Age of Steam and Steel: Gameplay Thread

[Spamage]

Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
100,000 Army of St. Petersburg
55,000 Army of Poland
75,000 Army of Siberia
86,500 Army of Ukraine
17,000 Army of Crimea
19,000 Army of the Caucuses
24,300 Army of Arabia
24,000 Army of the Gulf
9,500 Army of the Suez
5,000 Army of Alaska
50,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 358,000 more)

Kingdom of France
343,000 Army of Flanders
110,000 Army of Northern France
79,400 Army of Southern France
80,000 Army of Bengal
40,000 Army of Gujarat
21,100 Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Habsburg Monarchy
184,000 Army of Wurttemburg
91,000 Army of Romagna
79,000 Army of Italy
55,000 Army of Bohemia
50,500 Army of Poland
30,000 Army of Transylvania
9,800 Army of the Suez
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 155,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
120,000 Army of Brandenburg
120,000 Army of Berlin
108,700 Army of Poland
128,000 Army of Hanover
9,000 Army of the Cape
9,800 Army of the Suez
6,000 Army of Angola
5,000 Army of the Congo
3,000 Army of Borneo
1,000 Army of Singapore
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 3,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
90,000 Army of Britain
35,000 Army of Pennsylvania
20,000 Army of Illinois
20,000 Army of New York
20,000 Army of Richmond
33,000 Army of Georgia
18,200 Army of Transylvania
10,000 Army of Australia
3,000 Army of the North
3,000 Army of the Midlands
1,700 Army of Ghana
1,500 Army of Nigeria
9,800 Army of the Suez
3,000 Army of Richmond
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 192,000 more)

Beijing Qing Dynasty
156,500 Army of Beijing
67,250 Army of Hunan
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 6,000 more)

Shenyang Qing Dynasty
64,000 Army of Manchuria
12,000 Army of Inner Mongolia
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 10,000 more)

Ottoman Empire
3,000 Army of the Northern Egypt
59,700 Army of Cairo
64,000 Army of the Balkans
36,400 Army of Iraq
69,300 Army of Alexandria
10,000 Army of Gaza
25,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 89,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
107,000 Army of Jiangsu
87,400 Army of Guangzhou
54,000 Army of Wuhan
23,000 Army of Hainan
10,000 Army of Formosa
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 32,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
80,000 Army of Spain
41,000 Army of Yucatan
63,000 Army of Peru
24,000 Army of Guyana
20,000 Army of the Llanos
16,400 Army of Chile
20,000 Army of Cuba
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 9,000 more)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
85,000 Army of Jutland
100,000 Army of Finland
25,000 Army of Lagoda
5,000 Army of Liberia
5,000 Army of Eritrea
7,500 Army of Mombasa
2,000 Army of Gabon
8,200 Army of the Suez
1,000 Army of Socotra
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 100,000 more)

Tokugawa Shogunate
36,000 Army of Hainan
10,000 Army of Makeng
15,000 Army of Dalian Peninsula
5,000 Army of Weihawei
50,000 Army of the North
20,000 Army of Kyoto
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 152,000 more)

Kingdom of the Netherlands
72,000 Army of Amsterdam
40,000 Army of the East Indies
10,000 Army of New Holland
5,000 Army of Ceylon
9,500 Army of the Suez
1,000 Army of Nigeria
15,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 107,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
133,000 Army of Tuscany
20,000 Army of Rome
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 4,000 more)

Joseon Korea
48,000 Army of the North
48,000 Army of the South
10,000 Northern Flying Corps
10,000 Corps of the Ussuri
10,000 Marine Corp
31,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 12,000 more)

Kingdom of Louisiana
16,000 Army of Florida
29,000 Army of the South
29,000 Army of California
20,000 National Gendarmerie
9,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 25,000 more)

Qajar Persia
24,000 Army of Baku
21,000 Army of Lake Van
49,000 Army of Basra
27,000 Army of the South
(Can raise 7,000 more)


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Sizable)
Kingdom of Prussia (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Standard)
Kingdom of Spain (Modernized, Sizable)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Limited)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Tokugawa Japan (Modified, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Modified, Standard)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Qajar Persia (Traditional, Limited)

[Spamage]

CATHOLIC REPUBLICANS TOPPLE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT!
LA PLATA DECLARES WAR

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The death of President de Vasconselos in 1837 created a power vacuum in Brazilian politics. While this was not necessarily a new experience for the republic, which had faced a similar uncertain situation when President da Silva Lisboa died in 1834, this time no clear liberal champion emerged. Pedro de Araújo Lima was named interim president in March 1838, with elections planned for the second half of the year. Issues over slavery, the power of the central government, and foreign policy caused the various liberal democratic and conservatives to squabble, while the true enemy organized.
   Catholic Republicans had long been a presence in Brazilian politics and had initially been hopeful after the death of Lisboa in 1834. When Vasconselos proved to be just as a much of a liberal as his illustrious predecessor, these hopes had seemed dashed. Rather than championing the radical ideology, Brazil instead positioned itself as a defender of moderate republicanism and secularism. Intervention against Spain was coupled with a hostility towards radicalism emerging in Colombia and Paraguay. The vast majority of society was willing to follow his lead, as long as he was successful. Yet, given the resulting Prussian-Spanish assault and the death of the President, it was clear the traditional policy had failed. Sensing the vulnerability of the government in the aftermath of the assault, all the Catholic Republicans were waiting for was the spark.
   This came in April 1838, when word leaked from the foreign ministry that the new President had expressed himself open to peace negotiations with the Spanish and Prussians, privately professing the the Cabinet that he was willing to cede more territory in Guyana and surrender gains made in Uruguay. This ignited a firestorm. Catholic Republican papers denounced the move as that of a coward, willing to waste the sacrifices made by Brazilians over the last few years. Protests and strikes began to pop up in several cities, local police forces proving inadequate to handle the situation. Here the political principles were married to nationalism and jingoism, bringing together a broad but bizarre coalition of conservative reactionaries, radical republicans, the Church, and the military elite.
   President Lima attempted to counter the dissent, calling an emergency session of the National Assembly. Although the delegates came, operating out of Sao Paulo given the state of Rio, political opportunism proved too tempting. Both the mainstream liberals and conservatives demanded substantial concessions from the President in order to grant him broader authority to deal with the Catholic Republican menace. Once it became clear action was not forthcoming, the rebels struck.
   The garrison of Sao Paulo mutinied, led by their commander General Luís Alves de Lima e Silva (a hardcore, anti-democratic reactionary) surrounded the assembly and arrested those delegates who did not surrender before him. President Lima meanwhile, was arrested in his offices and quickly disposed of, executed by firing squad. Bishop of Sao Paulo Manuel Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade, Minister of Justice Cândido José de Araújo Viana, and General General Luís Alves de Lima e Silva declared a suspension of the Brazilian Constitution. The Bishop was declared the Head of State of the Divine Brazilian Republic, yet another South American government falling under the sway of a prince of the Church.
   News of events in Sao Paulo was largely accepted with a shrug throughout Brazil, given the size of the anti-Liberal coalition against President Lima and the traditional ruling class of the Republic. Although there was a brutal purge of the civil service in early summer, only liberals were targeted. The military accepted the change of power, hoping the new government would allow them to maintain the gains of the previous years. The wealthy planters have eyed the events warily, well-aware of how abolitionism was championed by the revolutionaries in Colombia Bishop de Andrade faces a difficult dilemma, being at the head of a diverse movement (reactionaries, religious reformers, abolitionists, the military, the Church) with conflicting interests and many observers are expecting infighting in the months to come unless he can get a handle on the situation.
   Abroad, reactions would be more alarming. In La Plata General Juan Manuel de Rosas, the rabid anti-Catholic Republican, declared war on the Divine Brazilian Republic, offering peace terms to Spain in the hopes Madrid and La Plata could unite in the face of a common enemy. La Platan soldiers have begun to mass in preparation for an assault on the Catholic Republicans, though it's unclear where this will be directed. In Colombia, Upper Peru, and Paraguay, the new government was congratulated, calls for direct military cooperation emerging. How the more established powers in the region (namely Spain, Prussia, and Britain) will react is not yet clear.
   Many have noted with great interest how the two revolutionary phenomena in Europe and the Americas are so similar, some speculation arguing they are inextricably bound, the success of revolution in one theater only igniting more in the other. This dialectic has been criticized by conservatives though, who point out the various different aims of these rebel groups. Regardless, a new government has taken power in Brazil, and the rest of the world would do well to take notice.

Korea Awakens
Joseon Dynasty Strikes Into Manchuria

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   
   Korea has long been seen as the most cautious powers in East Asia. As the Chinese factions engaged each other, Europeans intervened, and Japan began to strike outward, Korea remained at peace. By focusing instead on domestic improvement, Queen Regent Sunwon brought prosperity to the realm as real economic advancement became evident, celebrated in early 1838 with the completion of the first Korean railway. Although small, it was seen as a major step forward for the realm.
   The events in Manchuria, and the collapse of the Qing into feuding factions, proved too tantalizing for the Koreans to resist. In quick and decisive action, Sunwon declared the Prince of Beizi a wretched murderer, denouncing him for the murder of his cousin. The Joseon soldiers quickly seized the Transamur region, pushing towards the Songhua river. The Paektu Mountain was likewise captured. Of most importance however, was a lightning strike towards Shenyang, aimed at deposing the usurping Prince of Beizi. Although the small Qing garrison was caught off-guard, surrendering the city, the would-be Emperor was nowhere to be found. He had already left the city for military action elsewhere. Masses of Qing officials surrendered to the Koreans, promising that they had only served the Prince of Beizi under duress.
   Unaware of the assault on his capitol, the Prince of Beizi's 64,000 men in the Army of Manchuria faced off against the 60,000 Koreans in the Army of the North. The Battle of Tonghua was a long, bloody affair, neither side winning a decisive victory. Both were forced to flee the field after a second day of engagements, though it was evident the Manchurians had taken slightly more casualties. This interrupted what had been a string of thus-far unbroken Korean successes.
   The Prince of Beizi did have one small victory in Tonghua, in that the 10,000 men of the Northern Flying Corps were now besieged in Shenyang, the Army of the North not having arrived to help secure the area. Many Koreans will be watching closely as to how Queen Regent Sunwon will seek to push the Qing back further and save her soldiers in the second half of the year.
   Thus, Korea too has proven unable to resist the potential gains from a China in turmoil. Joining the Russians, Habsburgs, Scandinavians, and Japanese, their territorial acquisitions have shown them a force to be reckoned with. Although the Zuigao Emperor in Beijing has provided them with ostensible cover, praising them for trying to avenge his brother, it is expected the Xing Court will be outraged.

[Spamage]

1838 News of the World

Shift in the Mandate of Heaven: China, 1838

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Triumph of the Xing

  The writing was on the wall for the Qing Dynasty well before the Yansheng Emperor was murdered in Shenyang. The infighting following the death of that emperor between his brother and his cousin, coupled with concerted Korean intervention, ensured that 1838 would bring an end to that dynasty’s presence in China. From Nanjing, the Youfu Emperor ordered his men to strike at the Beijing Qing. Given that faction’s overall weakness, and the need to defend from the Shenyang Qing, the meagre forces of the Beijing Qing were beaten back. In the panicked retreat thousands abandoned the Manchu, declaring their loyalty to the Xing Dynasty. Beijing itself was briefly awash in chaos. When the smoke cleared the so-called Zuigao Emperor, brother of the slain Yangsheng Emperor, was found dead in the palace alongside his guards. It was not immediately apparent as to whether he had been murdered by over-eager Xing agents, committed suicide, or been caught in an unfortunate accident. Needless to say, the death of the Qing claimant ensured a smooth transition of power in the city.
   Disaster would follow roughly simultaneously in the south, where the Xing Army of Guangzhou pushed against the remnants of the once-proud southern Qing army. A mere two years ago there seemed to be hope for a recovery in the region, especially with the collapse of the Guang, but these plans were dashed. When news arrived of the death of the Zuigao Emperor, whatever fight remained quickly drained. Faced with mass desertion, the commanders that remained loyal to the Qing did battle with the advancing Xing near Guangzhou. Following their defeat and surrender, Xing power in the south was all but assured. After more than two centuries in power, Qing control of China is no more. Although the Xingyun Emperor still controls the remnants of his realm in Manchuria, the hated nomads have at long last been kicked out of the realm.
   Yet, although the Xing have gained supremacy in the region, challenges remain. The Russian dominance over Mongolia, sealed with victory in October 1838, would serve as a stark reminder that much of the former Qing lands remained in a state of de facto independence. The Hui, Yue, Tibetans, and Uyghurs all do not answer to the new dynasty and show no indication of doing so. Nor do former subjects such as Nepal (now a French puppet), Mongolia (occupied by Russia) and Manchuria (divided between the Qing remnants and the Koreans). Many look to the widely accepted Youfu Emperor and wonder if or how he will secure his new realm.

Frontier Wars

  The Russian victory over the Mongolians was all but assured. Although it would take the entire year of 1838 to complete, the last scattered nomadic resistance was either systematically eliminated or forced to cross into Qing-held lands in Manchuria. Regent Maria Augusta would proclaim Mongolia as another core province of the Russian Empire in December, refraining from further action in the theater given the deteriorating situation in Europe itself.
   Despite the collapse of the Beijing Qing and the opportunity it presented, the Shenyang Qing demonstrated little offensive action in the second half of the year. If has become evident that the Prince of Beizi sees himself as most secure in a defensive posture, assured of the support of the ethnic Manchus against either the Han or the Koreans coming from the southeast and southwest. Korea itself slowly abandoned Shenyang, taking away whatever valuables could be found and moving more towards the coast, occupying Yingkuo.
  

War in North America

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Britain would demonstrate that, whatever land setbacks had occurred in 1837, it still held naval supremacy in 1838. As Louisianan intervention in the American War became evident, London decided to enact a blockade. Louisianan trade from the Gulf was ground to a halt, British vessels seizing trade ships. This was coupled with a simultaneous, albeit of mixed effectiveness, effort to encourage a boycott of Louisianan products throughout the rest of Europe due to their reliance on slave labor. In the short term, the economic impact was felt immediately, goods from the Plains, Texas, and Louisiana proper rotting away in the harbor of New Orleans while these same items saw their value spike in Europe. As with the Suez a couple of years ago, the British blockade of Louisiana could impact economies thousands of miles away.
   The land military situation would prove to be a mixed bag in 1838. The siege of Atlanta ended in a southern victory, the combined armies of Louisiana and the rebels beating the British in the city and eliminating the Army of Georgia entirely, a significant loss. Still, Britain had far more soldiers at its disposal that either American government. An effort to follow up on the surrender of Atlanta with gains in Cumberland was beaten back by the combined armies of Richmond and Transylvania. A second British force pushed south into North Carolina, ensuring that much of Virginia was recaptured by the end of the year. A British raid on Charleston proper proved to be a stunning success. In an embarrassing scene, representatives of the Americans were forced to flee west to Montgomery, 1838 ending with their supposed capitol in the hands of the enemy.  Britain has made significant gains, but there has been attrition due to the harsh nature of the conflict.
   Further to the west, the war was more brutal. The Louisianans smashed into Sioux territory, inflicting a defeat on the British tribal allies, who were in clear retreat. Civilians and soldiers alike faced the wrath of the Louisianans. The success of the National Gendarmerie has meant that the Sioux will be unable to provide the British with tangible military aid for some time. The British responded with raids into northern territories held by New Orleans, crossing the Missouri River and capturing more lightly-defended land.  
   The most alarming development was the eruption of a slave revolt along the banks of the Mississippi, the British supplying arms and training to those willing to seize their freedom. On both banks, thousands rose against the Americans and Louisianans, plantations awash with blood as contentious fighting began. Although the presence of the local garrisons has prevented the rising from spiraling further out of control, both American and Louisianan leaders have eyed the rising nervously, afraid it could spread into a broader internal conflict as such a dire time. This is coupled with the threat the slave rebellion has posed to trade along the Mississippi river. Although vessels continue to cross, it is feared the slave rebels could shut down the waterway if they were properly supplied.
   The growing fighting in the American War has led the Kingdom of Mexico, led by King Louis of Orleans-Bourbon, son of the King of Louisiana, to condemn the British blockade and threaten support of Louisiana should the support to slave risings continue. Quebec, meanwhile, would promise neutrality once the British decided to hand over their settlements in the Pacific Northwest. Although there was a pro-war sentiment in Louisiana, any momentum was stalled as the issue of slavery remained at the forefront of the war, citizens of Boston unwilling to lock arms with slaveholders in the south.

Blood and Wine: Catholic Republicanism in South America

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Whatever the fate of the rebellions in Europe, it is clear that Catholic Republicanism will leave a long-term impact on South America. The toppling of the Brazilian government ensured that the realm could assume a leadership role in the struggle against Spain, Prussia, and counter-revolutionary forces from Panama to Patagonia. Bishop de Andrade met with representatives of other revolutionary groups and declared the Holy Alliance in Sao Paulo. Brazil, Colombia, Upper Peru, and Paraguay agreed to cooperation against their numerous common enemies. It was clear they intended to be active in the coming year.
    Conversely, the collapse of another government to Catholic Republicanism hastened the peace negotiations between the Spanish and La Platans. It was clear a common enemy existed. The Treaty of Santiago was formalized in late August 1838. The independence of La Plata was recognized, a watershed moment in the history of the South American revolutions. In addition, Spain ceded any claims over Patagonia to the government of General Juan Manuel de Rosas, who quickly organized rapid settlement of the frontier. Upper Peru would be partitioned in the event rebels in that region were defeated. In return, La Plata offered total military cooperation, an alliance, and recognition of Spanish claims to the rest of their New World territories. United in purpose and goals, the forces of traditionalism rallied, preparing for the coming storm.
   This would be a fight for life or death. Colombia made this evident when, after three years in captivity, Prince Frederick of Quebec was removed from his comfortable imprisonment in Bogota and beheaded before a crowd of rebel fanatics. His death was condemned by his mourning parents in far-off Quebec, who announced a concerted policy of supplying the Prussians and Spanish against the Catholic Republicans, though direct military involvement was avoided. Following the death of Frederick, the remaining Quebecois military advisors and captured servants were likewise killed in an orderly fashion.
   Fighting would occur on almost every area of the continent. A joint Colombian-Brazilian force smashed north into Panama, the would-be canal changing hands yet again. Construction has been halted, again, as Prussian and Louisianan workers have been rounded up and executed.
  The major thrust of the Catholic Republicans would be a massive, rapid strike south into La Plata. Indeed, the border forces of La Plata were overwhelmed, Uruguay, Corrientes, and Buenos Aires falling into the hands of the Catholic Republicans in short order. The capture of the city of La Plata gave the Brazilians hundreds of captive government officials, the underlings of General de Rosas. They were dispatched of in short order, a series of show trials occurring in the following weeks. The Commander of La Plata, however, was nowhere to be found, leading soldiers elsewhere in the struggle against the Catholic Republicans.
   De Rosas and the Spanish coordinated their efforts against the weakest link of the Catholic Republican states: Upper Peru. Unlike in the other states, the ideology here did not emerge from a groundswell of public support, but instead a recognition of the importance of cooperating with other rebel governments. An effort by a joint Brazilian-Upper Peruvian army to advance into Peru itself was beat back. La Plata, meanwhile reassumed control over its traditional territory in the region. By the end of the year, Upper Peru would be in dire straits, losing vast tracts of land to the Spanish and La Platans. The declining situation of that realm has allowed the two traditionalist powers to open up direct trade and transportation in the face of foes on multiple fronts.
   Prussia would not be idle in the face of renewed Brazilian initiative. Efforts by the new republic to construct a navy were repeatedly bedeviled by Prussian shelling, sabotage, and blockade. As in Louisiana, the markets of Brazil have been closed to Europe by the fleet of a stronger naval power.
  

Two More Revolutions

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Netherlands

  The decision of King William II to make peace with the French and abandon the Flemish to their fate was unpopular. This may not have sealed his fate alone, but the simultaneous agreement to hand over the Sons of Willem was unconscionable. It appeared that, in some instances, Dutch citizens would be forced to face the justice of the French legal system, an outrageous affront. Thus, the government faced the perennial crisis, as internal opposition boiled into full blown revolution. Unlike in the past though, this revolution would not emerge from the streets or States General, but the military. Upset over the weakness of the government, and filled with the prospect of Dutch nationalism, a group of generals organized a coup just three weeks after peace with France was signed.
   On the morning of September 9th, 1838, the Army of Amsterdam mutinied, seizing control of the city. Government offices were surrounded, preventing officials from getting to work, as King William II was placed under arrest, being confronted by a group of high-ranking generals. His son, Crown Prince William, was declared William III, but forced to sign a document further ceding the powers of the Dutch Crown, not to any democratically elected body, but a military Executive Council. Thus, the military assumed control over the Dutch government. Although most terms of the Treaty of Amsterdam were accepted by the new authorities, efforts to extradite the Sons of Willem slowed to a crawl as the Executive Council sought to amend that portion of the agreement.
   The new Dutch government felt it needed to cement its nationalist credentials, especially given it would ultimately abide by most of the peace with France. Aid for Flanders was seen as hopeless by this point, the sheer volume of French soldiers dooming the uprising in the region. Out for blood, and seeing the chaos in the east, the government undertook a modest strike to the northeast, seizing Ostfriesland, a member of the German League and close ally of the Kingdom of Prussia. The land was immediately declared a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Executive Council daring the Prussians to strike back given their numerous other rivals in Europe itself.
   The rivalry between the Army and the Navy would be demonstrated by the broader response to the Dutch Revolution. Several dozen admirals declared their continued loyalty to William II, joining with colonial officials to denounce the army’s seizure of control over the state. In far-off New Holland, these various groups assembled in the colonial capitol of Willemstad and issued the “Declaration of 1838.” This document renounced any loyalty to the military junta in the metropole, declared the East Asian Colonial Federation or Oost-Aziatische Koloniale Federatie (OAKF), and vowed to restore William II to this rightful throne. Consisting of Ceylon, the East Indies, and New Holland, the OAKF demonstrated it remained a force to be reckoned with by launching a preemptive strike against several minor realms in Borneo. Although the new government has indicated peaceful intentions in East Asia, it has been vocal in its willingness to defend the gains against the Spanish during the past few years. The OAKF retains the loyalty of the substantial Dutch Asian fleet in addition to the existing forces in the region.

Portugal

  Undoubtedly events in the former colony of Brazil would have an impact on Portuguese politics, especially given the continued economic links between the two states. Coupled with what was seen as a lethargic monarchy and a tense political situation in Europe proper, the recipe was ripe for an explosion of activity in Lisbon.
   Ever since the restoration of the House of Braganza following the failure of the so-called “Spanish Empire” fifty years ago, Portugal was a mild player at best in European affairs. The childless King Jose II Braganza was content to spend his time hunting and enjoying the high life during his long reign, which only ended with his death from overeating in 1836. His death, and the accession of his conservative nephew Antonio to the throne changed domestic perceptions of the Crown.
   The lethargic reign of Jose II has ensured that the “absolute” powers of the Crown had slowly been eliminated. This encouraged a sort of proto-meritocracy, the most effective officials running the show. Ofttimes these men were also reformist. This was not the case for King Antonio II, a devout Catholic and opponent of his uncle’s men.
   Although the first few years passed relatively peaceably, the events in the Americas and northern Europe did have an impact of Portugal. Although the largely civilian government that operated the Privy Council knew something was afoot, it was not clear what. They would be shocked when, in May 1838, a series of protests erupted in Lisbon.
   The initial cause of the riots was news of a corruption scandal within the civilian portion of the government. Condemned by a broad segment of Portuguese society, the accused ministers refused to step down, alleging they had been framed. Protests continued for two weeks until, in a stunning move, King Antonio himself took to the streets, calling for a “purification” of Portuguese society to be more in line with Catholic principles and for an elimination of the evils of Liberalism in the realm. The government was caught unsuspecting and did not know how to respond to criticism from the sovereign. A general mutiny in June 1838 was the civilian administration arrested and Antonio II proclaimed “Most Catholic King of Portugal.”
   King Antonio of Portugal harnessed two conflicting movements and bound them together in a bizarre sort of chimera. Himself a staunch sympathizer to Catholic Republicanism, he sought to wed this to monarchism. No name has emerged for this new ideology thus far, but many see it as a startling development. Focusing on the purification of government, mass reform of society, and close cooperation with the revolutionary realms across the globe, he was dubbed the “People’s King” by a jubilant crowd in Lisbon. Seizing absolute control of his realm, he appeased the republicans by arresting nobles and seizing their estates. Arms were shipped to Brazil and slavery abolished in the few remaining Portuguese colonies. A Royal Guard consisting of fanatics has been established and began to enforce the new order when local officials have proven reluctant.
   Antonio’s role in the 1838 Revolution has been condemned thoroughly in Spain, where King Philip VI took the opposite direction in reform, adopting liberal policies. Given King Antonio’s support for Brazil, Iberia now too looks as though it could be the site of further conflict. How the rest of Europe will react to a betrayal by one of their fellow monarchs and his drift into radicalism remains to be seen, though it is also unclear what the Catholic Republican states of South America will make of a bizarro-hybrid realm.

[Spamage]

The Great Eastern War
European Peace Shattered; Fighting Dominates Continent

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Prussia Strikes!

   Other rulers may have looked at the growing crisis in Europe with despair, but King Frederick of Prussia saw opportunity. Already possessing secret agreements with the Neapolitans and the Swiss, he believed that an assault on the beleaguered Habsburgs would bring that ancient enemy to its knees. His decision to attack the Austrians would set in motion a series of events that would see most of Eastern Europe forced into two rival coalitions, regional rivalries and betrayals merging with broader political goals.
   The Prussians crossed into Saxony on July 7th. That Kingdom was wholly unprepared. The loss of land to the Prussians in 1835 has been severely demoralizing for the government in Dresden. Although the modest Royal Saxon Army took the field against the 300k Prussians, it proved clearly inadequate. Once the field army was easily swatted aside, Dresden and Leipzig soon fell to the invaders. Within the span of two weeks Saxony was yet again conquered by the Prussians. King Frederick Augustus II vowed to fight on from exile, leading his family and 25k armed Saxons out of his principality and towards the Habsburg garrisons in Bohemia.
   It was at this juncture the fruits of the Saxon Affair became ripe for harvest. With Prussia providing the opening, the minor Saxon princes to the west, wary of the expanding Rhenish state and still unenthusiastic about the Austrians, declared their loyalty to King Frederick of Prussia and announced their intention to immediately join the German League. The betrayal had been somewhat expected by local observers, but it still represented a defection from the cause of the Habsburgs.
   The Prussians did not stop in Saxony. The massive force moved into Bohemia, seeking to seize that constituent realm. Here a major problem emerged from the stunned Austrians. In addition to the 70k men that had been stationed there, there were 25k Saxons. This was in the face of a massive Prussian force of roughly 300k (slightly less with the casualties from Saxony) invading the realm in three separate columns. The Habsburg commanders elected to focus east. At the Battle of Nachod, the Prussian Army of Breslau was forced to retreat with heavy casualties in the face of a spirited Habsburg defense. Small settlements in Upper Silesia were even retaken for the first time in almost a century. Yet, this victory would be nowhere near enough to stem the bleeding. The Armies of Berlin and Brandenburg poured into Bohemia from the northwest.
   The Habsburg army was forced to withdraw into Moravia, unable to defend against happenings in Bohemia. City by city the region surrendered to the massive Prussian force, culminating on September 21st with surrender of Prague. Having proven so frustrating in the past to capture, that city is now in the hands of the Habsburg’s perennial foes. Although further Prussian advances were considered, the general staff judged with the onset of winter that more operations could not be sustained, especially when news from West Germany arrived.
   Over the next several weeks further disastrous news for the Austrians arrived from further afield. In far-off Africa the Austrian colonies around Delagoa Bay were rapidly seized by the Prussians, indicating to many that the attack on their Empire had been well-considered and premeditated.

Italian Theater

   If the Prussian invasion to the north was alarming to the Austrian government, positive news would emerge in other theaters of the conflict, particularly in Italy. Reinforcing their armies, the Austrians marched back into Tuscany, more than ready to do battle. The Battle of Siena saw 195k Austrians assault the 133k strong Neapolitan forces. This proved to be a decisive Austrian victory. The Army of Naples was routed, the ensuing flight seeing the entirety of Tuscany and Romagna returning to Habsburg control. Although some level of localized partisan resistance continued throughout the north, the absence of any sizeable Neapolitan force was a severe blow. Throughout the end of the year the Austrians focused on ending local rebellions, the partisan controlled areas in the north receding to near the Swiss border and the remainder of rebel-held Genoa.
    France has not yet gotten involved in the broader continental struggle to its east, but it came back into Italy with a vengeance. Although the armies were restrained in their treatment of civilians, under explicit order from Paris to cause no harm, they demonstrated themselves implacable foes of the Swiss “volunteers” and would-be rebels. Slowly and deliberately the French crossed the Alps, marching into Piedmont. Turin was liberated first; an organized effort being made to go from village to village and arrest those who had either cooperated or instigated the risings in French-backed Italy. Although, like the Habsburgs, problems would persist along the Swiss border, within several months most of Piedmont was brought to heel.
   As the French moved south towards Genoa next, news arrived of the Austrian victory at Siena. Full of despair, and seeing not other option, the partisans elected to meet the remainder of the French army in battle, praying for a miracle to reverse the setbacks of the year. This miracle would not come. The Battle of Arenzano saw the meager rebels forced to the east, holing up in the city of Chiavari as Genoa proper fell back into French hands. It remains unclear how Paris will respond to the fact that the Habsburgs have already liberated Parma.
   Thus, the forces of Italian nationalism have been forced into an embarrassing retreat. The Swiss are unable to help the Neapolitans given the success of the Austrians and French in retaking the north, while the Kingdom of Naples has begun to bleed white. Though optimists in the government of Francis I point of that both Rome and Naples proper are secure, other advisors worry about the trajectory of the conflict.

Russian Treachery?

   In St. Petersburg, Czar Peter III conducted negotiations with a broad number of powers. Russia’s policy to the west had largely been one of pragmatism in the last few years, especially as its neighbors began to jockey with one another for friendly relations with St. Petersburg. Many had seen the assault on the Ottoman Empire as a decisive signal that the government intended to focus south, but the events of 1838 would given the Russian people a sense of whiplash, as the Czar ordered a surprise assault on the Austrians, seeing plunder to be had amidst their inferno.
   Thus, a hasty truce was made with the Ottomans, the Russians agreeing to withdraw in exchange for the concession of Moldovia. The forces of Wallachia then turned north in a deliberate fashion, launching a surprise invasion of Transylvania. The Habsburgs had been prepared for the possibility, but had truly not expected the Russians to act against them, especially after so many decades of peace.
   The Russians outnumbered the Austrians, but proved to be clumsy in crossing the Carpathians and engaging the enemy. Although they defeated the smaller Habsburg army at the Battle of Kronstadt, further advances would be slowed by seasonal weather and resistance from the ethnically Hungarian populace, unwilling to tolerate Russia’s surprise assault. By the end of 1838 roughly half of Transylvania was seized by soldiers of the Czar.
   A second operation attempted to invade Ruthenia and link up with the Prussian and Polish republican forces. This was beat back by a defense led by Archduke Maximilian who was actually able to make marginal gains along the border once the Russians had been forced back.

Scandinavian Surprise

   Scandinavia struck at once when it became clear Russia was intervening in the Habsburg affairs. Two massive forces consisting of roughly 200k men crossed from Finland and Estonia, seeking to decapitate the Russian government in St. Petersburg. Indeed, the Russians were caught off-guard by the move, their force of 100k clear outnumbered. Prevented from flight by the Scandinavian maneuvering around the capitol, a desperate attempt to break out was led by the Russians at Tosno. The Scandinavians and Russians faced off, the desperation of the Russians not proving fully adequate to overcome the numerical disadvantage. Defeat became evident and Czar Peter gambled on an attempt to escape with his children. He himself and Grand Duke Alexander tried to escape via land, proving unsuccessful and being captured just hours later. His grandson, Grand Duke Ivan, was to remain in the city, while the Crown Prince, Grand Duke Peter, fled with the Baltic fleet.
   St. Petersburg itself surrendered at once as the thousands of wounded Russians poured back into the capitol. The city descended into panic, government officials attempting to slip away but being prevented from moving by orders of the Scandinavians to prevent movement in or out.
   The Russian Baltic fleet moved into the open sea once it became clear that St. Petersburg would fall. A series of skirmishes with the Scandinavians on the sea proved that the Russians still possessed some of the fire of Peter the Great, the enemy vessels being forced into a hasty retreat. Yet the Russian navy, led by the Crown Prince, faced a dilemma, the entirety of the coastline controlled by Scandinavia (an obviously hostile power) or Prussia (and ostensible ally, though no agreement had yet been signed). The Russians elected to seize the sparsely populated Scandinavian island of Hiiumaa as winter set in.
   Thus, most of the Russian royal family fell into Scandinavian captivity in one quick strike. Yet, all was not lost. The women of the Russian Court, Czarina Maria Augusta of Saxony and her daughter Grand Duchess Alexandra had been on a pilgrimage of Kiev when news of the assault reached them outside of Moscow. In a demonstrated of formidability that would endear her to the Russian people, the Czarina declared herself regent on behalf of her captured husband, setting up an emergency government in Moscow with the support of her daughter and the surviving members of the Court.
   As a Saxon, it is unclear how the emergency government of the Czarina will react to events in the west, though Maria Augusta did make it clear that, even with the capture of her husband, youngest son, and grandson, the desire of Russia to defend itself had not fully dissipated. This defensive posture would prove quite appropriate, as news emerged of disasters to the south.

Ottoman Assault

   There is little indication the Ottomans truly intended to honor the truce with the Russians. Once it became clear that the Army of Ukraine had, in fact, invaded Transylvania, the Ottomans sprung into action across their empire, determined to inflict revenge for the Russian assault at their moment of weakness. This occurred at the same time the Persians abandoned their erstwhile allies, standing aside while the Russians faced the revenge of the Ottoman Empire.
   The first sign that hostilities were not yet over occurred on the Suez Canal, where the Russian Army of the Suez was systematically arrested and imprisoned. The forces of the other major powers merely looked on as the Turks captured their supposed co-operators. It was with great satisfaction to Ottoman officials the Russian soldiers were placed in the custody of the Sharif of Mecca.
   Across the Empire, the Russian forces that had been invading Mesopotamia were intercepted during their march north. Not expecting the Turkish assault, they were caught off guard and both forces quickly shattered. Although some core forces remained intact at the end of the year, fleeing well north of the Caucuses, the Russian presence in Mesopotamia had been all but eliminated.
  Georgia, still nursing the desire to become an independent realm, did little to defend itself in the wake of the coming Ottomans. Tiflis surrendered, opening the way further north. The victorious Ottomans did not stop here, beginning a march into the sparsely populated Russian lands north of the Caucuses towards Crimea. Although some commanders questioned the sense of the orders, given the vulnerability of Astrakhan to the east, they nonetheless complied. Most of the eastern shores of the Black Sea have returned to Ottoman hands for the first time in more than a century.
   At the same time, the Turks reinforced the besieged army in Crimea, landing thousands of men in an attempt to win back the long-contested peninsula. Although the Russian Black Sea fleet attempted to prevent this from occurring, a series of engagements saw their ships forced to flee into the Sea of Azov. The Ottomans on the peninsula now greatly outnumbered the besieging Russians and the predictable followed. The aggressors became the defenders, the Ottoman Army easily dispatching the Russian soldiers on the peninsula. By the end of the year, control had been restored to most of the region.
   In other regions of the Empire, operations against the nationalist rebellions continued apace. The Greeks were pushed back by a ruthless Ottoman counter-offensive, Thessalonica placed under siege as the prospect of Athens being seized in 1839 becomes increasingly plausible. In Egypt, at long last, the final embers of the nationalist rebellion were extinguished with the defeat of the nomadic tribesmen in November, the survivors broadly agreeing to respect the status quo of the region.

Polish Consolidation

   Poland may have had a convoluted initial rising, but a combination of developments ensured that by the end of the year, Radziwill’s Republican Poland would be the sole faction left standing.
   Prussia issued a two-pronged war front against Plater and the Catholic Republicans. She was disparaged relentlessly in publications portraying her as an evil, hysterical woman who lusted after power. On the ground, the Prussian Army initiated a brutal counter-offensive aimed at crushing her version of Polish nationalism. This involved full-fledged and open cooperation with Radziwill in Warsaw, leaving no doubt he was a Prussian ally. Plater was bold in her leadership, fending off the inevitable until well into the summer. Yet, she could not sustain the losses of such brutal warfare. By July she was cornered, killing herself in a besieged storehouse alongside several priests and loyal followers. She left a suicide note, ominously vowing revenge, praising global Catholic Republicanism, and maintaining her call for a Polish state.
   The collapse of Plater’s government occurred roughly the same time news emerged from the chaos in St. Petersburg that Adam Czartoryski was been killed in the Scandinavian seizure of the city. Although Stockholm wholly denied any involvement, and dubbed the death a clear accident, there have been fingers pointed at them, the Prussians, and the Austrians, all who would have much to gain by seeing the proposed King of Poland taken out of the picture. Whoever was responsible, the small royalist party saw little option other than to back Radziwill, in the hope that he would consent to a future restoration of the Polish Monarchy.
  With Poland secured, the rest of the year would see joint Prussian-Polish cooperation with further raids into Austrian Poland. Lublin was captured, though the Habsburg garrison in Krakow elected to face a siege rather than surrender. The normal Austrian Army of Poland was too occupied beating back an attempted Russian invasion of Ruthenia to provide any substantial aid, though with the Russian retreat many wonder what 1839 will hold for the various factions contending for control of the region.

Three-Way War in Germany

   The Kingdom of the Rhine would face a renewed Austrian assault, reinforcements arriving for the Habsburg forces, at the same time it launched a rapid assault into the German League, hoping to spark the fires of revolutionary nationalism in that region, a prospect of limited success. The result has been mixed, the forces of each faction engaging the other two at various times over the past year.
   To the south, the Austrian forces would be bolstered by reinforcements from the Habsburg lands as well as the local soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire. Here the push against the Kingdom of the Rhine continued. Stuttgart finally fell in July, a development much celebrated during a difficult time for the Habsburgs. The seizure of the remainder of Württemberg opened the door for the recapture of parts of the Rhineland, the Palatinate falling into Austrian hands as winter snows set in.
   The reason for some of the Austrian success was a shift of the Rhenish initiative to the north. Seeing that their situation would not improve if they continued to face the Austrians with their existing resources, and incensed over revelations of Prussian duplicity in the previous year, a desperate strike was made into the German League, roughly coinciding with the Dutch seizure of Ostfriesland. Demonstrating the same fervor that had been seen in Ansbach the previous year, Hesse-Darmstadt and Bremen were largely overwhelmed. The locals seemed to be solidly divided about the arrival of the Rhenish. Although some embraced them as nationalist liberators, more resented the surprise attack on the German League. At the Battle of Hanover, the Prussians halted the rebel incursion, though in the chaos surrounding the engagement little land was taken back.
   Although they are facing two of the most formidable military powers of the Continent, that is not to say the Kingdom of the Rhine is wholly isolated. A nonaggression pact was signed with the military government of the Netherlands, while it is assumed some sort of similar agreement was reached with France, observers on the ground pointing out the lightness of garrisons on either side of the border. Still, with the loss of Württemberg and the newfound ire of the Prussians, the only hope of this nationalist state will be that their common enemies beat each other to a pulp before either can defeat them.

Plater’s Revenge

   Many assumed that the threats of the late Emilia Plater, issued shortly before her suicide in rural Poland, were empty and vague. The December Disaster at the end of 1838 would cause some to think otherwise. The events of that day would have Catholic Republican fingerprints all over them, Polish nationalists framing it as posthumous justice for their slain leader.
   Berlin was absolutely rocked in the middle of the night on December 18th by a substantial explosion. It became clear immediately that some sort of incendiary explosion had occurred in the sewer system below Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin. The Palace itself was severely damaged, a whole wing torn apart and collapsing in on itself. As the locals raced to put out the flames before they spread, which they would do successfully, the scale of the damage became clear.
   It was immediately evident that none of the four royal children (Frederick, Elena, William Henry, and Maria Augusta) had been harmed by the blast. The mother of the King, Augusta of the Palatinate, had likewise been spared, her apartments in another area of the palace. Unaccounted for were the King and Queen. It would only be at ten in the morning the following day that the remains of the King were recovered. Queen Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was found injured just minutes later, but the injuries she had sustained were too severe, she succumbing to bleeding within a couple of hours.
   Given the state of war Prussia was in, enemies to the east and west, decisive action was necessary. As in Russia, it would be the women of the family who stepped up. Augusta of the Palatinate was quickly declared regent for her 12-year-old grandson, who became King Frederick IV of Prussia. Although it was unusual in Prussia for a woman to serve as regent, Augusta had both the popular support and reputation to ensure that whatever opposition there was to her quickly was silenced. She vowed to find her son’s killers and win the war.
   Preliminary investigations would point to a Catholic Republican plot. A group called the “Eyes of God” had reportedly been hiring agents in the city and palace to undertake its scheme of blowing up the palace. It was assumed that the scheme was the result of Polish or Brazilian intrigue, with some modest evidence indicating both factions bore a degree of responsibility. Other evidence, perhaps more circumstantial, incriminates the Austrians, who allegedly had a spy ring operating in the city. Needless to say, the preliminary investigation has resulted in dozens of arrests.

[Spamage]

RED FRIDAY IN PARIS

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Domestic French politics was in a state of unease at the end of 1837. The socialists were openly defiant, the conservatives apathetic, and the liberals ascendant but proving uncooperative at times with the Crown. Clearly the situation was untenable, as the actions of 1838 demonstrated, and in need of a shakeup.
   Flanders would continue to dominate headlines for the first half of the year, but with the Treaty of Amsterdam and the refusal of the new Dutch military junta to resume aid to the Flemings, the rebellion was widely seen as doomed. Yet, the holdouts continued, brutal fighting burning through the region until early Summer. The Battle of Brussels was particularly gruesome, some of the excesses making it seem as though the “Martyrs of Bruges” from 1837 had been blessed to have died when they did. Allegations of French misconduct ran rampant including setting churches full of Flemish children aflame, though the government in Paris claimed this was mere propagandistic slander.
   In a demonstration that the Crown was firmly in the camp of nationalism and French glory, General Bugeaud was rewarded for his invasion of Zeeland in 1837. This came at the moment many on the left were calling for him to be put on trial for disobedient conduct. Bugeaud himself became seen as the leader of the growing nationalist faction in French politics. Operating outside of the mainstream conservative movement, Bugeaud and his nationalists support the Crown at the same time demanding glory for the French people. Less bound by traditional ideology, his new movement would come into focus with the bloody happenings in Paris.
   As the British and Prussian blockades of the Louisianans and Brazilians respectively began to take effect, the prices of goods in France began to fluctuate rapidly. Luxuries and sweets saw their prices spike, sugar and coffee in particular. Factories were unable to get all the raw materials necessary to operate, disrupting employment and production. Given the Dutch military junta demonstrated little indication to trade with their former enemies, the people of France bore the brunt of the blockade. A wide variety of individuals were blamed, though eventual consensus would label the Sacred Union government as responsible through sheer mismanagement.
   The government responded with an attempt to enact a pension for families of deceased soldiers and the elimination of child labor. The King himself sought to demonstrate affection for his subjects by visiting soldiers, conferring with the families of the slain, and reiterating his support for constitutional government. Yet, this was not enough to placate the socialists.
   On the morning of October 7th, mass strikes began in the factories. Workers were upset by pay cuts caused by the recession and disrupted operations. The slaughter of civilians in Flanders was likewise viewed as a secondary cause for the unrest. When the capitalist leaders tried to bring in strikebreakers, the events turned violent. Riots swept through Paris itself. Some portions of the city police mutinied, joining the socialists against what was seen as an out-of-touch establishment. Barricades were constructed, calls for a republic ringing out through the streets.
   The risings were a solely socialist-backed event. The central government, led by Adolphe Thiers (a liberal) ordered General Bugeaud and the Army of the North to subdue the situation before it spiraled out of control. Thus, began the “4 Days of Freedom” where the city of Paris was largely occupied by the rebels, King Louis making a brave stand at Versailles and refusing to flee the palace despite the proximity of the rebellion.
   Bugeaud was initially hesitant to risk the lives of his soldiers, so also organized some paramilitary forces from his nationalist supporters. They were set loose in the city first, aiming to take out potential rooftop shooters and infiltrate barricades. Then the assault began, the day becoming known as Red Friday for the color of socialism and the blood spilled. Socialists all throughout the city found themselves up against the determined fury of the Royal Army. Block by block and building by building the city was slowly recaptured. Fighting was brutal, when nationalists were discovered in the socialist ranks they were brutally killed. No quarter was given to the socialists either. For another two days before the smoke cleared and the last building surrendered, Paris was the scene of conflict.
   Although the defeat of the rebellion has undoubtedly strengthened the domestic political security of the crown, it has come at the cost of the popularity of the monarchy. A king living in opulence and luxury, having his soldiers mow down Flemings, factory workers, and people of Paris is not good optics. Even among the supporters of the Crown, it is widely accepted that that some of the excesses ought to have been avoided. Bugeaud is more controversial than ever, even some liberals seeking to distance themselves. While the socialists have been tainted with treason, especially those few delegates who partook in the rising, some fear they may be driven underground. Regardless, others point out that, in the end, might is right. The rebellion has been subdued and the Crown remains in command. Perhaps that is all that truly matters.

Tokugawa Ienari Dies Aged 65

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Edo would be rocked by the news emerging in late November that the esteemed and venerable Tokugawa Ienari, ruler of Japan for the last 54 years, died of natural causes. Although his son Tokugawa Ieyoshi was quickly ensconced in power, in line with the wishes of the late leader, there is little doubt that such a sudden change in leadership has greatly undermined faith in the government, perhaps at one of the most crucial moments in recent history.
   When Tokugawa Ienari took power in 1787 the world was wholly different. Japan itself was far more isolated and had not yet undertaken the vast reforms that would characterize the reign of the new leader. At his death his realm not only has made numerous steps forward, but has expanded outwards as well. Any common Japanese subject informed just decades ago that the realm would occupy Formosa and Hainan, with naval operations dominating the region, would have been stunned and full of disbelief.
   Yet, some fear Ienari was the only leader who could parlay his authority and experience into foreign action. As far as he moved the realm, there still remains those who resent his actions and would see traditionalism return as a dominant political force in the Shogunate. Great pressure emerged in the weeks following the death of the old Shogun for his son to seek peace with the Dutch. Although Ieyoshi did send a group of diplomats to Willemstad, a move that caused some outrage with the Xing who felt abandoned, no treaty had been concluded between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the OAKF by the end of the year.
   Within Japan, there are growing concerns that a broad variety of opposition groups are organizing. The Emperor, as always, is serving as the focal point of some rebel plots. The peasants remain disgruntled by the tax reforms while conservative daimyo resent the growing trade with the world. This is a divided realm and, if not managed carefully, Ieyoshi could find himself facing civil strife.

[Spamage]

Age of Steam And Steel

Turn 5: 1839

(Source: Self-Made)

Nations, Leaders, and Players

Kingdom of France: King Louis XVIII Bourbon (Windjammer)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: King Charles III of Hanover (Blair)
Ottoman Empire: Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu (Kingpoleon)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King Frederick VI Oldenburg & Queen Catherine of Holstein-Gottorp (Ypestis)
Russian Empire: Regent Czarina Maria Augusta Wettin (HenryWallace)
Kingdom of Prussia: Queen Regent Augusta Wittelsbach (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Bishop-President Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis III Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Xing Dynasty: Youfú Emperor (thumb21)
Qajar Persia: Mohammad Shah Qajar (PSOL)
Joseon Korea: Queen Regent Sunwon (True Federalist)

Economic Standing:

Joseon Korea: Strong
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Moderate
Russian Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of Prussia: Moderate
Qajar Persia: Moderate
Ottoman Empire: Weak
Xing Dynasty: Weak
Divine Republic of Brazil: Weak
Kingdom of Louisiana: Weak
Kingdom of France: Weak
Habsburg Monarchy: Weak

Popularity:

Emperor Francis III Habsburg: High
King Francis I Bourbon: High
Czarina Maria Augusta Wettin: High
Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: High
Queen Regent Augusta of Prussia: Moderate
Mohammad Shah Qajar: Moderate

King Louis XVIII Bourbon: Moderate
King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: Moderate
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: Moderate
King Charles III of Britain: Moderate
Bishop-President Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
Queen Regent Sunwon: Moderate

Current Global Conflicts:

Chinese Civil War: Qing Dynasty vs. Xing Dynasty, Tokugawa Shogunate vs. Secessionists (1825-)
Eastern War: Tokugawa Shogunate, Xing Dynasty, Kingdom of Spain vs. East Asian Colonial Federation (1836-)
Latin American Catholic Republican Revolutions: Holy Republic of Colombia, Divine Republic of Brazil, Diocese of Paraguay, Upper Peruvian State vs. Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Prussia, La Plata (1823-)
Northern Italian War: Kingdom of Naples, Italian Rebels, Swiss Republic vs. Kingdom of France, Italian Principalities (1837-)
Great Eastern War: Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, Kingdom of Naples, Polish Rebels, Greek Rebels vs. Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Scandinavia vs. Kingdom of the Rhine, Kingdom of the Netherlands (1837-)
Qajar-Durrani War: Qajar Persia vs. Durrani Empire (1838-)

(Source: Self-Made)

Kingdom of France:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The smoke from Red Friday is still fresh in Paris. While you managed to prevent the socialists and other agitators from seizing control of your realm, the human cost has been quite high. Still, your government has prevailed. You must now decide how to handle the aftermath of the horrible revolt in Paris. Some are calling for the socialist delegates elected to the government to be expelled from the chamber. The nationalists, led by Begeaud have even demanded that you outlaw socialism and republicanism in their entirety. More moderate officials, including Thiers, have urged caution, highlighting that banning the socialists or alienating them further could drive them underground, where you would only have a limit idea of what they are plotting. How will the French Crown respond to the attempt to topple it in 1838?

-Although the war in Flanders was one of the causes of Red Friday, the rebellion did not gain steam until economic issues had come to the forefront. The twin blockades of Louisiana and Brazil have disrupted the French supply chain, perhaps even more so that the events in the Suez. Unemployment has risen and the price of finished goods have fluctuated rapidly. The British and Spanish, who face similar economic disruption, have offset the worst of the crisis with weapon production for their massive wars. France, now, is largely at peace, save for intervention in Italy, so this may not be as practical. This economic disruption is coupled with the devastation of the second most industrialized part of your realm (Flanders). How will you restore the economic glory of France, King Louis?

-France faces a bevy of foreign policy issues in 1839. Although the new Dutch government has largely stood by the Treaty of Amsterdam, they have ceased sending you the Sons of Willem, arguing that issue should be renegotiated. You have reclaimed some of the traditional Italian principalities, but others have been liberated by the Habsburgs. Some wonder if you ought to even restore the cowardly and unpopular Dukes of the region to power at all. The rest of Europe is on fire as France has largely stood on the sidelines, perhaps being key in tipping the balance. How will you handle these wide-ranging problems facing the foreign ministry?

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Advances have been made in the war against the rebels and their Louisianan collaborators. Yet, the war rages on. Virginia has been recaptured and real progress can be observed. Although the Sioux have been crippled by a Louisianan assault, your forces have not been defeated anywhere, save for the siege of Atlanta. Now, with the slave revolt, a potential friendly force has emerged. How will you prosecute the war in North America in 1839?

-As you liberate the South, new questions arise. In particular, your commanders have disputed how to handle Virginia, which is mostly under your control. Should you keep the estates of traitors intact? What is to be done about the slaves, both those who escaped in the chaos and those who still remain in captivity? Should the rebel regions be restored their seats in Parliament? If you keep gaining land in this region, it is likely that these matters will only become more pressing, so it is wise to tackle them head on.

-Your touring committee on parliamentary reform has returned to London. Wary of the threat of popular rising, and seeing the truly outdated nature of some ridings, they have called for a redistricting of Parliament, with the new seats being based on population rather than historic distributions. This is coupled with a recommendation to increase the franchise further, perhaps eliminating property restrictions or replacing them with income-based exclusions. The Tories have already rejected the calls for reform, while the Whigs staunchly favor it. Some fear that this issue could engender partisanship on a new scale in British politics. How will you handle the franchise issue now that it is time to deliver on your promises?

Kingdom of Scandinavia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Great monarchs, the people of Scandinavia stand firmly behind you in the struggle against Russia. The capture of St. Petersburg and Czar Peter IV brought joy to the hearts of many and hopes that the war would soon be over. Even now, his son sits somewhat marooned on an island with what remains of the Russian Baltic fleet. Given the Czarina’s seizure of the regency in Moscow, those hopes for a quick victory may not necessarily be the case. Now you face the prospect of war against the largest polity on Earth. Though the Ottomans and Habsburgs stand alongside you, each is distracted by more local concerns. How will you follow up on your stupendous success in St. Petersburg and prosecute the war in 1839?

-Prussia’s invasion of Austria has given many in Stockholm pause over the late Frederick III’s role as “protector” of the Schleswig-Holstein Germans. Some fear the government in Berlin could use any slight pretext to seize that territory from you and urge you to renounce the agreement, especially given the late King is now dead and his son is too young to do anything about the issue. Prussia’s aggression has been coupled with that regime’s cooperation with the Russians, so the two largest powers surrounding you are now friendly. This has caused many to advocate a hard line against Berlin, perhaps even war. How will you handle these awkward tensions with the Prussians? Will you revoke the title “Protector of the Schleswig-Holstein Germans”?

-The election in the Baltic States has been a mixed bag. While the nationalists won the day, choosing a semi-separatist Baltiskaministerstatssekreterare, the very fact you allowed for voting ensured an increase in loyalty throughout the region. It is recognized that the limited degree of autonomy they have been granted is preferable to any sort of representation that would be granted by either the absolutist Prussians or Russians. A secondary benefit of the nationalists carrying the day is that the interests of the Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, and Baltic Germans are so widely divergent that they cannot govern effectively, allowing for you to maintain a great deal of flexibility in oversight of these provinces. The first issue dominating the Baltic assembly is the question of Scandinavian land acquisition in the region, something the local officials are trying to restrict. The Baltic states are the poorest of your European possessions and the economic dynamism in other parts of the realm has meant that many wealthy Swedes and Danes have begun to buy up traditional noble estates and small landholdings. While this is perfectly legal, many locals have resented increasingly being beholden to faraway landlords who care little for local circumstances or customs. Any restriction on property acquisition is unpopular in Stockholm, opposed by both the liberals and conservatives, while the Baltic representatives have grown increasingly insistent. How will you manage this first disagreement in internal Scandinavian affairs under the new constitution?

Russian Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Czarina Maria Augusta, the actions of your husband propelled Russia to war, but also has led to the simultaneous resurgence of Russia’s age-old enemies in Scandinavia and the Ottoman Empire. Along most of the western frontier you face hostile powers, with the sole excepting being your border with Prussia. Your invasion of Transylvania gained some slight territory, but at a heavy cost, while the assault on Ruthenia was a failure. How will the Russian Empire prosecute this Great Eastern War in 1839?

-The capture of your husband, son, and grandson has caused great unease. The fact that the Crown Prince is somewhere in the Baltic is likewise concerning. You have been left as the head of Russia out of necessity. It is evident that the nearly successful decapitation of the Russian government has created a sizeable defeatist faction, which would see you negotiate terms in order to free your husband. Others, of a more nationalist bent, believe that to surrender would embarrass Russia and taint the image of the monarchy. How will you balance the needs of your dynasty, to be whole, with the needs of the Empire, which craves victory?

-Mongolia has been seized and, for now, peace exists in Siberia. Yet, many have noted the hostility with which the Chinese public has reacted to the “barbaric” Russians arriving directly to their north. Although the Xing Dynasty is still newly-established, and perhaps a bit shaky, there are those at Court who fear that it will see your focus to the west as a chance to try and liberate Mongolia. Indeed, striking the Europeans would be a huge propaganda victory for the somewhat xenophobic Xing. Perhaps a treaty formalizing the transfer would be in order? Alternatively, envoys from the Prince of Beizi, the holdout Qing ruler in Manchuria, have reached Moscow. In return for an alliance and joint military cooperation, he would have you help him reestablish his family in China in return for the surrender of Xinjiang, outer Manchuria, and Mongolia to the Russian Empire. Although this is tantalizing, many caution that it could be irresponsible to engage in war here while the west is aflame, even if you probably do have the manpower to do so. What is to be done about the east?

Habsburg Monarchy:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-You stand in the middle of flames, Emperor Francis. Germany, Italy and Poland are in a state of revolt. Prussia and Russia have breached the frontiers. The colonies have been seized. This is perhaps the direst moment in the history of your dynasty since your forebears fought in the War of the Grand Coalitions almost a century ago. It is up to you to reverse the chaos of the past year. How will you restore the Habsburg Monarchy to its preeminent position?

-Your alliances with Scandinavia and the Ottoman Empire are loose and circumstantial, to say the least. Although you all have a common enemy, Russia, there are some at Court who fear for the prospect of separate peace deals. This clique believes that you ought to formalize ties to your “friends.” Even if you have had troubles with the Ottomans for the last 4 centuries, and Scandinavia evokes reminders of the Empire of Gustav Adolphus, undoubtedly closer ties could have benefits. Others remain more cautious, still unwilling to trust these powers. They would have you lean on other powers such as Britain, France, or the Netherlands, making concessions to draw them into the conflict. What will your diplomatic initiatives 1839 be?

-As your armies have marched back into West Germany and Northern Italy, the dilemma of property rights has emerged. In both areas, capture by the rebels saw great exchanges of land occur, secular and Church lands alike have been seized by new owners or existing owners sided with the rebellion. As your soldiers enter these territories, some of your generals have suggested seizing the property of those deemed to be traitorous, including the nobility, and distributing it elsewhere. This could engender hatred and further tensions though, even if it created an organized, loyalist class. There is also a question as to whether or not Church lands should be restored in full? Will you listen to some at Court and rationalize the erratic situation that once prevailed in this area of the Holy Roman Empire? What will you do in the regions liberated from either Neapolitan or Rhenish control?

Kingdom of Prussia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Regent Augusta, your son and daughter-in-law are dead, victims of a horrible assassination attempt. The wretched cretins responsible have not yet been caught and it is an open question as to who is responsible. While most of the surface-level evidence points to the Poles, and Plater in particular, there is enough circumstantial evidence to implicate a wide variety of other actors, including the Habsburgs, Brazilians, Dutch, Scandinavians, or Rhenish. What steps will you take to find your son’s killers? Furthermore, how will you protect your young grandchildren from meeting the same fate as their parents?

-Your son’s initial offensive seems to have done the trick and caught the decrepit Habsburg Monarchy off-guard. Prague has fallen to Prussian forces, an impressive feat. Yet, the Emperor in Vienna has vowed to continue the struggle. Events in Poland have become a slog, while the Scandinavian assault on Russia has created a new potential enemy to the north. You so not stand alone, at your side is the Russian behemoth and the beleaguered Neapolitans. How will you advance the cause of Prussian glory in 1839?

-The Kingdom of the Rhine has assaulted you and your allies just as the new Dutch government seized East Frisia. Due to your great foresight in placing defensive forces in the region, the worst was avoided, but still, this insult demands retribution. With revolution on the western border some are calling on you to focus your efforts here in the coming year. What will be done about the surprise attack against Hanover?

Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Sultan Mustafa, although you have been framed at an utmost villain in Russia, the revenge for the assault of 1837 has been applauded all throughout your empire. Ottoman soldiers have pushed them out of the Crimea and sent them a punishing message in the Near East. Yet, by infuriating the Russians it is almost certain the war will continue beyond the year. What is your military strategy for 1839?

-The recapture of Wallachia, occurring as a result of your “truce” with the Russians, has been successful. The former Duke has fled, hiding out with the Russian army in Transylvania rather than face any reprisals for his abandonment of your cause in 1837. What will be done with the principality? Some want it absorbed to the larger empire outright, believing that the Romanians cannot be trusted with autonomy. Others argue that you just ought to name a new duke, such as the still loyal but deposed Duke of Moldovia. Giving the region independence, while ensuring friendly relations, would probably just demonstrate Ottoman weakness at a crucial moment. What will you do about Wallachia?

-Beyond your military issues, diplomacy will also be important in the coming year. A truce has been secured with Persia, but thus far no formal peace agreement has been established. You have two ostensible allies in Austria and Scandinavia, but no formal agreement between you three powers has been established as of yet. Your global reach also means you may be able to draw more powers into war against the Russians, should that be your prerogative. How will you approach the issues of diplomacy in 1839?

[Spamage]

Divine Republic of Brazil:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Bishop de Andrade, you lead the Divine Brazilian Republic at a crucial moment. After half a century, the shackles of liberal republicanism have finally been removed and you are free to act. Already, Brazilian soldiers have joined with their brothers in Colombia, Upper Peru, and Paraguay to spread the gospel to La Plata and Peru proper. Yet, resistance has been fierce, the forces of traditionalism and order seeking to oppress your movement and restore satanic rule. The war could still go either way, La Plata remaining a strong opponent and the Spanish resilient in Peru, despite your best efforts. How will you ensure your crusade is victorious in 1839?

-With the Catholic Republican seizure of Brazilian government, the issue of slavery has naturally come to the forefront. Your allies in Colombia abandoned the practice just a couple of years ago by decree, only enslaving those caught in the act of resisting the government and freeing the existing slave class. In Brazil, there are far more slaves than in all of Colombia. Some in your regime fear the reaction of the landholders should you move against slavery, reminding you that the past two governments both sidestepped the issue by being noncommittal and taking no action. Hardliners and dogmatists, on the other hand, are insistent that you enact reform. What is to be done about this divisive issue?

-The events in Portugal have been extremely divisive in your government. Half of your officials see the King as an evil tyrant, regardless of the purity of his intentions. They would have you denounce Catholic Monarchism and refuse to cooperate with that ruler. The other half have been inspired by King Antonio and would have you cooperate with him. While he is a king, his government has followed many Catholic Republican practices, including uplifting the Church and disposing of the nobility. Given his recent offer of cooperation, the issue is quite pressing. How will you respond to the events in Lisbon?

Kingdom of Louisiana:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis Phillippe, while there have been setbacks in the war thus far, that does not mean it is anywhere near lost. The British in Atlanta have been wholly eliminated, while they take thousands of casualties trying to plug the holes in their Empire that you have poked. With the fall of Charleston, your American allies have relocated to Montgomery and this closer proximity has allowed for an even greater degree of Louisianan influence to seep into their government. As the war continues to rage, what will your commands be for 1839?

-The British blockade has been punishing, there is no doubt about that. Plantations have lost their steady flow of income at perhaps the worst moment possible. The new question is how you will respond to this economic terrorism. There are plenty of proposals. Some in your government have suggested that the impact of the blockade demonstrates your realm is too reliant on foreign trade and urge you to subsidize newer methods of production and the growing of foodstuffs, which is more valuable for the war effort. Others would have you funnel your trade through your son’s realm, though the King of Mexico has been forced to place a sizeable tariff on imports by his Mexican advisors. Some say that the economic pain is good, as it might draw the aid of a friendly power such as France. What is to be done about this growing economic issue?

-The alarming reports of a slave rebellion north of Baton Rouge have been proven true. It appears the British have sent arms and supplies to the rebels, who have seized control of a portion of the Mississippi and slaughtered plantation owners on both sides of the river. This development has caused panic in some quarters and demonstrated the true appeal that the British promise of emancipation exerts. It is feared this rising could spread, so many of your generals would have it crushed quickly. Beyond that, however, how will you ensure that the ideas of this rebellion are contained and don’t seep into other regions, igniting further guerrilla fighting?

Qajar Persia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your assault on the Durrani Empire has been initially quite successful. The Turks to the north have heeded your calls to revolt, fed up with Durrani control and wary of the growing Russian presence to the north. Yet, the element of surprise is no more. From Kabul, there are reports that the Shah is preparing his people for war, calling on them to remember the past victories of his predecessors against the Safavids in the 1780s. An alarming prospect that has emerged is the potential for French involvement, Paris having recently signed a pact of non-aggression with the Shah. What will you do to protect your gains in 1839?

-Your men stood aside as the Russians were defeated by the Ottomans, a move that has earned you harsh censure in Moscow and condemnation from some of your own subjects, who are upset by the abandonment of the very Czar that put you on the throne. Yet, what’s done is done, especially given the new war in the east. Now it is time to negotiate with the Sultan and settle terms for a lasting peace deal, if that is what you wish. You have preserved your gains in the region. What will your agreement with the Ottomans look like?

-In northern Iran, officials have noted a mass increase in the migration of Khivans, Turkmen, and other ethnic groups from the north into Persian territory, the migrants fleeing Russian control. From the northwest, many Muslims from the Caucuses have also used the land border between you and the Russians to pack up and head south. This has caused controversy with your existing subjects, who have found their towns overwhelmed with refugees and demand the expulsion of these newcomers. Yet, others at court would have you resettle and arm these people, regardless of their original culture. This issue could spark controversy with the Russians, especially is unscrupulous nationalists use the open border to organize opposition. How will you respond to the migration in the north?

Joseon:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Joseon Dynasty has thus far enjoyed great success in the invasion of Manchuria. Although the evil Prince of Beizi eludes your armies, much land has been gained, the treaty with the Xing merely formalizing what was becoming a clear reality on the ground. Now you must decide what to do next. With your control over Outer Manchuria guaranteed by treaty, will you continue to fight against the Qing remnants or is it time to withdraw into a defensive posture? If the fight is to continue, what will be done to ensure that the Prince of Beizi does not live to see 1840?

-The growing expansion of the Korean rail system is not without its opponents. Of late, those most incensed have been the peasants and others forced to move from their traditional property. All throughout the realm, along your new railways, there have been outright protests and demands to cease construction, rural villages and smallholders having been shunted aside by overeager officials looking for the quickest routes. Petitions have arrived at Seoul alongside some reports of work being sabotaged. While your officials in charge of the project urge you to push forward, pointing out the popularity of the already completed lines with the inhabitants of urban areas. This issue requires a balancing of traditional Korean life and the benefits of your reforms. What will you do?

-The newly acquired region of Outer Manchuria is sparsely inhabited. Already, many of your grandson’s subjects have looked north with undisguised greed and ambition, longing to settle the region as the Chinese did in southern Manchuria over the course of the last century. Certainly, the land has great potential, but there are Manchus who currently live in the area, even if not a lot. Will you permit mass settlement in the north, perhaps even using incentives to get Koreans to move there, or would such a move undermine the spirit of your cooperation with the Xing Emperor and prove to be counterproductive?

Xing Dynasty:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Qing have been utterly defeated in the South. Beijing is now yours. The shattered remnants of the Manchu Dynasty now only exist on the periphery of the Great Xing Dynasty. Now, with China proper secured, it is time to restore the preordained order to the region. The separatists must be handled, either through negotiation or force. There are alarming reports that the Hui and Yi people have begun to establish an alliance, aimed solely at preventing you from punching south or west. Manchuria still stands defiant and foreign vultures such as the Habsburgs, Russians, Scandinavians, Dutch, Japanese, and Koreans have all made gains at the expense of the realm while China was weak. What will you do to reestablish China’s role as the preeminent power in Asian affairs?

-Now that you are largely the sole dynasty in control of China, and given the fresh start your rise represents, many look to you to provide a new ethos for how the Xing Dynasty will carry itself in regards to modernization. Though your rule was initially based on hostility towards the reform of the Qing, the experience of your soldiers with Habsburg weaponry and increased collaboration with foreign powers seems to have provided room for an alternative path, one of greater international engagement and modernization on your own terms. Already, neighboring powers such as Korea and Japan have seen great economic growth come from their efforts to embrace new inventions and innovate. Will China follow, if so how?

-The Japanese have been close collaborators with your regime during the last few troubled years. With the death of Tokugawa Ienari, his son has sought to formalize the gains made over the past few years with a treaty. He requests the establishment of a trade republic in Formosa to be influenced jointly by Beijing and Edo, Japanese control over the two ports seized from the Qing in mainland China formally recognized by treaty, and the return of Hainan to your sole control. The offer has been deemed reasonable by most of your advisors, though hardliners argue that you ought to give not an inch to the barbarians, especially after your settlement with the Koreans. Still, alienating Japan could be a costly mistake, especially after they’ve helped you so much. How will you respond to the offer of the Tokugawa?



Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
42,400 Army of St. Petersburg Remnants
47,400 Army of Poland
62,200 Army of Mongolia
79,400 Army of Transylvania
6,000 Army of Crimea
37,700 Army of Astrakhan
5,000 Army of Alaska
50,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 360,000 more)

Kingdom of France
278,000 Army of Flanders
73,400 Army of Northern France
144,100 Army of Southern France
80,000 Army of Bengal
40,000 Army of Gujarat
21,100 Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Habsburg Monarchy
198,000 Army of Wurttemburg
171,400 Army of Italy
81,500 Army of Bohemia
62,000 Army of Poland
50,000 Army of Ansbach
33,400 Army of Transylvania
9,800 Army of the Suez
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 32,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
89,900 Army of the West
92,000 Army of Brandenburg
95,000 Army of Berlin
93,500 Army of Breslau
105,000 Army of Poland
8,300 Army of the Cape
9,800 Army of the Suez
6,000 Army of Angola
5,000 Army of the Congo
3,000 Army of Borneo
1,000 Army of Singapore
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 2,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
90,000 Army of Britain
50,000 Army of Richmond
36,000 Army of North Carolina
18,000 Army of Missouri
10,000 Army of New York
32,700 Army of Cumberland
10,000 Army of Australia
3,000 Army of the North
3,000 Army of the Midlands
1,700 Army of Ghana
1,500 Army of Nigeria
9,800 Army of the Suez
3,000 Army of Richmond
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 145,000 more)

Shenyang Qing Dynasty
89,000 Army of Manchuria
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 0 more)

Ottoman Empire
5,000 Army of Egypt
81,000 Army of Kars
107,000 Crimean Force
48,000 Northern Caucasus Force
35,000 Army of Greece
15,000 Danube Army
5,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 19,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
105,000 Army of Jiangsu
83,400 Army of Guangzhou
51,000 Army of Wuhan
23,000 Army of Hainan
10,000 Army of Formosa
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 62,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
80,000 Army of Spain
41,000 Army of Yucatan
57,000 Army of Peru
17,000 Army of Guyana
11,000 Army of the Llanos
14,400 Army of Chile
20,000 Army of Cuba
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 11,000 more)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
85,000 Army of Jutland
91,000 Army of Finland
64,000 Army of the Baltic
23,000 Army of Lagoda
5,000 Army of Liberia
5,000 Army of Eritrea
7,500 Army of Mombasa
2,000 Army of Gabon
8,200 Army of the Suez
1,000 Army of Socotra
35,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 17,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
144,700 Army of Tuscany
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 6,000 more)

Republic of Brazil
71,000 Army of La Plata
19,000 Army of the South
30,000 Army of the North
8,000 Army of Colombia
6,000 Army of Upper Peru
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 68,000 more)

Joseon Korea
53,000 Army of the North
36,000 Army of the South
6,900 Northern Flying Corps
10,000 Corps of the Ussuri
10,000 Marine Corp
31,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 34,000 more: 14,000 Koreans, 20,000 Manchurians)

Kingdom of Louisiana
14,000 Army of Florida
19,500 Army of the South
29,000 Army of Colorado
18,000 National Gendarmerie
9,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 28,000 more)

Qajar Persia
45,000 Northern Army
49,000 Army of Basra
14,000 Army of the South
15,500 Army of Gwadar
(Can raise 2,000 more)


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Sizable)
Kingdom of Prussia (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Standard)
Kingdom of Spain (Modernized, Sizable)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Limited)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Tokugawa Japan (Modified, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Modified, Standard)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Qajar Persia (Traditional, Limited)

[Spamage]

Crisis in the Latin World
Spain and Portugal Go To War!
Advance of Catholic Republicans in the Americas

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

War in Iberia

   King Philip VI of Spain was alarmed by the eruption of Catholic Monarchism in neighboring Portugal. The actions of the new monarchy under King Antonio were seen as direct threats to the Spanish state, especially in the aftermath of the liberal-minded Concessions of Zaragoza. Despite the ongoing crisis in the Americas, or perhaps because of it, the Spanish elected to launch a surprise attack on the Portuguese and nip the threat of further radicalism on their doorstep in the bud. 11,000 more Spaniards were mobilized as newspapers throughout the realm denounced the unhinged radicalism seeping into Europe from the Americas. This was coupled with a loosening of the garrisons, meaning that King Philip had roughly 101,000 men at his disposal. 
   The Spanish would not be operating alone, a substantial Portuguese exile community having emerged in the latter half of 1838. Many Portuguese nobles and wealthy subjects had escaped that realm with the onset of the tribunals and arrests. Clergy deemed insufficiently pious had likewise fled before facing punishment. This group brought local knowledge and, when possible, financial capital for the war effort. Gathering in Badajoz, near the border with the Kingdom of Portugal, an assembly of nobles declared that King Antonio had violated their traditional rights and exceeded his legal power as monarch. With the remainder of the House of Braganza under the sway of Antonio and seeing no other options, they deposed him as King and declared their support for the restoration of the Iberian Union under Philip VI, though with Portugal as an autonomous realm. This was followed up a day later with a Spanish assault on the People’s King.
   This surprise attack was well-advised, given that the Portuguese themselves had been in the process of launching their own assault on the Spanish Americas. When word reached Lisbon, King Antonio gave a rousing speech, denouncing the traitorous nobles and capitalists who would sell out the Portuguese people to Spanish tyranny merely because they could not stand to lose their privileges. This nationalistic tirade was well-received, a mob in the city ransacking any Spanish-owned properties and thousands of men enlisting in the military through the following days.
   The more immediate issue was how to handle the sizeable Spanish invasion. For all its defeats over the past decade, Spain retained a substantial military numerical advantage over Portugal, coupled with recent experience and close cooperation with other major military powers such as the Prussians. The Portuguese, on the other hand, had grown a bit soft. Since they were shorn of their colonial empire in the 1780s (their only remaining possessions being far-off trade ports in India) the realm had not been in a major conflict.
   Two Spanish armies crossed the frontier, consisting of 66,000 in central Portugal and 35,000 in the north. King Antonio, with his fervent enlistees, was able to muster 85,000 on such short notice, dividing the force into 60,000 and 20,000 respectively. At the Battle of Evora on March 6th, 1839, the strength of the Spanish advance was put to the test. In a brutal, day-long session of combat, the rapid Spanish incursion towards Lisbon was halted, though the Portuguese themselves took many losses. King Antonio won great affection from his soldiers by actually being present on the field of battle, even narrowly escaping death in some of the most heated moments of fighting. Supply lines under threat, the Spanish conceded the city and moved back towards the border, preparing to continue with a second attack in the summer.
   In the north, the situation was far more favorable to Spain, the city of Porto easily falling into their hands and the outnumbered Portuguese proved to be more of an annoyance than a threat. The seizure of Porto was followed by the securing of the region of Braganza itself.
   The reaction of the Portuguese people themselves to these developments has staunchly negative. Whatever their individual thoughts on King Antonio and his radical plans for reform, they were Portuguese and the nobles had sold out the realm. A new sense of nationalism pervaded the regions not occupied by the Spanish, while commanders would report back to Madrid that the people in the captured territories demonstrated lukewarm fealty at best. Undeterred, and alarmed about the prospect of further Portuguese chaos spilling into Spain, Philip VI has ordered the fight to continue. Increasingly, the Crown of Spain has begun to hint that the senior branch of the House of Bourbon ought to provide aid in this hour of tension.
   

Back and Forth in Colombia

   The Colombian-Brazilian force that seized the Panama Canal construction site systematically began to undo the work of the previous few years, aiming to ensure that such a feat of engineering would never occur. Gunpowder explosives were set off to damage the completed areas, while surveys and other information about the proposed route was looted and burned. In just several months, the damage was deemed so severe that it would take several more years to complete the waterway if construction resumed.
   Yet, in Panama too Spain would take the initiative, Madrid ordering the Army of the Yucatan south to deal with the insurrectionaries. The meager armies that had been stationed by the Brazilians in the region, consisting of several thousand men, were quickly either beat back or captured. By the end of April all of Panama had been retaken by the Spanish, the Colombian armies being occupied by the campaigns elsewhere.
   As Spain moved south from Panama, their ragged forces were being beaten back in the east by the Colombians and Brazilians. A series of engagements launched by roughly 28,000 revolutionaries consistently kicked around the Spanish force of 11,000. When that army was separated, half fled into Prussian Guyana, seeking refuge in the colony of their ally, while the other half was rescued by the Spanish navy, crossing to Trinidad and Tobago while the future of the war in Colombia was assessed. Just years ago, it looked as though Spain might springboard from the Llanos into the rest of Colombia, but now that dream appear dead. With thousands of Spanish lives lost, the region has been decisively won by the rebels.

Peruvian Assault

   The remainder of the Colombian army linked up with some reinforcements from Brazil and set about launching a strike south into the largely loyalist Viceroyalty of Peru. This forced the Spanish authorities in the region to make a difficult decision, especially as word from spies in Paraguay arrived of a second assault led by the Brazilians and Paraguayans to the south. The Colombian-Brazilian force consisted of roughly 100,000, while the southern invaders was an army of about 115,000 Paraguayans, Brazilians, and Upper Peruvians. The Spanish had 62,000 men, coupled with 43,000 La Platans, both experienced veterans and angry civilians. Electing to abandon the north, the Spanish set about crushing Upper Peru and leaving Lima vulnerable.
   Indeed, the Colombian-Brazilian Army of the North faced little opposition in seizing Lima, though new trouble emerged shortly afterwards. As they set up their revolutionary government in that city, the first anti-Catholic Republican insurrections began to emerge in the countryside. For the first time in world history, partisans have begun to operate against the Catholic Republicans rather than for them, the Peruvians largely remaining obstinate in their loyalty to King Philip VI and staunchly opposed to the tyranny of the revolutionaries. Coupled with the natural advantage of the Andes, it is expected that the rebels will have trouble trying to capture Cusco or other major Spanish-held cities in the region, let alone maintaining supply lines. Still, if the Spanish continue to lose territory it may not matter in the end.
   The major battle for the first half of the year occurred in Upper Peru. Frightened of reports emerging of a rebel advance, the Spanish seized the remainder of the territory held by the rebels in that theater (though the rebel Army of Upper Peru was with the Brazilians by this point). Linking up with the La Platans, the forces of conservatism faced off with the rebels at Santa Cruz de La Sierra. Prior to the fighting, Brazilian agents were accosted in the La Platan camp, found with poison in an expected assassination attempt against de Rosas. Showing the poison to his men, de Rosas rallies his soldiers against the “covert and cowardly” Catholic Republicans who “stain the very name of the Almighty with their heresy.”
   The Battle of Santa Cruz de La Sierra was a slight republican victory, though perhaps a pyrrhic one. The Spanish were forced north alongside the La Platans, who were now cut off from their home region. With the civilian government of Upper Peru in Spanish custody, the revolutionary generals elected to declare a union with Paraguay, though whether this is temporary or permanent has not yet been determined.

Brazilian Civil War

   The Catholic Republican government of Brazil decided to abolish slavery in the realm, ordering the breaking up of the plantation estates and the redistribution of the land to the former enslaved. While the news was celebrated by the Church, ideologues, and the slaves themselves, this was the action needed to also bind together the opposition. Of particular concern was the language in the law stating:

“Slaveowners shall be tried by a jury of their slaves and, if convicted of mistreating any of their slaves in any way, shape, or form, then they will castrated and sold into slavery on other continents as eunuchs.  The justification is that the bible teaches us to do unto others as we would have done to ourselves, so clearly the slaveowners wanted to be tortured and sold into slavery, else why would they treat their slaves that way?  However, convicted slaveowners will be given the option of turning over all their property to the church and being guillotined instead.  Those who choose castration and a life of slavery will be sentenced to be burned at the stake.  Those who choose to be guillotined (a quick, clean death) will be castrated and sold into slavery as eunuchs on another continent.”

   The liberals still loyal to the memory of da Silva Lisboa, slaveholders, recent immigrants, and modernizers had all been alarmed by the sudden turn of society towards Catholic Republicanism. Though there had been a general tolerance of the early revolutionary acts, the brutality of the new regime confirmed their worst fears.
   As the first enforcement of the anti-slavery laws began in earnest, the rebels gathered at Recife. Declaring the Brazilian Union, a Congress of Deputies assembled in the city as rebel forces organized and seized the surrounding area. Modelling themselves on the American League rebelling against the British, the Brazilian Union seeks to restore the liberal-leaning, slaveholding republic, though Brazil may have already moved on. Given Brazil’s extensive involvement in other theaters, the rebellion was initially to gain a good deal of land.
   Yet, the freeing of the slaves has opened up a substantial pool of potential recruits for the Divine Republic, especially given that many of the freed personally praise the Archbishop of Sao Paulo for his role in their liberation. So, on the balance, it is unclear whether more support has been lost or gained by the abolition of slavery. Domestic tumult has proved just to be one of many developments for the revolutionary government in the first half of a very eventful year.

The New Russia
Scandinavian-Backed Regime Established in St. Petersburg

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Given their easy victory against the Russians in 1838 outside of St. Petersburg, it was expected by many in Stockholm that the Russians would surrender and seek peace terms, especially given that their Czar sat in enemy custody. When the Czarina vowed to continue the fight, assembling a new government in Moscow, Scandinavian observers were both perplexed and frustrated. Now, their realm faced the prospect of prolonged warfare with a massive neighboring power that had many more subjects and cities than them. Eager to bypass this roadblock and make any sort of agreement, it was decided that a friendly regime would be just as likely to have legitimacy as the Czarina’s government.
   Grand Duke Alexander was declared regent by the Scandinavians in St. Petersburg, or at least someone who looks like Grand Duke Alexander was. Some close to the Court established for the second regent have noticed that the voice of the Grand Duke seems slightly… different, not to mention that no one has been allowed to get to close. Though the Grand Duke himself claims it is just the result of weeks of captivity, there are many unconvinced, including his mother, who has denounced the regent as an impostor.
   The Regent Alexander signed the Treaty of Ingria with the Scandinavians, ceding Ingria save for St. Petersburg, which would be a Russian exclave, alongside Karelia and Murmansk. Joined by nobles captured in the chaos of the previous year, as well as notable members of the peace camp, the new “regent” has proclaimed his authority and demanded the allegiance of his mother and the Russian military, promising that his father would be freed once the peace was widely accepted.
   The establishment of the new regency in St. Petersburg was coupled with the release of several damning documents by the new government, alleging to show Russian involvement in the murder of King Frederick III of Prussia. Supposedly, it was Russian gold that financed the very attack that blew up the King and Queen at Charlottenburg Palace. Yet again, the Moscow regime of the Czarina has been firm in its denial of any sort of Russian involvement in the death of Frederick III.
   The reaction to the formation of this new Scandinavian-backed government may not have been what was expected. Demoralized by their defeats in the previous year, the prospect of having St. Petersburg be an isolated enclave, coupled with the alarming reports of a fake Grand Duke Alexander, has caused outrage to spread among the rural populace of the Empire. If Russian nationalism may not have as of yet been as well developed as the ideology in other regions, this perceived affront to national pride has certainly helped it to catch up. Those nobles who have declared their fealty to the new government in St. Petersburg have been denounced as cowards and national traitors. No general has renounced their loyalty to the Czarina, several even shredding the letter from Alexander in front of their men. Though there’s continued worries for the health and safety of Czar Peter IV, it is viewed by many that the national interest is more important than the safety of but one Czar, perhaps an obstacle for the monarchy in the long run.

[Spamage]

1839 News of the World

Death of a Titan
King Louis XVIII Succumbs to Sudden Illness at Versailles

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   France, in the aftermath of all the infighting and rebellion in the past year, was fated to be rocked by yet more developments. King Louis XVIII, sovereign of that realm for almost 40 years, died suddenly at Versailles on May 11th, 1839. It was a rapid illness, the King largely fine in the morning and dead within two days, vomiting profusely and dying with a high fever. The speed of the illness’ onset, coupled with its instant severity, meant that neither Adolphe Thiers nor Queen Marie Fernandina was at his bedside when he suddenly shuddered and was still. While naturally this raised ample suspicions, finger-pointing about murder and improper medical care rocking the court, Queen Marie Fernandina assumed power in line with the will of her late husband as regent for the 13-year-old King Louis XIX of France. Although in past centuries the young King would have been deemed to be of age, reforms passed during the Silent Revolution raised the age of majority in the Kingdom to 17. Many prayed that the new regency would not be as ill-fated as those during the minorities of Louis XV, Louis XIV, or in the far-back 1500s.
   Some say it was the strain of watching the world he inhabited destroyed before his eyes that led the King to finally pass away, the evil resurgence of Catholic Republicanism, once thought vanquished, and the rise of socialism in France proper having severely frightened him. Others argue that the King had truly never recovered emotionally from the assassination of his son by the Flemish. Although foul play is not impossible, and is suspected, King Louis XVIII had never had the strongest constitution, as many of his physicians later attested in preliminary investigations by the French government.
   Despite being only 66, King Louis XVIII’s long reign was seen as a symbol of the early 1800s, coming to the throne as he did at the start of the new century. His legacy, while remarkable, is checkered. Many Frenchmen view him as the “Great Modernizer,” a sovereign who brought railways and industrial progress to an agrarian realm at the same time offering political concessions. There are many who take pride in the King’s ability to keep France out of any major conflicts during his tenure, defusing the situation in Piedmont and often stepping in to mediate on the international stage. The partisanship of his later years means his detractors see him as divisive and counter-productive. The luster of his early reign certainly seemed to wear off over time. Critics of the late King charge him with duplicity, pointing to his conservative turn after the Silent Revolution and his role in organizing the brutal suppression of socialist and Flemish rebellions. As his body was led through Paris on the way to burial in Saint Denis, socialists lined the streets, toasting in celebration and singing derogatory songs. This, of course, led to fights with ultra-nationalist pro-Bugeaud mobs in the streets of the capitol, perhaps an ominous sign about the trajectory of French politics, especially without a strong monarch to unite the feuding parties.
   As the new sovereign, Queen Marie Fernandina faces the daunting task of steering her grandson’s realm through the dangerous seas of foreign policy, as the Dutch have fiercely resisted her late husband’s attempts to force them to capitulate. To the east, the new dispute with the Ottomans over Singapore puts France in an awkward position, as the Dutch have lashed out in that theater as well. This is coupled with domestic division. While the French economy has shown signs of improvement over the past year, there is still work to be done.

Peace at Last
Years of Fighting in South America Ends with Compromise

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   1839 would be the last year in the Wars of Latin American Independence. After yet another inconclusive year of fighting, with both sides making gains, the two exhausted powers, Brazil and Spain, set about negotiating. Europe was shocked in late December when word of a breakthrough was announced, the Treaty of Salamanca conclusively ending hostilities between the Catholic Republicans and the forces of traditionalism almost twenty years after hostilities had first erupted.
   The terms were relatively simple, each side making concessions. South America would be partitioned. The Spanish would keep Peru, Upper Peru, Chile, and northern Central America. Any Spanish claim to the Crown of Portugal was surrendered, the exiled Portuguese nobility being compensated by the Spanish government for their losses in that realm through grants of territory in the New World or direct payments. The Catholic Republicans, meanwhile, gained total control over La Plata, recognition of their independence, and concessions in Central America as far north as Nicaragua. Trade would be established between the two blocs. In order to ensure domestic peace in the various factions, Spain and Brazil agreed to allow for a three-year window of resettlement, where Spanish loyalists could relocate to the colonies, while Catholic Republicans in Peru, Chile, and even Spain proper could resettle in Colombia, Brazil, or Paraguay. The Upper Peruvian rebels, robbed of their homeland by the treaty, were resettled in La Plata as the government of “Lower Peru” in Buenos Aires.
   Just a few years ago either side committing to peace would have been unthinkable. For the King of Spain, ruler of one of Europe’s most and prestigious monarchies, and the Catholic Republicans, who had demonstrated a constant hatred of the crowned sovereign, it took years of war weariness to finally end the fight. Perhaps the mutual recognition that total victory was too expensive for either side finally spurred the peace.
   Yet, with the peace agreement there would still be some awkward points of tension. La Platan leader General De Rosas, who reportedly insisted that the Treaty of Salamanca not be enacted, somehow ended up in the custody of the Brazilian government. Though the Spanish authorities would blame Catholic Republican espionage groups for the capture of their former ally, there are many who remain suspicious of his sudden capture. Spain, meanwhile, felt forced by the agreement and pressure at home to offer nominal concessions to the Basques, who had reportedly been working with Sao Paulo. In return for granting limited autonomy, and a voice in local municipal government, some of the more moderate Basque Catholic Republicans have taken a role in local affairs.
   Finally, in the most dramatic development of the year, King Antonio of Portugal was shot in the head in December 1839, just days after the Treaty of Salamanca had been signed. Those arrested in the ensuing chaos claimed to be agents of Brazil, others alleging that the King of Spain had ordered the assassination, though both realms have denied involvement and alleged that certain other powers have been seeking to undermine the fragile peace that has so recently been established. A swift search through the capitol has brought up little evidence, save for more confusion. With the death of King Antonio, who established Catholic Monarchism in his realm, his 23-year-old son Joao (who some others have expected to have had a role) has taken control. If the intent of the assassins was to undo the spread of Catholic Monarchism, this has backfired quickly. The new King gave broad assurances that the peace with Brazil and Spain would hold, blaming the “aristocratic despotic regimes” of the continent for the death of his father. He has vowed to continue the radical reforms in Portugal.

Brazilian Civil War

   While the struggle raged on in the rest of South America throughout most of 1839, much foreign attention would be centered on the Brazilian Civil War. Prussia ended the blockade for rebel-held regions of the country early in the year, allowing for anti-revolutionary governments to funnel in weapons and supplies to Recife. Yet, no matter how well supplied the broad anti-Catholic coalition was funded, they were bound to be at a numerical disadvantage.
   The government in Sao Paulo ordered troops to return from Guyana, these men being joined by thousands of freed slaves, eager to protect their liberation from the reactionaries. A strong attack was initiated, the zealous offense of the devotees to Catholic Republicanism smashing through the prepared defenses of the counter-revolutionaries. Thousands dead, the Catholic Republicans carried the day at the Battle of Recife, following up on the victory with a deliberate and slow seizure of the city, in line with what the Colombians did in Quito several years ago. Revolutionary soldiers went house to house, seizing those deemed to be opposed to the movement and conducting organized executions. Liberal texts were gathered and burned before the stunned citizens. Any political leader deemed to be of remote significance in the rebellion was captured. At the close of the year, though thousands remain in arms throughout North Brazil, the rebellion has been dealt a serious blow.

Diplomatic Legacy of the Wars of Independence

   The past three decades of conflict have left Spain a tapped, exhausted, and cynical country. Thousands of men died in the struggle for the Americas, the initial hopes of full reconquest slowly being eroded as one by one the rebellions picked up steam. Though some scraps were maintained, holding onto Peru being widely celebrated throughout the metropole, much was lost. Spain’s focus on the Americas meant it lost the Philippines to the Dutch, while economically it has fallen behind its neighbors.
   Diplomatically, Spain seems focused on isolation, reconstruction, and nonintervention. The fact French aid in the conflict came only in the last year is not lost of most in Madrid, who have gone from seeing their northern neighbors as a friendly cousin to an opportunistic giant. Although Philip VI has publicly praised the ties between France and Spain, it is well-known in diplomatic circles the King felt abandoned, especially when the Bourbon Louisianans attacked, let alone against the Catholic Republican menace. Spain has no affinity for very many other powers either, save Prussia, who provided ample aid during their darkest hours. The Spanish government sees the major manufacturing realms, such as Britain and the Netherlands, as having used their war as an opportunity to sell weapons rather than create stability. Portugal fell to madness on their doorstep when the Spanish needed to focus their attention in South America. Quebec, which likewise suffered at the hands of Catholic Republicans, only lost their prince because they were undermining the Spanish by intervening in Colombia in the first place. Needless to say, Madrid seems keen to leave the other powers alone in their power struggles to the north. Many believe the Spanish Empire, while extant on paper, is dead diplomatically. The diplomatic outlook of the Catholic Republican powers is likewise somewhat jaded. Though they are friendly with Portugal, they have been born into a world where every past attempt to establish a republic was smashed by established monarchies.
   The conflict has not been kind to the realms of the Americas. In pure demographics, from 1835 to 1840 the population of Colombia has declined by almost 200k civilians, La Plata by 300k, Peru by 100k, and Central America by 50k. Direct war, disease, and starvation all played roles in the chaos. Economic dislocation has only been exacerbated by the mass migration specified in the Treaty of Salamanca. Catholic Republicans have moved en mass out of Chile, Central America, and Upper Peru, while Loyalists have fled Colombia, La Plata, Brazil, and Paraguay. While many expect this transfer of population will ensure stability on both sides of the political divide, that does not mean it has been easy for those uprooted.

Union of the Crowns
Facing Emergency, Americans Elect Louis-Philippe as King

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   With Charleston in the hands of the British, Virginia lost, and fighting raging all throughout the continent, the remaining delegates of the American Confederation faced a difficult choice. London waved the offer or a pardon and a return of parliamentary seats to any who abandoned the cause in February, while Louisiana offered further aid, but only in exchange for the full-fledged recognition of King Louis-Philippe as King of the American Confederation. This led to a splintering of the movement, perhaps a fifth to a quarter of rebels taking the British up on their offer of a pardon, the remainder deciding to go with King Louis-Philippe. At the Assembly in Montgomery, John C. Calhoun lead the delegates in voicing their unanimous support for the election of the King of Louisiana as “King of the Americans.”
   Thus, Louisiana continued to support the rebellion, taking control of the remaining southern armies as the British Army of Richmond began a push towards Montgomery. 40k Louisianans faced 50k British advancing. The Battle of Lynchburg halted the initial British, forcing them back towards friendlier territory in the north. The British armies pushed south in several other directions, retaking much of North Carolina, but being forced back by rebel and Louisianan resistance on the border of Georgia and South Carolina. Although Charleston proper was not retaken, the halting of the relentless British advance was a significant morale-booster in the American struggle.
   Meanwhile, the aspirations of the slave revolt were brutally crushed, Louisianan soldiers from the National Gendarmerie moving south and restoring order, acre by acre. Estates were retaken at a heavy cost, thousands of the freed slaves pouring west in an effort to escape control from New Orleans. By December most of the rebel leaders were dead and the shattered plantations attempted to resume operations.
   The war would head to the high seas as well. King Louis of Mexico, hearing the pleas of his father, pledged the navy of Mexico to aid the struggle against the British on the sea, though he resisted joining the war outright, starting an Anglo-Mexican Quasi War. A three-way cobbled together fleet, primarily consisting of Louisianan vessels faced off against the British blockade, which had not necessarily been expecting a challenge on the sea. A series of engagements ensured that the blockade south of Cuba war broken, the British ships in that region fleeing to Jamaica for repairs. Even so, the British ships north of Cuba and along the Atlantic seaboard continue to enforce the blockade for those regions, meaning trade can only flow out of this narrow gap.
   Fighting on the frontiers continued to be tinged with blood. The British, outnumbered by the enemy, followed orders and withdrew behind the Missouri, abandoning their gains (though not before causing significant damage). The Louisianan forces also pushed into the small British settlements in the northwest as well as the remaining Sioux land. Natives captured were given the option of swearing loyalty to King Louis-Philippe or being forcibly abducted and escorted to the border with Quebec, where they would face exile. This transit was perilous, the soldiers of Louisiana providing little aid and allowing for hundreds to die of disease and starvation. While this emboldened the remaining tribal resistance to the north, areas occupied by Louisiana have been changed, perhaps irrevocably.
   Montgomery would be shocked in November when John C. Calhoun, the de facto leader of the American Confederation was assassinated in the streets of the city. It was quickly determined that the British had ordered the move, the result being widespread condemnation of London’s actions well-beyond the combatants. Quebec, New England, and Mexico have all issued official protests against the British-ordered murder, which ironically may have cemented Louis-Philippe’s control of the uprising, given no other rebel figure had so much stature as Calhoun or could rally any sort of loyal opposition to the new King.

Clash of the Emperors
Great Eastern War: 1839

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Peace of the Two Francis’: Treaty of Florence

   The Neapolitan strike against the Habsburgs and the general nationalist conflagration that inspired has been seen by most as the official start of the Great Eastern War. Although there were high hopes initial success would result in the unification of Italy, the Austrians under Radetzky as well as the French assault in the northwest ensured that this was not meant to be. Yet. As a result of a clear change in fortunes, this theater of the conflict has been the first where peace has emerged. King Francis of Naples, seeing his soldiers in retreat after setbacks in 1838, found the Habsburgs willing to negotiate an equitable settlement.
   The Treaty of Florence was announced in June 1839. Vienna agreed to recognize the Neapolitan annexation of both the Papal State and Urbino. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was shorn from the rest of the direct holdings of Emperor Francis and granted to his 17-year-old daughter Maria Sophia. She, in turn, was soon betrothed to the 13-year-old Prince Alfonso of Naples, the wedding scheduled in the next couple of years. This meant that, although the principality would probably remain in the Austrian orbit for the time being, Neapolitan influence would probably grow over time. Venice proper, a hotbed of nationalist sentiment in northwest Italy, was also granted its independence. King Francis of Naples faced a slight blow to his popularity as a result of his exit of the war, but given his tenure and the way the conflict was heading, most agree the treaty was the best that could be hoped for.
   Meanwhile, with Naples out of the war, the remaining nationalist hold-outs in northern Italy were crushed. The surviving Swiss volunteers fled back into the republic, Austria withdrawing from the French-backed duchies in the north, which saw the hated Dukes reinstated. The restoration of the North Italian Bourbons was awkward, their military triumph not enough to stop their subjects in Parma and Modena from booing their return. Only Grand Duke Xavier received a warm reception in Tuscany. By December 1839 Italy was at peace once more, though fighting elsewhere would certainly overshadow this remarkable development.

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Russian Homefront: War of the Regents

  Regent Czarina Maria Augusta was taking no chances in the start of the new year, ordering a mass mobilization of Russian manpower for the Great Eastern War. Facing hostile powers to the north, west, and south, she decided to mobilize 300k additional men in 1839 both for reinforcements and eventual campaigns. Yet, her rule would be somewhat undermined by events in St. Petersburg.
   While the government in Moscow had labeled the Scandinavian-backed regent in St. Petersburg “the False Alexander,” that did not stop many from watching the events in that city. Alexander’s government was decisive in announcing wide-reaching reforms including the immediate abolition of serfdom throughout Russia, a move deliberately designed to weaken the foundations of the Moscow government. Promises to free the serfs created disunity and confusion all throughout the Empire. Peasants found themselves forced to choose between a government pushing nationalism and demanding forced service far away from their families or an alternative regency, albeit one with far less legitimacy, promising freedom and reform. Although no open revolts erupted as a result of the St. Petersburg Decrees (yet, at least) it did damage the recruitment of Russian soldiers, only 260k of the planned 300 being raised by the end of the year. The remaining men had widely evaded conscription.
   The War of the Two Regents was ignited by further Scandinavian action, supported by Russian auxiliaries loyal to Alexander. The Battle of Lake Ilmen saw the remainder of the Russian Army of St. Petersburg crushed before it could fully regroup and receive reinforcements. Czarina Maria Augusta was alleged to have fainted when news reached her of the setback here. When she awoke, in a fury, she ordered the deployment of a new field army in the theater. Further Scandinavian gains were made in Karelia and Murmansk, where the small Russian garrisons were forced to retreat in the face of the attack.
   A major propaganda victory was won for the Moscow government in March, when Grand Duke Peter and the remainder of the Russian Baltic fleet landed at Konigsberg. Their hasty retreat south had only succeeded once it became clear to the Scandinavians that the Prussians were also sending ships to aid the Grand Duke’s escape. Arriving in Berlin just after the Battle of Luneburg, Grand Duke Peter vocally declared his support for his mother’s regency until he could return and denounced the “impostor” in St. Petersburg, news which was spready widely throughout Russia by his mother’s supporters.  

Ottoman Campaigns

  The Ottomans sought to follow up on their success in 1838 by launching an aggressive campaign throughout southern Russia. The Ottoman Army of the Northern Caucus struck north, aiming at a quick seizure of Astrakhan. The Russians in the region, the remaining 37k who had survived the Turkish onslaught of the previous year, withdrew from the city without a shot being fired, perhaps waiting for reinforcements. It was at this juncture that Ottoman aid was sent to the Turkish tribes, seeking to incite rebellions against the Russian Empire.
   The 25k Ottomans in the Army of Crimea pushed back the meagre 6k Russian defenders early in the year, seeking to sow havoc across Ukraine and disrupt any supply lines to Transylvania. Here Maria Augusta sought to turn the tide of the war in the south, sending 100k men to crush the Turks. The Cossacks of the region, who likewise deplored the return of Muslim raiders to the steppe, joined the Russians for the Battle of Kherson, where the bulk of the Ottoman army was defeated and forced back to Crimea, the Russians seeking to secure the area and an offensive back into Crimea now possible in 1840.

Persian Betrayal

  The Qajars had promised the Ottomans that they would join the struggle against the seemingly vulnerable regency of Moscow, going as far to promise men for joint action. This was all deceit, Mohammed Shah Qajar crossing the Ottoman frontier in a hostile act and launching two offensives into the largely vulnerable and lightly-defended Mesopotamia region after word arrived that the Turks had seized Astrakhan. The Persians dashed towards Lake Van, hoping to cut off any Ottoman chance of providing further relief to Iraq once news of their betrayal had spread. Ottoman garrisons light and caught off-guard could do little but surrender as the enemy poured into the region. A second offensive was launched into Iraq itself, the great city of Baghdad and much of the surrounding region easily being taken by the Persians.
   Hopes for a pro-Persian Kurdish rising were dashed when the Qajars announced that they hoped the Kurds would embrace Shi’ite Islam. Indeed, as the next stage of Ottoman-Turkish warfare began, it increasingly took on a confessional tone. A pre-arranged uprising of Arabic Shi’ites exploded in eastern Arabia, most of the soldiers in the region having been withdrawn by Istanbul for operations elsewhere. A second attempt at a Shia uprising in Yemen was crushed before it could get off the ground, but there would be gains seen in the deserts to the west of Iraq. By the end of the year the Ottoman populace was utterly outraged by the treachery of the Persians, this being the second time in three years they had attacked without warning. There was some criticism of the Sultan in this instance though, particularly over how he had left this potential front completely unmanned in order to strike north.

Turkish Rebellions and Durrani War

  The Persians had initiated the risings of the Uzbeki and Turkmen tribes in an effort to destabilize the rule of the Durrani in Central Asia. While this was successful, the indigenous population more than happy to throw of the yoke of tyranny, the sudden return of the alliance between Persia and Russia meant events soon got out of hand. Had not the Russians just crushed the Khan of Khiva and ended self-rule in the region? When news reached the region about the fall of Astrakhan and the Ottoman advance, that was all it took for the Turkish tribal rebellions to cross into Russian land. Though there were forts in the region, constructed by the Russians to be impervious to nomadic risings, much of the sparsely inhabited regions quickly joined the rising. Although this meant the splintering of the rebels into three factions: Kazakh, Turkmen, and Uzbek, the Turkish tribes appear united in their goal to become independent. They also seem to refuse to embrace either side in the Great Eastern War, still friendly with the Persians but likewise inspired by the Ottoman advances in the Caucuses. Given the hostility between their two friends, the Turkish tribes have instead emphasized their hostility towards Russia and the efforts by the Czar to force his alien culture down their throats. Still, Maria Augusta was not idle in the face of the rebellion, ordering a substantial force of men to deal with the tribes. Combining the Army of Astrakhan with reinforcements and inflicting a late defeat at the Battle of Gyzylgaya, ensuring the rebellion will not continue its northward advance.  
   To the east, many in Kabul would express great joy at news of the Persian attack on the Ottomans, as it now meant the Qajars would be forced to fight a two-front war. The Durrani had been dealt a series of blows in 1838, that was obvious, but their empire was not ready to surrender yet. The Qajar attempt to push further into Gwadar was repulsed, the Persians being driven back in the face of a determined defense. This breathing room allowed for the Durrani to also launch strikes, albeit unsuccessful ones, on the Turkish tribal rebels to the north, spreading fear and disorganization, although with little territorial gain.

War in Transylvania

  Despite their relative success in slowing the Russian invasion, the Austrian forces in Transylvania were gravely outnumbered and forced into a defensive posture as the winter snows began to melt and campaigning resumed. The 79k Russians drubbed the 33k Austrians at the Battle of Reps, forcing them to retreat further west. Yet, this victory was followed by news that, to the surprise of many, the Turks had crossed the Habsburg frontier with the permission of Vienna. The battered Austrian Army of Transylvania coupled with the Ottoman reinforcements numbered 130k against the 70k Russians, who found the enemy in between themselves and their homeland. In a series of engagements throughout August the Russian Army of Transylvania was systematically destroyed and eliminated, thousands of Russian soldiers being forced into captivity when the commanders finally gave of their struggle, surrendering at Praid when a last desperate attempt to cross over the Carpathians was defeated.

Polish-Ruthenian Conflict

  Prussian forces were bolstered by reinforcements from Radziwill and the Polish rebels early in the year. Coupled with the arrival of a substantial Russian army from the east, and the Austrian numerical disadvantage, the theater would see substantial gains for the alliance. Archduke Maximilian had orders from Vienna to adopt a defensive posture, prioritizing Galicia in the face of the enemy advance. This bold defense repelled the initial advance of Russians at the Battle of Kolomea, but was ultimately forced to flee back over the Carpathians, adopting a defensive posture in the mountains to keep the Russians on the other side.
   To the north, without a deliberate Habsburg defense, the Prussians captured Cracow and occupied the city. Polish resistance was light, the locals far more sympathetic to Radziwill and his talk of national liberation than the Habsburgs, who had intentionally courted the Ruthenians instead. By December the entirety of Austrian Galicia was held by Prussia, Poland, or Russia.

Greek Rebellion and Istanbul Incident

  The Prussian Suez garrison, that had secretly escaped, had been directed to Greece, where it served a pivotal role in changing the trajectory of the rebellion. Seemingly written off by the larger powers, a sense of despair had pervaded the Greek Revolution since 1838. The sudden arrival of Prussian soldiers, well-provisioned no less, turned the tide. At the Battle of Zeli the rebels launched an attack against the surprised Ottomans. The Sultan’s son, in charge of the war in this theater, was forced into a somewhat embarrassing retreat, his numbers suddenly on par with those of the Greek rebels. Although he could claim victory in Thessalonica, which surrendered to the Ottoman besiegers in November, the Greeks had regained both a sense of optimism and the military initiative in the region. There are already calls for more men to be sent to this region to end the Greek thoughts of independence once and for all.
   Although the Prussians from the Army of the Suez were able to escape reprisal before departing, those returning from Singapore and Borneo were not so lucky. Upon arrival at the Suez, Ottoman forces surrounded their vessels and arrested the 4k Prussian soldiers, sending them to captivity in Arabia alongside the Russian soldiers arrested last year. Although many in Berlin have expressed outrage at yet another power losing its rights to the Suez, the Austrians, French, British, and Scandinavians have done nothing about the clear precedent that has been set.
   Meanwhile, the city of Istanbul would become a hotbed of paranoia, intrigue, and mutual recriminations over the course of 1839, especially as word spread that the Persians had attacked in the east. This would peak on October 21st, 1839 during the “Istanbul Incident.” A Turkish mob struck out at the Greek minority, accusing them of sympathy for the rebels in Athens, the bloodletting ceased only by the personal intervention of the Sultan on the second day. In the palace, civilian and military officials accused one another of sympathy with the enemy. A pasha was found murdered in his apartments, while as a result an official in the department of foreign affairs was executed in the outskirts of the city. Though no open rising took place, this atmosphere of crisis was unnerving, especially in the face of recent successes in Astrakhan and Transylvania. Some would place the blame on foreign intervention and amplification of rumors, though no concrete evidence has been found indicating this to be the case. Still many of the Sultan’s advisors have been most unnerved by the changing mood of the capitol and have urge thorough investigation.

Great Bohemian Campaign

  The Austro-Prussian theater of war turned frantic in early 1839, as the Habsburgs realized the vulnerability of Vienna and the Prussians saw an opportunity in the distance between the Army of Bohemia and reinforcements. What followed was a rapid attempt at flight by the Army of Bohemia, fleeing in the face of a Prussian advance from Silesia dashing towards the capitol at breakneck pace only to be met with the full force of the nearly 300k strong Prussian armies pouring into Moravia. A massive Prussian assault was directed at the Austrians who were utterly defeated at the Battle of Trencin, the Habsburg ranks disorganized from the hasty attempt to save Vienna. Following the defeat, the Austrians (due on Prussian maneuvering) had nowhere to flee but northeast, their hastily constructed for along the Carpathians at Martin being besieged by the sizeable Prussian foe.
   While the loss of the Army of Bohemia, largely in totality, was a severe blow to the military numbers of the Habsburg Monarchy, it gave the Emperor in Vienna what he so desperately needed: time. As news of the defeat at Trencin spread, tens of thousands of men poured into Austria from Italy. The Army of Ansbach, after beating back a Prussian feint attack towards Bamberg and northern Bavaria likewise came to the aid of the Emperor, soldiers from western Germany not far behind. Coupled with the reinforcements raised, this meant that Emperor Francis now faced the invading Prussians with 330k men near Vienna, while the Prussians had roughly 275k, after factoring their losses at the Battle of Trencin.
   Still, Prussia morale was high after the elimination of the Habsburg Army of Bohemia. Unlike what Emperor Francis had expected, they made no hasty strike at Vienna, being far more deliberate in their operations southwards. Prussians marched south, some small battalions placing Pressburg under siege, while the rest of the Army crossed the Danube south of the city, placing themselves in between Buda and Vienna. It was here, in a fortuitous development for the Prussians, the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Charles of Austria was captured. His father had ordered him to go from Vienna to Buda in case the capitol fell, but en route his entourage was set on by Prussian scouts, who had been ordered to scour the road for any individuals fleeing the city. Charles faced the exact same fate as his great-grandfather Emperor Joseph a century ago, capture by the Prussians. Some in Berlin called for his immediate execution, in order to retaliate for what was believed to be Austrian responsibility for the death of King Frederick III. Scurried away north towards Prussian Silesia, the news sent a ripple of joy through the armies of young King Frederick. Many truly believed that history would repeat itself and Vienna would soon fall.
   Southeast of Vienna, the Austrians finally responded, eager to defend the capitol. The Prussian pursuit of the Army of Bohemia combined with orders to march at hasty speeds having given the Emperor time for his reinforcements to arrive. News had not yet reached the city that Archduke Charles had been captured. The 330k Austrians now sallied out to face against the 275k Prussians in one of the largest set battles thus far in European history at Sopron on August 10-13th, 1839.
   “God deplores man, otherwise he would have made us peaceful beings.” Those were the words Emperor Francis III expressed upon hearing of the Battle of Sopron and the deaths of tens of thousands. The massive armies faced off on the northern edge of the Pannonian Basin. Croatian General Josip Jelačić headed the Habsburg forces, while General Friedrich Graf von Wrangel headed the Prussian force. Von Wrangel was surprised by the number of Austrians, while many of the Habsburg soldiers were exhausted by their extensive march. This meant, despite the Austrian numerical advantage, the fight would largely be even. Hoping to force the enemy back into the capitol, Prussian commanders undertook a series of clever maneuvers, attempting to flank the Austrians and force the tired soldiers to break. Although this had some initial success, the too-zealous attacking of some Prussian battalions placed them into the range of Habsburg artillery. The slog continued all throughout the day, the field a smoky mess as the two German realms smashed their manpower into each other’s.
   The inconclusive results of the first day meant the fighting dragged on into a second. A Habsburg offensive on the morning of the 12th was beat back by the Prussians, who now were in defensive posture, having seized the outskirts of Sopron the previous day. Fighting on the second day was notable for the extensive number of casualties and the lowering of morale on both sides. Fires raged throughout the region, the sparks of gunpowder igniting dry brush and making the area look like a hellscape.
   Finally, after a third morning of a slog, it was decided by General von Wrangel in the Prussian camp that victory could not be achieved at this juncture. Seeing the Austrians gaining ground in the early hours, and fearing that the way back across the Danube would be blocked, an organized, fighting retreat was ordered. The Prussians slowly retreated, fighting moving from Sopron to Csnorna to Gyor over the next week. Once the Prussians crossed the Danube, returning to the now captured city of Pressburg, the Austrian armies returned to the capitol.
   Although the Austrians celebrated the protection of the capitol, a Te Deum being sung in the churches of Vienna, the war is not won. Poland and Galicia are in enemy hands. Archduke Charles now sits in enemy custody, some suggesting a hostage exchange between him and Czar Peter in Scandinavia. The Rhenish have made gains and further afield Russia is trying to mobilize itself into a formidable juggernaut.

War in the Rhineland

  The Austrians withdrew roughly half of the almost 200k men they had operating against the Kingdom of the Rhine. It was clear quite early in the year that some sort of truce had been enacted between Cologne and Berlin, for the Rhenish turned south, withdrawing from Hanover, and attempting to counter the Habsburg gains of 1838. Ordered to defend the remaining Imperial Princes over any land regained in the previous year, the Austrians beat back a strike at Ansbach but allowed the rebels to get as far south as Stuttgart, where the King returned to his family’s capitol to great fanfare, the damage of the previous two years being conveniently ignored.

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Invasion of the Netherlands

  The Dutch seizure of East Frisia, coupled with the refusal of the military junta to abide by the stipulations in the Treaty of Amsterdam, invited reprisal from the larger powers of Europe, particularly France and Prussia. Some question if the hawks in Amsterdam were not deliberately goading their neighbors for war given the haste with which they took military action following the deposition of King William II. Whatever the case, they would soon be met with mass assault, armies crossing the Rhine from France and into East Frisia from Prussia.
   The French attacked first, the 248k strong Army of Flanders crossing the Rhine. The Dutch were prepared, having previously mobilized for a planned offensive further into Northern Germany. They raised the entirety of their civilian forces, 202k men in the Netherlands proper. This southern front was seen as a matter of life-and-death in the Dutch provinces, given the French treatment of the Flemish to the south and violation of the Treaty of Amsterdam (even if the agreement had been made with the toppled government). Thousands of men enlisted as volunteers, hoping to preserve the independence of their homeland in the face of the third French invasion of the Netherlands in a century.
   Fighting was widespread and brutal. Although the French had been explicitly ordered to be gentle to the populace, the people were most certainly not gentle to the French. Hatred of King Louis and all he represented was widespread. There were even reports from towns such as Tiel and Elst of armed women and children sniping French soldiers, aiming for officers. General Bugeaud, who had been ordered by King Louis XVIII in one of his last acts to serve as commander, himself took a bullet wound to the shoulder, the shot allegedly fired by a Dutch milkmaid. The farmers in Gelderland and Zeeland, Catholic and Protestant alike, agreed to break the dikes and flood the countryside, slowing the invasion and any march towards Amsterdam. Roads and bridges were intentionally sabotaged, as prepared defensive lines faced off against the French advance.
   The fighting was reminiscent of the Ottoman-Egyptian clashes on the Nile Delta in the mid-1830s. The inundated land was only seized with great difficulty. Shadow partisan networks in Flanders, the skeleton of what once had been the rebel movement there, demonstrated sympathy with the Dutch by undertaking covert activities, seeking to slow the French war effort. Although some French commanders were effective in countering them, particularly those that had experience in Burma, the vast Flemish civilian population proved more than willing to provide cover and concealment for the partisans in their ranks. Yet, at the years end, with tens of thousands killed on both sides, the French had made gains in the Netherlands and not vice versa. Though British naval aid against the Netherlands never materialized, and Amsterdam still stood defiant, the French remain able to replace their casualties, while the Dutch really cannot.
   A second strike arrived from the north in July, the Prussians smashing back into East Frisia, eager to restore the German League member that had been unjustly assaulted. Meeting token Dutch resistance, most of the forces fighting the French to the south, the advance proved fairly easy and casualties were initially light. Within several weeks they were as far as Groningen. Here too, the British did not appear as had been planned, causing confusion in the Prussian ranks. As news spread of the events to the east, including the fall of Hamburg and the cutting-off of this army from Prussia proper, that confusion turned to inaction. Rather than take any initiative, especially without contact with Berlin, the Prussian commanders fell into mutual recriminations and internal disputes.

War in the East Indies

  As news spread abroad of the fight in the Netherlands, the OAKF was initially unsure how to respond. The government pledged initial neutrality in the early stages of the conflict, though warning both the French and the Prussians that they would fully seek to defend their presence in the region unconditionally. Many have noted significant troop movements in the region as the colonial authorities have prepared themselves for a defensive conflict.
   The Ottomans sent an expedition to Singapore, likewise determined to seize the port city in response to former Prussian aggression. The Prussian garrison having evacuated, again ostensibly to the French, the city easily fell to the Turks, who set about restoring control and expunging the remnants of Prussian influence. It was the former Prussian armies from the East Indies that were captured at the Suez later in the year.

Scandinavian Assault

  Prussia and Scandinavia have long been friends, their governments enjoying extensive dynastic and political ties over the last century. No more. The late King Frederick’s decision to violate the Convention of Prague outraged the government in Stockholm, which elected to punish Prussia and come to the aid of the Habsburgs, despite the ongoing conflict with the Russians to the east. 100k Scandinavians assembled in Jutland and smashed their way south when word arrived that the Prussians had officially retaken East Frisia and were conducting operations further into the Netherlands.
   This is not to say Prussia was totally unprepared, though it was perhaps a bit underprepared. The 75k men left by Queen Regent Augusta were repulsed at the Battle of Kellinghusen, fleeing south as the Scandinavians marched into the Kingdom. Hamburg, the major Prussian port city and gateway to that realm’s colonial empire, fell in days, being occupied by the Swedes. What followed was a quick dash west, knocking out the remainder of Oldenburg and cutting off the Prussian expedition to the Netherlands, and then a push eastward. Although there was some Scandinavian hope about taking Berlin, the Prussians held their own at the Battle of Luneburg and high command elected to march east instead. The forces of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz proved insufficient to defend their small principalities, the sovereigns fleeing to Berlin as Rostock too was seized by the Scandinavians. As the year came to a close, Scandinavian soldiers were as far east as Stralsund and Greifswald, a major success having been achieved in northern Prussia.
   Prussian agents attempted to ignite a separatist rebellion in Schleswig-Holstein once news spread of the Scandinavian attack, but a combination of increased military presence and tough policing of the residence meant any opposition was forced underground, trying intrigue and sabotage instead of any sort of armed conflict. The German minority party elected to the government in Stockholm has denounced the move of the Scandinavian government, but their representatives have often been shouted down as enemy sympathizers since the fighting began.
   The bravery of the Prussian soldiers ensured that Berlin was saved, though a new dilemma faces Queen Regent Augusta with the loss of Hanover. Prussia, for all intents and purposes, is cut off from its colonies. The Scandinavians have sealed the straits to any Prussian and Russian ships, the Habsburgs remain hostile to the south, and, while Russia is friendly in the east, there is little practical way for Prussian trade and communication to reach their colonies from there.

Empires of the East
Korea and Japan Look Outwards, China Pushes Inland

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Korean Empire in the Pacific

  The government of Queen Regent Sunwon had been very cautious and deliberate in its colonial policy during the first years of her regency. Yet, with the collapse of Spanish power and the extended duration of the Chinese Civil War, her officials were able to secure a wide variety of diplomatic coups in 1839, ensuring that her grandson will take power in a Korea well-equipped to compete with the imperialist powers of the 19th century.
   From their base north of the Philippines in the Batanes, Korean officials coordinated a strike outwards into the heart of the Pacific. Cooperating with local Polynesian officials and leaders, weapons and regiments of marines were sent to the Caroline Islands, occupying the region and establishing the local collaborators as Grand Dukes under the sovereignty of the Joseon Dynasty. The transition was relatively bloodless, though the results may have been more drastic than expected. Taking advantage of their Korean-backing the new vassals engaged in rapid and brutal conquest of their traditional rivals as the Koreans looked on. By the end of the year most of the island chain has either sworn fealty to Joseon or been occupied by those who do.
  Korea’s other successful venture for expansion in Manchuria was, in truth, at risk during the first half of the year. The Prince of Beizi demonstrated every inclination of continuing the struggle against the Koreans and Xing, confident in his ability to play defense on friendly terrain against two very different enemies. Yet, it would not come to this. His underlings saw the writing on the wall and, in the hopes of a pardon from Nanjing, or perhaps even some sort of local autonomy, assassinated the last Qing ruler in the world.
   The reaction to the death of the Prince of Beizi created an atmosphere of jubilation across the east. At long last the civil war in China proper was over. Although fighting would continue in the west, as the Emperor sought to bring the separatists in that region to heel.

Restoring Sovereignty: China in the West

  Following the death of the Prince of Beizi, and the subjugation of the Manchurian nobility, the Youfu Emperor issued an ultimatum to the various separatist groups in the west and south of China. The local leaders could either recognize the authority of the new dynasty directly or face elimination. Tibet, which had stayed out of the recent conflicts in order to preserve its position as best possible, consented to return to vassal status with the government in Nanjing. The Xinjiang province in the far west, unwilling to face direct rule from China, instead reached an emergency agreement with Czarina Regent Maria Augusta in Moscow, promising to swear nominal allegiance and aid the crushing of their fellow Turks in return for Russia protection. The Hui and Miao, on the other hand, formed an alliance of convenience and together executed the Xing envoys sent to demand their subjugation. They had reason to be optimistic. Since the start of the Chinese Civil War, more than 30 million Han subjects had died due to famine, warfare, flooding, and disease. It was thought in Chengdu and Lanzhou that the people of the realm would be too exhausted to undertake further expeditions for quite some time. War commenced.
   The experience and advanced weaponry of the Xing Dynasty would again be demonstrated in 1839, the Youfu Emperor’s soldiers pushing easily into rebel-held territory. The Miao would bear the brunt of the Xing advance, their forces were pushed back repeatedly as the Han moved up the Yangtze, Chengdu itself placed under siege as the situation began to look increasingly desperate. Local peasant leaders, taking advantage of the anarchy, have sought to frustrate the operations of both governments, adding yet another layer to the chaos.
   In the west the Hui would not be defeated on the field, but would find themselves frustrated by a deliberate Xing effort to construct outposts in the region and slowly reassert control. No decisive battle took place here, the focus of the war being in the south, but many in the region have suddenly become worried about the prospects of their war effort.

Coup of Natsu

  Tokugawa Ieyoshi had come to power in a divided Japan, one where the modernizers and traditionalists each had a clear agenda for how his rule ought to progress. Rather than seeking to balance the various interests, as his father had done, Ieyoshi made it clear quite early on that he intended to continue the increasing advancement of the realm.
   Some suspect he was so deliberately open about his favoritism to the modernizers in order to invite reprisal, which came swiftly. A cabal of daimyo began to organize in secret, plotting on murdering the Shogun and destroying the Tokugawa dynasty by restoring Imperial Power. The Emperor himself was not involved, determined to remain above factionalism and more accustomed to the simple life at the Imperial Capitol. Still, it was expected there was broad support among the conservative leadership, which sought to align itself with those peasants upset by Ienari’s decision to raise their taxes.
   This plot was abruptly interrupted on September 5th, 1839 in the Coup of Natsu (summer). Within the span of a week, the various conspirators were arrested in quick succession, those not gathered in the first wave of arrests committing suicide rather than face the slander of the central government. Accused of sedition and hostility towards the government, the several dozen officials were executed one after another in a seen of great dishonor. Some of these men had served his father for decades and were well-respected members of Japanese society, their sudden disgrace and death sending shockwaves throughout Japan.
   The traditionalist movement was quickly beat back and driven underground by the decisive action of Ieyoshi, who followed up on his victory over the conspirators by ordering the campaign in the Philippines. Seemingly securing his rule from the outset, and preventing the eruption of a civil war in the shogunate, many now wonder what new direction he will take Japan. Certainly, his broader government has been seen as largely successful in foreign affairs thus far. The Xing Dynasty, for now focused on restoring order to the western provinces, agreed to cede the trade ports taken from the Qing in the mid-1830s as well as recognized the Japanese-backed Republic of Formosa on that island. It appears that Japan will be a major player in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming decades, the prospect of returning to its past state of isolationism having been prevented once and for all.

Japanese Strike on the Philippines

  Knowing full-well that the East Asian Colonial Federation (OAKF) was distracted by events in Europe, Ieyoshi ended 1839 by launching an invasion of the Philippines, which had already changed hands once in the past year. The Dutch forces in Asia had largely neglected the islands in the aftermath of their victory, more focused on organizing their power in the East Indies. From Formosa, the Shogunate launched a series of invasions, seizing control over the remaining Dutch outposts in the South China Sea, capturing Manila and the northern islands of the Philippines, and winning control as far south as Palawan. The Dutch have shown little appetite to defend the islands that most still consider to be nominally Spanish and it is expected that the southern islands will fall in 1840 barring aid from some other foreign power.
   This aggressive strike against the Dutch has demonstrated Japan’s growing power in the region. With control of the home islands and Formosa secured, the push south has opened up the prospect of further territorial acquisitions in the coming years. For a public eager for victory, this could be too good of an opportunity to ignore.

[Spamage]

Age of Steam And Steel

Turn 6: 1840

(Source: Self-Made)

Nations, Leaders, and Players

Kingdom of France: Queen Regent Marie Fernandina d'Berry Bourbon (Windjammer)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: King Charles III of Hanover (Blair)
Ottoman Empire: Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu (Kingpoleon)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King Frederick VI Oldenburg & Queen Catherine of Holstein-Gottorp (Ypestis)
Russian Empire: Czarina Regent Maria Augusta Wettin
Kingdom of Prussia: Queen Regent Augusta Wittelsbach (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Bishop-President Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis III Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Joseon Korea: Queen Regent Sunwon (True Federalist)

Economic Standing:

Joseon Korea: Strong
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Moderate
Russian Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of France: Moderate
Qajar Persia: Moderate
Ottoman Empire: Weak
Xing Dynasty: Weak
Divine Republic of Brazil: Weak
Kingdom of Prussia: Moderate
Kingdom of Louisiana: Weak
Habsburg Monarchy: Weak

Popularity:

King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: High
Queen Regent Augusta of Prussia: High
Emperor Francis III Habsburg: Moderate
King Francis I Bourbon: Moderate
Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: Moderate
Czarina Maria Augusta Wettin: Moderate
Mohammad Shah Qajar: Moderate
Queen Regent Marie Fernandina Bourbon: Moderate
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: Moderate
King Charles III of Britain: Moderate
Bishop-President Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
Queen Regent Sunwon: Moderate

Current Global Conflicts:

War of Reunion: Qing Dynasty, Tibet vs. Hui Clique, Miao Clique (1839-)
American War of Secession: United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas vs. Kingdom of Louisiana, American League (1837-)
Japanese-Dutch War: Tokugawa Shogunate, Xing Dynasty, Kingdom of Spain vs. East Asian Colonial Federation (1836-)
Great Eastern War: Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, Qajar Persia, Polish Rebels, Greek Rebels,  vs. Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Scandinavia, Durrani Empire vs. Kingdom of the Rhine (1838-)
Franco-Dutch War: Kingdom of France, Kingdom of Prussia, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas vs. Kingdom of the Netherlands (1839-)

(Source: Self-Made)

Kingdom of France:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Regent Marie Fernandina, you come to power at a critical moment for France. The Dutch traitors continue to fight to the death in the Low Countries, Flemish traitors aiding their cause. Beyond the Rhine Europe is in flames, the Prussians and Austrians each seeking to topple the established order and finally end their rivalry once and for all. Your Francophone ally and dynastic partner in Louisiana faces a more brutal British onslaught daily. France has the power to tilt the balance in most of these situations, should you act wisely. How will you lead France through a crumbling international order?

-Finally, the Italians seem to have been subdued, your son Grand Duke Xavier and distant cousins in Parma, Genoa, and Modena have all been restored to their rightful thrones on the peninsula. Yet, even though your men triumphed on the field of battle, there is little sign that the locals have been reconciled them. The puppet sovereigns are deeply unpopular, seen as national traitors and unwanted tyrants by the locals. Still, it remains in the national interest of France to keep at least some of Italy close and pliant. How will you resolve the issue? Should greater French control be exerted over the dukes, who may have gotten away with too much abuse? Or would the Habsburg position of slight withdrawal and concessions be preferable? The Italian conundrum can no longer wait, as the recent revolts demonstrated, what will you decide?

-Politically France remains more divided than ever. It is feared that the death of King Louis XVIII and the victory in Italy may very well spell the end of the Sacred Union that has governed the realm since 1837. Both the liberal and conservative parties have seen their support on the streets in decline, as the reactionaries, nationalists, and socialists have risen. The past few years have demonstrated the difficulty in trying to govern from the center while the extremes eat away at support on either flank. It is expected that, in order to preserve their support, one or the other party will pull out of the government, forcing either early elections (the next vote being scheduled for 1841) or the construction of a new coalition. Thiers has advocated for you to endeavor to maintain the coalition, not wanting either radical side to gain too much influence, but others closer to Versailles believe the intervention of the regent in domestic politics could backfire. What will be your approach to the domestic political situation in the Kingdom of France?

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The bloody gains in North America continue. 1839 has been seen as a particularly fortuitous year on this front. Your rapid advance into the Carolinas caused a significant portion of the rebel cause to take you up on your offer of a pardon, even if most remain loyal to the government in Montgomery. The east continues to be your best theater, however. The Army of Richmond was pushed back before it could seize the southern capitol, the Sioux are near collapse, and your soldiers have been pushed back beyond the Mississippi River. On the seas, a rare Louisianan naval victory around Cuba has created a small gap in your continental blockade. As the struggle continues, even if the end may now be far-off but in sight, how will you take action?

-Your parliamentary reform proposal has passed, in a much-celebrated political development. The Tories were brought around with your promises to split Tory seats and agreement to hold an election in the next year or so. With the coming vote, there is the question about whether you will support the Tories or the Whigs. Both your father and grandfather often vocally interfered in politics when it suited their interested, establishing friends and allies as Prime Minister. There are many subjects who listen quite closely to your statements and it could sway the vote. Some at Court fear being too vocal could backfire though, undermining cooperation if the incoming government is one you have not supported. Will you speak out on politics? If so, in favor of which party?

-Ireland has long been a part of your realm. Catholic Emancipation is now half a century old and, although that satisfied many on the island, there are new worries. The spread of nationalist sentiment across Europe, expressed in the rebellions of 1837, has reinvigorated the Irish nationalist movement. The Catholic Republicans here, emboldened by religious hatred married to republicanism, likewise have been emboldened by the success of their fellow ideologues in South America. Some would have you handle this issue by not acting at all, arguing that action against Irish dissidents could only cause more to rally to their cause. Others are more interventionist, urging you to deport any known Catholic Republicans to South America and crack down on nationalist groups. How will you deal with this sensitive topic, Ireland having long been an off-and-on point of tension in British politics?

Kingdom of Scandinavia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your decision to uphold the Convention of Prague and strike at Prussia has astounded much of the world, which had assumed relatively friendly relations between your two realms, despite recent foreign policy differences. Regardless, this move has been a major decision and committed Scandinavia to the great struggle in totality. Although you were unable to take Berlin, Prussia having established a defensive army just in case of a Scandinavian strike, you did occupy Mecklenburg. Now there’s choices to be made. How much men will you commit to Prussian operations in 1840? Will you strike at their soldiers in the Netherlands or seek to expand your gains in Prussia itself? Is Berlin a proper target or do operations elsewhere make seizing the city unfeasible?

-The St. Petersburg regency has little legitimacy and less almost every day. The escape of Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the throne, to Prussia and his subsequent support of Maria Augusta has torpedoed a lot of mainstream support from the Russian populace. Instead, many opportunists seek to join your cause such as those fleeing serfdom, disgraced by the old regime, or ethnic minorities seeking greater autonomy. All signs indicate that the massive realm is mobilizing apace, internal rebellions notwithstanding. With an angry Russia standing before you, how will you protect your gains of the previous two years?

-The German minority in Schleswig-Holstein is… problematic. From the subjects of that principality to the members of government from German nationalist parties, many are apprehensive they could be damaging to the Scandinavian war effort. There were even some fears the locals would rise in rebellion, though they seem to have been dissuaded for the time being by your success in Prussia. How will you handle this upset group of your subjects? Some are calling for forced resettlement of any captured dissidents and the encouragement of emigration, perhaps through extreme taxation. Others believe that their representatives ought to be removed from the national assembly, their constant tirades against the war effort being obnoxious. Perhaps the position of protector could be given to someone more suitable, given that Frederick III is now deceased. What is to be done about the German population in the region that feels as though it is losing its identity?

Habsburg Monarchy:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Vienna has been saved for the time being, God be praised. Italy too is at peace, ending the Neapolitan blockade that was severely damaging the economy. Though your dominions have celebrated the victory at the Battle of Sopron, the war overall leaves pessimists with mixed feelings. Bohemia, Galicia, Ruthenia, and part of Slovakia are under Prussian occupation. The Kingdom of the Rhine has retaken Stuttgart, though losses here may not have been as bad as was initially expected. Russia may be distracted by risings in Turkestan, the Scandinavian occupation of St. Petersburg, and the war with the Ottomans, but that does not mean that you have been forgotten. Worst of all, Archduke Charles now is in Prussian custody, a realm that blames you for the death of their late King. It seems likely the war will continue into the coming year. How will you ensure that the House of Habsburg comes out on top?

-The Swiss Republic cannot be trusted. Even with their ambitions in Italy thwarted, it is well-known that they are sympathetic to both the Prussians and the rebels in the Rhine. Although their initial hostility was directed towards the French, some sort of rapprochement, at least temporarily, with that realm seems to have been achieved. There are rumors that funding is going directly from Geneva to both Cologne and Berlin, the worst fears of some at Court being that “volunteers” will soon follow, as was the case in Italy. What will you do to ensure that the Swiss do not join the extensive list of realms seeking to destabilize your realm?

-The rapid Prussian seizure of your colonies in Africa has made some in Vienna worried that either Ningbo, your hard-won trading port in China, or your Andaman Islands could be next. Both have been quite difficult to resupply and extremely isolated. Yet, at the same time these small outposts have proven quite valuable thus far, allowing your traders access to the extensive Xing trading network and East Asia as a whole. Some urge you to negotiate with the Youfu Emperor so that the Chinese will defend the Austrian concession should the Prussians or any other hostile power attack. Others fear that the surrender of defensive capabilities to the Chinese could just be the first step of that realm re-assuming control over the city. How will you handle the situation in far-off Ningbo? Furthermore, what is to be done to ensure that the Andamans do not fall prey to a hostile power, perhaps the French could be relied on to assert Austrian sovereignty there?

Kingdom of Prussia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your strike at the Habsburg capitol was not successful, a blow to the ambitions of 1839. Even so, your gains over the previous year must not be overlooked. Bohemia-Moravia is largely occupied in totality, presence beyond the Carpathians is now non-existent, Archduke Charles is in a Silesian prison, and even Pressburg has fallen. Still, the Scandinavian strike has infuriated your realm and was a rare moment of weakness for Prussia. Furthermore, with the loss of Hamburg and the closing of the Danish straight, Prussia proper faces blockade akin to what the Habsburgs had to deal with the past few years. This war is still up in the air, how will you make certain that Prussia will avenge the fallen?

-France has been frustrated in the southern Netherlands, but your soldiers had a relatively easy time taking Groningen and moving into the north of the region. Here you have a dilemma. The Scandinavia attack has meant that your men are now cut off from the rest of Prussia. Although they could cross through the Kingdom of the Rhine in theory, your truce with the Rhenish is still fresh and they show little indication that they would allow you military access. Some would have you ignore this issue and continue operations in the Netherlands in coordination with the British and French. Others worry about the prospect of losing an entire army of almost 50,000 well-trained Prussian regulars. What will you do about operations in the Netherlands in 1840?

-The Russian Empire has been dealt some sizeable blows, but shows every indication of staying strong for the time being. Czarina Regent Maria Augusta has proposed that your two realms agree that there ought to be no separate peace, in order to cement your common interests in this struggle. Beyond that, she requests you return Grand Duke Peter at once, so he can join her government and bolster its legitimacy. Many see closer ties with Russia as the obvious answer to the Scandinavian-Ottoman-Habsburg friendship, though there are those that have noted the massive manpower losses faced by Russia in the past few years. How will you respond to the Czarina? Will you coordinate your war efforts moving forward with the Empire, if so, in what capacity?

Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Whatever setbacks there were in Mesopotamia, the rest of the war featured significant victories for your forces. The Russians were annihilated in Transylvania and Astrakhan has been captured, igniting a Turkish revolt against the Czarina Regent. Still, there are decisions to be made. The Russians seem to be mobilizing to try another stab at Crimea and the Austrians seem vulnerable given the loss of Bohemia, Slovakia, and Galicia. The war seems destined to rage on for yet another year, what will be done to ensure that you survive?

-Persia has betrayed you and struck on your vulnerable border, overrunning much of Mesopotamia and severely endangering Ottoman control over the region for the first time in centuries. There is fury in Istanbul over the betrayal, but also a growing sense of fright, given your armies are currently engaged in the Balkans and Russian Steppe. Still, if the Persians are allowed to go unchecked, that places the heart of the Empire at risk. Not all hope is lost, given your massive numerical advantage over the war-weary Persians, but action must be taken. How will you handle the Persian betrayal and the subsequent Arabic Shia rising?

-Events in Istanbul, including the massacre of your Greek subjects by the Turks, have shaken the Court. Inside the palace, your advisors seem to be dividing into petty factions, convinced there are plots behind every corner. Some fear the Russians may be responsible for the spread of this unrest, in order to damage your war effort and urge you to take actions. There are a wide variety of options on the table ranging from investigation, resettlement of the Greeks to alleviate ethnic tensions, a shuffling of government officials, or perhaps even political reforms to boost your popularity in a shaky situation. What will be done to ensure that there is not a repeat of the Istanbul Affair in 1840?

Divine Republic of Brazil:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Peace has been established with Spain, a respite from foreign attack seeming likely for the time being. Still, there are enemies on the home front. Though the rebels were dealt a severe blow with the fall of Recife, small militias continue to operate out of the north of the country, emboldened by foreign smugglers who have continued to resupply their war effort. How is the civil war to be closed once and for all? Beyond that, what would you do with all the counter-revolutionary swine, from de Rosas on down, that you have captured over the course of the Wars of Independence and Brazilian Civil War?

-Diplomatically, given your larger population and significant role in assuring victory, other powers look to you as the leader of the Catholic Republican cause. The decimation of Colombia and La Plata has only further exacerbated your demographic advantage for the time being. Your continent faces trouble from the outside. A blockade continues of your realm by Prussian ships for now, though some expect that power would be willing to withdraw its fleet given its closeness with Spain. Beyond that, given your role as one of the preeminent Catholic Republican powers, what will be your foreign policy goals now that independence has finally been achieved? How will you bring glory to the cause?

-The redistribution of the plantations and the abolition of slavery has resulted in great changes to the domestic economic situation. The freed slaves have often tended to work on establishing self-sufficient homesteads on their smaller plots of land rather than continue to cultivate expensive and labor-intensive crops such as sugar, a primary export of your country. This turn away from traditional crops has only been exacerbated by the effects of the blockade. There are some of your advisors who foresee disaster if something is not done, arguing your realm will suffer from a lack of exports. Will you attempt to save the plantation industry of the past, perhaps through subsidies or buying back estates, or should the market decide what is best for Brazil?

[Spamage]

Kingdom of Louisiana:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-You have successfully gotten the Americans to elect you as monarch, meaning your generals will now largely assume command of the rebellion. It could not have come at a more crucial moment. The British have no seized back most of the Carolinas, further cementing their power on the eastern seaboard. Although there has been noted success in the west, where both the Sioux and the British who crossed the Missouri River have been forced back to the colonies, the east is undoubtedly the more important front.

-Mexico lent you their ships, which proved vital in breaking the British blockade south of Cuba and allowing a trickle of trade to return to both New Orleans and other American ports. Yet, other than that major powers have steered clear of your struggle. Perhaps it is time that is changed. The war in Europe means that you could probably gain numerous allies simultaneously if you chose one of the two sides. Beyond those coalitions, though, France, in particular, has proven to be a most willing buyer of blockade-run goods. Given your dynastic ties, shared language, and common heritage, might it not be prudent to get them involved, perhaps as a mediator in the war? Brazil, even with your differences over slavery and government form, could also prove to be a useful ally, if they could be convinced to provide aid. Will you expand your diplomatic network in the coming year to counter the British?

-Though the Americans have elected you monarch, there is great confusion over how your two governments will cooperate. Already there are many in Montgomery who are calling for the two governments to be united in totality, an easy choice given there are slightly more American southerners than Louisianans. It is feared in New Orleans that the haste with which this was suggested means that your southern subjects fear for the longevity of their revolt. Others believe that, while the two realms are tied together in your person, formal union ought to be avoided, given the bevy of issues that could arise. Or, perhaps, it would be better to wait until formal independence has been achieved to talk of politics. How will you approach this issue, King Louis-Philippe?

Joseon:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Korean annexation of the Heonjong Islands and expansion into Manchuria have both been celebrated in the capitol, further evidence of the changes rocking the realm. The Joseon of five or ten years ago seems to be no more. Every day there is new evidence of innovation or reform. Given this trend towards embracing the outside world, some would have you start to loosen up the trade policies, and allow direct trading from ports in Korea proper, no longer just Incheon and a select few locations. Your grandson, young as he may be, has become a particular supporter of this path. Others believe that opening more of Korea only invites the foreign powers to carve out treaty ports as the Japanese, Habsburgs, and Swedes have done in China. This is not to mention the economic destabilization that could be caused by such a large influx of foreign goods, though tariffs undoubtedly would help moderate this. Will you further liberalize Korean trade policy, or should the status quo continue, too much change potentially inviting too much backlash?

-Diplomatically, many have eyed the Japanese expansion into the Philippines and the Xing decision to conduct campaigns to the west as alarming, as it serves as a demonstration both powers have imperial aspirations in the region. It is up to you to ensure that your realm is not smashed between them. Thus, the court has largely divided into two cliques, each that would have you act as a decisive power in determining the balance of the region. There are many who fear the Xing, in particular, could try to reassert the age-old Chinese attempts to make your realm into a tributary, just as the Youfu Emperor is doing to the west. This anti-China faction would have you start closer ties with the Tokugawa Shogunate, especially given Tokugawa Ieyoshi’s success in seizing control of that state. Yet, others do not trust Japan and fear becoming too beholden to them for access to the Batanes and Heonjong Islands, especially if they were to acquire the Philippines. The anti-Japanese faction at Court would have you align yourself further with the Xing, who possess far more manpower than Japan ever will and could provide suitable protection. Will you back one or the other power? Or perhaps keeping both pleased ought to be tried, even if the subtle tensions between the two powers seem to be on the rise daily…

-The Prince of Beizi is dead. Manchuria has been secured. Some of your soldiers remain on Xing territory, though, from the last days of the rebellion. Given the instability of the new dynasty, there are those at Court who would have them remain at their posts beyond the Yalu River, providing an extra line of defense should the Xing break your agreement and launch a surprise attack. Others fear antagonizing China and urge a quick withdrawal. For what it’s worth, the local population seems to support the Korean presence, fearing reprisal for being the heartland of Qing support over the past 15 years, both during the reign of the Yansheng Emperor and afterwards. Will you move the Korean soldiers or should fortifications be established in the occupied zone?


Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
119,000 Army of the North
110,000 Army of the South
98,000 Army of Astrakhan
39,900 Army of Poland
63,000 Army of Mongolia
25,000 Xinjiang Volunteers
5,000 Army of Alaska
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 103,000 more)

Kingdom of France
218,300 Army of Flanders
63,400 Army of Northern France
144,100 Army of Southern France
80,000 Army of Bengal
40,000 Army of Gujarat
40,000 Army of Spain
21,100 Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 4,000 more)

Habsburg Monarchy
94,500 Army of Wurttemburg
21,400 Army of Italy
265,700 Army of Vienna
53,900 Army of Poland
26,400 Army of Transylvania
9,800 Army of the Suez
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
65,250 Army of Berlin
49,000 Army of East Frisia
206,500 Royal Army
93,000 Army of Poland
8,300 Army of the Cape
8,800 Army of Greece
6,000 Army of Angola
5,000 Army of the Congo
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 4,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
90,000 Army of Britain
39,000 Army of Tennessee
14,000 Army of North Carolina
18,000 Army of South Carolina
9,200 Army of Georgia
28,000 Army of Missouri
26,700 Army of Cumberland
10,000 Army of Australia
1,700 Army of Ghana
1,500 Army of Nigeria
9,800 Army of the Suez
3,000 Army of Richmond
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 137,000 more)

Shenyang Qing Dynasty
89,000 Army of Manchuria
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 0 more)

Ottoman Empire
9,500 Army of Singapore
98,700 Army of Transylvania
24,300 Army of Greece
185,000 Army of Astrakhan
6,700 Army of Crimea
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
89,000 Army of Chengdu
76,000 Army of the West
51,000 Army of Wuhan
33,000 Army of Hainan
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 72,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
52,000 Army of Spain
31,000 Army of Galicia
35,000 Army of Yucatan
25,000 La Platan Remnants
59,200 Army of Peru
22,000 Army of Chile
20,000 Army of Cuba
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
87,800 Army of Pommerania
88,000 Army of Finland
60,000 Army of the Baltic
23,000 Army of Lagoda
5,000 Army of Liberia
5,000 Army of Eritrea
7,500 Army of Mombasa
2,000 Army of Gabon
8,200 Army of the Suez
1,000 Army of Socotra
35,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 4,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
85,000 Army of Naples
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 68,000 more)

Republic of Brazil
83,000 Army of La Plata
53,000 Army of the Peru (In Colombia)
55,000 Army of Recife
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 30,000 more)

Joseon Korea
60,000 Army of the North
36,000 Army of the South
12,000 Cheollima Corps
12,000 Gumiho Corps
10,000 Marine Corps
12,000 Manchurian Flying Corps
42,000 men garrisoned in Korea, 3,000 Ningguta Division garrisoned in Manchuria
(Can raise 10,000 more: 5,000 Koreans, 5,000 Manchurians)

Kingdom of Louisiana/America
39,000 Army of Florida
44,500 Army of the South
40,000 Army of the Mississippi
24,000 Army of Colorado
16,000 National Gendarmerie
9,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 50,000 more)

Qajar Persia
45,000 Northern Army
49,000 Army of Mesopotamia
16,000 Army of the South
8,500 Army of Gwadar
(Can raise 2,000 more)


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of Prussia (Innovative, Sizable)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Sizable)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Standard)
Kingdom of Spain (Modernized, Sizable)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Limited)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Limited)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Reformed, Standard)
Tokugawa Japan (Modified, Standard)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Qajar Persia (Traditional, Limited)

[Spamage]

The Konigsberg Treaty
A treaty between the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia,

1.- The signatories hereby agree to a full alliance, and pledge to work together to address the unforgivable acts of aggression inflicted upon both nations.

2.- The signatories recognize their respective regencies as the only lawful and legitimate governments of Prussia and Russia, led respectively by Queen Regent Augusta, and by Czarina Regent Maria Augusta.

3.- The signatories commit not to sign a separate peace from each other in the Great Eastern War.

x Queen Regent Augusta

X Czarina Regent Maria Augusta

[Spamage]

Padania Arises in Italy
Louis XIX Declared Luigi I

(Made by Me)

   The situation in the French-backed Italian principalities was bound to change after the Italian Revolutions of 1837. The expulsion of the various unpopular Bourbon dukes, coupled with their restoration on the backs of French soldiers, severely undermined their legitimacy and only helped to further engender the disconnect between them and their Italian subjects. Parma, Piedmont, Genoa, and Modena may have looked restored in form, but in practice the French authorities had assumed a far greater degree of control than was exerted previously.
   Ultimately, this matter came to a head with the Padanian Declaration of 1840. Queen Regent Marie Fernandina, perhaps the only individual with the legitimacy to do so, declared the Kingdom of Padania, naming the young King Louis XIX of France as Luigi I of Padania. As the daughter of the late Grand Duchess of Piedmont and granddaughter of the martyred King Victor Amadeus of Sardinia, her opinion was highly respected throughout the northwestern portion of the Italian Peninsula. Was she not the legitimate heiress to the historic House of Savoy?
   Although the Bourbon dukes retained their titles, their realms were merged into a larger state, one to be held in perpetual union with the Kingdom of France. The federal government would be limited and bicameral in nature, though young King Luigi was granted a wide range of powers, including the right to appoint a member to the senate and sack the Royal Chancellor. The senators would be appointed by the dukes (two apiece), while the lower chamber would employ a proportional system of representation based on population and votes. Internal tariffs were abolished, as the new government was founded on three principles: federalism, order, and prosperity.
   There was almost a sense of whiplash, there only being several months between the January declaration of the Kingdom of Padania and the June elections. From the start the authorities enforced a blanket ban on a wide array of factions, including Catholic republicans, liberal republicans, and pro-Neapolitan nationalists. Many different strains of political movements emerged in this environment, reacting to the news that the people of northwest Italy would be united. Seven major factions ultimately competed in the first election: conservatives, liberal monarchists, moderate socialists, reactionaries, integralists, regionalists, and separatists. The conservatives, as in much of Europe, consisted of a broad alliance between the right-leaning rural peasantry and the established nobility. Liberal monarchists generally included the newer capitalist class in a loose alliance with reformers aiming for a greater degree of constitutionalism. The moderate socialists demonstrated loyalty to the Crown but hoped for substantial reform in favor of the working classes. The reactionaries, consisting mostly of the nobility and discouraged conservatives, desired the weakening of the new government, aiming for a semi-absolutist state, looking back to Victor Amadeus III for inspiration. Integralists (i.e. the Catholic Monarchists) demanded policies along the lines of those enacted in Portugal, though couching this in intense personal loyalty to King Louis and the Church. Regionalists hoped to see the central government in Turin weakened, restoring power to the various dukes or local assemblies, fearing domination by the larger populated areas. Finally, the separatists remained loyal to King Louis, but wanted eventual separation from France, perhaps by being inherited by one of the King’s hypothetical future younger children.
   The results of the first election on June 1st, 1840 saw no single faction garner a majority. Though the conservatives won the most seats in the lower assembly, they were shy of the 125-seat majority necessary to govern. The Senate was far clearer, consisting of 3 conservatives, 3 reactionaries, and 2 liberals, with the Crown yet to appoint their tiebreaker candidate. Turnout was remarkably low, some expecting that the exclusion of the various radicals has been coupled with a nationalist protest to the French-imposed regime. With the vote concluded, the new kingdom will face its first challenge: assembling a government, establishing the new regime, and winning the support of the people of the realm.
   Internationally, the French declaration of the Kingdom of Padania was met with shock. Diplomats in Naples, Switzerland, Tuscany, and Romagna all issued public protests and have refused thus far to recognize the new government, calling Padania a “crown of paper”. Vienna seems to have been more circumspect in their own response, more focused on their battle with Prussia. Even so, the arrival of Padania onto the Italian peninsula creates complication, four titular kings holding sway over the region. Padania (France) in the northwest, Lombardy (Austria) in the northeast, Sardinia (Spain) in the western islands, and Naples in the south. “It is getting a bit crowded,” King Francis of Naples is alleged to have said upon hearing of the news. The Italian drama now continues, the future of the peninsula still uncertain due to the instability of the past few years.

Quebec Strikes North!
New World Realm Joins Prussian War Effort

(Source: Canadian Geographic)

   The Kingdom of Quebec watched European developments quite closely following the start of the Great Eastern War. King Louis-Henry had reasons to favor either side. While he naturally had a dynastic affinity for Prussia, home of his Hohenzollern cousins, he had also married his daughter Princess Charlotte of Quebec to Archduke Charles of Austria in 1836 and had two grandsons from that marriage, 2-year old Maximilian and 1-year-old Louis-Henry of Austria. Still, facing pressure from his citizens and having long sought-after territorial gains in North America, the King felt forced to act.
   Mustering small detachments, Quebec declared war on the Kingdom of Scandinavia and quickly moved to seize their sparsely inhabited and vast lands in the far north of the continent. Montreal had long desired to acquire the lands to the north of Hudson’s Bay, but Scandinavia had repeatedly insisted on not ceding more territory. With Stockholm committed to operations in Russia and Central Europe, a rare window had opened to take what the Quebecois saw as rightfully theirs. Resistance was quite limited as the territory was captured, the small indigenous population looking on as the soldiers scoured the empty region for any small enemy detachments. By June, with the sunlight stretching on almost endlessly, the region was finally secured in its entirety. Two casualties have been reported: one who caught frostbite and died and another Quebecois soldier who went missing, perhaps mauled by a polar bear.
   The diplomatic significance of this move is quite notable, especially in the Americas. Coupled with the twin commitments of France and Spain to protect Prussia’s colonies, the entry of Quebec into the broader conflict further strengthens that realm’s soft power in the region (though many British subjects in the northern colonies, suspicious of Quebec, have established pro-Austrian and Scandinavian sympathies). King Louis Henry, attempting to assuage the fury of Princess Charlotte in Vienna, has been quick to note repeatedly that he does not consider himself involved in the broader conflict, this being purely a fight between Quebec and Scandinavia.
   Although there is concern about a potential strike at Greenland in Stockolm, further operations this year seem unlikely, as the seasons begin to change once more. Still, even if Greenland (or Iceland for that matter) were lost, it’s generally accepted in Scandinavian circles that losing their miniscule population would make no larger difference in the massive conflagration raging across Russia and Germany. Many look on with great interest to see how the Scandinavians will respond to this opportunistic strike on their colonial empire

[Spamage]

1840 News of the World

The Dutch Affair: Fate of Amsterdam and Willemstad

(Source: Wikimedia)

Korea, Japan Strike South: OAKF Assaulted from All Sides!

  The OAKF found itself in a precarious position throughout 1840, beset by enemies on all sides. Their proud response to Korean demands spurred that realm to join the Japanese in a separate, but coordinated, strike on Dutch colonial holdings in the region. This alone would have been more than the Dutch could deal with, but a simultaneous French assault, coupled with internal indigenous rebellions, has brought the OAKF to its knees, only a few areas of the East Indies remaining in solid colonial control.
   Queen Regent Sunwon, in the name of her grandson, was judicious in cultivating alliances with some of the indigenous leaders throughout the East Indies. Although efforts were made to form an understanding with most potentates, the Sultans of Gowa and Tidore proved to be the strongest allies, calling their people to rebel against Dutch overlordship. Local leadership all throughout the islands believed there would be much more autonomy under the oversight of Joseon than the OAKF. Indeed, the push in Willemstad to further centralize authority over the past few years was evidence enough that the colonizers intended to depose local authorities. The Koreans had little difficulty sweeping Dutch shipping from the South China Sea, especially given Japanese cooperation and a new experimental ship design seeking to employ metal in a defensive capacity.
   There would be two Korean landings, one in western Borneo and a second at Sulawesi. Although the Sultan of Pontianak had been deposed shortly after the OAKF had formed, some of his family remained in the area. A young nephew was found, named as regent, swore suzerainty to Joseon, and aided the Koreans in expelling the Dutch from Borneo. Local Dutch officials, seeing just as much discontent on their eastern holdings on the island, elected to withdraw to Java. By the end of the year former Dutch Borneo now stood securely in Korean hands. The second Korean landing at Sulawesi proved quite uneventful, the Dutch garrisons having withdrawn from the island when news of the impending Japanese push south had arrived. As such, there proved little obstacles for the Sultan of Gowa to reclaim control over the entirety of the island. With the revolt in Tidore commencing shortly after news of the Korean arrival, most of the northern East Indies islands sit firmly in Korean control, the Dutch electing to defend New Holland, Java, and Sumatra over more distant territories.
   The Japanese continued their drive into the Philippines, capturing the remaining islands by midyear. From there the Shogunate elected to continue military operations further south, launching preliminary raids on Papua New Guinea and some outlying islands. Unlike the Koreans, the Japanese have been far less willing to cooperate with existing local officials, who have been dubbed “collaborators” and often imprisoned or executed. Instead, the government in Edo has focused on cultivating new elites, often working with peasants or tribal leaders rather than indigenous officials that have cooperated with the OAKF in the past. This move south into the East Indies has been coupled by a secondary push further east into the Pacific, the Japanese occupying many small islands to their southwest, along the lines of what their Korean allies did the year prior.
   The third strike against the Dutch, who had by now clearly seen they were outmatched, came from Siam and Johore. The King of Siam had been granted an alliance and an ample supply of weapons by Marie Fernandina in far-off Paris. Confident in his skills, especially given the chaos throughout the island chain, he launched an aggressive strike south into Dutch Malaya. As was expected, the few Dutch on the island quickly fled rather than face capture, but the locals seemed surprisingly noncommittal, having no great love for the Siamese. It was at this juncture the Sultan of Johore, seeing potential encirclement by a larger power as a real possibility, struck at the dying colonial empire as well, determined to get his share. He managed to seize much of western Malaya, while the Siamese occupy the east. All of this turmoil has meant massive waves of refugees have flooded Ottoman Singapore, creating extreme tension in the city as the overwhelmed and overworked Ottoman colonial officials find themselves without enough provisions to house everyone.
   The final blow to the Dutch colonial empire came from French India. In mid-July Willemstad was alerted to reports that the French had landed on Ceylon, shelled Colombo, and shocked the OAKF officials into surrender in mere weeks, small resistance in the inland continuing for a month at most. A second, more ambitious French effort was launched against Sumatra, the landing spreading the unrest that already existed elsewhere. The Sultan of Aceh, having been provided with weapons by the Koreans in order to defend his independence, elected to use his military in an offensive capacity as well, rushing south. There were several clashes with the French, who remained between Aceh and the remaining Dutch forts on the island, ensuring that the Sultan of Aceh maintained broad control over northern Sumatra by year’s end. The French occupy the middle portion of the island, while the Dutch retain their holdings in the south at Palembang.
   The OAKF faces enemies on all sides, now even the benign British coming under suspicion based on their participation in the invasion of the Netherlands. Yet, it has lost no battles on the field, withdrawing in order to consolidate manpower and be better prepared for follow-up offensives in 1841. Still, the government in Willemstad has indicated it is willing to negotiate with any other power willing to listen, desperation emerging as the Korean fleet has made communications and supply between some Dutch positions quite a nightmare.

Brutal Destruction of the Netherlands

  Marie Fernandina had had enough. No longer willing to tolerate the continued resistance of the Netherlands, more than 350k French soldiers were funneled north, aiming to put an end to that small realm’s illusions of grandeur once and for all. The Dutch, who remained determined to resist, could simply not match the sheer numerical strength of the French, though that did not mean they surrendered. The brutal fighting continued, ravaging the Dutch countryside even worse than the events in Flanders just a few years ago. Marie Fernandina was condemned as a butcher in Amsterdam, being burned in effigy, but her determination yielded gains. Arnhem fell on June 5th, Apeldoorn on July 2nd. To the north, the British landed their men as had been ordered the previous year, aiding the Prussians in Groningen. The northern regions of the realm were taken with ease, Zwolle, Assen, and Leeuwarden falling to the British occupation.
   The true prizes: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Hague remained elusive throughout the early summer. As the war in the inundated farmlands began to turn south for the Dutch, the situation in the cities grew more desperate. Barricades were erected, the royal family moved into hiding, and all hands mobilizing for a desperate defense. The French soldiers smashed into Rotterdam on August 30th, decimating the city to ruins but becoming controllers of the wreckage. They moved west, seizing the Hague on September 17th. Finally, at long last, they moved towards Amsterdam. The capitol was captured after weeks of brutal building-to-building fighting. The Dutch ships at bay were set aflame by the infuriated Netherlanders, rather then letting them fall into the hands of the enemy. Unfortunately, or perhaps deliberately, in the mayhem these flames seem to have spread, lighting much of the city aflame as the battle continued to rage, leaving the once-proud metropolis a burnt-out ruin. The result was clear enough by November. On November 9th, 1840 the last remnants of the military junta surrendered in Amsterdam. King William III, his father King William II, and the remnants of the government were arrested at Hoorn. The Dutch have been defeated in Europe once more, now awaiting judgement at the hands of the victors. There is no question now that the realm has been set back decades by the events of 1840. Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands have died in the direct fighting and the ensuing famine caused by the breaking of the dikes. The nascent Dutch industrial capacity is in ruins. The Dutch monarchy has only been tarnished by the events of the previous few years, bitter factionalism continuing between William II and William III. Yet, even with the collapse of the military junta at home, that did not mean that Willemstad, on the other side of the world, would give up the struggle for its view of a Dutch future.

Continued Fighting in North America, Quebec & New England Join the Fray!
Charles III is Dead!

(Source: Wikimedia)

Death of Charles III

  London was aghast at reports in April 1840 that a group of Irish partisans had tried to assassinate King Charles III, a bomb being thrown at his carriage as he traversed London. Two horses were killed, the porter gravely wounded, but miraculously the 80-year-old monarch appeared unharmed, issuing a tirade at the would-be assassins as local police and soldiers rushed to apprehend the small cabal of idealists. For the next few days, the King seemed flustered, if nothing else. Issuing a statement praising the status quo in Ireland and lauding the heroism of those who had come to the aid, it seemed little more would come of the situation. After all, during the last 19 years of his reign, there had been other attempts at the life of the King, though none had come quite so close before.
   Yet, clearly the incident was one of great stress for the King. On the morning of May 11th, 1840, his servants entered his chamber after he did not rise at his usual time. They found the King conscious, but unresponsive on his bed. He had suffered a stroke. Unable to articulate himself, Charles III appeared in a state of great distress. His physicians rushed to Buckingham Palace, quickly concluding that the incident would likely be fatal. Henry, the Prince of Wales was named Regent by Parliament, though he would not keep this position for long. On May 17th, 1840, Charles III of Hanover, King of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas passed away. Henry was quickly named Henry IX of Britain, his coronation scheduled for early 1841.
   The death of the King could not have come at a worse moment. The war in North America remains inconclusive, the prospect of it expanding yet further now seeming increasingly likely. As had happened in Spain, there are some in Britain who are growing tired of the war, including Henry IX, potentially opening the way to a compromise peace. Elections had been scheduled for late 1840 in line with Charles III’s promise the previous year, but all of the major political parties agreed to postpone them until 1841.
   In Ireland the reaction was one of confusion and unease. All mainstream political leaders came out against the act of the Irish radicals, who claimed to have been in the pocket of a foreign power, though they were executed once it was clear that no further evidence could be obtained. Charles III was legitimately mourned, having been a crucial actor in getting his father to embrace Catholic Emancipation in the 1780s. Yet, that did not mean there was not any scattered celebrations. Catholic Republican pamphlets were confiscated in Limerick and Cork, condemning the “apostate King Charles” to “eternal damnation at the hands of Lucifer.” Some paranoid British newspapermen have speculated Catholic Republicans connected to risings elsewhere in Europe and further afield, perhaps even the same terrorist cells that assassinated Frederick III of Prussia, could have been the foreign interferer, though this has been deemed unlikely by investigators.

War in the North

  New England had long had a substantial nativist faction in regional politics, the high rate of immigration to that Confederation in its early years having undermined the social cohesion and driven many of the established families away from the Confederation’s early policies. Although many suspected the British had played a major role in supporting this group financially, it definitely took on a life of its own. In particular, many nativist leaders feared that the Confederation was losing its “English and Protestant” identity, in the wake of influxes of Catholics from Ireland, Italy, and Germany. The failure to push through his constitutional reforms had led to the ousting of Chairman John Quincy Adams in 1839, who was replaced by Daniel Webster of Massachusetts.
   It was in this fraught political environment local leaders looked on with terror at the Catholic Francophone successes all across the continent. A thwarted terror attack by Louisianans in Boston had alienated any sympathy for them in their fight against the British. Quebec had seized thousands of square kilometers to the north with impunity. Louisiana had forced the southerners to bend the knee to King Louis-Philippe. This was bad enough, let alone the fact that the Louisianans and Southerners were fighting to preserve slavery, an institution reviled in the Confederation. Thus, when word began to spread among the hawks that Quebec was growing in both population and territory at an alarming rate, and would pass New England in the coming decades unless something was done, Boston was spurred to action. In a mood of fury and jingoism a declaration of war was issued against Quebec, New Englander strike forces crossing through the forests north.
   Quebec was not caught entirely off-guard. Montreal had long influenced their much larger neighbor to the south, largely being the reason New England had secured independence in the first place. The nativist, jingoistic turn of that realm was seen as lamentable by many at the court of King Louis-Henry, but that did not eliminate the desire of the Quebecois to defend themselves. They too moved south, aiming to block the advance into their realm before too much land was lost.
   Although the battles in this theater were smaller than those of Europe or in the American South, they are no less consequential, perhaps determining which power will emerge as the demographic powerhouse in the region. The Battle of Saint-Alexandre, at the head of the New Englander drive towards Montreal, was a decisive victory for Quebec, the assault being repulsed and the outnumbered New Englanders forced back in a hurried and disorganized retreat, harried all the way to the border. It was here that two major factors in the conflict became evident: Quebec’s superior experience from engagements on their frontiers and advisory expeditions abroad and the numerical advantage of the northern Kingdom, despite their smaller population. The very nativist sentiments that had spurred the call to war in Boston also undermined the early war effort, many immigrants having a hard time justifying fighting for a power that rejected their basic nationality or religion. As a result, recruitment has suffered. The second New Englander strike towards New Brunswick did make modest gains, but that was more as the result of a lack of Quebecois soldiers than from any innate capability. As 1841 approaches, there are some who fear that New England could become the battlefield unless British and Scandinavian promised aid materializes.
   Despite the attack by New England Quebec determined that it could maintain multiple operations at once, sending a small force northeast and quickly knocking out the almost-nonexistent Scandinavian defenses at Greenland. The vast island with its miniscule population has become yet another far northern territory that has changed hands in the early day of this northern fight. It is hoped in Montreal that the possession of Greenland will allow the Quebecois navy to head off any attempt by the European powers to cross the Atlantic via a northern route.
   Well-aware of the British sympathies for New England, this has, as a consequence, drifted Quebec’s sympathies towards Louisiana. When requests from New Orleans arrived, asking for raids into the British colonies across their long border, the infuriated government of King Louis-Henry was eager to answer the call. British frontier towns have been raided either by the Quebecois themselves of their native allies. A rapid strike along Lake Superior has also led to the occupation of some British frontier forts in the region. Though both London and Montreal maintain that their two realms remain at peace, hostility has been increasingly daily. It is feared by some that the war in North America will turn into a direct fight between the French and English speakers on the continent, though this conflict holds the promise of being far deadlier than earlier colonial struggles of a similar sort in the 1700s.

War in the South

  On the ground the war in the American South continued to rage throughout the entire year of 1840. An attempt to move the 9,000-man Louisianan Army of the North towards Nashville was repulsed by a vigorous defense from the 39,000 strong British Army of Tennessee. King Louis-Philippe was more successful further to the east. A lightning strike by the Army of Florida repulsed the British from Charleston, the initial southern capitol changing hands yet again as the conflict see-saws in the region. What followed, in the wake of the retreat of the British armies in the region, was the recapture of much of South Carolina, a tremendous morale-booster for the Louisianans and their southern allies.  
   As the British retreated from South Carolina, they continued to be pursued in a second Louisianan drive north, aiming at North Carolina. It was a bloody slog, the British standing firm for several weeks in mid-June, only forced back when news arrived that southern civilian cavalry raiders threatened their supply lines. Withdrawing towards the coast, where the British navy provided ample protection, there were modest Louisianan gains here as well, though not so dramatic as in South Carolina.
   Further to the west, the British Armies of Cumberland and Missouri coordinated their efforts, deciding to launch an offensive south down the Mississippi River. Memphis and Forest City have been seized, potentially opening the door to further gains downriver, though local Louisianan soldiers have prepared a vigorous defense should the situation come to that.
   Following Quebecois coordination with the Louisianans, their combined forces were able to make short work of the surviving Sioux state in the far north, the last indigenous soldiers surrendering late in the year, in a major humiliation for London. With their collapse, there are many who fear that the British colonies in the Old Northwest may be vulnerable in the coming year and as a result London has been forced to divert some men to the region, not an exciting prospect given the demand for them further to the south.

[Spamage]

Blood on the Water: Brazil’s Brutal Executions of Counter-Revolutionaries!

(Source: Wikimedia)

End of the Civil Conflict and Catholic Republican Expansion

   The prospects for the Recife rebellion were grim at the start of 1840 and they did not improve over the course of the year. The numerical advantage of the Catholic Republicans was coupled with a greater degree of zealousness and improved supplies. The shattered remnants of the rebel cause were wiped up all throughout the beginning of the year, the last pockets in isolated jungle giving up the fight and surrendering in May. Peace, at last, had come to Brazil.
   Alongside the conclusion of the Brazilian Civil War, the treaty with Prussia ended that realm’s colonial presence to the north. At the same time, Brazil’s ally Paraguay undertook a brutal path of conquest south, beating back the indigenous inhabitants of Patagonia and securing the Catholic Republican claim to the region. Though Spain holds nearby Cape Horn, which was seized from Quebec in order to better facilitate trade between Peru, Brazil, and Iberia, there has been little objection to the pacification of Patagonia from Madrid. Now, what followed? That would be a different matter…

Execution of Justice

   Brazil would never be the same. This was demonstrated in a brutal but dramatic fashion on the coast of Lake Nicaragua. A group of foreign dignitaries, Brazilian officials, clergy, and journalists had been ordered to visit the remote region by the Archbishop-President himself, who remained in far-off Sao Paulo. The purpose was not immediately clear.
   General de Rosas, the onetime leader of La Plata and the symbol of resistance to Catholic Republicanism was brought out from a tent. The man was emaciated and dressed in rags, the year or so of captivity having not been kind to him. Tied to him, in a row, were the most prominent leaders of the Recife faction in the recently concluded Brazilian Civil War. It was immediately apparent that this was to be an execution, though no gallows were in sight.
   Instead the men were led to the shore, pushed down the dock by Brazilian soldiers armed with bayonets. There was widespread confusion among the dignitaries, who were still not certain what was happening. Did they mean to drown them? The men themselves did not seem to understand what was exactly happening. A priest approached, beseeching them to embrace God and renounce the twin evils of monarchism and liberalism, to which de Rosas responded by spitting in his face. “Your God is not real, father. And if he is I’d much rather face him then your lot,” he is alleged to have said.
   The method was demonstrated just seconds later. De Rosas was pushed into the water, swimming and thrashing about. Was he going to escape? What followed was a brutal scream from the general as he was dragged underwater, surfaced again screaming in agony, and then was silent. Bits of de Rosas floated to the surface, blood spreading. Sharks. One by one the other men were pushed to their death; the sharks having been starved for this very moment. Those who tried to swim ashore were shot in their arms or legs, the fresh blood drawing in more of the predators. The observers were aghast as the Brazilian officials looked on stone-faced, until the screams fell silent and a tense silence emerged. Many, including some of the soldiers, averted their eyes as the brutal execution was enacted.
   Perhaps there was no better way of terrifying compliance into the citizens of the People’s Republic, the journalists present reporting on the incident both within Brazil and abroad. A new order has been cemented, triumphant in the civil war and confident of itself at home. With the domestic issues settled, this sort of cruel justice may not remain confined to Brazil, as worried foreign ambassadors have reported to their capitols. Reactions abroad have been of universal disgust, though it’s widely understood that nothing can be done for the Brazilian people with so many fights elsewhere. They will have to be stoic in their fate.

A World Aflame: The Great Eastern War Expands Yet Further

(Source: Wikimedia)

The Unholy Truce

   There was astonishment in Cologne early in the year when Emperor Francis privately approached envoys of King William of Württemberg with a surprise offer. In exchange for a truce, perhaps as means of negotiating a long-term settlement in western Germany, the Austrians would withdraw from all land claimed by the Kingdom of the Rhine. Without shedding yet another drop of blood, Württemberg and the other occupied lands of the Holy Roman Empire such as Baden would be returned to his control. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Though he had been loosely cooperating with Prussia, the King of the Rhine truly held no affinity for the Hohenzollerns. He agreed quickly to the offer.
   In Vienna the news was met with shock, particularly among the exiled nobles. The Emperor’s nephew-in-law, the Duke of Baden, felt quite abandoned and he was not alone, the clergy of the Empire somewhat disappointed. Yet, what could they do? Among the Habsburg subjects in general, the agreement was accepted with a certain sort of pragmatism. Was it not better to make a truce or peace in the west if it led to the Prussians receiving their just desserts? With that in mind, the people watched as fighting turned to a theater it had thus far avoided: Brandenburg.

Clash of the Five Kings: Warfare Comes to Brandenburg

   The Habsburgs combined the armies of Württemberg and Italy, smashing north, led by Marshall Radetzky. The traitorous Saxon Princes, who had seceded from the Empire to join the German League after the Rhineland rose, were forced to flee terror in the face of the substantial Austrian army. With the capture of their lands the German League largely ceased to exist as an actual entity, all the members save for Prussia, Brunswick, and Hesse-Kassel occupied by the Rhenish, Scandinavians, or Habsburgs. The advance did not stop there. The deposed King of Saxony in tow, the Habsburgs crossed into his realm, retaking Dresden and placing Leipzig under siege. A mood of surprise spreading through the land, King Anthony of Saxony (also uncle to the Czarina Regent of Russia) was met with cheers as several thousand joined the Habsburg columns, now turning north towards Berlin. The success in the region was only slightly delayed when a crazed Italian soldier in the Austrian ranks sought to kill Radetsky, being shot down as he ran at the general with a knife and loaded pistol. He died before any further information could be garnered.
   Yet, the Habsburgs were not the only power interested in intervening in the region. Queen Regent Augusta and Czarina Regent Maria Augusta signed the Treaty of Konigsberg in January, committing the two realms to a coordinated war effort and united stand against their enemies. 50,000 Russians marched west under the command of Prince Menshikov, hoping to aid the Prussians in annihilating the Scandinavians. Marching via East Prussia, in an attempt to prevent the Scandinavians from reinforcing their men in Pomerania via the Baltic States (which proved to be a moot point given operations in Northern Russia), the Russians united with their Prussian allies at Schwedt. It was here news of the Austrian strike north first reached the two armies, who now had to decide what to do, with the Scandinavians outnumbered to the north, but the Austrians advancing on the lightly-defended Berlin to the south. They risked being caught in between if action was not taken, something the Scandinavians were clearly aware of, as their army started to move for the first time in months after the fall of Dresden.
   What followed was a week or so of frenetic military activity. The Scandinavians made a mad dash south, bypassing Berlin from the east in their haste to reach the Austrians. The Russo-Prussian Army that had been aiming to surround the Swedes in Pomerania, was alarmed by their sudden change of plans. Using the Prussian railways, this force sped west as well, forced to disembark at Potsdam due to sabotage of the railway further west. Embarking on foot, they arrived at Brandenburg just hours before the Scandinavians emerged from the north, unaware that the Prussians were already present. The combined Russo-Prussian force consisted of roughly 122,000 men (72k Prussians, 50k Russians). The Scandinavians had 88,000 soldiers, tired from their push south.
   The Battle of Brandenburg proved to be the climax of the year’s operations, occupying a similarly prominent role as the Battle of Sopron did for 1839. It too was a multi-day affair. On June 15th the Russo-Prussian Army battered the Swedes, who were determined to hold at all costs. The result was bloodshed, especially on the part of the Scandinavians. Over 20k Scandinavians lay killed or wounded at the end of the first day, but the line held. Cavalry held back repeated attempts by the allied Prussians and Russians to flank them.
   The second day continued much as the first, but the Prussians were actually forcing the invaders back out of their defensive positions. Here the fighting was more equally bloody between the two sides. Yet, this window of good fortune would come slamming shut, the Habsburg army from Saxony appearing to the south, having aimed to meet up with their allies at Brandenburg, but the Prussians had arrived first. The Austrian entrance into fighting threw the combat into chaos, proving particularly disastrous for the inexperienced Russians, who panicked and broke into a chaotic and messy retreat, their Prussian allies looking on in horror as they were decimated by cannon fire and ambushed from the Habsburgs. The combined weigh of the Austro-Saxon-Scandinavian forces was nearly double that of the Russo-Prussian forces. Recognizing this, the Prussians were forced to flee in humiliating fashion east, leaving thousands of men dead on the field.
   The Prussians fled west, bypassing Berlin and Potsdam. As they did so, a mood of terror descended on the city. The Queen regent and the young King were nowhere to be found (little did the people know that they had quietly relocated to a more secure location elsewhere in the realm). Thousands fled in the disorder, moving south into the Spreewald or east further towards Neumark. Die-hard royalists set up barricades and snipers patrolled the roof. It appeared the city would only come after a fight.
   And that is exactly what happened. From June 27th through July 2nd fighting occurred all throughout Berlin. While the level of resistance was by no means comparable to the Dutch in Amsterdam, it was a slow-going affair and the capitol of Prussia was only won block by block. The last soldiers and civilians surrendered in Charlottenburg Palace on July 4th. On July 7th, 1840, after great preparations, the Austrians and Scandinavians marched into Berlin for a victory parade. Crowds lined the streets of the capitol, women openly weeping as they watched the columns of soldiers move through their proud city. Never before had it been thought that the city of Frederick the Great and the Great Elector before him would sit in the hands of the two realms (Sweden and Austria) that had done so much to ravage the realm in the 30 Years War.
   This mournful, somber mood would turn, quickly, into resolute hatred. This was symbolized during the Victory Parade of Berlin when several officers were gunned down by Prussian civilians operating on the city’s rooftops. The Austrians would be mocked for the degree to which they sped up their parade once the first officer had fallen, practically dashing into the city center. News would follow in the coming weeks of small villages serving as havens for an impassioned resistance, partisans ravaging Austrian supply lines and killing Scandinavian stragglers. Bridges have been burned, messengers slaughtered, and the new telegraph lines toppled. Though they cannot triumph on the field, it seems the Prussian smallholders are determined to make the occupation of Brandenburg a miserable experience. This was hostile country, no doubt about that, resistance far stronger than anything observed in either Saxony or southern Germany.
   Still, the fall of Berlin is a major occurrence. Though the Prussians retain their armies in the field, albeit battered armies, the number of Russian dead in all of their many theaters combined is becoming a major cause of concern. Some have urged the Queen Regent in Breslau to make some sort of compromise peace. Others, seeing the fall of the Netherlands as fortuitous, would continue the struggle, perhaps as a means of drawing France in to maintain the old order.

Jelačić Affair and the Battle of Eckartsau

   General Jelačić, the Austro-Croatian commander who had preserved the situation in 1839, preventing the fall of Vienna, found himself embroiled in scandal early on in 1840. Rumor mills in his own army spoke of his fervent Croatian nationalism and his desire to see his homeland granted independent, constituent realm status alongside Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Ruthenia. This did not sit well, in particular, with the numerous Magyars under his command. When word spread the general was planning on using them as cannon fodder in a daring offensive against the Prussians, insubordination began to occur. Though the Emperor maintained his full confidence in General Jelačić, many of the lesser officers joined the men in deliberate acts of defiance, accusing the General of being a butcher, using the Battle of Sopron as evidence.
   When evidence arrived in Vienna that the general was plotting with the Prussians, in return for the promise of an independent Croatia, this pushed the general to his breaking-point. Going to Emperor Francis in person and issuing a vigorous and heated defense of himself and his motives, the “Hero of the Empire” Jelačić resigned his command claiming he had been framed in entirety and demanding an apology. Humiliated and jeered by some Hungarians as he packed up his things, he departed Vienna, determined to return to Zagreb. In the Austrian Army however, the Croatians defended their leader vigorously, there being several incidents of fist-fighting between Magyars and Croats.
   In his absence Alfred, the Prince of Windisch-Grätz was named as interim commander, not exactly possessing the same level of capability as his predecessor. Following the Emperor’s orders to a tee, when a contingent of the Prussian army seemed to be marching to Berlin, some 40,000 men were sent in order to shadow them. The aim of the Austrians in this theater was merely to hold the line while they made their play in the north. The bulk of the army was inactive, ensuring Vienna would be well-protected.
   These Habsburg soldiers (mostly Hungarian), led by the Prince of Windisch-Grätz, were marching into a trap unwittingly. The Prussians, deploying their superior firepower and reinforced numbers, launched a massive ambush on the 40k Austrians at the Battle of Eckartsau. The Habsburgs were confined to the banks of the Danube, gunfire seeming to be coming from all directions. It was a bloody rout, the smaller Habsburg force surrounded on all sides and brutally slaughtered, it was said that the water ran red that day as far down river as Prussian-held Pressburg. From their commander on down, this force was almost entirely annihilated, Windisch-Gratz falling from a bullet to the head late in the day. Victory in hand, but seeing the rest of the Habsburg forces still had not stirred themselves from Vienna, the Prussians moved north into Bohemia, determined to maintain their control over that constituent realm.
   This victory (coupled with reinforcements from Poland) has increased the Prussian numerical advantage in this region, though their size is by no means as decisive as the Scandinavian-Habsburg numbers in Berlin. Though the Battle of Eckartsau has given the Prussians a propaganda victory, and unnerved the Habsburgs who saw fighting just on the outskirts of the capital, their men slaughtered, Vienna still stands defiant. Even worse was the news that General Jelačić, upon hearing news of the defeat and a personal heartfelt message from Emperor Francis II, agreed to resume his post. Here he was welcomed as the savior of the cause, many of the men who had been defiant mere months ago chastened by the defeat of their comrades. It helped too that most of the men who had been slaughtered by the Prussians were the very defiant Hungarian corps who had opposed the general in the first place. Reassuming his command in November, he sits well-prepared to oppose any further Prussian offensive.

Siege and Struggle Hamburg

   The Prussian Army of East Frisia, upon hearing news that the British would in fact be fulfilling their obligations in the Netherlands, departed eastwards at great haste. Seeking to undo the reverses of the past year and eliminate their isolation, they conducted an aggressive push back towards Oldenburg and Hamburg. Oldenburg fell in quick fashion, the locals in the city rebelling and overwhelming the small Scandinavian garrison, allowing the Prussians to continue their advance. They made it to the gates of Hamburg by early July, just in time to hear news that Berlin had fallen and, despite their break out of the Netherlands, they were again isolated from the central government by foreign occupation. Though this was highly demoralizing, and some commanders feared the army would disintegrate, a siege was established outside of Hamburg. The sizeable Prussian force has continued to advance slowly into the region, having retaken Harburg, but has found the Elbe to be a formidable obstacle, the beefed-up Scandinavian garrisons in Schleswig-Holstein sending some moderate reinforcements to their comrades in the city and training their guns on the river to prevent any Prussian crossing. By December the siege of Hamburg continues, the proud port city hanging in the balance.

[Spamage]

Defeat of the Greeks and Balkan Happenings

   There was a window of hope in Greece early on in 1840. The Prussians had come to their aid the previous year, providing valuable military and expertise. They were followed by the arrival of 5,000 Spanish “volunteers” in February. Out of pure elation and thankfulness, the government in Athens elected to name Prince Jorge of Spain as King Georgios of Greece, though the would-be King remained in Madrid, eyeing the situation carefully from the safety of his nephew Philip VI’s court. This mood of joy only soared higher when word arrived that the Ottoman Crown Prince had fallen in during his campaigning in northern Greece, bedridden and on the verge of death for several months. Many in the Ottoman camp suspect dysentery from the lack of sanitary conditions. This is probably true, as several close retainers to the Prince fell ill as well, perhaps exposed to the same poor water. Regardless, with the Crown Prince immobilized, it was hoped in the Greek camp that great gains would be made, perhaps even the recapture of Thessalonica.
   What had not been counted on was the arrival of foreign forces to support the Ottomans. Both the Habsburg Monarchy and the Kingdom of Scandinavia withdrew men from their colonial territories or holdings on the Suez as the Prussians had, sending them to put down the rebels. Scandinavian aid in particular was quite substantial, numbering over 20k men. With the arrival of reinforcements, the tide in Greece turned against the rebels once more. On April 15th, 1840 a crushing defeat was inflicted on the Greek rebels at the Battle of Larissa. This was followed up with two more defeats in the coming weeks. The Battle of Lamia saw the retreating Greeks turn to face their pursuers in a desperate defense, hoping that friendly territory would allow for a victory. This was not to be, their forces pushed back towards Athens on April 30th. The Battle of Thiva on May 11th was a second attempt to prevent a siege of Athens. By now the numerical disparity had become so substantial there was little hope. After yet another defeat, the shattered Greek-Prussian force was made to flee to Athens, the rest of the countryside falling back into Ottoman hands.
   It did not help matters that the Greeks were divided from within. A deliberate strategy of cultivating support among the Orthodox clergy by the Ottomans clashed with Prussian attempts to get the clerics to recognize the Greeks as the legitimate Christian leaders. This resulted in the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicating all those priests and monks aiding the Greek rebels, who in turn elected their own Patriarch of Athens, denouncing the authority of the Ottoman-backed bishop in Constantinople. This schism played out in the Greek countryside, factions forming in villages in support of one side or the other, local priests being forced to choose. Most, especially after the defeat at Larissa, have backed Constantinople.
   The Austro-Scandinavian reinforcements demonstrated the Ottomans and their allies held naval superiority in the region. As a result, island by island has been brought back into the Ottoman orbit, the end of the year seeing sizeable chunks of the Peloponnese itself reclaimed, the exhausted and starving locals having given up hope that the Greek Rebellion will succeed. As of December, the embattled Greek commanders saw no other option than to surrender in exchange for Athens not being sacked. Any aid was too distant to materialize, even the Prussians and Spanish volunteers seeing no other option. Thus, 1840 has ended with the return of Greek lands to Ottoman control, three years after the start of the uprising. 
   There were fears throughout the early half of 1840 that the Orthodox and Slavic subjects of the Balkans would rise against the much-hated Ottomans. Indeed, there is ample evidence that organizing was taking place behind-the-scenes, the dissidents perhaps relying on the help of a foreign power. What proved to prevent these risings from materializing was the twin defeats of the Greek rebels at Larissa and the Russians in Ukraine. With those two forces, potential allies for any rising, now in tatters, it was unlikely too many people would be willing to sacrifice their lives, especially given the presence of a recently victorious three nation army.

Fight for the Mother and Motherland: Russian War Effort of 1840

   The Russian Empire found itself beset by foes in every direction at the start of the year. The Turkish tribes were in revolt to the south, the Ottomans sat in Astrakhan, their army in Transylvania had been annihilated, and the false government continued to sit in St. Petersburg tarnishing the House of Romanov through its radical proclamations. Czarina Regent Maria Augusta was determined to get ahold of the situation and stabilize the realm at all costs, fearing the possibility of total collapse should all efforts go south.
   The first order of business was the return of Grand Duke Peter, the Crown Prince, from Prussia. After a rapid and harrowing journey in disguise from Berlin to Warsaw, Warsaw to Minsk, and Minsk to Moscow, the heir to the throne arrived to cheering crowds and a rousing reception in Moscow. Though separated from his wife (Princess Charlotte of Prussia) and son (Grand Duke Ivan), Grand Duke Peter quickly assumed a leadership role in the government. By March, though Maria Augusta would retain broad influence, she had largely yielded most day-to-day operations to her son, who officially assumed the title of regent on behalf of his father. The “fake Alexander” again was denounced, the legitimacy of the government in St. Petersburg seen as next to nonexistent.
    The Army of Astrakhan was ordered south first and foremost, against the Turkish tribal rebels. This was done for two reasons: first, the new regent feared the prospect of extended warfare in the region should the rebels be allowed to establish themselves and second, the need for a land route to Persia was more pressing than ever, given their reentry into the war. A joint Kazakh-Uzbek army was crushed at the Battle of Urgench. The soldiers of Xinjiang meanwhile, aided with the recapture of land further to the east. By the end of the campaigning season in central Asia, Russia had largely quieted the Turks once more, the only remaining rebel faction being the Tajiks at Tashkent. Most of that land was held by the Durranis prior to the war, so there is little urgency in retaking it. The success against the Turks was widely praised throughout Russia, effectively shutting down one potential front in this massive struggle in its infancy.
   As a result of the push southwards, the Ottomans in Astrakhan were largely left to their own devices. Still wary of the Russian numerical advantage in the region, they took no offensive action. It was noted by foreign observers that they were particularly focused on fortifying their position, potentially indicating a future struggle for this important city in the coming year.
   The bulk of the Russo-Ottoman struggle would take place in Ukraine. The year opened with the Russians smashing into Crimea, seizing Kerch once and for all this time and putting an end, for now, to the Ottoman presence on the Crimean Peninsula. The Sultan was not going to take this defeat easily however, assembling roughly 200k men in the Balkans and pushing north into Moldavia towards Ukraine. The Russian commanders in the south desperately pleaded with Moscow to provide reinforcements, but the remainder of the raised 103k men had been either sent to Prussia (50k) or moved to bolster the Northern Army in the wake of a Scandinavian assault to the north, potentially threatening the capital. This meant the Southern Army was on its own. Ceding Ruthenia to the Poles for the time being, the Army of Poland joined with the Army of the South as the region readied itself for a fight. 200k Ottomans faced 150k Russians.
   The Ottomans had an easy time in Moldavia, capturing Chisinau in midsummer and continuing northeast into the vast steppe of Russia, hoping to seize Kiev and cripple the legitimacy of the Romanovs by doing so. The Russians were waiting. Leaving the Crimea almost immediately after the fall of Kerch, they positioned themselves at Pervomais’k. These two great foes, each claimant to the heir of Byzantium, engaged in a great battle on September 8th, 1840. Aided by the Cossacks and local support the Russians put up a valiant defense. Yet, the numbers were clearly not in their favor and the quality of their soldiers was somewhat low, especially compared to the Ottomans (who had seen action already in the Balkans, Transylvania, and Egypt). Little by little the Russian defense gave way, turning into a rout by midday. The Turks, victorious, have been presented with a dilemma. Though they have entered winter quarters for the time being, in 1841 they can march south and try to retake Crimea yet again, or potentially push north and take Kiev, which is where the Russians have sought to recover and regroup. Regardless, news of the defeat in the south raised significant alarm in Moscow, especially coming on the heels as it did of news of the fall of Berlin.
   The third major theater of Russian operations in 1840 was the north, where the Scandinavians sought to break the stalemate and march south towards Moscow. That Stockholm had not been counting on when assembling its battleplans was the fact that Grand Duke Peter had ordered most of his reinforcements to this area, determined to destroy the puppet government in St. Petersburg.
   The Scandinavian Army of Finland launched an attack on the Russian Army of the North in April. They had been expecting a force of roughly 119k. What they encountered was an army of 172k. What was supposed to be a feigned retreat by the 108k Scandinavians (including Russian rebel auxiliaries) turned into a genuine one, the Army of Finland seeking to escape the clutches of the Russians. A series of skirmishes resulted in high casualties on either side, but the real bloodletting came at Nevskaya. The other two Scandinavian armies in the region attempted to encircle the Russians. This seemed successful at first, the Russians being surrounded on three sides. Yet, the Russian commanders simply ordered aggressive charges into the Army of Lagoda which was overwhelmed and shattered. Then, the turned on the Army of the Baltic. Here, the Scandinavians held, but took substantial losses in their defense. Finally, the Russians pushed north against their original foes, the Army of Finland. The Scandinavian leaders, led by General Christian de Meza, determined that they were losing too many men and would soon be unable to successfully withdraw from the region. After the battle, some evidence has emerged that portions of the Russian auxiliary army had deserted, some noting with dread that the force may have been infiltrated with pro-Muscovite Russians.
   With their defeat in mind, Scandinavian forces began an organized retreat back towards St. Petersburg, where they prepared a defense and reassessed their position. Following up on their victory, the Russians have retaken both Pskov and Novgorod, eliminating, for the time being at least, any direct threats to Moscow from the north. Though the Scandinavians have retained control over the Baltic, it is feared that without any sort of new strategy, the Baltic provinces could be shorn from their rule in the coming year.
   The victories in Turkestan and Northern Russia may have been much-needed, but some fear it may not be enough. The loss of a good portion of Ukraine is particularly threatening for the regency. Kiev stands vulnerable, as a sizable portion of the Russian breadbasket sits under Ottoman occupation. Some fear that a determined Turkish drive north could even threaten Moscow, a prospect believed to be unthinkable mere years ago. Though the Russian Empire retains a sizeable land force, the growing losses have been a cause for concern, given their enemies have whittled away their numerical superiority. As the Xing have continued to make further gains in the Far East, there is also growing panic in the Russian General’s staff about the prospect of that dynasty striking north into Mongolia, which they still claim. Some wonder is Grand Duke Peter will be able to turn the tide of this wretched conflict, the outlook seeming quite bleak.

The Persian Campaigns

   The Qajars, flush with victory after 1839 were determined to expand their gains in the region, continuing with dramatic offensives aimed at destroying Ottoman hegemony in the Near East. At the same time, the outraged Durrani rebuffed efforts by the Shah to create peace between their two realms, determined to finish the war that the Persians had started.
   The first major Persian offensive was a strike northeast, the Army located at Lake Van aiming to capture Trabzon and cut the Ottoman territories in half. The Persians faced the Tunisian-Arab Army, sent to slow their advance, at very least, the Persians outnumbering them 45k to 34k. The Armenians proved to be particularly uninterested in the conflict as it spread through their homeland, indifferent to either side and more focused on protecting their local cities and villages. Though transgressions by either side were punished by local guerrilla fighters, they would remain on the sidelines as the two armies did battle at Erzurum. The Ottoman forces were defeated, but it came at a heavy cost for both sides. Furthermore, it cost the Persians one of their most valuable resources in their dash towards Trabzon: time. At year’s end they sit close to the Black Sea, but have been unable to reach it. Even so, much of Armenia now sits in Qajar hands, the region seeming to pass from one power to another as it has done numerous times throughout its history. What remains of the Ottoman Arab-Tunisian Army has fled west.
   The Ottomans sent other reinforcements to protect northern Mesopotamia, where the Persians aimed to seize Mosul. Here, they held the numerical advantage, 60k to 49k. Yet, the demands of rapidly relocating so many soldiers had tired the men. At the Battle of Samarra, the Ottomans were unable to seize what they hoped would be a decisive victory, the stalemate sending the Qajars back to Baghdad, but only nominal amounts of territory changing hands over the course of the year.
   Turning the conflict into a sectarian war may have mobilized Shi’ite’s throughout the Ottoman territories, but any increase in zealous support was undermined by the Sunni nature of the vast majority of Ottoman Muslims, both the Turks and the Arabs. Fighting would occur on the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian allies driving south towards Qatar and capturing the region, enough of a success to spur the Sultan of Oman to launch a small strike into Yemen. Though they have no great love for the Shi’ites in Persia or the Sunnis in Turkey, the Ibadi Omani have seen the potential gains allowed by the lightening of Ottoman garrisons and the fighting elsewhere. Unfortunately, though he made gains, the Sultan of Oman found that the Shi’ites in Yemen were just as zealous as their Arabian brother to the north. His gains have been undercut by pro-Persian risings in the region, meaning three factions (Omani, Ottoman, Yemeni-Persian) vie for control of this potentially vital outpost. Some wonder if the Ottomans will be forced to employ their European allies to staunch the territorial losses here. The Sharif of Mecca, eager to undercut a potential rival for Shi’ite authority in Persia, has already appealed for aid, noting his troops are not sufficient to maintain the situation.
   Further to the east, the Durrani fight has become a debacle for the Persians. Though no offensive operation was undertaken by either side, the hostility of the government in Kabul has forced the Persians to keep men in the region at the time when some in the military would have them moved to the Mesopotamian front.

Polish Debacle & Warsaw Insurrection

   News of the fall of Berlin sent a ripple throughout the Polish Republic. Their benefactress Queen Regent Augusta looked weakened and, while Radziwill and the military remained loyal in their totality to Augusta in Breslau, there were new subversive elements emerging in Warsaw, aided and abetted by foreign spies and military supplies. Matters came to a head on October 12th in Warsaw, an organized Catholic Republican attempt at a coup launching inside the nascent republic. Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki, a Polish general and rival of Radziwill, seized the role of leader in the Warsaw Insurrection. It became almost immediately apparent that Brazil had provided funds for this movement. Defecting from their loyalty to Radziwill, several fanatic battalions of soldiers (veterans of Plater’s movement absorbed into the larger Polish nationalist cause) proclaimed a rebirth of the Catholic Republic of Poland.
   The Warsaw insurrection was coupled with a simultaneous attempt to assassinate Radziwill, one which failed but has been blamed on Brazil. This threat on his life, coupled with treachery at the moment when Poland was the most secure it had been in decades, enraged the commander. Leading his 30,000 men back to Warsaw, the Polish capitol was placed under siege before the rebels could extend their tendrils into the countryside. Radziwill has demanded the head of Skrzynecki as a precondition to pardoning the defenders, who have naturally demurred. It is expected that 1841 will either bring famine and starvation or bloody revolutionary fighting to the streets of Warsaw.

Naples Looks South

   King Francis of Naples had long established his reputation as a pragmatist. His strike at the Papal States, and then further into Habsburg Austria, was a bold move. Though he failed in uniting Italy, making a convenient peace with Vienna had allowed him to secure recognition of his territorial gains and establish friendly buffer states to the north. That region was now secure, and the King demonstrated little inclination for reopening hostilities, despite the demands from the militarists in Naples.
   No, instead Francis looked south, and was pleased with what he saw. The Ottomans, in order to bolster their war effort against the Persians and Arab Shi’ite rebels had called on the armies of their satellite states in Tunis and Arabia. What the King of Naples saw was a lightly defended, remote, Tunis to his south, one the Ottomans would be unlikely to defend given their extended engagements against the Russians and Persians. Steadfastly proclaiming his continued adherence to peace with Vienna, the Neapolitan Navy and Army launched coordinated strikes against the isolated Beylik of Tunis.
   Tunis awoke on the morning of September 7th, 1840 to shellfire raining down on the city. Hours later the walls were breached, the lightened garrison unable to repel the advance of the seasoned Neapolitan soldiers. In mere hours the palace was breached and the Bey of Tunis arrested, being shipped to Taranto. A simultaneous strike was launched at Djerba, which likewise surrendered in quick fashion. With the realm undermanned, the leadership in Neapolitan custody, and Ottoman soldiers thousands of miles away, the people had little will to fight. By mid-December the last feeble pockets of resistance in the desert surrendered, Naples establishing the “Principality of Carthage” in Tunis. The Muslims have been granted freedom of worship and initial tax relief while the new colonial administration is being established. The seizure of Tunis has overshadowed a simultaneous “assertion of sovereignty” over the Knight’s of St. John on Malta, who saw no choice but to surrender their independence to Naples in return for retaining localized control of the island.
   The gains of Tunis and Malta have truly expanded the Neapolitan power in the Mediterranean Sea, their possession of the straights around Sicily essentially ensuring that they can cut the eastern from the western half should they so desire. Francis contends that he has no hostile intentions to either the Austrians or the Ottomans, pointing out the numerous instances of Tunisian piracy over the past few centuries as justification enough for his actions. Many in Istanbul see the loss as lamentable, but feel as though little can be done. Tunis was a peripheral holding, at best, and the heartland of the Empire is already under threat from other foes. With Naples already offering economic aid to Istanbul in return for recognition of the seizure of Tunisia, some at the Sultan’s court would accept, though no official word has been issued by the Turkish leadership.

[Spamage]

War on the Seas

   1840 would see the Great Eastern War descend upon the sea as well as the land. All across the globe decisive naval engagements would occur, each faction seeking to prevent the other from maintaining supply and communication via the sea. The various innovations put on display have demonstrated clearly that the old style of naval warfare in increasingly archaic, new ship designs and naval tactics being required for a changing age.
   The Ottomans focused their naval efforts on two regions. As was previously discussed, their presence in the Mediterranean successfully blockaded the Greek Rebellion and forced the hopelessly exposed islands, and then Athens itself, to surrender. Most of their ships were elsewhere though, the primary focus of the Turks being naval operations in the Persian Gulf. Joined by the Durrani, the small Persian fleet was quickly swatted aside, utterly obliterated in the face of overwhelming Ottoman numbers and superior equipment. What has followed is a substantial blockade of Persia. Though that realm has had limited international trade since the start of the Persian Civil War seven years ago, in such dire circumstances every development can prove dire.
   The Scandinavians undertook offensive naval operations in the Baltic Sea, hoping total control over the waters would eliminate the Prussian will to fight on. The Battle of Danzig occurred on May 7th, 1840. The Scandinavian fleet, which possessed slight numerical strength over the combined Prussian and Russian fleets aggressively engaged those two adversaries. The Scandinavians deliberately pushed themselves into a risky position, between the Prussian and Russian fleets. Though this meant they were taking fire from both sides, it also ensured the allies found themselves unable to coordinate. As the hours wore on, ships sinking on both sides, it became clear that the Russians were unable to hold their fleet together, some ships even falling into Scandinavian hands. Recognizing their allies had lost, but determined to not follow, the Prussians deployed their trump card. In what was made to look like a retreat, the Prussian ships turned back towards Danzig, seeking the safety of the harbor. The Swedes, flush with victory and their blood running high gave a brief pursuit. Then it started. Explosions emerged from the water, damaging the hulls of one Swedish vessel after another. Roughly a dozen Scandinavian ships were severely damaged before the mining of the water became evident, command ordering a sudden turn and flight back north. As water flooded, the Scandinavians eventually lost 7 ships, putting a dent in their naval strength on the Baltic. Still, with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet, which was doomed in the eyes of many from the moment St. Petersburg fell, the Scandinavians retain a slight naval advantage on the Baltic Sea.
   The Austrians conducted a daring relocation of their fleet throughout 1840, anticipating that the Prussian navy would return to Europe following the conclusion of the Brazilian blockade. Although there were initial plans to base in the Netherlands and surprise any returning vessels, these were shelved once it became clear that Britain would, in fact, be intervening in Dutch affairs. Thus, the Austrians moved towards Scandinavian Jutland, docking at friendly ports. Unfortunately for them, the Prussian navy had not been recalled to Europe, relocating to the newly-purchased Prussian territories in the Caribbean or South Africa instead. The Austrian fleet sat idle for most of the year, even if its presence at Jutland has added an extra layer of security to the straights and ensured the Austro-Scandinavian alliance possesses total control over passage in and out of the Baltic Sea.

Attempted Coup in Istanbul

   Without any concrete effort to crack down on misinformation and espionage in Istanbul, 1840 would see similar paranoia spread throughout the city as during the previous year. With news of the Crown’s Prince’s illness in Greece, the matter of the succession was particularly awkward. As stories emerged from the palace alleging that Prince Mahmud, the younger brother of the sultan, would be executed in order to protect the claim of the Sultan’s younger children, paranoia gripped the royal family. Following a bizarre visit by Mahmud, where the prince begged his brother to spare his life, Sultan Mustafa explicitly promised him that the whispers were all hearsay and utterly untrue. Yet, as Mahmud departed the palace, moving through the streets of Istanbul, he was set upon by what appeared to be a group of soldiers. Denouncing him as disloyal to his brother and a stain on the House of Osman, Prince Mahmud was gunned down in full-view of the public. Dying slowly, he spent his last words cursing his brother and blaming the scheming of the city for his death. There was a series of explosions throughout the city in the following hours, throwing the civilians into chaos as it was unclear what was happening, though some suspected a palace coup was afoot. An angry mob, mourning the death of Mahmud, formed in the city center and aimed to storm the palace, but a combination of the increased Ottoman garrison in the city and local police forces were able to successfully divert them. The murder of the Sultan’s brother has come as a major blow to Mustafa IV’s popularity, Mahmud having cultivated a cosmopolitan and tolerant image in the city. Though the palace has condemned his death as a cold-blooded murder, perhaps by zealous Turkish nationalists acting extra-judiciously, that has not been enough to sponge the popular perception of the Sultan’s guilt. The idea of soldiers acting outside of the chain-of-command is also a concerning development, and could very well backfire unless proper discipline is brought to the men.

[Spamage]

Age of Steam And Steel

Turn 7: 1841

(Source: Self-Made)

Nations, Leaders, and Players

Kingdom of France: Queen Regent Marie Fernandina d'Berry Bourbon (Windjammer)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: King Henry IX of Hanover
Ottoman Empire: Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu (Kingpoleon)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King Frederick VI Oldenburg & Queen Catherine of Holstein-Gottorp (Ypestis)
Russian Empire: Crown Prince Regent Peter Petrovich Romanov
Kingdom of Prussia: Queen Regent Augusta Wittelsbach (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Bishop-President Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis II Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Joseon Korea: Queen Regent Sunwon (True Federalist)

Economic Standing:

Joseon Korea: Strong
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Moderate
Russian Empire: Moderate
Divine Republic of Brazil: Moderate
Kingdom of France: Moderate
Ottoman Empire: Weak
Qajar Persia: Weak
Xing Dynasty: Weak
Kingdom of Louisiana: Weak
Kingdom of Prussia: Very Weak
Habsburg Monarchy: Very Weak

Popularity:

King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: High
Queen Regent Sunwon: High
Queen Regent Marie Fernandina Bourbon: High
Emperor Francis II Habsburg: Moderate
King Francis I Bourbon: Moderate
Queen Regent Augusta of Prussia: Moderate
Crown Prince Regent Peter Petrovich Romanov: Moderate
Mohammad Shah Qajar: Moderate
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: Moderate
King Henry IX of Britain: Moderate
Bishop-President Joaquim Gonçalves de Andrade: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: Low

Current Global Conflicts:

War of Reunion: Qing Dynasty, Tibet vs. Hui Clique, Miao Clique (1839-)
American War of Secession: United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas vs. Kingdom of Louisiana, American League (1837-)
War of the Northeast: Confederation of New England vs. Kingdom of Quebec (1840-)
Japanese-Dutch War: Tokugawa Shogunate, Joseon Korea, Xing Dynasty, Kingdom of Spain vs. East Asian Colonial Federation (1836-)
Great Eastern War: Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia, Qajar Persia, Polish Rebels, Sultanate of Oman, Arab Rebels vs. Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of Scandinavia, Durrani Empire, Catholic Republican Poland (1838-)

(Source: Self-Made)

Kingdom of France:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Marie Fernandina won public approval early in 1840 when she agreed to call an election. This was undercut, to some degree, by the simultaneous announcement that both republican and separatist parties would be excluded from the vote. While the majority of the voters accepted and, often, supported the move, it ensured turnout would be abysmal in Flanders and several major urban areas. Still, many socialists publicly praised the Crown for allowing them participate, perhaps moderating them for the time being. In the aftermath of years governing together under the Sacred Union, many of the established French political parties found that there was almost as much division within themselves as there was between the separate parties themselves. This splintered the French political movements into many diverse groups, a development leading to political realignment in France. Adolphe Thiers led the New Liberal Party, where the mainstream of his support in that group went. More left-wing liberals, advocating for decreased royal power, continuation of the Silent Revolution, and anti-colonialism were led by Odilon Barrot in the Party of Freedom. General Bugeaud, recovering from his wounds sustained in the Netherlands, nonetheless became the natural leader of the French National Party, backing nationalism and the Crown, in addition to some economic reforms. The Party of the Crown and Cross was a new Integralist faction in France, skirting the bans on the other left-wing radical parties. They cooperated closely with the Party of the Sword, the noble-backed reactionaries. Finally, the conservatives backed Auguste Casimir-Perier. The results were as follows: 81 New Liberal Party, 80 Conservative Party, 38 Party of Freedom, 38 Socialist Party of France, 36 French National Party, 21 Party of the Crown and Cross, 7 Party of the Sword. The outcome was seen as a victory for Thiers, who has established a government consisting of 155 representatives (New Liberals, Party of Freedom, French Nationalist Party). The Conservatives were still tainted by the scandals later in the reign of Louis XVIII. Does the Crown accept these results, and what will be the initiatives for the new government? Furthermore, what is to be done about the diverging political views of the Padanian Assembly (center-right) and the French assembly (center-left)?

-The Padanian government has been assembled under the leadership of Cesare Balbo of the Conservative Party, who was officially proclaimed the Royal Chancellor of Padania. In line with tacit royal approval, a center-right government has formed, this being possible in particular due to the widespread support for the Crown from the independents. Indeed, the current governing coalition consists of: 90 conservatives, 19 independents, 12 separatists, and 11 regionalists, for a majority of 132. Gabrio Casati leads the opposition from the Liberal Party with its 63 seats. Yet, having a coalition of so many parties does mean that there are demands being made, however infeasible they may seem. The separatists are already pushing for a constitutional decree pledging to separate France and Padania once a King has two male heirs. The regionalists, meanwhile, have moved to limit any expansion to central power. Regardless of these internal issues, the situation seems well. Coupled with the right-wing tilt of the Senate, it is expected that both houses will be able to work together somewhat harmoniously and throughout the latter half of 1840 the administration set to work with little issues. Still, the seat of President of the Senate remains vacant and you will have to choose a candidate to act in that role, which is largely expected to be symbolic for the time being. Despite the conflict-of-interest, Grand Duke Xavier has expressed interest in taking the role, though many worry about the precedent that would set. Alberto della Marmora, a notable general, is another candidate, considered to be a mainstream conservative, even if he had some questionable nationalism in the past. Agostino Codazzi has been suggested by the liberals. What will you do about the new Padanian issues?

-The Netherlands has been subdued at long last. Though fighting continues in far-off Asia, the defeat of the Dutch in Europe proper has brought popularity to your regency, even if it has come at a tremendous cost in manpower and money. Although the reports of the bloodshed have again been condemned by some French subjects, their objections were drowned out partially as a result of driving the republicans and other opposition groups underground. Now you must decide what is to be done with the Dutch state. Three times in the last century French intervention has been required in the Netherlands. Perhaps something should be done to ensure a fourth invasion is not necessary. What will you do, in concert with the Prussians and British, to ensure that the Dutch are not a headache anymore?

Kingdom of Scandinavia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your men may have been mauled in the process, but Berlin has been seized from the Prussians, uniting your realm with the Habsburg Monarchy and cleaving Prussia in two. The Germans have not been idle though. Prussia has now threatened Hamburg and the movements of their armies to the east are an open question. On the Baltic you manage to inflict grievous wounds on the Russian fleet, but the Prussian mines did their job and have meant many of your ships will be sidelined for repairs this year as well. The war seems not yet to be over, even with thousands of brave young men dead. What is to be done about the situation in the south, both on land and sea?

-The developments in Northern Russia turned from disappointing to alarming over the course of the previous year. Of particular concern is the vulnerable position the loss of Pskov and Novgorod puts your Baltic territories in. There is also the prospect of the Russians marching towards St. Petersburg, seeking to root out the “False Alexander” once and for all. Yet, with the Russians distracted by the Ottomans to the south, perhaps not all hope is lost. What is your strategy for the Russian war in 1841?

-The war in North America has been nothing short of a disaster. Not only have you lost your holdings in the far north of the mainland, but Quebec has occupied Greenland as well, taking advantage of your distractions. The question now is what you will do to respond. A blockade is not entirely out of the question, New England willing to cooperate on such an adventure and provide safe harbor, but most of the public would rather see the navy defend the home waters. There is also the prospect of providing financial and material aid to both New England and Great Britain, who are each hostile in some capacity towards Montreal. Still, this is a fight over territory thousands of miles away. Perhaps it is better to leave it be for the time being until there is peace in Europe? How will you respond to Quebecois aggression?

Habsburg Monarchy:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Emperor Francis, Berlin has fallen. The German League is crippled as your soldiers march through the heartland of Prussia. This should be a moment of triumph, but it has come at tremendous cost. Even now, the Prussians control your core territory in Bohemia and Slovakia, perhaps providing a bitter aftertaste to your victory in the north. Still, with the Russians falling back to defend their homeland, the Greeks defeated, and a trace with the Rhenish, there is hope that you will have more resources to bring to bear in the continued struggle. What will your armies do in 1841?

-The economic situation of the realm is poor. Armies are expensive and it’s tough to collect taxes in land controlled by your bitter rival. Prussian occupation has interrupted supply chains and the government is running a significant deficit. While this is understandable given the circumstances, there is a question about whether or not certain policies could help alleviate the process. Some in Vienna have called for an outright pillaging of Brandenburg, stripping the region of whatever movable wealth is at hand, crops and materials included. Yet, there are many who worry such a harsh action could only serve to strengthen local resistance. Others would have you cooperate with your Ottoman and Scandinavian allies on financial issues, perhaps through mutual lending of providing material aid to one another (such as Ukrainian wheat). Alternatively, you could use the crisis as a way to centralize the finances of your disparate realms, uniting them under a central banking and credit system. Still, there are those who would have you borrow blindly, believing the profits of victory will outweigh the cost of any short-term loan. What will you do about the finances of the Habsburg Monarchy?

-The Neapolitan strike south at Tunis is technically not prohibited by the recent treaty with that realm, though some in Vienna believe it is bad taste. Regardless, what’s done is done. King Francis of Naples is now pressuring you to follow through on the second key point of the treaty, demanding that 19-year-old Grand Duchess Maria Sophia or Tuscany wed the 15-year-old Prince Alfonso. Unions at such a young age, especially among the nobility, are not uncommon, but some would have you hold off the match. Still, by doing so could mean further tension in Italy and threaten the peace. As father of the bride, your consent is required before the union can occur. What say you?

Kingdom of Prussia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The loss of Berlin was not ideal, to put it lightly, Queen Augusta. Even so, your foresight in getting the royal family outside of the city early in the year was rewarded. Prussia has been battered, but all hope is not yet lost. Though you have lost thousands, the enemies have been worn down as well. Prussia still has many armies in the field and some of the Habsburg heartland remains in your hands. Russia, with the issues in Central Asia largely resolved, now intends to send men west, perhaps relieving some of the pressure. There is time to recover, but it must be done wisely. How will you avenge the loss of Berlin?

-Navally, your fleet is divided. With the mauling of the Russian fleet off the coast of Danzig and your simultaneous success in mining several Scandinavian vessels, the Baltic remains a frustrating parity of naval strength. Yet, the Scandinavians hold the way towards the open sea and their Habsburg allies sail north of Jutland, potentially shifting the balance in the Baltic. Further afield, the bulk of the Prussian colonial fleet, larger than whatever sits in the Baltic, is at port in your numerous holdings, including South Africa and the Caribbean Islands, perhaps able to cause mischief if employed properly. What are your orders to the admiralty at this crucial juncture?

-Economically, Prussia is in dire straits, just like the Habsburgs. The costs of raising so many men have been coupled with the lost tax revenue and the continued blockade of Prussia as a result of Scandinavian closing of the straights. Russia and Poland have picked up some of the slack, providing raw materials, food, and loans to get you through the past few years, but their sources have been placed under threat by the Ottoman advance. If the war is to be won, your men need to be paid and fed. Some would have you raid the Bohemian harvest this year, stealing their food and wealth to provide for your grandson’s own subjects at this crucial point. Others believe that rationing and perhaps the issuing of bonds to foreign creditors in Switzerland, the Rhineland, France, and Naples could be another way of keeping the ship of state afloat. You can continue to borrow as well, but there are those who fear that will make you too reliant on foreign creditors without any other recourse. What will be done about the economic situation?

Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Persian advance continues, threatening to divide your empire and cut the Caucuses off from the rest of your holdings. In addition, the Persians have brought force to bear in Mesopotamia. While you have repelled their advance on Mosul, and they failed to reach Trabzon in 1840, the threat remains very real. Arabia continues to tumble into conflict, Oman joining the war against you out of pure opportunism. What is to be done about the military situation in the Near East, Sultan Mustafa?

-Your victory against the Russians in Ukraine has been a blessing, forcing them back and giving you a wide variety of options to pursue in 1841. There’s always the possibility of marching back into Crimea and reasserting control, but there are those in your general’s staff who believer bolder operations are necessary. They would have you march on Kiev or, if providence should be so kind, Moscow. Alternatively, you could split your forces, though that could give the Russians the window they have been desperately searching for in order to launch a counter-offensive. Furthermore, with the defeat of the Turkish tribes, your army at Astrakhan looks increasingly vulnerable, another factor to keep in mind. How will the Russian war be prosecuted?

-The death of your brother is lamentable, both for the public furor it has caused and for the loss of a potential male heir. The Crown Prince remains incapacitated in Greece, the cause of his illness increasingly looking less like disease. Istanbul remains rife with rumors and paranoia, especially in the aftermath of the supposed coup. Many at Court advise you to conduct a thorough investigation and tamp down on dissent. Others fear aggravating dissidents at such a dire moment would be political suicide. Sultan Mustafa, what will you do about the recent chaos that has rocked the capitol for the past two years?

[Spamage]

Divine Republic of Brazil:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Though many were aghast at your treatment of de Rosas and other rebel leaders at Nicaragua, the move seems to have served its purpose. Both within and outside of Brazil, many are terrified of your regime. The civil war has been ended, domestic peace restored, and reform continued apace. As the economy recovers, thanks in part to your agreement with Portugal, it is perhaps time for your realm to look outwards once more. With the world aflame, expansion in any direction seems feasible. Some would have you continue your African ventures from the previous year, perhaps now working to gain control over Mozambique and Angola, which were once Portuguese colonies but have long since been shorn from that realm. Others believe northern ventures, given your newfound friendship with Haiti, could be fortuitous. Either in the Caribbean against the British or along the Atlantic coast against the Francophone monarchies, slight Brazilian intervention (or the threat of it) could yield substantial returns. What will be your foreign policy goals for 1841?

-Brazil is the clear leader of the Catholic Republican cause in South America. Though the revolution in Colombia predates your own, it is indisputable that peace with Spain would not have occurred had you not committed your men to the war effort. There are now calls to make your role as leader a bit more formal. Some in Sao Paulo have suggested forming some sort of international arrangement with Colombia, Ecuador, Lower Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay, creating an official united front. Inspired loosely by both the German League, though rejecting the degree of centralization in that body, there is broad willingness to further cooperation in both Bogota and Asuncion.  Will you formalize the ties between within the Catholic Republican movement in South America, or perhaps among Catholic Republican groups throughout the world? If so, what would this look like?

-Pope Alexander IX has long been silent about the Catholic Republican movement in South America, perhaps secretly wishing they would all fall in on themselves and allow the problem to be solved without his involvement. As your victory in the Brazilian Civil War demonstrates, this clearly will not be the case. As such, the Vatican has made several tentative moves behind-the-scenes, hoping to open a dialogue with you and regain some authority in the South American Church. Matters under discussion include restoring Rome’s control over appointment to bishoprics, reining in the Holy Orders, and agreeing to cease ordinations unless they are approved by Rome beforehand. Although it hasn’t yet been said openly, it has also been intimated that refusal could mean sanction by the Pope and College of Cardinals. Hardliners in Sao Paulo see this as the corrupt establishment trying to profit off of your success and urge refusal. Support for the Papacy among the civilians should not be underestimated though (you are still Catholic, after all), no matter how politically neutered the Vatican has become. How will you respond to those opening salvos of negotiations from Rome?

Kingdom of Louisiana:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-At long last the slow British advance has seen some reversals, King Louis-Philippe, many crediting your uniting of the two realms as key in eliminating disorganized command. Charleston and much of South Carolina have been retaken, though numerical parity with the British continues. Further to the north, the Sioux have been defeated, ending that British satellite state for the time being, and the path seems open for further operations in the west. Mexico has continued to provide nominal naval aid and serve as a safe-harbor for trade vessels seeking to do business with your realm. The war rages on, what will you to do recover your position further?

-It is no secret there is growing exhaustion in London over the continued fighting in the Americas. Many in Parliament question whether or not it is even worth it to have such disagreeable people as those in the south in the extended British Empire, given their continued stubbornness and disrespect. The death of Charles III may have provided a window where a compromise peace would be acceptable, though that is contingent on substantial concessions on your end. Will you approach the British, perhaps even through a foreign mediator (as you did with Spain about Mexico several years ago), or should peace not be offered until your men are in a position to extract more concessions and make it more equitable?

-The eruption of war between New England and Quebec has already entangled both you and the British. New England has demonstrated clear Francophobic preference for London, while Quebec has turned to you as a potential ally in the struggle. The marriage between your eldest son and Princess Marie of Quebec has only further cemented the bonds of your alliance. Quebec is calling on you to formally declare war on New England and unite your separate struggles, though that could pose complications towards your plans in Europe, given the hostilities towards Quebec and Scandinavia. Still, perhaps you would be able to serve as a bridge between the two? To what extent will you align yourself with the Quebecois?

Qajar Persia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Ottomans have been pushed back. Armenia is Persian once more, as it was often during antiquity, and your men are on the cusp of reaching the Black Sea. In Mesopotamia the Ottomans have assembled a formidable force aiming to prevent your seizure of Mosul and take back Baghdad. The war in the Near East continues to rage and could still go either way. To your east, the Durrani remain defiant, succored by Ottoman promises of financial and military aid and eager to avenge your attack on their empire. As the war continues, what are your aims in the coming year?

-The Ottomans are allied with both Scandinavia and Austria in their European struggle against the Prussians and the Russians. This meant little to your people initially, but as the war has continued, and your subjects have come to sympathize with Berlin and Moscow more and more, there is growing hostility towards the Scandinavian and Austrian trade concessions at Bandar Abbas, Queshm, Bai Saidu, and Kish. These holdings have been the site of tension in the last decade, in particular during the Persian Civil War that saw your dynasty established, but the intervening few years were peaceful. Now there are debates, yet again, about what ought to be done with the foreign presence in the region. Any act against these concessions would undoubtedly be considered an act of war against Austria and Scandinavia but, as many note, these realms are quite distant and extremely distracted with assaults everywhere from North America to Poland. Given the Ottoman naval superiority, it is unlikely that you could besiege the settlements, so if they are to be taken it will have to be through direct assault.

-The increasing sectarian nature of the rebellion against the Ottomans in Arabia has produced some unforeseen consequences. Oman, spurred on by foreign pleas and blind opportunism, has struck at Ottoman Yemen. The Ibadi Omani have found themselves at odds with not just the Turkish officials in the region, but the Shi’ites as well, who profess loyalty to your regime and see you as their liberator. This has obviously complicated relations between yourself the Omani, who have demanded you condemn the Yemeni rebels and publicly affirm the Ibadi claim to the region. Yet, betraying the Shi’ites in Arabia could undercut their support for rebelling against the Ottomans in the first place. As is evident, the situation is complicated. What will you do in regards to this situation?

Joseon:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Dutch have been pushed back with ease, opening the way for potential further offensives in the East Indies. Although there may have once been some skepticism over your regency’s policy of great engagement with the international world, these fears have been put to rest by recent events. The stories coming from the south, of Korean vessels going toe to toe with the Dutch and emerging victorious have been particularly popular, given the Dutch historic reputation for seafaring. A nationalist frenzy sweeps the realm, pride in beating back the colonizers on the rise. With that in mind, what are your plans for 1841? Will you continue to push or should some sort of terms be reached? It’s not quite clear who you ought to negotiate with, given the state of the Netherlands and the rudeness the OAKF has shown in the past…

-How the news of victory changes foreign perceptions! Far from shunning your proposals as they once did, several of the leaders you courted have changed their tune. Both Johore and Brunei have accepted your offer for greater control over their realm in return for protection and broad local autonomy, certainly an enticing offer given the circumstances. Still, given Johore’s growing hostility towards Siam and, indirectly, France, there are others that worry any acceptance would have to be done so with great care. What is to be done about these leaders, so rude in 1840, but now willing to deal in 1841?

-Your grandson, now 14-years-old, seems more than willing to begin his reign and has subtly indicated in many circles he views it as time for you to step aside. Perhaps fueled by whispers from your rivals, or even the words of his own mother, he is demonstrating a growing desire for independence and autonomy. No longer merely content to be a cosigner or student, he would assume total control of the realm. Yet, there are many who fear young Heonjong is not yet ready for such a heavy burden. With your realm engaged in a great war to the south, navigating a warm but shallow friendship with Japan, and undergoing tremendous economic changes, your closest friends urge you to maintain your control over the state. This is not to mention the broad network of support you have cultivated from your clean, something the untried King could mess up. You have worked so hard to build up the Joseon realm, why risk it all in the hands of an inexperienced youth? Perhaps some sort of official deadline to your regency could be set as a means of placating the King? Whatever the case, the King is not getting any younger and this problem will probably be persistent. What is to be done?


Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
149,600 Army of the North
119,500 Army of the South
89,500 Army of Astrakhan
63,000 Army of Mongolia
23,000 Army of Prussia
23,000 Xinjiang Volunteers
5,000 Army of Alaska
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 4,000 more)

Kingdom of France
297,300 Army of Flanders
63,400 Army of Northern France
44,100 Army of Southern France
60,000 Army of Bengal
30,000 Army of Gujarat
27,900 Army of Sumatra
19,100 Army of the Sacred Heart (Ceylon)
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 6,000 more)
*- Numbers for Padania Coming Soon

Habsburg Monarchy
105,000 Army of Berlin
231,700 Army of Vienna
80,300 Army of Carpathia
6,500 Army of Greece
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 4,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
58,900 Army of Posen
47,500 Army of Hamburg
262,000 Royal Army
25,000 Army of Poland
8,300 Army of the Cape
6,000 Army of Angola
5,000 Army of the Congo
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 2,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
50,000 Army of Britain
44,500 Army of Leeuwarden
23,000 Army of Virginia
36,400 Army of Tennessee
22,000 Army of North Carolina
9,200 Army of Georgia
28,000 Army of Missouri
26,700 Army of Cumberland
10,000 Army of Australia
1,700 Army of Ghana
1,500 Army of Nigeria
9,800 Army of the Suez
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 109,000 more)

Ottoman Empire
182,700 Army of Ukraine
40,000 Army of the Caucuses
18,700 Army of Greece
55,300 Army of Mesopotamia
27,900 Army of Armenia (Arabian & Tunisian Allies)
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
77,000 Army of Chengdu
70,000 Army of the West
51,000 Army of Wuhan
33,000 Army of Hainan
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 92,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
84,000 Army of Spain
32,000 Army of Yucatan
75,000 Army of Peru
22,000 Army of Chile
20,000 Army of Cuba
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 20,000 more)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
48,000 Army of Berlin
149,200 Army of St. Petersburg
16,500 Russian Auxiliaries
5,000 Army of Liberia
16,000 Army of Greece
2,000 Army of Gabon
35,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 6,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
45,000 Army of Naples
36,000 Army of Tunis
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 68,000 more)

East Asian Colonial Federation (OAKF)
35,000 Army of the East Indies
17,000 Army of New Holland
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 25,000 more)

Republic of Brazil
83,000 Army of La Plata
50,000 Army of Northern Brazil
49,000 Army of Recife
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 33,000 more)

Joseon Korea
36,000 Army of the North
36,000 Army of the South
19,500 Army of the Indies
12,000 Cheollima Corps
12,000 Gumiho Corps
9,000 Marine Corps
15,000 Manchurian Flying Corps
47,000 men garrisoned in Korea, 3,000 Ningguta Division garrisoned in Manchuria
(Can raise 6,000 more: 2,000 Koreans, 4,000 Manchurians)

Kingdom of Louisiana/America
37,000 Army of Florida
41,500 Army of the South
40,000 Army of the Mississippi
24,000 Army of Colorado
16,000 National Gendarmerie
3,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 52,000 more)

Qajar Persia
43,500 Northern Army
42,000 Army of Mesopotamia
16,000 Army of the South
8,500 Army of Sistan and Baluchistan
(Can raise 4,000 more)


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of Prussia (Innovative, Sizable)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Standard)
Kingdom of Spain (Modernized, Sizable)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Modernized, Standard)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Limited)
Tokugawa Japan (Reformed, Standard)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Limited)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Qajar Persia (Traditional, Nonexistant)

[Spamage]

Concordat of Sao Paulo

1. The Holy See officially recognizes the governments of the Divine Republic of Brazil, Holy People's Republic of Colombia, Republic of Lower Peru, Sacred Union of Paraguay, Republic of Uruguay, Republic of Ecuador, and Kingdom of Portugal. Apostolic nuncios will be sent to the respective capitals forthwith.

2. The Church in the aforementioned South American states shall retain autonomy over the ordination of new priests.

3. The Papacy has the right to appoint bishops to vacancies in the South American Church, albeit from a pool of potential candidates nominated by the respective government.

4. This treaty reaffirms the historic and unbreakable bonds of the Universal Church in Rome and South America.

X- Pope Alexander IX

Treaty of Santiago de Compostella

1. Recognizing the historic nature and universal benefits of their historic peace, the representatives of the Kingdom of Spain and the Divine Republic of Brazil, Holy People's Republic of Colombia, Republic of Lower Peru, Sacred Union of Paraguay, Republic of Ecuador, and Kingdom of Portugal (hereafter referred to as the "Catholic League") reiterate their peaceful relations.

2. In the event the Kingdom of Spain and the Catholic League should find themselves on opposite sides of a global conflict, the neutrality of the powers towards one another is reaffirmed throughout the world.

3. The Kingdom of Spain and Catholic League reaffirm the blossoming trade and commercial ties between their many territories and pledge to work to expand this relationship moving forward.

4. The existing borders in South and Central America are reaffirmed.

X- King Philip VI of Spain

[Spamage]

THE END

Reflections on the State of the World: 1840-1860

Europe in 1860 (Made by Me)

The World in 1860 (Made by Me)

Demographic Catastrophe (Europe: 1835-1855)

   In the early 1830s there had been great optimism about the future of Europe. A long peace had endured for almost four whole decades, population was growing at a rapid pace, and workshops throughout the continent were pouring out new inventions and innovations. The nationalist revolutions and the Great Eastern War disabused many of this notion. The spurt of growth was followed by two decades of stagnation, unrest, and growing uncertainty over the direction of the continent. The 1840s, with the height of the crisis, has in particular been dubbed the “Lost Decade.” By the 1850s many wondered where it had all gone wrong? How had such potential been squandered?
   The Great Eastern War left hundreds of thousands of young men dead on the battlefield. From 1838—1844 Russia lost 460k men, the Habsburgs 370k men, Prussia 320k men, the Ottomans 220k men, and Scandinavia 140k men. The fact this conflict coincided with nationalist rebellions, one of which had probably ignited the conflagration, also meant that France, the Rhineland, and the Netherlands also saw significant casualties in war. From Brandenburg to Tuscany, Flanders to Ruthenia, devastation had been inflicted. Soldiers who very well could have been the leaders of tomorrow instead were killed in the battles of today. Hundreds of thousands more perished from famine and disease caused by the wartime hardship. Countless young women found themselves condemned to lives of singlehood, their betrothed killed in some distant place. Yet, this would not be the end of the misery. Changing climate conditions coupled with a severe potato blight, spread throughout much of the continent in 1846 and 1847. Food supplies dwindled at the very moment societies were seeking to get back on their feet after a decade of disorder. Western and Central Europe were particularly hard hit. Russia, the only power with the potential stockpile to alleviate the suffering, instead chose to punish its neighbors for their destruction of the Empire. Governments fell as disgruntled people continued to choose whether they would be subjects or citizens. Although Europe’s population was still higher in 1855 than it had been two decades earlier, it was far lower than what had been projected.
   With this carnage, it was unsurprising that the rates of emigration were quite significant. Reasons varied quite substantially, influencing the destination as much as the point of departure. France, which saw slow, but steady growth throughout this whole period, was crowded and land expensive. It was unsurprising when thousands of King Louis XIX’s subjects decided to cross the Atlantic to the Francophone realms of Quebec and Louisiana, both offering free land for those willing to come and settle it. Catholic Republicanism, a potent force in some regions, saw its strength in Europe sapped to some extent, thousands of ideologues moving to South America so they could exist in their supported society. Iberia, Ireland, Italy, and the Rhineland were the general source of these migrants. The Irish, affected quite severely by the Potato Famine, moved across the Atlantic to the American colonies, bolstering the population of that realm to the extent it rivals England itself for number of inhabitants. New Holland likewise gained a fair share of nationalists upset with the fate of the Netherlands in Europe. In addition to these clear trends, there were numerous untold stories of individuals packing up and setting out, leaving behind the dreary prospects of the motherland for chances elsewhere. 

End of the War in East Asia: 1841-1843

   1840 demonstrated quite clearly to the Dutch in East Asia that they were outnumbered and substantial concessions would be required in order to preserve any sort of presence in the region. The government in Willemstad, off-balance since news had arrived of the fall of the homeland, elected to accept a proposed Korean peace deal, extricating themselves from hostilities with Japan just weeks later. The concessions on paper were substantial, though the Dutch mostly ceded islands and regions that had already been lost. Korea gained vast tracts of land, including Johor, Brunei, Pontianak, Banjar, Gowa, and Tidore, and the Raj of Larantuka. In addition, the OAKF ceded all claims to the Malay Peninsula and the Riau Islands (Johor), Borneo (Brunei, Pontianak, and Banjar), Sulawesi (Gowa), the Molucca and the Barat Daya Islands (Tidore), Flores and neighboring islands east of Sape Strait (Larantuka). In short, the OAKF lost much of the East Indies, the government electing to preserve New Holland proper over the islands to the north. To Japan went Papua New Guinea and many minor islands in the outlying region. The OAKF, however, elected to continue its struggle with the French.
   The next few years would see inconclusive fighting throughout the area. The French were able to eliminate the Dutch presence in Sumatra, but found Java and New Holland themselves quite elusive. With Brazilian involvement in the Great Eastern War unnerving the government in Paris, which realized it may need to be on the defensive, Queen Regent Marie Fernandina demonstrated herself willing to accept a compromise peace deal. The Dutch ceded Sumatra, but were allowed to keep Java, largely the result most had been expecting.
   The OAKF saw the writing on the wall. With no loyalty to the weak, reestablished Netherlands in Europe, and the House of Orange-Nassau seriously sidelined, most colonists decided it was time for them to take charge of their own affairs. In 1842 the OAKF formally declared itself the United Provinces of New Holland, electing a Stadtholder to govern as executive and a General Estate in Willemstad to legislate. Naturally, given their heritage, most systems were based off of the long-defunct model employed in the former Dutch United Provinces. The colony would grow quite rapidly moving forward, many hopeful that they would be able to have a strong voice in Oceania, given their status as the sole independent realm for thousands of miles.

Richmond Settlement: Peace in North America

   The long war in North America had taken a toll on the British public. The conflict had been a headache from the beginning, only getting worse once Louisiana had joined the fray. With the prospect of the fight expanding yet further, incorporating New England and Quebec, Henry IX elected to seek a compromise peace deal in 1841, albeit one that would maintain the strong British presence on the continent. Louisiana proved receptive and, after several rounds of negotiations, the Richmond Settlement was announced in Virginia, aiming to settle both the British-Louisianan War as well as the New Englander-Quebecois conflict in the north.
   The terms left no one excited, but everyone satisfied. The first primary issue settled would be the fate of the American South. King Louis-Philippe emphasized his obligations to the people who had made him their King in the brutal American struggle, arguing that the full region ought to be annexed to his realm. Britain, obviously, disagreed. Having retaken a substantial portion of the territory, with all the redistribution and legal headaches that entailed, London was not keen on the prospect of restoring the old slave system to some territories. Thus, in a compromise move, the region was partitioned. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tunica, and Henrysland went to the Kingdom of Louisiana. Britain, meanwhile, reassumed sovereignty over Virginia, Cumberland, and Transylvania.
   In order to assuage Louisianan concerns over the frontier, and satisfy Quebec, further British concessions were made in the west. Britain renounced its claims to all lands west of the Mississippi, handing control over to either Louisiana or Quebec. This, in effect, sealed the fate of the Sioux League, which was not even represented is Richmond as it was sliced between New Orleans and Montreal. Given there was little to no British settlement this far out, it was not too difficult for London to agree to abandon it. Further territorial transfers included a joint withdrawal of any British or Louisianans from the Pacific Northwest, the surrender of Michigan to Quebec (increasing their power over the Great Lakes) and a Quebecois sale of Nova Scotia to New England, which wanted room to grow. At long last, after centuries of disagreement, it seems there are now finally fixed borders planned in the American West.
   The Richmond Settlement was met with widespread acclaim in the Americas. King Louis-Philippe has been celebrated as a bold visionary for getting involved in the conflict, while many in London view the preservation of British authority as a major achievement. Cynical observers noted that the partition of the South benefitted both Louisiana and Britain. Although French-speakers were still outnumbered by the new English subjects of Louis-Philippe, not gaining some of the larger colonies has insured that the English majority was not as large as it could have been. Meanwhile, London pushed back the issue of the American colonies outnumbering the British Isles in population for at least a couple of decades, preventing awkward discussions over the future of Parliament and power-sharing in a Trans-Atlantic monarchy.
   Although Britain has ostensibly exited the conflicts in the Americas, that had not eliminated London’s latent hostility towards some of their former adversaries, most notably Quebec. The British public was shocked when in early June it was announced that Princess Elizabeth of Britain would be marrying her double first cousin, Crown Prince Karl of Scandinavia. Given Scandinavia remained at war with Quebec, this indicated to some that the Richmond Settlement did not necessarily entail friendly relations. Britain would prove to be a distant, but cordial ally to the Scandinavians as they continued to struggle against Quebec.

The Conclusion of the Great Eastern War: 1841—1844

1841

   Despite the fall of Berlin in 1840, the Prussian government elected to fight on. Both Prussia and Russia were under tremendous strain, but their alliance placed their hope in the similar malaise plaguing the Habsburg Monarchy. This is as the fighting, raging from Central Germany to Eastern Persia, demonstrated no signs of stopping. If anything, the war was expanding.
   To the shock of almost the entire continent the Triple Alliance formed an agreement with the Catholic Republicans in Brazil, promising general colonial compensation as well as a voice at the peace conference in return for providing direct military aid to the beleaguered forces in Europe. This was truly the most unholy alliance, both Stockholm and Vienna resounding with loud objections to the move. Yet, desperate times called for decisive action. The Brazilians agreed, sending thousands of men across the Atlantic to join the fray.
   The Brazilian entrance into the European theater started with a bang. Landing in Jutland, the Catholic Republicans marched on Hamburg and lifted the Prussian siege in August 1841. The Prussians, not expecting this arrival, were caught off-guard. Isolated, and with very little areas to retreat, the army melted away, the bulk of it having surrendered by the end of the year. The Brazilian forces then joined their allies in Berlin, marching south towards Bohemia and towards the Prussian Royal Army.
   Yet, the Allied commanders were unaware of the Prussian response. Rather than waiting in Bohemia to be encircled and smashed by forces coming from Vienna and Berlin, Prussian commanders elected to become mobile. In an aggressive and unanticipated act of pure spite, they rushed south towards Hungary, utterly sacking and decimating the countryside in order to further destabilize the Austrian war effort. The damage to this region would prove consequential with the onset of the famine following the conclusion of the war. The small Habsburg garrison at Budapest was easily outmatched and forced to surrender, the city being sacked and razed by the infuriated Germans.
   The Army of Vienna shadowed the Prussians, hoping to cut them off from supply lines and engage them in a decisive battle. Yet, the Austrians were outnumbered and the Prussians could count on goods being sent from Poland, or so they thought. By December 1841 the Prussians held much of Hungary, Prague was under siege by the Brazilians, Scandinavians, and Habsburgs, and Central Europe remained in a state of utter disarray.
   Beyond the Carpathians, the rebellion in Warsaw and the Ottoman invasion of Ukraine had driven off most of the Austrian’s opponents in Galicia. The Austrians crossed into Ruthenia, where they were greeted as liberators and widely celebrated, making a desperate strike north towards Warsaw. That city, however, had already fallen to the Republicans under Radziwill. The Austrians thus had to face the Poles at the Battle of Lublin, where the determined rebel defense halted their advance northwards.
   With the Scandinavians withdrawing to St. Petersburg and setting up defensive positions, the Russian Empire chose to strike at its vulnerable territory, launching an invasion of the lightly-manned Baltic States in concert with several small Prussian battalions. The region was overrun and overwhelmed, the Swedes in Riga placed under siege yet again as disorder overtook the countryside. Many wondered if authority would ever be restored to the region.
   Further east, the Russo-Turkish War continued. The Ottomans continued to hammer the Russian Army of the South, inflicting a series of defeats on the exhausted men, who had no choice but to flee to Moscow. Kiev, the holy city and so important to Russian national pride, fell into Turkish hands. Further Turkish raids established some degree of control over eastern Ukraine as the bulk of the army turned north and prepared for an invasion of Russia proper.
   Yet, the success in southern Russia would be the only bright spot for the Turks in an otherwise disastrous year. The Ottoman Army of the Caucuses at Astrakhan found itself outnumbered and outmatched by the returning Russians. At the Battle of Astrakhan in August 1841, they were forced back, fleeing towards the Caucuses as the Russians sought to reestablish control over the steppe south of the Volga. They were fleeing into further chaos however, with the Persians having achieved great gains over the previous months.
   The reasons for Persian success were twofold. First, Russian soldiers had been poured in following their victories in Central Asia, further bolstering the strength in numbers and experience. Second, the Shah’s decision to declare an independent Armenia, albeit under Persian protection, forced the hand of the locals, many who rose up against their Turkish oppressors. The Ottomans, who had relocated men for a naval assault on the Persian coast, saw much of their heartland lay vulnerable to attack. An attempt by the Arab-Tunisian force to smash into Upper Persia was halted at the inconclusive Battle of Tabriz by a Russo-Persian force. With the bulk of the Turkish forces tied up in the north, Baghdad fell to the Persians.
   One bright spot for the Ottomans was Arabia. The Omani unceremoniously switched sides after an offer of Ottoman compensation in Yemen, abandoning the Arab Shi’ites to their fate. Given most of the peninsula remained Sunni, and the rebels were seen as religious traitors, the tide turned rapidly. By the end of 1841 the pro-Persian forces would be concentrated in the immediate are south of Iraq. The naval offensive against the Persians also initially went well, relieving the treaty ports of the Austrians and Scandinavians, though attempts to push further inland were undermined by poor supply and determined local resistance.
   In the meantime, the Persian advance northwest continued almost unopposed, the Ottomans having emptied their garrisons due to the manpower costs of the war. This left both Trabzon and Kars vulnerable, the two cities following to minor Persian assaults, local leaders fleeing onto ships on the Black Sea.
   By December 1841, Russia was appearing shaky. Peasant bands were emerging in pockets of the countryside, openly defiant of the regency in Moscow and demanding an immediate peace. While the victories in the Baltic and alongside the Persians prevented the situation from getting too far out of hand, it was clear to most that the realm was unwell.
   In Africa, meanwhile, the true reasons for Brazilian involvement in the Great Eastern War became clear. Portuguese soldiers landed at Angola and easily pushed down the west coast of Africa, knocking out the small Prussian outposts one after another. A second, albeit less successful, Portuguese landing occurred in Mozambique, the two former colonies being forcibly restored to direct rule from Lisbon after decades.
   40,000 Catholic Republican soldiers landed at the Cape Colony, but found a population wholly opposed to compromise or surrender. Attempts to appeal to the Boers were a bit anachronistic, most having been resettled away from the colony under the orders of Frederick II almost a century ago. Instead, all able-bodied Prussian men were enlisted, being joined by native soldiers, who were opposed to the clearly-illustrated brutality of the Catholic Republicans. In their view, it was better to stick with the devil they knew than risk their position with a bunch of cruel fanatics who would wreck their way of life.
   The War in South Africa would become somewhat of a unifying cause among the German settlers and the indigenous Africans, the struggle being a guerilla fight without any direct engagements as the Catholic Republicans had been expecting. When repression grew fierce, the Prussians fled inland. When the occupiers became lax, they smashed back south. Coupled with raids on the Brazilian shipping and resupply by the substantial Prussian fleet that had been based on the Cape, in some sense, the situation reversed itself. The Brazilians found themselves undersupplied and underequipped to deal with the type of warfare they were facing.
   Prussia did not take kindly to the Brazilian aggression. The other major portion of the Prussian fleet in the Caribbean smashed southwards, shelling Catholic Republican coastal cities. There were heavy casualties in Caracas, Cartagena, and Maracaibo, the Colombian people bearing the brunt of a decision made in Brazil.

[Spamage]

1842

   1842 proved to be the crucial year in determining the outcome of the war. Clear winners would emerge in most theaters and the patience of the common people on both sides for the fighting continued to wane.
   In Bohemia, the year saw the Prussian garrison in Prague surrender once it became clear that no help would be forthcoming from the overwhelmed Queen Regent Augusta of Prussia. Further to the west, a combined effort of the still oncoming Brazilians and small groups of Scandinavian soldiers wiped out the remaining pockets of Prussian resistance, ensuring everything west of the Elbe was in the hands of the Triple Alliance. A Scandinavian offensive against Pommerania also showed some limited success.
   In Hungary, it was increasingly clear to Prussian commanders that they were on the verge of defeat. Despite the intentional and tremendous damage that had been inflicted on the heartland of the Austrian war effort, the government in Vienna refused to surrender. Aggressive Austrian tactics at the Battle of Gyor mauled the Prussians and forced them to retreat north towards Slovakia, restoring some degree of Habsburg authority over the constituent realm.
   Beyond the Carpathians the Austrians continued their determined advance. A second offensive succeeded in breeching the Polish lines at the Battle of Radom. Here the fragility of the Polish state was illustrated, Radziwill falling in battle to a stray Austrian bullet. The leader killed; the small Polish republic descended back into anarchy. The Catholic Republicans cooperated with the Austrians, much as they had since the start of the conflict. By the end of 1842 Warsaw had fallen into Habsburg hands, Prussia looking increasingly vulnerable.
   The Ottoman strike towards Moscow continued in 1842, culminating in the Battle of Tula, which saw the combined Russian Army of the North and Army of the South unite to defend their capitol and repel the invaders. The sheer vastness of the country proved to be a headache for the Turks, even with their Tatar allies. After the defeat Moscow looked somewhat secured, but the overall situation remained poor.
   With the Army of the North abandoning Riga in order to fight the Ottomans, the Scandinavians launched an offensive out of St. Petersburg to free the region, recapturing much of Estonia and Latvia in the process. Many in Stockholm speculated that the Triple Alliance would be able to eliminate the land connection between Prussia and Russia in 1843.
   The Ottomans continued to face setbacks in the East. The Russian Army of Astrakhan pouring into the Caucuses from the north, joined by the Persians assaults out of Trabzon in the south. A series of defeats made the situation quite clear to Turkish commanders, who gathered what remained of the tattered Army of the Caucuses and sailed for Istanbul on the Black Sea. By the end of the year Ottoman control over the Caucuses was almost nonexistent.
   Further success for the Persians continued in Mesopotamia, where the Russo-Persian forces took Mosul, forcing the Ottomans to retreat west towards the safety of Syria. The Armenians continued to rally behind the cause of Persian liberation, though their situation was a bit exposed. Small Turkish raids prevented them from causing any real damage in Anatolia proper. The Ottoman landing zone, meanwhile, slightly expanded, and the final embers of the Shi’ite Arab rising were crushed.
   The global scale of the Great Eastern War was reiterated when the Chinese launched a sudden attack against Russian positions in Mongolia and Xinjiang, dragging in the Koreans on their side. Russia found itself by enemies on all of its land borders, save for a narrow strip shared with Persia as the peasant demands grew even louder, encouraged by the False Alexander in St. Petersburg.
   The sheer level of hatred between Prussia and Brazil in the wider world was illustrated once more by the cruel punishment adopted by the Catholic Republicans. Prussian commanders captured in their colonies were fed once more to sharks in Nicaragua, the ceremony adopting some sort of civil significance in the Catholic Republican world. Yet, there would be innovation this time, Prussians captured in the Congo being instead fed to Nile Crocodiles.
   In South Africa, the Prussian fleet officially began a blocked of the Cape Colony. The locals continued to bleed out the larger numbers of the Catholic Republican force. A Portuguese attempt to provide relief by marching southwest from Mozambique was halted by a Zulu offensive, the locals having not forgiven or forgotten Portugal’s historic role as colonizer.

1843-1844

   In early 1843 the writing was largely on the wall. The Brazilians and Scandinavians began a punishing invasion of Silesia, meeting up with the Habsburg soldiers that had at this point crushed the remainder of the Polish cause. The Prussia Royal Army, in Slovakia, sound itself utterly surrounded. There were several attempts on the life of the Queen Regent and the Prussian people were utterly exhausted. The government had by now relocated to Kongisberg, both Berlin and Breslau behind enemy lines. The final straw came when word arrived that the Scandinavians were invading Lithuania, moving on Konigsberg itself. Swallowing her pride, and against the insistence of some of the hawks on the Prussian staff, Augusta formally surrendered to the Austrians on May 3rd, 1843. A massive peace conference was declared to meet as Breslau and hash out the future of Eastern Europe.
   This was a watershed moment, celebrated in the exhausted cities of Europe, though it did not necessarily mean either the Russians or Persians would join their allies in seeking peace. The Regent of Russia castigated the Prussians for their betrayal, in direct violation of a treaty signed ensuring no separate peace. 1843 in Russia saw the Ottomans pushed further back to the south as the Russian Army of Astrakhan finally suppressed the peasant risings between the populated heartland of Russia and the Urals. Still, it was obvious to everyone in Moscow that the situation was unfavorable, especially given the fact that the Triple Alliance would be able to coordinate a three-way invasion of Russia.
   The surrender of Prussia meant absolutely nothing to the Persians, who continued their raids into Ottoman territory. By 1843 the Ottomans had been involved in one conflict or another for since the Egyptian Rising had launched in 1831. Of any realm, it was clear which people had dealt with too much war. The level of enthusiasm, especially given the difficulties of operating in Russia during unfavorable conditions, had plummeted significantly. Little had been done to cease the intrigue in Istanbul. With the army threatening to mutiny should more men be sent to Russia; the Sultan was forced to contact his allies and discuss offering the Russians some sort of compromise peace in August.
   Further afield, the surrender of Prussia proper meant little to the inhabitants of the Cape Colony. At this point the Brazilian invasion had turned into a debacle. Repeated attempts by the Catholic Republicans to lift the Prussian blockade were thwarted, their navy simply not comparing in strength. How had such a bright situation turned so unfortunate for the Brazilians?
   In January 1844 the Regent Grand Duke Peter was assassinated, the identity of the attacker unclear. This was all it took to end the appetite for any further fighting. What the Russian people had long ago only now dawned on the nobility and military elite, there would be no saving Russia during another year of campaigning. Maria Augusta, mourning her son, found herself as Czarina Regent once more. Swallowing her pride, and that of her people, she let it be known Russia would accept a peace under reasonable terms. The Triple Alliance, led by the Turks, agreed, too exhausted to slog through a total invasion of Russia. Diplomats of the Czar were sent to Breslau to join in the already extensive discussions underway. Though Persia would continue to fight on, secure in its position of control over the Mediterranean, the remainder of the faction surrendered. Peace was finally at hand, six years after the onset of hostilities.

Treaty of Breslau (1844)

Prussian Peace
   The attention of the world was on Breslau in 1844. The Pope prayed publicly for a fair settlement in the Vatican, the Court of Versailles followed developments closely through telegram, and even in distant South America toasts to the eventual treaty were drunk. The world would never be the same. and the Long Peace (1788-1838) was dead. Tremendous pessimism had replaced the once hopeful outlook of most Europeans, the tremendous losses having shaken the continent to its core.
   The Treaty of Breslau eventually became a comprehensive reorganization of Eastern Europe and an ambitious blueprint for future colonization in Africa.
   Prussia undoubtedly was treated the harshest by the Triple Alliance and Brazil. King Frederick III had gambled, hoping to catch the Austrians off-guard during his attack in 1838 and it had cost both his realm and his neighbors dearly. Territorially, there were numerous changes. Austria had first choice at the conference, announcing the total annexation of Silesia, a region it had lost almost exactly a century prior. Furthermore, Saxony was restored to traditional borders and then some, undoing the partition of that Kingdom during the Prague Convention. Scandinavia followed with a list of equally onerous demands. Bremen-Verden was restored to its union with its Nordic neighbors. The City of Danzig was also handed over to the Scandinavians, allowing for their dominance over the mouth of the Vistula. The Principality of Groningen, taken from the Dutch by the Prussians alongside the British and the French, also fell into Scandinavian hands, expanding their role on the North Sea. Prussia was forced to renounce its role as protector of the Schleswig-Holstein Germans, the title being formally abolished in the next line. Finally, the government in Stockholm demanded the entirety of Pomerania, asserting their historic presence in the region. This was one of the rare points where the Prussians were able to push back to some extent, with the support of the Habsburgs. The eastern third would ultimately remain in Prussian hands. The Ottomans had Brazil had no demands for direct Prussian holdings in Europe proper.
   The German League would be left intact, albeit decentralized to some extent. The loss of so much Prussian territory greatly weakened the relative power between the Kingdom of Prussia proper and all of the other, minor members. Only Hesse-Kassel, desired by the Austrians for other designs they had on the region, and the minor Saxon Princes, who Vienna felt needed to be punished, were handed back to the Holy Roman Empire. The minor principalities were forbidden from raising men, in the hopes that if Prussia sought revenge that they would be unable to prove a second conduit for reinforcements as they had in the past.
   Colonially, the Portuguese were given direct control over Mozambique and Angola, while the mouth of the Congo, Namibia, and Delagoa Bay were transferred to the Brazilians. Despite of the goal in Sao Paulo to take control over the Cape Colony, Brazil would find itself betrayed by its ostensible monarchist allies, who blocked its petition to take over the region. “Better in Prussian hands than Brazilian,” was allegedly the remark of the King of Scandinavia. Instead, it was agreed that Prussia would retain the outpost, primarily due to the high number of Germans that had settled there. On Africa’s northeast cost, Prussian and Russian holdings in Tanzania and Zanzibar were given over to the Scandinavians. Austria, meanwhile, took control over the small settlement in Southern Madagascar and the two islands of Mauritius.
   Finally, Prussia was forced to pay a sizeable indemnity to her foes for having led Europe into war. This was a crippling amount, divided evenly between the Triple Alliance and the Brazilians, who would all employ the money for different purposes. The Prussian Navy was also curtailed, excess ships being handed over to the Scandinavians and the Habsburgs.
   The Treaty of Breslau thus utterly weakened the Prussian Kingdom, perhaps to a level not seen in more than a century. The loss of Silesia alone meant 3 million fewer taxpayers, not to mention the concessions elsewhere. National pride was severely damaged by the peace and the repercussions would become clear in the following years.

Russian Peace
   Russia was likewise viewed as an aggressor and a villain, but it was clear to the Triple Alliance that it had not yet been wholly defeated, so the peace would not be quite as harsh as the one made with Prussia, though it would still be severe.
   Territorially, Russia lost vast quantities of land. Karelia and Murmansk were ceded to the Scandinavians. Although Stockholm also insisted on the prohibition of a new Russian Baltic Fleet, the Habsburgs intervened, arguing such conditions would be a violation of sovereignty and hard to enforce. Austria meanwhile took a small slice of Russian Ukranian land, expanding the base of Ruthenians under Habsburg sovereignty. The Ottomans, meanwhile, had no compunctions about taking vast tracts of land. Podolia, Kherson, and much of Southern Ukraine changed hands. The Russians would retain Kiev and portions of the north and east, though they found themselves kicked off the Black Sea once more. Further east, the Ottomans demanded the Caucuses serve as the new border between the two empires, Georgia thereby falling into Turkish hands.
   Finally, the largest land transfer of the entire peace conference was decided. As a reward for their aid, Brazil had insisted on the instillation of a Catholic Republican government in a restored Poland. The Habsburgs, eager to be rid of their rebellious Polish subjects, had acquiesced. Thus, the signatories of the Treaty of Breslau agreed to the establishment of the Holy People’s Republic of Poland. Parts of Prussian Posen, Austrian West Galicia in its entirety, and Russian lands as far west as the Dnieper and Dvina were stitched together, the locals having no say in the outcome. Poland would be restored to the European map, though it would be a landlocked realm, surrounded by ideologically hostile neighbors.
   Russia, like Prussia, was forced to pay a substantial indemnity. In recognition for the ongoing Sino-Russian War (of which the Triple Alliance was wary of disrupting, given they hoped the two powers would beach each other to death), the start of payments was delayed until 1850. Russia would not pay a single Ruble to the Triple Alliance, events at home spiraling out of control.

Russia: Strains of War and Birth of the Republic

Sino-Russian War (1842-1847)

   Prodded on by Scandinavia and Austria, the Xing Dynasty was finally compelled to challenge the Russians in 1842, once the separatists in southern and central China were brought to heel. This was a move of pure opportunism, the Youfu Emperor hearing reports of the defeats in the west and the distracted nature of the Empire. Launching a massive expedition into Mongolia, seeking to regain that lost subject realm, the Chinese surprised the Russians garrisoned in the region. Pressure from Nanjing brought Joseon into the fight on the side of the Xing.
   Yet, the Russians defended with a fierce tenacity. Their rage was palpable, this was a fight for the very survival of the Russian state. On all enemies they had faced separately at various points in the past were united against the very idea of a strong Russian nation. In spite of the tremendous manpower losses, or perhaps because of it, the Russian Army of the East proved itself more than capable and experienced in engagements with the Chinese. Outnumbered substantially, the Chinese advance was halted and reversed at the Battle of Khatgal in 1846. A Chinese force double the size of the Russians was defeated, their leadership falling into captivity. By late 1846 most of Mongolia was back in Russian hands. With the peace in the west, China found itself facing the undivided attention of the Russians, whatever the political situation in Moscow.
   Chinese raids into Xinjiang proved more effective, but the region was a nightmare to hold. Russian commanders on the ground teamed up with the local Uyghurs, cutting off supplies and leaving substantial Han garrisons isolated and undersupplied. There would be few major battles in this region over the course of the war, the region’s isolation seeing to that.
   Joseon, meanwhile, intended to launch broader attacks against the Russian positions in the Northern Pacific, specifically Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. This was thwarted in 1844 by a pointed, yet stern Japanese warning that expansion in that direction would be seen as a direct act of hostility. Given the growing tensions between those two realms, Heonjong chose to back down, only providing token support to the Xing.
   The collapse of the House of Romanov provided decent cover for both sides to make a white peace and put the struggle behind them. Many in China felt that the Xing had rushed too quickly into war, especially with his dynasty so recently established and much of China still damaged.

[Spamage]

Russian Revolution & Aftermath: 1846-1860

   Peter IV was not welcomed warmly into Russia in 1844 after the Treaty of Breslau had been signed. His capture, and the role it played in demoralizing the Russian War effort, were strongly resented by most of his subjects. It seemed as though 300k young Russian men had been sacrificed solely for the return of the Czar and the loss of substantial territories. Peace in the west also meant, conversely, a substantial increase in taxes on the gentry in order to finance the massive indemnity demanded by former enemies. The only thing keeping the House of Romanov afloat was the respect many held for his wife, Maria Augusta, who had led the Empire through some of its darkest days, and the ongoing war with the Xing, seen as a matter of national pride.
   When Maria Augusta died in late 1845, some suspected foul play, though officially it was stated to be pneumonia. In the oppressive intrigue and paranoia of the restored St. Petersburg (which Peter IV had reestablished as the capitol) this proved fatal. Liberal officers in the army heard reports of an incoming crackdown, now that their patroness Maria Augusta was out of the way. They were to either be sent to fight in China or arrested and executed. Talk then spread to the barracks. In the middle of the night on March 7th, 1846 several battalions of soldiers mutinied, marching on the Winter Palace. The Czar’s guard joined the insurrection and stepping aside. Peter IV was roused from his chambers, dragged out into the central square.
   Protesting his innocence, the Czar called on the soldiers to return to their posts. Evoking patriotism and the rich history of the Romanov Dynasty, he promised that Russia would recover from this new age of darkness. The talk seemed to be turning the opinion in the crowd, some soldiers looking guilty and murmuring with shame. Yet, it was cut short. A half-drunk lieutenant ran up to the Czar, stabbing him in the stomach and calling out “Death of the wretched House of Romanov!” It was infectious. In minutes Czar Peter was surrounded, bludgeoned and stabbed to death by those sworn to his service.
   As the sun rose on the morning of March 8th, St. Petersburg was in a state of confusion. As people woke, it was clear something was afoot, but not what. The Winter Palace was sealed off, no one allowed in or out. The rebels, for all of their passion, had no concrete plan about what to do after the Czar was out of the way; they had merely feared for themselves. A cabal of liberal officers thus took charge, deciding to rid themselves of monarchy and start a new age in Russia. Young Grand Duke Ivan Petrovich, the grandson of the slain Czar and the heir to the throne, was gathered with his mother Princess Charlotte of Prussia and uncle Alexander Romanov and put on a ship for Konigsberg first thing in the morning, not having a chance to take any other action. The House of Romanov, which had governed Russia for two and a half centuries, ended with a whimper, falling over the course of a single night.
   Next, the primary task was finding a leader. It has just so happened by chance that General Mikhail Dmitrievich Gorchakov, who had distinguished himself in the campaigns against the Ottomans, was in the capitol to provide guidance on the situation in the Far East. Though he was not inclined to liberalism or republicanism, he too had been unsatisfied with the leadership of Czar Peter IV. Faced with hundreds of soldiers surrounding his residence and proclaiming him “President,” there was little he could do. Recognizing there were no other options, and he would be viewed by a traitor among conservatives for accepting the title, there was no choice but to throw himself into his role entirely. Gorchakov was relocated to the Winter Palace, assembling known reformists in the city and forcing them to start work in a constitution. The Russian Republic was declared on March 9th, 1846, in a realm on the verge of collapse from within and without.
   In the meantime, there was a vast realm to subdue. It said much about the popularity of Gorchakov, that few of his rivals in the military attempted to challenge him directly. Menshikov, perhaps the only figure that could rival the pull Gorchakov had among the soldiers, sent along his best wishes. Many of the civil servants in St. Petersburg, seeing no other way, also acquiesced to the new arrangement, hoping to maintain their positions in the new government.
   The fight for the future of Russia took place in the great cities, the vast mass of peasants and serfs in the countryside watching indifferently as the elite played for power. Moscow stood defiant at first, declaring its loyalty to “Czar” Ivan VII, who was now at sea in the Baltic. Many of the old nobility assembled here, challenging the republicans. Ryazan, Novgorod, and much of central Russia backed the government in Moscow, a hastily self-appointed regency council. Kiev and much of the south, where Gorchakov had distinguished himself, declared for the republicans. Likewise, the Orthodox Church, which had seen its authority severely curtailed at the hands of a powerful Czar, saw potential in republicanism, tacitly supporting the rebels in St. Petersburg.
   Yet, with the absence of a clear leader and a lack of morale in the monarchist camp, all it took was Gorchakov to move. The President assembled loyal soldiers at St. Petersburg and as word arrived that he was marching on Moscow, the locals panicked. Royalist forces, loyal to the idea of monarchy but having so recently observed its shortcomings under Peter IV, melted away. The nobles, eager to preserve some shred of influence, began to blame one another and switch sides. By the time the republicans entered Moscow, which surrendered immediately, they were in total control of the disorientated and unorganized realm.
   The fact the Russian Republic was able to come about so quickly and with so little bloodshed demonstrated how truly weak the Empire had become. The manpower base which would have otherwise fought a civil war was exhausted. The economy was in shambles and there was no way to defend the Crown. The prolonged conflict with China continued to place great strain on national pride, as did the sensation of seeing so much former territory sit in enemy hands. Granted, while Gorchakov was president, the fact remained that he had very little influence in the countryside, where the nobles held jealously onto their estates and local officials exerted almost absolute autonomy. Dagestan used the chaos of the Revolution to declare independence, though it would be alone in this regard, the suppression of the Turkish rebellions still fresh in the minds of many.
   Word reached St. Petersburg of the victory at Khatgal against the Chinese in May. This news would have undoubtedly saved the Czar, but in light of recent events it was seen as divine support for the Russian Revolution. A flood of nationalist sentiment took hold, the new President launching a program of ambitious reforms aimed at reversing the damage of the last few years and getting Russia back on its feet. Despite the heated objections of the nobility, serfdom was abolished and the estates broken up. The nobles were provided the option of keeping their estates, so long as they could provide a set payment to each freed serf, or breaking them up and receiving cash. Most chose the second option, the estates having long ago transformed into a source of headaches for most of the well-to-do. Yet, it would only be months before the nobility itself was abolished. The Code of 1847, published in January of that year, reformed the justice system in Russia and ended privileged treatment for those of noble status.
   The First Constitution of Russia was adopted in February 1847, after months of negotiation and ratification. A General Assembly would be elected by all adult males that could prove themselves literate and fluent in Russian. This was a tacit aim at integrating the numerous minorities that still remained in the realm. The President would assemble the government, chose a Prime Minister, appoint judges, and conduct foreign affairs. The position of President was granted broad powers, out of deference to Gorchakov, only facing the voters once every 6 years, with unlimited chances at reelection. Gorchakov easily won the vote in April, though some outside observers questioned if it had not been rigged. He was joined by numerous political parties, though he broadly aligned himself with a liberal-nationalist coalition for most of his time in office.
   Gorchakov’s first term (1847-1853) saw the new Republic make peace with the Xing and seek to establish itself on the global stage. He demonstrated that the new government still held the grudges of the Empire, announcing early in 1847 that grain exports to the rest of Europe would be ceased. Furthermore, he decreed there would be no payment of the indemnity demanded by the Treaty of Breslau. This was right at the moment famine was worsening in that direction, a deliberate insult to the established powers. At the same time, he continued with his reforms. The Russian Army was overhauled, the growing liberal class in major cities cultivated, and the tax code reformed along progressive lines. An ambitious rail project was enacted, aiming to cross the entirety of Russia. Now, this is not to say there was not backlash. But the authoritarian bent of the new Republic was made clear from 1849-1854 during the Great Reform, which saw extrajudicial killings of reactionary nobles, separatist dissidents, and other groups opposed
   Under Gorchakov, the Russians looked outwards and saw almost universal hostility. Prussia, their former ally, sympathized with Ivan VII, who had Hohenzollern blood and was too weak to be of any major service. The Habsburg realm likewise was highly unstable, focused on integrating new territories and holding itself together in the midst of the famine. Diplomacy with Scandinavia and the Ottoman Empire was entirely out of the question. It was only gradually the world came to accept that Russia had changed. The first country to recognize the Russian Republic was Switzerland in June 1847, the same realm that had inspired parts of the Russian constitution. Spain followed in August, seeing commercial opportunities, and Britain was third in September. Japan went so far as to offer a military alliance in 1848, which was promptly accepted, aimed at balancing the Xing-Joseon cooperation.
   Gorchakov was reelected in 1853 and again in 1860, leading Russia from 1846 until his eventual death in 1864, what proved to be a severe blow to the Republic. As an individual he had shaped the office of President to his liking. It was an open question if any of his successors would quite be able to wield it with the same effectiveness. His death came at the same time as other, more radical strains of political parties were making their debut on the Russian political scene.
   Under Gorchakov, Russia reversed the terrible trends that had started with the assault against the Ottomans in the 1830s. Although he did not actively expand Russia territorially, the bleeding stopped. The realm stabilized by 1850 and the economy, and population, began to grow at a rapid clip. At the same time much of Central and Western Europe were struggling through the end of the “Lost Decade,” Russia seemed to be on the upswing. Some of this was illusory though. Sure, the population had increased, but it was only a fraction of what it could have been had so many young men not been lost in the first place. Likewise, the republic seemed liberal and reformed, but that all was but a thin veneer for a highly authoritarian command system. Monarchists, socialists, theocrats, and genuine liberals all waited in the wings. Russia proved to be a land of contradictions by 1860, its future still uncertain.

France: A Beleaguered King and a Prosperous Kingdom

France Adrift in the Lost Decade (1841-1849)

   Marie Fernandina’s main goal was keeping France out of the conflagration exploding on the continent, a role she fulfilled admirably. Despite the horror stories from the East, and the potential for an even greater foe to emerge from the firestorm, the French government was more focused on cementing its ties to Padania and recovering from the damage of the Flemish insurrection. France maintained its largely isolationist stance as Prussia was defeated and Russia pushed towards revolution. Yet, when the Habsburgs turned and brutally began to assault the Rhineland, a new sense of panic swept French society. Though the government maintained its neutrality, the sight of Austrians marching up the Rhine caused great indignation in the realm. There were many “volunteer” divisions that found their way to Cologne, helping to forestall the Austrian onslaught only briefly before the revolutionary Kingdom imploded in 1847. France only was able to issue slight diplomatic condemnations of the events in the Rhineland and offer sanctuary to the King and his family, a smart choice as word that the Emperor planned to have him assassinated leaked out of Vienna.
   As a noncombatant, the French found themselves on the outside-looking-in for the Treaty of Breslau. French designs on Africa were ignored as the signatories pledged broad adherence to a future planned partition of the continent. Any illusions of a balance of power in Central Europe seemed to have been shattered, the Habsburg, Scandinavian, and Polish seizure of Prussian lands throwing that realm into chaos and unrest. The sight of mighty Russia, the colossus on the other side of Europe, easily drifting towards republicanism was alarming. In such an environment, where some in Paris feared that the Triple Alliance would turn on France next, the regime determined to intervene wherever threats would arise. Naples, despite its bad behavior, was placated, the two regimes signing the Treaty of Lucca in 1849, recognizing Neapolitan influence over Tuscany and Romagna in return for Naples abjuring any claim to Padania. This was squarely directed as Vienna. Spain received help in crushing the 1851 Basque Rebellion. Across the Atlantic, alliances were cultivated with Quebec, Louisiana, and Mexico.
   One of the benefits of the Great Eastern War and its aftermath emerged in the financial sector. France being the only major power not in a state of war or recovering from one, many bankers chose to relocate their operations to Paris. This was coupled with generous tax incentives, aimed at drawing them in. The government under Marie Fernandina also provided tremendous amounts of credit to both sides, further bolstering the financial status of the city. By 1850 it was clear that to get the economic pulse of the world, one need only look to Paris. Stock trading blossomed in such an environment and the French Franc was widely seen as the most reliable form of global currency.