acquiesce. Yet, this was not weakness, but careful planning on the part of the locals. Rather than risking his men in a gradual, drawn out series of battles in which they would undoubtedly be defeated, the Emperor Menelik II bided his time and massed his men.
   The pivotal moment came at the Battle of Berehet. The Austrians found themselves ambushed by thousands of Ethiopians. While the assault had been expected, Vienna sending additional men in preparation, the Ethiopians enjoyed an extreme numerical advantage. The battle was a slog, waves of Ethiopian assault repelled by superior Austrian firepower. One Czech lieutenant noted that the Habsburg weaponry was overheating from extreme use and men began to run out of ammunition. Even as bodies piled up, the Ethiopians continued to come. The Emperor of the Ethiopians was himself on the field of battle, using his presence to bolster the morale of his men. Even as a horse was shot out from under him, Menelik II remained undeterred and continued to order the assault.
   Despite heavy casualties, the Austrians began to break after 8 hours of carnage. Exhausted and running out of ammunition, the panic erupted when it was relized there were yet more Ethiopian divisions joining the fray, fresh and untested. It was too much, the commanders ordering a hasty retreat lest the army dissolve. Menelik II and his men harried them the whole way, pushing the Austrians back into their concession. Scattered garrisons of Habsburg soldiers suddenly found themselves isolated without central support, being forced to either surrender or massacred outright.
   Menelik II has triumphed at the Battle of Berehet, though it has undoubtedly brought an end to the half-hearted stage of the conflict. Many now question if Vienna, occupied as it is with the events in the Balkans, will respond yet further or if he Ethiopian Emperor has won his people a respite. Still, the victory came at a heavy cost, thousands of young Ethiopian men never to return home to their families. Theirs has been a true sacrifice.

The Great War

India: The Raj Assailed

Group of Durrani Soldiers, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Loya Jirga
   With the near death of the Shah utterly stunning Durrani government, Timur sought to get to the truth. Initial findings blamed the Hui Chinese ambassador for pulling the trigger. While China was occupied with the invasion from France and Japan, there was a brief war of words between the two governments. Timur ordered the diplomat arrested and detained, calling for his execution should China not issue an apology. The gravity of the situation only increased as Abdul Shah’s condition continued to deteriorate, his western doctors diagnosing him with the relatively novel disease of encephalitis lethargica, the ruler rebounding between periods of coherence, to the edge of death.
   At the last moment, when it seemed as though there would be war between the Durrani and China, an Uzbek messenger brought forth word that numerous illegal caches of French weaponry and gold in the Khyber Pass had been uncovered. At once the situation in Kabul pivoted, the Regent Shah (as Timur had begun to style himself) releasing the Chinese ambassador with an apology and numerous gifts. To ensure security with the French threat looming, Durrani officials swept through the countryside, reportedly uncovering numerous French safehouses and hidden weaponry. Documents detailing plans to rip apart the realm were signed bearing the signature of the French Governor-General of India François Pierre Rodier. Infuriated by the news, as well as news that the pistol that had shot his brother was manufactured in France, Timur convened the Loya Jirga for an emergency session in July.
   It was here Timur went public with his findings, the news shocking and enraging the public, who rallied behind the banner of the wounded Shah Abdul II. The elders bayed for blood, calling on the Regent-Shah to carry forward his grandfather’s cause and topple colonial domination in India once and for all. “Never another Copenhagen!” was shouted by the incensed men, the diverse Durrani tribal representatives uniting behind war. With the consent of the Grand Mufti, Timur formally declared a jihad against the French Empire. He tore up the Treaty of Delhi in dramatic fashion amid thunderous approval from the civilians of Kabul.

War Returns to India
   The Durrani swept down from the mountains and across the Thar Desert. They caught the French Raj wholly unaware; Louis XX having relocated men to Europe, Burma, and the Chinese front, leaving a mere 10 divisions to sweep up the British coastal outposts. While they had been successful, securing the surrender of Bombay in July, they now found themselves facing more than 100 Durrani divisions sweeping down the Gangetic Plain and through the most populated portions of the dominion.
   The political order buckled under the pressure. France had expected aid from Kabul, not enmity. Delhi, such a momentous seizure for the Durrani in the 1870s, was now a mere afterthought as their men swept south into the sparsely-defended Raj. Unlike in the 1870s, the Durrani were joined by local rulers, the nominal French vassals of Gwalior and Awadh flipping sides in the face of such an enemy force. These remnants of Mughal rule, having acted as French clients for more than a century and a half, now saw in the Durrani a means of reasserting home rule, some observers arguing this is a major signal this fight is different. In the south, the smoking embers of insurgency in Mysore reignited, peasant militias operating out of remote regions in the countryside.
   The year has concluded with tremendous territorial gains for the Durrani, the French colonial government forced to relocate to Calcutta after the series of defeats along the massive frontline. It remains to be seen if King Louis XX and the government in far-off Versailles will be able to salvage the situation in 1903 or if the Durrani will continue their push into India, effectively creating yet another massive empire on the Indian subcontinent along the lines of the historic Delhi Sultanate or Mughal Empire.

[Spamage]

China: The Republic Survives

Franco-Japanese Forces During the Battle of Zhongdu, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Durrani duplicity ensured that China was well-prepared for France’s operations in 1902. Coupled with Kabul holding back its units on proposed fronts, the results have been disastrous for the French coalition on nearly every front of the war. Tens of thousands of French and allied soldiers have been either killed or forced into surrendering with the sheer preparedness of the Chinese counter-offensive, already knowing their plans as they were being implemented.

Tibet
   The situation in Tibet would be an early illustration how the campaign year would go for the French and their allies. That realm had long possessed a pro-French element, many remembering how Paris had long acted as their defender against the Chinese in past decades. Louis XX sought to exploit this and launch a civil war in the substate, the plan being that several dozen Durrani divisions would join the Tibetans when the banners of revolution were raised.
   Yet, from the start troubles mounted. China, well-aware of France’s plans (likely due to the loose lips of the Durrani government) had already sent several dozen more divisions to the region to quell any unrest. When the pro-French Tibetans declared their independence from China on June 20th, they were immediately surrounded. Chinese soldiers showed discipline and smashed the initial attempt at rising in Lhasa without mercy. Those rebel leaders that escaped the initial onslaught fled to the northwest, hoping to unite with the approaching Durrani battalions. Yet, this had been a lie on Kabul’s part and they found no support. The Tibetan rising was crushed in under two weeks, the region firmly under President Kang’s control after the aborted coup. Both the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, potentially rallying points for the opposition, were placed under Chinese ‘armed guard’ for their safety, as the regional government was purged of any pro-French elements, who were either interned or exiled.

The Wuhan Offensive
   The worst result for the French came during perhaps the most crucial operation in the theater. Louis XX had ambitiously organized the Wuhan Offensive, intended to be a joint Franco- Durrani-Japanese stab into the heartland of China and capture of the interim capital city. Indeed, the King had won somewhat of a major coup by getting Tokyo to commit to land operations, the Japanese Republic now eager to teach their Chinese neighbors a lesson. Plans called for 230 combined allied divisions to overwhelm the Chinese through a dash from Shanghai and the coast through several cities towards the capitol. Even with the failure of the Durrani divisions to materialize, Kabul having chosen treachery over their nominal agreement, commanders on the ground elected to proceed, having received word that a mere 50 Chinese divisions stood between them and President Kang.
   Initial developments were rather favorable for the 120 allied divisions. Shanghai fell deceptively easily. Skirmishes with the Chinese found the republican forces rather disorganized and prone to retreating. Confident in their impending victory, the allied army seized Suzhou, Liyang, and Wuhu. General Jacques Duchesne privately waxed poetically in his journal of his impending ‘sojourn in Wuhan’ on September 15th, 1902. That was when the Chinese sprang their trap.
   As in Tibet and the north, the Chinese government had been well-aware of France’s plans in the theater, pre-informed as they were by the Durrani. The 50 divisions had been bait, luring the force along its offensive lines for weeks on end, fooling the leadership and soldiers that the collapse of China would be deceptively easy. In the meantime, 150 extra divisions were massing to the far north and south, well-beyond French scouting lines. When the 50 division Chinese force turned to fight at the Battle of Zhonghu, the French leadership merely assumed it was a last-ditch attempt to prevent a fall of the capital. Yet, unlike in the past, the Chinese did not retreat. Within hours the pincer assault had been launched, cutting off the allied soldiers from their supplies and the ocean. They found themselves utterly surrounded. As the scale of the disaster increasingly became clear, thousands killed and the prospect of encirclement looking likely, Duchesne ordered a retreat to the sea. This was blocked, the Chinese defeating the allied forces at the Battle of Tongling.
   The Franco-Japanese force was hamstrung, forced into the city of Anqing, where the Chinese began a punishing siege. Beyond the thousands killed in the fighting, yet more now began to perish from disease and malnutrition. Thousands more, unable to reach Anqing in time, found themselves forced to surrender to the Chinese. For many of the Japanese, steeped in martial tradition, this was an exceptionally difficult pill to swallow. Still, with the prospect of rescue seeming extremely remote, those remaining Franco-Japanese divisions in central China are effectively seen as lost. Many European papers have dubbed Anqing the ‘largest open-air prison in the war’. France’s gains, meanwhile have been reduced merely to the city of Shanghai proper, where ships have docked, though this too seems at risk of falling back into Chinese hands in coming months.

Northern China: The Burning of Beijing
   France had greatly weakened its forces in Northern China, gambling on the success of the Wuhan Offensive in knocking President Kang out of the war. This proved to be a fatal mistake for the forces left in Beijing and on the Shandong Peninsula. The roughly 50 Franco-Thai divisions found themselves greatly outnumbered by 125 Chinese divisions pushing from the inland to the sea. There was chaos, the Chinese assault far larger than had been anticipated. Beijing proper was liberated, albeit not before some French hooligans had caused extensive damage to the city as revenge for its loss. When the Chinese forces arrived, they found the northern capital engulfed in flames, French soldiers torching the settlement on orders from their government. The historic capital, its palaces, and the history contained within had been utterly gutted. Relics dating back centuries perished in the flames. Enraged, the Chinese kept up their assault, battering the allied forces at Tianjin and Binzhou. Battered and in disarray, the Franco-Thai force retreated to the perceived safety of the Shandong Peninsula, resulting in the surrender of most of the gains in 1901.
   The liberation of Beijing had effects beyond China proper, reopening the land trade routes with Korea. That burgeoning republic, still remaining neutral in the face of the regional conflagration, acted as a trading partner with both sides, profiting handsomely. Still, that would not preclude awkward encounters between Chinese and French economic agents, including several outright fistfights at the docks as nationalist sentiments outweighed rationality. Korean officials would have their hands full with trying to keep the foreigners from destabilizing their own region.

The Fate of the Emperor
   Similar perhaps loosely to the fate of the Wuhan offensive, was the situation of the Renci Emperor in Xi’an. His move to restore his dynasty to power was bold, but perhaps not entirely well thought-out. Thousands of miles from any potential aid, he was rapidly encircled. Rather than send his own men to deal with the threat, which has deemed to be a sideshow by the government in Wuhan, President Kang gave broad autonomy to the Black Banner Movement in dealing with the royalists.
   Perhaps there was no one better suited. The Black Banner forces were republican to their core, viewing the emperor as a failure and the cause of Chinese woes. They felt vindicated in his alliance with the French, deeming him a traitor to the Chinese people. Thus, peasant royalists clashed with fervent nationalists in chaotic scenes all throughout the region.
   Yet, the clashes demonstrated time had moved on from the 1870s. The fervor of the emperor’s defenders was outweighed by the republicanism of the youth, especially those so zealous as to have joined in the Black Banner Movement. Xi’an itself defected, the Renci Emperor fleeing in terror from his family’s historic base of power. Somewhere in the crisis the aged man was murdered, his corpse being found in the forests near the Qin Mountains alongside several slain retainers. While he had been travelling in disguise, seeking to carry on his cause from the wilds, he had been singled out and murdered. All that was found was a piece of parchment bearing Mongolian script in the pockets of one of his attendants, though it’s not certain if the mad had simply been carrying the parchment or if this is a larger symbol?

Burma
   Burma, the site of the initial clashes in the Franco-Chinese War became something of a sideshow in 1902, overshadowed by the far larger troop movements in the north and the west. The fight see-sawed yet again, albeit with reduced numbers on both sides. The Chinese, taking advantage of their superior numbers and the length of the Franco-Thai lines, began to push south once more. While the French held off any thoughts of moving towards Bengal and India, secure as they were behind their elaborate defensive fortifications, a weak spot was identified in the Thai, who were easily repulsed. By the end of the year, most of the Chinese Shan satellite state had been liberated, republican forces once again knocking on the door of Southern Burma and Northern Siam. The French forces, meanwhile, became increasingly alarmed by news of disastrous developments in the remainder of the Raj, suddenly seeming extremely exposed.

Africa: Revenge Overdue

New Brandenburger Soldiers During the Assault on Cape Town, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

War on the Cape
   If there was any power that needed little prodding to join the fray, it was the Republic of New Brandenburg. The Prussian settlers had long resented the British assault during the Cape War and viewed their control over Cape Town as utterly unacceptable. It only took a little prodding from the French for the government of President Theodor Seitz to launch a full-on assault on the now isolated British settlement there. Coupled with a French naval blockade, the Brandenburger forces launched a surprise attack on June 10th, forcing the British garrison into the city proper. By the end of the year, the British presence is confined to the city of Cape Town proper, the whole of the countryside falling into enemy hands. With the garrison and the English colonists holed up inside, many have begun to grow weary by the end of the year that aid from London will be on the way.

Congo-Kalahari Operations and African Rebellions
   One area where the British would find great success in 1902 was in Africa. The lightly-defended settlements of their foes were completely vulnerable to the actions of a token British force headed down the coast. French Senegal fell by March, while landings in the Congo and Kalahari caught Brazilian officials off-guard. Neither London nor Sao Paolo could have foreseen what happened next.
   The collapse of Brazilian authority on the more populated coastal regions set into action a chain of events and disobedience that would rip the region apart. Long-simmering tensions among the locals, subjugated for so long by the oppressive ‘missionaries’, erupted into an orgy of violence. As word spread, that Brazil was unable to enforce its will, those in outlying regions utterly assaulted Brazilian infrastructure and equipment. The rubber plantations, petroleum refineries, and copper mines were sacked by mobs of indignant Congolese. The Catholic Church too was the target of ire, chapels all throughout the holding going up in flames. Brazilian officials in the outlying regions were massacred on sight, thousands fleeing to the coast and the relative safety of British occupied settlements. Even the Limpopo Mission-State, which remained in tact due to its presence along the Indian Ocean, suddenly found its authority over the inlands deteriorating, the motley crew of Brazilian officials huddling down to the south as their effective reach crumbled. In the Congo the Mongo, Ngala, and Luba people took up arms against the occupiers. To the south, in Limpopo and the Kalahari, it was the Herero, Nama, Karanga, and Tonga people. While they lacked modern weaponry, they possessed substantial numerical advantages over the colonizer, whose attentions were diverted elsewhere. The Cape Republic, for its own part, secured stability within its borders but feared overextending itself by trying to operate further north in Brazilian Kalahari.
   Yet, the local rebellions refused to respect the supposed colonial borders. Portugal, which had entered the fray in North America at France’s behest, likewise lost control of the inland of Africa, anti-colonial violence spreading alongside word that the European powers were distracted. Portuguese Zambeze has effectively ceased to exist, colonial officials preemptively choosing to flee rather than defend it. Lisbon was saved from total humiliation by the existing colonial garrisons they possessed, which ensured that the coastal regions if Angola and Mozambique did not become engulfed in the violence. Portuguese soldiers even helped to stabilize the tottering Limpopo government of their Brazilian ally. Still, with Africa aflame, the people seeing a means of shaking off the yoke of Brazilian despotism, there are concerns about what will become of the region. The British soldiers, for the most part, have welcomed the internal unrest, seeing themselves as nominal allies of the anti-Brazilian forces and have merely garrisoned the coastal regions while letting the local populace govern itself further inland.
   While the British divisions had then been intended to relieve the besieged divisions at Cape Town, they found themselves repelled by the French blockade of the Cape, forced to content themselves with the occupation of the Brazilian colonies.

Oceania, East Indies, and Pacific

Hollander men during the Sumatran Campaign, 1902
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

New Holland: Revenge of the Dutchmen
   It had initially seemed as though Willemstad would remain neutral in 1902, the government holding that position throughout the early months of the year. Yet, that did not stop foreign envoys from both sides from seeking to gain the aid of the United Provinces. Van Houten’s government found itself inundated with proposals to secure its intervention. France offered Sumatra and a free hand in the East Indies, certainly a tempting proposal. When the French government was politely declined, the Quebecois attempted to reach an agreement, though they too were politely refused. Both powers were undercut by the Colombians, who not only offered the French territories (Sumatra, Borneo, and Malaya), but slices of their own as well in any peace settlement. While Paris promised a weakening of French influence in the region, Bogota offered a means of breaking it entirely.
   Ultimately, the choice was never truly difficult. France was almost universally loathed among the public, many of whom were refugees from the Netherlands proper. These Hollanders had chosen to flee rather than spend their lives under Francization policies. This was coupled with distaste for reactionary socialism in the pluralistic Hollander society, latent anti-Catholicism, and a lingering affinity for Colombia dating back to their cooperation in the 1870s. Stadtholder Van Houten formally declared war on France in April 1902, launching offensive operations all throughout the East Indies. Hollander units quickly seized the formerly Colombian Malaya, nabbed Borneo, and pushed well-north into Sumatra. That island erupted into a three-way war, as it became clear to the Sultanate that the Hollanders were just as determined to conquer them as the French had been. On the seas, the Hollander navy began a blockade of Siam, shelling the city of Bangkok for good measure. Siam, already reeling from territorial losses on the Burmese front and in Northern China, finds itself on the verge of collapse, the monarchy utterly discredited, the economy in disarray, and thousands of young Thai men dead on the frontlines.

The Philippines, New Guinea, and Pacific
   Japan continued its conquest of the Philippines, determined to end the continued resistance in 1902. With dozens of divisions retained in that theater, they faced continued hostility from the local populace. Fighting continued in brutal fashion, but it seemed as though Tokyo held the upper hand. On Luzon, resistance was gradually stamped out along the coast, only the most fervent nationalists fleeing into the center of the island. Many suspect the Archbishop-President is at loose somewhere in that area, though Japanese authorities have thus far been unsuccessful in tracking him down. This northern success was coupled with the collapse of resistance on many small islands, where local garrisons found themselves outgunned by the Japanese invaders. Much of the central region likewise began to tilt in Japan’s favor at this point, it seeming as though the conquest was on the verge of completion.
   This confidence of total victory was undermined in one fell swoop by the intervention of the British in the south. 12 divisions disembarked on Mindinao, joining the Filipinos in their struggle against the Japanese invasion. Seeing themselves outmaneuvered for the time being, especially with the joint Hollander-British fleet on the water, the Japanese elected to withdraw from the south in order to maintain their gains in the north.
   On the seas the British-Hollander involvement in the theater, coupled with the existing Japanese naval strength, prevented either faction from enacting a successful blockade. Neither wished to spread its fleet out thin enough that the other could take advantage of the situation. The Japanese base at Manila, while the British dock at Davao City.
   Further to the south, Hollander intervention beat back the Japanese force in New Guinea, forcing them into a defensive position on the coast. British ships also nabbed the remaining Japanese outposts in the region, seizing New Britain and the Japanese Solomon Islands. Quebec and Japan elected a defensive stance, especially when word of New Holland’s intervention reached their capitols.