Age of Steam and Steel: Gameplay Thread (user search)
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Spamage
spamage
Sr. Member
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Posts: 2,821
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« on: June 29, 2020, 07:21:37 PM »
« edited: July 02, 2020, 09:49:03 PM by Spamage »

Age of Steam And Steel
Turn 1: 1835
(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: Czar Peter IV Pavlovich Romanov (HenryWallace)
Kingdom of Prussia: King Frederick III Hohenzollern (jdb)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis III Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Kingdom of Quebec: King Louis Henry Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Republic of Brazil: President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos (Elcaspar)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Kingdom of Naples: King Francis I Bourbon (GoTfan)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: King William II of Orange-Nassau (JacksonHitchcock)
Tokugawa Shogunate: Shogun Tokugawa Ienari (Donerail)
Qing Dynasty: Yansheng Emperor (S019)
Xing Dynasty: Youfú Emperor (thumb21)
Confederation of New England: Chairman John Quincy Adams (NyIndy)
Eyalet of Egypt: Governor Reşid Mehmed Pasha (PSOL)
Joseon Korea: Queen Regent Sunwon (True Federalist)

Economic Standing:
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Strong
Kingdom of France: Strong
Kingdom of Quebec: Strong

Habsburg Monarchy: Moderate
Ottoman Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
Russian Empire: Moderate
Republic of Brazil: Moderate
Confederation of New England: Moderate
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Moderate
Joseon Korea: Moderate
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate
Kingdom of Louisiana: Moderate

Qing Dynasty: Weak
Xing Dynasty: Weak
Eyalet of Egypt: Weak


Popularity:
Governor Reşid Mehmed Pasha: High
King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: High
Emperor Francis III Habsburg: High
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: High
Chairman John Quincy Adams: High

King Louis Henry of Quebec: Moderate
King Frederick III of Prussia: Moderate
King Charles III of Britain: Moderate
President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos: Moderate
Czar Peter IV Romanov: Moderate
King Louis XVIII: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
Queen Regent Sunwon: Moderate
King William II of Orange: Moderate
King Francis I Bourbon: Moderate

Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: Low
Yansheng Emperor: Low

Current Global Conflicts:
Chinese Civil War: Qing Dynasty vs. Xing Dynasty vs. Guang Dynasty vs. Secessionists (1825-)
Persian Civil War: Zinatian Persia vs. Qajar Persia vs. Husaynian Persia vs. Secessionists vs. Durrani Empire, Khanate of Khiva (1833-)
Egyptian Rising: Ottoman Empire, Emirate of Tunis vs. Eyalet of Egypt (1831-)
Mexican War of Independence: Kingdom of Mexico vs. Kingdom of Spain (1828-)
Yucatan War of Independence: Yucatan State vs. Kingdom of Spain (1826-)
Colombian War of Independence: Republic of Colombia vs. Kingdom of Spain (1823-)
La Platan War of Independence: Union of La Plata, Republic of Chile vs. Kingdom of Spain (1827-)
Louisianan Intervention in Mexico: Kingdom of Louisiana vs. Kingdom of Spain (1833-)
Brazilian Intervention in La Plata: Republic of Brazil vs. Kingdom of Spain (1834-)
Haitian Revolution: Republic of Haiti vs. Kingdom of Spain (1831-)
Shan Insurrection: Shan State vs. Kingdom of France (1803-)

(Source: Self-Made)


Kingdom of France:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis XVIII, your patrimony has changed much over the past three decades. Increasingly the power of the monarchy is challenged as the various political parties squabble for influence. The Constitutional Charter of the French, implemented by your grandfather, has become part of the political status quo, but already demands have emerged for further changes. In the aftermath of the Silent Revolution the Liberals have become increasingly emboldened, some calling for a reformation of the government, the elimination of the chambers of the clergy and nobility, as well as land reform throughout the realm. The Socialists even go further, demanding the curtailing of your own power and the formation of a Republic. You enjoy the support of a broad base of conservatives and a growing reactionary camp, seeking to undo some of the advances of the Silent Revolution. How will you handle the domestic situation in France? Should the opposition be appeased in the spirit of continuing the reforms or is it time to stand up against impossible-to-please malcontents? The choice is yours.

-France has operated largely independently for decades now, remaining aloof from European conflicts and seeking to revel in its wealth. This Splendid Isolationism was popular at home, with the peace allowing for extended economic growth and innovation, yet, as the century has worn on, it is clear that your realm may soon need allies. The succession of Piedmont is disputed, insurrections smolder in the vast colonial empire, and nationalist winds are blowing. A growing faction in the government is calling for you to formally reject isolationism and find a partner in global affairs. Undoubtedly, France has one of the widest reaches of all the great powers. There are calls for intervention in the Americas, Egypt, China, and Persia from numerous different quarters. As to who a diplomatic partner could be, there is no consensus. Some believe you should aid your Bourbon cousins in Spain by helping them crush revolts in the New World. Others argue that Prussia and France share natural interests, though the Prussian public staunchly opposes calls from Paris to seize the west bank of the Rhine. Quebec and Louisiana too seem like natural allies, though there’s little areas where your alliance could be put into action, save against the British. Perhaps a rapprochement with Austria and Britain could be a possibility as well? King Louis, will you end Splendid Isolationism and forge a new path? If so, what will that be?

-The Shan uprising has been an issue plaguing your colony in Burma for more than thirty years. Although it’s been demonstrated that it’s easy to gain theoretical control over the region, holding it is another matter. Guerilla raids have repeatedly challenged the Armies of the Sacré-Cœur, killing stragglers, hampering supplies, and making life difficult. This has led to a semi-withdrawal, though there are some at Court seeking to launch yet another invasion, this time encouraging the employment of severe punishment for any forms of resistance. Others in France believe the rebellion demonstrates that the conversion of the region has been a failure and France should cease the practice of proselytizing in Burma, even if a portion of the coastal population has been converted.  

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Charles III, Britain stands as one of the most wealthy and prosperous nations on the planet. The birthplace of industrialization, it is your people who have seen firsthand the economic changes of the last half century. A new “rail-road” is being established between London and Brighton, promising ease of travel and transfer of resources. Coal production in the north explodes, as urban areas grow precipitously. As in France, these changes have caused some turmoil in domestic politics, between liberals and conservatives, with a small socialist population growing in the northern regions. With which party do your sympathies lie? What will be your policy on issues such as tariffs, land enclosure, trade unions, and agriculture vs industry?

-You possess a colonial empire, but one that is scattered and could be exposed to foreign pressure. Australia, in particular, is vulnerable to being cut off from Britain proper or the Americas should conflict arise with Prussia or the Ottomans. For this reason, some have demanded that you intervene to save the Egyptian Rebellion, perhaps taking the Suez as compensation for aid. Others believe and alliance with either Prussia or the Ottomans could head off any supply concerns and allow for the further expansion of British influence in Asia and the Pacific. Even France, a rival for more than a century, could provide the protection necessary to permit greater British expansion. Beyond the issues of supply, there are also calls in some quarters for greater British intervention in the Pacific Northwest, China, and Latin America. What will Britain’s policy towards the rest of the world be?

-A moral issue has been gnawing away at the soul of the British Empire for decades now: slavery. In Britain proper, abolitionist sentiments have long ago become the majority opinion, but the proportional representation of MPs from the southern colonies have prevented any action from being taken, much to the frustration of people in the metropole. The loss of New England to independence not only robbed the Empire of thousands of more abolitionist subjects, but it also supplied an example which could be followed by the slaveholding colonies in North America. The Middle Colonies (New York, Pennsylvania, Transylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey) have expressed ambivalence on the issue, though would likely back any abolition bill if proper incentives were given. At the same time, the numerous movements for independence in Latin America have all abolished slaveholding, so some think it is time to move on. The southern colonies are less populated than either Britain or the north, but some have noted that the population growth in that region is increasing. A wide variety of options have been proposed, though lately it seems many firms In Britain proper are threatening a boycott of southern cotton in favor of imports from French India until the matter is resolved. How will you handle this contentious issue?

Kingdom of Scandinavia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Frederick and Queen Catherine, your union sealed the ties between Sweden and Denmark, leading to the foundation of the Kingdom of Scandinavia. The Kalmar Union has been reforged and it could not have come at a more perfect time. To the east Russia eyes your territory in Finland and the Baltic states, while Prussia looks greedily towards Schleswig-Holstein. Although recognizing the King of Prussia as the Protector of the Germans in the region bought you some time, the public in Prussia has gotten more bellicose and nationalistic in the interim. With these threats it is time to find allies. While undoubtedly friendship with either Prussia or Russia could delay your issues with them for the time being, some in Stockholm believe a more lasting solution would involve befriending a stronger power to dissuade either of them. There are factions in favor of France, Britain, and the Habsburg Monarchy all operating in the capitol. How will protect the realm that was so painstakingly assembled?

-The past generation saw the establishment of a respectable colonial empire with bases in North America, the Virgin Islands, along the east coast of Africa, and in Gabon. This has opened the Scandinavian market to numerous raw goods and proved thus far to be quite lucrative. Will you actively expand the colonial empire further, perhaps through expeditions in the region, or is it more important to remain focused on defending Europe before further expansion elsewhere can be considered?

-With the union of Sweden Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland a wide variety of government traditions were united in the form of the Kingdom of Scandinavia. The sheer level of political authority this forging required necessarily increased the power of the Crown, which served as the primary means of centralization. Yet, in the interim the domestic political situation has evolved greatly, as a growing portion of the population demands a further democratization of the government, through the creation of an elected assembly, further limitations to royal authority, and a new constitution. Some see this as an opportunity to ensure that the realm is never divided and useful in preempting protests while others closer to the royal family fear a usurpation of the monarch’s power along the lines of the Silent Revolution in France. This domestic situation must be handled with great care. What is to be done?

Russian Empire:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Czar Peter IV, the last 50 years have been some of the most important in Russian history. With the Ottoman annexation of the Khanate of Crimea, the elimination of the Polish threat, and greater central control over the Cossacks, the Great Steppe can now be tamed. Czar Paul oversaw the establishment of numerous frontier settlements as immigrants have poured into the region. Russia’s population is exploding, millions of acres of land now cultivatable. Yet, as Russia’s demographic and economic strength rapidly rises, one indicator has lagged behind: industrialization. Opinion in Russia on this issue is mixed. The powerful nobility and Orthodox clergy see industrialization as a threat to the traditional social order, especially when coupled with the explosion of settlement in the south. The growing bourgeois population of St. Petersburg, on the other hand, believes that a forced implementation of practices like those adopted in France and Britain could yield numerous benefits, whatever the social cost. There is also the opinion of millions of serfs and peasants to consider. How will you handle this domestic situation?  

-With domestic prosperity and growth, Russia’s potential reach in foreign affairs has likewise grown. At the Court there are numerous interventionist factions jockeying for influence over policy. They can be divided into four camps, each with its own regional goals. The “Northerners” see the Scandinavian seizure of the Baltic region as well as the expansion of Finland as a grave insult to the memory of your namesake, Czar Peter the Great. They demand military action against the seemingly weaker rivals in that direction. The “Westerners” have focused instead on the problems of integrating the former Republic of Poland. They believe that in order to better shield the realm Russia ought to push west, either against the Prussians, Austrians, or distracted Ottomans. This would create an even larger buffer region should Russia be involved in a major war against other European powers. The “Southerners” desire further expansion into Central Asia, perhaps even direct intervention in the Persian Civil War. They view this as a means of further protecting the booming region in the Steppes. Finally, the “Easterners” see Russia’s future as involving intervention in China. They argue that the chaos in that region leaves Manchuria, Mongolia, and Xinjiang as prime areas for expansion. With your realm firmly established as a defender of autocracy and with vast military resources at your disposal, it is possible to appease multiple factions at once. How will you guide Russian foreign policy, Czar Peter?

-The region may be distant, but the tension in the Pacific Northwest is very real. Czar Paul laid claim to vast tracts of land along the coast, but this has been ignored by numerous other powers in the region. Quebec, Spain, and Britain have all established settlements on land your people see as Russian. This is not to mention Louisiana’s desire to do the same. It has been suggested in some quarters you call a conference to negotiate over the issue, though some see this as a sign of weakness. Others demand that you escalate the tension in the region by stationing more soldiers and forcibly resettling serfs. What will you do about the Pacific Crisis?

Habsburg Monarchy:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Emperor Francis III, the diplomacy, marriages, and deal-making of your ancestors has left you with one of the preeminent realms of Europe. Your grandfather’s efforts at establishing ethnic harmony in the Empire has had some success, drawing the ethnic Germans, Croats, Bohemians, and Hungarians into a well-established solidarity, but is has not been perfect. The Venetians remain resentful over the collapse of their republic, while Italy as a whole still remembers the brief ascendancy of Catholic Republicanism. The Poles too, of whom you gained a great deal as subjects during the partition of the Polish Republic, have proven obstinate. On top of this there remains numerous other minorities (the Slovaks, Slovenes, Romanians, and Serbs) that have felt resentment towards foreign domination. Some call for greater autonomy in the regions, though this could dilute your already challenged authority and lead to dissolution. How will you handle the ethnic mixture that is the Habsburg Monarchy?

-The Holy Roman Empire celebrated the millennium since the coronation of Charlemagne in 1800 amid much fanfare. The authority of the Emperor is at its strongest since the Protestant Reformation, due in part to the exit of most of the Protestants to the German League. Many believe that this, coupled with rising nationalism, could be used as a vehicle to push forward with centralization, though the effect this would have on your other territories such as Hungary and Bohemia, would likely be negative. Others believe that you should maintain the status quo, not wanting to alienate Prussia. Still the prospect remains that if you do not unify the Empire, someone else will. What are your broad aims for the direction of the Holy Roman Empire as a new era takes hold?

-Europe is not the same animal it was in the previous century. Demographics and economic power have shifted and many of your advisors believe that the foreign policy of the Habsburg Monarchy should adjust to this new reality. For this first time in almost a century it seems there could be a rapprochement with Prussia, especially if the French prove obstinate on the issue of the Piedmontese Succession. Russia too is far more powerful that is once was. Internal struggles have declined and that Empire looks outwards. Although you have historically been close, there is growing apprehension about the prospect of Russian support for the various Slavs under Habsburg rule. To your south the Ottomans appear distracted, but there is pushback to any idea of adding even more minorities to your realm. You will undoubtedly be a major player in foreign affairs, Emperor Francis, but what will this look like?
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Spamage
spamage
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,821
United States


« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2020, 07:24:06 PM »
« Edited: June 29, 2020, 07:32:02 PM by Spamage »

Kingdom of Prussia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Frederick III, it has been less than a century since your great-uncle Frederick II left the Holy Roman Empire, established the German League, and cemented Prussia’s place as one of the great powers of Europe. Although there were some setbacks in the 1780’s, the centralization of the German League has increased further. You must now decide how this body is to evolve going forward. Most of your fellow nobles seek continued autonomy, believing that allowing for individual princes to retain broad authority will attract some members of the Holy Roman Empire wary of Habsburg power. Nationalists, particularly in Prussia proper and Brandenburg, believe that the body should ultimately centralize and become a formal North German and Protestant unified state. Already, they argue, economic barriers have been eliminated, so why not eliminate political ones as well? With the sheer size of your direct territories dwarfing those of other members, you could likely push through most reforms without the consent of the other members. What will be your approach to the German League?

-Sitting on the great Eurasian plain, Prussia has always been vulnerable to foreign invasion. This has meant that foreign policy has consistently been one of the most important issues to dominate the court in Berlin. While peace has prevailed the last half-century, there are growing concerns. The military titan, France, shows signs of awakening, potentially threatening your fellow Germans in the Rhineland. Russia, to the east, gains more power each passing year. The Habsburg Monarchy meanwhile, Prussia’s enemy for almost a century now, potentially could centralize the rump remainder of the Holy Roman Empire. With your traditional ally, the Ottoman Empire, distracted by events in Egypt and Persia, and growing disputes with your other friends in Scandinavia over the issue of Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia must act to ensure it is not left alone in the sea of diplomacy. Some call for a dramatic diplomatic reorganization, perhaps by allying Austria, with whom you have a common interest in suppressing the Poles, others believe that the issue of the Piedmontese Succession could be used as an excuse to align with France and weaken Habsburg influence on all fronts. Russia too could become a friend, perhaps if you joined them in challenging the Baltic strength of a unified Scandinavia. How will Prussia navigate this contentious period?

-Your colonial empire is vast. Prussian possessions include South Africa, Guyana, the coast of Angola, and numerous trading ports in Zanzibar, Namibia, and Madagascar. It is expected that the colonies will only grow as a source of Prussian wealth over time. With that in mind, will you seek to expand them? How will you approach nearby disputes such as the collapse of Spanish authority in the Americas, the growing controversy of the Prussian-led slave trade, or the potential control you exert over trade between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, more vital than ever given disputes over the Suez Canal in Egypt?

Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Sultan Mustafa, the wretched Egyptians have risen against your rule, threatened the Suez, and challenged your long-established hegemony over the Near East. Yet, last year your armies were victorious and the potential for the pacification of Egypt is at hand. Only foreign intervention, or perhaps a high degree of Egyptian craftiness, poses a serious threat to your advancing forces. How will you ensure the European powers don’t seize the chance to take the Suez from your grasp? What will be done to ensure the war is won?

-The Persian Civil War is unseemly, and there are some in Istanbul who believe that you should take a more active role in the conflict. Of particular concern is the Kurdish separatists who have taken control over northwestern Persia, with their brethren under your rule undoubtedly taking notice. Another alarming prospect is the anti-Turkish nature of the Zinatian and Qajar factions in the conflict, each vowing in their own way to reverse your successes in the region. Still, some advisors believe that joining a second war while Egypt still is fighting you could result in overextension and disaster, let alone the prospect of Russian intervention to the north. How will you approach the Persian Civil War?

-Your realm is perhaps one of the most diverse in the region. Turks, Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Bosnians, Serbians, Assyrians, Arabs, Azerbaijani, and Georgians all call the Ottoman Empire home. Yet, this also means you are one of the powers most vulnerable to the rising tide of nationalism, as the recent events in Egypt demonstrate. Of particular concern is the situation in the Balkans, where a religious divide exists on top of cultural alienation. How will you handle the nationalist situation? Some are calling for a brutal crackdown on the alleged secret societies forming, while others believe that appeasement and compromise is the correct path forward. Many argue that your actions here may drive the fate of the region for the next two decades.

Kingdom of the Netherlands:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King William II, it is no secret the past century has not been kind to the Netherlands. The southern provinces were seized by France, South Africa taken by Prussia. While the realm was collapsing, domestic politicians were too busy fighting with one another over monarchism and republicanism to do anything about it. Yet, your people endured. From the ashes, great potential remains. The Netherlands maintains a colonial empire, with the East Indies, Ceylon, and New Holland all remaining firmly in your control. Although with the loss of the Cape Colony, supply has proven to be a difficulty, many believe that action now could resolve the issue. What will your colonial policy be? Will you expand trade in East Asia? How will you ensure that the Netherlands is no longer beholden to Prussia and the Ottomans in order to access its colonies?

-At the end of the last century you saw the writing on the wall and acquiesced to a coup that saw your father removed from the throne. This involved compromise and the establishment of a Constitution. With several decades on the throne, you have gained both experience and extensive political capital. Your consort Queen Karoline Amalie of Hesse-Kassel and son Crown Prince William both have urged you to use this to undermine the constitution, or perhaps abandon it entirely, seeking to restore absolutism in the Netherlands. It is expected that the Army would support such a move. Many of your advisors see this as a mistake, fearing a repeat of events in the last century. Most of the Admiralty seems to caution any moves against the Constitutional monarchy. How shall your government proceed?

-Nationalism is rising in the Netherlands, just as in the rest of Europe. The French seizure of the southern provinces still outrages your populace, who seek redress and want to restore union with not only Limburg and Noord Brabant, but also the entirety of Flanders. There is growing concern about the actions of radicals using the Dutch border to organize terrorism in the southern region, much to the outrage of local French officials. Yet, these terrorists to the French are seen as patriots among the vast majority of Netherlanders. What will your policy be regarding the lost provinces of the Netherlands?

Kingdom of Quebec:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis Henry, as the namesake of both your father Prince Henry of Prussia and Grandfather Louis-Philippe de Vaudreuil, you personally symbolize the union of Prussian and French that is the Kingdom of Quebec. Although the role of monarch was initially constitutional, the last few decades have caused the power of the crown to increase rapidly in the realm. Your population booms, settlers from France and Northern Germany generally preferring to migrate westwards towards the vast prairies, some intrepid pioneers even reaching the Pacific Ocean. While among the general population this westward expansion is highly popular, it has led to problems with Russia, Britain, Spain, and Louisiana in the Pacific Northwest, as well as numerous Native Americans in the central portion of the continent. With the British-backed Sioux League serving as an example of a sovereign American Indian nation, tensions are running high on the frontiers of your realm. How will you address this issue?

-Quebec, along with Brazil, is seen as one of the leading powers in the New World. Traditionally you have been identified with moderate, semi-constitutional monarchism, while Brazil is seen as the heartland of republicanism. With the eruption of rebellion in Latin America and Haiti, some rebel factions have looked to you for support. Though it is far, some believe even financial aid or the supply of officers could prove decisive. Others are wary of Britain to the south and believe your efforts should be focused on expanding into British North America instead. Louisiana could prove to be a good friend on that issue. What will be your diplomatic priority?

-Quebec is divided between four distinct political parties: The Conservative Union (conservative, Francophile party founded by your grandfather, anti-immigrant), the Whigs (liberal, generally pacifist and isolationist), the Prussian Alliance (reactionary German migrant party), and the Labor Party (socialist). Currently the Conservative Union and the Prussian Alliance are active in a coalition government, though your influence could likely change the arrangement, with the Prussian Alliance wholly backing your prerogative. In truth, the popularity of the Conservative Union is not what it once was, given a series of scandals involving the leadership. Some advisors to the Crown believe that if you were to align with the Whigs, a potentially embarrassing electoral defeat in the 1838 Parliamentary elections could be avoided. Others argue doing so would endanger the monarchy. How will domestic politics be tackled, King Louis Henry?

Kingdom of Louisiana:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis-Philippe II, you find yourself embroiled in a war with Spain, the prospect of adding Texas to your realm too enticing to pass up. Indeed, settlers from Louisiana had already started settling the area before war was declared, so there’s little to no resistance from the inhabitants of the region. Yet, Spain has struck back, recapturing the Rio Grande and establishing a clear line of communication with New Mexico and California. Many advise forming an alliance with the Mexican rebels, perhaps even offering one of your younger sons as a potential King. Others believe that tying yourself to Quebec and Britain will create the necessary pressure to force the Spanish to concede the territory. How will you prosecute the war?

-Louisiana has prided itself as being a moderate, semi-constitutional monarchy. A Bill of Rights and Constitution were propagated in the 1790s, ensuring freedom of speech, among other rights. While this was popular, there have been some ill-effects. Thousands of disgruntled Catholic Republicans, fed up with the triumph of monarchism in Europe, saw Louisiana and Brazil as viable destinations for resettlement. Although initially their numbers were quite small, there has been a growing anti-monarchical movement in some areas of your realm and, in response, growing calls to limit the ability of malcontents to question the power of the Crown. Would you support such measures, even if it means potentially compromising on some of your democratic values? Or should free speech be permitted, even if it means the occasional embarrassing article and anti-monarchical tirade?

-Westward expansion has become a major goal of many Louisianans, eager to gain a port on the Pacific. This is why your father expanded Louisiana’s claims and negotiated with the British. Yet, this goal is under threat. The Pacific Northwest is a highly sought-after region, as is evidenced by the presence of numerous foreign powers in the region. Thus far, all Louisiana has is a small Fort Louis-Philippe at the junction of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Will you expand the influence of Louisiana in the area? Should diplomacy be the solution? There’s also the option of sending settlers in that direction as Quebec has done. The choice is yours…

Kingdom of Naples:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Francis, you rule at a unique point in the history of Naples. Your realm survived the turmoil of the Sardinian Revolution very narrowly, the royal family requiring the aid of Bourbon cousins in Spain and France to end the threat of Italian union under the Holy People’s Republic. Yet, today, you are seen as Italy’s only hope. With the extinguishing of the Revolution and the partition of the north between France and Austria, you are the only truly independent Italian state. At a time when nationalism is on the rise, most of your subjects would have you use your status to unify the peninsula and expel the foreigners. Yet, the revival of the idea of a unified Italy remains unpopular, particularly among the nobility, who have difficulty separating the idea from the radical Catholic Republicanism of half a century ago. How will you approach this sensitive matter in a way that will preserve your crown?

-Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the Kingdom of Naples is in the prime position to expand south as well. With the Ottomans focused on the Egyptian Rebellion and the Persian Civil War, your generals have urged you to strike south and eliminate either Tunis or Algeria. This would have the dual benefit of establishing a Neapolitan colonial empire as well as eliminating the Barbary piracy that has intermittently plagued the waters around your realm for more than three centuries. The counter-argument is that, if North Africa is easy to grab, it will be hard to hold, many pointing to the experience of Austria in Cyrenaica in the last century. Will you strike south?

-Your realm is absolutist, your power over Naples complete. But it is not without its opponents. Increasingly inspired by realms such as France, Britain, and the Netherlands, there are growing calls among some of your subjects for the people of Naples to be given expanded rights, a constitution, and for liberal economic reforms to be implemented. At Court this is highly unpopular, the nobility making it clear they will brook little compromise with the liberals and seeing this as a plot by Catholic Republicans to undermine the government. Others, including career officials, emphasize the growing need for popular approval and argue you should offer some sort of compromise, however cosmetic. Will you challenge the political status quo, even if it means ceding rights, or should Naples remain a strong, absolutist state in the Bourbon tradition?

Republic of Brazil:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos, as the leader of one of the few surviving republics in the world, you have a unique responsibility among the leaders of the world. Brazil is strong, but it is not without threats. Your nation has intervened in the rebellions against Spain, seeking to expand to the south and supporting the Colombians in the north. Yet, the further south the armies of the Republic have advanced, the more alienated your erstwhile allies, the La Platan rebels, have become. Many citizens, fueled by nationalism, are calling for you to continue to expand, fighting the rebels if it comes to that, as they believe the land in that region ought to belong to Brazil. Others urge you to either reach an understanding with the La Platans or use Spain’s various conflicts to propose a peace deal. How will you approach the immediate issue of the Latin American Wars of Independence?

-Your nation has two conflicting traditions in regards to republicanism. While both express shared antipathy towards monarchism and crowned heads, they diverge in their aims. The liberal, democratic tradition was the initial ethos of the Brazilian state, fostered by your predecessor the late José da Silva Lisboa (1756-1834). This is a secular, bourgeois republicanism aimed at tolerance, moderation, and free expression. While it was unquestioned while da Silva Lisboa, in the year since his death Catholic Republicanism has become evident in the lower classes, who no longer feel bound by their respect for Lisboa. This is a more authoritarian republicanism, seeking to combine the teaching of the Catholic Church with a strong state, militant anti-Monarchism, and social reform. As the first President not to be overshadowed by the founder of the republic, you can set the course Brazil should follow over the next few years. Will you challenge the established liberal republicanism and replace it with Catholic republicanism? Or should the old order in Brazil, one of tolerance and liberty, be preserved, even if it means angering vocal radicals?

-As the 1800’s has progressed, the Brazilian permission of slavery is becoming increasingly odious. Both at home and abroad many have castigated the Republic (founded to defend slavery following Queen Maria’s attempts to outlaw it) for its continued permission of the practice. Yet, it has its supporters, namely the landed elites, for whom the economic situation has worked well in the past few decades. They argue the republic would be unable to staff its extensive sugar and coffee plantations. How will you address this sensitive topic?
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Spamage
spamage
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,821
United States


« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2020, 07:25:30 PM »
« Edited: July 03, 2020, 11:48:19 AM by Spamage »

Confederation of New England:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Chairman John Quincy Adams, the Confederation of New England is still a young nation. It has not even been a half century since brave men, of which your late father was one, stood up against British tyranny and declared independence with the aid of Quebec. The politics of New England was initially dominated by your northern neighbor, but in the last decade or so true independence has emerged. With that independence has come freedom of action and diplomacy, but also concern over the safety of your nation. It is clear that some sort of foreign ally will be necessary, however unpopular a prospect that is with your proud fellow citizens. Some believe that you ought to reaffirm your ties with Quebec, seeing Britain as too much of a threat. These people would have you seek to liberate your former brethren that still sit under the British yoke. Others would have you change course and seek friendship with Britain against Quebec. Of course, there is also the possibility of finding a distant benefactor to ward off potential threats, such as France, Scandinavia, or far-off Brazil. How will New England face the world?

-New England is young, and domestic politics is still yet to calcify into any secure order. Many in your cabinet argue that the Articles of Union signed during the Second French and Indian War, which bound Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont together were too weak, leaving too much power in the hands of local assemblies and towns. They would have you call a constitutional convention and remake the government in a more sensible fashion. The opposition counters and threatens protest and revolt if their liberty is challenged. Will you organize a constitutional convention? It is clear your party would have the votes to do so should you desire…

-As in Quebec, high rates of immigration from the Old World is leading to some tensions between the established population and newcomers. Unlike Quebec, most of the immigrants to New England come from Scotland or Ireland. Some see the resources of the Confederation as strained, trying to integrate too many newcomers too fast. It’s true that property prices have gone up and local cities have exploded in size, the new dwellings constructed being less than acceptable. Still, with the first factories opening in Boston, others believe that immigration will fuel the future of the region. What will your policy be on immigration?

Tokugawa Shogunate:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
-Shogun Tokugawa Ienari, governing Japan for nearly five decades, you are the global leader with the most experience. Your reign has seen a new effort at opening Japan to the world and fostering innovation, at the same time spurring backlash among the conservatives and those who believe the outside world has little to offer. Yet, you have grown old. There is a sneaking suspicion that your foes are waiting for your death to unleash a counter-revolution and restore the old ways to Japan. The opposition is seen as centered around the Emperor and other feudal lords, a group thought chastened forty years ago in the early part of your rule. While your son Ieyoshi seems more than capable, there are those in your inner circle calling for a preemptive strike. How will you handle internal dissent? Crush it or could suppression risk causing the sort of escalation you are seeking to avoid?

-The shogunate currently has a very convoluted, but also traditional administrative system in Japan. In addition to numerous feudal lords and families, your government consists of ōmetsuke, san-bugyō, rōjū, among many others. The most reformist of your advisors would have you dismantle or substantially reform this system along western lines, removing centuries of institutional memory but perhaps cutting back on internal intrigue and creating greater effectiveness. They see centralization and codification as a necessary step forward. Moderates insist that reforms should be limited, perhaps keeping the traditional titles but expanding their roles somewhat, if change is even necessary at all. Of course, conservatives charge that western models of government are fundamentally alien to Japan and the existing system has proven more than adequate for preserving the Tokugawa Shogunate for more than three centuries. Some question why there is even talk of reform, given the peace and gradual growth in the realm over the past few decades. Will you take any action to reform the government?

-As Japan has looked outward, foreign opportunities have become increasingly evident, primarily in China. As the Qing Dynasty has collapsed into civil war and ethnic conflict, there are those in Edo who see a path for Japanese intervention as one of the first major expeditions abroad of your regime. Concessions could probably be taken from any of the Emperors of China, but there are many afraid that operating outside of Japan could lead to backlash and power vacuums at home. This is not to mention the potential threat posed by other powers with interests in the area, such as France and Russia. What will be your main foreign priorities in this time of turmoil abroad?

Eyalet of Egypt:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Governor Resid Muhammad Pasha, the situation is grave. The Turks have smashed your armies in the Sinai and in Cyrenaica, leaving them on your doorstep. While neither force disintegrated, and the Ottoman forces are divided, Egypt faces the prospect of having to fend off an invasion of the homeland. What will your military strategy be to hold back the Ottomans? How will your forces be arranged?

-There is a chance for salvation, but it will be difficult. All of Europe has watched the developments in the Egyptian Rebellion thus far, that much is clear. Yet, none of the other powers have involved themselves. It is your job to convince them, perhaps by offering the Suez as a reward. Undoubtedly France, Prussia, Austria, Scandinavia, and Britain would all be willing to give your diplomats a hearing if such a great reward were offered. Their aid could prove crucial in expelling the Turks and restoring order. If not, there’s always the vain hope that the Turks could be dissuaded through the offer of a truce, though this is perhaps less likely. Who will you approach to secure foreign aid in your struggle, be in mere supplies or full-blown military support?

-Thus far the Egyptian Rebellion has been an Arab affair, driven by local Arab leaders and fought almost entirely by Muslims. Still, Egypt has a vast Coptic population that perhaps could be motivated to join the fight if concessions were made to them. Certainly, the sight of Christian Egyptian soldiers holding back the Muslim Ottoman invaders would be a propaganda victory. While devout Muslims in your army have urged you not to compromise, the western-educated reformists see it as too good of an opportunity to pass up. What will you do?

Joseon:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Regent Sunwon, much has changed in Korea in the last few years. If has been almost a half century since the westerners began to arrive in the region in full force, seeking to force themselves upon the established order. They were repelled and Joseon has endured, but not without cost. Recently, yet another delegation of Jesuits has arrived at your court, seeking for you to allow them to operate in your realm, much to the outrage of many in Seoul. There has already been some evidence of covert Catholic operations in Joseon. Still this is just one of a long train of trade companies, merchants, missionaries, anthropologists, and many others that have arrived from the west, seeking to infiltrate Korea. Could there be benefits from doing so? Or would this permitting of foreigners in the realm undermine your rule and lead to colonization?

-Your grandson’s realm sits exposed. With Japan having emerged from its sleep, finding some sort of ally is a must. Korea must not end up like Burma, the Philippines, or the East Indies. Some believe you should reverse the course of Korean policy over the last few decades and make an alliance with the Qing Dynasty, perhaps even by sending token aid to destroy the rebels, but their power is not what it once was. There have also been alternative proposals of attacking the Qing now they are distracted and securing the northern border with some sort of buffer zone. Others see your salvation lying with Russia who, though technically nearby, has thus far not shown any intention of aggressive expansion south. Of course, attempting to negotiate with Japan is a possibility as well, however unlikely any sort of lasting settlement is. What will Joseon’s foreign policy be?

-Internally, there is growing tension between your family the Andong Kim clan and the family of your daughter-in-law, the the Pungyang Jo clan. This factionalism seems to extend to all levels of Court, with rumors abounding there are plots against you led by the Jo, some implicating your daughter-in-law as attempting to replace you. Should you respond with plots of your own? Perhaps direct action? Or should an attempt be made to reconcile with Queen Shinjeong?

Qing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Yansheng Emperor, your realm is in a state of chaos, the proud people of China resenting a push to rapidly westernize along the lines of the Europeans. Two rebel factions are seeking to take the Mandate of Heaven and destroy your family’s centuries-long hold over China, the Xing and the Guang. Although control of the north has been secured, and Manchuria is firmly loyal, your forces in the south have been scattered. Only a lone army mans Hunan Province, while most of the Yangtze River has been lost to the Xing usurpers. This war will require great foresight and strategy. How will you preserve your inheritance?

-Your dynasty’s push to modernize China may have led to backlash and rebellion, but it has also given your officials unique contact with western officials, who may be loathe to see China seal itself off once more should your rivals triumph. The reformists in Beijing are calling on you to use trade ties with France, Britain, Spain, or the Netherlands to gain either direct military aid or at very least modern weaponry and supply. While such a strategy could provide much needed support, it also has the risk of increasing the number of your subjects who resent the breakneck pace of change over the past few decades. What is to be done?

-As soon as the rebellions began in China proper, most of the non-Han subjects seized their chance for independence. Mongolia, the Hui, Yi, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Nepal have all renounced your overlordship. Yet, these regions could prove to be strategically valuable. Some of your generals would have you recognize the independence of these minor states in order to use them against your rivals, though this would be a serious blow to your prestige and could have the converse effect of causing you to lose the Mandate of Heaven in the eyes of even more people. You could also strike at these factions before they are able to consolidate their hold of the regions, even if it means diverting resources from the main conflict. How will you deal with the western separatists?

Xing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

- Youfú Emperor, it is time that the Manchus be driven from the realm. Thousands of peasants have swarmed to your banners, seeking to rectify the mistakes of the old government. With their support most of the Yangtze has been secured, but the novelty of your rising has worn off and the Qing are poised to defend the north. China is in a state of disarray, not even factoring all of the various separatist factions that have arisen. How will you secure the Mandate of Heaven and restore order to China?

-The Qing were quick to embrace contact with the West and that has meant there has been an infiltration of missionaries, merchants, and other foreigners into the heart of your lands. With your rebellion, some supporters are calling for the foreigners to be expelled or even executed, yet it is feared that such an act could provoke reprisals from the distant powers. There is also a question about what the fate of Chinese converts to western ways should be? It has been noted how much of a disruption some of these newly Christianized communities have been towards the traditional Chinese way of life. What is to be done?

-The Guang Dynasty in the south has proposed a ceasefire between your two factions in order to defeat the Qing and drive the Manchus from China. While this would secure your south and allow for direct operations in the north, it is also possible this could give them a time to consolidate their hold over the region while your men do all the bleeding, leaving you vulnerable after a victory in the north. How will you respond to the offer from your erstwhile adversaries?
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Spamage
spamage
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« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2020, 07:31:11 PM »
« Edited: July 01, 2020, 07:05:29 PM by Spamage »

Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
100,000 Army of St. Petersburg
55,000 Army of Poland
125,000 Army of Ukraine
25,000 Army of Kazakhstan
70,000 Army of the East
50,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 425,000 more)

Kingdom of France
120,000 Army of Northern France
80,000 Army of Southern France
80,000 Army of Bengal
40,000 Army of Gujarat
29,000 Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 370,000 more)

Habsburg Monarchy
100,000 Army of Austria and Bavaria
90,000 Army of Italy
50,000 Army of Bohemia
50,000 Army of Poland
40,000 Army of Transylvania
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 350,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
100,000 Army of Brandenburg
80,000 Army of East Prussia
80,000 Army of Poland
30,000 Army of Hanover
10,000 Army of the Cape
5,000 Army of Guyana
5,000 Army of Angola
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 210,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
100,000 Army of Britain
60,000 Army of Pennsylvania
30,000 Army of Georgia
20,000 Army of the Mississippi
10,000 Army of Australia
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 250,000 more)

Qing Dynasty
100,000 Army of Shangdong
80,000 Army of Shanxi
70,000 Army of Manchuria
70,000 Army of Hunan
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 100,000 more)

Ottoman Empire
80,000 Army of the Levant
60,000 Army of the Balkans
50,000 Army of Iraq
45,000 Army of Cyrenaica
30,000 Army of Istanbul
25,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 110,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
100,000 Army of Jiangsu
100,000 Army of Hubei
80,000 Army of Wuhan
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 75,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
80,000 Army of Spain
60,000 Army of Mexico
50,000 Army of Peru
30,000 Army of the Llanos
30,000 Army of Ecuador
20,000 Army of Uruguay
20,000 Army of Cuba
20,000 Army of California
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 45,000 more)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
85,000 Army of Stockholm
75,000 Army of Finland
5,000 Army of Liberia
5,000 Army of Eritrea
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 170,000 more)

Tokugawa Shogunate
70,000 Army of Edo
50,000 Army of the North
20,000 Army of Kyoto
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 150,000 more)

Kingdom of the Netherlands
85,000 Army of Amsterdam
20,000 Army of the East Indies
10,000 Army of New Holland
5,000 Army of Ceylon
15,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 125,000 more)

Republic of Brazil
50,000 Army of the South
40,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 120,000 more)

Kingdom of Quebec
80,000 Army of Quebec
15,000 Army of the Frontier
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 115,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
70,000 Army of Naples
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 100,000 more)

Joseon Korea
50,000 Army of the North
40,000 Army of the South
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 65,000 more)

Kingdom of Louisiana
60,000 Army of Texas
30,000 Army of New Orleans
10,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 40,000 more)

Eyalet of Egypt
75,000 Army of Egypt
5,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 20,000 more)

Confederation of New England
45,000 Army of New England
5,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 45,000 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)
Confederation of New England (Innovative, Small)
Kingdom of Prussia (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of the Netherlands (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Standard)
Kingdom of Spain (Modernized, Massive)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Limited)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Limited)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Small)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Modified, Standard)
Tokugawa Japan (Modified, Standard)
Qing Dynasty (Traditional, Sizable)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Traditional, Limited)
Eyalet of Egypt (Traditional, Small)

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Spamage
spamage
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« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2020, 04:31:49 PM »
« Edited: July 03, 2020, 07:37:46 PM by Spamage »

1835 Midturn Update

Antonio José de Sucre Assassinated!
Royalist Generals Seize Government!
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

    Executive Commander Sucre seemed to have tamed the discordant factions in Colombian politics when he came to power in 1832, uniting moderate revolutionaries, monarchists, staunch republicans, and various prominent generals into a formidable movement. Yet, news has now emerged that on the evening of April 3rd, 1835 the leader of the Colombian Revolution was gunned down while riding between his army and Bogota. What followed next has caused numerous suspicions to arise as to who could have been responsible.
    The National Assembly in Bogota immediately placed the blame on the government of Spain, who denied any wrongdoing. Even so, Madrid openly celebrated the death of that "rebel fiend." Others saw the likely culprit as one the various egotistical generals or opportunistic political factions in the government. Given the numerous divergent interests of the Colombian rebels, there was undoubtedly plenty of incentive to assassinate Sucre.
    It only took a week after Sucre's death for the weak republican government to be toppled. A cabal of royalist officers has revealed themselves, seized control of the civilian assembly, organized an Executive Regency Council, and declared their intention to crown a foreign prince as the King of Colombia. They allege that without Sucre's charisma to guide them the movement risks scattering unless it gains a foreign ally. Naturally, the hasty response from the monarchists has raised the objections of many republicans, who have accused them of plotting to kill Sucre. Furthermore, several generals, undoubtedly who had their eyes on the now vacant position, expressed shock at the pace of events. Younger princes in Quebec, Britain, and Louisiana are seen as primary candidates for the throne, though the Executive Regency Council has announced that it will entertain almost any dynasty, so long as their family commits to securing Colombian Independence.
    The most silent group in all of this political tension has been the common people, who have greatly mourned Sucre. At his funeral in the capitol, streets were filled with mourners out for revenge. Their rage was only calmed by a compassionate sermon by the Bishop of Bogota, urging the people to defend Sucre's memory by defeating the "Imperialists." Enlistments have rapidly increased as the determination to achieve Colombian Independence seems as strong as ever. Sucre will undoubtedly be seen as a national hero, but the fate of the movement he fought to hard to build remains to be seen. It is notable that public opinion is indifferent, at best, to the prospect of a monarchy, the formation of the Kingdom more the result of elite scheming than genuine popular will. With the Spaniards continuing to operate, it seems the war could still go either way...


Corporate Trade Through the Suez Declines By 40% Over Political Concerns
Prices of Tobacco, Sugar, Cotton, and Other Goods Rise in Europe
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

     Even though the Suez Canal has thus far remained fully operational over the course of the Egyptian Rebellion, growing tension in the region and the expressed concerns of several foreign governments seems to have warded off many trading vessels. For the first half of the year, local officials are estimating a 40% decline in economic traffic through the waterway. Operating outside of the government, numerous private firms have decided to wait the ultimate outcome of the Egyptian Rebellion before commencing trade through the valuable canal. There companies have expressed concern over Ottoman threats to close the canal, growing tensions between European Capitals and Istanbul, as well as the possibility of Egyptian attacks on their vessels. There is also the concern of damage to vessels or outright expropriation of goods by either side in the conflict. Instead trade has either been postponed or rerouted through the Cape Colony and around Africa.
     The economic effects have been felt immediately, especially in realms with foreign colonies in Asia that relied on the shortcut provided by the Suez. Some of the firms that have ceased operations in the area for the time being include companies from France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the Habsburg Monarchy. Due to the lowered supply and the increased costs of transporting materials the long way round, prices have begun to rise rapidly in Europe. Some in France and Britain have expressed concern about potential long-term economic effects of higher prices, including the shuttering of manufacturies unable to cope with high material costs, higher consumer goods costs, potential shortages, and the risk of unemployment in some of the recently urbanized areas.
     How the governments of Europe will react to the actions of their firms remains to be seen. For now, the public across the continent has been fairly understanding, though there's an open question of how long that will last. Interestingly, some of the powers least affected by the decline in traffic have been the two combatants themselves. Although the taxes imposed on transit have been lucrative, it is not the primary source of revenue for the Ottoman treasury. The decline of the Suez for the time being has been beneficial to both Brazil and Prussia, however, who are seeing increased demand for their own materials and greater rates of transit around Africa.
     Some economists in Europe are arguing that if the governments were to offer the businesses subsidies to continue to operate through the canal, perhaps the trade would recover somewhat. This could prove expensive for powers with a lot of trade in the region, however. Others believe that the situation is one of short-term panic, and will resolve itself when the situation becomes a bit clearer. Even so, the importance of the Suez has been emphasized over the past few months as everyone braces for potential continued economic reverberations.
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« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2020, 12:12:24 AM »
« Edited: July 11, 2020, 12:36:01 AM by Spamage »

1835 News of the World

ORIENTAL CRISIS EXPANDS
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Seven Power Intervention in the Suez
  The developments in the Near East clearly raised a sense of alarm in Europe, especially over unchallenged access to the Suez Canal. A flurry of negotiations led to the formation of a massive coalition, solely united with the goal of taking control of the vital waterway and limiting Ottoman chances at resistance. Two expeditions by the Europeans saw the Ottomans expelled from their prized possession, though at great cost in manpower and morale for the invaders. A sizable Russian, Prussian, and Scandinavian fleet assembled in the Baltic, sailing along the west coast of Europe and being gradually joined by the British, French, and Habsburg vessels. Aboard each contingent was 10,000 soldiers, sent to secure the Suez Canal from the north. When this fleet arrived in mid-August, the Ottomans were somewhat caught off-guard. Their main forces were either battling the Egyptians for control of the Nile Delta or securing the Sinai Peninsula. Although this meant they were in the area, the forts at the northern entrance of the Suez were shelled, stunned into rapidly surrendering.
   Simultaneously a separate French, Scandinavian, and Dutch expedition was organized in the Red Sea, breaking into the Suez Gulf and caught in the middle of the Egyptian retreat across the water from that Peninsula after their defeat at the Battle of Abu Zenima just days prior. This hectic scene delayed the progress of the Europeans and blew their cover, giving the Ottomans time to reinforce the southern entrance after news spread of the fall of the north.
   The allied fleet was bogged down in a miserable battle. A small Ottoman contingent of ships proved damaging, but more men would be lost landing and seizing the forts guarding the southern entrance of the Suez. Although the Ottoman garrisons would surrender after a week of shelling, the losses for the European Seven Power Alliance were substantial here. Members of the French, Dutch, and Scandinavian governments have argued that the men they have lost ought to give them a greater share of control over the future of the waterway.
   Thus, the Suez was seized, the Seven Power Alliance using numerous incentives to entice their mercantile fleets back through. This has yielded some success, more due to the new trade opportunities caused by Dutch, Prussian, Scandinavian, French, and Habsburg efforts at expanding their colonial holdings in the Far East. The future of the canal is a tense topic and some speculate it could rupture the tenuous alliance that has so recently been established here.
   In the Ottoman Empire the seizure of the Suez has been met with utter fury. A nationalist wave has rippled through the Turkish regions, the popularity of the Sultan skyrocketing as his subjects rally around the flag and against the foreign interference in their national affairs. This feeling has only been exacerbated by news that the Scandinavians supplied the Egyptians with arms in their uprising. Most in Istanbul see the seizure of the Suez as an act of naked imperialism and it has led to several riots specifically targeting western diplomats in the city, though no one has been reported harmed.

War in Egypt Proper
  Alongside the sudden European intervention, the war in Egypt continued apace in 1835. The Ottoman fleet smashed a frantic Egyptian attempt to raid their shipping and placed Alexandria and the Nile under blockade, securing naval supremacy and all but eliminating the Egyptian fleet.
On land, however, the situation was much more mixed for the Turks. 50,000 men of the Egyptian army repulsed an offensive moving east from the 45,000-man Army of Cyrenaica, making gains in the region and entering Ottoman-held territory. The Egyptian defense was aided by a conscious effort to construct defensive positions and the presence of foreign weaponry, though the source of said weapons has not yet been made clear.
   The second half of the Ottoman offensive, which was aimed at Cairo, involved the movement of the Army of the Levant from Palestine into Egypt. There they intercepted an Egyptian force likewise going on the offensive, just outside the Suez Canal. At the Battle of Tanis the Ottomans beat back the Egyptian force, blunting any thoughts of an offensive towards the Sinai, but the ensuing aftermath has been brutal. The Egyptians have engaged in a bitter defense of the Nile Delta, fighting bogging down in the waterlogged region. Crossing each of the numerous branches of their vital waterway has become a deadly activity, Egyptian gunmen shooting down the Ottomans. The August flooding of the Nile made transportation a nightmare and news of the events at the Suez caused confusion in the Turkish supply lines, though Ottoman naval superiority has ensured supply has not yet become an issue. In the meantime, Egyptian commanders have constructed a network of fortifications around Cairo, ensuring that even if the Ottomans gain supremacy over the Delta, there will be some avenue for defense.
   The sole bright spot for the Ottomans has been the total and utter seizure of the Sinai. Not only was an Egyptian offense there prevented by the Battle of Tanis, but the army sent from the Balkans and Iraq smashed the local Egyptian garrison, ending their pretensions in that region. That area is solely under the sway of Istanbul.
   Egypt faces a daunting prospect though. With the violence raging in the Nile Delta, some of the finest farmland has been utterly spoiled by the back and forth fighting of the past few months. With no substantial harvest in this region, there is great concern in the Eyalet about the prospect of famine unless an outside benefactor provides material aid. It is very well possible the rebellion could be ended not by defeat on the battlefield, but empty cupboards at home. The Ottomans retain a substantial numerical advantage and, although the seizure of the Suez gave a brief hope that the European Seven Power Alliance would aid the Egyptian struggle, these hopes seem to have been dashed for the time being, the focus of the other states being on reopening trade and filling their coffers. Still, whoever the mysterious power that sent them aid is (expected to be either the Habsburgs, Russians, or Scandinavians based on their actions in Persia), undoubtedly could be an influential ally if Egypt was able to coerce them into outright recognition.
   Rival pleas for the loyalty of the Copts, Jews, and other minorities seem to have cancelled themselves out for the time being, both powers promising rewards to those that join them. It appears most groups have ultimately adopted a wait-and-see approach to the fighting before committing, though this could come too late for the beleaguered Egyptian cause if there are not further successes in 1836…

Russians Strike South
Khanate of Khiva Destroyed as Scandinavia is Expelled from Persia by Qajars
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Russian Expeditions
  Czar Peter IV proved decisive in taking action in foreign policy, his gaze turning towards the chaos in Persia and the vulnerability of other powers taking advantage of it. Joined by Prussia in his declaration of war (though they would not take any action) the army of Kazakhstan smashed into the distracted Khanate of Khiva who, though long wary of Russian aggression, was too focused on campaigning in Persia. Khan Allah Quli Bahadur rushed north with most of his forces, meeting the Russians in an epic clash that would be known worldwide as the Battle of Khiva.
The two-day battle, rare for the current era, was a bloody but decisive affair. The outdated cavalry and methods of the Khivans, heirs of the Timurids and Mongols, faced the modern forces of the Russian Army, the soldiers from a people subjugated for centuries by these very nomadic groups. Yet, despite the Russian advantage, the Khivans held back the advance the first day. It was the death of Khan Allah Quli Bahadur by cannon fire the second day that caused his men to break. The Khivan lines shattered, men surrendering or fleeing as the Russians began to advance. Although supply has proved a headache, and there has been some disease and attrition in the ranks, the Khanate has been utterly annihilated, yet another example of Russia’s growing strength in Asia. Resistance was largely mopped up by December, a clear land supply line to the Russian-backed Qajars being established alongside shipments through the Caspian Sea.
The other Russian expedition would be less successful, facing off against the Durrani Empire, who had likewise seized the moment of Persian civil conflict to make territorial gains. Although the Czar’s orders were fulfilled, and Mashad was liberated, it has come at a heavy cost. Unlike the nomadic Khivans, the Durrani have been far more effective at slowly bleeding the Russians, damaging supplies, blocking roadways, and sabotaging water supplies, the ultimate victims being the Persian people themselves.

Foreign Intervention in Persia
  Russia would not only seek to indirectly aid the Qajars by attacking Khiva and the Durrani, but supplies and weapons would be sent as well. They would not be alone in this process. The Scandinavians, operating out of Hormuz, would wholeheartedly back the Zinatian faction, giving Zinat Afsharid access to modern weaponry. The Ottomans, on the other hand, used outside state actors to provide support for the Husaynians along their border, hoping to create a friendly Persian puppet in the region.
   The Qajars defeated the Zinatians at the Battle of Birjland, securing their control over the sparsely populated eastern regions of Persia and uniting their until-then separate territories. No such decisive battle would occur in the west, though Zinat tended to consolidate his forces while the Husaynians have expanded their holdings. Low-level skirmishes about throughout the region as towns change hands with the coming and goings of small contingents of soldiers.
   Needless to say, the access to foreign weaponry and supply has greatly exacerbated the size of the Persian Civil War. The fate of the empire is seen as having even greater consequence now that outside powers can firmly be identified with the various sides in the war. This, of course, has also led to backlash against the intervening powers themselves, as would clearly be demonstrated by the events at Hormuz in the Scandinavian concession.

Expulsion of the Scandinavians
  The Qajars had long been seen as the most xenophobic of the rival factions in the civil war, their acceptance of aid from Russia notwithstanding. They had an excuse to demonstrate these credentials, however, when news spread that the Scandinavians were supplying the Zinatians in exchange for trade access over a broad swathe of Persia. Armed with Russian weaponry and, perhaps led on my zealous Russian military advisors, Mohammad Shah Qajar personally commanded the Qajar forces in an attack south. Setting up armaments around the Scandinavian Concession at Hormuz, brutal bombardment followed, catching the garrison off-guard as the city was placed under siege. After a week of shelling an actual assault followed. The inhabitants of Hormuz, largely Persian themselves, surrendered, forcing the Scandinavians to flee. Although several dozen Scandinavian soldiers were captured, and swiftly executed, most of the civilians and political leadership there managed to escape. They rushed towards the Habsburg concession at Qeshm, some swimming across the narrow waterway separating that area from their former possession. Their homes and possessions have been devastated, Mohammad Shah Qajar making it well-known he will never welcome such ‘perfidious infidels’ from Scandinavia into his realm is he wins.
   The Scandinavian civilians, merchants, and officials have demanded sanctuary from the Austrian colonial administration at Qeshm, while the Qajars in turn demand their extradition. Although the Qajars have promised no aggression towards the Habsburg presence in the region, there are many who fear that a refusal to hand the Scandinavians over could risk the stability of Queshm. A greater issue that has arisen, however, is the prospect that this Persian faction may have been led to assault Scandinavian possessions by the Russians themselves, potentially threatening the cooperation that saw the Suez so successfully seized by the Seven Power Alliance. The crisis in Persia, alongside events in Egypt, threatens to explode into a broader conflict.
 
CATHOLIC REPUBLICANISM RETURNS!
Ten Day Monarchy Toppled in Bogota, Tension Grips Region
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The Kingdom of Quebec proved to be the only power interested in placing their dynasty on the newly-established throne of Colombia. The Executive Regency Council, surprised by the general lack of interest, quickly accepted and invited their new sovereign to help in their struggle. Prince Frederick of Quebec, the younger son of King Louis Henry, was dispatched undercover alongside some military officers and supplies to meet his new subjects. The journey south proved to be somewhat perilous, a surprise Prussian assault on the island forcing the Quebec vessels to land in the east in order to avoid detection and potential complications.
   Ultimately, the small group of ships docked at Cartagena in October, Frederick being quickly whisked towards Bogota for a coronation. Yet, it was immediately apparent the situation on the ground was quite different from how it had been represented to the Court of Quebec. Popular enthusiasm was quite limited in the several towns encountered between Cartagena and Bogota and, while the new King was feted by the military leaders and civilian administrators, the clergy and commons were notably absent. Yet, even with all of this latent tension, ceremonies went on as planned and Frederick was crowned King of Colombia on November 15th, 1835. Promising to respect any constitution and vowing to defend the people of Colombia against rampaging foreigners, the new King’s message was undermined by the fact it had to be delivered by a translator. Even so, it did seem the new monarchy was semi-stable, albeit not necessarily beloved. Early attempts were made by the sovereign to placate any opposition, meetings being held with the Archbishop of Bogota and numerous representatives of the growing Colombian middle class.
   This fragile arrangement would come toppling down just days later however, through no fault of Frederick’s. At the Battle of Santa Rosalia in the Llanos, just five days after the coronation, the Colombian army was crushed by the Spanish, Quebecois supplies or advisors not yet having reached the region. The ensuing retreat ensured the consolidation of Spanish control over the region.
   In Bogota, this caused a panic. The political situation in Colombia had been toxic for a while. The continual backstabbing between monarchists and republicans, various generals and civilian leaders, middle classes and planters, had created a vacuum of authority in the nascent realm. Although Sucre had been able to command broad popular support and limit this tendency towards infighting, his death just served to demonstrate to many that the system was unsustainable. The subsequent establishment of a monarchy, seen by some as to have occurred suspiciously fast, was likewise despised.
   In an environment without clear central authority, two opposing forces struggling for domination and the people caught in the middle, there was but one place to turn: The Catholic Church. The Archbishop of Bogota’s eulogy of Sucre was just one in a myriad of factors that drove the common people into backing the clergy. With the revolutionary sentiment in the air, a weak unpopular monarchy not fully established, and egged on my militant Jesuits in their midst, it was only a matter of time before this backing evolved into a reborn sentiment of Catholic Republicanism.
   On the morning of November 25th, a mob descended upon Bogota. The morning meeting of the Executive Regency Council was interrupted when the gunshots began. Soldiers stationed as guards quickly melted into the mob, unwilling to face such strong opposition. Archbishop of Bogota Manuel José Mosquera y Arboleda, flanked by other rebel soldiers, declared an end to the monarchy, placed the members of the Executive Regency Council under arrest, and charged them with the murder of Sucre.
   At the palace, the former residence of the Viceroy of New Granada, King Frederick was likewise surprised by a revolutionary mob. Called the “Prince of Quebec” by the mob, he too was arrested, but treated gently. Frederick was moved through the city and placed under house arrest. His rule had been brief, only lasting ten days.
   Here the true revolution began. José Mosquera y Arboleda unilaterally declared the Holy Republic of Colombia, calling on the faithful to organize. Members of the military who had been scheming with Arboleda, such as José Antonio Páez, quickly took the helm of government. Basing their interim government on that of the late Sardinia-Piedmont during the 1780’s, radical changes were declared in the coming weeks. Members of the Executive Regency Council were executed by firing squad for treason. Slavery was abolished. Generals and other leading political figures besides the clergy and General Páez were placed under arrest, effectively ending the interpersonal struggles in one fell swoop. King Frederick has been treated with respect, but is viewed as a hostage by most, forced to make vague statements supporting republicanism by his captors.
   Thus, fifty years on from the terrible events in Rome and the complete decimation of Italy, Catholic Republicanism has returned, now centered in the New World. Though the new Holy Republic has pledged friendship with all those seeking to throw off colonial domination, the reputation of their predecessors could undermine this.
   Unlike the tepid reception for the monarchy, the declaration of the Holy Republic was met with mass applause. Foreign observers have attempted to frame this as the last gasps of a desperate revolution, but the enthusiasm seems genuine enough. Parishes have become the organizing locations for guerilla campaigns, a new effort arising to retake the Llanos after Spanish domination there. As the year ends, the fate of Colombia seems ever more muddled. While the Spanish have made great advances over the year, in part with Prussian military advice, the new wave of energy emerging in Colombia could prolong or even reverse the conflict. Still to be seen is the reaction of other powers, namely Quebec and Brazil, to the events in Bogota. In Rome, Pope Victor IV has condemned the actions of the Archbishop, but papal authority over the Church is but a shadow of what it once was due to limits established at the end of the Great Italian War.
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« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2020, 12:13:46 AM »

The Grand Duchess Is Dead,
Long Live the Grand Duke?
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   People had been waiting for the death of Grand Duchess Marie Josephine for almost a decade, but when the event came to pass in mid-1835, it was overshadowed to some extent by the sheer level of crises in other parts of the world. Indeed, when word spread on July 7th, 1835 that the 82-year-old sovereign was at long last dead, taken by a stroke in her sleep, the people almost seemed indifferent. Tensions over the Suez, news of events in Colombia, and concern about the recent Prague Conference between Prussia, the Habsburg Monarchy, and Scandinavia would overshadow the development in the eyes of many.
   In Turin the cabinet of the late Grand Duchess formally declared Prince Xavier of France as the Grand Duke of Piedmont, though several noted nationalists resigned in protest. Much to the fright of the inhabitants of the region, there was an initial failed assassination attempt against the new sovereign, who was already in the city. The perpetrator was deemed to be mad, raving that he was Pietro Verri’s son and had come to avenge the late Holy People’s Republic. Although urged by his French entourage to flee to Provence until it was ensured that his new realm was stable, Xavier showed resolve and stayed put, stating, “I can no more abandon my own people than cut of my own arm.” This won him great admiration from his new subjects.
   Reaction in the south was far more visceral, the people of Naples protesting against further encroachment of Italian liberty, though they took no actions against their own government. Likewise in the still damaged Rome, where reconstruction is still a work in progress, Pope Victor IV said nothing, but those close to him expressed fears that France would now turn its gaze south, as Francis and Charles VIII had done centuries ago.
   Piedmont has peacefully, but firmly, become yet another Bourbon-led principality in Italy, alongside Genoa, Parma and Modena. Due to this, most foreign observers believe that French influence in northwest Italy will continue largely undisturbed, if not expanded by Piedmont falling securely into the hands of one of their client rulers. That being said, the nationalists remain obstinate all throughout the peninsula, dreaming of the day when the people from the Alps to Etna will be united under one flag…

Spain Beset by Foes!
Mexico, Brazil, Quebec, and Louisiana Consolidate Opposition
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Coronation in San Luis Potosí
   Unlike the Hohenzollerns in Colombia, the House of Bourbon was to have an easier time establishing itself as the leader of the Mexican Revolution. Perhaps because popular desire in this region was already far more pro-Crown that the Colombian Republic, there was little to no backlash when it was announced that Prince Louis of Louisiana, one of the younger sons of King Louis-Phillippe of Louisiana was to be named King of Mexico. This agreement was coupled with a treaty establishing new borders between Mexico and Louisiana, the new Louisianan claim now stretching to the Pacific and encompassing northern California.
   The coronation of King Louis of Mexico was a modest affair, the new sovereign sending the surplus funds to the military in a show of patriotism. Conducted in San Luis Potosi, it was followed by a joint military campaign throughout the region, the Spanish facing a series of defeats throughout the north as the battle lines have become clearer. The recently-established supply line between California and the Gulf of Mexico along the Rio Grande swiftly fell to Louisiana, the momentum propelling them all the way to Monterrey. Similarly, the meager Spanish garrison in Tuscon was easily compelled to surrender. An attempt to push south, specifically to take Guadalajara, was met with defeat, the Spanish consolidating their forces in the region. The fighting saw extensive damage to the town and some speculate the actions of the Louisianan soldiers may have driven some locals into the arms of the loyalists.
   Indeed, the Spanish focus seems to have been aiming to secure the Valley of Mexico and the surrounding region. With Prussian advisors in tow, the Spaniards have conducted brutal reprisal campaigns in Oaxaca, Guatemala, and Chiapas. No action was taken against the Republic of the Yucatan for the time being, Madrid seemingly content to maintain the current balance with that faction.
Still, although the Spaniards have been successful in the south, they seem to have been shut out of the north, save for what remains of California. There is renewed hope in the region that the decline of their influence in that area will correspond to a decreased appetite to continue the struggle.
 
Shelling of New Orleans and Battle of Pensacola
   King Philip VI of Spain saw Louis-Phillippe’s entrance into the Mexican War of Independence and the subsequent coronation of Prince Louis as King of Mexico as a serious betrayal. Both belong to the House of Bourbon, which is now riven with dynastic infighting, internal squabbling, and family rivalry. Certainly, the Bourbon on Bourbon fighting has made the whole scenario quite awkward for the King of France.
With this betrayal in mind, the Spanish sought to punish Louisiana. With the Louisianan fleet assembling for its own sea battle in the Gulf of Mexico, the Spanish launched a daring move. A small contingent smashed into Lake Pontchartrain despite heavy bombardment from forts along either entrance. Before the people of New Orleans knew what was happening, the Spanish vessels began to launch punishing broadsides into the city. The bombardment lasted a whole night, it being said that the Spanish were able to keep firing because of the light supplied by the burning New Orleans. St. Louis Cathedral, nearly completed, was burned to the ground.
   The assault was halted by two things: the placement of Louisianan cannon along the shoreline, which began a counter-bombardment, and a lack of supplies by the Spanish. Although some vessels managed to escape back into the Gulf, several were sunk by the now well-aware forts along Lake Pontchartrain.
The true fight for naval supremacy would occur days later, off the coast of British-held Pensacola. The Louisianans and Quebecois coordinated their naval efforts, combining their ships in the hopes of defeating the more sizeable Spanish fleet. The enemies encountered each other by chance, the Spanish patrolling the seas in the search of only the Louisianan fleet. What ensued was a substantial naval battle which lasted a whole day.
   The results have been stunning. Spain, the naval power of Europe for centuries, has been humiliated. The Spanish fleet was forced to retreat, its nose bloodied, as the Franco-American allies each captured substantial numbers ships, those that could not be salvaged being sunk as a warning to Spain. There has been a shuffling of officials in the Admiralty of Madrid, while the remaining, weakened fleet of the Spanish Americas shelters in Havana, seeking to repair itself and protect its immediate area. Resupply of their forces in the Atlantic seems unlikely for the time being…

Quebecois Invasion of California
   Another humiliation for the Spanish in this hectic year came in the surprising aggression from the north. Quebec has proven themselves an implacable foe of Spanish colonialism, perhaps stemming in some small way from their own struggle to gain independence from Madrid less than a century ago. Besides a declaration of war, King Louis Henry giving a rousing speech to the Parliament of Quebec, and naval action, direct military movements were undertaken by the Crown in the west.
   Given their treaty with the Russians, war with the Spanish, and the limited presence of other claimants in the region 1835 proved to be the year that the Pacific Northwest seems to have firmly drifted into the possession of Montreal, though both Louisiana and Britain retain settlements and claims on the land. A 30,000-man force was dispatched from the east, easily seizing the under-garrisoned Spanish forts in the region, before it moved south, hoping to take out Spanish California.
   Although Quebec possessed numerous forts in the area, transportation proved to be somewhat difficult, given a lack of clear avenues, the rain delaying movement down the Willamette Valley, and several embarrassing wrong turns. Thus, when the Quebecois soldiers marched south into California’s Central Valley, Spanish scouts had already forewarned the local garrison and army what was approaching. A feeble attempt was made to defend Sacramento, but was unsuccessful. Most of the Spanish soldiers have withdrawn to the south, the necessity for reinforcement being sent to Peru. Local landholders have joined the Spanish army, determined to resist what they see as external involvement in internal Spanish affairs.

Happenings in La Plata
   The region with the least activity, and perhaps the most conclusive outcome, has been the southern theatre of the Latin American Wars of Independence. Spain resolved early on in 1835 to withdraw from Uruguay in the face of joint La Platan and Brazilian hostility. The Army of Uruguay departed unceremoniously from Montevideo, taking many loyalists in tow and leaving a limited but well-stocked garrison in the city. It appears the Spanish army took the perilous route around Cape Horn and used the fleet to launch an assault on the nascent Chilean rebellion, capturing Santiago and much of the surrounding region. With the bisection of Chile, it seems this region, long thought to be left to its own devices, how faces the threat of Spanish reoccupation.
   In Uruguay, meanwhile, the joint La Platan and Brazilian forces have laid siege to Montevideo, though the city shows no signs of surrendering. In the meantime, with the immediate Spanish threat no longer apparent, internal fissures in the Union of La Plata between rival cities, ideologies, and even racial groups are becoming more evident. Some foreign observers have expressed concern that this is similar to the divisions in Colombia during the previous year, though its hoped by most that this will have a more favorable outcome and the Union will endure.

Transatlantic Tensions
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Abolitionist Strikes in Britain, Tension with New England
   The Suez Crisis would have larger ramifications for Great Britain than other powers because, in the absence of reliable shipments of cotton, sugar, tobacco, and other valuable resources from Asia, the government instead urged British firms to purchase these same goods from their colonies the Americas, where most would be harvested by slaves. This seems to have been the breaking point for some. Despite a simultaneous commission led by Robert Peel to explore the issue of slavery in the British Empire, abolitionists took action.
   A nexus of two movements, the abolitionists and the pro-labor socialists, emerged in the middle of the year. Thousands of British factory and industrial workers have gone on a series of strikes in the North, demanding an immediate vote on abolitionism in Parliament, where it is expected to pass easily, despite the votes of the American MPs. Strike breakers and repression have been employed and, though there was a small reduction in the size of the group striking caused by new labor standards introduced by the government, they have continued through the end of the year, damaging Britain’s economic output. This comes at the same time many in the growing British middle class have expressed their desire to boycott goods known to be from the Americas until the issue is resolved.
   Yet, there has been movement in the pro-slavery camp as well. The association of socialism and abolitionism has driven many wealthy Britons into backing the status quo, potentially changing the dynamics in Parliament, given this class has most of the voting power. In British North America reports would emerge that foreign individuals had been caught distributing pro-slavery propaganda in a deliberate attempt to gin up tensions. Most suspect either New England or Quebec to be responsible, Louisiana seen as unlikely given that realms own continued reliance on the labor of the enslaved. 
   The revelation of foreign espionage in British North America would be shortly followed by other allegations from New England that British agents had been deliberately sowing the seeds of discontent against the government, proposed constitutional convention, and continued immigration.

Abolitionism Worldwide
   Britain would not be the only region to deal with the consequences of slavery in 1835, the year seeming to be a major turning point in the history of the practice.
King Frederick III of Prussia decreed a gradual phasing out of the slave trade in Prussia, planning on the final steps to be enacted by 1838. Surprisingly, given Prussia’s long reliance on the practice, this decision was met with little opposition, even among the businesses that relied on it. Some suspect it is so uncontroversial because of the King’s simultaneous success in regaining portions of Saxony.
   The government of Brazil would likewise take steps, albeit small ones, by creating economic incentives for the liberation of those long enslaved and encouraging industrialization. Although there was some skepticism that this would be successful in the long-run of causing a total end of the practice, President Vasconcelos has been praised by some abolitionists.
   Colombia and Haiti proved to be two new governments committed to abolishing slavery. Haiti itself never had to formally decree and end to the practice, the government itself consisting primarily of ex-slaves who had managed to throw off their shackles and expel the Spanish. In Colombia, as had been seen, the issue of slavery was quickly decided by the ascendancy of the Catholic Republicans.
   The one power to move in the opposite direction and encourage slavery has been Louisiana, a move that has been highly controversial given the broader trends elsewhere. King Louis Phillippe would formally become shareholder in a slave-trading company, a move that sparked outrage among many of the immigrants that had been invited to settle in the region. Some in New Orleans have argued this undermines his claims of seeking a liberation of the Americas from Spanish tyranny, while supporters of the King believe his rule depends on the support of the planter aristocracy along the Mississippi.

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« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2020, 12:15:20 AM »

Colonialism Turns East
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Austrian, Dutch, Prussian, French, and British Activity
   The previous century saw limited European expansion in East Asia. With the exception of the establishment of the French Raj, the Ottoman acquisition of Singapore, and gradual Dutch and British settlement in Oceania, most powers did not actively operate in this theater. As the events of this past year have shown, this is no longer the case. The Europeans have arrived and it will be up to the realms in this region to determine how they will respond to this growing threat.
   The reasons for this change are many, but most believe that the collapse of the Qing Dynasty into civil war is primarily responsible, there no longer being a monolithic power that can effectively block any foreign influence.
   The Habsburgs would acquire two key areas in this year, gaining an active treaty port from the Xing Dynasty at Ningbo and establishing an outpost at the Nicobar Islands in order to ensure effective supply lines from Qeshm, Delagoa Bay, and the metropole. Although native resistance in the Nicobar Islands is expected in the coming year, thus far the settlement has been stable.
   The Netherlands, after a century of rudderless politics in Asia, would come at the region with a new sense of energy. Both the Seychelles and Maldives were established as Dutch protectorates early in the year, with attempts being made to trade with numerous realms all throughout Southeast Asia. The biggest windfall, by far, was the Qing decision to allow the Dutch to trade and administer the islands of Hainan and Taiwan in the midway point of the year. Now the Netherlands has access to that lucrative market, assuming the right power emerges victorious in the struggle…
   Prussia was a newcomer to the theater, but acted with the boldness of a power long-established, perhaps in part due to their similar arrival in South Africa almost eighty years ago. A small Prussian fleet seized the lightly garrisoned, but lucrative and sought-after port city of Singapore, a major economic victory in the region as its fall was almost uncontested. Afterwards a series of Prussian vessels would ignite a challenge to the Dutch three-century presence in the East Indies, a series of Prussian forts and trading outposts being established along the east coast of Borneo. This could undermine the Dutch attempts to succor the Sultan of Brunei and other local leaders that have long resisted their presence.
   France, meanwhile, was success against the Shan state, though some embers of rebellion continue. Promises by the government to tolerate those who did not rebel prevented any surge of new support for the insurrection, while brutal military campaign conducted by the local army sent by Paris. Although some cities still resist, it is expected that by the end of the next year the region will finally be back in French hands after a third of a century spent fighting.
   Britain meanwhile saw tremendous settlement in Australia and New Zealand, immigrants seeming to avoid British North America until the issues regarding slavery and internal tension are resolved. As the colonial population in this region increases, it is expected the role Britain plays in Asian affairs will correspondingly rise as well.

Christians in Asia
   Even with the new presence of the Europeans, or perhaps directly as a result of it, harsh actions were taken in most major states against the local Christian populations. The Xing Dynasty ordered the outright expulsion of foreign missionaries and barred them from being present in the Austrian concession at Ningbo. Although this has had great popularity with the population as a whole, the converted Christian communities have expressed repulsion and some in the Xing government fear they may become a small, pro-Qing fifth column in the rebel movement.
   Greater controversy would erupt in Korea when Queen Regent Sunwon, on behalf of her grandson, declared that foreign missionaries under the sway of Christianity would either need to swear loyalty to the government and renounce allegiance to any foreign potentate or be expelled from the realm. These new regulations were easily enough for many Protestants or Protestant missionaries, who had no trouble complying and saw the action as an actual move in the right direction, as they could live in peace so long as they remained loyal to the government in contrast to decades of outright persecution. It was less popular among the Catholics, particularly the demands to renounce allegiance to the Pope in Rome. Several Jesuits, including native-born Korean converts deliberately flouted the Queen Regent’s regulations, receiving their punishment. After their initial fine and lashing they continued to preach, outright challenging the authority of the government which, in line with the national orders, arrested them and had them beheaded. While Jesuits and Korean Catholics have branded them martyrs, and there is outrage among the public of most European Catholic powers, the move has been popular with the Korean people, tired of foreign instigators disrupting the realm.
   Japan would not see any outright persecution of Christians in 1835, though this was largely because the Shogunate had long ago eliminated their threat and purged them from the realm. Instead the regime would continue with the practice of prohibiting the spread of Christian works, only allowing French translations of other bodies of literature and knowledge into the realm that were preapproved by authorities. Still, with the permission of students to travel abroad, there are questions about whether or not they could be corrupted by foreign influences.

Anti-Imperialist Alliance?
   With this unceasing wave of missionary activity, highly unpopular among most of the people in East Asia, and the growing territorial expansion of European powers in the region, the prospect of an anti-European alliance has begun to be circulated among the various powers in the region. Areas as far afield as Mysore, Dai Viet, Korea, Japan, and the Guang Dynasty have all seen some new calls for cooperation in the face of further encroachment on their homelands. Yet, skeptics believe the prospect for such a movement remain unlikely, the sheer level of distance, lack of communication, inadequate technology, and traditional rivalries likely overshadowing any united front against the trends of the past decade.

Chinese Civil War Continues
Qing Flee North, Xing Capture Central China, Hunan Under Siege!
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Qing Response to Unrest
The Yansheng Emperor would take decisive action in 1835 to preserve his patrimony, one of his first moves being to relocate the Qing capital from Beijing to Shenyang, a more friendly and stable region of his realm. This move, while stabilizing the situation in the far north, led to panic across the south as it was feared that the Emperor was fleeing just as the Yuan Dynasty had done during the rise of the Ming. This would contribute to the events along the Yangtze later in the year. A second action undertaken by the government was the approval of the Koreans garrisoning the region between the Ussuri River and the ocean, ostensibly to protect against Japanese attacks. The Qing Emperor also ceded the islands of Formosa and Hainan to the Dutch for them to administer. Although this move was somewhat controversial, it did have several benefits and was met with approval by the generals. Supplying and defending both islands was seen as impractical given their distance from the rest of Qing holdings, while Dutch occupation ensured neither rival dynasty gained a serious foothold.
These moves, coupled with a refusal to antagonize the separatists, ensured that the Yansheng Emperor survived the year intact, though they have come at great cost. As the north has stabilized, Qing presence in the south has rapidly deteriorated, to the extent some fear a total loss of all lands south of the Yellow River.

Clashes in Central China, Guang Success in the South
The battles of 1835 in China would prove to be orders of magnitude greater than anything seen in European theaters for decades. The Youfu Emperor, his men now equipped with old Habsburg equipment, made a truce with the Guang Dynasty in the south and ordered a massive push northward, seeking to prove that he truly possessed the Mandate of Heaven. Demoralization of Qing forces caused by the Yansheng Emperor’s relocation, the better equipment of the Xing, and changing local opinions led to a substantial Xing victory in the east, and moderate gains in the west.
The Xing forces delivered a crushing defeat to the Qing at the Battle of Hefei. The collapse of that city and a retreat to the banks of the Yellow river by the Qing has meant that the Xing have secured control of Jiangsu and Anhui. Even so, most peasants have been turned off by the brutality of the Xing occupiers, who have requisitioned food, damaged infrastructure, and put known Qing collaborators to death, alleging they had betrayed all Han people by aligning with the Manchus.
The Battle of Xi’an saw the ancient seat of Chinese government fall into Xing hands, though not without substantial damage to the historic site, a result some have interpreted as an omen of ill-fortune. Unlike in the east, however, the Qing force was not smashed at the recent battle and there are growing worries in the Xing camp that they may have overextended. This is coupled with growing whispers from the east that the Ma people may soon choose a side in the conflict, their position being crucial for any power seeking to secure Western China.
The most shocking occurrence of the year for the Qing, though, would be the decision of the Tokugawa Shogunate to back the Xing rebels in return for the cessation of islands including Ryukyu. A sizable skirmish in the Yellow Sea would see the Qing navy humiliated by the Japanese, with the fall of Weihaiwei ensuing just days later. The remains of the Qing fleet fled north, basing at Tianjin, now seemingly cut off from access to the open ocean by the Japanese threat. The Shandong Peninsula now lays vulnerable to a potential Xing-Japanese advance. Despite internal concerns about engagement with the outside world, the Japanese intervention proved to be popular for two reasons. First, it strengthened national pride and demonstrated the naval prowess of Japan in an act of revenge for the two Yuan attempts to conquer their realm. Second, animosity towards foreigners was primarily directed at the Europeans, not necessarily the Chinese. Given similar reservation among the subjects of the Xing Emperor, the alliance, however, tenuous, seems to make sense.
The Guang would succeed in besieging the Qing Army in Hunan, able to devote their full forces to the region due to their truce with the Xing to the north. Fighting here has been bitter, the proposed surrender of the Army of Hunan refused by the vindictive Guang who seek to completely starve their enemies into submission and any chance of Qing power resurging in the far south of China. Even so, the Yi people in Sichuan have grown demonstrably concerned about occurrences in the south of the realm and show signs of mobilizing their forces for war against the Guang.
Moving forward the situation in China seems to have become far clearer than it once looked. The Qing have become identified with the north, especially given the full-throated embrace of his Manchu identity by the Yansheng Emperor through his flight northwards. The Han people, in general, seem more predisposed to favor the return of an ethnic Han dynasty, though whether the Xing will be able to turn this into a reality given the growing prospect of Dutch or other foreign intervention is an open question. Still, Japanese aid seems to have secured the seas for the Xing and means that foreign material aid will likely continue. The reaction of Joseon Korea, who has attempted to cultivate powers on both sides of this growing diplomatic gulf, is as of yet unseen.

The Vivisection of Saxony, Integration of Württemberg
A New Age in German Relations?
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The Convention of Prague has been deemed to be a groundbreaking diplomatic achievement on the part of the Prussians and the Austrians, celebrations in Vienna and Berlin held in anticipation of a new era in intra-German relations. The ensuing treaty, which was also endorsed by the Scandinavians, while popular among the population of Scandinavia, Prussia, and Austria, has proven less so in certain regions of Germany.
   The King of Saxony would initially pledge to fight any attempt to cut down on his territory, giving a defiant speech in Dresden damning the Prussians as bastards and the Habsburgs as traitors. For several weeks it did appear that a brief war would ensue, but all to no avail. His armies were too small and his realm far too isolated for any foreign aid to be possible. When the time to surrender the regions back to Prussia came, he was forced to back down, his wife beseeching him to think of their children’s inheritance. Saxony has thus found itself greatly reduced, this coming after a century of constantly playing the powers to its north and south against each other for their own advantage.
   Similarly, in Württemberg, the reaction was one of opposition. Yet, when word reached the Duke that if he did not comply with the Habsburg demands, they were prepared to place his erratic brother Paul in control of his territory, he too meekly acquiesced. This region fell into the Holy Roman Empire just as much of Saxony has been removed. Although it makes geographic sense, the predominantly Protestant locals have pledged to do their best to preserve German liberty in the face of a growing Habsburg reach, as was evidenced by the adoption of universal naval standards.
   In most of the minor principalities in Germany, particularly in the Rhineland and Westphalia, a new fear has emerged. These princes have grown used to playing Prussia and Austria off on one another for almost a century now. With their mutual agreement to largely respect the Holy Roman Empire and German League respectively, the prospect for further centralization under Austrian and Prussian terms now seems more likely than ever. Perhaps in defiance of growing Habsburg authority, the announcement of the Convention of Prague saw a wave of princely seizure of lands held by the Catholic Church in the Empire, a move clearly meant to challenge Vienna’s newfound authority.
   This new paradigm, a world where Prussia and Austria cooperate not compete, has caused concern outside of Germany as well. France has traditionally agitated for a divided and weak Germany focused inwards. With little notice, the prospect of a bipolar German dynamic has suddenly caused alarm. The British public too has shown worry over the prospect of Austro-Prussian cooperation. Some in Russia, seeing their shared border with all three signatories now slightly as a threat, have also expressed concern about the diplomatic ramifications of the agreement.
   Still, as must be noted, there have been false starts before and some have become unwilling to accept that the Prague Convention represents any sort of permanent realignment in Europe. In a world where the Prussians still idolize Frederick the Great and the Austrians remain devoted to the memory of Maria Theresa, certainly the prospect is possible. These naysayers believe that traditional rivalries will reassert themselves and lead to a dissolution of the pact in all due time. 
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« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2020, 11:25:14 PM »

Age of Steam And Steel
Turn 2: 1836
(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: Czar Peter IV Pavlovich Romanov (HenryWallace)
Kingdom of Prussia: King Frederick III Hohenzollern (jdb)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis III Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Kingdom of Quebec: King Louis Henry Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Republic of Brazil: President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos (Elcaspar)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Kingdom of Naples: King Francis I Bourbon (GoTfan)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: King William II of Orange-Nassau (JacksonHitchcock)
Tokugawa Shogunate: Shogun Tokugawa Ienari (Donerail)
Qing Dynasty: Yansheng Emperor (S019)
Xing Dynasty: Youfú Emperor (thumb21)
Confederation of New England: Chairman John Quincy Adams (NyIndy)
Eyalet of Egypt: Governor Reşid Mehmed Pasha (PSOL)
Joseon Korea: Queen Regent Sunwon (True Federalist)

Economic Standing:
Kingdom of France: Strong
Kingdom of Quebec: Strong
Habsburg Monarchy: Strong
Republic of Brazil: Strong

Ottoman Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Strong
Russian Empire: Moderate
Confederation of New England: Moderate
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Moderate
Joseon Korea: Moderate
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate
Kingdom of Louisiana: Moderate

Qing Dynasty: Weak
Xing Dynasty: Weak
Eyalet of Egypt: Weak


Popularity:
Governor Reşid Mehmed Pasha: High
King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: High
Emperor Francis III Habsburg: High
King Frederick III of Prussia: High
Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: High
Chairman John Quincy Adams: High

King Louis Henry of Quebec: Moderate
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: Moderate
King Charles III of Britain: Moderate
President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos: Moderate
Czar Peter IV Romanov: Moderate
King Louis XVIII: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
Queen Regent Sunwon: Moderate
King William II of Orange: Moderate
King Francis I Bourbon: Moderate

Yansheng Emperor: Low

Current Global Conflicts:
Chinese Civil War: Qing Dynasty vs. Xing Dynasty, Tokugawa Shogunate, Guang Dynasty vs. Secessionists (1825-)
Persian Civil War: Zinatian Persia vs. Qajar Persia, Russian Empire vs. Husaynian Persia vs. Secessionists vs. Durrani Empire (1833-)
Egyptian Rising: Ottoman Empire, Emirate of Tunis vs. Eyalet of Egypt (1831-)
Mexican War of Independence: Kingdom of Mexico, Kingdom of Louisiana vs. Kingdom of Spain (1828-)
Quebecois Intervention in American Wars of Independence: Kingdom of Quebec vs. Kingdom of Spain (1835-)
Yucatan War of Independence: Yucatan State vs. Kingdom of Spain (1826-)
Colombian War of Independence: Holy Republic of Colombia vs. Kingdom of Spain (1823-)
La Platan War of Independence: Union of La Plata, Republic of Chile, Republic of Brazil vs. Kingdom of Spain (1827-)
Haitian Revolution: Republic of Haiti vs. Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Prussia (1831-)
Shan Insurrection: Shan State vs. Kingdom of France (1803-)

(Source: Self-Made)


Kingdom of France:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Diplomatic events in Central Europe have alarmed Versailles, growing concern about the potential prospect of the Prussians and Habsburgs making permanent peace with one another raising red flags. Since the time of Richelieu, it has been the aim of the French government to keep Germany weak and divided, the Prague Conference seeming to undermine that goal of two centuries in one fell swoop. Although the succession of Xavier to the Grand Duchy of Piedmont seems to have gone off without a hitch, there are still those who believe the Germans may be up to something. While France undoubtedly has the strongest land military in Europe, it is unclear if multiple powers could be fended off at once. These advisors would have you reach out to someone else, perhaps the British, Ottomans, or even the Russians to ensure you are not faced with enemies too powerful to be beaten in Italy or the Rhineland. Or, perhaps the agreement could prove to be unenforceable and the two powers will fall back into bickering. What will you do diplomatically in 1836?

-France faces the prospect of an election this year, one small sacrifice that has been necessary to ensure your royal power has been maintained over the past few decades. After more than a decade in power, it is feared the Conservative Party could be weighed down by exhaustion in the electorate. The Liberals have demonstrated new energy, while the Socialists too tried to capitalize on the events in the Suez. Some at Court would have you end the royal backing of the Conservatives and make an alliance with the Liberals, in order to ensure you still have a seat at the table, should they win the election. This would indicate a return to the more reformist period of your early reign. Others believe that, in the event the Chamber of Deputies flips, you can just appoint Conservatives until they have a majority once more, undermining democracy but reasserting your royal authority in a perfectly legal manner. Of course, the greatest fear of all is the prospect neither the Conservatives or Liberals have enough for a majority, in which case the Socialists would be, to excuse the pun, kingmakers. How will you approach the French Election of 1836?

-The issue of landholdings within France has become more prominent during the past year. In particular, the use of the Church’s money to help finance the construction of railways throughout the Kingdom seems to have reminded some of your subjects just how much land remains in the hands of the archdiocese, abbeys, and convents of the French Catholic Church. The socialists and liberals have begun to push for full-blown land reform, arguing it is ridiculous for people to impoverished in the cities of your Kingdom while the clergy enjoy the profits of a sizable part of your patrimony. With the elections for the Chamber of Deputies approaching at the end of the year, it is feared by some that this will be used to sweep the chamber of the Third Estate. The Church’s house in your government, although weakened during the Silent Revolution, has vowed to block any proposed modifications. The nobility, as in the Holy Roman Empire, seem to be of two minds, seeing the Church-held lands as cheap and ripe for the taking, but at the same time fearing their holdings could be next on the docket. How will you handle this growing issue, one that is proving to be yet another battleground between monarchists and the reformers?  

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Britain is in the midst of a storm, your majesty. The widespread abolitionist strikes, growing class tensions, and economic malaise demand action. Clearly, the slavery debate is not going anywhere. Some of your advisors believe you ought to hastily complete Robert Peel’s commission on the matter and place the question of British slavery before Parliament once and for all. Others believe this could lead to backlash in the colonies and even dissolution of the transatlantic union. They would have you use Irish and Scottish workers as strike breakers in English factories, proving the futility of strikes and the strength of the government. There is also a group of wealthy MPs who believe that only force, including violence against the mob, will be able to stop them from holding your government hostage. Clearly there are a wide variety of paths open to you, how will you handle the abolitionist crisis and economic dislocation?

-Something seems to be afoot in the Americas, a foreign power spreading pro-slavery propaganda in your territories. This move is an abuse of the civil liberties such as free speech on the part of an enemy. The two obvious suspects are Quebec and New England. Given Quebec’s hasty actions in the Pacific Northwest, ignoring your own rights to that land, most people in the American Colonies are quick to believe that government is responsible. Yet, New England has been hurling insults at your government as well, claiming that you interfered in their politics, clearly an outrageous assertion. Perhaps they are trying to cover themselves? What is to be done about foreign interference in the Americas? Is a military response required or should further examination be undertaken?

-The Suez has been seized, with Britain taking little casualties due to effective planning and general cooperation among the Seven Power Alliance. Now, with soldiers on the ground in the region, new questions have arisen. Should Britain start to aid the Egyptians in their struggle, perhaps by seizing control of the Mediterranean? Or maybe the region would be more stable if returned to Ottoman governance? What about the future of the canal? How will you ensure that you are not left out in the cold by the powers that have cooperated with you?

Kingdom of Scandinavia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Outrage has spread throughout your holdings. The potential Russian-backed assault on Hormuz has inflamed the populace of Stockholm as hawks have demanded military reprisal. The Persian situation has both been embarrassing, due to the fact this rabble was able to drive you out of your concession, and diplomatically awkward, as the Habsburgs have been placed in the middle as a neutral power. How will you solve this crisis and bring your subjects in the Austrian concessions home? Furthermore, what is to be done about the Qajars, who raided your city, or the Russians, who seem to have been fully onboard? Will you continue to back the Zinatians?

-Despite the concerns over foreign policy, you call for a Constitutional Convention have been successful and the delegates have convened in Gothenburg. The majority of those chosen can be seen as royalists, looking to see what propositions you have for the future of Scandinavia. Some delegates have demonstrated a high degree of nationalist loyalty to their constituent realms, seeking a more decentralized system along the lines of the Habsburg Monarchy, while others (primarily from Sweden and Denmark) are seeking a centralized state.  There is also the matter of the ethnic groups in the Baltic States to consider, they having not been given the same degree of representation of your other subjects. Regardless, what are your aims for this historic moment in Scandinavian history.

-The embarrassment in Persia has some expressing concerns about the pace of Scandinavian expansion in Gabon and Liberia, not to mention the start of Scandinavian trade expeditions in various parts of Africa. It is clear that, when not prepared, nativism could leave your settlements vulnerable to backlash. Yet, the rewards of these colonies have been lucrative, turning a net profit despite the cost of infrastructure improvement you undertook in the past year. Will you continue to expand the Scandinavian colonial holdings, or is it best to put your plans on hold until you can ensure resistance will be easily crushed?

Russian Empire:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Czar Peter, you have now involved Russia in the Persian Civil War. The Khivans are destroyed, the Durrani willing to offer a white peace, and the Qajars have seized much of Persia. Clearly this first move has been successful. Some would now have you go further. As a member of the Seven Power Alliance and a realm with an ancient rivalry with the Turks, not to mention numerous shared frontiers, they would have you declare war outright, take Crimea, and topple your foes. There have been rumors circulating from an unknown source that the Sultan was aiming to see you assassinated, though no evidence has materialized of such plots. It seems the Persians would be willing to cooperate too, so long as they were guaranteed Azerbaijan, but it is unknown how the Europeans would respond to such aggression. At the same time, the Eastern foreign policy faction has continued to argue that, although Persian intervention has been successful, the Chinese are even more vulnerable with the flight of the Yansheng Emperor to the north. How will you seek to follow up on the gains of 1835?

-Government encouragement of Slavic Nationalism has shown some hopeful signs of success. Issues with the Poles have not materialized into any sort of major threat, while the heartland of Russia has been stabilized. Even so, it appears you cannot curry favor with one group without causing resentment elsewhere. Georgians, Kazakhs, indigenous Siberians, and other non-Slavic peoples in the Russian Empire have demanded guarantees of their ethnic security, fearing Russification will come their way in due time. In truth, they represent but a fraction of your overall population, but are concentrated in risky areas, particularly on your frontiers with Persia and the Ottoman Empire. Will you concede protections to these groups, perhaps leaving the Empire less cohesive in the future, or is an eventual program of Russification going to be required in order to ensure long-term stability?

-Although you have signed a treaty of friendship with the Prussians, some in St. Petersburg fear that the Prague Conference signals an intention of the central European powers to begin to act against yourself, France, and other peripheral powers. Given preposterous Scandinavian accusations that you were responsible for their expulsion from Hormuz, there is fear this could escalate into outright conflict. Perhaps aligning with France or Britain could ward off any threats. Others believe that such paranoia is unjustified and no sane realm would attack Russia, a lesson Charles XII taught the westerners a century ago. They would have you act independently in foreign affairs and not commit to any network of agreements beyond the Seven Power Alliance or bilateral agreements such as your recent treaty with Prussia. Will you change your diplomatic arrangements in light of diplomatic developments in Central Europe?

Habsburg Monarchy:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-With the signing of the Prague Conference, the minor princes of the Holy Roman Empire have immediately decided to test your newfound assertions of authority. The issue of the clerical lands in the Empire has been under debate since the Reformation, where the bishoprics in northern Germany were stripped of their territories and secularized. This has not necessarily happened throughout the south and west of the Empire. Although kept in check by concerns about the German League, French invasion, or Imperial censure for the last century or so, new energy has risen in the movement. The Church has been weakened by the events of the Great Italian War, its prestige remaining low even after five decades. The secular princes have begun to encroach on the lands of the historic bishoprics, perhaps a town or settlement at a time, testing to see how you will respond. The Bishops, meanwhile, have sent protest to the Diet and threatened that they will not cooperate with further reform of the Empire should their claims be ignored. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to please both factions and this is not even considering the opinion of the numerous small-holding Imperial Knights, who have reasons to support either the bishops or the secular princes. How will you address this concerning development?

-Your colonial empire has grown over the past year, the acquisition of the concession at Ningbo being particularly popular. Expansion abroad has meant that you must also deal with the issues of these new theaters, though. As your envoys have become more familiar with East Asia, there is growing concern over the continued persecution of Christians in the region. The stories out of Joseon during the past year, of anti-Catholic executions by the state, have caused a furor among the clergy and devout in your government. Coupled with the Xing expulsion of Catholic missionaries and the Japanese ban on Christian books, clear nativist backlash from these realms is in evidence. This pro-Catholic faction argues that you, as the sole Holy Roman and Catholic Emperor, are responsible for the protection of all members of the true religion and want you to ensure Catholicism receives a fair hearing, lest the French instead take up the mantle of Catholicization. Given the Tokugawa, Xing, and Joseon actions against the Church, others believe it would be more prudent to act in a secular manner, continuing diplomatically to pursue your goals and avoiding this issue entirely. What will your position be on these new Asian issues?

-The situation in Persia is… awkward. Your concessions have been forced to welcome the fleeing Scandinavian refugees from Hormuz, but now the Qajars are demanding you hand them over, promising that if the people should be sent away it will be seen as a Habsburg betrayal. Naturally it is expected Stockholm will demand you repatriate their subjects. Yet, this risks the profitability of Persian trade, as well as tension with Russia, who seems to have been backing the Qajars in their recent actions. Some would have your renounce the Qajars and take up the cause of Zinat, while others believe the Persian Civil War is already near its end, given the Russians have connected with the Qajars. They would see the new dynasty appeased, even if it meant insulting another European power. How will you navigate this delicate diplomatic situation?
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Spamage
spamage
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« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2020, 11:26:28 PM »

Kingdom of Prussia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-While the restoration of the old Prussian borders with Saxony has been highly praised by your direct subjects, the abandonment of Württemberg, a fellow Protestant government and loyal longtime ally, has enraged the members of the German League, who now fear they too could be unilaterally ceded back to the Holy Roman Empire on the whim of the King of Prussia. The Palatinate, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Oldenburg, Brunswick, and Hesse-Kassel have all made protests about the Convention of Prague. Although your size is so overwhelming that Prussians alone can push through reforms to the German League, the opinion of these princes represents a potential thorn in your side and some in Berlin would have you concede that the remainder of them are under your protection, however hollow that may seem. Others believe that these minor Dukes and Margraves need to finally and once and for all learn their place in the new order, subordinate to the Prussian Monarchy, and any concessions are a sign of weakness. How will you respond to their actions in the German League, now that diplomatically you are in control of the situation?

-Dynamism in Egypt has helped your realm seize the Suez as part of the Seven Power Alliance. While this has restored some confidence in the flow of trade from the east, the question now is what is to be done in the region moving forward. The Egyptians have prevented the situation from totally collapsing through their resistance, but without foreign aid they seem doomed to fail. Many argue that, in the aftermath of your seizure of Singapore, further action against the Ottomans will be necessary to maintain your gains. Yet, fighting in Egypt could be expensive both in gold and manpower. The Ottoman reaction to your seizure of their Asian colony is not yet known. Some in Prussia believe that Timor Leste should be another avenue of Prussian expansion, as it seems just as vulnerable as Singapore was. Will you seek to escalate tensions with the Ottomans, or perhaps step in as a mediator? Now that the Suez is secure, what is your view as to how it should operate moving forward?

-Prussian activism in the Americas has not gone unnoticed. The invasion of Haiti has succeeded in taking the southern part of the island, but it is clear far more men will be necessary if you are to have any hope of holding back the counterstrike let alone seizing the whole republic. The people there are furious about the unprovoked assault. Likewise, surveyors have been sent alongside Spaniards to map out a plan for this proposed “Panama Canal,” but they too believe that more resources will be needed to ensure the newly declared Holy Republic of Colombia stays focused to the south. Some in Berlin fear that demands for more men, advisors, and materials will not stop once they are appeased once, becoming quicksand that will swallow your realm. Others hope that Prussian aid will secure concrete gains, pointing to the success of the Spanish army in the Llanos with Prussian advisors on hand. Now that you have entered the American theater, how do you propose moving forward?

Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Sultan Mustafa, the infidels have done the unthinkable. Motivated by their greed and desire to spoil your territory, the Suez Canal has been seized and your supply lines disturbed. Although the Ottomans have been forced away from the canal, many in Istanbul point of that there are numerous reprisals that are possible for their actions. Although the canal is lost, you could blockade the canal by shelling mercantile fleets seeking to enter the Red Sea at Aden, bringing a standstill to trade yet again and wrecking the European economy. Others urge a more targeted response, particularly against the Prussians, who invaded your jewel of the East in Singapore, and the Scandinavians, who have supplied the Zinatians against your own friendly faction in the Persian civil war. The nationalists however, enflamed by the outrages committed by the west, could have you declare total war and expel the lot of them, believing that it would be entirely impossible for your Empire to truly be defeated, though they are in the minority for the time being. How will you respond to foreign seizure of the Suez?

-Although your men may have been distracted by the events to their west, the Egyptian rebellion still remains precarious. There is hope that, despite being bogged down in brutal and slow-going warfare in the Nile Delta, your armies could make substantial gains in Egypt proper during 1836. Of greater concern is the Egyptian advance into Cyrenaica, which puts Tripoli or even Tunis under threat. How will you prosecute the war in Egypt, or should some sort of hasty peace be made so you can focus on the interventionalist imperialists?

-The events in Egypt, particularly the Arab nationalism, seems to have drawn the attention of other groups in the Ottoman Empire. In the absence of any firm crackdown, evidence in Greece and Serbia in particular demonstrates a growing desire for liberation from Ottoman control. Some in Istanbul would have you preempt any potential revolts, setting up two satellites principalities under Christian governance along the lines of those in Moldavia and Wallachia, while others argue that repression is the only solution to stabilize the region, at least until the Oriental Crisis is resolved. Given the spike in Turkish nationalism caused by the foreign intervention in Egypt, concessions to minorities could prove unpopular in the heartland of the Empire. What will you do about these growing signs of discontent?

Kingdom of the Netherlands:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King William, your efforts at home seem to have paid some dividends. The appointment of loyal burghers into the Estates General has been seen as evidence of a plan for “Sensible Moderation” in Dutch governance, some newspapers publicly waxing of a new era in Dutch politics, where the swings between the radical poles of republicanism and absolutism has been solved once and for all. Others are more clear-eyed. Although your approval remains high, there was economic damage caused by the decline in trade from the Suez that could become a larger issue if not nipped in the bud. With the domestic government in lock step, how will you reverse this growing economic harm? Will you create incentives to prop up firms on the verge of bankruptcy as a result of price increases or should market forces be allowed to run their course, the benefits in the long run outweighing any short-term damage? Some at Court call for greater military and industrial investment until the situation stabilizes, others arguing that the state ought not take on more debt before the situation globally becomes clearer.

-Diplomatically, the Netherlands remains quite isolated, no alliances publicly established with other powers. Although a member of the Seven Power Alliance, there is little evidence that coalition will last beyond the immediate Egyptian Crisis. Some at Court have been gravely concerned by the Prague Convention, which seems to mean the Prussians, Habsburgs, and Scandinavians have some sort of diplomatic understanding. With the subsequent Prussian treaty with Russia, it seems that there is but one direction that state could be looking: west. France too looms ominously to the south. Perhaps reaching out to one of these powers, or the historic Dutch ally in Britain, would be wise? There’s also the prospect of gaining the friendship with the Holy Roman Emperor. Will you undertake diplomatic initiatives? Or would this be counter-productive, potentially entangling your realm into affairs that could lead to war?

-Your shrewd diplomacy has greatly increased the influence of the Netherlands in East Asia, much to the satisfaction of your subjects at home. Now the Maldives, Seychelles, Formosa, and Hainan are all under nominal Dutch influence. Small outposts have been established off the coast of Africa and in the Nicobar Islands. Similarly praised was your intervention in the Oriental Crisis, helping restore trade routes at a crucial moment. Yet, so too have new obstacles arisen. The Dutch formerly held Formosa in the 1600s, being expelled by the Chinese after a brief stint. Little seems to have changed in the interim and the locals have demonstrated some early hostility to your return. Likewise, the expansion of Prussia in Borneo and Singapore also demonstrates other powers could swoop in and seek pieces of your empire. It has also become increasingly evident that your activity in the colonial sphere has led to some backlash from native kingdoms, these realms wary of foreign influence creeping in. Diplomatic offensives with Atjeh, Dai Viet, and Brunei have all stalled partially as a result of this. What is the next step in colonial policy?

Kingdom of Quebec:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis Henry, your younger son now sits in the custody of foaming-at-the-mouth radicals and plans for the creation of a Kingdom of Colombia appear dashed. Catholic Republicans have a dark history in Europe, where they were directly responsible for the extinction of the House of Savoy, and have demonstrated they still maintain their brutal tactics, evidenced by the execution of the Executive Regency Council. Although Frederick has not been harmed, there is fear his captivity could be used as a means of extorting your government. What will your policy towards Colombia be?

-The war has continued apace, though great advances have been made. All foes in the Pacific Northwest other than the British seem to have been expelled or bought off and California lies open for your men to take. The Spanish fleet has been severely damaged, with the joint Quebecois-Louisianan fleet maintaining control of the Gulf of Mexico. Yet, new challenges have emerged from the Spanish and their allies. Your fellow Hohenzollern, and distant cousin, the King of Prussia has launched an invasion of your erstwhile allies in Haiti. There is evidence that plans are in the works for a Prussian-Spanish canal in Panama, while the Spanish have effectively ended the rebellion in Cuba and consolidated their power in the south of Mexico. What is next for your realm? Some suggest a strike at Cuba, while others believe that aid to Haiti or the Mexicans would be wiser. There is also those who call for peace with Spain, seeing your goals in North America as having been effectively achieved.

-The one diplomatic area where tensions have grown, despite initial attempts to foster peace, is in your relationship with Great Britain. There are alarming reports that the British have been arming indigenous allies in the Sioux Tribe, a counterpoint to your own cultivation of closer ties with the natives. Britain has also been reportedly sending more men to the Americas, launching the construction of a series of forts along the Mississippi. Now, news has emerged out of New England, where the government alleges British involvement to stoke domestic tensions. Needless to say, the situation in the region is looking a lot worse than it was twelve months ago. There are war hawks calling for a crusade against colonialism, your struggle against Spain to be tied to liberation of the British Americas. Doves argue peace must be achieved before it is too late, hoping that now that real tension is in evidence both sides will have incentives to make concessions. Your people look to you for answers, King Louis Henry. How will this tension be resolved?

Kingdom of Louisiana:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis-Philippe, the last year was met with numerous successes and only limited setbacks. The north of Mexico has been secured and your son now has been crowned as King. The Spanish navy was embarrassed, fleeing to Cuba while the size of your fleet has grown from captured vessels. Quebec, your ally, has pushed effectively into California, showing initiative in another theater of the war. Yet, Spain has consolidated control over the south of Mexico. Further afield, Colombia is aflame, Chile on the verge of defeat, and Prussians attempting to conquer Haiti. What will be done in the war during this coming year?

-Your efforts to expand the navigability of the Mississippi River have revealed some alarming intelligence: the British have been constructing a series of forts along their banks of the waterway. Given their dominance over the Ohio River, some advisors are worried about the prospect of that river being used as an avenue to launch a surprise attack against your realm. There have been calls for you to demand that the British destroy said forts, though its also possible you could construct your own outposts to ensure that you are not left defenseless in the possibility of a foreign attack. Will you issue a protest to Britain? Or perhaps it would be wise to make a deal and ensure that you are left in peace while dealing with the Spanish. Perhaps cooperation with New England, another power alleging hostility from the British, could be wise…

-As your people have moved west, it is clear that the indigenous population will fight any expansion of influence. In 1835 alone, there were several instances of skirmishes between settlers and the Comanche, Kiowa, and Osage. While military force could be one response, many generals see your army as ill-equipped and unprepared to fight on the unfamiliar terrain of the High Plains. They believe the settlers should adopt a fortification strategy Perhaps you could play the natives against each other and exploit traditional rivalries? Or maybe expansion into these regions for the time being is unwise? It is unclear whether or not the immigrants populating the frontier would listen to a royal order though, the prospect of the available land having enticed most to Louisiana in the first place. What will you do, King Louis-Philippe?

Kingdom of Naples:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-There had been some in Naples hoping and praying that the death of Marie Josephine in Piedmont would lead to a nationalist rising there and you being named Grand Duke instead of the French Prince Xavier. This has clearly not happened and, in hindsight, perhaps such dreams were a fantasy. Still, the people of Naples have made their outrage known in a series of violent protests last year, frustration growing by the glacial pace of progress in the peninsula. Although neither France nor the Habsburgs have shown any hostile intentions over the past year, they also haven’t made contact with you either. Some believe it is time to emerge from diplomatic isolation and find a foreign friend, be it the Prussians, one of the two oppressors in Italy, or perhaps your close relations in Spain. This would ensure that your voice is heard moving forward. Will you undertake any major diplomatic initiatives in the coming year?

-Your plans for economic reform and expansion, namely in the establishment of railways in the Kingdom of Naples, have been implemented. This has led to disputes over how far this program should go in the long-run. Some, mostly the growing middle class, argue that you should outright incentivize the construction of factories and other more modern methods of production in your region, pointing to the highly agricultural status quo as undesirable. Others, namely in the nobility and the Catholic Church, believe that modernization should not come at too fast of a pace, pointing to the threats faced by their counterparts in France during the past two decades. As railways connecting your towns have begun construction, it is an open question what the next step will be. 

-Naples, despite being one of the foremost naval powers in the region, was openly snubbed by the other supposed “great powers” when they united to seize the Suez from the Ottomans. True, your realm does not have colonial holdings along the lines of most of these other powers, but the exclusion has led to some outrage in your cabinet. There is growing demand that your representatives be included in any further negotiations over the future of the Suez, given your aforementioned naval strength. On the other hand, doing so could enflame tensions with the Turks, creating an enemy unnecessarily. Will you be cautious? Or ought Naples be included in the decision-making for this vital trade route?


Republic of Brazil:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your choice to continue in the tradition of da Silva Lisboa was highly praised, but as is typical in republics, political camps are emerging, debating the future of the country. The upper-class planters were put out by your reforms meant to gradually phase out slavery, aligning with the rural lower classes as a Conservative Party. While they have praised your lowering of tariffs with some powers, as they rely on shipping of their goods to the rest of the world, this group has pledged to limit further immigration. The Liberal Party of Brazil, on the other hand, wants enlightened, activist reforms to spur the realm into new action. Ranging from infrastructure projects, the establishment of tariff barriers in order to promote domestic industrialism, and sped up abolitionism, they have an ambitious program. Thus far you have been able to remain above the fray, but more and more people are questioning which party you sympathize with.

-There are concerning reports to the north, with the rapid collapse of the Executive Regency Council in Bogota and the declaration of the Holy Republic of Colombia. Needless to say, given your own government’s commitment to enlightened, liberal republicanism, events there have caused great alarm in Brazil. The destabilization of politics and purging of the military in Colombia has meant Brazilian influence has all but been expelled for the time being. Some would have you involve your republic in this theater, even if the Spanish themselves maintain a substantial military presence, in order to guarantee that you do not gain a hostile, militaristic neighbor to the north. Yet, the fact remains that, although perhaps close in proximity, events in Colombia are occurring at a great effective distance, given the shielding role provided by the Amazon rainforest. On the other hand, perhaps the Holy Republic could be given diplomatic recognition as a means of placating them? How will you approach the developments in the north?

-Some in Brazil would have you expend the war against Spain to encompass all colonial powers operating in the New World. With Prussia’s assault on Haiti and alliance with the Spanish, many see their holding in Guyana as a prime target for conquest. Beyond the Prussians though, the British, Dutch, French, and Scandinavians all have paltry outposts in the Caribbean that could become rich plantation islands for an activist Brazil. Still, too much expansion could risk raising the ire of Europe. Although outright invasion seems unlikely for the time being, it must be remembered that the combined strength of the European economies could wreak havoc on Brazil. Will you take action against the other colonial powers in the Americas and embrace the role as the leader of liberation in the Americas?
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Spamage
spamage
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« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2020, 11:28:07 PM »

Confederation of New England:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Chairman Adams, alarming reports have emerged over the past few months that British agents have been seeking to undermine your rule and destabilize the Confederation of New England. The subject matter ranges from opposition to the Constitutional Convention to anti-immigrant rhetoric. Needless to say, the prospect of foreign interference in your internal affairs is certainly alarming, whether or not the British were in fact responsible. Will you take diplomatic action as some has demanded, perhaps in the form of tariffs or an alliance against the British? Or is further investigation necessary? Certainly, it must be noted there has been little conclusive proof that London is the sole actor in your recent domestic unease…

-Your call for a constitutional convention has been successful and delegates have convened in Boston, waiting to see what you propose. Given your authority over the current political situation it is expected that whatever direction you choose, the people will follow. What will the new constitution of New England look like? Will you establish firm centralized governance or maintain a confederation? How will the system function and when will elections be held? This is a rare opportunity to take your state in a new direction, use it wisely.

-New England has never been much of a player outside of its immediate region since independence was achieved in the 1780s. Some have called for that to change. As one of the few abolitionist powers in America alongside Quebec, there is a growing faction that would have you actively involve your men in the struggles for Latin American independence against the slaveholding Spanish or the Prussians, who have sought to take out the recently declared republic of Haiti. Traditionalists, on the other hand, see foreign expeditions as too dangerous, given the continued threat from Britain in the region. Still, effective intervention could yield long-term dividends. Will you take a more active stance in the affairs of the Americas, or is it better to focus on your own personal security before doing anything so rash?

Tokugawa Shogunate:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Japan is opening itself to the world, regardless of whatever opponents to the events of the past half-century have to say about it. The importation of foreign books, presence of foreign physicians, and new military activity abroad have demonstrated much of this change will likely be permanent. While the government censors seem to have been successful at blocking the spread of Christian literature, it is notable how well some of the tomes on philosophy from Descartes, Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau (not officially banned by your decree) have sold. Coupled with the spread of other pieces of western literature, including books on the history of the Great Italian War, Polish Revolution, and newer volumes detailing events in Latin America, it is clear there is a faction in the realm that is wholeheartedly devouring new political ideas and engaging with the outside world. It is feared too much political texts too quickly could create a completely alien class of Japanese subject, unwilling to work in the established order. Some of your censors urge you to expand the ban on certain subjects to encompass political topics before these new ideas take too deep of a hold. Yet, these works are in no way critical of the Shogunate, covering topics in completely different circumstances, whatever parallels idealists try to draw. Will you expand your control over incoming literature or is it time to learn what the rest of the world has experienced for decades?

-Your intervention in the Chinese Civil War seems to have been successful thus far, some now calling for full-on military support of the Xing on land as well as sea. Given the ease with which concessions were obtained last year, perhaps even more could be extracted? Although there remain traditionalists opposed to the war in principle, the example of glory and protection against the encroaching Europeans seems to have resonated to some extent, meaning the broader public is in support of your views. Will Japan continue to involve itself in this major conflict on its doorstep? Or has the point been made and the potential strength of your regime been demonstrated to a potentially aggressive foreign audience?

-As your age has advanced the issue of the succession is becoming more acute. You have been blessed with several sons and grandsons who could take your place as Shogun when the eventual handing over of power is necessary (some have delicately suggested you retire). Given so many possible candidates who will you choose? Although it has traditionally assumed your son Tokugawa Ieyoshi will be your eventual successor, there is the possibility for someone else to be named instead. This son is seen as much of a traditionalist and more hostile to the ways of reform adopted by your regime. Will you alter the succession, choosing a brother or other son to take the title of Shogun (OOC: feel free to browse Wikipedia, he had TONS of children), or is the succession settled business and something that ought not be meddled with, regardless of reforms to other aspects of your government?


Eyalet of Egypt:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Ottomans have been held off in the Nile Delta, your soldiers putting up valiant resistance and slowing their progress. In Cyrenaica, small territorial gains have even become possible, the Ottoman forces there fleeing to the west. Yet, the threat to your capitol in Cairo remains very real. The Sinai has been lost. You are outnumbered. Now, more than ever, the time for strategic thinking is necessary. How will the war be prosecuted in 1836?

-The seizure of the Suez by the Seven Power Alliance gave brief hopes that they would join your struggles against the Ottomans. This has not been the case. Though you have received supplies and a few military advisors from some European powers, no one has issued diplomatic recognition, offered formal military aid, or promised to cripple the Turkish fleet in the Mediterranean (thus cutting the Ottoman army in the Delta off from its supplies). How will you get some of these powers to enter the war? Certainly, it is feasible, given the Prussian seizure of Ottoman-held Singapore and Scandinavian/Russian willingness to meddle in that other Near Eastern conflict in Persia. It is up to you to ensure this year does not become a disaster for your faction.

-As has been mentioned, the crisis in the Delta has severely impacted the annual harvest of Egyptian food. Although your people have been able to hold out thus far, exhausting the limited supplies from the granaries, there is concern that the situation could become quite dire. Given the destruction of your fleet by the Ottomans and the lack of direct foreign aid, it is paramount that you find some way to ensure food will be available to your people. In its absence, some suspect the Copts and other minorities will defect to Istanbul, a horrible proposition. What is to be done?

Joseon:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Indeed, your worst fears seem to have materialized. It appears the family of your daughter-in-law, the Pungyang Jo clan has been exploiting state offices for personal benefit. Their network is vast however, sizable enough to rival your own family’s influence in domestic politics, embroiling the Queen Mother’s brothers, uncles, and cousins. Now it is up to you to determine whether or not action should be taken. Although your daughter-in-law, Sinjeong has not been found guilty in any way, there are also concerning reports that she is privately supportive of a more pro-Western attitude and expressed concern over the execution of the Jesuits. Given her family’s evident corruption and her private opinions, some would have her removed from your grandson, so not to corrupt him with her ways. How will you handle these two connected issues?

-Korean soldiers now garrison the region to the northwest, ostensibly against Japanese attack. Given the developments in the south, including the flight of the Qing Emperor to the safety of Manchuria, some see the seizure of this land as of paramount importance, an opportunity to ensure that no other hostile power such as Russia or the Tokugawa Shogunate will establish an outpost to your north. Yet, this would be an act of betrayal towards an ostensible ally, one who has fallen on hard times. Now that Japan has entered the conflict, and the Xing have made advances in the middle of the country, what will your involvement in the Chinese Civil War consist of?

-The Dutch expansion into Hainan and Formosa has just confirmed an alarming trend many have seen for years. European encroachment has grown ever-closer towards Korea. First their traders came, then their missionaries, now it seems their military is set to follow. Prussia, Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, and Spain all are now active in East Asia. With the disorder in China, it is feared this may grow further. Needless to say, fellow sovereigns from as far afield as Dai Viet and the Rattanakosin Kingdom have expressed alarm. How will you ensure Korea is not next? Should covert activities be undertaken to destabilize these colonies? Or would cooperation as an equal be a better way to pursue diplomacy? Perhaps some sort of defensive arrangement could be possible with Japan, a common enemy having arisen to end your historic rivalry? Given the furor over the execution of several Catholics in the past year, some in Seoul argue that perhaps you could establish some sort of protective arrangement with a Protestant power such as Britain (the Dutch being feared because of their actions in the South China Sea).

Qing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Some serious blows have been dealt to the Qing Dynasty, certainly, but the cause is not lost. Although your flight from Beijing caused alarm in the South, it has secured the north for the most part. Now that the situation is clearer there are two major military issues that need to be addressed in 1836: how will the Xing advance be halted and is there a way to free the Qing Army in the South from its siege by the Guang Dynasty. How is this war to be won?

-The Xing hostility towards Christians could provide an opening to contact with the Europeans and further military aid. Most of the missionaries that were operating along the Yangtze have fled to your regions following their forced exile. They offer you valuable intelligence on the Christian communities in the south who, though small in number, could have an outside effect in getting the attention of outside actors. These missionaries would have you contrast yourself with the Xing by promoting religious toleration in your borders. Yet, there have been voices in opposition. Some are concerned that giving further concessions to the westerners without any, thus far, tangible benefits will only increase the nationalist Han case against your dynasty. What will you do regarding this alien religion?

-News of the atrocities against the Manchu committed by the Han in the south has raised the alarm of other minorities that once sat in your borders. The Mongols have offered to aid your cause against the Xing, but only if you renounce any authority over them and agree to respect their current borders. Primarily promising a defensive role, they seek to garrison Beijing and Northern China. While some at Court believe that this is a valuable way to free up more manpower to fight the Xing, others are concerned about the motives of these barbarians, let alone the prestige damage caused by renouncing your claim to their homeland. Will you accept the Mongol offer?

Xing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your armies have advanced the expelled the Manchus from much of central China. The Qing appear to be panicked, fleeing from Beijing and ceding territories to Dutch and Korean administration in their hopes to make allies. Japan has pummeled their fleet, docking on the Shandong Peninsula.  Yet, despite the damage to their forces, the cursed Yansheng Emperor can still call on thousands of men. The war is not over and decisive action will be necessary to ensure that it continues to go your way. How will you prosecute the Chinese Civil War in 1836, Youfu Emperor?

-The government of the Hui people in the center of the former Qing Empire (tan on the map, west of the Qing) have expressed concern over further Xing involvement in the region adjoining their territory. They have offered to aid you in expelling the Qing garrisons from the region, but only if you in turn renounce them as a potential subject state and end your claims to the western regions. Otherwise, they warn they will be watching closely to ensure their interests are protected. Opinion at your Court in Nanjing is mixed. Some believe that some short-term concessions to the Hui in return for their aid could hasten the end of Manchus in China, while their opponents stress the bad, inauspicious precedent this sets for your nascent dynasty, given the numerous other separatists present throughout the former Chinese Emperor. Will you accept their demands or refuse and risk their involvement in this brutal civil conflict?

-The Christian missionaries have generally left your realm, fleeing to the north and providing the Qing with valuable information as to where potential loyalists could lie. Because of this, some are calling for the brutal repression of the Chinese Christians that have remained. There are calls to disperse them among the larger Han population, breaking up potential clusters of dissent. Others want to follow the practices of the Joseon Dynasty and perhaps execute those who refuse to swear loyalty to your upcoming dynasty. Given the nativist roots of your rebellion, the staunch anti-Christians are in a clear majority among your army officers and civil officials. Still, such a harsh response could offend the Habsburgs, who have been crucial in providing your soldiers with equipment and exposure to new ways of strategic thinking thus far. You have rid yourself of the missionaries, but now what will be done with their flock?


Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
100,000 Army of St. Petersburg
55,000 Army of Poland
115,000 Army of Ukraine
17,800 Army of Khiva
61,400 Army of the East
9,500 Army of the Suez
5,000 Army of Alaska
50,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 429,000 more)

Kingdom of France
110,000 Army of Northern France
80,000 Army of Southern France
80,000 Army of Bengal
40,000 Army of Gujarat
24,200 Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
8,700 Army of the Suez
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 373,000 more)

Habsburg Monarchy
90,000 Army of Austria and Bavaria
90,000 Army of Italy
50,000 Army of Bohemia
50,000 Army of Poland
40,000 Army of Transylvania
9,800 Army of the Suez
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 353,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
105,000 Army of Brandenburg
80,000 Army of East Prussia
90,000 Army of Poland
35,000 Army of Hanover
9,000 Army of the Cape
9,800 Army of the Suez
1,500 Army of Guyana
6,000 Army of Angola
750 Army of the Congo
2,600 Army of Haiti
1,400 Army of Borneo
600 Army of Singapore
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 179,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
90,000 Army of Britain
60,000 Army of Pennsylvania
35,000 Army of Georgia
25,000 Army of the Mississippi
10,000 Army of Australia
10,000 Army of Southwest England
9,800 Army of the Suez
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 230,000 more)

Qing Dynasty
87,200 Army of Yellow River
75,200 Army of Shanxi
70,000 Army of Manchuria
70,000 Army of Hunan
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 100,000 more)

Ottoman Empire
70,600 Army of the Delta
50,000 Army of the Balkans
40,000 Army of Iraq
39,400 Army of Cyrenaica
32,000 Army of the Sinai
30,000 Army of Istanbul
25,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 96,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
109,600 Army of Jiangsu
107,800 Army of Hubei
80,000 Army of Wuhan
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 45,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
80,000 Army of Spain
53,700 Army of Mexico
50,000 Army of Peru
30,000 Army of the Llanos
26,000 Army of Ecuador
20,000 Army of Uruguay
20,000 Army of Cuba
17,800 Army of California
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 45,000 more)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
85,000 Army of Stockholm
75,000 Army of Finland
5,000 Army of Liberia
5,000 Army of Eritrea
8,000 Army of Kilwa
2,000 Army of Gabon
8,200 Army of the Suez
1,000 Army of Socotra
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 149,000 more)

Tokugawa Shogunate
70,000 Army of Edo
50,000 Army of the North
20,000 Army of Kyoto
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 150,000 more)

Kingdom of the Netherlands
75,000 Army of Amsterdam
20,000 Army of the East Indies
10,000 Army of New Holland
5,000 Army of Ceylon
9,500 Army of the Suez
15,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 125,000 more)

Republic of Brazil
44,500 Army of the South
40,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 121,000 more)

Kingdom of Quebec
80,000 Army of Quebec
27,000 Army of California
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 104,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
70,000 Army of Naples
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 100,000 more)

Joseon Korea
40,000 Army of the North
50,000 Army of the South
10,000 Corps of the Ussuri
10,000 Marine Corp
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 45,000 more)

Kingdom of Louisiana
17,000 Army of Monterrey
30,000 Army of New Orleans
37,000 Army of Northern Mexico
10,000 Army of the North
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 42,000 more)

Eyalet of Egypt
44,800 Army of Egypt
49,700 Army of Cyrenaica
(Can raise 2,000 more)

Confederation of New England
45,000 Army of New England
5,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 45,000 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)
Confederation of New England (Innovative, Small)
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)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Limited)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Limited)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Tokugawa Japan (Modified, Standard)
Qing Dynasty (Traditional, Sizable)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Traditional, Standard)
Eyalet of Egypt (Traditional, No Fleet)
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Spamage
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« Reply #11 on: July 13, 2020, 09:13:35 PM »

Royal Families of Europe, the Americas


(Source: Wikimedia)

House of Bourbon: France
Head: King Louis XVIII of France (1773-)
Consort: Marie Fernandina of Berry (1775-)
Parents: King Louis XVII of France (1751-1799), Queen Maria Beatrice d’Este

Children:
1. Princess Josephine of France (1797-) m. Prince Jorge of Spain (1792-)
2. Dauphin Louis of France (1802-) m. Princess Louise of Louisiana (1800-)
   a. Petit Dauphin Louis of France (1826-)
   b. Princess Catherine of France (1829-)
3. Princess Marie of France (1803-)
4. Grand Duke Xavier of Piedmont (1806-)
5. Princess Genevieve of France (1808-)
6. Princess Adelaide of France (1809-)

House of Bourbon: Naples
Head: King Francis I of Naples (1777-)
Consort: Maria Isabella of Spain (1789-)
Parents: King Ferdinand IV of Naples (1751-1822), Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria (1753-1830)

Children:
1.   Crown Prince Francis of Naples (1817-)
2.   Prince Charles of Naples (1819-)
3.   Princess Isabel of Naples (1822-)
4.   Prince Alfonso of Naples (1826-)

House of Bourbon: Spain
Head:  King Philip VI of Spain (1782-)
Consort: Infanta Maria Isabel of Portugal (1797-)
Parents: King Charles IV of Spain (1748-1819), Princess Marie Clotilde of France (1759-)

Children:
1. Prince Ferdinand of Spain (1822-)
2. Infanta Joanna of Spain (1826-)
3. Infanta Leonora of Spain (1829-)

House of Bourbon: Louisiana
Head: King Louis-Phillippe II of Louisiana (1773-)
Consort: Princess Maria Cristina of Naples (1779-)
Parents: King Louis-Philippe I of Louisiana (1747-1819), Louise Marie Bourbon (1753-1821)

Children:
1. Crown Prince Phillippe of Louisiana (1797-) m.
2. Princess Louise of Louisiana (1800-) m. Dauphin Louis of France (1802-)
3. King Louis of Mexico (1806-)

House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Head: Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1792-)
Consort: Amalie of Baden (1795-)
Parents: Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (1763-1827), Princess Marie Josephine of France (1775-)

Children:
1. Archduke Charles of Austria, King of the Romans (1817-)
2. Archduke Francis of Austria (1819-)
3. Archduchess Maria Sophia of Austria (1822-)
4. Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria (1828-)
5. Archduke Maximilian of Austria (1830-)

House of Hohenzollern: Prussia
Head: King Frederick III of Prussia (1806-)
Consort: Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1803-)
Parents: King Frederick William III of Prussia (1771-1811), Augusta of the Palatinate (1787-)

Children:
1. Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia (1827-)
2. Princess Elena of Prussia (1829-)
3. Prince William Henry of Prussia (1833-)

House of Hohenzollern: Quebec
Head: King Louis Henry of Quebec (1790-)
Consort: Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal (1793-)
Parents: King Henry of Quebec (1726-1803), Louise-Charlotte de Vaudreuil (1770-1833)

Children:
1.   Crown Prince Henry of Quebec (1811-)
2.   Prince Frederick of Quebec (1815-), “King of Colombia”
3.   Princess Marie of Quebec (1816-)
4.   Prince Louis of Quebec (1819-)
5.   Princess Charlotte of Quebec (1821-)

House of Romanov
Head: Czar Peter IV of Russia (1772-)
Consort: Maria Augusta of Saxony (1782-)
Parents: Czar Paul I of Russia (1754-1802), Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria (1755-1834)

Children:
1.   Crown Prince Peter Petrovich of Russia (1809-) m. Princess Charlotte of Prussia (1811-)
            a. Prince Ivan of Russia (1832-)
2. Princess Augusta of Russia (1811-)
3. Prince Alexander of Russia (1817-)

House of Orange
Head: King William II of the Netherlands (1769-)
Consort: Karoline Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1771-)
Parents: King William I of the Netherlands (1748-1819), Louisa of Britain (1749-1806)

Children:
1. Crown Prince William of the Netherlands (1795-) m. Princess Carolina of Scandinavia (1802-)
2. Princess Louisa-Amalia of the Netherlands (1802-)
3. Prince Leopold of the Netherlands (1809-)


House of Hanover
Head: King Charles III of Great Britain (1760-)
Consort: Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria (1769-1827)
Parents: King George III of Great Britain (1738-1821), Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain (1745-1802)

Children:
1. Princess Charlotte of Great Britain (1791-) m.
2. Henry, Prince of Wales (1792-) m. Princess Eleanora of Scandinavia (1799-)
        a. Prince Henry of Britain (1820-)
        b. Princess Elizabeth of Great Britain (1821-)
        c. Princess Alexandra of Great Britain (1824-)
3. Prince George of Great Britain (1795-)
4. Princess Anne of Great Britain (1797-) m. Crown Prince Gustav of Scandinavia (1798-)

House of Oldenburg
Head: King Frederick VI of Scandinavia
Co-Head: Queen Catherine of Scandinavia (1777-)
Parents: Christian VII of Denmark (1749-1808), Princess Caroline of Britain (1751-1775)
Gustav III of Sweden (1746-1800), Anna Petrovna of Russia (1757-1807)

Children:
1.   Crown Prince Gustav of Scandinavia (1798-) m. Princess Anne of Great Britain (1797-)
           a. Prince Karl of Scandinavia (1819-)
           b. Princess Alexandra of Scandinavia (1822-)
2.   Princess Eleanora of Scandinavia (1799-) m. Henry, Prince of Wales (1792-)
3.   Prince Christian of Denmark (1801-)
4.   Princess Carolina of Scandinavia (1802-) m. Crown Prince William of the Netherlands
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« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2020, 09:05:56 PM »

1836 Midturn Update

Pope Victor IV Dies in Rome
Conclave to Convene and Elect Successor
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   News emerged from the recently reconstructed Vatican in March 1836 that Pope Victor IV, head for the Catholic Church for the past 16 years, died peacefully in Rome. His papacy, still overshadowed by the events of almost half a century ago, was largely one of maintaining the status quo and preserving the Catholic Church in the face of modernization. So weak as to largely be insignificant in broader European affairs, his tenure saw the Papal States become a semi-neutral arbiter between the continued French and Habsburg plays for dominance in the peninsula.
   He leaves the Church with serious challenges. Catholic Republicanism, the scourge of the Papacy after the events in the 1780s, has reemerged in the Americas, ignoring Victor IV’s condemnation. France and the Holy Roman Empire are experiencing serious challenges to the traditional property holdings of the Church, public opinion turning against perceived clerical greed. Church attendance all throughout Europe has still only slightly recovered in the long aftermath of the Great Italian War. Some hardliners in the Vatican are hoping that the next pontiff will have a firmer hand and restore some of the lost authority of the Papacy. Alternatively, there are those who would see the Church continue to remain decentralized, allowing for broad regional autonomy.
   In this new era of national consciousness and power-politics, there are other areas of concern as well. With Piedmont having just fallen firmly into the French orbit, some in the Italian peninsula are concerned the Papal States will become the next battleground of intrigue between the French and Habsburg factions. This feeling is particularly pronounced in Rome proper, as well as Latium more broadly. Indeed, this sentiment has seemingly been confirmed by the emergence of sizable French and Austrian factions in the College of Cardinals, which is set to convene in the next couple of weeks and elect the new pope. The attitude in the holy city is one of tension and unease, no one wanting to disturb the fragile peace.
   There are three major factions in the College of Cardinals, none possessing a majority at the moment, but numerous cardinals expressing a willingness to be swayed. The Italian faction is the weakest, the number of Italian Cardinals having declined severely in the aftermath of the Conclave at Assisi (1787) and during Leo XII’s subsequent reign. Backing Cardinal Giacomo Giustiniani, the Italian faction seeks to see the independence of the Papacy preserved, perhaps eventually to be used as an avenue of consolidating the separated Italian states, though there are some pro-Neapolitans in their ranks as well. Although not Catholic Republican, the Italian faction is fiercely nationalist and resents the decline of regional autonomy.
   The French Faction is the largest and consists of French cardinals plus their counterparts from Piedmont, Parma, Genoa, and Modena. Naturally this group would be more amenable to King Louis XVIII and the French government on the international stage. In terms of policy, the French faction is also seen to be slightly more reformist, preferring for the Papacy to remain somewhat weaker and giving sovereigns more authority over the Church in their territory. Bartolomeo Pacca is seen as the French candidate.
   The Habsburg faction consists of cardinals from the hereditary Habsburg lands, as well as their client states in Italy. Only slightly smaller than the French faction, this group is seen as more doctrinally conservative, demanding the Church maintain its traditional role as a part of the government. That being said, it is expected they would be generous in any dealings with the Holy Roman Emperor. Pietro Francesco Galleffi has been identified as the Habsburg-backed candidate.
   Besides these three camps there is a moderate group of neutral candidates that has indicated a willingness to be convinced. It will be up to these various interest groups to help determine what the future of the Papacy will look like. Most observers of the internal Catholic politics are expecting a lengthy conclave, though prior sessions have proven them wrong in the past.

SCANDINAVIA STRIKES PERSIA
Brutal Assault Signals Aggressive Return to Region
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The insult to Scandinavian pride in Persia with the rapid collapse of Hormuz was bound to be avenged. Angered by the Qajar attack, and the likely Russian involvement in said offensive, the Swedish Monarchs personally organized a counterstrike in the region. With the hostages still in limbo, as the Qajars demanded their handing over, speed was of the essence.
   Fortunately, the acquisition of Socotra in 1835 made the prospect of a Scandinavian return to Persia feasible. Under the excuse of arranging for repairs in Djibouti (so not to alert the Russians of their true intentions) the Scandinavian fleet departed from the Suez and rendezvoused at their outpost in the Arabian Sea. They would be joined by several sizable contingents from various outposts in the region.
   The Qajar forces were caught unaware when the Scandinavians opened fire on Hormuz, Kish, and Lavan just a few weeks later. Most of their men away fighting the rival factions in the civil war, the Scandinavians had an easy time of it. A brief attack by the small Qajar fleet was easily repulsed and the islands fell after landings were ordered. Although their casualties were light, numerous Persian civilians, as well as some Russian officers sent to the region for military guidance, were killed. Thus, the Persian Gulf is now in Scandinavian hands, the hope of many in Stockholm being that the government will provide more much-needed aid to the collapsing Zinatian faction on the mainland.
   With the numbers now present in this theater, albeit with some supply troubles, the Scandinavians have the potential to undertake some serious, direct military action in the Persian Civil War, should they so desire.
   This move by Stockholm, intended to reiterate that Scandinavia is a power to be reckoned with in the Indian Ocean, has outraged both the Russian military officials and the Qajars. In St. Petersburg there are some openly calling for retribution directly towards Scandinavia on behalf of the slain Russian advisors. Meanwhile, the Qajars have used the propaganda of “returning foreign oppressors” to great effect.  Looking further afield, it is widely understood that this crisis jeopardizes the recent Russo-Scandinavian cooperation as part of the Seven Power Alliance. How other powers, especially the Habsburg Empire, respond to these escalating tensions near there own concessions remains to be seen. No action has been taken in regards to the Scandinavian hostages yet either, but it is now assumed by most that Vienna will return them to Hormuz.
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« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2020, 09:14:13 PM »
« Edited: July 27, 2020, 09:28:12 PM by Spamage »

1836 News of the World

Struggle for Supremacy: Spanish America 1836
(Source: Wikimedia)

Concessions of Zaragoza
  The inconclusive nature of the war in the Americas gradually began to wear on Spanish morale throughout 1836. With the faraway fighting entering its thirteenth year, opposition at home would finally erupt. Perhaps provided some encouragement from abroad, Catalonian opponents of the regime rose up in Barcelona in June. Although the region had long loathed the House of Bourbon, dating back to Philip V’s seizure of the city in the later stages of the War of the Spanish Succession, there had largely been peace for the past century. No more. Over the course of a week a series of riots crashed through the city. The opposition demanded a constitution, regional autonomy, and a clear plan for the fighting in the Americas. There were also demands to limit conscription and end the transportation of soldiers from Spain. Though a combination of the military and local police restored order, it was clear that Philip VI no longer had an unchallenged mandate to operate in the Americas. Unrest in Catalonia would be coupled with similar expressions of opposition among the Basque country, urban liberals in Madrid, and even in some quarters of the military.

   As the assassination of the Dauphin in Paris illustrated in September, the sovereigns of Europe were no longer safe from the wrath of their subjects. Eager to head off any opposition, and in a savvy political move, King Philip VI departed Madrid and met a local deputation in Zaragoza. Here, the King of Spain promulgated the “Concessions of Zaragoza,” offering a compromise aimed at blunting any revolutionary sentiments and stabilizing the domestic political situation in Spain. King Philip announced that no further Spanish soldiers would be sent to the Americas, but conscription in the colonies instead would now be the primary source of recruitment for that conflict. Yet, the King would go further, pushing through reforms aimed at expanding the appeal of his government in a wide range of areas. In emulation of his French relations, a new Cortes elected by property holders was proposed, albeit in far more of an advisory capacity than France, with representation for both the metropole and all of Spain’s various colonial holdings, which were all decreed to be “core” Spanish territory. Viceroys would be chosen by the King, pending the approval of the respective regional delegation in the Cortes. Internal tariff barriers were abolished, the power of the Catholic Church curtailed in favor of the Crown, while the Church was instead compensated with the establishment and control of Catholic schools throughout the Spanish Empire. No direct mention of the Basque or Catalan issues was made, but it was expected the nationalists would be appeased by offers of national representation in the Cortes.

   Clearly inspired by the example of Louis XVII in the last century, Philip VI’s Concessions of Zaragoza may be seen by some as only the most moderate of reforms. The Crown retains almost total control of the government in every way but mere symbolism. Yet, in a realm as conservative as the Kingdom of Spain, the new reforms have caused a great shift in public opinion. With domestic support for the Crown once again surging, especially with the new elections of 1838 now officially approaching, the prospect of continued Spanish involvement in the Americas seems almost certain.

Collapse of the Union of La Plata
  Events in Colombia would reverberate throughout the other factions in South America, the most substantial results emerging in the Union of La Plata and the rebel faction in Upper Peru. The Union of La Plata had always been somewhat tenuous, local municipalities retaining broad autonomy despite a united front. With the collapse of the Spanish war effort in the region and their subsequent relocation to Chile, the loose threads binding all of these local rivals together began to fray, despite foreign attempts to prevent this.

    The Jesuits have undoubtedly been the most instrumental group in spreading Catholic Republicanism throughout South America. Having been expelled from most of Europe throughout the 1700s, and with long-established connections with native communities, a new strain of republicanism has emerged, combining a sense of indigenous nationalism with Catholic fervor. Nowhere has this been more evident than in Paraguay, which became the first region of the La Platan Union to withdraw its representatives from the broad Assembly of Equals in Buenos Aires. Asunscion was declared the Capitol of the Republic of Paraguay, a state modelling its government off of Colombia, while those deemed to be insufficiently loyal to the new regime have been expelled or forced to take oaths of allegiance.

   When the central government in Buenos Aires attempted to restore order, there were more defections. Jujuy, upset with the moderation in the mainstream government, but not willing to join Paraguay, made common cause with the indigenous rebellion in Upper Peru. Corrientes declared its independence, a local military junta led Juan Manuel de Rosas decreeing it would defeat both the weak La Platan government and the Catholic Republicans in Paraguay, uniting the region under strong centralized authority. Mendoza and other rural regions in the west meanwhile have declared their own autonomy and demanded to be left alone.

    Thus, the Union of La Plata now consists of a weak central government based in Buenos Aires with the support of Mendoza and a few other nearby cities. The military is disintegrating, various generals defecting to the provinces based on their residence and political opinions, while communication between the factions has ceased. There are open calls for the resignation of Manuel Belgrano and further foreign intervention in the region, either from Brazil or, most surprisingly, Spain itself.

   Meanwhile, on the other side of the Andes the brave Chilean revolutionaries were utterly crushed throughout 1836 by the larger Spanish force. By midyear a sense of defeatism had taken hold, despite attempts by Quebec and other American powers to boost morale. The provisional government surrendered in November 1836 in exchange for immunity and pardons for those who had fought in the conflict. Although there’s little appetite to return to the way things used to be in Chile, some sparks of hope have been bolstered by the Concessions of Zaragoza and the prospect of a more relevant position in the Spanish Empire.

Mexican Theater of War
  The tripartite cooperation between Quebec, Louisiana, and the Mexican rebels continued in 1836, yielding gains and opening up a second front in the fight against the Spanish. As the year comes to a close, there are many in both Spain and Mexico who wonder if peace could finally be at hand, the position of the royalists in serious peril.

   Decisive defeat for the Spanish would be most evident in California. Reinforcements were not forthcoming, the government in far-off Madrid choosing instead to direct most of its attention towards operations in Southern Mexico and South America. With the Spanish forces severely outnumbered by the arrival of a second army from Louisiana, most of the local landowners cut their losses, surrendered to the invaders, and renounced their personal loyalty to King Philip VI. The Spanish Army in turn saw that victory could not be achieved. Although there were brief hopes of evacuation to the south, perhaps to aid in the defense of the Valley of Mexico, the naval aid never materialized. Thus, overwhelmed and beleaguered, the remnants of the Spanish army surrendered to the Kingdom of Quebec in November 1836. With their capture fighting in California has come to a close and the entire northern Mexican theater has been seized by the rebellion.
  
   A joint Quebecois-Louisianan landing at Veracruz would prove to be a success. By reentering combat in the south so soon after it seemed as though the Spanish had triumphed, the fresh wounds of the suppressed rebellion burst back into the open. Mass risings all throughout southern Mexico saw numerous towns change hands. An allied attempt to advance on Mexico City itself was beat back, the Spaniards demonstrating that, whatever the local political situation, their armies remain a force to be reckoned with. The government of the Viceroyalty of New Spain now finds itself with firm control of the Valley of Mexico, but largely cut out of the remainder of their claimed territory. The Viceroy, acting upon the advice of Madrid, has indicated a willingness to open negotiations, so long as the interests of the loyalists in the region are given a fair hearing. It is unknown how Louisiana and Quebec will respond.

March of the Holy People’s Republic
  Although the rise of Catholic Republicanism in Colombia caused alarm and led to a surge in the popularity of that ideology in other theaters of the fighting, Colombia was not Spain’s primary target in 1836, as results would demonstrate. José Mosquera y Arboleda, although a cleric, personally led a small, targeted expedition north towards Panama, where the attempts by the Spanish and Prussians to construct a canal were spoiled. Their equipment was sabotaged, surveys of the region destroyed, and work thus far damaged beyond repair, frustrating what could have been a profitable enterprise. Further to the south, guerrilla efforts were repeatedly crushed by the Spanish in the Llanos, Madrid expanding its hold over Venezuela.
 
   The actual Army of Colombia focused primarily on moving south towards Ecuador. At the Battle of Quito on June 19th, the much smaller Spanish army in the region was defeated, fleeing into the city which has since been placed under siege. There appears to be little worry in Peru over the situation though, as the sizable Spanish force garrisoned there seems more than large enough to deal with the threat posed by the Catholic Republicans. The Viceroy of Peru and local generals have deliberately engaged in a slow advance towards Ecuador, leaving ample men to defend Peru from rebels further to the south, and in the interim have ordered naval shipments to the army under siege at Quito. There is some concern these officials are acting overconfident in the face of a zealous foe, but thus far there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.


DAUPHIN AND DAUPHINE ASSASSINATED IN PARIS
FLEMISH NATIONALISTS SUSPECTED; DUTCH INVOLVEMENT UNCLEAR
(Source: Wikimedia)

    The Dauphin Louis of France, the son of King Louis XVIII, and the Dauphine, born Princess Louise of Louisiana, cultivated a reputation in France of being liberal, young, reform-minded individuals. The thirty-four-year-old heir contrasted greatly with the governance of his aging father. During his father’s turn towards conservatism in the aftermath of the Silent Revolution, it was the Dauphin who acted as a behind-the-scenes mediator with the various liberal factions and the Crown. Needless to say, in France proper the couple was highly popular and viewed as representing a future style of nineteenth century monarchy.

    The French Election of 1836 ultimately saw the Liberals win with the tacit support of King Louis XVIII, who vowed to undertake further reforms and return to the style of rule that characterized his early reign. The Crown, with the support of the newly elected government, was quick to nationalize Church property, establish a universal educational system, and pledge further action on the growing railroad network in France proper. The Dauphin was elated, in the first few weeks of 1836 frequently undertaking the journey between Paris proper and the royal residence of Versailles, where he served as a sort of informal diplomat in the awkward pairing of the Crown and some of the more outspoken Liberal reformers.

    This would be shattered on the evening of September 15th, 1836. As part of their image as more open royals, the Dauphin and Dauphine were known to frequent opera performances in Paris. Riding in an open carriage in the warm weather of the late summer, their journey was interrupted by an explosion. Some sort of explosive device, either a paper bomb or gunpowder-based, was lobbed into the carriage, causing great damage. Neither the Dauphin or Dauphine was killed instantly however, their injuries quite severe. Removed from the scene into the packed entrance of the opera house, both would take several hours to die, their wounds too severe. King Louis XVIII hastened to the city, but the clogged roads caused by the confusion meant he did not make it to his son’s deathbed in time. With the death of the Dauphin Louis, the new heir to the French throne is his son, the nine-year-old Prince Louis of France. Second-in-line for the throne is Grand Duke Xavier of Piedmont, another possibly consequential issue raised by the murder.

   It only took hours to locate the perpetrators of the Dauphin’s assassination, perhaps in part because they took no effort to conceal themselves. Lodewijk de Backer, an unemployed Flemish former soldier appears to have been the one to actually undertake the bombing of the carriage. Yet, he is merely one member in broader network of Flemish nationalists in Paris that has been uncovered, the group titling themselves the “Children of Willem” in honor of the King of the Netherlands. Preliminary investigations have made it clear that this conspiracy, consisting of around two dozen individuals ranging from a tavern-owner to other financiers back in Brussels and Antwerp, is wide-ranging and has the popular sympathy of many Flemings, who have watched the case with great interest. Their goal is nothing less than the full independence of Flanders from France, either under union with the Netherlands or as an independent realm. What Is less clear is the degree to which the Dutch government was involved. While there’s been no direct tie between Amsterdam and the murder of the Dauphin in Paris, it is suspected that some agents of the Dutch government, be they generals or civil officials, may have been in covert contact with the Children of Willem.

    Needless to say, the death of the Dauphin has roiled France proper, turning domestic politics on its head. While King Louis XVIII and the Liberals are united in their grief, there is legitimate concern about the survivability of their alliance without the Dauphin to mediate. French nationalists are out for blood, demanding brutal reprisals throughout Flanders. Flemings have petitioned for mercy, arguing that two wrongs do not make a right.  Neither the Conservatives or the Socialists have shown much care for the murder of the Dauphin, something that has aroused the suspicion of the most devout Liberals. The prospect of a regency or even further disputes over Piedmont seems possible once more, while the question of how the situation evolves further is an open one.

   It had seemed that France was a rare area of order in Europe, only realms beyond its frontiers feeling domestic turmoil in early 1836 (the risings in Barcelona, crisis in Germany, collapse of the Papal States in Italy), but now it seems the Kingdom is not as stable as has been long assumed. How King Louis XVIII, the Liberals, the Netherlands, and other sovereigns will respond to the death of the Dauphin is not known, but their actions will undoubtedly be crucial in setting the stage for 1837.

SIX GLORIOUS DAYS IN ROME
PAPAL STATES INTEGRATED INTO NAPLES
(Source: Wikimedia)

   The Papal Conclave drew much European attention in mid-1836, but none of the Catholic powers were able to foresee the dramatic developments that would occur simultaneously. As the conclave began, Rome itself descended into disorder. The prospect of being bound to either the French or the Habsburgs was an unpopular one in the Eternal City, nor was continued domination by the theocratic government of the Papacy seen as ideal. Reformist feelings were in the air. When the first ballot came back inconclusive, protests quickly filled the streets of the city, calling for a restoration of the Catholic Republican cause as had occurred in Colombia. Others demanded long-overdue reform and the ultimate goal of the crowds was quite muddled. Attempts by the interim authorities to assert order proved ineffectual after neither the soldiers nor the modest police force proved to demonstrate any real enthusiasm of turning on their fellow citizens. A council of five leading Romans set themselves up as the Regional Council of Rome, their first action declaring an end to the Papal States and establishing the state of Latium.

   What occurred next shocked observers. Ostensibly to restore order to their northern neighbor, soldiers from the Kingdom of Naples were on the scene within the week. Crossing into the Papal States they were greeted with cheering crowds as the soldiers of the Holy See stepped aside or joined, marching in lockstep. Suddenly the demands for Catholic Republicanism ceased in Rome, now the crowds instead demanding that their region be joined to the Kingdom of Naples. The Regional Council, highlighting the historic links between the Papal States and their southern neighbor, obliged. On October 11th, 1836 King Francis of Naples was officially declared the “Prince of Latium” by the Regional Council which then promptly dissolved itself, ceding its authority to the central government of their new sovereign. Thus ended the period that has become known to many locals as the Six Glorious Days, a period where the centuries-old government of the Papacy was toppled in one fell swoop.

   Needless to say, the pace of events proved quite dizzying. Before any of the other major Catholic powers could respond, the Papal States were utterly absorbed into Naples as calls for Italian Unification have grown ever louder. Already in the northern Austrian and French satellite principalities, protests against “foreign” rule have been noticed and some are afraid this new wave of Italian patriotism could topple the order established after the Great Italian War fifty years ago. Francis of Naples is now seen as the figure that could unite the peninsula, expunging the dark legacy of Catholic Republicanism from Italian Nationalism.

   Cynical observers have noted that the collapse of the Papal government was so rapid and complete that some sort of coordination between the Neapolitans and the Roman authorities must have occurred, though this need not necessarily be the case. Clerical rule has been unpopular for decades in Rome, if not centuries. The chain of events following the death of Pope Victor IV merely may have provided the perfect storm during which opportunists took action and Naples happened to be best-prepared to kill any thoughts of Catholic Republicanism in its cradle.

   The crisis in Rome overshadowed the conclave, which proved to be in a state of deadlock for several weeks. Not immune to events occurring outside, the Cardinals nevertheless divided into their traditional camps. The French efforts to get Bartolomeo Pacca elected as their favored candidate were undermined by Orleanist cardinals in their ranks seeking that a native-born Frenchman be elected instead. As the Habsburgs supported traditionalism, but the central government in Vienna did not bring too much pressure to bear upon the election, their cardinals proved to be the decisive swing vote. Combining with the Italians, they elected a compromise candidate: Juan Francisco Marco y Catalán. A Spaniard that is little known, it was hoped that by choosing a pontiff that supported the status quo, and would prove amenable to both the Italians and Habsburgs, the real issues facing the Church could be postponed.

    The newly elected Pope took the name Alexander IX, in honor of his notorious fellow Spaniard Borgia predecessor. As the conclave dispersed, the Church had to turn its face to a new reality. As a non-Italian, Alexander IX has shown little enthusiasm for the collapse of Papal authority or Italian Unification, refusing to leave the Vatican out of protest to the events in Rome. Even so, his condemnation of the collapse of the Papal States has been quite muted and many note that he has shown a degree of willingness to negotiate with the King of Naples, given that royal house’s Spanish background. His ultimate action may depend on whether or not the response of the rest of the Catholic powers in Europe to the events in Rome.
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Convention of Charleston
As Slavery Becomes Political Issue, Secessionist Elements in British America Grow
(Source: Wikimedia)

   The decision by the government of Charles III to move towards the gradual abolition of slavery, coupled with the establishment of a government of national unity, was widely lauded throughout Britain proper and in most of the extended British Empire. Subjects from New York City to Canberra applauded the move as long overdue and a necessary step in the progression of liberty. The striking over the issue in the British Isles seemed to subside and internal tensions gradually abated.
   
   The one area that did not take kindly to the King’s decree was the southern colonies in North America. Denouncing the reforms as an act of deliberate economic sabotage by a tyrannical government in London, Southern MPs stormed out of Parliament out of protest and almost universally departed back to their homes. John C Calhoun, an MP from South Carolina, summed up the sentiment of most of the opposition by stating: “our quarrel over this matter is not with the King, but with those who seek to use the Crown as a means of destroying our livelihood.” Yet, in the northern colonies the mood was one of elation, loyalty to the central government in London rapidly increasing among the population of the Great Lakes and Midatlantic regions.

   Seeking to band together, a broad number of colonies in the region voted to send delegates to Charleston for a convention to assess the situation. Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tunica (southern Mississippi and Alabama), Henrysland (northern Mississippi and Alabama), Florida, and Transylvania (western Kentucky and Tennessee) all ultimately were represented at the assembly. Notably absent were delegates from other slaveholding colonies such as Cumberland (eastern Kentucky and Tennessee), Delaware, and Maryland.

   The Charleston Convention was attended almost exclusively by the MPs representing the colonies mentioned earlier. After several months of meetings in late Summer, the body announced the Southern Charter. While repeating the loyalty of the region to King Charles III personally, the Charter denounced the centralization of power in London and demands that the colonies that have signed onto the document be granted their own fully devolved parliament with which to govern themselves. Should they be refused, they point to the precedent of the overthrow of James II of England as justification for them naming someone else as their sovereign.
 
   While British soldiers maintained broad order in the South, the announcement of the Southern Charter, coupled with the efforts of local governments to undermine support for Britain in the region, has led to severe challenges. Local militias have formed, fired by the preaching of zealous pro-slavery ministers, conducting operations that have made supply and communication in the region a headache for the British. These bands of men have been joined by military advisors from Louisiana, who were on the scene quite rapidly. It is expected by most that Quebec, New England, and Louisiana will seek to use the Southern Charter as a means of undermining British power in the region, if not militarily challenging it directly. Still, if the stability of this specific region has been shaken, it bears repeating that the overall announcement if abolition has done much to stabilize the broader British state.

   Yet, despite the opposition of Southern whites to the proposed abolition of slavery, that is not to say London lacks support. Among the thousands of enslaved people, word has spread of the eventual plans to free them. Not only have cases of escape rapidly ballooned with the announcement, the remaining enslaved populace has come to admire King Charles III and the British government as a whole. 1837 seems it will be a year of transition for the region. What form that will take, as rural leaders denounce the Crown and seize autonomy while slaves yearn for freedom, remains to be seen.


Ottomans Smash into Northern Egypt
Nascent Kingdom Toppled After Scandinavian Betrayal
(Source: Wikimedia)

   There were high hopes in Egypt that foreign seizure of the Suez would lead to further intervention in their favor. Yet, these were clearly misguided. Most of the European governments sold out the Egyptians, offering the Ottomans a role in the future administration of the canal, a tacit admission that they saw little hope for the rebels. Those that did seem to indicate serious material support, such as Scandinavia, engaged in such treachery that they were indirectly responsible for the collapse of the rebellion and Ottoman victory at long last.
   
   Resid Muhammad Pasha’s declaration of the Kingdom of Egypt was supported by his would-be subjects, but it came too late. Although further gains initially looked possible in Cyrenaica after the Battle of Tobruk in April, Ottoman reinforcement and resurgence resulted in a retreat on that front by late summer, the sweltering heat inflicting unnecessary casualties. With the collapse of the west, and the prospect of Ottoman troops approaching on land, the besieged city of Alexandria surrendered in late September, after more than a year of being blockaded by the Turkish fleet.

   The real fighting for the future of Egypt would take place in Cairo. Although a strong Egyptian defense kept the Ottomans at bay for most of the year, the sheer numbers of Turkish soldiers overwhelmed the rebels. To put it simply, the Ottomans could afford to have casualties to a degree with the Egyptians could not. When promised soldiers from Scandinavia did not materialize, and as it became clear that the weapons sent were deliberately sabotaged by that supposed ally, morale in the Kingdom of Egypt collapsed. News of the fall of Alexandria was the last straw. The common people of Cairo toppled the government of Resid Muhammad Pasha, putting the supposed King of Egypt in chains and surrendering the city to Ottoman rule. He has been transferred to prison in Istanbul itself, awaiting his fate. With the collapse of the central government in Cairo, the remainder of the region has fallen into chaos. Tribes to the west of the Nile have indicated they will fight on, seeking autonomy from Istanbul more than anything else. Although most settlements along the Nile itself have surrendered back to Turkish rule upon hearing of the fall of Cairo, scattered rebel remnants remain. It will be up to the Ottomans to cement their return to power in 1837, something that must be done rapidly before any of the European vultures seek to take advantage of the weak domestic situation in the region.

   The European belief that the Egyptian Revolution would fail may paradoxically have been the very reason the rebellion did not succeed. The inability of Resid Muhammad Pasha’s government to get any other power to intervene militarily directly on their side meant that the Egyptians were consistently outgunned and outnumbered. Tensions over the future of the Suez, and the desire among the Seven Power Alliance to not antagonize the Ottomans too much lest they seize back the canal, also were contributing factors to the lack of foreign aid. As the dust settles in Egypt, the Ottoman Empire now may once more have the ability to project strength outwards, a prospect that must be daunting for the powers on their border.


WARFARE IN ASIA EXPANDS
DUTCH ATTACK PHILIPPINES, JAPANESE ATTACK DUTCH FORMOSA
(Source: Wikimedia)

   The situation in East Asia was already precarious with events in China. Yet, the actions of the various powers to grab influence in 1836 would result in direct clashes. Three main conflicts would occur, two deliberate and one accidental as a result of the power vacuum. Over the course of a year the stability of the European outposts in the region has been shaken, while the prospect of fighting expanding further seems likely.

   The Japanese were eager to capitalize on the instability of the new Dutch colonial holdings in Hainan and Formosa. Claiming grievance over the Dutch past attempts to smuggle opium into their realm almost half a century ago and decrying their unbridled colonial expansion in the region, Shogun Tokugawa struck without notice. A force of roughly 40,000 men landed on the island, the Dutch defenses of around 5,000 ill-prepared and largely unestablished. They were joined by a Xing expeditionary force of 15,000 that landed on the western portion of the island. A simultaneous native uprising, initially supported by the Japanese, led to a total collapse of Dutch authority. After several brief skirmishes, those Dutch soldiers that were able to, evacuated. Yet, in the aftermath, new skirmishes have been reported between the Hakka hill people and the Japanese, their common colonial enemy no longer binding them together.

   The Dutch, in the meantime, were primarily concerned with offensive operations in the Philippines. Seeing the vulnerability of the Spanish outpost in the region, and hoping to expand their presence in the region yet further, an assault was led against the Spanish Philippines. Unintentionally caught in the crossfire were the Koreans, who had recently purchased the Batan Islands from the Spanish. Due to their focus in the Americas, the Spanish soldiers were firmly on the defensive, only able to endure sieges rather than undertaking any active role. Laoag and Baguio have been occupied by the Dutch, along with most of Luzon, but Manila stubbornly refuses to surrender, holding out hope for aid. With the fall of northern Luzon, and unaware of the new Korean presence, there was a Dutch attempt to take the islands, ultimately unsuccessful, that saw several dozen killed between the two sides. Whether Queen Regent Sunwon will use this as a justification to join the Japanese in further action against the Dutch colonies remains unclear.

   Thus, now East Asia features a separate colonial conflict outside of the Chinese Civil War. Spanish forces retain control of the southern Philippines and Manila, while the Dutch have gained most of Luzon but lost Formosa to the Japanese, who have shown a greater degree of dynamism. Korea has been insulted, caught in the crossfire between the Dutch and Spanish over islands they have legally acquired.
 
  The realms of the region are undoubtedly watching developments closely. Dutch defeat could embolden regimes in Aceh and Brunei to challenge their control of the East Indies. Alternatively, setbacks for Japan, or even Korea, could lead to a resurgence of the now quiet isolationist factions in either realm, both which may have been biding their time on the sidelines as the respective leaders have embarked on new dynamic policy programs.

The Saxon Affair
Prussians Attempting to Succor Minor Imperial Princes?
(Source: Wikimedia)
   The new understanding between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Kingdom of Prussia would almost immediately be put to the test. Mere months after a peace agreement for lasting stability in Germany was signed, rumors emerged of Prussian attempts to draw the minor Saxon nobles (to the west of the Kingdom of Saxony) into the German League, an act in direct defiance of the Convention of Prague. Reportedly, the King of Prussia was personally beseeching them on the basis of a shared Lutheran faith to leave the Holy Roman Empire, completely undermining the pledge to refrain from covert dealings with lesser princes in Habsburg-aligned Germany.

   These reports were just rumors, until some serious evidence emerged in the late summer. A routine border post between Bohemia and Silesia uncovered some letters hidden in a secret compartment of a wagon, responses from some of the minor Saxon Dukes, responding quite favorably to the proposal. Alleging that Habsburg favoritism for the Prince Bishops is unsustainable, some of the minor nobles expressed relief at the prospect of no longer being beholden to Vienna’s dictates. The intercepted messages were immediately relayed to Vienna, new leaking to the press due to some careless blabbering in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The public of Europe has eyed this situation with grave concern. Some minor princes in both the Empire and the German League have beseeched the Scandinavians to intervene and help sort out the situation before it spirals out of control, they being the third guarantor of the Convention of Prague.

   The prospect of war between the traditional rivals has caused a wide spectrum of reactions throughout Germany. There are undoubtedly hawks in both camps that see fighting as a way to regain territory and settle the score once and for all. For the Austrians the war faction is led by the King of Saxony and the Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt. In the German League their counterparts can be found in the Duke of Brunswick and the Duke of Hesse-Kassel, eager to bask in military glory like their forebears. Those less enthusiastic about the prospect of another German war include the Duke of Württemberg, who has pledged neutrality, several of the Archbishop-Electors, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Duke of Oldenburg.

   The issue of possible war has somewhat overshadowed the drama within the Holy Roman Empire, where Habsburg forces aided in rectifying the most egregious abuses against Church property, temporarily restoring them to clerical oversight while a broader panel would debate the future of each individual dispute in order to determine a lasting solution. Although the move has been decried by some, who look to the collapse of the Papal States as a sign of the inherent weakness of theocratic government, thus far the situation has proved stable. Some also have criticized the move as an Imperial power-grab, a line of reasoning that resonates somewhat better, though there is precedent for the Emperor resolving territorial disputes within the borders of the Empire.

Chinese Civil War Continues
Separatists Expand Their Involvement as Conflict Grows Deadlier
(Source: Wikimedia)

The South: Qing Escape and Collapse of the Guang
   The Guang Dynasty seemed to be the least threatened of the Chinese factions at the start of 1836, its truce with the Xing holding and the Qing army surrounded and under siege. Yet, the Xīn'ài Emperor grew overconfident, believing that the Xing and Qing would be so focused on fighting one another, mopping up the survivor would be short work. With this overconfidence came a lack of urgency for resolving the siege of the Qing army in Hunan province. Thus, Guang forces were stunned when the besieged army in Changde emerged to do battle. Although weakened by months under siege, the Qing soldiers understood they were fighting for their very survival. The Guang were unprepared and within hours what had been the siege of an ill-supplied force became a rout of the besiegers. Bolstered by the seizure of supplies from the Guang, Qing forces began a remarkable recovery of their position in 1836. Marching south out of Hunan, the province of Jiangxi surrendered to their authority in short order.

   The events in the south might not have proven quite so perilous for the Guang had not the Miao people joined in the fighting, eager to capitalize on the distraction of their neighbors. Wary of the prospect of a China ruled from the south, as that would mean far closer oversight of their regional affairs, the Miao themselves began operations in the west, seizing Chongqing and inflicting some serious defeats on the Guang in that area.

   As the year comes to a close, the Guang armies have shown signs of dissolving and the Qing forces could very well threaten Guangzhou itself in 1837. Refugees and deserters are fleeing en masse to the Xing territories, hoping that the Youfu Emperor will prove a more capable leader than their former overlord. It was the Guang who first emerged to challenge the Qing, rising in 1825, and they very well could prove to be the first of the three contending dynasties to collapse. In a desperate bid to curry favor with the west and secure his position, it has emerged from the panicked city of Guangzhou that the Emperor is willing to offer sizable concessions to any European power that will provide direct military aid. This prospect is scorned by most Chinese, but could ultimately be the only way to save the collapsing situation.

Central China: Qing Retreat, Hui Clash with Xing
   In the core region of China, 1836 saw continued advances for the Xing armies, aided by generous Austrian supplies, expanded Japanese military presence, and the Qing desire to maintain their position in the north, rather than Central China.

   Like the Miao to their south, the Hui government to the west recognized the necessity of intervening in the Chinese Civil War in order to protect their self-interests. Having already provided warning to the Xing, when it was clear that the fighting in the region was to continue, the Hui struck eastwards, attacking the Qing themselves and cutting off any Xing push northwards in their region. This has resulted in the capture of Ningxia and much of Inner Mongolia. Although these regions are sparsely populated, their loss prevents the Xing from undertaking any extended maneuvering beyond what is appearing to be substantial Qing efforts to defend Beijing and northern China.

   In the course of the Hui advance there were instances of clashes between various scouting parties, though no substantial fighting has yet occurred between them and the Xing. Continuing to stress their desire to simply be left alone, there is little evidence the Hui will undertake any further operations against the Qing. In the west, beyond the Hui gains, the Xing forces in the Army of Hubei were able to advance beyond the Yellow River and capture portions of Shanxi.

   The main theater of fighting in Central China saw continued Xing advances, the Qing being pushed further north beyond the Yellow River. An aggressive push to meet the Japanese occupiers in the Shandong Peninsula was successful, resulting in the further weakening of the Qing situation on that front. It is expected by most that the Yansheng Emperor is preparing for a vigorous defense of Beijing, Baoding, Tianjin, and the remaining cities of Northern China. Mongolian soldiers have been seen aiding Qing garrisons all throughout the region, perhaps a tacit acknowledgement of some sort of understanding between them and the weakened dynasty. Although the Japanese seizure of the Dalian peninsula shocked some at the Qing court in Shenyang, who feared a raid on the capitol, nothing further has materialized.

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« Reply #15 on: July 27, 2020, 09:16:53 PM »

Qajars Emerge Victorious in Civil War
Zinatians and Husaynians Crushed by Qajar-Russian Offensive
(Source: Wikimedia)

   As in Egypt, 1836 seemed to be the deciding year for the Persian Civil War. Scandinavia returned to the region forcefully midway through the year, seeming to forebode greater activity in the region. Ultimately though, they reached an understanding with the Austrians and Russians, their proposed aid for the Zinatian faction ceasing. The return of the hostages in Habsburg concessions proved almost anticlimactic, their year of tension finally over.

   On the mainland, Russia made a peace with the Durrani in March, gaining all of that realm's lands north of the Oxus River. This came despite Dutch offers of material aid to the Durrani in their fight. It is said that the Shah viewed the prospect of victory in a prolonged war with the Russians as far too costly to be realistic. With their withdrawal, Russia emerged with quite the bargain gains in Central Asia.

   Thus, joint Russo-Qajar operations were able to focus entirely on the other claimants for the throne. The Zinatians were already on their last legs, defeat in 1835 presaging further setbacks and their ultimate defeat in May. Zinat Shah was actually defeated by the Husaynians though, his nephew executing his uncle in revenge for the treatment faced by his murdered half-siblings shortly after the death of his father.

   Ottoman aid to the Husaynians had never been more than token, Istanbul far more focused on handling Egypt that dealing with the unclear Persian situation. Thus, after the Battle of Tehran, which saw Husayn killed mere weeks after his victory against his detested uncle, the situation became obvious. The Husaynians were rolled back in a quick mop-up operation, the total number of enemy soldiers too large to effectively counter. As Mohammad Shah Qajar became the clear winner in the civil war, he reached a quick understanding with the Kurds. Some suspect he offered them eventual control over Ottoman territory, but this has not yet been confirmed.

   Persia now is united. The weakened Afsharid government, forced on the people after the collapse of the Safavids, is gone. Now a new, energetic, nationalist family has taken the throne. Allied with one of the strongest land powers in the world, it is expected that time will demonstrate the aggressive tendencies of the new government. There is much humiliation to avenge, as would be demonstrated in the Scandinavian concessions at the end of the year.

   In December, when fighting was effectively over and peace was finally beginning to be reestablished a brutal outbreak of violence erupted in Hormuz. Several dozen presumed Persian agents, posing as merchants, opened fire in the concession, surprising the recently downsized Scandinavian garrison, which was specifically targeted. Numerous Swedes and Danes were killed, obvious targets for the attack. In the several hours of chaos, quite a few managed to escape, Scandinavian wares in tow. Although the identity of the men has not yet been made clear, already local Scandinavian officials are pointing their fingers at the Russians, while the Austrians seem to believe it was the Qajars themselves behind the attack. Whatever the case, it appears Persia may still remain a lasting source of tension, even if the war is concluded.
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« Reply #16 on: July 30, 2020, 10:25:02 PM »
« Edited: August 02, 2020, 08:37:47 PM by Spamage »

Age of Steam And Steel
Turn 3: 1837
(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: Czar Peter IV Pavlovich Romanov (HenryWallace)
Kingdom of Prussia: King Frederick III Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis III Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Republic of Brazil: President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos (Elcaspar)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Kingdom of Naples: King Francis I Bourbon (GoTfan)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: King William II of Orange-Nassau (JacksonHitchcock)
Tokugawa Shogunate: Shogun Tokugawa Ienari (Donerail)
Qing Dynasty: Yansheng Emperor (S019)
Xing Dynasty: Youfú Emperor (thumb21)
Confederation of New England: Chairman John Quincy Adams (NyIndy)
Qajar Persia: Mohammad Shah Qajar (PSOL)
Joseon Korea: Queen Regent Sunwon (True Federalist)

Economic Standing:
Kingdom of France: Strong
Kingdom of Quebec: Strong
Republic of Brazil: Strong
Joseon Korea: Strong

Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Moderate
Russian Empire: Moderate
Habsburg Monarchy: Moderate
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Moderate
Kingdom of Prussia: Moderate
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate
Kingdom of Louisiana: Moderate

Ottoman Empire: Weak
Qing Dynasty: Weak
Qajar Persia: Weak

Xing Dynasty: Very Weak


Popularity:
King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: High
Emperor Francis III Habsburg: High
King Francis I Bourbon: High
King Louis XVIII Bourbon: High
Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: High

King Louis Henry of Quebec: Moderate
King Frederick III of Prussia: Moderate
Mohammad Shah Qajar: Moderate
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: Moderate
King Charles III of Britain: Moderate
President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos: Moderate
Czar Peter IV Romanov: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
King William II of Orange: Moderate
Queen Regent Sunwon: Moderate

Yansheng Emperor: Low

Current Global Conflicts:
Chinese Civil War: Qing Dynasty, Mongol Separatists vs. Xing Dynasty, Tokugawa Shogunate, Guang Dynasty vs. Secessionists (1825-)
Eastern War: Tokugawa Shogunate, Xing Dynasty vs. Kingdom of the Netherlands vs. Hakka People (1836-)
Mexican War of Independence: Kingdom of Mexico, Kingdom of Louisiana vs. Kingdom of Spain (1828-)
Quebecois Intervention in American Wars of Independence: Kingdom of Quebec vs. Kingdom of Spain (1835-)
Yucatan War of Independence: Yucatan State vs. Kingdom of Spain (1826-)
Colombian War of Independence: Holy Republic of Colombia vs. Kingdom of Spain (1823-)
Haitian Revolution: Republic of Haiti vs. Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Prussia (1831-)

(Source: Self-Made)


Kingdom of France:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Outrage has swept through France as tragedy has befallen your family, King Louis. The murder of your son and daughter-in-law has left a mere nine-year-old as heir, severed your covert envoy to the liberals, and weakened the prestige and authority of monarchs throughout the entire Continent. A dark cloud has descended on the realm as there is a majority that demands revenge and a quick, painful execution of the Flemish dogs who were responsible. But there are other issues raised by the assassination, most the most important being potential Dutch involvement. The Netherlands would certainly have much to gain from a free Flanders, but thus far no direct evidence has been produced tying them to the barbaric act, some believe further investigation could yield the missing link. There’s also the question about what is to be done about the extended network of the Sons of Willem. Some have already fled France for Britain and the Netherlands, but there are others who remain, assuming their cover is intact. Governance over Flanders as a whole is in question. Will you undertake brutal reprisals against the region to ensure they know their future is as subjects of the House of Bourbon? What will you do about this horrible tragedy, King Louis?

-Although it was overshadowed by the death of your son, the events in Italy are also alarming. The collapse of the Papal States and the surging power of Naples has thrown everything up into the air in the region. Already nationalist protests have been observed by your garrisons in the north, the prospect of an open rising seeming more likely. The Pope being forced into the Vatican is another pertinent matter. According to the Foreign Ministry, there are several courses of action that could be taken. First, given that the Kings of Naples are fellow Bourbons, there are some who would have you cede your authority over the Northern Italian Bourbons to that realm, the property of your relatives being preserved in the North, but as vassals under the King of Naples. This move could be perceived as retreating though, potentially risky when your people have been so riled up into nationalist fervor by the murder of your son. Alternatively, you could maintain the status quo and brutally crack down on dissent. Unlike in Rome, your relatives certainly don’t have to worry about French soldiers shirking from cracking down on the Italian mob. Whatever course you choose, you must remain aware of Austrian actions as well. Certainly, the Habsburgs will be looking for any opportunity to further their grip on this site of so much historical conflict.

-The nationalization of the French Catholic Church has proved to be the first momentous act of your new liberal government. The subsequent incorporation of the Church into the education system was likewise met with broad approval. Still, domestic political issues being what they are, a new opposition is forming centered on the Conservatives. Feeling betrayed by your alliance with the Liberals, reform of the Church, and broader policies towards modernizing France, deep resentment has quickly become apparent. This in and of itself is not necessarily dangerous, given the broader deference of the Conservatives to the Crown, but alarming connections are becoming apparent. Many generals in the French military have reportedly privately expressed contempt for the reforms. Some of the more salacious rumors say that at military dinners, toasts have been made to the assassins of your liberal son, though this has not been proven by any means. Likewise, the conservatives are seen as having a substantial presence in the judicial system, parts of the Church, and local governments. Some believe you should undertake a broad, systemic purge of this potential undermining faction. Others believe that personal opinions are the right of every Frenchman and, so long as they remain loyal to the government, they are perfectly allowed to express themselves. Where do you stand on the growing hostility of conservatives?


United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The plan to liberate the slaves in the British Empire has been met with widespread praise and support throughout Great Britain and the Northern American colonies. Yet, with the Southern Charter from the Charleston Convention, and the subsequent rise in support for secession, a major challenge has emerged from the Southern colonies. On top of this, advisors are particularly worried about the vultures circling your territory in Louisiana, New England, and Quebec, all of who have tried to undermine your presence in the Americas in various ways. Given Louisiana has thus far been an unabashed proponent of slavery, perhaps they should be watched the closest. How will this perilous situation in the Americas be navigated?

-British operations in Africa have secured a foothold in the West African Coast, although local opposition has been intense. With a minimal presence in the region there are now new issues that have arisen. What is the primary goal of British operations in the area? Is it the establishment of trade outposts, military bases, or direct colonization? Will military operations be expanded? How will you deal with the minor realms that see your coming as a grave affront and have responded with brutal force? There is undoubtedly much potential in the new region, as Scandinavia and Prussia have already demonstrated. What will you do to seize it?

-The assassination of the Dauphin in France has been deplored by Parliament, but even more concerning is the potential for a French overreaction. It has been a cornerstone of British policy since the days of Queen Elizabeth to keep the Low Countries from falling fully into the French orbit. This has traditionally ensured a close relationship between the royal families of Britain and the Netherlands. Should hostile action be taken against the Netherlands by France, you could find yourself facing a European shoreline wholly owned by that hegemon, an unpopular prospect. Twice in the last century the Dutch have been overrun, there are some who fear that after a third instance the state may be wholly dissolved. Alternatively, the Netherlands also seems to be growing more alienated on the global stage, and some opportunists would have you use their struggles in Europe (and now Asia, with the Japanese seizure of Formosa) to pick off at their colonial empire. Will you stand with your fellow Protestants in the Netherlands against French tyranny? Alternatively, should Britain only focus on self-interest, striking strategically against a vulnerable state? Or, given the state of the Americas, are the affairs of the Continent outside of your purview?


Kingdom of Scandinavia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Stockholm celebrated on November 1st, 1836, the day the new proposed constitution was officially ratified in your realm. With this move has come the prospect of the first elections, set to occur this year. Already, great contestation is underway. Liberal, Conservative, and Socialist factions have all emerged, candidates seeking to win a seat in one of the many new political positions established in the new system. There are also some nationalist parties, not aiming for secession, but regional autonomy and representation. It is expected that the tacit support of the Crown could tilt the scales in the upcoming vote, your popularity being used in order to encourage the formation of a government in line with your interests. Will you tacitly, or overtly, endorse any ideology? Or should the Crown remain above petty politics, serving with whoever the voters decide to send to the National Assembly? Your precedents here may influence the style of government in practice under the new constitution.

-Your realm has been quite active abroad. The Egyptians have accused your realm of treachery and abandonment, while the Persians engaged in terroristic actions against your recently retaken concessions in the region (though some think the Russians were ultimately responsible). In Africa, your envoys to the minor realms north of the Prussian Congo came off more successful than anticipated, both seeking your protection against that expanding power. What’s next for Scandinavian colonial policy? A further focus on Africa or a consolidation of gains? Will you expand your trade networks towards Asia, especially in light of recent understandings with the Koreans? How will Scandinavia operate in the wide-open world?

-In Europe, the recent diplomatic system is already strained at the very moment the Russians have the time to look to the west. Prussia and the Habsburg Monarchy are at each other’s throats over the very well-founded accusations of Prussians treachery in covert dealings with the Saxon Imperial Princes. As the third member of the Prague Convention, some look to you as a potential mediator. This all comes as fears of Russian aggression in Finland have only grown, the Czar’s habit of toppling his neighbors being viewed with dread by the inhabitants of the region. How will you respond to the Saxon Affair and handle growing Russian assertiveness?


Russian Empire:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Czar Peter, the operations in Central Asia have been a total success. The Qajars are enthroned, the Khivans absorbed, and the Durrani chastened by their recent defeat. Although this victory has meant economic damage and dislocation, none of those affected were Russian subjects, leaving your realm positioned to exert significant influence in rebuilding Persia and Central Asia should you so desire. With your primary goal achieved, you must now decide where your primarily foreign policy attention will be focused next. Some believe that your forces and Persia should continue west and mop up the Ottomans in Iraq, especially while the last embers of rebellion simmer in Egypt. Others would have you reorient yourself towards a new theater, exerting Russian power in a different direction. What are Russia’s aims for 1837?

-Russia is a vast realm, its population and growing economic influence undoubtedly important for the further development of its strength. Yet, in some aspects, the realm could be seen as falling behind. Literacy in Russia is atrocious and most of the population still toils on agriculture, despite limited movement towards French-backed industrialization. Some are calling for educational reform to be the challenge tackled in 1837, pointing to developments in Spain and France, where the Catholic Church was coopted into public education, as examples. Still, the idea of literate peasants is feared by many of the Russian nobles, wary of the fact their workers may get other ideas should they be exposed to the broader world. Will you institute some sort of public education system in Russia? If so, will it be universal? How will you balance the needs for a new workforce with the stability of life in one of the most conservative realms in Europe?

-Events in the west are alarming, albeit potentially tantalizing. Prussia and Austria are once again at each other’s throats, with the Scandinavians being pressured to get involved as well. France, distracted by the assassination with the Dauphin and developments in Italy, is likely too focused elsewhere to prove a potential counterweight to your influence in the region. The Ottomans are still handling Egypt. There seems to be a rare window for Russian initiative in the west, but what form will that be? Aggression and pan-Slavism? A self-interested actor among quarreling powers? Or perhaps it is better to act as the benevolent neighbor, using your weight to kill any potential war in its cradle? Alternatively, perhaps it is better for Russia to abandon any European ambitions and turn its eyes elsewhere. How will Russia respond to the slew of developments that rocked the lands to its west in 1836?


Habsburg Monarchy:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Those Prussian dogs are at it again. The word of schemes to rob the Holy Roman Empire of the minor Saxon princes is a direct affront to the recent treaty with Prussia and could undermine the whole system that arose from it. Already the hawks have appeared in Vienna, determined to teach the Prussian upstarts their lesson once and for all, perhaps taking back Lower Silesia, if not Silesia as a whole. Certainly, the Prussians seem spread thinner than usual, given the decision by King Frederick to involve himself in the Spanish Americas. Yet, war is unpopular among some of those who could be on the front line. This is not to mention the outright insubordination of those in the Holy Roman Empire who have already pledged neutrality. How will the Habsburg Monarchy respond to the Saxon Affair?

-Events in Italy are alarming. The Papal States were never an Austrian satellite by any means, but their replacement by an enlarged, nationalist Bourbon Naples has unnerved some authorities in the region. Urbino, your protectorate in the peninsula, has been most rocked by unrest, where the House of Württemberg has proven quite unpopular and never fully shed its German image. Yet, the prospect of risings in other territories remains very real. The Venetians have still never forgiven your realm for the annexation of their republic. Milan too is a potential hotbed for pan-nationalism. Still not all is lost. It is some small comfort the French are facing similar troubles as you in the region. Tuscany, although home to some nationalist sentiment, still largely remains loyal, the events of the 1780s still leaving a dark shadow over that region, which saw firsthand the evil potential of Catholic Republicanism. On top of all this, there is the question of how you should approach the new pope, given your cardinals did play a role in his election. Clearly there is a lot to be resolved here, Emperor Francis. Where will you begin?

-Developments in East Asia have some concerned about the security of Habsburg possessions in China. In particular, the recent fighting between the Japanese, Xing, Koreans, Dutch, and Spanish means that your minor port concession of Ningbo, with so much economic potential, could be at risk in its infancy. Some would have you take a greater role in the affairs of the region, now that fighting has expanded beyond China itself. What role to you envision for the Habsburg Monarchy in Asia, especially now your supply chain is complete with continued expansion in the Nicobar Islands?


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spamage
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« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2020, 10:26:38 PM »

Kingdom of Prussia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Habsburgs are throwing out ludicrous accusations against your realm once again. Those Austrian fiends are besmirching your honor and attempting to undermine the sovereignty of your realm. Some believe that the crisis in Italy may prove to be the perfect opportunity to teach them a lesson they will not soon forget. The war faction in Berlin demands you live up to the legacy of your illustrious predecessor, King Frederick the Great, and thrash the antiquated Habsburg Monarchy. Others would have you not go quite as far as war, but perhaps undertake a blockade of Austrian trade in Africa or close the borders of the German League to Austrians wares. How will you respond to the Saxon affair, King Frederick?

-While the restoration of the old Prussian borders with Saxony has been highly praised by your direct subjects, the abandonment of Württemberg, a fellow Protestant government and loyal longtime ally, has enraged the members of the German League, who now fear they too could be unilaterally ceded back to the Holy Roman Empire on the whim of the King of Prussia. The Palatinate, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Oldenburg, Brunswick, and Hesse-Kassel have all made protests about the Convention of Prague. Although your size is so overwhelming that Prussians alone can push through reforms to the German League, the opinion of these princes represents a potential thorn in your side and some in Berlin would have you concede that the remainder of them are under your protection, however hollow that may seem. Others believe that these minor Dukes and Margraves need to finally and once and for all learn their place in the new order, subordinate to the Prussian Monarchy, and any concessions are a sign of weakness. How will you respond to their actions in the German League, now that diplomatically you are in control of the situation?

-The seizure of the Panama Canal by the Colombian fanatics, the Brazilian invasion of Guyana, and the wretched turn of events in the invasion of Haiti may prove to be just minor setbacks for Prussia in the war for the Americas, but that all depends on the response of your government. As fighting in the Spanish New World shows no signs of stopping, especially with the Concessions of Zaragoza stabilizing the situation in Spain itself, it is time for you to figure out what the next step for Prussia is. Will you expand operations, perhaps by sending more soldiers? Or is it time to try and extricate yourself before the conflict becomes too costly, given tensions in Europe proper? Spain has firmly demanded you keep your word. What will you do, King Frederick?


Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Egypt seems to have been subdued, their brief attempt at monarchy collapsing almost weeks later into anarchy. With the fall of Cairo and Alexandria, Ottoman victory seems all but certain. Undoubtedly though, threats remain with the tribes in the Sahara who have vowed to fight on, as well as the remnants of the Egyptian rebels to the south. Still, now you can afford to think about the future of your Egyptian territories. Will the region be fully annexed back into the Ottoman Empire or given a wide degree of autonomy? Now that the fighting has concluded in the north, will you avenge the backstabbing of the Seven Power Alliance and retake the now vulnerable Suez Canal? How will you treat collaborators and those who fought for Egyptian Independence? Will you punish the cities of Sudan and Ethiopia, who both provided aid to the rebel government? There is a lot to resolve in this region and your choices will be important.

-You may have won on the Nile, but the collapse of the Husaynians in Persia is a setback to the east. With the close cooperation between the Qajars and Russians, it is feared by some of your advisors that you will be the next target, your lands in the Mediterranean and Balkans prime targets for the greedy foes. Alarming reports even reached Istanbul in 1836 of Russian troop movements in Ukraine, a clear message. These advisors urge you to find a foreign friend that will ward off the threat of war. There is no shortage of options. France and Prussia have been traditional Ottoman allies at various points throughout history, though these relationships have fallen by the wayside in recent years. Scandinavia has an active presence in your theater, and a shared hostility towards Russia, but some worry they are not strong enough to ward off Russian aggression. Others would have you look towards Britain or even set aside ancient hostilities with the Habsburgs in the face of a common enemy. Will you pursue diplomacy in 1837? If so, to what end?

-The Ottoman Empire has not enjoyed the recent economic revolutions that are sweeping through France and Britain. Not yet, at least. Your realm is primarily agrarian with traditional social structures dominating society. Although the Suez Canal represented a major step forward for the Empire, it was not coupled with a widespread change in how most subjects go through their day-to-day life. Most of the realm is illiterate and industrialism almost unknown. Slavery still exists in most corners of the realm. Some would have you pursue efforts to bring this new economic movement into your realm, though others worry about potential long-term instability, as is becoming increasingly evident in states that are industrializing. Beyond supporting industrialization, will you support any broader social reforms, perhaps widespread education or emancipation, or would this too be potentially a source of trouble moving forward? How you approach domestic affairs?


Kingdom of the Netherlands:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Outrageous! That is the only word that can be used to describe the vile accusations from France against yourself and your government over the past few months. Tension in the homeland is running quite high given recent events, but opportunity may be seized from this tragedy. Some would have you align yourself with the Flemish patriots, who undoubtedly do deserve the right to self-determination alongside their Dutch brethren. Perhaps you could gain the backing of foreign powers against French aggression, or even use it to pursue a reversal of French tyranny on the European continent? At very least it would be advisable to gain some sort of defensive alliance with one of the numerous other European great powers. Or you could capitulate to Paris, a move that would invite scorn from your subjects and your family alike, but would preserve your birthright. How will your government react to the assassination of the Dauphin?

-The Japanese and Xing instigated a surprise attack against your new colonial possessions, another move that has sparked outrage. In the view of your foreign ministry, you are essentially now at war with both powers, not to mention Spain, who is determined to defend what is left of the Philippines, though they have no means of resupply or reinforcement. War in Asia now seems likely to continue, what will your military orders in this region look like during the upcoming year? Will you align yourself with the Qing, as some have suggested, or get further involved in the collapse of the Guang Dynasty? How will you protect the recent Dutch ascendancy in Asian colonial affairs?

-The East Indies have historically been under control of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for the last three centuries. Although the holdings of the company (Indonesia) are considered a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they are simultaneously the property of this trading firm. While this has suited the shareholders of the company, there are growing calls in Amsterdam for actual reform to the system to be enacted. Some would have you nationalize the VOC and undertake direct control over regional affairs, perhaps by offering shareholders a buyout opportunity. This move is primarily backed by reformers, liberals, and the military. Yet, others believe it is reckless to upset the status quo at such a crucial period, given fighting to the north, not to mention the potential alienation this could cause among the numerous VOC shareholders in your realm. Will you undertake reform of the Dutch East Indies, King William?


Kingdom of Louisiana:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Victory seems to be within your grasp, King Louis-Phillippe, should operations continue to be successful in 1837. Yet, with the Concessions of Zaragoza in Spain, it is feared that Madrid will keep trying to assert itself in Mexico even if its forces are ejected in the coming year. Some believe that it is time to approach the Spanish with your demands. Your son, the King of Mexico, has already indicated that he will follow your lead and abide by whatever decision you make in regards to the Mexican Revolution, within reason. Will you pursue peace with Spain, or should the fighting continue longer, in order to ensure you are able to take every extraction that is feasible?

-The disunion in the British Americas seems to provide an opportunity for Louisiana. With the slaveholding colonies infuriated by British policies, perhaps in part due to a group of zealous pro-slavery Louisianan preachers, there is room to maneuver for you. Your realm is unapologetically, for now, based on slaveholding and some believe you could be a natural ally of the southern colonies, should it come to blows. Suggestions range from offering yourself as a potential monarch, giving protection, establishing diplomatic relations, offering another Bourbon as monarch, or covert aid. Still, the prospect of intervention at a time when you’re fighting the Spanish does not appeal to everyone. Some advisors believe any intervention would be a mistake, as Britain maintains sizable forces in the region. What will your approach be to the events happening in the east?

-As in Brazil, there has been a notable uptick in Catholic Republican literature in Louisiana over the past year. People are increasingly inspired by the Colombians, the Jesuits in Louisiana spreading further radical ideas. Although all found document have abided by your restriction against direct criticism of the royal family, the materials are still frightening, with aims of mass emancipation of slaves, property redistribution, and republicanism. Yet, acting too harsh could just force the opposition into action and outright defiance, not to mention challenge traditional civil liberties. How will you manage this growing group of malcontents, and what is to be done about the Jesuits?


Kingdom of Naples:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Francis I, King of Naples, King of Sicily, Prince of Latium, Rome is yours. The quick response of the Neapolitan forces to the chaos in the Eternal City has resulted in a substantial and historic city being added to your realm. Now the whole Italian peninsula looks to you, hoping and praying that 1837 will be the year that marks the start of unification. Yet, foes lurk to the north. The Papal States was one thing, the protectorates of France and Austria another. Still, given the right actions you could very well see yourself at the head of a united Italy before long. What is in store for 1837?

-The collapse of the Papal States has left the pontiff himself in an awkward position. Alexander IX is refusing to leave the Vatican out of principle, arguing the dissolution of the theocratic government was both illegal and immoral. Some are calling for you to reach out and negotiate with the Pope, lest his criticisms become too loud and force your enemies to intervene. Others believe that negotiating with the Pope is unnecessary and counterproductive, as it makes it seem as though you ordered the seizure of Rome, rather than the citizens of that city choosing you as your sovereign. How will you approach the awkward relationship with Pope Alexander IX?

-The acquisition of Latium has undoubtedly changed the balance of power in Italy. One potential way to deter the Austrians and French from reversing this gain would be finding a foreign ally to help protect you. There certainly are no shortage of candidates, ranging from Britain in the west, Prussia and Scandinavia in the North, and the Russians or Ottomans to the east. A foreign friend would help deter potential attack. Or, perhaps you should align with either Austria or France and use your combined strength against the weaker power. Needless to say, now more than ever it is important Naples is not left out in the cold diplomatically. Will you approach someone?



Republic of Brazil:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your soldiers have been trained and equipped for operations in Colombia. Prussian Guyana, which is now fully under your control, will likely serve as the staging point for any potential intervention. What is to be done about the north? The Spanish are far closer distance-wise, but the Catholic Republicans in Colombia have caused a far greater degree of alarm. Some would have you use your northern army to operate in the Caribbean, others the Llanos, and still a third group hoping for a direct strike on Colombia itself. This war is proving to be very important. What is in store for the Brazilian forces to the north?

-It is becoming increasingly clear that radical elements in Brazil are not repulsed at events in Colombia, but inspired by them. Although the majority of the population supports your liberal republicanism, pro-Catholic Republican newspapers have emerged in most of the cities, and the presence of Jesuits has started to raise alarm in some corners, given their role in spreading the ideology in some other contexts. In this environment, some believe that it is right to outlaw Catholic Republicanism, expel the Jesuits as the Catholic powers of Europe did decades ago, and make a determined defense of secularism. Others argue that this violates the right of free expression enjoyed by these fellow citizens, who ought to be free to spread their ideology without hindrance. How will you respond to the growing Brazilian Catholic Republican organization?

-The events to your south are concerning. The La Platan Union has collapsed into civil war. Catholic Republicans, generals, a weak central government, and separatists are all vying for control. Given your recent success in seizing Montevideo, the conflict is occurring right on your border. With your strength far more substantial than any of the feuding factions, it is expected Brazilian intervention could sort out the situation. Yet, others argue for caution, believing that involving oneself in La Plata at the same time you’re fighting the Spanish, Prussians, and Colombians to be a big mistake. What is your response to events happening in the south?



Tokugawa Shogunate:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-War it is. With the assault on Formosa and the collapse of Dutch colonial rule, Japanese influence expands yet further in East Asia. Although there is now tension with the Hakka in the south, who view you as much of a foreign tyrant as they viewed the Dutch and Qing, much of the island is in Japanese hands. Now a broader theater of potential operations has opened up. Will you seize Hainan next? Or perhaps strike the Philippines? Others in Edo believe it would be wise to protect your gains and seek a negotiated settlement with the chastened Dutch. How will you handle this conflict outside of China proper that has now erupted?

-With the securing of Shandong, and the capture of the Dalian Peninsula, Japanese naval supremacy in the region is all but assured. Targeted intervention in China has worked quite well thus far, and allowed for flexibility in other areas, such as Formosa. Yet, the hawks in your government want you to undertake a variety of bolder moves in the next year, including intervention in the collapsing Guang Dynasty to secure economic or territorial gains, a strike at the moved Qing capital in Shenyang, a blockade of rebel territories, or even military strikes against Korean-held Manchuria in the north. Will you commit more resources to China, especially at the very moment that fighting has expanded outside of that realm? Or have the Xing been helped enough?

-Class tensions have been a key aspect of the Tokugawa Shogunate in recent decades. The peasants, in particular, have been increasingly assertive against the traditional social hierarchy for decades now. Local risings are not uncommon, though they are often handled by regional garrisons in short order. Although there is little indication that this assertiveness stems from any exposure to Western literature, it is nonetheless concerning. The likely cause of the issue is the fact that tax rates in the Shogunate have been fixed for decades now, thus not incurring any adjustment for inflation. This means that the relative rate paid by peasants to their samurai overlords is quite low, leaving some of your nobles far more impoverished than seems acceptable. Nobles throughout the realm are demanding you enact tax reform and force the peasants to pay an equal proportion to what they would have a century ago, had inflation not occurred. Yet, this move could alienate the broader public, which has benefited from lower tax rates. Still, how effective can a government be without revenue? What will your economic policy be Tokugawa Ienari?
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« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2020, 10:28:20 PM »

Qajar Persia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Mohammad Shah Qajar, the Zinatians and Husaynians have been crushed, Russian aid proving vital in securing victory. Persia stands strong and proud once more, no longer a mere supplicant of the Ottomans, Austrians, or Scandinavians. Now, with the end of the civil war, it is time to establish your diplomatic goals and objectives for the realm. Will you continue the hostilities with the Turks, who were tacitly supporting the Husaynians? Should the Durrani be challenged for having the gall to intervene in Persian affairs? How will you respond to the massive growth of Russia in the region? Your actions here are vital in establishing the political outlook and diplomatic stability of the new dynasty.

-The war is over, but your former enemies remain. Although both Zinat Shah and Hussein Shah were killed in the fighting, their deaths ending their respective factions, their families remain. Numerous children and wives of the dead leaders, as well as distant cousins and half-siblings, have been captured. All of these people are members of the Afsharid Dynasty and a potential threat to the stability of your ascendant Qajars. What is to be done about them? Some would have them killed, to eliminate any potential poles for opposition. Others believe mercy would be preferable, showing the kindness and tolerance of the new dynasty. Regardless of what you choose, many inside Persia await your decision.

-Persia has been won, but the realm has faced the ravages of civil war for the last few years. There has been great economic and social dislocation, damage to infrastructure, and a loss of confidence in the security of investments. Now that the fighting is complete, and Persia stands fully independent once more, it is time to find a foreign power willing to shell out the funds to rebuild Persia. Yet, whoever you draw close should not be allowed to domineer you. After all, it was tensions over foreign influence that undermined the Afsharids and started the recent civil war. The Russians seem the obvious candidate, given their recent military aid, but there’s fears they will view your realm as a mere client. The Habsburgs are near, and have already shown themselves willing to invest as they are currently doing in China. France probably has the global reach to be an economic partner, while the Dutch have already set the precedent of negotiated economic aid in the Durrani Empire and several other Asian realms. Or perhaps a further afield power such as Britain would be an ideal partner. Who will you approach?


Joseon:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your government may be trying to keep foreign interference at an arm’s length, but that interference seems to be occurring regardless of whether or not it is sought. The Dutch attack on the Batanes is alarming to many in Korea proper, who fear your effort to establish a foreign outpost could backfire in your face and undermine the prestige of your regency. This faction believes either an immediate diplomatic settlement is necessary or it is time for the Korean Navy to get involved in defending its sovereign territory. You paid good money for the Batanes, how will you protect your investment?

-Your foresight in regard to the economy seems to be yielding great dividends. The popularity of Korean porcelain is exploding, at the same time new trade deals with foreign powers have led to an influx of foreign capital. The prospect of industrialization and the acquisition of some of these new European practices seems far more feasible now than even a few years ago. With this economic expansion comes questions about the role of the dynastic government in economic affairs. Should your government actively intervene in, and police the affairs of, the numerous new firms arising in the economic boom? Or should the market be allowed to take its course, even if that means local officials get kickbacks and firms engage in cutthroat competition over industries that are deemed to be profitable? What degree of oversight will you pursue in the gradual development of capitalism in Joseon Korea?

-Dynastic factionalism of the yangban class remains a real concern for some inside Korea and, as your grandson grows older, some close to you believe that it is time to curtail the power of your own clan, in addition to that of your daughter-in-law in order to ensure that, when he does come of age, Heonjong will be able to rule without being sidelined by petty factionalism as his predecessors were. Yet, challenging the privileges of the yangban could lead to internal instability at a time when Europeans have been known to strike at vulnerable realms. Will you undertake any actions to reform the Korean social order?


Qing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your soldiers in the north are now accompanied by the Mongolians sent by that government to help in your defense of the region. Although the withdrawal in the face of a Xing advance may not have been popular at the time it was ordered, the lengthening of Xing supply lines and the concentration of your forces may mean that it is time to turn the tide in this theater of the civil war. Some in Shenyang would have you undertake offensive operations in the northern theater and push the Xing back south where they belong. Yet, more cautious courtiers have reminded you that the Koreans and Japanese are both nearby and could seize advantage of any perceived vulnerability. Will you remain on defense in the north or is now the time to launch a reinvasion of central China, restoring your dynasty to its natural place in power?

-The Guang Dynasty is on its last legs in the south, the regime facing imminent collapse in the face of your soldiers’ escape and the intervention of the Miao. The question is, what now? You could continue to wipe up the remnants of the Guang in 1837 or turn north and strike at the Xing in their exposed southern front. It should be noted that some sort of coastal acquisition in this region would be ideal, as presently communication with this army must be conducted through covert operations in Xing or Guang-held territory. Perhaps cooperation with the Dutch would prove productive, as they now are nearby and have shared enemies in this theater. What is your southern policy, Emperor?

-One of the reasons your government has seemingly collapsed so quick in the south has been the perceived corruption present in the Qing administrative system. It is alleged that the various meritocratic exams have been subject to bribery, officials in the government have used their position to seize land and power, and that policies can be changed if one knows the right people. Some in Shenyang believe that the Chinese Civil War presents the perfect opportunity to weed out the civil service of those deemed to be corrupt or insufficiently loyal to your dynasty, somewhat along the lines of recent anti-corruption campaigns in Joseon. Or is weeding out some minor corruption among the people that constitute your government a dangerous proposition at a time when the survival of your dynasty is in question. How will you approach the issue of corruption in the Qing Dynasty, Yansheng Emperor?


Xing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The war with the Qing continues yet further, though there are hopes that the collapse of the Guang Dynasty in the south and the Qing retreat to a defensive position in the north means that all of China may soon be in your grasp. In 1837 you now have to decide what your course of action will be, especially given recent hostilities with the Dutch. Will you pivot to the south, and seek to prevent the Qing from reestablishing themselves in the region, even if it means technically violating your nonaggression pact with the Guang? Or should the north be prioritized, Beijing taken, and the Manchurians pushed back into their poor, nomadic homeland? How will you ensure it is you who wins the Chinese Civil War?

-1836 saw the minor separatist factions begin to cautiously intervene in the conflict. The Mongols and Miao seem to have thrown their respective lots in with the Qing, who have apparently promised regional autonomy or outright independence should they be restored unchallenged rule over China. The Hui have blocked your offensives in the west, including several minor clashes between your respective forces, but not directly backed the Yansheng Emperor. How will you respond to these developments? Is it time to strike the lightly-populated separatist territories as part of your current effort to unify China or should these regions be left to their own devices for the time being? Should you reach out to the government of Xinjiang as some have suggested, and encourage them to attack either the Hui or Mongols?

-Although your recent success has meant you have seized control of vast swathes of territory in central China, this land is devastated by the fighting. Peasants have been forced from their land as crop yields decline. For decades China has been pushed to the limit of agricultural production due to a booming population, the civil war now creating a serious risk of widespread shortages. Remember, your own dynasty rose against the Qing in response to a lack of food along the Yangtze just a few short years ago. Although famine has been avoided thus far, foreign economic aid will probably be necessary in reconstructing the regions. Would you approach any power for economic help? Some believe the Austrians to be the most obvious candidate, though others fear that you may be becoming too reliant on them. These courtiers would have you negotiate food shipments from either Joseon or Japan. How will you prevent famine from reversing your gains, Youfu Emperor?



Armies and Locations
Russian Empire
100,000 Army of St. Petersburg
55,000 Army of Poland
75,000 Army of Siberia
115,000 Army of Ukraine
74,300 Army of Persia
9,500 Army of the Suez
5,000 Army of Alaska
50,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 356,000 more)

Kingdom of France
110,000 Army of Northern France
80,000 Army of Southern France
80,000 Army of Bengal
40,000 Army of Gujarat
21,100 Army of the Sacred Heart (Burma)
8,700 Army of Marseilles
40,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 375,000 more)

Habsburg Monarchy
90,000 Army of Austria and Bavaria
90,000 Army of Italy
50,000 Army of Bohemia
50,000 Army of Poland
40,000 Army of Transylvania
9,800 Army of the Suez
36,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 355,000 more)

Kingdom of Prussia
105,000 Army of Brandenburg
80,000 Army of East Prussia
90,000 Army of Poland
35,000 Army of Hanover
9,000 Army of the Cape
9,800 Army of the Suez
6,000 Army of Angola
750 Army of the Congo
1,400 Army of Borneo
600 Army of Singapore
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 182,000 more)

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas
90,000 Army of Britain
55,000 Army of Pennsylvania
35,000 Army of Georgia
20,000 Army of the Mississippi
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
3,000 Army of Montgomery
3,000 Army of Atlanta
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 230,000 more)

Qing Dynasty
156,500 Army of Beijing
20,000 Mongol Auxiliaries
70,000 Army of Manchuria
90,250 Army of Hunan
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 76,000 more)

Ottoman Empire
3,000 Army of the Northern Egypt
61,700 Army of Cairo
50,000 Army of the Balkans
40,000 Army of Iraq
69,300 Army of Alexandria
30,000 Army of Istanbul
10,000 Army of Gaza
25,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 87,000 more)

Xing Dynasty
107,000 Army of Jiangsu
100,500 Army of Hubei
76,000 Army of Wuhan
13,000 Army of Formosa
30,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 22,000 more)

Kingdom of Spain
80,000 Army of Spain
49,800 Army of Mexico
50,000 Army of Peru
28,000 Army of the Llanos
21,300 Army of Ecuador
18,400 Army of Chile
20,000 Army of Cuba
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 47,000 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
8,000 Army of Kilwa
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
38,000 Army of Formosa
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 150,000 more)

Kingdom of the Netherlands
74,000 Army of Amsterdam
30,000 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 115,000 more)

Republic of Brazil
44,500 Army of the South
30,000 Army of the Colombian Campaign
8,000 Army of the Guyana
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 121,000 more)

Kingdom of Naples
70,000 Army of Naples
20,000 Army of Rome
10,000 Army of Sicily
20,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 82,000 more)

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

Kingdom of Louisiana
17,000 Army of Monterrey
20,000 Army of New Orleans
29,000 Army of California
20,000 National Gendarmerie
10,000 Army of the North
8,000 Army of Veracruz
10,000 men garrisoned
(Can raise 22,000 more)

Qajar Persia
64,000 Army of Teheran
27,000 Army of the South
(Can raise 45,000 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, Standard)
Kingdom of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Limited)
Russian Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Ottoman Empire (Reformed, Standard)
Tokugawa Japan (Modified, Standard)
Qing Dynasty (Traditional, Sizable)
Xing Dynasty (Traditional, Standard)
Joseon Korea (Traditional, Standard)
Qajar Persia (Traditional, Limited)
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Spamage
spamage
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« Reply #19 on: August 04, 2020, 11:37:20 PM »
« Edited: August 04, 2020, 11:57:01 PM by Spamage »

THE FOUR REVOLUTIONS
Mass Risings Sweep Through Western Europe
Year of Revolution?
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   There may have been subtle signs of the events that exploded forth in 1837, but there was no clear indication that the European order would be shaken so quickly, in so many different areas, at the same time. With the Swiss Revolution in February, long-term nationalist discontent at various locations throughout Western Europe, toppling regimes in Italy, the Rhineland, and Flanders. Inspired by one another, the cascading effect of revolutionary sentiments has been directed at two powers in almost every instance: France and/or the Habsburg Monarchy. The Flemish demanded independence from French tyranny. The Rhenish rose against Austrian power and the threat of French intervention. The Swiss remained literally sandwiched between both regimes. The Italians determined to kick both out of the peninsula.

February: Switzerland
  The Swiss Confederacy has long been thought of as one of the most stable European regimes. Emerging from the chaos of the Reformation, the various cantons were able to largely maintain a balance, albeit a tense one, between the Catholic and Reformed populations in the region. The Confederacy was republican, watching silently as other republics emerged in Europe and were subsumed by the monarchies in the end of the eighteenth century. Seemingly remaining aloof from the crises that have exploded all around it in the past few centuries, the situation may soon change given the rapid pace of developments in the region.
   On the surface, the Swiss Confederation remained one of the most stable regimes in the area at the beginning of 1837. Yet, this ignores the wear centuries of internal division took. Political institutions have become rotten and ineffective, the beloved Swiss system becoming the domain of internal rivalry and cantonal feuds. No true reform has been achieved in the past century or two, and the Swiss people took notice. Not immune to the ideological waves permeating the continent, it would only take a small spark to bring the whole system down.
   That spark came in February 1837. During the session of the moribund Tagsatzung in Zurich a wave of preorganized protests struck the city. The common Swiss, fed up with internal rivalry and factionalism and seeing the benefits of centralization in other realms, demanded a new constitution and the reformation of the Confederacy. Their demands were refused. The result was the Siege of Zurich on the 8th of February, where the people of the city surrounded the Tagsatzung and refused to let anyone in or out. Attempts to disperse the crowd were ineffective, many of the Swiss soldiers siding with their fellow citizens over their commanders. The “siege” lasted a week, after which the Tagsatzung reluctantly agreed to the demands of the rebels once it became clear aid was not coming, establishing a Constitutional Committee. It was a rare instance of a political body refusing to give itself more power until it was forced to do so.
   Yet, once the first concession had been made, the proposed reforms spread like wildfire. In the following weeks, fueled by the zeal of revolutionary sentiment, the cantonal system was abolished, religious toleration declared, economic reforms enacted, and the Swiss Republic formally established. French, German, and Italian were decreed three equal languages in the new state. Switzerland would be reestablished as a largely centralized, democratic system. Although neutrality was maintained, national conscription was also expanded, with the creation of the Swiss National Guard.
    Naturally, many of the cantons resisted the efforts of the new central government in Zurich to establish itself, but they found their citizens unwilling to defend the old Confederacy. In fact, risings in solidarity with Zurich swept through the rest of the country, toppling the cantonal authorities in Geneva, Bern, and Luzerne. By late March the whole of the old Swiss Confederacy had been consumed from within by the new Swiss Republic. The Constitution of 1837 was adopted in a hastily-held national referendum in April as the new regime looked outwards, watching the chaos it had helped spark spread in the north and the south.

March: the Rhineland
  For the past century and a half German politics seems to have been dominated by one question: who will dominate, north or south? Would the Habsburgs unite and centralize the Holy Roman Empire or would the Prussians kick out the Austrians and establish their own Germanic state? In all of this constant back-and-forth, war after war, one area has largely been overlooked: the west. With the spread of German nationalism, it has become clear to some that the German people need not rely on the absolutist Prussians or the multicultural Austrians to unite the scattered states of the region and protect against the designs of France. Although inspired by the events in Switzerland, the events of 1837 had in truth been a long time coming.
   The events in the Rhine occurred only because of an unlikely intersection of interests between three groups: nationalists, liberals, and the secular nobility. Nationalists watched the economic and demographic expansion of France year-over-year with dread, as some French papers called for seizing the west bank of the Rhine. Liberals, long unsatisfied with the sluggish pace of economic reform in the convoluted Holy Roman Empire because of localized noncompliance, saw the potential for rapid reforms. The Habsburg decision to ostensibly side with the Prince-Bishops agitated the secular nobility and minor knights of the Holy Roman Empire, who saw some of their seized Church lands returned to the clergy. A marriage of convenience would occur between these factions.
   Cologne erupted into revolution on March 3rd, 1837. Long dissatisfied with the presence of the Archbishop-Elector and the heavier tax burden of the ecclesiastical lands, the people of the city expelled the bishop in a sudden rising when news had arrived of the collapse of the Swiss Cantons. A municipal council, established by leading businessmen in the city, took control and invited delegates from the surrounding principalities and clerical territories to the Convention of Cologne. Some secular princes (Zweibrucken, Württemberg, Nassau), eager to demonstrate their independence, sent delegates, while revolutions toppled the archbishoprics in Muenster, Trier, Speyer, and Mainz. The Free Cities of Dortmund, Worms, Frankfurt, and Speyer also sent delegates. In some principalities, where the sovereign declined the invitation, they too were overthrown in rapid and sudden coups, being forced to join the growing exodus of Prince-Bishops and dethroned secular princes heading east towards Vienna. The Margrave of Baden (nephew to the Emperor’s wife) was dethroned, as was the Duke of Hessen-Darmstadt, both trying to remain loyal to Vienna.
   This would not be a crisis merely for the Austrians though, as became evident when the Duke of the Palatinate, a member of the German League, was forced by his council to send delegates to the Convention of Cologne, weeping as he signed the agreement. In the meantime, local authorities in the Prussian enclaves of Kleve and Mark, caught up in the jubilation of the moment, renounced their loyalty to King Frederick III and declared themselves loyal members of the ‘Kingdom of the Rhine.’
   Indeed, that would be the political system proposed by the rebel government in Cologne. In a two-week rapid session, the Kingdom of the Rhine was established, promising the maintenance of local autonomy under central authority, the creation of a constitutional monarchy, and the establishment of a Rhenish Assembly in Cologne.
   As for the sovereign, Duke William of Wurttemberg was elected by unanimous consent as King of the Rhine. What better candidate was there? Here was a man who loathed the Austrians because of his Protestant heritage and upbringing, but likewise disliked the Prussians because of their unceremonious abandonment of him in exchange for a slice of Saxony. He was a perfect representative of the ‘third way’ championed by German nationalists in Cologne. Accepting the crown, the new King prepared for battle, warily eyeing the Prussians and Austrians for their potential response to events in that region.
   The events in the Rhineland would not sweep across Germany as the most zealous nationalists had hoped. The Archbishoprics of Wurzburg, Augsburg, Bamberg, and Kempten saw little unrest. Bavaria, Austria proper, and Saxony likewise remained completely stable, the people of these regions watching the events to the west with horror and distaste. Likewise, to the north, besides the loss of the Palatinate, Kleve, and Mark, the German League too remained stable for the time being, though some of the members commented dryly that King Frederick was receiving his comeuppance for abandoning the Duke of Württemberg.
   In the meantime, as in Switzerland, a wide bevy of reforms would be introduced in the affected regions. The members of the Kingdom of the Rhine declared religious toleration, confiscated Church property and began ambitious land redistribution programs. All affected provinces declared their secession from the Holy Roman Empire and images of Emperor Francis were burned in several cities. Mass mobilization has begun, though whether it is for offensive or defensive operations is entirely unclear.

April: Italy
  If there had been any region where unrest seemed most likely based on events of the past year, that would have been Italy. Already emboldened by the events of the past year, well-funded, and widespread, Italian nationalists took action in mid-April. Unlike in Germany or Switzerland, this revolution was not necessarily liberal in nature, enjoying the support of broad sections of the conservative, rural peasantry.
   The Italian Risings began in Modena on April 15th, where the Bourbon Duke was expelled ignominiously. French garrisons in the region, aimed at subduing the mob, were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of angry Italians, one general reporting ‘for every one bullet we spend, five more Italians seem to appear.’ Women and children would join in on the events in Modena, the French garrison eventually forced to surrender.
   It would take mere days for the unrest to spread elsewhere. Urbino, where the Dukes had largely retained their German ways in the past half-century, proved to be the next fertile territory for an uprising. A general mutiny in the military at Ancona saw the Duke of Urbino arrested and a Regency Council declared, that body quickly deposing the German Duke and electing King Francis of Naples as Duke of Urbino, although the King of Naples had not been consulted and issued no immediate response.
  Chaos would arise in the north next. The Duke of Romagna would be forced to shelter in Ravenna, vast swathes of his territory falling to pressure from Modena and Urbino. Parma and Genoa collapsed rapidly once the sovereigns of both duchies had fled back over the Alps in a panic, seeking help from Versailles. Venice, once the site of the Serene Republic, erupted into anarchy, the Habsburg garrison expelled as the island city declared its allegiance to the Italian dream. It would be joined by mass risings that would sweep through Lombardy and Piedmont, overwhelming much of the region.
   Yet, all hope would not be lost for the Austrians. Although the citizens of Milan fully intended to join in the nationalist wave, the brutal crackdown of the Austrian garrison and expulsion or execution of the most radical voices held off the immediate threat of revolution, leaving that metropolis an island of Habsburg loyalty in a sea of revolutionary sentiment. Mantua and Verona likewise proved loyal to the Habsburgs, limiting any threat of spread into mainland Venetia. Tuscany, too scarred by the events of the Great Italian War, saw only minor demonstrations, little desire indicated to join in broader Italian unification. In Piedmont, Xavier once again proved to be a brave sovereign, remaining in Turin in the face of nationalist calls for his deposition. Unlike his cowardly cousins in Genoa, Modena, and Parma, he has stood firm. Some in Paris have even whispered he could be the key to uniting Italy under French supervision.
   Unlike the risings in Switzerland and the Rhineland, the Italian Risings have not yet resulted in a clear leader, though most assume Francis of Naples will assume that role, all the various rebel factions throughout the Peninsula swearing allegiance to him and offering to join the Kingdom of Naples if the King would have them. The combination of rebel forces with the Army of Naples could very well prove to be a formidable force. Yet, given the likelihood this would mean conflict with the Habsburgs and French, there are some who are apprehensive of the prospect. Regardless, after a half century of peace, war has returned to Italy. As to what that means for the Peninsula? Only time will tell.

May: Flanders
  The fourth site in this quartet of blood would be Flanders. Of the four revolutions, this would be the bloodiest. The reasons for the scale of this uprising were twofold. The Flemings were afraid of French retribution for the assassination of the Dauphin and upset by the liberalization of the Catholic Church which, although popular throughout France as a whole, was deeply resented in Flanders. Inspired by outside agitators and seeing an opportunity with the risings in Italy, Switzerland, and the Rhineland, the remainder of the comprised “Sons of Willem” organized riots that swept through Antwerp and Brussels in late April and early May. Although the French government had attempted to organize a greater degree of repression, oversight, and policing, their methods proved too inadequate for the scale of problem they were facing within their borders.
   The first rising, and bloodiest, was in Antwerp on May 3rd. Presaged by raids in the countryside against French speakers and damage to local infrastructure, mobs of rebels overwhelmed the French garrison in the city. Brutal fighting occurred for 12 hours, word spreading throughout the Kingdom of France of the atrocities. Grapeshot was employed against the Flemings, while no mercy was shown to any captured French soldier. Any Wallonian or Frenchmen unlucky enough to be in public or caught by the mob was summarily executed as the city descended into two days of senseless violence. With word of the fall of Antwerp, the countryside joined in the rising.
   Brussels, Leuven, Ghent, and Bruges would all repeat the story of Antwerp. Riots erupted, the French garrisons were surrounded and overwhelmed, and a brutal orgy of reprisals would occur against anything associated with French tyranny. Priests loyal to the reforms of King Louis XVIII would be shown no mercy, the mob convinced that they had renounced their Holy Orders, while mass mobilization began here as well, moderates forced into siding with the radicals out of fear that a serious line had been crossed.
   King William of the Netherlands has been declared the King of the Flemings by an Assembly of Notables, though he was elected in absentia and, as in the case of the King of Naples in Italy, was not consulted prior to the decision. The Flemish have called on Europe to aid in their struggle for liberty, locals genuinely worried that French reprisals will break the back of their culture and result in the destruction of their way of life.
   For the first time in more than a century, the Kingdom of France is facing a domestic threat inside its borders. Although the threat may be from nationalists who don't speak French, many observers will be watching carefully to see if French projections of strength abroad could be undermined by disorder at home.

Broader Implications
  The Four Revolutions have caused alarm to spread throughout Europe. Berlin and Vienna, up to their usual tricks, continue to eye each other warily, determined that the one party will use the unrest to undermine the other. Slavophiles in Russia have openly hoped the chaos in the west will sweep east and unleash the Poles, Bulgars, and Serbs, ignoring their own problem with Ruthenian loyalty. The Scandinavians face the prospect of holding their first national election in times of great unease, especially as excluded nationalities in the Baltic states have become more vocal, calls emerging in Stockholm to postpone the elections. Irish nationalist pamphlets have been captured by British authorities, already strained by events in the Americas, raising the prospect of disloyalty at home. Notably absent, however, has been the presence of the Catholic Republicans. Perhaps due to their dark legacy in Europe, or the broader religious diversity of the rebel sites, no such movement has arisen, in stark contrast to the unrest in the Americas.
   Will the revolutions spread, igniting the whole continent? Will the forces of traditionalism and monarchism overcome the rising tide of liberalism and nationalism? How will powers of the broader world take advantage of European distraction in their own theaters?

Europe in May 1837
(Self-Made)
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« Reply #20 on: August 12, 2020, 10:43:00 PM »

1837 News of the World

POLAND RISES
A Dream, or a Nightmare?

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   It has been half a century since the Polish state was wiped off of the map, but the people have not gone anywhere. No people in Europe witnessed such a stunning and rapid collapse of their state as the Poles had in the 1780s. Their realm went from the birthplace of moderate liberal republican rule, a bastion of Enlightenment aspirations, to a scattered and poor region, divided among authoritarian enemies. With the revolutions sweeping Western Europe, it was all but certain that nationalist sentiment would explode as well. It did, but no one foresaw how complex the events in the region would be in 1837.
   Although Poland had perished as a republic under the rule of Tadeusz Kosciusko, that did not mean that most Polish nationalists adhered to his ideology five decades later. Years of oppression splintered the unity of the Poles. A wide variety of experiences depending on what side of the imaginary border former citizens had ended up on, coupled with different perspectives on why the Republic had collapsed, meant there was no consensus on how to move forward. When coupled with the meddling of the regional powers, each seeking to undermine the others, the result was a splintering of the cause. The Polish nationalists were divided into numerous camps: moderate liberals, Czartoryski monarchists, Catholic Republicans, Commonwealth restorationists, Pan-slavists, socialist reformers, etc.
   Now, in 1837 the result of this splintering became apparent. Three separate movements would arise in the region, each claiming to be the legitimate revolt, with the ultimate result creating a muddled and chaotic situation.
   Although the Habsburg Monarchy stationed ample soldiers in the region, one army could only do so much against a mass movement. The first rising occurred in Warsaw, in June. The city saw coordinated efforts by rebels explode throughout neighborhoods, barricades being erected as the flag of Polish liberty was raised in the city. It was clear that some outside power, if not several, had provided the insurrection with supplies, initial word on the ground implicating either the Ottomans or Russians. Unwilling to face down a whole city that seemed set against the government, and taking sizable casualties during initial attempts to maintain order, Habsburg forces under the command of Archduke Maximilian (the 66-year-old uncle of Emperor Francis II) withdrew. He was roundly criticized in some corners for what was perceived as weakness, though others in Vienna pointed out that he preserved the Army of Poland from annihilation by some sort of rash action. He would move towards East Galicia, where the Ruthenians remained firmly loyal to Vienna, intent themselves on helping to crush whatever was emerging in Poland. His leadership would prevent the rising from spreading further south or east, Lublin and Krakow remaining in Austrian hands, though protests would be seen in both cities.
   It was not immediately apparent that there were differences in opinion in the Warsaw insurrection. A Fourth Polish Republic was declared in the city, a liberal constitution enacted, and Michał Gedeon Radziwiłł elected the Commander-in-Chief of the newly established Polish National Guard. Radziwill’s first opponents would be his fellow Poles though, as a rival Regency Council in Siedlce convened within the week. This group ostensibly advocated for the return of the Czartoryski family, which had held the throne briefly during the Polish Revolution nearly a century ago. Adam Czartoryski, the grandson of the late Augustus III was proclaimed King of Poland, though he would not be on the scene. Polish Legions loyal to the Regency Council established themselves quite rapidly, and Radziwill would openly complain that the monarchists were using Russian Poland as a base to conduct operations, though this would be denied in St. Petersburg.
   A third rising would occur in Prussian Poland, despite the best attempts of authorities in that region to ensure that the chaos in Austrian Galicia did not spread. Vienna had ordered the expulsion of all known Polish nationalists from their lands as soon as word spread of events in the Rhineland and Italy. Where else were they to go but north? Although Russia had seized vast tracts of Polish land in the Partition, most Poles resided in either the Habsburg Monarchy of Prussia. Thus, a group of notable nationalists set themselves up in Plock. Here the mainstream nationalists quickly immersed themselves in a seething bubble of Catholic discontent and hatred for the Prussians. A series of attacks on infrastructure in Prussian Poland presaged the rise of the Catholic Republican rising in Poland. Denouncing the King of Prussia as a satanic heretic set on exterminating the Polish people, the Catholic Republicans seized control of Plock and declared the Holy Polish Republic.
   What occurred next was entirely without precedent in contemporary European Revolutionary History. Emilia Plater, a heroine of the rising fashioned in nationalist literature as a Polish Joan of Arc, emerged as the primary commander through her fervor for the cause, revolutionary eloquence, and wide following. Elected the President of Poland by her Catholic Republican peers, a move that would be derided as extreme and horrifying by the male observers throughout Europe including Pope Alexander IX, Plater claimed that the risings in Austrian Galicia had been organized by the Prussians, denouncing her fellow nationalists who would make a deal with the devil. The men under her command had fervor, if not military organization. A series of risky charges and reckless gambles on the field of battle surprised the well-trained Prussian soldiers, who had not expected some tactics that flew squarely in the face of military orthodoxy and common sense. Yet, this meant her casualties were quite heavy and some have doubted the longevity of her struggle in the face of hostile powers on all sides. Plater’s Catholic Republican forces have found their support strongest in rural areas, where hatred of the Prussians runs the deepest.
   And so, Poland has awoken. Yet, some wonder if this is a nightmare. Cross-purposes and double-dealing have meant that any idea of national unity has been shelved in favor of partisan self-interest. Too busy accusing one another of collaboration with Poland’s numerous enemies, the Second Polish Revolution has become a muddled, uncertain affair. Three governments in the mere span of 80 miles have each claimed sovereignty over the entire Polish nation, too focused on their own self-interest to undertake offensive action against the masses of Prussian, Austrian, and Russian soldiers that could pounce at any moment. Furthermore, vast Polish regions remain in enemy hands, having not risen in the first place. If momentum is to be achieved, and this false start repaired, Poland will need to emerge with some clear sort of leadership in 1838. Whether this will emerge from compromise between the rebel factions or one emerging victorious over the other two, something must change.

Flemish Terror
French Soldiers Seek to Crush Rebellion, Parts of Netherlands Invaded
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   France would respond with brute force to the rising in Flanders, deploying more than 300,000 soldiers to the region to crush the very idea of Flemish nationalism. The result has been one of the ugliest fields of conflict since the Great Italian War. Infrastructure has been razed, crops destroyed, civilians killed in the crossfire.
   Western Flanders was pacified first, Ghent and Bruges falling to a relentless French onslaught. After the fall of Bruges Europe would be shocked by the brutal reprisals inflicted by the French soldiers against the Flemish civilians. Alleging a conspiracy to kill all Frenchmen, soldiers massacred the inhabitants of the city in their bloodlust, sparing individuals neither by sex nor age. The Massacre of Bruges has entered European parlance and served as a reminder that, no matter how civilized it may seem, war remains hell.
   News of the horrors in the west would only serve to embolden the risings in the east. This was not a fight for national freedom, or for freedom of worship, but a life-or-death struggle. The prospect of death at the hands of a French firing squad was enough motivation to keep desertion in the Flemish ranks at a minimum and zeal for the struggle at an all-time high. The “Martyrs of Bruges” as they have become known in revolutionary circles as far afield as Italy, Switzerland, and Poland have inspired thousands. France itself has gained somewhat of a black reputation, no matter how justified repression of the Flemish rebellion seems on the surface. Neither Antwerp nor Brussels fell in the latter half of 1837, though French guns began to launch shells into Brussels in December, fighting beginning on the outskirts of the city.
   The great scandal, and a move that has ignited massive controversy, stems from the actions of one of the French generals in the western theater, who seems to have operated of his own initiative, but had reason to do so. Thomas Robert Bugeaud, the general in charge of pacifying Terneuzen, alleged that Flemish rebels in full regalia were seen crossing into Dutch Zeeland. Infuriated and not wanting his foes to escape, Bugeaud ordered a crossing into Zeeland, bringing fighting into the Netherlands. Numerous Flemings were captured when the town of Middelburg surrendered, but this did not change the fact that technically France had not declared war and the Netherlands had never outright supported the rebellion. Although he has been chastised by some in the high command, Bugeaud has been steadfast in defense of himself, maintaining that his move was necessary. The Dutch response would be brutal though, a strong defense preventing the further seizure of any more territory in Zeeland. In Amsterdam there is mass outrage and hatred towards the French, as it is now accepted that King William should embrace the Flemish offer and rally the people to war against the French tyrants.
   On the home front, the Flemish have not been above using terrorism and sabotage to achieve their goals. A series of coordinated bombings have hampered efforts to construct rail lines throughout France in 1837. Several French officers and military officials have been assassinated, including General Auguste de Marmont in Paris. This is at the same time their nationalist pamphleteers coordinated efforts with the socialists in Paris.
   Some quarters of global opinion have been outraged by the French assault on the Netherlands, who had not previously offered direct aid to the Flemish cause. The seizure of Zeeland has led to calls for intervention from Britain, the population of the British Isles already riled up by Francophobia engendered by war with Louisiana in the Americas. Observers in Scandinavia likewise condemned the move. The most vocal opposition would come from the Socialists, both in and out of government. Chastising Louis XVIII for exporting tyranny and trampling on self-determination, the Socialists have raised the specter of more vocal opposition should the atrocities continue. Yet, with most of Europe facing revolutions on their doorstep, there is a real question as to who, if anyone, could provide the aid the Dutch and the Flemings so desperately need?

Assault in the East
Joint Russo-Persian Assault on the Ottoman Empire
Greece Fans the Flames of Freedom
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   With the major powers of Europe too busy managing revolutions on their doorstep, and the Ottomans mopping up the rebellion in Egypt, the Sublime Porte’s opponents saw an opportunity to strike. The Russian Empire, alongside its newly established Persian ally, ignited a war that would initially span the Danube to the Tigris. This assault, and the opportunity it created, ignited the spark of revolution in Greece, a region that has remained largely loyal to the Ottomans over the last century despite increasing foreign attempts to encourage rebellion.
   Russia coordinated its actions across the various theaters so the unannounced attack would commence almost simultaneously, preventing the Ottomans from getting word the Empire had been attacked. The first incursion occurred in Moldovia, where the Russians crossed into the Ottoman satellite duchy. The locals, largely Orthodox and not necessarily loyal to Istanbul, bowed before the massive 95,000 Russian force and some even joined in. The Duke and his family however, largely owed their title to the Sultans, gained during the partition of Poland 50 years ago. They fled to Istanbul, bringing news of the crisis north of the Danube.
    The Ottoman Army of the Balkans and the Army of Istanbul went into immediate defensive mode, coming together in Bulgaria with around 80,000 men. From there, they moved forward to face the Russians, hoping to blunt the stab into the Balkans. The two forces did battle at Constantia near the mouth of the Danube, the Russians having completely pacified Moldavia. It was a brutal affair, both sides seeing substantial losses, but the Russians were ultimately able to push the outnumbered Ottomans back and seize the city. As the Turks fled into Bulgaria to regroup, and hopefully raise reinforcements, the Russians moved into Wallachia, where the Duke abandoned any pretense of fealty to the Sultan and declared his independence under Russian protection.
   The second Russian assault occurred in the Crimea, where there was no substantial Ottoman presence save for the garrison at Kerch. 20,000 Russians, using the route of Suvorov from half a century ago, stormed into the peninsula, the Ottomans falling back into their walled city. Kerch, which has frustrated Russian attempts to capture it for a century and a half, now has sealed itself off once more, bracing for a siege. Ottoman Crimea has survived the Russian onslaught before, many throughout the Empire are praying they can do it one more time.
   The Caucuses would be the first major scene of Persian and Russian cooperation. Here there was no Turkish military presence beyond the garrisons of the settled towns. When word arrived that a joint Russian-Persian force was charging north towards Baku, there was little that could be done but prepare for a siege. Even with this preparation, the Ottoman soldiers in the region found themselves overwhelmed, the city falling after two days of bombardment. As went Baku, so went most of Azerbaijan, the region annexed by the Ottomans during the collapse of the Safavid Dynasty in the 1780s now returning to Persian control.
   The final area facing the initial onslaught was Mesopotamia. Two armies were launched into Ottoman territory, one heading towards Mosul in the north, the other seeking to seize the Persian Gulf in the south. The Ottomans had 40,000 men on the scene, against a northern army of 55,000 Russians and Persians and a southern army consisting of 75,000. The Army of Iraq had to make a decision, commanders on the ground ultimately opting to strike at the Russo/Persian Army heading towards Mosul given numerical parity and the threat of being isolated from the rest of the Empire should that city fall. The Battle of Bazian, which was where the forces met, was ultimately a slight Ottoman victory, the push towards Mosul stalled and northern Mesopotamia protected. The army fled back into Qajar territory, licking its wounds and hoping for reinforcements.
  Yet, protecting the north meant sacrificing the south, Al-Basra and Kuwait passing silently into enemy hands. With the collapse of Ottoman authority along the Persian Gulf, Turkish officials have begun to look warily at the tribesmen of the Arabian Peninsula, hoping they will stay loyal in their hour of weakness.
   There was good reason to question the loyalty of the non-Turkish subjects, as would be evident in Greece once the shock of the initial attack had worn off. Greek nationalism had existed for decades, but the moment for rebellion never had quite seemed right. The strengthening of the Ottoman Empire in the 1780s and gentle policies had staved off opposition in the region even when Egypt launched its ill-fated rebellion early on in the 1830s. Yet, with the Russian-Qajar advances, the soldiers of the Empire far from the front line in Egypt, and nationalism sweeping Europe, the moment arrived. The flag of Greek liberation was raised in Athens, peasants pouring in from the countryside, ill-equipped, but out to avenge four centuries of oppression.
   From Thessalonica to Athens, Sparta to Volos, the Ottomans were pushed out, garrisons being brutally murdered if they did not surrender at once. A weak central government has established itself in Athens, self-appointed delegates debating the form and function of the proposed Greek state, as envoys have been sent to the courts of Europe, calling for direct aid in the struggle of Christian against Muslim.
   While the setbacks appear quite numerous for the Ottomans, hope is not yet lost. The remnants of the Egyptian rebellion have collapsed along the Nile, the only remaining regional opposition being the desert-based tribal raiders. The losses of land all occurred in regions where the army was not present or was undermanned, so effective redeployment could stop the bleeding of land or perhaps even reverse it. Although the Greek Revolution is alarming, it has been noted that most of the Balkan Slavs have not been active in supporting the Russians. With their long memory of the abandonment of the Serbs under Emperor Paul, it is clear the nationalists in this region will not constitute a majority so long as Ottoman rule seems somewhat stable. How Istanbul hopes to reverse the losses of 1837 or what the next step of the Russian-Persian invasion will be both remain to be seen. Those not distracted by revolution on their borders will likely be following events in the Near East with great interest.


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« Reply #21 on: August 12, 2020, 10:44:03 PM »
« Edited: March 19, 2023, 10:52:51 PM by Spamage »

War Comes to Americas
Southern Colonies Renounce British Monarchy, Louisiana Intervenes
Fighting Stretches from Frontiers to Atlantic
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   King Charles III attempted to assuage the concern of the southern colonies with the offer of a last-minute compromise and substantial concessions. Yet, this was not to be. Bolstered by Louisianan offers of direct military intervention, and infuriated the offers of the British Crown included no mention of keeping slavery, John C Calhoun led the Southern Convention signatories to declare independence on August 6th, 1837.
   Members of the 8 seceding colonies (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tunica, Transylvania, and Henrysland) convened in Charleston and declared the establishment of the American League, a loose confederation of the rebel colonies that would aim to eject the British from their land. This was initiated with the full seizure of the city and the expulsion of the enemy garrison from the harbor. It was agreed by the representatives that the final form of the League’s government would be decided after independence was achieved.
   British soldiers found themselves in a unique position. Although they maintained their location and conducted operations as commanded, the land all around them instantly became hostile. Their fellow subjects turned into implacable foes; the hatred engendered by warfare tearing the region asunder. This problem would be particularly acute for the British forces in the Deep South, which would be forced to hunker down.
   Matters were not helped by the arrival of Louisianan soldiers, who saw their numbered augmented by southern allies. They smashed through the British forts on the Mississippi, securing the region for the rebellion. The British Army of the Mississippi was forced to retreat north. An attempt by British soldiers to secure the coast of Florida was halted by the arrival of Louisianan soldiers, who not only defeated that entire force of 3,000, but captured all of the survivors. These initial setbacks seriously hampered the war effort in the heart of the South, yet all would not be so bleak for King Charles III. Atlanta remains surrounded, supplies being totally cut off as the sizable British garrison there is now under a state of siege.
   Although their war effort in the Deep South has been hampered, British soldiers retained control of much of Virginia and Cumberland. In fact, parts of northern Virginia, not content to fight to preserve slavery, abandoned their rebel neighbors and reaffirmed their loyalty to London. The northern colonies have, as a whole, become staunch supporters of the Crown and thousands of men have enlisted, hoping to teach their southern counterparts a lesson. On the frontier, the British aligned Sioux launched a series of brutal raids at Louisianan settlements on the Plains, the Osage aid to the Louisianans not enough to plug all the holes. The result has been numerous stories of dead pioneers, the indigenous Americans wreaking their revenge in a war they did not start for an issue about which they mostly do not care. Of course, the rebellion has also created a potential second pool of recruits: the enslaved. Given the treason in the rebel colonies, some are calling on the Crown to expedite the process of emancipation and destabilize the Southern League by whatever means necessary.

East Asia Aflame, Fighting in China Heads South
Russia Launches Invasion of Mongolia, Japanese Assault Against Netherlands Continues
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Russian Invasion of Mongolia
  Given Russia’s intervention in far-off Persia and declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire, the people of the Far East largely considered themselves secure. The only reason the government of Mongolia felt itself able to intervene in favor of the Qing was because of a striking lack of activity on the Russian frontier in the years before. This would change in 1837. Emperor Peter IV ordered an invasion of this breakaway state, 75,000 men crossing the border in short order.
   Although the Mongols were undoubtedly understaffed, this realm is no Khiva, small and easily added to the Empire. The Russians have been forced to try and secure vast tracts of uninhabitable territory, fighting primarily nomadic foe. Granted, most of the small settled towns have been taken with ease, Ulaanbaatar first among them. Although used to fighting on rough terrain, the first few months in Mongolia did take a numerical toll on the Russians. It was only with the construction of forts, ordered by some officers of their own initiative, that the Army has begun to gradually exert greater and more lasting influence over Mongolia. 1838 is almost certain to see the Mongols continue to resist, though their fate looks bleak as more Russians mass to the north.

Chinese Civil War, 1837: And Then There Were Two (Or One? Or Three?)
  Northern China has been the center of the Chinese Civil War since 1835, but in 1837 both the Qing and Xing would focus their attention southwards, seeking to take advantage of the collapsing Guang Dynasty. Although minor officials in both regimes would express themselves outraged by Russian intervention in Mongolia, the attention both of Nanjing and Shenyang remained firmly fixed on the struggle in the south.
   Ultimately, the Xing brought more men into the field in southern China in 1837, which severely undermined a Qing strike at their advance southwards. A series of battles in Hunan and Jiangxi saw the Qing routed and forced to flee south. Continued experience with Habsburg weaponry, numerical superiority, and the sympathy of former Guang loyalists ensured most of the south joined the Xing, unwilling to return to Manchurian subjugation. Although Guangzhou itself would be seized by the desperate Qing army, the Guang Emperor being slain and thrown into the harbor, they would find themselves shortly under siege, the war effort in the south looking bleak after a flash of hope.
   The last few years had seen defeat after defeat for the Qing. It was here that members of the dynasty took action against the Yansheng Emperor, who was deemed to have upset the divine order. The Prince of Beizi, a distant male-line cousin of the Emperor, collaborated with the Manchurian nobility in Shenyang and launched a coup against the Yansheng Emperor. Although the palace guards remained loyal to the young Emperor, they could not hold back the mass of soldiers that stormed into the royal apartments, murdered the Emperor, and threw his body out into the streets. The Prince of Beizi promptly declared himself the leader of the Qing Dynasty, taking the name of Xingyun Emperor. Continuing to govern from Shenyang, much of Manchuria and Inner Mongolia joined him.
   Yet the coup in Shenyang would not be supported by all, particularly the younger brother of the slain Yansheng Emperor. The Prince of Qinwang had been in Beijing when word reached him of the murder of his elder brother. Much more Chinese in outlook than Manchu, he proved to be the choice of the Qing armies in the north and south of China itself as the next emperor. Operating out of the traditional capitol, he has been proclaimed the Zuigao Emperor.
   The collapse of the Qing into civil strife has signaled to most that the Xing are now the undoubted favorites to unite China proper. Controlling most of the population, territory, and armies it is assumed that the Xing have assumed the Mandate of Heaven. It will be up to the Youfu Emperor to ensure that this is the case, with Beijing and Shenyang standing in opposition to his rule in the north, as the Russians have started an invasion of an ostensible vassal of China. Yet, given the success of his soldiers against the Dutch, many are optimistic about his prospects.

Continued Struggle Between Dutch and Japanese, Fighting in Hainan, Batavia, Philippines
  With the results of the Chinese Civil War seeming to become clearer, events outside of the mainland would be far more muddled. A joint Xing-Japanese expedition sought to expel the Dutch from Hainan. Yet, unlike in Formosa, now the Dutch were prepared. Although the numbers eventually forced the garrison to retreat to the Philippines, heavy casualties were inflicted on the invaders, who have shared occupation of the island for the time being.
   The Dutch would see their greatest success of any location occur in the Philippines, with the surrender of Manila on April 5th. Largely unaided, the Spanish control of the islands collapsed suddenly and in surprising fashion. Island by island the Dutch, reinforced, advanced and won the loyalty of the locals. After two centuries, Spain’s outpost in East Asia has been largely mopped up. Although a few scattered islands hold out loyalty to Madrid, the distance involved has caused most in Spain proper to view the preservation of the Philippines as a hopeless cause for the time being, it assumed by most that the islands would be returned in any peace treaty with the Dutch.
   A great naval engagement occurred at the Dutch port of Batavia in November, the Japanese fleet seeking to surprise the Dutch and catch their ships off-guard. Although there would be some initial success in the endeavor, the Japanese would be pushed back by the superior naval tactics of the Netherlands. After 7 hours of engagement, the Japanese assault was repulsed and the surviving fleet forced to limp back to the home islands. Some in Japan fear that this may damage the capability for further naval operations, unless the Dutch are somehow otherwise occupied in 1838.

Scandinavian Electoral Chaos
First Vote Rocked by Assassination, Insurrection, and Opposition
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   While many commended the monarchs of Scandinavia for moving forward with the planned elections in 1837, even with rebellion sweeping the European continent, the vote itself would be marred by ethnic tension, protest, and foreign intervention. Although Scandinavia exits 1838 with its first democratically-elected government, internal tensions have undoubtedly increased as a result of the recent campaign.
   The election of 1837 was vicious. The various political groups portrayed their opponents as threatening the survival of Scandinavia as a world power. A meeting of conservative candidates in Gothenburg was bombed, killing 4, the liberals being blamed. Several wealthy liberal candidates were mobbed in the streets and beaten, newspapers blaming socialist agitators. In Riga protests would turn bloody as nationalists resenting their exclusion from the national vote were gunned down by the Scandinavian garrison. A socialist rally in Copenhagen would see street fights with the monarchists when images of the King and Queen were burned in protest. The expansion of holdings in Africa proved to be controversial in other quarters, some newspapers arguing the government was wasting resources on pointless colonial expeditions. Nationalists made their voices heard everywhere from Helsinki to Trondheim.
   Election day itself would be somewhat more stable. The 300 seats of the national assembly were distributed as follows: 103 mainline conservatives, 98 liberals, 44 monarchist reactionaries, 33 socialists, 11 Finnish nationalists, 7 Norwegian nationalists, 4 German nationalists. Although no party has been given a majority, it is expected that cooperation between the conservatives and the reactionaries (which have 147 combined seats) is the most likely route for a coalition.
   More dramatic than the election itself would be the information that was discovered afterwards. A thorough investigation by agents of the Crown revealed a broad network of foreign interference, intelligence networks tracing leads to Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Cologne. Although it is unclear if the Russian, Prussian, or Rhenish governments themselves sanctioned interference, or if this was merely citizens acting of their own accord, opinion in Stockholm has been outraged by the development. Scandinavia may yet be thrown into continental conflict.

The Second Italian War
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The possibility of Italian Unification was too tantalizing for the Neapolitans to resist. King Francis I declared himself firmly on the side of the Italian Nationalists, moving armies north as the second general war over the fate of Italy in the last century has begun.
   The first clashes would occur on the sea, where the Neapolitan navy, the people of that realm renowned for their shipbuilding skills, launched operations in the Adriatic against the Habsburg Monarchy. Never quite a top-tier seafaring power, the Habsburgs were humiliated in initial engagements, the mouth of the Adriatic being sealed off to Austrian trade, effectively placing a blockade on the Austrian powers in the region. Although the Austrians cut their losses by returning to port after their humiliation, it has become clear to most that, save for French assistance on sea, Austria’s triumph will have to occur on land.
   Switzerland, which maintained its neutrality in the surrounding nationalist risings, nonetheless saw 40,000 of its new citizens “volunteer” to fight in Italy. These men were suspiciously well-supplied and trained, some international observers denouncing the Swiss as trying to cover their military intervention in Italy with technicalities and nice words. The arrival of Swiss volunteers echoes that nation’s role as provider of mercenaries in European conflicts for centuries. Yet, for the first time, perhaps ever, Swiss intervention in Italy would not involve playing the French off against the Austrians or vice-versa. No, in 1837 the Swiss were supporting the Italian people themselves.
   France itself sought to intervene and restore the minor Bourbon princelings to their possessions. With the surprise arrival of the Swiss, coupled with the strength of the local Italian rebels, this was not necessarily to be. At the Battle of Turin, the 88,000-man strong French forces were defeated in stunning fashion, as they faced a mere 67,000-man force. It was Swiss discipline that won the day, forcing the quite popular Grand Duke Xavier to flee alongside his father’s forces back across the Alps. Although some French observers believe an operation in 1838 would be more successful, it is unclear whether the Swiss-Italian force could be larger due to Neapolitan aid.
   While the French were defeated at the Battle of Turin, the Austrians under Marshal Radetzky would be successful in relieving the siege of Milan and asserting control over most of the traditional Habsburg possessions. Although sporadic guerrilla activity continues, particularly in the hills and mountain regions, the cities are under control. The story of the year would be Austrian success north of the Po, Neapolitan victories in the south, with some exceptions.
   Naples initiated mass mobilization, pushing north from Rome into Tuscany. Although the locals in the region largely remained loyal to Habsburg control, what could they do in the face of over 100,000 soldiers from Naples invading? The Austrian force fought valiantly to defend Florence, the Battle of Florence being a largely pyrrhic victory for the Neapolitans. Still Austrian losses here were not light, and some are calling on the Emperor to withdraw his men from Tuscany while a small path has opened up due to success in Romagna.
   The pacification of Romagna by the Austrians would be a slow-going, bloody affair. Although it was easy enough to seize Ravenna, it would take methodical action to crush the rebels in the countryside. Operating outside of the Neapolitan army, the volunteer Italian nationalists had the ability to blend into the countryside with ease, locals willing to shield them in the event of Habsburg reprisals. It has only been with brutal repression that the opposition has been weeded out, village by village.
   Italy stands on a knife’s edge. France has suffered a rare humiliation in the north, the Austrians only gaining their territory back at the cost of thousands of civilian lives. The Pope, so long a vocal presence in the region, sits silent in the Vatican, having signed a Lateran Treaty in Rome that provides the Church with a serious role in Neapolitan affairs. Naples is mobilized, but has largely tapped its available reserves. 1838 will undoubtedly be a crucial year in determining the shape of things to come. Will the French and Austrians come smashing back, or will the various other revolutions sweeping to continent provide a window for Neapolitan success?

The German Revolution
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The Rising on the Rhine was undoubtedly the most shocking of the revolutions to occur in 1837, alarming all the regional powers with its sudden ferocity. The ensuing conflict would not disappoint, the fate of the venerable Holy Roman Empire and entire German people hanging in the balance.
   The rump Imperial Diet at Regensburg would pass a series of rapid emergency measures, granting Emperor Francis II broad prerogatives and general control of the armed forces of all the various princes. While the Rising on the Rhine attracted many upset princes, the clergy and small landholders of the Empire have fled into the Emperor’s camp, afraid that the “rationalization” championed in Cologne would see them sidelined. Issues that had been debated for centuries were passed in a dazed frenzy, the Emperor’s power growing as the Holy Roman Empire seems to be collapsing all around him.
   Militarily, two major operations would occur. The Austrians, determined to prevent Swiss intervention, rushed westwards, smashing into southern Baden and meeting limited resistance. Both Freiburg and Offenburg returned to Imperial control, the Duke of Baden hastily setting himself back up in his capitol, thanking his uncle by marriage profusely. Operations then commenced in Württemberg, the seat of the King of the Rhine. King William himself led his forces in a defense of his home region. An Austrian attempt to take Stuttgart was beaten back, the combined irregular rebels and standard soldiers of the former Duchy succeeding after hours of combat.
   The second area of conflict would be in central Germany. The Kingdom of the Rhine initiated a surprising strike southeast, aiming to make a rapid charge into Bavaria and depose Francis II as King of that realm. The bishopric of Wurzburg fell easily, overwhelmed by the enemy. What happened next was a betrayal of a general understanding between the German rebels and the German League. Rhenish soldiers marched into the Margraviate of Ansbach, the possession of a cadet branch of the Hohenzollern Dynasty and a member of the German League. Frederick Alexander, the Margrave of Ansbach, led a valiant defense of his principality, halting the advance of the Rhenish soldiers. It was his defense that prevented the fall of Bavaria and when news arrived of the aforementioned Habsburg invasion of Württemberg, the Rhenish army turned west.
   Yet, the Margrave was killed in the surrender of the city of Ansbach, ending that line of the Hohenzollern Dynasty and putting the succession of the Margraviate into dispute. His advisors, not wanting to imperil the war effort and grateful for the aid of their Imperial neighbors, immediately declared their secession from the German League, loyalty to Emperor Francis II as overall sovereign, offered the Emperor the honor of naming a new Margrave.
    News of the Rhenish assault on Ansbach was coupled with accusations from Cologne that intercepted letters revealed the King of Prussia had been urging the Prince of the Palatinate to hold firm, news which immediately made both men suspect. This was viewed as a betrayal and a sign that, as had been initially thought, neither the Prussians nor the Austrians could be trusted. Although no fighting broke out in northern Germany, relations have certainly been chilled and the Prince of the Palatinate has been placed under house arrest, his powers suspended.
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« Reply #22 on: August 12, 2020, 10:44:54 PM »
« Edited: August 12, 2020, 11:04:24 PM by Spamage »

The Fire Continues: Spanish America, 1838
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Holy Republic of Colombia
  It would prove to be true that the Spanish commanders in Peru had been overconfident in their ability to relieve the siege of the forces in Quito. An inconclusive battle at Chiclayo saw the Spanish forced back, news of their defeat causing the men in Quito to surrender at long last. What followed was a terrifying sack of the city. The Spanish soldiers themselves were executed to a man, as a somewhat bizarre occupation took place. In the past the sacking of the city was a disordered, chaotic affair. Under the leadership of the Catholic Republicans, observers have noted how disturbingly restrained it is. Soldiers go from house to house, assembling those deemed to be subversive and executing them for heresy without appeal. The wealth of the city has been catalogued, distributed, and removed without the usual wave of savagery. Anyone expressing opposition was summarily executed. Those deemed to be risky are torn from their houses, children separated from parents to be raised in either a church school or with a loyal family, while the parents are sent to labor on missions or plantations in place of the liberated slaves.
   Colombia would follow up on this success with modest gains in the Llanos, though no larger offensive would be planned in the region, the Spanish advance in Panama causing the Archbishop of Bogota to order the realm into much more of a defensive posture.

La Plata
  The Union of La Plata had survived the mass breakaway in 1837, but it would ultimately be absorbed by the dictatorial Republic of La Plata led by General Juan Manuel de Rosas. Although he had ostensibly renounced his allegiance to the weak central Union government because of the Catholic Republican rising in Paraguay, he had sensed the vulnerability of the weakened central government. Moving his capitol to Buenos Aires, the first decree of de Rosas has been a general suppression of the Jesuits throughout his territory, identified members of the order either being arrested or executed on sight. The second action was a renunciation of cooperation with Brazil, viewing the democratic government of that realm as domineering and dangerous for Spanish speakers in the southern part of the continent. Finally, in the later half of the year de Rosas launched a reconquest of Mendoza, bringing the separatists of heel.
   The Catholic Republicans in Paraguay and Upper Peru were not idle, however. The pro-indigenous Catholic Republicanism sponsored here resulted in the signing of the Accord of Cochabamba. The two governments have agreed to total military cooperation against the Spanish, Brazilians, and La Platans. Although this would not stop the Spanish seizure of the Upper Peruvian coastline, many in the Lima have been alarmed by the move, given the recent defeat in the north at the hands of the Colombians.

Brazil
  The Prussians and Spanish were determined that the government of Brazil would not get off lightly for their assault on Guyana and broader aid to separatist causes throughout the Americas. A joint Prussian-Spanish naval squadron appeared off the shore of Rio de Janiero and conducted what has been perhaps the largest naval bombardment in history. The brief attempt by the small Brazilian navy to prevent their advance was swatted aside, shells raining fire down on the wooden city. Fires spread and within hours blocks of the town were aflame.
   President Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos, in the city when the bombardment began, refused to flee to safety and abandon his fellow citizens to their fate. Hoping to fight the fires raging throughout the city, he was killed when a burning building collapsed onto him. He was just one of many casualties of this unsparing attack, but his death has left the central government confused and leaderless, at perhaps the most inopportune moment. As of December, the Congress of Brazil has seized ultimately authority while debate rages about how the successor of the slain president is to be chosen, various politicians vying for the role and undermining one another.
   When the bombardment ceased, the Prussians and Spanish conducted supply raids in the region over the next few weeks, intercepting valuable exports such as coffee and sugar and preventing the important of foreign manufactured goods. This has led to rampant price movements within Brazil, locals unsure of whether or not shipping will be restored to normal as many speculators have taken severe hits to their fortunes.
   On land, the Spanish launched operations from the Llanos into Guyana and Brazil proper, sticking close to the shore. Their successes in the region ensured that Guyana was returned to Prussian control by December.

Central America
  With the Peace of Potsdam ending hostilities between Spain, Mexico, and Louisiana, Philip VI ordered his armies south to retake Panama in order to resume construction of the canal. The Colombians in the region were easily forced back, the result being the new defensive posture advocated in Bogota for the time being.
   The second operation undertaken by the Spanish would be the crushing of the Yucatan rebellion. The Yucatan State, which had been independent for almost 11 years, was brutally forced back into colonial status, its past success stemming largely from neglect and isolation than any inherent military skill. Although nominal fighting continues in the interior of the peninsula, most of the cities and populated areas have fallen to Spanish administration once more.
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« Reply #23 on: August 15, 2020, 04:35:05 PM »

Age of Steam And Steel
Turn 4: 1838
(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: Czar Peter IV Pavlovich Romanov (HenryWallace)
Kingdom of Prussia: King Frederick III Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Francis III Habsburg-Lorraine (Dereich)
Kingdom of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon (DKrol)
Kingdom of Naples: King Francis I Bourbon (GoTfan)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: King William II of Orange-Nassau (JacksonHitchcock)
Tokugawa Shogunate: Shogun Tokugawa Ienari (Donerail)
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 France: Moderate
Habsburg Monarchy: Moderate
Kingdom of Prussia: Moderate
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate
Kingdom of Louisiana: Moderate

Ottoman Empire: Weak
Xing Dynasty: Weak
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Weak
Qajar Persia: Weak



Popularity:
Emperor Francis III Habsburg: High
King Francis I Bourbon: High
King Louis XVIII Bourbon: High
Sultan Mustafa IV Osmanoğlu: High

King Frederick III of Prussia: Moderate
Mohammad Shah Qajar: Moderate
King Frederick VI & Queen Catherine of Scandinavia: Moderate
King Louis-Philippe II Bourbon: Moderate
King Charles III of Britain: Moderate
Czar Peter IV Romanov: Moderate
Youfú Emperor: Moderate
Queen Regent Sunwon: Moderate

King William II of Orange: Low

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. Kingdom of the Netherlands vs. Hakka People (1836-)
Colombian War of Independence: Holy Republic of Colombia vs. Kingdom of Spain (1823-)
Flemish Revolution: Flemish Rebels, Kingdom of the Netherlands vs. Kingdom of France (1837-)
German Revolution: Kingdom of the Rhine vs. Habsburg Monarchy, Holy Roman Empire (1837-)
Second Italian War: Kingdom of Naples, Italian Rebels, Swiss Republic vs. Habsburg Monarchy, Kingdom of France, Italian Principalities (1837-)
Polish Revolution: Republican Poland vs. Catholic Republican Poland vs. Czartoryski Poland vs. Habsburg Monarchy vs. Kingdom of Prussia (1837-)
Great Turkish War: Russian Empire, Qajar Persia, Greek Rebels vs. Ottoman Empire (1837-)
Russian Invasion of Mongolia: Russian Empire vs. Mongol State (1837-)

(Source: Self-Made)


Kingdom of France:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis, thousands now lie dead because of the events of 1837. Flanders is aflame. Part of the Netherlands has been seized. After perhaps decades of tension, it seems the crucial moment for the future of French power in the Low Countries has arisen. The Dutch public, yet again, shows itself willing to stand against you, yet the question now is whether they will stand alone. The British public in particular has been outraged by the seizure of part of Zeeland, the event being portrayed outside of France as the acts of a despotic superpower. How do you propose to crush the Flemings and bring the Dutch to heel? What will your response be to other powers who could join in the cause of Flemish liberation?

-The wretched Swiss have joined with the Italians in their ill-advised effort to unify the peninsula. 1837 saw your men expelled from Piedmont and the prestige of the French-backed Bourbon princes plummet due to their cowardly flight. Given the ongoing situation in Flanders and rapidly escalating conflict with the Netherlands (not to mention the potential for war with Britain) some in Paris believe it is time for you to cut your losses and support the Neapolitan Bourbon war effort against the Habsburgs. Others believe that it now more important than ever to ensure that Vienna remains a close ally, so continued intervention in Italy is a must. How will you respond to the Swiss-Italian assault on your protectorates?

-Although the French public broadly supports the war in Flanders, political opposition has emerged and is growing. The socialists have made common cause with many Flemish and Italian sympathizers in the Kingdom. Their newspapers denounce French intervention in both the north and the south, while on the ground they have begun to organize the French workforce. The threat of strikes and protests has emerged, the grassroots leadership growing more vocal each passing month. Their demands are simple: autonomy for minorities, improvement of worker’s rights, and the ability to organize unions freely. Although most socialists would also like to see broader political reforms, the general consensus of the movement for the time being has been to use the joint crises to pressure the French government for economic reform. Of course, both the liberals and conservatives in government see the demands as outrageous and non-starters. How will you respond to the growing threats from the left?

United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The Southern cowards have aligned themselves with the Louisianan Papists, igniting a war for the future of North America. Although initial results have been disappointing, most observers of the fight note that Britain retains a substantial presence throughout the would-be American League. How will you prosecute the war? What will be done to teach the Louisianans a lesson to not meddle in the internal affairs of Britain? Will you push forward emancipation in recaptured regions to further punish the rebels?

-The French have invaded sovereign Dutch territory, outraging British public opinion. Even with the fighting in the Americas, there are some who would have Britain come to the aid of the Netherlands and ignite a crusade against the Francophone countries worldwide. Certainly, the collapse of Dutch resistance would be horrifying to consider, especially if France were to annex that realm. Yet, the war in North America is no easy affair and spreading yourself too thin could be unwise. How will you respond to the French invasion of Zeeland and atrocities in the Rhineland?

-The revolutionary sway the swept through Europe has not yet come to Britain, but there are signs that it could soon. Of particular concern is the issue of who ought to be enfranchised. Traditionally, British voting rights have been restricted to the wealthy landowning men, but given developments elsewhere, the growing middle class is pushing for a more active role in government. A wide range of reforms have been proposed, ranging from voting based on wealth, lowering the landowning requirements, or even the radical prospect of universal male suffrage. Parliament itself is highly divided on the prospect and pushing too hard could imperil your government of national unity. Will you respond for these whispers for greater enfranchisement?

Kingdom of Scandinavia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The first elections are concluded, but the fallout continues. It is without dispute that there was foreign interference in the campaign, responsibility likely coming from Berlin and St. Petersburg. The population of the realm, although divided by political outlook, are almost universally outraged that these neighboring powers have tried to run roughshod over the new constitutional system. Will you enact any reprisals? Some are calling for you to reject the King of Prussia as protector of the Schleswig-Holstein Germans. Others believe that you ought to send arms and supplies to the Ottomans in their struggle against the Russians. Perhaps you could close the Danish strait to ships from either Prussia or Russia. There are doves, who would have you maintain peaceful relations, but they are in a minority. What will you do?

-The Scandinavian election gave none of the parties an outright majority and coalition building will undoubtedly be required before governing can begin. As the constitutional government is only weakly established, the leaders of the various political factions have looked to the Crown for some sort of guidance, requesting your input as to how they should proceed. Will you involve yourself in parliamentary affairs, recognizing this will set precedent moving forward? If so, what party alliance will you recommend?

-Scandinavian soldiers have seized Mombasa, but the locals are furious. Your growing presence in the region has been apparent for decades and it is feared that backlash is growing. Local officials on the ground report their fears of a rising or attack by the local governments, especially as word spreads of the chaos in Europe, which is assumed will take up most of your attention. There, of course, are a wide amount of ways to respond. You could continue to undertake military operations, perhaps a few preventative strikes in the area. A conciliatory response would probably play well. Or maybe trade is the way to win peace in the region? How will you ensure that the locals in East Africa do not pose a long-term challenge to the expansion of Scandinavian colonial authority?

Russian Empire:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-You have overseen great gains against the Ottomans, Emperor Peter. Your namesake would be proud. The Turks have been bloodied in the Balkans, Crimea stands on the verge of surrender, and joint action with the Qajars has resulted in gains in far-off Mesopotamia. Yet, the Ottomans are now alerted to the attack and will undoubtedly relocate men to counter your advances in the Balkans and Caucuses. The Russo-Turkish War will require great ingenuity, strategy, and patience. How do you propose to win it?

-Revolution swept through the west in 1837 and Russia seems to have weathered the storm largely intact, for the time being at least. No nationalist risings have plagued the Empire and the Russian people themselves have not made any demands for constitutional reform. This has created the perception abroad of Russia being the bastion of the conservative, absolutist order. Given the chaos in the Scandinavian elections, the risings in Poland, and the events further afield in Germany and Italy, some in St. Petersburg are urging you to reiterate your role as defender of the status quo, perhaps by intervening directly in the crises to the west. Or, perhaps it is time for Russia to find a new path, one where it focuses solely on its own self interest. How will you reconcile your traditional conservative role with the advantages that could be gained from cooperation with the various rebellions?

-Your soldiers have made substantial gains in Mongolia over the previous year, but resistance continues. With the collapse of the Qing Dynasty into civil war, some would have you extend Russian involvement in the Chinese Civil War, advocating for an invasion of Manchuria itself. Others believe that Mongolia must be subjugated before intervention elsewhere can be considered, especially given the major conflict against the Ottomans in the west. How will you bring the Mongols to heel? Will Russia intervene further in Chinese affairs?

Habsburg Monarchy:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Emperor Francis, you are leading the Habsburg Monarchy through its greatest crisis in a generation. Not since the days of Maria Theresa has the Empire had to juggle to many different crises at once. Of foremost importance to your advisors has been the events in Germany. Your forces had some limited success last year, recapturing most of Baden and even part of Württemberg, but the fight continues. The Kingdom of the Rhine remains a very real problem, as the near invasion of Bavaria has so clearly demonstrated. How will you prosecute the war in 1838? Furthermore, with the death of the Margrave of Ansbach, who will you name as his successor? Some would have you take the title yourself and expand Bavaria, though perhaps giving it to a Hohenzollern could placate the Prussians for a short time…

-Aside from Germany, the news out of Italy is also of great concern. Your ports on the Adriatic sit under a Neapolitan blockade, forcing you to rely on overland trade with Russia, Prussia, and the Ottomans. Naples itself has launched an assault against Tuscany, making gains and leaving your forces there exposed. Yet, the rebels have not been entirely victorious, being pushed away from Milan and out of part of Romagna. Thankfully, Swiss intervention seems confined to the French principalities for the time being. What will be your approach to this theater in 1838?

-The Poles have risen, but it is clear the rebellion is not as bad as it could have been had the various factions been united in purpose. With this bizarre three-way uprising in Poland, there are some in Vienna who would have you establish contact with one of the factions and support it against the other two, creating a loyal friendly regime. Yet, this could mean ceding territory to a nationalist rising, a precedent many are not willing to even consider in a realm such as your own, afraid of the long-term results. How will you deal with the Polish situation? Will your uncle be left in command of the forces in the region? What is to be done about the alarming reports, with some small evidence, of Russian, Turkish, or Prussian incitement of violence?

Kingdom of Prussia:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Berlin was stunned by the risings in Prussian Poland. The fact that the rebellion has been led by a Catholic Republican woman has been no less surprising. For a long time, it was assumed that Prussia had little to fear from Catholic Republicanism though, judging by the dead in Posen, this is obviously not the case. On top of the threat from the Catholic Republicans, two other Polish factions have arisen in Austrian lands. There are fears the Polish nationalist contagion could spread further if action is not taken. What is to be done about the rising to your east?

-Relations with the Kingdom of the Rhine have gotten, to put it nicely, awkward. The interception of your letter to the Prince Palatine was highly embarrassing, as has been the Rhenish invasion of Ansbach. At the same time, the Habsburgs have generally seemed hostile, officials of that realm suspicious of your contacts with the minor Saxon princes and Emilia Plater’s allegations of your interference in Austrian Galicia. Now, with the death of the Margrave of Ansbach, the potential for conflict with the Habsburgs seems just as immediate as the threat of war with the Rhinelanders. In short, Germany is a mess and it’s not clear what Prussia should do to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. King Frederick, how will you handle this complex issue?

-1837 was undoubtedly a year of revolution and it is not yet clear whether the unrest will continue into 1838. While the risings have been primarily nationalist in nature, the growing socialist movement in France and the recent elections in Scandinavia has raised alarm in some quarters of your kingdom. Prussia has been long a symbol of autocracy; no pretense of democracy being foisted upon the realm. The reformist class in Berlin would see this changed, any threat of rebellion headed off with the promulgation of a constitution, however symbolic a gesture. Yet this belief is not universal. In particular the Junkers and conservatives believe this proposal is premature and irresponsible, pointing to Prussia’s long success under an enlightened despotic model of government over the last century. King Frederick, will you concede to growing constitutional whispers or should Prussia remain a conservative, monarchical state?
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« Reply #24 on: August 15, 2020, 04:36:08 PM »

Ottoman Empire:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-All good Turks have been outraged by the surprise attack against the Sublime Porte launched by the Russians and their Persian dogs. Russians encamp along the Danube, Crimea looks nearly lost, and the collapse of Mesopotamia has only narrowly been avoided. Yet, 1838 will give you a chance to redeploy your armies in the face of this foreign threat. How will you ensure the Russian treachery does not go unpunished? Some in Istanbul have also called for the expulsion of the Russians from the Suez, where they maintain partial ownership after the foreign seizure of the canal a couple of years ago, though this could alienate the other European powers.

-Greece has risen in rebellion, calls for national liberty emanating from Athens and roiling the surrounding region. The Greeks, heirs of your Byzantine foes, could be a formidable threat. Some advisors believe a diplomatic solution would be preferable to an extended war at the same time the Russians are knocking at the door. Others believe that you will only be able to preserve your inheritance by showing harsh punishments to those who challenge the status quo. How will you handle the Greek rebellion, Sultan?

-With the Nile secured, it is time to decide on the future governance of Egypt. In previous centuries that realm possessed a good deal of autonomy, with the local nobles maintaining a substantial voice in governance. Yet, with the recent uprising, some in Istanbul believe that old course is no longer sustainable. Rather than restoring a loosely autonomous Egypt, they would have it annexed to direct rule. What system do you believe should be used to govern this extremely valuable province?

Kingdom of the Netherlands:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Those perfidious French have attacked your sovereign territory, driving into Zeeland without a declaration of war or any hostile action on the part of your government. A nationalist fervor, focused on defending the country against the foreign scum has swept the realm, bolstering your popularity. Now that France has struck, will you send men to aid the Flemings or even take control of that rebellion as their King? What is to be done about this pressing crisis on your southern border?

-Further afield, fighting with Japan continues in Asia. You prevented a catastrophe at Batavia, saving much of your Asian fleet and the Philippines have finally been fully taken from the Spanish. Still, you have lost Hainan and are no closer to retaking Formosa. Some in Amsterdam would have you make peace here so you can focus on the larger French threat, French India particularly threatening the Dutch East Indies. Others believe that surrendering or making a compromise deal with the barbaric Japanese and Xing insurrectionists is unthinkable. How will you handle the war in East Asia?

-You stand alone for now. Yet, the French assault and their atrocities in Flanders have created wide sympathy for the plight of the Dutch. The obvious potential allies are those who have helped the Dutch people in the past, such as Britain or Scandinavia. Alternatively, you could embrace the rebel wave of 1837 and make overtures to the Kingdom of the Rhine, which has thus far only expressed itself friendly towards your government. Far-off Naples could be another potential friend of convenience, you two having shared enemies. Will you assemble a coalition to beat back the French or will the Dutch do better without the complications of foreign intervention?

Kingdom of Louisiana:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-You are at war. The generous aid you have provided to your eastern neighbors has meant that Britain now views you as an enemy. Although the British have been pushed from their forts along the Mississippi, Atlanta remains under their occupation. The nascent army of the American League has indicated it will follow your lead in the war effort, so strategy for 1838 will be up to you. How will you ensure that the Americans are freed from British tyranny?

-There has been an alarming string of attacks by the Sioux against your frontier settlements in the Plains and along the Missouri River. The Osage have done the best they can to repel native incursions, but the death toll makes it clear this has not necessarily been successful. Continued instability in the region could drive off future potential settlers, hampering growth efforts in the region. How will you respond to the native raids? Some have proposed providing arms and ammunition to the Osage, an idea that would have been scoffed at years ago. Others urge you to construct forts and use the military to deter further Sioux aggression. Perhaps you could launch counter-raids into their land?

-You have assumed control over your portion of California and for now the region is at peace, Louisianan officials establishing government in the region in line with your recent proclamations. It is an open question what is to be done with the Spaniards who already own sizable tracts of land in the region, having lived in the region for more than a century. You could seize their land and distribute it to loyalists, though this could undermine your authority in the region. Or, alternatively, perhaps some sort of understanding could be reached? Some in New Orleans have suggested buying out the Spaniards, though this would probably be expensive. What will you do?

Kingdom of Naples:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The day is here, King Francis. Fighting has commenced against the Habsburgs throughout central Italy. Tuscany is falling into your hands, while the Austrians have pushed back into Urbino. Neapolitan ships have blockaded the Adriatic, forcing the Habsburgs to rely on overland trade. What will your commands be to the army in 1838? Will you undertake a further offensive in Tuscany or start a new one in Urbino? Or is a defensive posture more ideal, forcing the Habsburgs to stumble into prepared defenses? How will you ensure the Italian people are liberated from foreign oppression?

-The situation in Northwest Italy is uncertain. While the Swiss and the Italian rebels expelled the forces of your distant cousin Louis XVIII, potentially inaugurating conflict with France, no Neapolitan soldiers were in the region and your commanders had no input in the battle of Turin. This could allow you to escape some of the blame, were you so inclined. Will you send men north to prevent a second French invasion? Or should a settlement of some sort be reached with Paris, preferably one which sees your authority over the north be acknowledged?

-In the lands controlled by yourself or the rebels aligned with the Crown of Naples, most of the nobility, (i.e. sizable property holders) have fled. There are growing calls at your court for their properties to be granted to loyalists to yourself in both the Neapolitan nobility, the military, or even the general public. While such a move would create a powerbase of loyalists in northern Italy, it could also further alienate Vienna and Paris, not to mention inaugurate long-term property disputes. What will you order to be done with the vacant estates?

Tokugawa Shogunate:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The fighting against the Dutch continues. Although your naval raid against Batavia was repulsed, you did inflict damage on the Dutch fleet. Hainan has fallen to the joint Xing-Tokugawa occupation. With news arriving that the Netherlands now faces France in their homeland, some in Edo believe it is the perfect opportunity to make peace. Others see the potential distraction of war with France as giving your more room to undertake offensive operations. What will you do in 1838?

-The Hakka people have been most intrigued about your offer of establishing a semi-independent Republic of Formosa. For the time being they have established a cease-fire on the island, but the issues of this proposal are becoming clearer. Many at the Xing court have expressed themselves upset about the proposed tearing away of Formosa. The inhabitants of the island, on the other hand, demand independence from China as one of their main conditions. How will you balance these conflicting interests?

-Your handling of the taxation issue has been well-received, albeit with some peasant grumblings about the proposed increase, but in the meantime a secondary class issue has arisen. Within the Tokugawa elite, the Daimyo are divided. The Fudai daimyo have long been loyal to your family, their primary distinction being that they backed the Tokugawa prior to its seizure of control. On the other hand, the Tozama daimyo joined the Tokugawa shogunate later and have been punished for this for centuries. Increasingly, the Tozama have called for discrimination against them to be lifted, while the Fudai have resisted, jealously guarding their privileges. This matter has become even more complex with the tendency of the Tozama daimyo to embrace western trade and the imported western practices that have been growing apace, while the Fudai daimyo have argued for staunch traditionalism in Japan. Which side, if either, will you back in this intra-class dispute?


Qajar Persia:

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your forces have pushed their way into Ottoman territory alongside the Russians. 1837 saw success in the north and the south, with both Baku and Basra falling into Persian hands for the first time in decades. Throughout your newly establish realm the Persians have turned towards the conflict with enthusiasm, the goal of ending Turkish supremacy a popular one. Yet, Ottoman resistance in 1838 may be stronger, now that the element of surprise has worn off. What will you have your soldiers do in the coming year?

-The Kurds acquiesced to your victory fairly peacefully in 1836. In return, they have hinted that they ought to be granted broader autonomy in the regions they inhabit, not to mention any Kurdish regions that could be gained from the Ottomans. Some in Teheran fear this would undermine your new dynasty and make it look weak when it has just established itself. Will you listen to Kurdish demands for autonomy or hold them close for the time being?

-Expansion into Mesopotamia and Azerbaijan has further increased the religious diversity of your holdings. Although Persia is predominantly Shi’ite, the gains made have given you control over sizeable Sunni population and substantial Christian minority. This will probably become an even more severe problem the more you grow. Some believe that you should declare tolerance for the religious diversity. More hardline religious officials in your circle urge you to at very least maintain the jizya and perhaps only to promote faithful Shiites. How will you deal with religious diversity in your realm?

Joseon:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your grandson has been married in ceremonial fashion; a move widely seen as a triumph of Joseon’s stability while the rest of the world was aflame. Yet, it is becoming increasingly clear that the growing contact with the West has not been lost on young Heonjong. The 10-year-old sovereign has repeatedly questioned officials about the stories, values, and lifestyle practiced outside of the realm. Although they have attempted to divert his attention with other matters, namely the traditional education of a future Korean sovereign, he seems bored and unmotivated by these topics. His mother has been unable to redirect his attention and some would have you step in, it being unthinkable the ruler of the Joseon dynasty could be infected with western sympathies.

-Your focus on rooting out corruption and ensuring stability has coincided with growing calls for governmental reform. Although you have done well in keeping western influences from disrupting the mainstream life of Korea, many elites have begun to clearly feel the sway of reform. Your proposals to reform the Gwageo has elicited a wide array of proposals. Some would have you scrap the traditional exams entirely and embrace western methods of focusing on mathematics, history, and humanities. Others believe that the traditional system could be modified, but that at its core the Gwageo have served the royal family well for decades. There is also the possibility of opening the exams up to a larger proportion of the population, no longer having them be so regional and narrow-focused. What will you do about these calls for reform?

-The collapse of the Qing into civil conflict, at the very moment their dynasty seemed defeated in China itself, could present a golden opportunity, Queen Regent Sunwon. Your occupation of the Trans-Ussuri could be turned into a full-blown annexation, seeing as your agreement to oversee that territory was with the Yansheng Emperor, who was so brutally murdered and left no clear successor. While the move is popular in Korea itself, there are some scholars who express concern over the reaction of the Xingyun Emperor, who controls Manchuria and Inner Mongolia. Still, with the Russian expansion in the north and continued fighting in the south, this window of opportunity could close. Will you absorb the territory on behalf of your grandson?

Xing Dynasty:
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Youfu Emperor, dominance over China is nearly in your grasp. The Qing have fractured into feuding factions and you control by far the most people and territory of the remaining factions. Yet, the war is not yet over. Qing forces still operate in the far north and south, holding Beijing and Guangzhou. How will you lead your dynasty to victory and crush the opposition once and for all?

-With the collapse of the Qing, numerous collaborators and former officials from that regime have fallen into your custody. Ranging from governors and bureaucrats to generals and noblemen, many of your subjects wonder what should be done to these traitors, who so willingly served foreign oppressors. Nationalists are out for blood, seeking to avenge the humiliations of Manchu governance, while other groups seek clemency for the prisoners. What will be your policy towards the former Qing officials?

-The so-called Xingyun Emperor has approached you with a tantalizing offer. In exchange for recognizing his independent control over Inner Mongolia and Manchuria, he is willing to renounce any claims to China. This would leave you at war with the Zuigao Emperor in Beijing alone. While this offer would probably seal your power over China, it could set the dangerous precedent of letting regions operate freely. Furthermore, there is some concern in the foreign ministry about the trustworthiness of the Xingyun Emperor, who had his own cousin murdered so he could seize the throne. Will you entertain his proposal?
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