God, Gold, and Glory: Game Thread

[Lumine]

Kingdom of France, January-June 1560:

Royal Decrees

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that a new position shall be created for the Kingdom, that of Superintendent of Finances, with the power and responsibility of looking after the finances of the Kingdom and improving our economic situation. Michel de l'Hopital is hereby appointed Superintendent of Finances and Privy Councilor."

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that due to the ill health of Lord Chancellor Francois Olivier he will be replaced in his position by Jean de Morvillier, Bishop of Orleans, with the full power to administer justice and deal with the recent issues regarding Protestantism."

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France to organize an expedition to the north of the New World in order to explore the unknown lands and determine the possibilities of creating settlements and eventually a French colony."

Francis II, King of France, King-Consort of Scotland, and other titles.

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Court and the Royal Household

Grand Master and Grand Chamberlain of France: Francois, Duke of Guise (inc.)
Constable of France: Anne de Montmorency (inc.)
Lord Chancellor of France: Jean de Morvillier, Bishop of Orleans (new)

Secretary of State for the Navy: Claude I de l’Aubespine (inc.)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Charles of Guise, Cardinal de Lorraine (inc.)
Secretary of State for War: Francois, Duke of Guise (inc.)
Superintendent of Finances: Michel de l'Hopital (new)
Admiral of France: Gaspard of Coligny (inc.)

Changes on the Royal Council and Household: While it is my intention to get rid of the Guises, it is obvious that I cannot do so right away, not when Francois and Charles hold so much power over the Council. That said, I will appoint l'Hopital to take a look at the finances and see what can be done (in OTL he was incredibly honest, and I need someone that will not steal the money), and the Bishop of Orleans will serve as a moderate Lord Chancellor tasked with keeping the peace between Protestants and Catholics (and since he has a better relationship with the Parlement of Paris than l'Hopital I have my hopes in his ability to win power). It is pretty obvious that my poor son Francis could die soon, so I will double the guard on him and severely increase the security of Charles, Duke of Orleans and heir to the throne. My trusted friend Michel de Nostredame will become his preceptor and will guide him on staying under my absolute control.

Creating a Faction: Quite obviously, it's time to create a King's Party that will not serve the Guises or the other factions, a group that will defend the authority of the King while serving under my covert leadership. For that effect I will ask my friends in the Gondi Family to send their capable sons Pietro, Carlo and Alberto to court, to serve as my personal envoys and deputies to handle affairs since I cannot move from Court. Likewise, I expect l'Hopital and Orleans to be on my side, and I will also summon accomplished diplomats Jean de Monluc and Renato Biragro, with promises of gold and influence for all those who join my faction and remain loyal. We shall be known as the "Politiques". I will take a pause on sponsoring more works of art, and the money saved by that will be funnelled by the Gondi Family in order to create a Royal Spy Ring that will immediately start spying on potential enemies of the crown.

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Turn Crisis

1.- We will respond, and we will do so by eventually proving that the House of Valois is the one that rules the Kingdom of France, nobody else does. I have taken the first steps to consolidate my power by creating a faction and while we deal with the schemes I have devised the religious issue will have to wait a couple of months. The new Lord Chancellor will be  entrusted with keeping the peace, removing the more violent aspects of Henry's anti-Protestant policies and crafting an Edict to bring a temporary (but satisfying) solution. Of course, we will also seek the advise of the Papacy on this.
 
2.- By royal decree an expedition has been funded. Economic crisis or not, the benefits of the New World will repay our investment one way or another. Plus, l'Hopital should be competent enough to find enough money.

3.- Here's where it gets interesting.

Part One: First things first, send a message via the Gondis to Constable Montmorency expressing my sadness over his treatment after Henry's death and my joy at seeing his son being made a Marshal thanks to my efforts, along with an offer. I can give him his old influence back, but he will have to play a major role if he wants to return. I need his contacts with the nobility and the army to secure loyalty towards Francis, and to start a few preliminary moves regaring future plans.

Part Two: Let the plot go forward for the moment, but secretly double the guards and have all the plotters followed. Given their lack of organization and La Renaudie boasts, it won't be hard to find out the precise date. I want the Duke of Nemours to attack and crush them before their reach the Court, and I want their meeting places stormed to get a hold on any incriminating documents. Any man who is a suspect will be imprisoned, and a nobility title will be promised to any officer who can find evidence that incriminates the Bourbons, especially the Prince of Condé.

That will be Phase One of my humble scheme, and we'll move on from there next turn.

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Foreign Policy

-The situation in Scotland is, of course, most troubling. We will take our time to consider what is to be done here, but beyond Scotland and given the state of our finances and army after Cateau-Cambresis we don't see the need for massive military adventures. No, we will use these months to consolidate, improve our defense situation and try to pay back our debts.

[Lumine]

French Expeditionary Forces sail to Scotland:

By Decree of his Majesty, Francis II

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that our 3,000 strong army in the Kingdom of Scotland will be reformed into a French Expeditionary Force, reinforced by an extra 9,000 men who will sail as soon as possible, with the mission of keeping the peace and helping my good wife Queen Mary and her mother the Queen Regent in their fight against the recent rebellion. Superintendent l'Hopital is hereby ordered to provide funds for this new force.

We are also pleased to announce that Francis, Duke of Guise, Grand Master and Grand Chamberlain of France will take command of this force, and Charles of Guise, Cardinal of Lorraine shall take over his court duties on a temporary basis. We wish Duke Francis and his new 12,000 strong army the best of luck."

Francis II, King of France, King-Consort of Scotland, and other titles.

[Lumine]

Interesting, I'm really looking forward to the next turn!

[Lumine]

OOC: Once Francis II reaches majority (when will that happen) do I simply take over as him? (I need to know to plan for the future)

[Lumine]

Does this mean Poland is open again?

Yes it is.


Also a reminder that the turn ends soon. I'm missing a lot of orders.

I'm awaiting for a couple of responses to my messages, but I will post my orders in about two hours!

[Lumine]

Kingdom of France, July-December 1560:

Royal Decrees

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that the Estates General shall be summoned to meet in the city of Orleans, where we will preside meetings in order to listen to the advice of the states and make decisions for the future of the Kingdom of France."

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that a new expedition shall sail to the New World, commanded by my good friend Filippo di Piero Strozzi as Grand Captain, and Andre de Thevet as the envoy from the French Crown. The expedition shall colonize the zone near the river described by Admiral Coligny, provided the new colony is far away from the Spanish Colonies."

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that Antoine Escalin des Aimars is to be named the new Admiral of France, with the mission of reforming the French fleet and creating a permanent force. He will be assisted by Secretary de l’Aubespine, and in order to focus on the task the Admiralty will relinquish its legal duties to the Lord Chancellor."

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that Constable Montmorency is to reform the Royal Army, creating a centralized and truly permanent force to enforce the authority of the Crown and protect the Kingdom of France."

Francis II, King of France, King-Consort of Scotland, and other titles.

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Court and the Royal Household

Grand Master and Grand Chamberlain of France: Francois, Duke of Guise (inc.) (Currently in Scotland)
Constable of France: Anne de Montmorency (inc.)
Lord Chancellor of France: Jean de Morvillier, Bishop of Orleans (inc.)

Secretary of State for the Navy: Claude de l’Aubespine (inc.)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Charles of Guise, Cardinal de Lorraine (inc.)
Secretary of State for War: Francois, Duke of Guise (inc.) (Currently in Scotland)
Superintendent of Finances: Michel de l'Hopital (inc.)
Admiral of France: Antoine Escalin des Aimars (new)

Changes on the Royal Council and Household: Antoine Escalin des Aimars is a tested commander and the most qualified man in France when it comes to the fleet, so we expect a lot from his as our new Admiral. Likewise, Strozzi and de Thevet have shown their loyalty and skill, and we trust they will be up for the huge task of creating a colony for France. It also pleases me to see that our faction keeps growing, and we will continue to encourage the growth by including those who are willing to fight to enforce the authority of the King.

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Turn Crisis

1.- An expedition is now on the way, and we will offer huge benefits and titles to those noblemen who lend the Crown their strength to colonize the New World and create an Empire for France. That said, we will stay away from the Spanish Colonies in Mexico and the Caribbean, there is no point in antagonizing Spain.

2.- I have called the Estates General for this, and I will leave it up to my son to discuss with the representatives of the nation to craft a comprehensive policy. He will soon come of age and he has to start making hard choices, but I will remind him that a civil war is not in the interests of France. I will also use the opportunity to discuss the exploration and colonization of the New World and the reform of the army, navy and tax system.

3.- We denounce the alliance with the Ottomans, and congratulate the Holy League in their actions. That said, France has far too many issues to face right now in order for us to intervene, so we will focus on our own affairs for the time being. We will make a decision regarding trade soon enough.

[Lumine]

OOC: Not that I would consider repeating the OTL experience of Henri III briefly serving as King of Poland, but it is a real shame that all of Francis's brothers are so young, xD

[Lumine]

Kingdom of France, January-June 1561:

Royal Decrees

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that Queen Jeanne III of Navarre, King Consort Antoine de Navarre and Louis, Prince of Conde are to travel to Paris to be present at the beginning of my full reign, so they can swear fealty to the crown."

"This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-mother, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that the Jesuits shall be granted a royal permission to operate in Southern France, provided there are no attempts at forced conversion. Their shall be escorted by Renato Biragro, hereby nationalized as Rene de Birague and appointed an envoy from the Crown."

Francis II, King of France, King-Consort of Scotland, and other titles.

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Court and the Royal Household

Grand Master and Grand Chamberlain of France: Francois, Duke of Guise (inc.) (Currently in Scotland)
Constable of France: Anne de Montmorency (inc.)
Lord Chancellor of France: Jean de Morvillier, Bishop of Orleans (inc.)

Secretary of State for the Navy and Admiral of France: Antoine Escalin des Aimars (new)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Claude de l’Aubespine (new.)
Secretary of State for War: Francois, Duke of Guise (inc.) (Currently in Scotland)
Secretary of State for Religious Affairs: Charles of Guise, Cardinal de Lorraine (new.)

Superintendent of Finances: Michel de l'Hopital (inc.)
Royal Envoy to Southern France: Rene de Birague (new)

Changes on the Royal Council and Household: Admiral des Aimars will need more authority to carry out his reform and expansion of the French Navy, so we will also appoint him as Secretary of State for the Navy. Claude d'Aubespine is a great diplomat, so he is promoted to Foreign Affairs. And since the Cardinal of Lorraine has been designed to play a large role by my son, we create the new office of Secretary of State for Religious Affairs for him. By working with the moderate Lord Chancellor de Morvillier we hope to be able to soften his views. Birague, as an accomplish expert in diplomacy and religious affairs should also be ideal to work with the Jesuits in Southern France.

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Turn Crisis

1.- I am very much opposed to the idea of civil war or a revolt, but the Protestants have already tried to capture my son and I will not tolerate an open challenge to my son. I will advise him to be careful and moderate, but the d'Albrets and Bourbons must come to Paris to prove their loyalty to France and their King.

2.- We must contact the Indian tribes nearby and learn their own rivalries, so we can play a part in their affairs and secure initial support for the colonists. As the example of Portugal and Spain proved, it is possible to trade with the natives, and our initial success happened thanks to their help. We will, however, arm more expeditions to bring supplies and capable laborers and craftsmen to make the colony self sufficient. Nova Francia will be a priority for France, and we will craft a true Empire given enough time. It should also be noted that only Catholics can sail to Nova Francia for the time being.

3.- We have already taken action here, and the Jesuits are allowed permission with a few conditions.