Encore of Europe: Gameplay Thread
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GoTfan
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« Reply #375 on: August 13, 2018, 03:28:56 AM »

A Proclamation from the Republic of Venice

We do not seek to bring war upon our homeland, but instead hope to peacefully establish our country. We ask Austrian troops to leave Venetian soil so that we may determine our own future, and define our own lives. We only ask to establish the country the great Francesco Loredan had in mind.

With this in mind, we invite a delegation of Conservative diplomats to a summit to define how our country will move forward. We would be prepared to accept King Louis of France as mediator for the negotiations.

Be aware; we do not seek war, but will not shrink from defending ourselves.

Acting President Renier.
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windjammer
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« Reply #376 on: August 13, 2018, 04:56:22 PM »

Statement regarding Venise
-The King of France doesn't recognize the so-called "republic of illyria" as these lands are part of Venise.
- The King of France has no issue in serving as a mediator if that is requested between Venise and the Archduchy of Austria.
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windjammer
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« Reply #377 on: August 14, 2018, 03:21:57 AM »

The King of France is pleased to announce the creation of a free trade zone between all the realms with a Bourbon monarch.

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At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder
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« Reply #378 on: August 14, 2018, 03:23:28 AM »

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xLouisXVI
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X Charles IV
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President Punxsutawney Phil
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« Reply #379 on: August 14, 2018, 03:30:25 AM »

X Charles IV
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Spamage
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« Reply #380 on: August 15, 2018, 12:28:36 AM »

Africans Rise Against Prussian Slavers, Mozambique Lost!
Conflict Escalates As Both Sides Dig In

     Frederick William II's decision to expand the slave trade into East Africa would come back to haunt his successor in 1788. Previously, most slaves had been taken from West Africa, with long-established practices resulting in the capture and enslavement of locals. Yet, eager to expand their network, Prussian officials began capturing East Africans following the collapse of Portuguese power. Going so far as to arm some tribes in order to play the locals against eachother, the end result has been the gradual alientation of native leaders with colonial administrators. Now Africans have the ability to fight back, equipped with weaponry.
     The Zulu, staunch allies initially with Berlin, have sensed the vulnerability brought on by fighting elsewhere. Not only angered by slavery, which they admittedly had aided during the past few years, but also worried about increased border encroachment by inhabitants of New Prussia, they have turned on their onetime friends. Suprise attacks have desolated the Austrian-turned-Prussian outpost at Delagoa Bay, resulted in the defeat of the Prussian garrison at Mozambique, and caused the primary Army of New Prussia to prepare for operations as the border has erupted into chaos, European squatters being expelled or killed. Although many admit the Prussians have better weapons and stronger discipline, the Zulu are fierce warriors and know the area better than any European commander.
     It may not seem like it, but this development may have repercussions in Prussia's larger war effort. Fighting in Africa, it seems unlikely the Army of New Prussia will be able to either retake Prussians concessions in Persia or expand their European army. Despite its distance from Europe, New Prussia is also of vital importance to many powers. Until the Suez Canal is completed it remains the primary location for resupplying ships for the Dutch, French, and British who are transporting goods from Asia to Europe and the Americas. Should the port cities themselves be destabilized, at the moment an unlikely prospect considering fighting has begun on the borders, there may be broader economic repercussions, with some goods becoming more expensive or unavailable.

Netherlands and Brazil Sign Peace
Brief War Ends In Lisboa's Favor
     With the change in government in the Netherlands, distance between the two powers, and unlikelihood more lands would change hands, both Brazil and the Netherlands agreed to make peace. Following speedy negotiations at the Hague, the Republic of Brazil agreed to send the Kingdom of the Netherlands a small payment in return for Dutch recognition of Brazil's aquisition of Guyana. In return Brazil has been forced to declare its protection of all Dutch colonies in the Americas, vowing to come to their aid in the event that some other power attacks them. Furthermore, both powers agreed to broad trade rights, opening up their respective markets.
     Despite their clear losses, many in the Netherlands have celebrated the peace, hoping this will spell the end of the foreign adventurism that was a staple of William I's reign and his minority before that. The Dutch generally seem to want to get back to business, enjoy peace, and work on protecting their remaining possessions in Asia and the Americas. It seems unlikely they will be leaders in foreign policy any time soon, the new government perhaps even going so far as to adopt a pacifist tone. William II himself, even though he has been sidelined, has publicly praised the treaty.
     Domestically, the Dutch political situation seems to still favor the reformists. William I has been formally sent into exile, boarding a ship and fleeing to Great Britain for the second time in his life. William II has been pliant, willing to work with the new government rather than get drawn into a revolution or civil war.
     Meanwhile, Brazilians have celebrated the Treaty of the Hague as a major victory. Proclaiming an end to colonial oppression in Guyana, that territory has been the site of much celebration. Brazil now  has no external enemies and will be able to develop in peace, it seems. Lisboa's popularity has continued to rise and some of his supporters have even begun to title him the "Father of Brazil". Although he has modestly refused to be called such a title to his face, it is symbolic of the key role he has played in establishing the new nation.
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« Reply #381 on: August 15, 2018, 04:17:13 PM »

The Ottoman Empire considers all previous agreements with the Most Serene Venetian Republic as biding (Suez too), in the light of its proper government being reestablished.

His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan also wishes to appeal to His Imperial Majesty Joseph II to please stop trying to burn the f**king world avoid escalating the European crisis and show good faith by respecting Venetian sovergnity.
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Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon
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« Reply #382 on: August 18, 2018, 03:21:24 PM »

King George III hereby grants Benjamin Franklin the right to retire and select a successor.
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« Reply #383 on: August 18, 2018, 05:48:50 PM »

As Allah is our witness the Ottoman Caliphate had shown nothing but restrain, so not to aggravate the situation, even though its been a victim of foreign aggression. At this time, however, the Caliph sees no other course of action but to invoke his prerogatives in declaring the Jihad against Russian aggressors, and to further announce any Muslim from outside the Ottoman Empire that shall join him in his righteous struggle shall be promised eternal life in the Paradise and, on this earth, residency and life grants in the Ottoman Empire if they choose so.

We shall not lay down our arms until Russian are no longer to pose a threat to the Ottoman soil, and until the rights of Muslims in Russia are guaranteed, as Paul pledged before he broke the peace agreement.

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« Reply #384 on: August 23, 2018, 10:03:11 AM »

Joint Declaration from Stockholm, Constantinople, and Warsaw

Having watched as Tsar Paul once mercilessly attacked by the Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Sublime Porte, without so much as a diplomatic message, both Sultan Abdulhamid and King Gustav forgave the Russians, for one offence is certainly forgivable, and an honorable peace had been concluded.

And yet, Tsar Paul betrayed our trust and has shown himself to be a dishonorable and craven leader. He has once again mercilessly assailed the Ottoman Empire whose men are bravely resisting. It has become abundantly clear that the Despot of Moscow cannot be counted upon to maintain European stability and his transgressions and crimes, miriad as they are, cannot and will not go unpunished.

As such, both King Gustav and President Kosciuszko have no choice but to announce that they will stand with Sultan Abdulhamid and that a state of war now exists between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Russian Empire.

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« Reply #385 on: August 24, 2018, 06:59:46 AM »

Declaration of hostilities against the Ottoman Empire

Due to the aggressive actions of the Ottoman Regime, we have directed our law enforcement to expel the ambassador of the Ottoman Empire in Naples and have withdrawn our ambassador from Constantinople precisely to wage war against the aforementioned state. We cannot allow Constantinople to acquire more power as we consider this a threat to our kingdom. Our primary objective is to liberate Morea, Vlore and Durres, hence providing security for the Eastern Frontier of our blessed realm. We invite Christians from these regions to join our struggle and wage war in defense of the faith, either by means of rebellion or by joining our esteemed army.

-Ferdinand IV of Naples
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« Reply #386 on: August 26, 2018, 06:25:33 AM »

We respectfully ask the King of Naples to name supposed "aggressive actions" he'd been vaguely referring to.
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« Reply #387 on: August 27, 2018, 07:00:48 AM »

Although it seemed very tempting at the time, His Sacred and Imperial Majesty the Sultan dismissed those who were urging him to take the advantage of the chaos in the Italian Peninsula to, so to speak bluntly, grab new lands in Europe. The Ottoman Empire has proclaimed, and rigorously observed, the policy of abandoning using any military force in Europe, except in case of rightful defense against aggression. Thus, the King of Naples' claims about "aggressive actions" are utterly false.

There was, not so long ago, another Italian leader who, in the act of sheer madness, lit the entire region in flames of war. His name was Verri and his regime collapsed. It is befuddling any other Italian ruler would contemplate following in his footsteps.

Furthermore, let us remember what happened to the last crusade, or rather its parody, that's been launched against the Ottoman Empire. A Papal claimant, that was foolish enough to enter the holy city of Al-Quds, also known as Jerusalem, meet his demise at the end of a rope.

The King of Naples wishes to manipulate the Ottoman Christians to colonize their lands and impose fanatically Catholic rule. He clearly doesn't understand the Orthodox Church has no reason to submitt to his plans. The Orthodox Church has flourished under the House of Osman and its protection, and the Orthodox people attained equal status in our multinational and multireligious realm. The Sultan will never allow any Catholic power to to subjugate them.

The Sultan hopes the King of Naples will see errors of his ways before he too breaks his neck against the Ottoman wall.
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Spamage
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« Reply #388 on: August 31, 2018, 09:31:37 PM »

Final News Update

War Expands
Scandinavia Attacks Russia, Poland Assaults Belligerents on Both Sides
     Frederick William III would strike a deal with the Scandinavians, agreeing not to follow up on demands in the German League to rescue the Schleswig-Holstein Germans. In return however, both Denmark and Scandinavia were forced to recognize him as the “protector” of the German population in that area. With this potential source of conflict resolved, the Scandinavians would throw themselves into the war with gusto, condemning the Russians for launching a surprise attack against the Ottomans by responding with one of their own. Poland, meanwhile, would also inflict grievous wounds on the Russians by joining the war. The Republic would muddle matters though, by launching a simultaneous invasion of East Prussia. Thus, Poland-Lithuania is at war with belligerents on both sides of the conflict.

Prussia
     Despite his new allies, Frederick William would be unable to get a handle on the situation in Prussia, primarily due to the confusion caused by Polish intervention. The Austrians continued their advance into Brandenburg while the King studiously avoided conflict, massing the remainder of his army in Hanover while sizeable reinforcements of the German League joined him. It seems the young King wishes to face the Habsburgs with even or perhaps superior numbers, something assured by the number of soldiers assembled at Brunswick. Even though this meant holding back while Berlin was seized by the Austrians (Frederick II’s beloved Sans Souci becoming the site of Austrian general command), the new monarch has pointed out that Austria was able to sustain the loss of Vienna in the previous war and he has no worries about his chances of retaking it.
     The Saxons, who have become noted from their proclivity to change sides, would now come to Joseph II and request to join his side. They have confessed their alliance with Prussia and membership in the German League came from a desire to recapture the Polish Throne. Prussian delay, and Poland’s strength, seems to make this much more unlikely. In return for Habsburg recognition of their regal title they offer to rejoin the Empire and join the war against the Prussians, hoping perhaps some sort of territorial gains would be in the offing. Even so, many point out how damaged the “Kingdom” is, it likely being able to contribute very little to the war effort on either side.
     In East Prussia meanwhile, the Poles would return for the first time since the Wars of the Grand Coalitions decades ago. It was the same land they demanded though, with the Prussians fleeing into Konigsberg and other coastal cities, their control of the sea providing a means of resupply. Even so, Poland has captured much of the countryside and the eventual fall of the entire region is looking increasingly likely. Only success against the Austrians will allow Frederick William to save this region, though he has successfully organized guerilla resistance by the Protestant Prussian-Lithuanian population, upset over being attacked again.

Bavaria
     Bavaria would be another site of Austrian success, with the new young King Maximilian proving up to the task. Being declared of age, the sovereign left his home in Vienna and returned to Munich, bolstering his local support. Indeed, by giving up the regency Joseph II seems to have greatly increased his son’s popularity in the region. Charles Theodore’s pretensions were certainly undercut, and Maximilian proved to be an adept overall commander (though most would attribute his success to the advice of former Queen Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony, his surrogate mother). Rallying several divisions of Bavarians raised specifically to expel the Wittelsbach claimant, the enemies were pushed out of the Kingdom and successful operations were initiated against Hohenzollern Ansbach. Though that principality has not been entirely overrun, the victories in the south have caused many in Austria to breathe a sigh of relief.

The Caucuses
    This theater, by far the most brutal of the entire war, would also prove to be the site of the most Russian success. Absolutely brutal reprisals were ordered by the Russian commanders in Azerbaijan, 5 locals being killed for the murder of any Russian soldiers. Terrified, and overwhelmed by the size of the army, the locals would limit their resistance as village after village surrendered. Much of the land ceded to the Ottomans by the Persians now is under Russian control.
    A new, expanded form of conflict would occur as ethnic groups took up arms, encouraged by either side. In the Ottoman Empire the Armenians would rise up as the Serbs had done so long ago. Unimpressed by the Sultan’s call for jihad and hoping to secure a great deal of local autonomy, they would prove to be a nuisance to their former overlords. Supply routes have become perilous in the region.
    The Georgians, encouraged by the Ottomans, have fought against the Russians. While pretending to enlist in the Tsar’s forces, they have taken the supplies and deserted. Furthermore, many of these Georgian bands have been given at least a surface level of information relating to the Russian goals. It appears a common Orthodox heritage was not enough to stop the Georgians from avenging their annexed kingdom.
    While no major Ottoman actions would succeed in this theater, they also had next to no casualties, their Azeri and Georgian allies doing most of the fighting. In the meantime, Muslims from as far afield as India, Mysore, and the North African states have answered the Sultan’s call and begun to assemble in Iraq. How they will be employed is an open question.

Crimea
    The Polish intervention in the East would shock the Russians, who were still attempting to seize the Crimean Peninsula. With Ottoman defenses delaying their advance, they were surprised by the sudden arrival of the Polish forces, bolstered by the Republic’s recruitment of Cossacks along the border. While the Poles hoped to isolate Paul’s men on the Peninsula, the Russians would retreat when scouts alerted them to the trouble. At the Battle of Armiansk the Russians were able to hold back the Poles long enough to get most of their men out of Crimea. Even so, the battle costed thousands of lives. Polish and Ottoman soldiers met up on the border of the peninsula. While both sides had hoped for a total annihilation of the Russian forces, they still did manage to inflict sizeable casualties. If they can settle their differences on the Polish attack on Prussia (who the Ottomans are technically obligated to aid) they have a real chance for further success in this theater.

Baltic Campaign
    The Russians were shocked by the sudden intervention of the Scandinavians, no precautions having been taken along the northern border. The Swedes faced token resistance as they easily pushed through Viborg, occupied the northern coast of Lake Lagoda, and seized St. Petersburg. The city, still largely being repaired from the last assault, has yet again been wrested from the descendants of its namesake. Construction workers fought with hammers and shovels before being overwhelmed by the invaders.
    A second assault would occur in the Baltic. Riga, unaware that the Scandinavians had attacked the Empire, was shelled and taken by the Swedes and a Danish contingent. The city, long the object of Swedish desire, has yet again been placed under the control of Stockholm. Latvians, whipped into a patriotic fervor by the arriving Scandinavians (who promised broad cultural rights) stood aside as the invaders moved further inland. Certainly the results in this theater have been disturbing for many Russians, who fear the north has been left open to attack.


Native Setback
Quebec and Britain Issue Major Blow Against Confederacy
     Quebec would follow up on its territorial gains in 1788, moving to grab more land from the increasingly fragile Confederacy. The British too would make gains, overcoming the setbacks of the previous year in an attempt to gain influence in more territory.
     It must be remembered that the Western Confederacy contains a wide variety of tribes speaking different languages, with different customs, and different goals. The inherent fragility of the body, united only by opposition to the Europeans, has become clear for all. Tribes further from the fighting have grown less enthusiastic, withdrawing their warriors in order to protect local settlements. Others miss the manufactured goods that were traded by Quebecois or British merchants. Militants meanwhile advocate the continuation of fighting. Clearly, with so many goals, the war effort has lost some of its cohesiveness. War bands have grown smaller and pursued radically different aims. While on a local level resistance does at times appear to be successful, any sort of long-term strategy among the Native Americans seems less and less likely as leaders are finding themselves unable to coordinate the various groups. Perhaps the group is on the verge of collapse. Certainly some observers believe one final push could result in a call for peace, if the Europeans are willing to negotiate fairly that is.

New Government in Louisiana
Etienne de Bore Ousted By Vote of No Confidence
     Despite his role in the construction of the new Kingdom of Louisiana, there was a gradual growth in resentment towards Prime Minister de Bore. Viewed as too close to the Spanish, too much of a traditionalist, and a leader unwilling to allow the new realm to expand, unpopularity among the general public would slowly begin to sway members of the national assembly. There were some signs of foreign intervention increasing the level of discontent, though no concrete evidence was ever located. Preparing to work as usual one morning, the assembly suddenly took up the matter of a vote of no confidence in his government, catching de Bore off-guard. He proved unable to rally effective levels of support among the mostly nonpartisan delegates. By early afternoon he was out of office, resigning his seat as a form of protest. If any leaders needed a reminder how brutal politics can be, here is just one more example. In the span of several years a beloved founding father has become a Prime Minister ousted in disgrace.
     Louis Philippe has worked with the former cabinet in an attempt to form a new government. The King has also called for new elections, hoping to get a body more aligned with public opinion. In any case, it appears domestic politics will dominate the affairs of Louisiana for the next few months, if not longer.

Venice Resists
Austrian Advance Slowed by Republicans
   Despite initial attempts at some sort of negotiated settlement, neither the Austrians nor the Venetians reached any sort of consensus about what peace would look like. The Austrians thus continued operations in the Serene Republic, war becoming a slow slog of sieges. Indeed, the Venetian resistance has been strong, the smallest settlements holding out as long as they can, waiting and hoping that the main Habsburg forces would get drawn away by the fighting to the north. Whatever the case, this war continues. The future of Venice hangs in the balance…

Elections in France
    A historic moment occurred throughout the Kingdom of France as the first elections ever were held for the King’s new government. Despite fears otherwise, the day was largely a quiet affair. Indeed, the operation largely ran smoothly. Though staunch republicans would agitate, furious at what they saw as an organized effort to keep them from gaining a voice in the new government, it seems loyalists have largely won out. Most of the representatives are middle to upper class commoners, chosen by the elite peers. Certainly, having no private ballots may have intimidated away any attempts at protest votes. While some point out that it might have been better for long-term stability to give the radicals a seat at the table, in order to prevent them from blowing the system up from the outside, the King will largely be able to pursue his own agenda. What the new French government, with its wide representation of the various Estates, will do during its first session remains to be seen. As does whether a government with so many checks, balance, and different interest groups can function effectively. Whatever the case, it is a new era in France.

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« Reply #389 on: September 30, 2018, 10:41:19 PM »

The End
Conservative Counter-Revolution:
     The 1780s and 1790s would see the overthrow of the liberal and democratic regimes brought forth in the 1760s. Indeed, to most observers it was as if a counter-revolutionary wave washed over Europe, undoing all the threats to the various monarchies. The Sardinian Revolution, with aspirations to unify the whole peninsula, was brutally defeated. The reformist faction in Venice was crushed following an extended war against the Austrians. Poland-Lithuania, the birthplace of the contemporary revolutions, would be ignominiously divided by some of the most undemocratic states in Europe. Even the Netherlands, where the King had been ousted and his son forced to adopt a new constitution, would fail to develop an active republican party. It seems monarchism has triumphed for the time being.
     There would be one last gasp of revolutionary sentiment, when the Archbishop of Liege was ousted by rebellious locals. Yet, the French Crown would take advantage of this, especially with both Austria and Prussia distracted in Poland, to quietly annex the region to itself, arguing the French-speaking locals ought to be governed by French officials. With its collapse, the next decade would see an uneasy stability across the continent, no radical form of government changes adopted.
     While some monarchs, such as the King of France, have promulgated constitutions in order to preempt any efforts to paint them as out of touch, there are deeper forces emerging. Nationalism, as some have called the new ideals promulgated in Italy by Sardinia-Piedmont, has spread across minority communities on the Continent. Though dangerous to large, multi-ethnic empires such as Austria, Russia, and the Ottomans, there are minorities in almost every major nation that could seek their eventual independence. Romanians, Poles, Flemings, Germans, and even Irish all experienced a new revival of interest in identity and culture throughout the 1790s and moving into the nineteenth century.
    Another development across Catholic Europe has some alarmed. Church attendance has declined precipitously in the years following the overthrow of Sardinia-Piedmont. Some have seen that conflict as reminding many of the factionalism of Catholicism. Related, less and less people have made efforts to join holy orders, economic opportunities being much stronger in other fields. Though Rome was largely rebuilt by 1806, the scars of the Second Western Schism, even if it was brief, remain.

The Great Partition:
    The Austro-Prussian War would take a dramatic turn due to the intervention of the Polish Lithuanian Republic. Rather than picking a single side, the Poles had inadvertently alienated both. Their attack on Prussia, however helpful to the Austrians, had been accompanied by a simultaneous assault against the Russians. Needless to say, the issue seemed to remind many of the crowned heads of Europe that, whatever squabbles they may have with each other, the threat of Republicanism remained very real.
    At first it was unclear what major changes, if any, would result from Polish intervention. After several months though, a crisis like the Republic had never seen would bring Kuszciusko’s government to its knees. Russian soldiers regrouped and assaulted from the east. Ottoman soldiers, recent allies, exploded north out of Crimea while also pushing in through Moldova. The Swedes moved south, not north, from Riga and seized Lithuania. The Prussians, despite their setbacks against the Austrians, concluded a hasty peace with Vienna and moved to expand their holdings by connecting East Prussia to Brandenburg. Finally, the Austrians, who had once been the sole allies of the Polish republican cause, crossed over the Carpathians and began to capture Poland itself.
    At first the overall fervor of the republican cause was bolstered by the surprise attack. Appeals to patriotism caused thousands to enlist in the greatest threat to Poland-Lithuania since the Deluge. From 1788 until 1792 the war continued, the valiant resistance of the Republicans slowly being whittled down. There were several Polish victories against the Russians at the Battle of Minsk, the relief of the siege of Gdansk from the Prussians, and the Battle of Iasi against the Ottomans. Yet, all these victories were for naught. The sheer number of enemies ensured that, city by city, the cause was lost. By the end of the war the country was divided, Kuszciusko cornered in Warsaw as he was placed under siege. The Polish president snuck out under the cover of darkness, fleeing to exile in Great Britain as the Convention of Krakow was formally adopted by the victors, the former Republic divided in one fell swoop.
     The Convention of Krakow would seek to create a peaceful settlement for all of the former combatants, hoping to close the period of intermittent warfare between Prussia and Austria dating back to ascension of Maria Theresa and the War of the Austrian Succession in the 1740s. Frederick William III agreed to cede back the gains made by Frederick II in Saxony in order to appease the Wettins, who had previously demanded their restoration on the Polish throne. Furthermore, Saxony would rejoin the Holy Roman Empire, switching sides yet again in the constant struggle between Vienna and Berlin.

Second French and Indian War:
     Across the Atlantic, while fighting was raging in Europe a new conflict would emerge in the Americas in 1791. Despite initial friendship, the close relations between Great Britain and Quebec would begin to sour. While the Western Confederacy was quickly dispatched by their combined might, it soon became clear there was too much tension for it not to be resolved in the field of battle. Quebec began supporting covert calls for independence in the Fifteen Colonies following the retirement of Benjamin Franklin as minister there. The British meanwhile, worked to covertly undermine the government of Louisiana and caused further diplomatic tension by blaming their intrigue on Quebec. Needless to say, when events in Boston came to a head conflict was all but ensured.
    A group of Massachusetts men, riled up by literature smuggled in from Quebec, were gunned down after a series of protests in an unfortunate accident. This led to a small rising in the region, supported by the government in Montreal. Eventually, claiming their desire to free the Americas from colonial tyranny, Quebec outright declared their support for the rebellion. The British responded in force, their high-quality armies winning an initial series of victories in New England. To the north though, Hudson’s Bay, long the site of tension due to the squatting of Quebecois settlers, easily fell into the hands of the government in Montreal. Louisiana would rally to the side of Quebec, the Orleanist King eager to expand his realm to its former borders.
     London instituted a vast blockade of Francophone North American ports, yet their efforts would be somewhat undermined. Although the French government would maintain staunch neutrality, seeking to remain outside of international disputes and work on domestic progress, that did not stop the populace from clearly favoring their former colonies. There were numerous French blockade-runners who helped keep Quebec and Louisiana well-supplied. The Spanish too sided with the rebels, sending weapons to Louisiana in a show of Bourbon solidarity and a clear sign they desired reconciliation with their former brief possessions.
     Many of the forts established in the region conquered from the Western Confederacy by Quebec were captured by the British, but further attempts to invade across the Great Lakes consistently were beaten back. Meanwhile, an American rebel insurgency formed in the Green Mountais, launching raids into New Hampshire, northern New York, and the other parts of New England. A government-in-exile for New England, led by Samuel Adams, organized resistance to the British, launching supply raids, spying, and hindering further movements. An actual attempt to send Quebec soldiers to Boston failed abysmally though, meaning the war would continue further.
    Louisiana was more successful, taking advantage of the fact the British were more focused on defeating Quebec. Even so, modest territorial gains came at a heavy cost, with the well-provisioned British forts having to either be sieged or stormed.
    Fighting continued for several years, neither side gaining an upper hand, before foreign intervention would become far more direct. King Louis XVI, having previously cast himself as a protector of Francophone people across the globe, coordinated the offer of a negotiated settlement alongside the King of Spain in 1795. Britain, tired by the war but stilling willing to fight only agreed to peace when it became clear foreign aid to Quebec would become far more explicit if the war continued. The various sides sent their representatives to Nantes. The ensuing treaty would see a variety of changes made to the map of North America. Britain agreed to cede its Hudson Bay holdings and also to recognize the independence of the New England colonies, though just the New England colonies. Louisiana would be given a bit of land along the Mississippi. In return for these concessions, the various signatories all recognize the British claims from the Eastern Seaboard of the remaining colonies west all the way to the Pacific Ocean. As the remainder of the colonies had remained largely loyal to British rule, their obedience strengthened by outside intervention, cross-Atlantic ties would be the strongest they had been in decades. The remaining colonies would gradually begin to see their Britishness reinforced, perhaps in an explicit attempt to distance themselves from their rebellious New England brethren.

Japan: The Great Opening
     Several hundred years of Japanese isolationism would come to an end, spurred by Dutch efforts to smuggle opium into the nation. Under the Tokugawa government, Japan would begin to gradually open its ports throughout the 1790s. Working closely with the French, who generously agreed to trade and also supplied the Japanese military with new weapons, the decade would see great changes in the island nation. First there was an aggressive push north, the Ainu being subjugated as the island of Hokkaido was colonized. Local economic reform was achieved as well, French investments helping spur a new wave of growth.
    Yet, Japan would not simply open itself to the world. It also decided to conduct aggressive trade policy throughout East Asia. Merchants from Japan would begin to conduct operations in Siam, Korea, China, and the Dutch East Indies. Seeking to become an independent regional power, there would be attempts to exploit the relative weakness of the locals, French arms making Japanese demands have real weight. Of course, given existing Chinese influence, it has become clear throughout the 1790s that a new regional rivalry has developed. How this develops further into the nineteenth century will be crucial in determining the future of the region.
    Despite Japan’s new outward-looking policy, there would be intense pushback at home. Efforts to tie the Emperor to the new policies backfired, the figurehead ruler seeing a chance to increase his power by undermining the Tokugawa Shogunate. A brief civil war would erupt in 1797, yet the Emperor’s men were unable to overthrow the regime. Severely chastened, the power of the monarchy has only been further weakened by the victory of the Tokugawa.

France: Splendid Isolation
     The results to create some semblance of representative government in France would ultimately pay dividends to King Louis XVI, the struggles between the nobles and bourgeois quieting throughout the 1790s. Instead, this would be a period of great economic growth. Banking, universities, and workweek schedules would all be reformed. Industrialism would continue to take hold and domestic tranquility would mean that colonial expansion would be pursued. Many subjects would praise the Crown for its handling of the Liege situation.
     A series of short wars in Burma would see the region ultimately annexed to French control. In an effort to appease the Catholic Church, a massive French occupying force would be accompanied by attempts to convert the local population. Having been defeated by conventional methods, there would be attempts to formulate a guerilla insurrection. A series of local risings would be defeated from 1796-1803.
     Louis XVI would pass away in 1799 at the age of 70. His eldest son would rule briefly as King Louis XVII, dying of smallpox within months of becoming King, his son in turn becoming King Louis XVIII at the age of 26. France would enter the next century with a young monarch, expanding economy, and optimism for the future. As one of the dominant land powers, and vested interests in Italy, India, and the Americas, it would have a key role to play as a global leader in the next century.

Austria: One Realm, Many Peoples
     Joseph II had great success in the aftermath of the Austro-Prussian War. The Holy Roman Empire was strengthened, Saxony returned to the Austrian orbit, and thousands of square miles annexed by Vienna. The Habsburg monarchy would become the strongest land power in Europe, surpassing even France with the annexation of Poland and after events in Italy. Yet, Habsburg gains would have other unintended consequences, the number of different peoples in the Empire being further multiplied.
    Venice and Vienna could not reach a peaceable settlement, meaning the war between them would continue. Despite fierce Venetian resistance, the Republic was severely damaged by the previous fighting. The reformist government, unwilling to settle to any form of weakness in the face of Austrian aggression, would eventually be defeated. Austrian occupation would become de facto ownership, though it would be unrecognized by many powers. Even so, the land was deemed to be quite valuable by many Habsburg officials, connecting possessions in Italy to the rest of the Empire.
    Emperor Joseph II would pass away in 1801. With his death, King Maximilian of Bavaria was elected as Emperor, bringing that Kingdom into the extended Empire. With the birth of his children, it was all but assured that Bavaria would remain a Habsburg holding indefinitely.
    With such a diverse group of subjects, the new Emperor would begin a policy of pragmatic decentralization. Locals in Hungary, Poland, Bavaria, Bohemia, and Italy would be granted limited local autonomy in a wise move that ensured overall loyalty. Although this would mean many different languages, local assemblies, and a growth in bureaucracy, it would also cause locals to feel represented as a part of a larger whole in a sort of strengthened federation.

Britain: Cross-Atlantic Prosperity
     The loss of New England and minor defeat at the hands of Quebec and Louisiana was demoralizing for Britain, but it was not fatal. In fact, the intervention of the Francophone republics on behalf of the rebellious colonies only solidified loyalty to London and King George III in the remainder. Following peace, a new period of cross-Atlantic prosperity would emerge. With the loss of the northern colonies, the idea of proportional representation for the rest of the American colonies in parliament became politically feasible. A series of electoral reform bills were passed in 1797 expanding representation of the colonies, formerly restricted to one MP per colony.
    As if France, Britain would begin to seriously experience industrial progress, becoming perhaps the leader of the world on the economic development. Great social changes are occurring, making the economic system almost unrecognizable to someone from several generations ago.
    Yet, despite this success, there are major issues Britain will have to address moving forward. Particularly important is the issue of slavery, as a sizeable abolitionist faction has emerged in the metropole. Yet, colonies in the Americas and Caribbean rely on the practice for their economy. Needless to say, London will have to walk a fine line moving forward if it hopes to solve the issue without controversy.
     It is expected that Britain will remain one of the key global players in the next century. Expansion to the Pacific, colonization in Australia, and perhaps even colonies in Africa are all goals for some of the most ambitious MPs. Regardless, it seems that by extricating itself from the affairs of the Continent, Britain has been able to strengthen its ties with its colonies and look forward to a bold new world.

The Ottoman Empire: Protector of the Levant
     Fears of an Ottoman decline early in the 1700s seem to have been unfounded, the Empire greatly improving its position in the Middle East. Although the loss of much of Crimea was resented, it allowed for the peninsula to be annexed to direct Turkish rule. Furthermore, control over Egypt, the annexation of Azerbaijan, and the defeat of the Serbs would stabilize the situation. The reconquest of Moldova was a further victory. Persia, a former foe, is now a dependent power, relying on Istanbul for military backing after the final overthrow of the Safavid Dynasty. Other gains included the recapture of Tripoli, seized from the Venetians in the middle of their war with Austria, and the decision of the Illyrian Republic to become an Ottoman protectorate.
     This military success was accompanied by overall economic improvement. Istanbul’s foresight in pursuing economic developments championed further to the west would ensure that the Ottoman economy would be focused on rationalization and organization. New innovations have begun to challenge traditional systems.
     Ottoman influence extends beyond immediate possessions and dependencies though, trade inducing many distant Muslim rulers to seek friendship with Istanbul. The conquest of Timor Leste and the establishment of a port at Singapore have meant in particular that many minor realms in the Dutch East Indies, taking advantage of political instability in the Netherlands, have looked to the Turks for leadership. Whether this run of Ottoman success will continue, with nationalism rising in the Balkans and other powers eyeing possessions such as Egypt greedily, will be determined in the next century.

Spain: A Glorious Past and Uncertain Future
     The Kingdom of Spain gained little for all the effort expended in bringing Portugal to heel. Attempts to proclaim himself Emperor only served to make the Spanish monarch the butt of many jokes, especially after the Portuguese successfully expelled the enforced claimant.
     Indeed, the damage to Spanish prestige was bad, though it was not fatal. Certainly, the intervention in Naples reminded many Mediterranean powers that, while Spain may have gone through hard times, it remained a real power. Corsica and Sardinia would both be finally subdued by 1792. Like France and Britain, Spain largely ignored the happenings in the East, focusing on repairing cross-Atlantic ties with limited success.
     The Spanish Crown would covertly provide aid to Quebec and Louisiana in their struggle against Britain, getting some measure of revenge after the British aided the Portuguese rebellion. There would also be an aggressive push northward along the Pacific Coast of the continent, entering a region intensely disputed between Spain, Russia, and Britain.
     Trouble stirred up by Brazil, who had been working to covertly undermine Spanish governments in South America would begin to become clear in the late 1790s. At this point numerous local assemblies were openly demanding some level of home rule and otherwise working to undermine the authority of the viceroys. These tensions would erupt into a series of brutal wars for independence beginning in the early 1800s. Charles IV would have to exert all of his power in order to try and keep his trans-Atlantic empire alive after many others had written it off.
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Spamage
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« Reply #390 on: September 30, 2018, 10:42:20 PM »

China: Centralization and Modernization
     It would take until 1795, but the White Lotus in China would finally be defeated by Qing forces. Even though the cost in lives would ultimately be quite extensive, the government was able to use its victory as proof that it could continue to push forward with the opening up of the Chinese Empire. Trade with France, Britain, Scandinavia, the Ottomans, and many other powers meant that much wealth would enter the Middle Kingdom.
    The Qing-Joseon War would ultimately end inconclusively in 1795 after 12 years of continued back and forth fighting. While the treaty was deliberately vague on the status of Korea, it was generally understood in the region that the Kingdom had essentially achieved full independence, a new trade relationship with other regional powers emerging instead of reliance on China.
    The Zhiazhuang Emperor would also pursue a series of reforms throughout the realm for the remainder of his reign, earning praise from those seeking to bring China in line with the threatening European powers. Military reforms would be conducted, including through the introduction of western-style weaponry. The restrictions on Han settlement throughout the Empire would be lifted, allowing for a greater movement of people. Nepal and Tibet would be forced to become even more dependent on China, with Beijing heavily restricting their ability to trade with other regional powers, save for the Durrani. While this would be the source of growing Sino-French tensions into the nineteenth century, how the situation would develop henceforth remained to be seen.
    The role of China in larger international affairs would be limited with the brief Quasi-Scandinavian-Chinese War of Africa, where the Chinese outposts in Africa were both seized by unscrupulous Swedes. The brief goal to establish Chinese colonial holdings was thus ended after a brief tenure.

Scandinavia: United At Last
     Scandinavia arguably was the greatest beneficiary of the Polish partition. While the land it gained was some of the former Republic’s poorest, it essentially reestablished the Swedish Baltic Empire overnight. Coupled with the close ties between Stockholm and Copenhagen, Scandinavia was the clear master of the Baltic, being able to tax trade entering and leaving that area at will.
    The 1790s would be a period of continued Scandinavian expansion. A brief war with Russia, which some have blamed on aggressive actions of King Gustav III, ended inconclusively after raging from 1797 to 1799. It saw no territory exchanged. In the meantime, though, colonies in North America, Gabon, and East Africa would continue to grow. Iceland would even begin to make real progress in returning to its situation prior to the massive volcanic eruption of the previous decade.
    Gustav III died in 1800, somewhat young. His daughter Catherine was proclaimed Queen while her husband Frederick of Denmark deposed his mentally-ill father as King of Denmark shortly afterwards. Working in concert the young couple would proclaim themselves joint rulers. Denmark was essentially absorbed into the larger Scandinavian Union it had fought so hard against decades earlier, ultimately seeing the economic and political benefits of becoming a part of a large Empire rather than remaining a weak independent kingdom.
    Tensions between Scandinavia and Prussia over Schleswig-Holstein seemed to be temporarily solved by the symbolic recognition of the King of Prussia as the protector of the Schleswig-Holstein Germans, but the next decade would see this settlement used as justification for further tensions.

Prussia: The Eagle Spreads Its Wings
     The unbroken series of successes for the Prussian monarchy, or at very least that’s how the situation seemed to many until the reign of Frederick William III, would be seemingly interrupted by the events in the Austro-Prussian War. The Austrian invasion, coupled with the Polish attack on East Prussia, made it seem as though all of Frederick II’s gains would be lost. The war soon turned though, the Austrians evacuating and the Poles being slowly partitioned. Despite the loss of small a small portion of territory to Saxony, Prussia would ultimately benefit from the partition.
     The Convention of Krakow would successfully bring an end to the constant and intermittent warfare between Prussia and Austria, at least for the time being. The Prussians were focused on integrating their new Polish lands while the expansion of Prussia further strengthened its position in the German League.
      The rebellions in East Africa would be difficult to put down. Mozambique was completely lost, Prussia being unable to re-exert control. Even so, the war would give the settlers of New Prussia the excuse they were waiting for to push northwards out of the colony. Furthermore, even with the loss of the colonies, Prussia retained its role as the primary operator of the slave trade, continuing to profit. Yet, as a new century dawned, more and more would come to wonder about the role of the House of Hohenzollern in the practice.

Russia: Heartland of the Autocracy
     Emperor Paul’s influence in the rest of Europe would increase exponentially because of the Polish Partition. The loss of Livonia was seen as ample compensation for the acquisition of much of the former Lithuanian territories. Although there would be lingering tensions with Scandinavia, peace would largely hold in the region. The brief war from 1797 to 1799 brought no major changes.
     Russian power in the New World would expand during this period as well, an aggressive policy of colonization along the Pacific Coast occurring under Emperor Paul’s direct orders. While Chinese and Japanese awakenings would trigger new tensions in East Asia, Russia too would increase its power in the region. Although no territories were gained, a series of military instillations were constructed along the border of Manchuria and along the Sea of Okhotsk.
     Politically, Russia would become one of the poles of absolutism on the European Continent. There would be no effort to reform the government after the collapse of Poland, the republican institutions suppressed on a local level. Those who had once been citizens and participated in elections now found themselves forced into serfdom and denied many rights. Russian nobles established vast estates, retaking properties that had been confiscated in the Polish Revolution. In short, Russia would enter the nineteenth century as a clear defender of the old order.

Brazil: The Ember of Republicanism
     With the aggressive rollback of republicanism in the old world, Brazil would stand alone as one of the few remaining republics. The next decade would see da Lisboa’s government aggressively reform the former colony. In addition to the new constitution introduced during the 1780s, large administrative and political reforms would occur throughout the 1790s. Furthermore, the government would undertake significant efforts to encourage immigration. The overall population of the republic would grow, two waves of migrants arriving after the collapses of Poland and Venice respectively.
     Brazil would not merely look inwards though, the new government seeking to continue its active foreign policy in South America. Sao Paolo was quite active in stoking tensions in Spain’s South American colonies. By funding patriotic societies, distributing subversive literature, and eventually openly arming insurrections in rural areas, the government put itself squarely in the corner of the rebels. By 1800 the Spanish were openly threatening war, not taking the step of declaring a conflict due to uncertainty over the stability in La Plata, Peru, and New Granada. When the Wars of Independence began several years later though, Madrid would not hesitate to include Brazil in their list of enemies.
   
Quebec: Manifest Destiny
     The most defining moment in the brief history of the Kingdom of Quebec after the Revolution and the coronation of King Henry was undoubtedly the Second French and Indian War. It was here that the young realm took on one of the most established colonial power and survived. In fact, it not only survived, but managed to create a small ally in the former colonies of New England. Quebecois were emboldened by the gains made in the war, a massive wave of westward expansion commencing as many dreamed of one day spanning the continent of North America (though some wondered how this would happen with the intense colonial struggle in the Pacific Northwest). Regardless, citizens in Montreal began to look less towards Europe for guidance in the 1790s and started forging their own path.
    Vaudreuil would retire in 1797, a moment of great sadness for the nation. Viewed by many as the father of the country, the successful formation of a new government proved that the experiment in parliamentary democracy could work. The fact that his daughter was married to King Henry, and thus the mother of two Princes of Quebec, meant that the influence of the first Prime Minister would remain.
    Louisiana, made much larger by the peace settlement with Britain, remained politically unstable. Monarchists and Republicans plotted against one another, creating a fraught political situation for the House of Orleans. Quebec took advantage of their chaos to make them a dependent ally, funding whoever was in power. This would presage their later involvement in the Wars of Independence in the Spanish Empire, Quebec becoming a rival of Brazil in their respective attempts to influence rebel movements. The next century would likely see further tensions between Sao Paolo and Montreal…

Conclusion
    Much changed for Europe during the 1780s and 1790s. The Old Order, which seemed so fragile with the Sardinian Revolution, collapse of the House of Braganza, and continued existence of Poland as a republic, reasserted itself. Although there would be concessions made to appease the newly conscious middle and lower classes, the old aristocratic caste would retain control over events.
   Wars changed Europe, but warfare itself evolved as well. Many would consider the Austro-Prussian War as the last of the old "Kabinettskriege". Henceforth war would not be conducted in a limited fashion by diplomats and monarchs who viewed Europe as a chessboard. The bloodshed in the Sardinian Revolution would presage a more intense, nationalistic form of conflict that would ultimately emerge in the 1800s alongside nationalism, ideology, and institutional alliances. No more would treaties be viewed as agreements between two monarchs, potentially collapsing upon the death of the ruler, but instead as between two nations.
    With new technologies, the increasing pace of industrialism, and transportation opening up more of the world to Europe, the world would henceforth never be the same. Political observers would be watching very closely to see if the old powers would be able to weather the storm. Could the monarchs maintain their victories against republicanism? Would New World colonial empires survive? Could the Catholic Church repair the damage to its prestige and organization caused by the Second Schism? How would oppressed minorities respond to new calls for freedom?
    As Europe looked forward, entering a new era, many began to realize just how much had changed. Living memory of Louis XV, Frederick II, Maria Theresa, Catherine of Russia, George II and the Wars of the Grand Coalitions would begin to fade. Earlier decades, including the last years of Louis XIV seemed to those few who could remember them to be a completely different era. It was time for a new century. The world would never be the same.



World in 1800


Europe in 1800
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Chancellor Tanterterg
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« Reply #391 on: June 29, 2020, 01:25:13 PM »

Bumping for Steam and Steal Players who want to get caught up on the backstory to Spamage's current game.
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