The Zenith of Power: Gameplay Thread

[DKrol]

The Education Reform Act
Submitted to the National Assembly on March 1, 1872 by His Majesty the King

1. Each child deserves an education. As such, at least one schoolhouse shall be established within each county for the purposes of educating children between the ages of seven and fourteen.
2. The curriculum of education shall include literacy, civic education, the history of the Crown and the United Kingdom, morality and the Catholic religion, and arithmetic. Other topics that may be covered shall include agriculture, accounting, and geography.
3. All children between the ages of seven and fourteen are expected to attend their local schoolhouse for no fewer than four days per week for no fewer than 26 weeks per year. During harvest or planting times, the county may change their attendance policy at their discretion.
4. No child shall be charged for attending a public school or otherwise barred from attending for reasons of financial insolvency.
5. Nothing in this act shall prohibit schoolhouses established and operated by reputable religious organizations so long as they comply with the curriculum established in 2.
6. Each county shall raise the taxes necessary to fund the schoolhouses within their borders and the United Kingdom may, from time to time, provide additional supplemental funding as determined by the National Assembly and the Crown.
7. Black Louisianan children must be eligible to attend public schools, although they may or may not be housed in the same schoolhouse as white children at the determination of the county.
8. King’s College, the National University shall be established in New Orleans, to serve as a center for higher education in the fields of philosophy, law, politics, economics, theology, military affairs, and business. King’s College, the National University shall be funded by the National Assembly and degrees shall be granted under the authority of the Crown. King’s College, the National University shall be administered on a day-to-day basis by a Chancellor, appointed by the Crown.

[KaiserDave]

Presidential Address to the
State Duma of the Russian Republic

(Standing Ovation from the vast majority of the hall)

Gentlemen of the State Duma, thank you, thank you. I come to you to speak on the complicated diplomatic and military situation of the Russian Republic. We are engaged today in a war with our old enemy, the ever-expansionist, treacherous Ottoman War, which today stands in occupation of historic Russian territory, populated by Russians, and who engages in the oppression of our brothers in the faith in southern Europe and in Asia. Be rest assured delegates of the Duma, the government of the Russian Republic stands resolutely behind the war effort for the defense of Holy Russia, and we stand behind the thousands of Russian men bringing forward the tricolor flag of Russia, and the banner of our Savior into core Russian lands.

(Applause)

We have taken our ancient and holy oaths to never make peace until all Ottoman invaders are expelled from Russian soil. We take these oaths seriously, and we promise eternal glory and victory for our homeland.

(Applause)

This government made the landmark diplomatic achievement of peace with the Kingdom of Scandinavia. We have secured a permanent, lasting peace with the peoples of the north, to whom we will continue to cooperate with in the diplomatic and commercial sphere. We may not dedicate our brave soldiers to the stabilization of our frontier with Poland and the protection of the core Russian lands of Belarus and Minsk, enraptured by civil war, and the expulsion of the heathen Turkish armies from Holy Rus'. We will, without a doubt, expel the Turkish hoard from our lands, and deal total defeat to their armies in the field. This I promise.

(Applause)

To the Russian mothers who will lose their sons, and the Russian children their fathers, I promise to honor their sacrifices for eternity, not only with dignity and reverence, but with millions of acres of new farmland for future generations of Russians, and endless fields of wheat for Russian children to play it for centuries to come. Those who die with the name of our Most Merciful Savior on their lips will live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Applause)

I speak now to the nations of Europe. Know that the Russian Republic has not the slightest intention of upsetting the peace of Europe, or the balance of power. Our quarrel is solely with the Ottoman Turk, who has ravaged Europe for centuries, has defiled our Holy Orthodox Church, and has occupied Russian lands for decades under arbitrary and punitive tyranny. We seek nothing but friendship with the nations of Europe, as we have already established with Scandinavia. We have no interest in arbitrary violent conquest, as we have already established peace on our northern frontiers, we hold the same policy towards Europe. Today I say to Europe, we desire nothing but commerce, friendship, and peace.

(Applause)

I am asking this Duma to make continued provision for the supply of our army in the field, and for the raising of whatever new regiments are necessary for the defense of the fatherland from aggression. The war we fight today will secure peace for millions of future Russians, and for Europe.

(Applause)

Thank you esteemed delegates, Long live our State, Long live our Army, and God Save Holy Russia!

(Standing Ovation from the vast majority of the hall)

[PSOL]

On the violence in the North

The ethnic clashes are an affront to Allah in disturbing the peace. The wanton violence has claimed the lives of many innocents. Rest assured the ringleaders shall be brought to Justice.

[Lumine]

Russo-Quebecois Treaty (1872),
A Treaty between the Russian Republic and the Kingdom of Quebec,

1.) The territory of Alaska is hereby sold to the Kingdom of Quebec by a previously accorded sum (equivalent to US $15 million in OTL 1867).

2.) The Russian Republic will establish a Commercial Mission at the port of Roquefort, encouraging and ensuring the proper flow of Russian trade in the Pacific.

3.) The Kingdom of Quebec pledges to support a number of previously and privately agreed upon initiatives that are on the interests of the Russian Republic.

x Henry II, King of Quebec

[KaiserDave]

Russo-Quebecois Treaty (1872),
A Treaty between the Russian Republic and the Kingdom of Quebec,

1.) The territory of Alaska is hereby sold to the Kingdom of Quebec by a previously accorded sum (equivalent to US $15 million in OTL 1867).

2.) The Russian Republic will establish a Commercial Mission at the port of Roquefort, encouraging and ensuring the proper flow of Russian trade in the Pacific.

3.) The Kingdom of Quebec pledges to support a number of previously and privately agreed upon initiatives that are on the interests of the Russian Republic.

x Henry II, King of Quebec

x Alexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic

[Kingpoleon]

We, the Ottoman Empire, propose the following peace deal to Russia:

Russia will cede the Eastern Caucasus, Kiev, Central Asia, and Uyghurstan, to the Ottoman Empire.
Russia will cede the remainder of Ukraine, other parts of Eastern Europe, and St. Petersburg to Poland.
Russia will issue a formal apology for starting this war, and pay the appropriate war reparations.
The Ottoman Empire and Poland will recognize the sovereignty of the Russian government and neither press their advantage by marching on Moscow nor demand the overthrow of the current government.

[KaiserDave]

We, the Ottoman Empire, propose the following peace deal to Russia:

Russia will cede the Eastern Caucasus, Kiev, Central Asia, and Uyghurstan, to the Ottoman Empire.
Russia will cede the remainder of Ukraine, other parts of Eastern Europe, and St. Petersburg to Poland.
Russia will issue a formal apology for starting this war, and pay the appropriate war reparations.
The Ottoman Empire and Poland will recognize the sovereignty of the Russian government and neither press their advantage by marching on Moscow nor demand the overthrow of the current government.

This proposal was printed en masse in all major cities of Russia, and distributed to the population as anti Turkish propaganda, to be torn apart and burned in public demonstrations along with images of the Sultan.

[FT-02 Senator A.F.E. 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Offical Firman from the Imperial Court in Kabul

The Economic Advancement Act of 1289

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

While we do pride ourselves on what we have currently, we recognize that we need to improve our Empire as a whole in order to not fall behind and become vulnerable prey for foreign imperialists. With this act, we seek to advance and develop our methods of production and manufacturing of goods for the benefit of all Afghans throughout the Empire.

Section 1: Kindling of the Afghan Industrial Sector

I. Creation of the state-owned Durrani Agricultural Company, the Durrani Mineral Company, the Durrani Rifle and Bombard Company, and the Durrani Rail and Port Company
  a. The Durrani Mineral Company
     1. Shall oversee the extraction, refinement, and export of raw materials into quality products to be sold on the markets
     2. Is tasked with surveying the realm for potential deposits and reserves of natural resources for long-term exploitation
     3. Will ensure all the necessary needs of laborers be adequately fulfilled and will provide appropriate compensation in the event that it is needed
     4. May employ skilled foreigners to help assist with the continued development and modernization of the sector using new methods and technologies
b. The Durrani Agricultural Company
     1. Shall oversee the cultivation, maintenance, and viability of farmlands, pastures, orchards, fisheries, and forests
     2. Will ensure all the necessary needs of laborers be adequately fulfilled and will provide appropriate compensation in the event that it is needed
     3. May employ skilled foreigners to help assist with the continued development and modernization of the sector using new methods and technologies
c. The Durrani Rifle and Bombard Company
     1. Shall oversee the development, testing, and production of weapons of war such as but not limited to rifles artillery, munitions, shells, etc.
     2. Is tasked with the standardization of the caliber of all munitions and equipment to ensure an efficient and streamlined production
     3. Will ensure all the necessary needs of laborers be adequately fulfilled and will provide appropriate compensation in the event that it is needed
     4. May employ skilled foreigners to help assist with the continued development and modernization of the sector using new methods and technologies
a. The Durrani Rail and Port Company
     1. Shall oversee the planning, construction, and continued maintenance of railroads and ports
     2. Is tasked with connecting the cities with each other, transporting raw materials either for export or to industrial centers, facilitating the speedy deployment and movement of regiments, and receiving and distributing cargo from overseas
     3. Will ensure all the necessary needs of laborers be adequately fulfilled and will provide appropriate compensation in the event that it is needed
     4. May employ skilled foreigners to help assist with the continued development and modernization of the sector using new methods and technologies
II. The Crown shall own at a minimum of 51% of the shares in these companies with the remainder being available for private investment
  a. Foreigners are allowed to invest as long as they comply with local rules and regulations
  b. The Crown has the exclusive right to grant or revoke shares owned by foreigners and may do so at any time for any reason

Section 2: Promotion of Literacy and Higher Education

I. Establishment of the University of Kabul
    a. Shall be funded for and owned by the state
    b. Admission is open to all male Afghans upon a minor fee
    c. Admittees shall be taught both the Sharia and Fiqh alongside other useful "secular" fields such as but not limited to; chemistry, medicine, mathematics, commerce, geography, botany, etc.
    d. Housing and other basic necessities shall be provided on the facility grounds
    e. Will participate in the exchange of students with other universities
    f. Is open to foreigners becoming teachers as long as they follow all rules, regulations, and local customs
II. Construction of Rural Madrassas
    a. Shall be funded for and operated by the state
    b. Admission is open to all male Afghans free of charge
    c. At a minimum, attendees shall be taught how to read the Quran, basic Arithmetic, fluency in their native languages, and other assorted useful skills

X_Emir Samad Khan_

[Spamage]

1872 Midturn Update

Neapolitan Vote: A New Era for An Old Kingdom
Attempt Made on the Life of King Charles!

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   There was no question King Charles VIII’s decision to promulgate a constitution was widely popular with the people of Naples. Overnight, on paper at least, one of the few remaining autocratic states in Europe was transformed into an extremely limited constitutional monarchy. This would not be without repercussions, both within and outside the borders of Naples.
   In the short-term, King Charles was met with mobs of excited subjects as his reforms were implemented. Thousands of peasants drank toasts to the health of “Papa Carlo” as the institutions for elections and representative government were established. Socialists, liberals, and other reformists groups quickly found themselves pivoting to defend a King they had once so ruthlessly disparaged in private. The nobles, including the King’s own brothers, would be quite upset, as would the clergy. These groups saw Charles’ “surrender” as threatening their rights and natural role in government. In spite of growing instability in the Habsburg Monarchy to the north, the first elections were held on June 25th, 1872.
   The campaign in June was unexpectedly heated despite the popularity of the Crown. While the King had not loosened censorship laws, the overwhelming expression of public opinion and debate took on a life of its own and overwhelmed royal officials. This meant that there was largely novel free discourse heading into the vote. In this discourse, some speculated that there was a degree of outside agitation. Still, as the people went to the ballot box, both the realm and Europe looked on with bated breath.
   The results were widely surprising, stunning the entire continent. On the surface, the main story would be the level of division, the proportional system meaning almost every strain of ideology being represented in some form. Still little could overshadow that the “Brothers of Giufà” (named for a Sicilian folk-hero), an extremely radical semi-Catholic Republican faction, garnered the single largest share of votes with 24.1%. Their strength came from rural communities, many speculating that a bunch of uneducated peasants had their votes swayed by promises of land reform and loyalty to the Church. The Liberal “Progress Party” came in a distant second with 20.6%, most votes coming from Rome, Florence, and Naples proper. The Conservatives significantly underperformed at 18.3%, many who would have otherwise voted for the “Sicilian Union”, expressing their unease with the constitution by voting instead for the reactionary “Patrimonio” party, which took 12.5%. The Socialist “Worker’s Party” garnered 18.1% of the vote, centered in working-class districts in the various cities. Unideological Italian pan-nationalists took 4.6% of the vote, independents garnered 1.8% of the vote. The final seat standing in the Chamber of Deputies was:

Chamber of Deputies, 350 Seats (176 needed for majority)
Brothers of Giufà: 85 seats
Progress Party: 72 seats
Sicilian Union: 64 seats
Worker’s Party: 63 seats
Patrimonio: 44 seats
Pan-Nationalists: 16 seats
Independents: 6 seats

   While the election of the Chamber of Deputies shocked the realm, it was expected that the Senate would be far more conservative, perhaps balancing out the radical tilt of the government. Still, King Charles, so popular, is left with the unfortunate prospect of having to wade into partisan politics, as no bloc has a clear majority in the assembly. It will be up to the Crown to make a coalition out of the shattered election results and figure out who will form the government with what is expected to be an unstable majority.
   Naples would be shook when, shortly following the election, an effort was made on the King's life on June 30th. As he rode through Naples to applause, several shots rang out, striking King Charles in the back. Madness erupted, the royal carriage returning to the palace and alarm going up throughout the city. The assailant killed himself upon presumably completing his task, taking his secrets to the grave. After several tense days, King Charles VIII emerged from the worst danger. Although he lost the use of his right leg, forcing him into a wheelchair, he remained triumphant and his public return within the month was met with rejoicing, even the Brothers of Giufà praising the king and vowing to locate the true identity of his assailant.
   Finger-pointing has begun almost immediately. Some believe the King's brother Prince Alfonso, the Duke of Tuscany, may have been responsible, given his absolutist ideology. Others point to the French, who have proven to be an unreliable ally and have already been suspected of causing the runaway inflation. Of course, the success of the Catholic-Republican aligned faction also has some looking suspiciously towards Brazil or Spain. Could the assailant have had ties to radical leftist and anarchist groups, who had boycotted the election out of principle? What about anti-imperialists? Regardless, before the situation can be addressed, a government must be formed. Many now watch Naples to see what will happen next and how King Charles will handle the electoral result.

Bohemian Awakening?
Nationalist Movement Seizes Prague!

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The early 19th century had brought great changes of the Habsburg Monarchy. Territorially, the Emperor Francis II exchanged Polish Galicia for the return of Silesia to Bohemia. Economically, the explosion of coal-mining in Silesia brought great prosperity to the Crown of Bohemia and spurred the opening of factories in major urban centers such as Milan, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. Demographically, thousands moved from the countryside into vastly expanded urban areas, their labor fueling tremendous economic growth and giving them the potential for a better life than their ancestors.
   Yet, there was one area of little change: the governance of the Empire. Ever since Emperor Maximilian III had embarked on the decentralization of the Habsburg Monarchy into its various constituent realms in the early 1800s, little other reform had been achieved. At the time the decentralization had been quite popular, especially with provincial nobles and elites who enjoyed the autonomy. Even the vast population of peasantry had remained loyal in the face of frequent Prussian invasions, Italian violence, the revolutions of the 1830s, and through the darkest days of the Great Eastern War. But the old system of government, one rooted in feudalism and traditionalism, papered over significant differences and growing issues.
   For starters, the population of the Habsburg Empire in 1872 was far different than a century prior. A much higher percentage lived in urban areas, was literate and educated, worked outside of agriculture, or enjoyed wealth that came from merit and not pedigree. These groups found the existing system inadequate if not outright insulting. Rather than being motivated sheerly out of loyalty to the emperor, these new classes thought in terms of ideology and nationality. Seeing parliamentarianism in France, Scandinavia, and Britain, some yearned for a similar system to be implemented throughout the realm, but little was changed and decade after decade passed. To most, any chance of reform seemed a remote possibility, the conservative consensus of monarchism, Catholicism, and traditionalism holding sway. What was missing was any sort of spark. That came in 1872. Downtrodden liberals and disgruntled nationalists finally found reforms they could rally behind.
   There is no question the promulgation of the Neapolitan Constitution of 1872 had wide-ranging effects outside of the borders of that kingdom. Whereas France, Scandinavia, and Britain already possessed a degree of constitutionalism, albeit ones of less participation, the Habsburg Monarchy seemed like a relic from another time entirely. Like Naples, there was very little suffrage within the realm, nobles still governing each of the constituent realms out of provincial assemblies and local diets. While autonomy had bought the Emperor time, the longer time went on, the more people became aware of significant inequities within the various constituent states. To those outside of the governing consensus, King Charles of Naples’ radical reforms on a previously autocratic realm proved that real change was possible, even if it required overlooking the growing instability in Naples. Socialists and liberals saw ideological opportunities in democracy, while some extreme nationalists believed that their people could finally have a voice in government.
   While Austria, Bavaria, and Lombardy were relatively ethnically homogenous, it would be cultural inequities within Hungary and Bohemia that would increasingly become the immediate source of tensions. Hungary, the largest of the Habsburg states, was an ancient realm. Although led by a Magyar and smaller Croat noble class, one which held most of the land and political influence, there were substantial Romanian, Serbian, and Slovak minorities excluded from any sort of power. These national minorities paid their taxes to noble landlords who could not speak their language, cared little for their customs, and did little to improve their lives. While this bred resentment, Bohemia would prove to be a far more acute situation.
   The Kingdom of Bohemia had long been a key cornerstone of the Habsburg Monarchy. That realm possessed a complicated history. Bohemia was the spark that ignited the Thirty Year’s War in 1618, the site of numerous battles in the War of the Austrian Succession, and often traded hands over the course of the many Austro-Prussian wars in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Since the defeat of the old Bohemian nobility at the Battle of the White Mountain, and the subsequent property redistribution shortly thereafter, this predominantly Czech state was governed by a German noble class. Of course, this had meant little in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was only in the 19th century that the siren song of nationalism would begin to challenge the existing order. While the Treaty of Breslau had restored the ancient borders of Bohemia with the annexation of the largely German Silesia, it also meant that state shifted from a predominantly Czech realm with a German minority, to one divided roughly evenly.
   Czech nationalism formed in opposition to continued German influence. German was the language of government, not Czech. German had been the language of the Prussian invaders who had thrice invaded Czech lands and murdered Czech civilians. German nobles governed the people. German was spoken in the universities. Emperor Charles spoke German. The landlords, bosses, and tax collector were German. Now, with Silesia, Germans may even have become the majority among Bohemian subjects. Many Czech leaders felt they were outnumbered in their homeland and that it was only a matter of time before German subsumed their culture entirely.
   Disturbances began at the University of Prague on June 5th, 1872 just a week after news arrived of the Neapolitan constitution and the reforms in that realm. A vast throng of idealistic Czech students protested on campus, demanding education in their native language and storming the library, burning dozens of priceless historical works in German out of principle.
   Local police were brought in to restore order but were especially ruthless, cracking skulls and killing several students in the chaos. Of course, the death of Czech students resonated in the city. Although Prague had once been dominated by Germans, the growing need for industrial labor had brought an influx of Czech-speakers from the countryside. Calls for justice for the slain students resulted in massive street protests. Workers went on strike as German businesses were damaged and looted. Attempts by the police to restore order were unsuccessful, so the Diet of Bohemia (led by the German nobility) panicked and fled the city for Breslau, where a crackdown was ordered.
   At this point the Czech demands had only increased. Not only ought education be bilingual, but the protestors demanded elected representatives, a constitution, and limited land reform. Although the groups professed their loyalty to Emperor Charles VIII, they expressed fears that the situation in their realm had been misrepresented to him and called on him to hear their call for freedom. An all-Czech city council was elected by universal male suffrage and quickly won the loyalty of the rest of the police force, which ceased to crack down on protests. Within Prague property redistribution has been ordered, tax incentives being given to Bohemian business-owners over their German counterparts. Unions have popped up in the industrial quarters as many owners fled with the prior government to Breslau.
   The success of the Czechs in Prague has destabilized Bohemia, with the various cities professing loyalty to either the German government in Breslau or the Czech government in Prague. Only Moravia experienced little upheaval and remained largely indifferent, many looking to see how Emperor Charles VIII responded. The Magyars in Hungary have called for a brutal crackdown, fearful of the spread of discontent, while most liberals within the various realms have called for the emperor to listen to the demands of his people. Small-scale protests in favor of representative government have popped up in Munich, Vienna, and Venice, but they remained largely peaceful and were easily dispersed. Still, it is certain that Charles’ response will carry great weight and could determine events in all corners of his realms.
   On the broader scale, many conservatives in the Habsburg Monarchy look with hatred south towards Naples, who has been blamed for the spread of public disorder. There have been calls to punish the Italians for the disorder they have caused. With so much upheaval on the periphery of the Empire, many note that the realm can ill-afford these domestic squabbles. Other realms, meanwhile, have begun to question whether the Habsburg Monarchy, the ever-stable cornerstone of the European order, may be somewhat of an illusion. Only Emperor Charles can determine whether or not this is true.

[GoTfan]

The attempt on my life has left me without the use of my right leg, but rest assured, the perpetrators of this brutal act will be punished, as will their supporters.

[DKrol]

Statement from the Court of New Orleans

Support for King Charles of Naples

I am extremely disheartened, shocked, and saddened to hear of the brutal attack on the life of my dear friend King Charles of Naples. He has proven himself to be a man of upstanding moral and political quality and will always be welcome in New Orleans. I send the best wishes of the entire United Kingdom to him as he recovers from the horrible suffering inflected upon him by a cowardly assassin. I know that that failed man will suffer far more under God’s judgement than any mortal court could inflect upon him.

In recognition of his awesome brotherhood with the United Kingdom, I am hereby naming King Charles of Naples a Knight of the Order of Crescent in the First Order. King Charles is the first foreigner to be awarded the highest honor of the United Kingdom; he is truly deserving of the honor. Further, I will personally send a physician from my royal medical team to Naples to assist King Charles with his recovery, as well as a team of New Orleans police investigators to Naples to aid the Neapolitan police with their investigation into the perpetrator of the horrid attack.

x Henry-Philippe, King of the United Kingdom of Louisiana.

[Lumine]

His Majesty Henry II is pleased to announce the betrothal of Prince William von Hohenzollern to Archduchess Maria Dorothea von Hapsburg (b. 1844), and expresses his hopes for a continued positive relationship between Quebec and the Hapsburg Monarchy.

Furthermore, His Majesty expresses his absolute horror at the cowardly attempt on the life of King Charles of Naples, his relief that the King has survived despite his wounds, and his keen hope that the true culpirt will be found. The Kingdom of Naples and its Royal Family can expect the very best wishes of Quebec as they chart a new course in their history.

[YPestis25]

Scandinavian-New Dutch Commercial Agreement

The Kingdom of Scandinavia and the United Provinces of New Holland, hereafter the signatories, have agreed to the following terms:

I . Recognizing the Scandinavian need for raw materials and the New Dutch desire for manufactured goods, the signatories will reduce mutual tariffs between their states by 20%.
II . The signatories will establish a Scandinavian-New Dutch Investment Company for the purposes of funding new resource extraction ventures in Java.
   a . The project will receive its funding in quarters. ¼ will come from the government of the Kingdom of Scandinavia, ¼ will come from the government of the United Provinces of New Holland, ¼ will come from Scandinavian private investors, and ¼ will come from New Dutch private investors.
   b . Any profits from ventures funded by this company will be divided proportionally to the share of investment.
III . Scandinavian commercial vessels will have portage rights and reduced docking fees in New Dutch ports.

xCatherine II, Queen of Scandinavia

[YPestis25]

Hainan Agreement

I . The Kingdom of Scandinavia will provide arms, artillery and military advisors to the Renci Emperor’s armies.
II . The Kingdom of Scandinavia will float a £ 50,000 loan to the Xing Empire for the funding of the Renci Emperor’s armies.
III . Scandinavian forces in China, witnessing the precarious situation of Xing forces in Southern China, will occupy Fuzhou and Quanzhou to prevent the ports from falling into Republican hands.
IV . Scandinavian authority over Hainan and the southern coast of Guangdong and Guangxi is affirmed and reaffirmed.

xCatherine II, Queen of Scandinavia

[windjammer]

Treaty of Istanbul
1) The ottoman empire cedes East timore to the Kingdom of France
2) In exchange, the Kingdom of France will send economic advisers to help the ottoman empire to create its national bank and for other economic purposes.

XQueen Mother Charlotte von Hohenzollern on behalf of her son King Louis XX of France and King Luigi II of Padania

[Dereich]

On Popular Government

The Emperor and his Ministry have noted the evolving fad of popular governance supplanting the ancient and distinguished traditions which have led Christendom to the happy place it sits today. It is a sad thing to see both subjects and rulers be swayed by the siren call of governance by ever-changing committees of greedy and nakedly ambitious men. One needs only look at the disorder and division that “constitutionalism” has recently caused the Emperor’s noble cousin Charles in Napoli or the warlike tendencies it has fostered among the French leading directly to their shocking and outrageous attack on Austrian soldiers defending Gibraltar. Such government is particularly ill suited for the Emperor’s domains. Such diverse governances require a well-trained and steady hand to maintain stability and order. The Empire could not survive radical changes at the fleeting whims of those who think themselves masters of that they have never been trained to comprehend.

While Constitutionalism is a plague on stable governance, the Emperor agrees that modern times have shown that there is a role for the popular voice in Imperial decision-making. The various constituent kingdoms, duchies, counties, free cities, and other polities of the Empire each have their own unique codes and laws. This is right and proper, for different peoples should be governed according to their temperaments and the characteristics of their lands. Nonetheless, the Emperor’s Ministry is sadly unable to always identify and correct issues which might arise in every portion of the Empire. A popular voice may be useful in assisting the Emperor in correction of such issues. Therefore, the following proclaimed and made law across the constituent realms of the Empire:

The Right to Directly Petition the Emperor and Government is to be revised and codified across the Constituent Realms of the Empire.

A Ministry of Petitions is established. The ministry is tasked with collecting various petitions for action directly from Imperial subjects and translating the proposals therein into legislation to be considered by the Emperor and the State Council. The Minister of Petitions will be a full member of the Imperial Council of State so as to give voice to the current demands of the people in government deliberations. The ministry is also enabled to take any other methods it thinks appropriate to ascertain popular demands for Imperial legislation. The ministry will begin its work by publicizing the call across the Empire for petitions of grievance and redress.

Ferenc Deák, that celebrated Magyar statesman who himself has before submitted petitions that the Emperor has looked favorably upon, is invited to join the State Council as Minister of Petitions.

[GoTfan]

Statement of King Charles VIII to the people of Naples

Delivered from the balcony of the royal palace.

"I would extend my heartfelt congratulations to all candidates for Parliament who have been elected. You have all proven as to why we Italians are lovers of liberty, democracy and fraternity. Such was the dream of that ancient republic that ruled Europe all those years ago.

To those who attempted to assassinate me, I have nothing to offer but a firing squad, and the wrath of God for such a cowardly act. Know this: I swear on this day that retribution will come for whoever ordered this!

I am humbled by the support that has been granted by my friends King Henry-Philippe of Louisiana, and King Henry of Quebec. Their friendship in this will not be soon forgotten.

Brothers and sisters, let us go forward together as one!"

[Kingpoleon]

Treaty of Istanbul
1) The ottoman empire cedes East timore to the Kingdom of France
2) In exchange, the Kingdom of France will send economic advisers to help the ottoman empire to create its national bank and for other economic purposes.

XQueen Mother Charlotte von Hohenzollern on behalf of her son King Louis XX of France and King Luigi II of Padania

X Sultan Murad V

[Spamage]

1872 News of the World

PANIC OF 1872!
ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE THREATENS EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The global economy of 1872 functioned more or less like a machine. Inputs and raw materials flowed into industrialized areas, which in turn spat out finished goods to be shipped all throughout the globe. Food, timber, metals, tobacco, rubber, and countless other necessities crisscrossed the planet. In short, the world functioned as the most interconnected economic system in history. Not only did this extend merely to trade, but also finance and communication. With the two wars erupting in the far east and west, this system was disrupted, the effects rapidly increasing in severity and the economic contagion spreading all throughout Europe and North America due to a variety of different reasons. Bankruptcy, unemployment, recession, and the usual cascade of effects have spiraled forward rapidly, threatening to undermine the entire social system and European consensus.
   There were four immediate causes to the economic catastrophe: the closing of the Mississippi River, the British Blockade of North America, clashes over the Suez, and the Prussian interdiction of Scandinavian transportation through the Mediterranean/around the Cape. These would cause a cascade of effects that would challenge even the most economically sound regimes on the Continent.
   Britain was the first to feel the major impact on its economy. The War in the Americas was not unexpected, the rapidity of its eruption was. With the fall of Memphis and the subsequent closure of the Mississippi River to trade, Midwestern farmers were unable to get their crops to market. Perfectly good grain and corn rotted in the fields of the Americas, farmhands sent to the frontlines and no feasible way of transporting it across the Atlantic Ocean. With its colonies under attack, and still possessing one of the preeminent fleets of the world, Britain responded to the assault on its territories by enacting a blockade of Louisianan, New Englanish, Quebecois, and Mexican shipping. While losses in the Caribbean threatened the effectiveness of such a proposal, London shamelessly seized the remaining Spanish royalist outposts in the Azores and Cape Verde Islands, using those as a base, in addition to Britain proper, to stop the flow of goods from North America.
   To the east, the effective closure of the Suez in late 1872, as a result of inconclusive fighting there, effectively halted the flow of goods from Asia to Europe and vice versa. As with the British blockade of North America, this effected all powers in Europe, not just the belligerents. On its own, it would have been alarming. Coupled with the events to the west, it proved a catastrophe.
   Firms in Britain and Scandinavia were forced into price hikes as materials got more expensive, then massive layoffs in the industrial areas. This was coupled in the increase in the price of food, American wheat not arriving as scheduled. Stock trading and the use of derivatives, innovative financial practices, exacerbated the crisis. As businesses in Britain and Scandinavia went bankrupt, investors saw their savings evaporating and sought to cash out. There were great feelings of unease. Thousands ran on banks, effectively overdrawing the banking reserves and causing hundreds of thousands to lose their savings. Thousands were driven into unemployment in Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Gothenburg, many desperate men enlisting as a means of making some sort of living.
   This crisis would expand further, into an overleveraged Europe. France, Naples, and the Habsburg Monarchy had all been quite liberal with their purses. Prussia, Russia and the Ottomans, ironically, would be the powers least affected, for the time being at least.
   As one of the financial capitals of the world, there was no way such severe economic disruption would not reach Paris. Stocks plummeted, investors hating the uncertainty of Suez and Transatlantic trade. France, in particular, had embarked on significant infrastructure spending in prior years. While this would perhaps have long-term benefits, in the short run it meant the government had been forced to take on debt. The closure of the Suez saw Paris cut off from one of its major markets. While the passage of Social Security legislation was initially popular, as workers saw money being taken out of their paychecks at the exact time incomes were decreasing, it become more polarizing. A rise in food prices was, thankfully, avoided due to French agriculture. Other inputs saw their prices increase, if they were available at all. Coffee and tea became even greater luxuries. Cotton became scarce, with both the American South and India blocked from the market. This meant that the famed French textile industry fell into bankruptcy, a few desperate companies pivoting to scratchy wool garments. Given the uncertain state of international trade, hundreds of companies ramped down production in a bid to cut costs. This meant thousands more were unemployed. Other French private businesses, which had looked to London for more competitive loans or investment, found their savings evaporated as banks across the Channel dived into chaos. This just further spiraled as the unemployment rate soared. Many of these disgruntled Frenchmen turned to the socialists or radical militarists for some sort of salvation, leading to their significant overperformances in the election. This electoral result, of course, set about a new round of panic as French stability suddenly seemed like less of a certainty.
   Although Vienna would manage to stave off bankruptcy, it would only be by the skin of its teeth. Disruptions in Bohemia, military operations, and the ensuing international financial crash all weighed on the economy. Thankfully, precious Silesian coal was able to be routed around the Czech nationalist areas via loyal Moravia. Food prices remained fairly stable due to the vast Hungarian and Ruthenian estates. With the Habsburgs not being a major mercantile power, and possessing its own banking system, the worst was avoided. Even so, many of the princes and minor knights in the Holy Roman Empire had engaged in lending with British and Scandinavian banks. Now, they found their debts unserviceable. Without the extended resources of the major powers, many of these small fiefdoms have seen their savings in Paris, London, and Stockholm under threat. They have naturally turned to Vienna, hoping the emperor can arrange some sort of bailout. If not, spending cuts could exacerbate tensions at home and leave Germany vulnerable to future unrest.
   The New World would not be spared. New Orleans, which had formerly served as the trading port of said grain, saw numerous businesses related to storage and transatlantic trade go bankrupt almost overnight, the crops from the other regions of the Kingdom insufficient to offset losses from the British colonies. Even had this been sufficient, the British blockade proved effective. Hundreds of families in New Orleans have been driven to poverty, their work in trade logistics proving obsolete with the onset of war. This is not to mention those producing cotton, indigo, and other cash crops that have dominated the Louisianan economy for several centuries. Most of those laid off were Black Louisianans, the issue of internal discrimination surfacing yet again and further exacerbating racial tension.
   Quebec and Mexico, likewise, would find themselves unable to trade except with the South Americans. Many questioned if jettisoning any residual loyalty to the exiled Spanish Bourbons in exchange for a grand bargain with the Catholic Republicans might not be a suitable way to evade the British blockade. Along with Louisiana, both of these states have seen the price of luxury and finished goods soar, just at the time when layoffs and unemployment have begun to rise.
   Brazil and Colombia have perhaps fared the best, their trade not reliant on the Suez and the British looking quite fondly on the Catholic Republican powers in that region. Persia had the position of receiving numerous loans from the European powers prior to the crisis, so found itself quite cash-rich at the dire moment. New Holland likewise would see minimal domestic economic issues, trade with Korea and Japan far dwarfing shipment to Europe. It was relatively easy for them to pivot with the effective closure of the Suez.
  

Spanish Civil War Continues, Tensions Arise in Catholic Alliance

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   There would be no conclusion to the Spanish Civil War in 1872, events continuing deteriorate, even with disturbances in the rest of the world. Austria would double-down on its intervention, being joined by Naples, who had largely made an uneasy peace with the Spanish Republicans so they could beat their common enemy. Returning Valencia to the Liberal Republicans, the 10-division Neapolitan force advanced north, hoping to cut off the communications and supply lines between Madrid and Barcelona. They came face-to-face with the 19-division strong Portuguese Army. Despite the controversy surrounding the Sack of Madrid, and the latent hostility towards the Portuguese on the part of the Spanish Catholic Republicans, the Neapolitans were beaten back at the Battle of Alcaniz, forced in a hasty retreat back towards Valencia.
   The Portuguese were on their tail until General Jose de Almeida, the brother-in-law of King John VII and commander of the Portuguese Army, was slain by a Catholic Republican Spanish monk, who stabbed him to death while stammering about the Sack of Madrid. John VII, exasperated with the situation and perceived lack of gratuity from the Spanish who he was aiding, immediately order his men back to Portugal, leaving Valencia in liberal hands. Indeed, despite the urgings of the Brazilians, who hold out the ports in India as a boon, Lisbon has grown extremely frustrated with its state in the world. When the Austrian offensive later in the year suspiciously halted at the Portuguese border, many wondered if he had been up to some double-dealing…
   Further to the south, an all-out assault on Cordoba by the 29-division Spanish Catholic Republicans was beat back, due in large part to the arrival of more Austrian divisions, meaning the liberals were able to muster 32, aided by Habsburg logistics and fresh morale. Indeed, following a liberal republican victory at the Battle of Arroba, a broader Liberal-Austrian effort was made to secure the south. Most of the Catholic Republican gains south of the Tagus were retaken.
   Further to the north, the Catholic Republican cause would make great gains, the beleaguered liberal army in Segovia only serving to be a nuisance as the supporters of Ramon Nouvilas generally consolidated control. Still, given the lack of active engagement by either side in this theater, fighting has been relatively mild and there are real questions about the strength of Catholic Republican control.
   Overall, the war still hangs in the balance. If Portugal is truly disengaging from the conflict, then it would appear that the liberals would have a substantial chance of victory, given the continued presence of the Austrians and Neapolitans, in addition to the disorganized state of Nouvilas’ army in the aftermath of the Battle of Arroba. Even an offensive to retake Madrid seems feasible. Should the Portuguese reenter the conflict, however, it is likely that barring increased aid from Austria, France, or Naples, the Catholic Republican cause would likely triumph. In short, Lisbon has a key role and knows it. How the various powers succor King John VII could determine the future of Iberia.

Reactionary Coup in Japan
Tokugawa Yoshinobu Dead; Yoshiyori Installed in his Place

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The Call for a Grand Council of Daimyo was greeted with mixed reactions among the Japanese elite. There were many who were afraid that their power and status could be imperiled by such a development. The prospect of social and governmental reform, while perhaps necessary, was quite vague at the same time. In this uncertainty, paranoia took hold. What if the shogun was giving up power? What would happen to the samurai and other established classes? Would Japan really tear up its domestic system, one that had been preserved for centuries, on order to emulate the westerners? This would not do. With the Emperor sidelined into his ceremonial role, and constantly monitored, the growing conspiracy instead turned to Tokugawa Yoshiyori, a distant cousin of the ruling shogun, as an individual to rally behind.
   The emperor’s guards were murdered on the night of June 5th, and he was made to issue a decree calling for the arrest and execution of Tokugawa Yoshinobu. The edict smoothed the path to the shogun, many soldiers standing down when shown that the emperor had decreed their leader’s arrest. As word reached him of the deteriorating situation, and his lack of support, Yoshinobu felt he had no other choice than to take his own life. Seeking to preserve his honor, he committed seppuku in the presence of many of his most loyal followers.
   Yoshiyori has been proclaimed shogun in the place of his cousin, his first act being the suspension of the Grand Council of Daimyo. He then met the Emperor, perhaps in a sign that the sovereign will now enjoy more of a role in government, and has decreed that he will protect the Japanese system against the threat of foreign reforms to the social order.
   While the ruling class has been satisfied by the overthrow of Yoshinobu, there are many other Japanese subjects who were both shocked and angered by the move. Yoshinobu had perhaps been charting a course of better government and a more equitable society, something that now again seemed remote. If this popular discontent will amount to anything remains to be seen, but Japan clearly is not as internally united as had been previously suspected.
   Overall, the dispute within Japan, and the likelihood of temporary disengagement, gave the Koreans the opportunity to further expand their role in China, the likelihood of Japanese intervention now feeling remote for the time being.

War of the Triple Alliance

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The events in South America may have been largely overshadowed by occurrences elsewhere, but they proved to be no less significant. The Spanish Royalists may have been determined to hold off the Catholic Republicans, but they found themselves undersupplied, abandoned by the established powers, and facing a far more numerous enemy. Although Prince Charles, acting as regent, channeled his brother’s courage, it was all too much. The Colombians seized La Paz, eroding much of the resistance in Upper Peru as feeble attempts to defend Chile against a combined Brazilian-Patagonian invasion force were easily overwhelmed. Santiago itself was soon besieged by late summer, the royalists refusing several attempts by the Catholic Republicans to organize a surrender. “If they wish to destroy an Empire of four centuries, they will have to leave us corpses,” Charles reportedly told his men. It would take four weeks for the city to fall, a fierce bombardment levelling most residential areas prior to an all-out assault. The Battle of Santiago raged for hours, only ending when the La Moneda Palace was seized. Charles had been right, the royalists made the Catholic Republicans fight for every single block, even skirmishes within the Palace continuing until the very end. Unlike Juan Prim, Prince Charles refused to kill himself, daring the Brazilians to make him a royalist martyr, something they would prove quite happy to do.
   Prince Charles and the surviving generals of the Royalist Army were brutally executed in Santiago as part of a thanksgiving service held in the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral. Many other royalist officials who had not fled alongside King Henry were executed with rat torture; the beasts being made to dig into their stomach in brutal fashion. Accused of bestiality with a jaguar in an attempt to bring about the birth of the anti-Christ, a charge that was met with a derisive laugh from the prince, before he was promptly executed, being fed to piranhas much to the horror of most onlookers. King Henry would declare his brother a true Christian and Spaniard, vowing that his death would be avenged. Courts across Europe have looked on with horror at the treatment of someone with royal blood, it being used in part as an excuse by the Mexican government to prevent the Catholic Republicans from standing in the first elections of that realm.
   While there are a few isolated pockets of continued indigenous and royalist resistance, the collapse of the government in Santiago and the victory of the Colombians in Upper Peru would take much of the oxygen out of the movement. With victory largely achieved, the three Catholic Republican powers shamelessly declared the formal partition of the former Viceroyalty of Peru. Colombia gained much of Peru proper, Brazil taking Upper Peru, and Chile being granted to the Patagonians. It appears a new era has dawned in South America as, given the disturbances elsewhere, no one stands able to challenge this remaking of the continent.

[Spamage]

A Year of Constitutions
Elections, Reforms, and Governments

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Many historians will likely call 1872 “The Year of Constitutions.” From Colombia to Mexico to Naples to the Netherlands, numerous regimes announced changes to the way their government would function and set about implementing said changes. These could come alongside elections held in France.

Mexico
   1872 also witnessed a new constitution in the Kingdom of Mexico, King Luis electing to change the course of Mexican history with his reforms. In a widely lauded move by the vast common classes, the Constitutional Charter of Mexico was proposed and ratified with overwhelming support. Though there are many nobles that still grumble about these reforms, using the excuse of war to propose halting further reform, it appears the vast majority of Mexicans are looking forward to the elections heading into the coming year. 1873 will undoubtedly be a time of great significance for the Mexican Kingdom.

The constitution is as follows:

The Constitutional Charter of Mexico.

National Assemblies:
Two assemblies shall be created here in Mexico City.

The lower assembly will contain 250 seats apportioned by population
-   (Districts will be designed by the Crown’s new census division every 15 years)
-   First past the post system
-   (The two French legal jurists will include a provision that tactfully bans Catholic Republicans)
-   There will be a maximum term of seven years, and the crown will have the ability to call new elections if it is necessary.


The upper assembly will be selected by appointment of the Crown.

The assemblies shall have control over the purse. And pass measures by a simple majority. Once they get a simple majority it will head to the crown who can sign off on the legislation. If the crown decides to not sign off on the legislation, then it will be sent back to be reworked or require a 3/4ths majority to overturn it.

Regional Assemblies

Each region will have a governor and a local assembly. The assembly will be selected by a vote of the people in the region. The governor shall be selected by the assembly, subject to the approval of the crown.

Local governors and assemblies will have control over regional taxes/infrastructure of the area.


The Crown’s Cabinet

There will be 8 Departments created:

Department of Defense
Department of Transportation
Department of Labor
Department of Coin
Department of Health
Department of Education
Department of State
Department of Arts and Sport

Each department will have a minister to oversee their respective department and will be appointed by the crown. The appointments will need to be approved with a simple majority by the upper assembly. The minister can be from within the assemblies (upper or lower) or from outside the national assembly all together. However, should the crown select someone from the royal family for a minister position, they must seek a 2/3 approval of the upper assembly.

The Crown

The crown shall have all rights dictated other places in the charter.

Will have control of foreign policy and serve as commander in chief of the military.

Colombia
   The Colombian Thaw, meaning the collapse of the old authoritarian system, was widely greeted with praise and jubilation. The Constitution of the Holy Republic, formally ratified in 1872, signaled and cemented the shift in Colombian domestic policy. Fears of a break with Brazil proved to be somewhat unfounded, as that government did little to halt the spread of democratic elections in Colombia. Most citizens looked forward with glee for the coming elections in 1874. Ecuador, satisfied by the reforms, likewise petition to join the Holy Republic, being formally admitted on November 6th, 1872.

Naples
   King Charles VIII would override the demands of the Catholic Republicans in Naples, instead forming a government with the conservatives and liberals acting as a majority, supported by the socialists on most votes. Broad concessions were granted in order to guarantee socialist support, including labor rights and improved working conditions. Although the new government is highly fragile, a united fear of the Catholic Republicans has meant that most of the three parties in government have proved a bit flexible on their ideological commitments. Even so, the Catholic Republicans remain waiting in the wings and have proved a disruptive influence in the political process.

Louisiana
   The government of Alexandre Mouton proved triumphant, the outbreak of war and initial Louisianan successes proving crucial in securing the passage of the Louisiana Charter of Freedoms, Government Reform, and Education Reform Act. Painting opponents as unpatriotic at a time of grave national peril, enough delegates were swayed to ensure that the King’s domestic agenda went fairly unchallenged. While the Black Louisianans were extremely disappointed that Liberia would not become a co-equal kingdom, the special status was enough to assuage most concerns for the time being. Despite racial tensions relating to the economic crisis, for the most part the worst seems to have passed.

Netherlands
   The Netherlands also would pursue constitutional reforms in 1872, electing to throw off the document imposed in the aftermath of the Second French Invasion in the 1840s, significant edits were made. The neutrality clause was abolished, just in time for the recapture of Groningen. Beyond that, the reforms were as follows:

All men who are educated and show extensive literacy in a test mandated by the state for all voters shall be able to vote and the system of government is as follows;

The King shall become the head of the state, being able to veto or approve legislation passed by Parliament and appoint Prime Ministers. To appease reformers should 4/5ths of the Parliament vote to remove the King, the King shall be removed and his heir is to become the next King. The Prime Minister shall become the King's envoy to the Parliament, ensuring that the King's voice can be represented in Parliament. Elections are to be held every two years and 150 MPs are to be elected using the system Thomas Hare created.

France
   The 1872 elections would prove to be somewhat of a debacle for the regency government of Queen Charlotte. Despite transparent attempts by the existing government to weigh the field in favor of the nonsocialists, including noncompeting clauses in some potentially swing districts, and an ambitious social security legislation proposed and implemented, the vote was overshadowed by the Panic of 1872. With thousands unemployed, and the global financial system in a state of free fall, many viewed the current system as inadequate. While republicanism remained outlawed, the royalist socialists campaigned on domestic reform including a social safety net, better unemployment benefits, wealth taxes, and an end to expensive foreign adventures. Normally this would have probably yielded middling results, amounting to no more than 15% of the vote, but this was not a normal election. Matters were not helped by the anti-establishment results of the election in Naples. As the votes were counted the unthinkable occurred: the socialists received the largest share. The results were as follows:

French Election Results:
Socialist Party: 31.7% (+19.4)
Conservatives: 29.3% (-18.9)
Reactionaries: 23.9% (+10.8 )
Liberals: 13.9% (-8.8 )
Independents: 2.2% (-2.5)

   First Naples and now France, the cornerstone of European stability, have had elections yielding wildly controversial outcomes. The surge of the reactionaries was likewise unexpected, some militaristic voters arguing that the government ought to take military action abroad, such as ending the American blockade and opening the Suez, in order to restore the situation at home. The next outcome will be controversial, as it is unclear who Queen Charlotte will invite to form a government. Many socialists argue that, as they are the largest party and enjoy the most popular support, they should be given control. Of course, the right-wing parties point to the fact that, combined, they enjoy a higher degree of support.

South Pole Reached
Brazilians Celebrate Scientific Achievement!

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   As much of the world to the north descended into violence, anarchy, and disorder, Brazil would seek a different sort of glory. An expedition was launched to the south, seeking to discover the South Pole in a first for humanity. An expedition of 5 Brazilian men led by Henrique de Beaurepaire-Rohan landed in the Antarctic in late August 1872, embarking on a massive undertaking. With sled dogs, skis, canned food, and determination they raced south, hoping to make history. The journey actually proved to be relatively smooth, the summer of Antarctica providing ample daylight. Along the way numerous landmarks were named for de Andrade, da Silveira, Pietro Verri, and other Catholic Republican historical figures.
   On the 25th of December, 1872 Henrique de Beaurepaire-Rohan and his men reached the South Pole. They planted a cross adorned with the Brazilian flag, saying a prayer of thanksgiving for their good fortune and the great nation who had funded their expedition. Returning to the coast, they have been greeted with great rejoicing throughout Brazil. Even many of the global combatants have given Brazil grudging praise. There is little doubt that their accounts of their great southern saga will be retold for centuries to come.

Great Eastern War: 1872
Imperiled Ottoman Empire Besieged on All Sides

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

War in Ruthenia
   The Ottomans sought to attack the Russians before their reinforcements could properly be organized. While they did manage to initially push back the 25 divisions of the Army of Crimea at the Battle of Cherkasy, the Russians would spend the next few months mobilizing on a scale unseen before in European history. A whopping 120 divisions would be sent in a two-pronged attack on the region. Russia, a vast sea of manpower, has drawn upon its resources in a bid to end the Turkish threat once and for all. The 55 division Ottoman Army of Ukraine was defeated by the 70 division Russian force at the Battle of Kiev. The city changed hands once more, the Ottomans fracturing, most fleeing south towards Moldavia but with some remnants being left cut-off from Ottoman territory in Poland. This demoralized force was met with the second prong of the Russian attack at the Battle of Kinichev. They were routed here by the Russians, the Turkish soldiers fleeing to the perceived safety of the Danube. Attempts were made to slow the advance of the Russians through the destruction of infrastructure and supplies, enraging the locals but slowing down their advance. Still, by the end of the year, the Russians had made several crossings of the Danube as the Ottoman Balkan provinces looked increasingly endangered. The locals, not blind, took note.

Persian Betrayal
   Many in Istanbul had assumed that the Iranians would be pacified by their agreement with the Scandinavians to remain neutral in the Tehran Protocol. With Scandinavia’s exit from the war, and reentry on the side of the Ottomans however, many in Tehran saw the agreement as null. As the Turks relocated their men to the Caucasian Front, the Qajars struck. Private negotiations with the Sheikh of Ha’il saw that tribe join the Iranian efforts to destroy Ottoman influence in the Middle East. The banner of rebellion was raised, throwing the mess of Arabic tribes into internal conflict, the Saudis seeing the Ha’il bid for supremacy as a threat, their power-sharing agreement collapsing and the Wahhabi Arabians falling into internal conflict. Still, the presence of Iranian soldiers in Arabia would blunt an attempt by the Saudis to decapitate the sheikh’s government in Ha’il.
   Further north, an ambitious push into Syria occurred. Once more, as in the distant Roman and Byzantine past, Iranian soldiers would plunder the rich region of Syria. The Ottomans, focused on the war to the north, had left the region lightly defended. Although Antioch held out, the prestigious Islamic city of Damascus fell to Persian control, leaving Palestine surrounded by the Persians in Syria and the Scandinavians in Egypt.

Polish Happenings & Russo-Scandinavian Invasion
   Poland was shocked by the exit of Scandinavia from the war, seeing itself now as particularly vulnerable to the Russian menace. Withdrawing from St. Petersburg and Kiev, the Poles were determined to defend their homeland along the Russian front. 40 Polish divisions were joined by 20 Ottoman divisions, being arrayed against an enemy offensive consisting of 40 Russian divisions and 15 Scandinavians. Continued domestic unrest and news of the fall of Kiev contributed to low morale and Polish defeat at the Battle of Borisov. Minsk prepared for a siege as the Polish-Turkish force fled further west, to Novogrudok. With the fall of Minsk on September 20th, 1872, a Russian offensive further into Poland now appeared much more likely, causing alarm in Warsaw and leading to drastic action there.
   Named the “Protector the of the Realm,” Bogusław Fryderyk Radziwiłł spent the first half of 1872 consolidating his position rather than preparing adequate defenses. Determined that no Polish monarch should ever wield the power of King George I, a series of laws (dubbed the Reformation of 1872) were passed effectively restoring the original constitutional monarchy that had been agreed to in 1855. While many would critique the government for this distracted form of governing, no serious domestic challenges arose until the fall of Minsk. At that point a counter-coup was launched. Determined to end the internal squabbling in the face of the most serious threat restored Poland had ever faced, a cabal of generals and reactionaries arranged a mass mutiny in Warsaw. As the civilian populace looked on in confusion, Radziwill was arrested, Aleksander Wielopolski (a conservative and well-respected advisor of the late George I) was officially named as interim regent, and a formal call for Emperor Charles’ aid was issued. The Poles offered the title of formal regent to Archduke Louis-Henry of Austria in exchange for military defense against further Russian and Scandinavian incursions. While some in Vienna see this move as risky, wary of alienating the Russians and Scandinavians, the alternative may be having these two powers divide Poland and further increase their strength on the Continent.

War in the Caucuses and Unrest in Central Asia
   Happily, for Istanbul, despite numerous other crises in the Levant, Egypt, and the Balkans, the Caucuses would prove to be a rare bright spot in this treacherous year. Singificant Ottoman numbers had been dedicated to this region, determined to protect the Turkish heartland from any Russian threat in the east. A Persian stab at Kars was easily repelled by the 50 division strong Ottomans, inflicting significant casualties on the 17 division Qajar force. This was followed up by a 25-division assault by the Russians from the north, which was yet again easily repelled. In fact, the Ottomans were able to conduct offensive operations in Caucasia, finding excited locals in the form of the Circassians, the Russians being forced back to Azov. 20 further Turkish divisions plunged into Dagestan, undoing the work of the Russians and providing much needed aid to the resistance there. The remnants of the Russian Army of Dagestan have fled to Astrakhan.
   These victories for the Ottomans, in Circassia and Dagestan, were significant demonstrations of the power of the Turks in Central Asia and when the Sultan issued a call to arms for the Muslims in the region, many took note. The Russians were not loved. They had forced their language down the throats of the inhabitants of the region in return for suffrage. Many inhabitants of the steppe felt little loyalty to a government whose culture and religion they did not share. Still, memories of the suppression of the Turkic rebels in the 1830s remained. The Tatars and, across the Caspian, the Khivans raised the flag of resistance. Perhaps not as many peoples as had been hoped, but the presence of the primarily Buddhist Kalmuks, who favored Suvorin over the Sultan, helped stabilize the situation in Russia’s favor for the time being. With the Ottomans dominants in Caucasia, they are faced with what to do next, especially with the situation to the west so perilous.

Scandinavian Teachery
   Scandinavia overturned decades of cooperation with Istanbul in one fell swoop, with rapid surprise attacks on Ottoman positions in the Mediterranean, which had been left lightly defended due to the need to send men to the Russian fronts. A massive flotilla, one carrying 45 divisions of men and consisting of a good portion of the Scandinavian fleet, appeared on the coast of Alexandria in July 1872, launching a massive bombardment on the unsuspecting city and throwing the region into chaos. Scandinavian soldiers simultaneously were landed on the Nile Delta, swiftly capturing Alexandria and Cairo and pushing south down the river. The locals were stunned, any sort of organized resistance collapsing throughout Egypt proper as city after city fell. In truth, the Egyptian people perhaps cared little for the Sultan in far-off Istanbul, memories of their failed bid for independence in the 1830s lingering among the older generation.
   As they had done in Russia decades ago, the Scandinavians decided to give their occupation the veneer of legitimacy. They found their man in Ahmed Urabi, a local Egyptian commander who had extensive ties to the existing elite. Ambitious, but eager to shake off the rule of the Sultan, he was declared King Ahmed I in a hastily staged coronation ceremony in Cairo, combining Scandinavian, Islamic, and Egyptian themes. He vowed to see his land freed from the domination of the Turk, attempting to use nationalist sentiment and rally the people against the invaders. While Istanbul denounced the event as a farce, Scandinavia and Russia both duly recognized the new King.
   Scandinavia would make an even more ambitious move, seeking to seize the Suez Canal simultaneously with the invasion of Egypt. Yet, the Ottomans had learned from the Seven Power Intervention in 1835, several land forts having been erected with significant artillery. A preliminary bombardment and landing were repelled, as were attempts to blockade the canal from the Red Sea. After several days of heated fighting though, the western Fort Ibrahim on the canal surrendered, giving the Scandinavians the outpost they needed. Extensive artillery bombardments were then exchanged with Fort Mustafa (on the east bank) for several days, severely damaging the Suez Canal. The Ottoman garrison held firm though, meaning that the canal remained contested at the end of the year, intermittent fighting continuing.
   The third Scandinavian assault, one which passed with little incident, was the seizure of Cyprus. The local garrison, as in Egypt, had not suspected the treachery of the former ally, who quickly seized control. The Greeks proved supportive, but the Turkish populace seems a bit restive.
   With these three assaults, and the intervention in Poland, Stockholm has flipped the diplomatic arrangement in Europe. For more than a century now, the diplomatic balance in Europe has been considered Russo-Scandinavian tensions a certainty. With Queen Catherine and President Suvorin, however, this has been flipped on its head. How will the other powers of Europe respond to this rapidly evolving diplomatic situation.

[Spamage]

Ethnic Risings
   The cause of freedom, championed at various times by the Serbs and Greeks over the past century, was raised yet again. This time, perhaps for the first time ever, it seemed really feasible that the numerous ethnic groups of the Balkans would shed the four-century old Turkish yoke. With the Ottomans battered and the Habsburgs distracted, thousands rose, answering the call of the Orthodox Russians. Indeed, given that the risings crossed into the Habsburg lands, some fear they may have been answered with too much zeal.
   Belgrade was the first city to raise the flag of rebellion, the Serbians having never forgotten the Ottoman seizure of their homeland. Deserters from the military joined with disgruntled locals to overwhelm the garrison and declare the cause of Serbian freedom. Serbs to the south, and the north, answered the call. With the Habsburg Army of the Frontier redeployed to Bohemia, that border would prove particularly porous. The Romanians followed suit, risings in Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia occurring ahead of the Russian advance. The Bulgarians attempted their own national liberation as Sofia but were brutally repressed, a sobering reminder that the Ottomans were not gone yet. Furthermore, these calls for liberation were met with opposition from the various Muslim groups in Bosnia and Bulgaria, who feared reprisal for their faith.
   The Greeks on Crete, hearing of the fall of Cyprus, likewise raised the flag of rebellion, brutally murdering any Turkish soldiers or civilians discovered in their wave of zeal. Scattered risings have erupted on the mainland, but they lack the enthusiasm demonstrated in the 1830s. Athens and Thessalonica still remain firmly in Turkish hands, the Greek rebels mostly controlling villages and regions in the hinterlands.

Prussian-Dutch Ultimatum
   There was no question Scandinavia had left itself vulnerable in its ambitious bid for control of the Eastern Mediterranean. Prussia, seeing disorder in the Habsburg Monarchy and the weakness of the remaining Scandinavian garrisons, decided to act. Having forged a secret alliance with the Dutch in early 1871, the two powers took advantage of Stockholm’s distracted state and launched a surprise seizure of Pomerania, Danzig, Bremen-Verden, and Groningen. The stunned garrisons were largely caught off-guard, no real casualties being reported. There were fears in Scandinavia that these gains would be coupled with an assault on Schleswig-Holstein, but instead an ultimatum was issued to the Swedes: recognize the return of these outposts to their rightful owners, or the advance would continue further.
   As a demonstration of strength, Prussia also used its newly secure position in Morocco to declare that it was closing the Mediterranean Sea and Cape Colony to Scandinavian shipping, both trade and military, effective immediately, bottling up the Scandinavian Army in the Mediterranean, unless Stockholm agreed to Berlin’s demands. Governor Otto von Bismarck demonstrated the determination of the Prussians by stationing significant artillery along the coast and continuing the construction of land forts to threaten any Scandinavian shipping. Stockholm need only concede their German and Dutch lands, King Frederick IV announced, and normal relations could resume.
   While analysts believe that the Scandinavian fleet could undoubtedly take out the Prussian ships guarding the straight of Gibraltar, the presence of land forts and artillery could overcome the naval disparity. Whatever the case, Europe has looked on with surprise at the boldness of the Prussian and Dutch monarchs. Many await the response of Vienna and Paris. France, Prussia’s nominal ally, was not even consulted about the move, while the Austrians have recently made nice with Berlin, all the while signing agreements with Scandinavia to honor the Treaty of Breslau. Without resolution, this could very well expand the Great Eastern War into an even larger conflict.

War and Crises in East Asia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Chinese Civil War Continues
   There would be no decisive victory for either side of the Chinese Civil War in the first half of 1872. The arrival of Scandinavian aid and supplies would prevent the coastal Xing holdings in the south from collapsing, but an attempted republican offensive to the north was largely repelled by the Xing. Still, many have increasingly noted that the charisma of Li Hongzhang has meant that his men possess higher morale than their Xing foes. Indeed, the Renci Emperor has increasingly become seen as a remote figure who cares little for the plight of the average Chinese person, while Li has personally led charitable and aid efforts within the lands controlled by the Republicans. The difference in image could not be more striking. Xing power could continue to fray with the news out of Korea.
   At the same time as the fighting continued to rage, the Austrians would expand their areas of influence yet further, undeterred by condemnations from both of the combatants to cease destabilizing the situation by taking more Chinese land. The Republicans in particular have grown irate, their towns primarily being the ones seized by the Austrians, given their dominance along the coast.

A New Mandate?
   Seeing the instability within the Japanese government, and wary of various European powers involving themselves in Chinese affairs through directly arming the various factions, the Joseon Court determined at long last to show its hand. Emperor Yi Ho decreed in a memorandum dated September 1st, 1872 that he believed that his dynasty now held the Mandate of Heaven. In this document, while he would condemn the Europeans for taking advantage of China’s weakened state, he pledged to honor any gains they have made and wished to cooperate in restoring order to his Middle Kingdom, specifically referencing the Holy Roman Emperor as a near-equal. Korean soldiers working alongside the Xing turned on their erstwhile allies in preplanned moves throughout northern China, as the Army of Taiyuan crossed the Yellow River into the heart of China. Xian, residence of the Renci Emperor, has been put to siege, as thousands more pour south against the Republicans. The vast Chinese plain now sits vulnerable to Korean attack, the Xing and Republicans having so brutally savaged one another, that there is a realistic chance the Koreans could seize control. While Li Hongzhang has condemned the attack and vowed to fight back, this has not stopped him from taking advantage of the Xing disorder to make further gains in the west. The Chinese crisis, it appears, will continue into yet another year.

French Expeditions in Asia
   The French achieved victory in Tibet, the supporters of the false Dalai Lama being forced into submission with the capture of Lhasa. Further to the west, the Durrani would take Kashmir in the face of little resistance, the demoralized Tibetan force collapsing in the face of their determination. With Tibet now subdued, and the French-backed government taking control in Lhasa, two outstanding issues must be addressed: what the future territorial composition of Tibet will look like and how will the Chinese be made to recognize the region as lost? Many are curious if Queen Charlotte will allow the Durrani to keep their newly seized territory of Kashmir or if the erstwhile cooperation between Paris and Kabul will now be scrapped given the elimination of a common foe.
   The war in Vietnam would go better for France in 1872. Landings in the north caught the Vietnamese off-guard and allowed the French to open up a third front in the fighting. The Siamese would make little progress, being beaten back in their attempts to repel the Vietnamese invasion, while French reinforcements in the south would also ensure that a larger amount of territory was seized. Holding it could be another matter though, the Korean arms supplied to the Vietnamese helping some rural patches of resistance pop up, which have proven quite the nuisance to stomp out. Nonetheless, to most observers, it seems the situation in Vietnam is far more favorable to France than it once was and questions about Queen Charlotte’s military capabilities seem to have abated for the time being.

Second American War
Broad Coalition Assaults British Union, London Imposes Blockade

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Tensions had remained high in North America in the decades following Louisiana’s annexation of the former southern colonies, but 1872 would witness the first eruption of outright violence in North America since peace had been made thirty years ago. Britain would stand alone, the Francophone powers, Mexico, and New England uniting to challenge the last colonial empire in the Americas.
   Many in New Orleans, Montreal, and Boston would credit the British bellicose attitude in several diplomatic communiques as sufficient cause for a declaration of war. Fearing a further mobilization of London’s resources, and hoping to catch the British off-guard, a massive multi-front assault was conducted against the British holdings, forcing the American colonies into a defensive stance from the beginning.
   To the west, the Louisianan Army of Des Moines would cross the Mississippi and seize Memphis. The British were cautious, a move that would reward them later, and allowed the enemy to establish a significant zone of control on the eastern back of the river. To the north, 20 Quebecois divisions poured in from Michigan, challenging the 10-division strong Army of Michigan. The British were forced out of New Cornwall (OTL Wisconsin) and conducted a scattered retreat to the east, fleeing to Ohio as much of the Midwest changed hands.
   Further to the east, an attempt by the Army of Charleston to march towards Knoxville was easily repelled by the Army of Tennessee, the same force that had let the Louisianans capture Memphis. This has spread fear among some in the Louisianan ranks that the British had been informed in advance of the army’s plans. Could there still be some Anglophone sympathy for British rule lingering on in the American south? The repulse of the Louisianan army’s advance was accompanied by a limited counteroffensive, retaking a portion of North Carolina. Attempts to land the Mexican expeditionary force in Virginia, meanwhile, turned into a debacle, most of the units being killed or captured by the British, who refused to fall for any sort of ruse regarding the force being mercantile in nature.
   The greatest struggle of the war would occur in the fight for New York. Here, the British were quite confident, significantly outnumbering the 10 division Quebecois army to the north. Lured north by several feints on the part of Quebec, British general George Pomeroy Colley was confident and pressed the attack. It was at this moment New England joined the fray, crossing the border in the British rear and cutting off supply lines. At the Battle of Queensbury, the British were surprised by an ambush on the part of the Quebecois-New English Army. Forced back, and finding their potential path of retreat to the west blocked, they were forced into Albany, where a brutal siege has begun. The British have refused to yield the city, viewing it as vital for control of the Hudson, New York, and the middle colonies proper. The besieged city faces constant Quebecois and New English bombardment.
  Further afield, there would be numerous expeditions attempted against Britain’s many colonial outposts. Mexico entered the war with the seizure of Belize. Louisiana took Jamaica, though many of the mixed-race and African locals have proven particularly uncooperative. Bermuda too would be taken relatively easily. Though the arrival of the British navy has effectively stranded the Louisianan division on that island. Quebec meanwhile seized the British Antilles. Only the Bahamas remains as a secure British holding, and an extremely useful one at that, as Britain would employ these islands to effectively halt all trade coming out of the Gulf of Mexico.
   In the Americas, the response of most colonists would be outrage. After more than a century of standing against the Francophone powers, the Americans wanted nothing to do with them. Even in the Midwestern territories seized by the Quebecois and Louisianans local would hinder supply lines with their carts and wagons, feigning stupidity and ignorance, all the while sabotaging their own infrastructure. These “Bumpkin Bills” as the press in London have dubbed them, have been deemed patriots, while the invaders see them as a nuisance.
   In Britain, the economic crisis coupled with deliberate efforts at agitation by foreign agents, would severely change public opinion in many working-class areas. The British Labour Party was declared by a group of unemployed craftsmen in Manchester on November 5th, 1872, calling on the workers to unite against a class and economic system arrayed against them. Attempts at strikes were undermined by the poor working conditions, companies easily able to hire scabs from those desperately seeking work. Ireland too would witness an upswing in nationalist literature and opinion, many seeing the conflict in the Americas as not Ireland’s fight. In fact, the public in Dublin would be more focused on happenings in Prague than New York, seeing brotherhood with the Czech struggle for dignity.

The Collapse of Czech Nationalism

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The Habsburgs would respond to the Bohemian disturbances with both carrots and sticks. Token concessions were provided to the Bohemians, including the creation of Czech departments at the University of Prague, mild economic reforms, a national holiday, and the establishment of the Ministry of Petitions. While this did dampen the support of some for the rebellion, in particular after Emperor Charles personally denounced the revolutionary City Council of Prague, the Czech nationalists maintained their control of the city, even if disorder in the countryside abated.
   The result was somewhat of a tragedy. With the Army of Silesia and the Army of the Southern Frontier approaching, an air of panic took hold in the city. Rather than surrender though, the City Council went even more radical. The Emperor was denounced as a foreign prince, the Czechs declaring Prague a “Free City”. Barricades were established as a siege was expected but, in a sign of their numerical strength, the Habsburg commanders instead elected to conduct a direct assault. Fighting was brutal, hundreds of young idealistic Czech dreamers falling to the gunshots of the established regime. The City Council issued orders until the end, growing more radical as support evaporated. By the end of November the city of Prague was back firmly within Habsburg control, albeit significantly damaged. Many look now to the fate of the City Councillors, most of who survived the fighting, and what that could mean for other nationalist movements in the Empire, given the disorder spreading across the southern border from Serbia and Romania.

[Spamage]

The Zenith of Power: Concert of Europe Part IV
Turn 3: 1873

The World in 1873
(Made by Me)

Nations, Leaders, and Players

Kingdom of France: Queen Mother Charlotte von Hohenzollern (Windjammer)
Habsburg Monarchy: Emperor Charles VIII von Habsburg-Lothringen (Dereich)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Queen Catherine II von Oldenburg (YPestis)
Russian Republic: President Aleksey Suvorin (KaiserDave)
British Union: King Henry X of Hanover (joshva)
Ottoman Empire: Sultan Murad V Osmanoğlu (Kingpoleon)
Kingdom of Naples: King Charles VIII Bourbon (GoTfan)
Kingdom of Prussia: King Frederick IV von Hohenzollern (X)
United Kingdom of Louisiana: King Henry-Philippe Bourbon (DKrol)
Qajar Iran: Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (PSOL)
Kingdom of Quebec: King Henry II von Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Kingdom of Mexico: King Luis de Bourbon-Orleans (Hijodeagua)
United Provinces of New Holland: Stadtholder Pieter Mijer (Orwell)
Holy Republic of Colombia: Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez (Kuumo)
Confederation of New England: Chairman Henry Wilson (OBD)
Kingdom of the Netherlands: King William IV of Orange (Ishan)
Durrani Empire: Emir Abdul Samad Khan (AverageFoodEnthusiast)

Economic Standings

Holy Republic of Colombia: Strong
Divine Republic of Brazil: Moderate-Strong
Qajar Iran: Moderate-Strong
United Province of New Holland: Moderate-Strong
Ottoman Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Moderate
Kingdom of Prussia: Moderate
Russian Republic: Moderate
Tokugawa Shogunate: Moderate
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate-Weak
Habsburg Monarchy: Moderate-Weak
Confederation of New England: Moderate-Weak
Kingdom of Quebec: Moderate-Weak
Kingdom of Mexico: Moderate-Weak
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Weak
British Union: Weak
Kingdom of France: Weak
United Kingdom of Louisiana: Weak
Durrani Empire: Weak

Popularity

King Charles VIII Bourbon: Very High
Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez: Very High
King Luis de Bourbon: Very High
King Henry II von Hohenzollern: High
Archbishop-President Manuel Joaquim da Silveira: High
Stadtholder Peter Mijer
King William IV of Orange: High
King Frederick IV von Hohenzollern: High
Naser al-Din Shah Qajar: High
President Aleksey Suvorin: High
King Henry X of Hanover: High
Queen Mother Charlotte von Hohenzollern: Moderate
Emperor Charles VIII von Habsburg-Lothringen: Moderate
Sultan Murad V Osmanoğlu: Moderate
King Henry-Philippe Bourbon: Moderate
Queen Catherine II von Oldenburg: Moderate
Chairman Henry Wilson: Moderate
Emir Abdul Samad Khan: Moderate

Current Global Conflicts:
Second Great Eastern War: Russian Republic, Kingdom of Scandinavia, Balkan Rebels vs. Kingdom of Poland, Ottoman Empire (1871-)
Prussian Invasion of Morocco: Kingdom of Prussia vs. Kingdom of Morocco (1871-)
Spanish Civil War: Catholic-Republican Spain vs. Spanish Republic, Austrian Expeditionary Force, Neapolitan Expeditionary Force (1871-)
Chinese Civil War: Xing Dynasty vs. Chinese Republicans vs. Russian, Korean, Japanese, Scandinavian, Habsburg Expeditionary Forces (1867-)
American War: British Union vs. United Kingdom of Louisiana, Kingdom of Quebec, Kingdom of Mexico, Confederation of New England (1872-)

Kingdom of France

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Charlotte, the situation at home is evolving quite rapidly. The success of the socialists in last year’s elections has shaken the political establishment to its core, as your regime has been traditionally aligned with the conservatives and reactionaries. Now comes the complicated part, building a feasible coalition. The conservatives and reactionaries combined do in fact garner a majority, but their power is undermined by the slight socialist victory in the overall vote. Will you do the unthinkable and name a socialist as Prime Minister, someone from a party with only the thinnest veneer of loyalty to the Crown? Or should the popular result be ignored and the governing conservative-reactionary trend be continued? Perhaps there is room for further creativity in constructing a government. What is to be done?

-The diplomatic situation is quite dire. Yet again, France finds itself as an island of peace in a pool of bloodshed. Unlike in the past, though, the foreign situation is having severe effects on domestic politics. The closure of the Suez and British blockade have led to the domestic financial crisis. Spain continues to fight itself, thousands more refugees pouring across the Pyrenees, perhaps even overwhelming the hospitality of some southern French cities. To the east, Russia seems to be on the rise, threatening the centuries-old status-quo in the region. Prussia, your nominal ally, has taken advantage of the chaos to press their traditional claims. Vietnam still resists, even if the situation now looks more favorable than a year ago. Tibet has fallen. France clearly has a multitude of diplomatic situations to address.

-Economically, the situation is quite bleak. Stocks have crashed, numerous banks have dissolved and taken precious savings with them. Unemployment soars and domestic unease grows. The presence of Spanish refugees has not helped matters. As numerous other firms sit tottering on the edge of bankruptcy, there are calls for the government to intervene. Some believe that infrastructure projects should be halted, the funds being redirected into buying corporate debt, shares of public companies, or direct poor relief. Tariffs could me raised as a means of protecting the domestic industry from powers that have been less effected as well. How will you handle the domestic economic situation?

Habsburg Monarchy

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Europe is on fire. Prussia and the Netherlands have retaken their former lands on the Baltic and North Seas, while Scandinavia has intervened in Poland, a shocking betrayal. Your grandson’s government calls for aid. Chaos from the Balkans has spilled into your own lands, aided by the movement of the Army of the Southern Frontier. Russia beats up on the Ottomans, joined by Persia and the northerners. Yet, at the time when perhaps Vienna’s intervention would seem most necessary, the question of expenses and a deteriorating economy hangs in the air. How will you handle the spiraling diplomatic situation in eastern Europe?

-Those Czech radicals, symptoms of the nationalist infection within your realm, have been apprehended. These instigators are responsible for the atrocities in Prague and their meddling has greatly destabilized the internal stability of the Habsburg Monarchy. Conscious of this, as well as the fact that any remaining nationalist ideologues see these men as a source of inspiration, not of scorn, how will you deal with those apprehended? What will be done with the former Prague City Council? Is mercy warranted, as a means of showing the benevolence of the emperor, or should you adopt a hardline approach to prevent any copycats?

-The economic situation is dire. Unemployment has risen and, though it may not be on the level of other European realms, there are increased numbers of jobless all throughout the various constituent realms. On top of this, the numerous knights and minor princes of the Empire find themselves unable to recuperate loans floated and look to you for a bailout, a currently unfeasible prospect given the thin lines of Austrian credit at the moment. In order to prevent the situation from further deteriorating, some are calling for tariffs to be raised in order to protect the domestic economy, though this could have unintended consequences as well. It is said that idle hands are the devil’s plaything, so many are worried about what the vast unemployed could do if their situation grows too destitute. How will you ensure that the domestic economic situation is stabilized?

Kingdom of Scandinavia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Queen Catherine, the situation in Scandinavia now appears quite uncertain. While many thought your intervention in the Ottoman Empire a stroke of genius, given the extreme success of your soldiers in Egypt and Cyprus, clearly it left you vulnerable. Now the Prussians and Dutch have retaken their former lands, a move that was met with applause by the nationalist delegates in the National Assembly, those representatives leaving your territory and resigning their seats. You are now faced with the embarrassing prospect of saving face and agreeing to Berlin and Amsterdam’s demands, or attempting to defend your territory against a much greater foe in terms of numerical superiority. While the trade of Danzig and Hamburg for Egypt might seem enticing, it would also perhaps damage national morale, given the relative proximity of the Baltic and North Sea outposts. Your men in the Mediterranean will still need direction as well, as the Ottomans now know of your betrayal. How will Scandinavia manage this perilous diplomatic situation?

-The economy has taken a drubbing and there are fears the situation could worsen. The closure of the Suez, Gibraltar, and North America has hit your realm particularly hard. Thousands have been left destitute at the same time your government has stretched its credit quite thin. Many question now why loans to Poland and Persia were deemed appropriate, especially given the Polish government has announced a refusal to pay given your intervention in their realm. Stocks have fallen precipitously and numerous banks have failed. What will you do to ensure that the economic situation stabilizes? Tariffs, bailouts, government spending?

-While your intervention in China helped to stabilize the Xing situation in the south, it has been overshadowed by the Korean bid to take total control. Given the instability, and the fact the Renci Emperor now sits besieged in Xian, some would have you switch to the Republicans, who may be the only hope of preventing the Koreans from taking this destabilized but valuable region. Even so, Li has shown little willingness to see more of China parceled out. Perhaps some sort of deal could be struck with the Koreans, given that they have shown a flexibility in conceding various ports? Some would have you abandon the region entirely, focusing instead on the Great Eastern War, but that could leave the Habsburgs with a potentially significant advantage over yourself. How is China to be dealt with?

British Union

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Greetings King Henry, sovereign of Great Britain, Ireland, the Americas, and Australia. The most pressing issue facing the British Union is the war. Those Francophone wretches, New England, and Mexico have united in an unholy alliance against yourself. While the war in the west and the north has been somewhat of a debacle thus far, Britain has achieved gains in North Carolina and enjoys mastery of the seas. The blockade means that reinforcement to the Americas should be relatively easy, not to mention the thousands of American men who are willing to protect their homeland from the invaders. Albany sits under siege. The enemy has seized parts of the Caribbean and Belize. How will you prosecute the war in 1873?

-The economy is in a state of malaise, caused by the disruption of supply lines in the east and the west. As with the rest of continental Europe, the ranks of unemployed have swelled. Banks, stock trading, and the financial system seem to be in a state of free fall. Some would have your government take an active hand in stopping this madness, perhaps through direct intervention in the economy or through changes to the tariff and trade policy. Meanwhile, socialists have seen the success of their brethren in France and formed the Labour Party, trying to speak to the unemployed and (often) unfranchised. The Irish have become restive, though outright hostility has been largely avoided. How will the economic situation be managed?

-Britain stands against its enemies in the Americas alone. Still, you are not without potential friends. Scandinavia, given the extensive ties and trading relations between your two realms, would be the first power to approach. While they are bogged down in the Second Great Eastern War, their islands in the Caribbean could be used as bases to help further cement British naval superiority. Others look to Brazil and the South American republics as another group of prospective allies, given their strength and ability to challenge the Americans in their backyard. On the continent France of the Habsburg Monarchy could also be approached, though many believe they are less relevant in the face of the immediate threat. Will you pursue closer diplomatic ties with any other powers? What will this look like?

Russian Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Suvorin, the last year has seen your fortunes seemingly change in the blink of an eye. The homeland no longer seems threatened as your men pour into the Balkans, the potential toppling of the Ottoman Empire now no longer seeming like a fantasy. Balkan allies have rebelled, seeking to tear off the chains of Turkish oppression. While the situation in the Caucuses and Central Asia may be more dire, there is still a great deal of optimism about the coming year. Still, given Austria’s relationship to the Poles and traditional French backing of Istanbul, there are potential complications. What is to be done about the war in 1873?

-Russia has avoided the worst of the Panic of 1872, aided by the isolation imposed on it by the Treaty of Breslau. This puts your government in a prime position to be the savior of some of Europe’s ailing economies. Once mocked, Russian loans could be an attractive asset to foreign governments in dire need of financial backing. Indeed, the prospect of social upheaval to the west is unattractive to most Russians. While the obvious move would be to aid the Scandinavians in fixing their domestic economic situation, Russian credit could prove a valuable card to play in dealing with the French, British, and Austrians. How will you handle the relative economic stability of Russia at a time when many other regions are facing a substantial economic contraction?

-Your annexation of Manchuria may have been overshadowed in domestic news by the Second Great Eastern War, but the various combatants in the Chinese Civil War have taken note. Korea has expressed a willingness to negotiate the ceding of that territory in return for Russia’s recognition as the Emperor of China. Li Hongzhang, while not openly committing to allowing the move to stand, has pointed to the increasingly perilous situation for the Chinese faction. Pointing to the republican sympathies of both your government, he calls for Russian supplies and aid in his struggle for national liberation. Indeed, the presence of the French to China’s south has made many question whether or not it is time to back the Republicans. The Xing, rapidly deteriorating, have privately announced that they are willing to allow further Russian concessions if you come to their rescue, though the prospect of joining another war at such a dire time may be unattractive. What is to be done in China?

Ottoman Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The future of the Ottoman hangs in the balance, Sultan. The ungrateful Slavs and Greeks have risen. The perfidious Scandinavians have stabbed you in the back. The Persians have unjustly assaulted your eastern provinces. Most alarming, though, is the Russian advance into the Balkans. As they have reached the Danube, panic is increasing domestically. One consolation, though, is the strength of your men in Caucasia and on the Black Sea proper. 1873 could very well be one of the most important years in the empire’s history. How will you ensure that your realm emerges from this wretched situation?

-Your secret police in Istanbul have unearthed several plots on your life that were stopped in the cradle last year. The capital has increasingly become filled with fear and paranoia. In order to guarantee your safety, and keep the government in tact in the event Istanbul falls, some would have relocated to safer quarters in Anatolia. While this would probably reduce the likelihood of assassination, some fear it could be taken as a sign of defeatism. Undoubtedly, especially with so many disgruntled nationalists, there could be future strikes at your person. Will you choose to relocate or remain?

-Some have proposed that you use your title as Caliph to call for an all-out jihad against the invading Christian powers. While there have already been limited Islamic risings in Russia, an actual jihad could potentially cause them to grow. This would also endanger Scandinavian holdings in East Africa, where a sizeable Muslim population already exists. It is feared by others, though, that should none of these fellow Muslims answer your call, your religious position could be severely undermined. Even so, the prospect remains quite attractive. Will you call the faithful to war?

[Spamage]

Kingdom of Prussia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Frederick IV, Prussia's bid for mastery in the north against the Scandinavians seems to have initially paid off, though it is also fraught with risks. The Scandinavians were caught utterly unprepared as Prussian soldiers reentered Danzig, Bremen, and Pomerania to thunderous applause. Now you and your Dutch ally must ensure that these gains are not imperiled. With the Habsburgs to the south posing a threat, not to mention your lack of consultation with your nominal French ally, Europe looks on with bated breath. Some would have you pursue a swift peace with Stockholm before the old powers can mobilize against you. Others believe that, as Stockholm as technically violated the Treaty of Breslau as well, the agreement between Vienna and them ought to be considered void. What will you do?

-Since your Coup of 1847, you have governed the nation with an iron fist, enacted reforms with the backing of a reformed military and compliant bureaucracy. Internal dissent has been crushed all in the name of youthful national renewal. That was almost twenty years ago however, and your youthful luster has faded with time. Some believe it is time to lessen the authoritarianism and return some semblance of civilian participation in government. Others believe that the meddling of the people, in particular the liberal middle classes, were what led to the disasters at the end of the Great Eastern War. Enabling them to have a voice again would undermine your achievements and tarnish the iron reputation your realm has forged since defeat. Will you maintain the new system or authoritarian absolutism, or is it time to ease up?

-Prussia has been largely undamaged by the economic chaos facing much of Europe. Your absolutist rule has meant a full treasury, your economic advisors have deliberately isolated your realm over the past few decades, and the boom of trade around the Cape with the closure of the Suez has given you great leverage. In short, there is alot of economic room to maneuver. You could potentially aid the various European economies, fraught with economic malaise, through bailouts or loans. Not only could this increase ownership of foreign entities, but it could also foster goodwill among foreign powers. Your son's in-laws in Vienna could use aid for the numerous bankrupt princes, as could distant kingdoms such as Naples, France, and Britain. How will you use your economic leverage?

Kingdom of Naples

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-While your men have secured the remainder of Sardinia, the events on mainland Iberia have been disappointing to say the least. There are many in the Neapolitan military establishment that would send more men to Iberia, viewing it as increasingly crucial that your government succeed with its goals there. While Iberia is of primary concern, many have taken note of the dire global situation. With the Second Great Eastern War continuing to expand, including the presence of Scandinavians on your doorstep, you have ample reasons to get involved on either side, should you choose to do so. There are also great fears of Austrian reprisal for the events there caused by your constitutionalism. How will Naples navigate the perilous diplomatic and military situation?

-While your governing coalition has managed to survive several months, it is quite unstable. The liberal-conservative-socialist alliance will require a good deal of herding if any sort of coherent domestic agenda is to move forward. The question is what policies ought to be pursued next. Most believe education, military funding, noble privilege, and the question of Tunis need to be formally addressed, but without compromise any of these issues could bring down the government. Some think this could be a good thing though, many at court believing a new round of elections could yield a different result. Clearly a nimble hand is necessary. Given your personal popularity, how will you handle the domestic political situation and agenda-setting?

-While the establishment of the Central Bank was a brilliant move, especially given the economic turmoil of 1872, the question now exists about how that institution will handle the growing economic crisis. Naples, like much of Europe, has not been spared from the economic unease. Although trade with the Americas is secondary, the closure of the Suez has indeed caused price disruptions and growing unemployment. Inflation has decreased somewhat, but unemployment is on the rise as firms are unable to conduct business. Should tariffs be raised? What about increasing government spending through bailouts or poor relief? The Catholic Republicans, staunch opponents of the banks, would have you expropriate the funds of the nobility and other elites, though this could prove unpopular with the established government.

United Kingdom of Louisiana

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-It is war! Those British imperialists have rattled the saber one too many times and now they must pay. Initial results in 1872 were promising, the conquest of Memphis, Jamaica, and Bermuda all being major victories. Still, losses in North Carolina have proven to be quite frustrating. Britain has the ability to call on numerous reinforcements, so future military operations should be given a great deal of thought. What will your military orders look like in the coming year?

-With the outbreak of war, and the extended racial tensions in the realm, there are questions about whether or not the Afro-Louisianans should be allowed to fight. Indeed, a part of that group’s discrimination has been a general barring from military service. There are many wary about giving a potentially separatist group arms and military training, but they could prove to be a valuable pool of support. There are also questions about whether or not they could prove to be partial to Britain, given that realm’s far more tolerant policies regarding race. Will you allow Afro-Louisianans to fight?

-No region has been hit harder by the British blockade than the American South. Valuable crops sit rotting in the fields while plantation houses go bankrupt. Indeed, if the war drags on quite long, there are fears this could prove more damaging than the anti-slavery boycott endured by your nation in the 1850s. Unemployment is already rising and the rate of immigration has cratered. How will you shore up the banking and financial system? Will your government increase its involvement in the market, even if this tends to go against the ruling orthodoxy? What will be done to ensure that this does not cascade into support for the socialists?

Qajar Iran

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Iran has bestirred itself, entering the Second Great Eastern War on the side of the Russo-Scandinavian alliance. Initial results have proven quite promising. There have been substantial gains in Syria and Arabia, your soldiers catching those foolish Turks unawares. As the conflict enters its third year, there are still outstanding issues. The Ottoman successes in Caucasia are alarming, but it is hoped the rugged terrain will prevent any sort of assault on Iran proper. The Levant lies open, as does the Anatolian heartland, should you choose to strike in either direction. What will Iranian military action look like in 1873?

-The acquisition of so much foreign capital was a wise move, especially given the disturbances within Egypt that have caused European economic chaos. While there’s lingering fears their governments might try to call in their loans early, for the time being the money is all yours. How is it to be spent? Infrastructure and railway projects have neared completion, connecting the various corners of your realm into an easy transport network. Some would invest in ports and naval improvement, while others believe the funds should be funneled further into the war. There are proposals for modern farming techniques and irrigation in Mesopotamia as well. How will this windfall be spent?

Kingdom of Quebec

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-War rages in the Americas. Your men have achieved their goals in New York and the Midwest, though there is always the prospect of the siege of Albany being broken. The British Antilles have fallen into line, though the gain seems somewhat hollow with the imposition of the blockade. As the war continues into its second year, what actions will your government take to guarantee victory?

-The blockade has sent the economy into a downward spiral. Though you have existing trade relations with Mexico, New England, and Louisiana, they have been more than offset by the loss of European materials and products from across the Atlantic. Any sort of Pacific pivot is unfeasible, given the lack of ports, the sheer distance to other trading hubs, and logistics. Thus, unemployment is on the rise and prices of some commodities have cratered, while finished products are skyrocketing in price. Price controls and rationing have been suggested, though this could alienate private businesses and lead to unintended consequences. There is the prospect of government intervention, but your recent purchase of Alaska now seems quite expensive given the current economic developments. How will the economy be stabilized?

-Resistance by the Americans in occupied regions has proven to be a headache. Of course, it comes in two forms: active and passive. There have been strong sabotage efforts in your controlled regions among those actively resisting your advance. Railways, bridges, and roads have all proven targets. Supply convoys have been assaulted and straggling Quebecois soldiers have been murdered. Passive resistance ranges from clogging the roadways with “accidents”, killing crops, and fleeing in the face of your soldiers. This hindrance has moved from a nuisance to something more serious. What is to be done about Americans that are resisting your advance?

United Provinces of New Holland

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your government has been spared the worst of the economic crisis. To some extent, in fact, New Holland has benefitted from the closure of the Suez, goods being produced in Willemstad being sold at a premium to East Asian markets. While demand for your raw goods has decreased, this has been offset to some extent by increased industrial growth. The tying of the currency to gold was likewise lauded. Japan has broached the prospect of potential trade agreements and there are those who would like to increase economic interaction with British Australia. What will you do to ensure the continued success of your economy and to ensure the contagion of recession does not spread?

-The wave of immigration in 1872 was largely unprecedented, due in large part to the closure of North America to those seeking to flee the European maelstrom. Willemstad and other cities have been inundated, insufficient housing and infrastructure to deal with such an influx. Local established Dutch citizens look with scorn on the often impoverished and illiterate migrants and there has been an increase in nationalist fervor. The situation is increasingly becoming dire though, the growing slums being breeding grounds for disease and unemployment. There are calls for the government to handle the situation, perhaps through forced resettlement or the devotion of greater resources to the migrants. Still, where can they go? The outback is vast, but quite difficult to inhabit. Relocation to Java is possible, but it is uncertain how the locals would feel to have more foreigners established on the island.

Kingdom of Mexico

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Mexico’s involvement in the American War has been limited thus far, but the continued strife in the north has meant that it will likely be necessary to expand it in the coming year. The capture of Belize was greeted with great celebration, but some are concerned that there may be no further gains for your realm moving forward. With Louisiana and Quebec partitioning the British Caribbean, what is left for Mexico? Why should your people endure the harsh British blockade just to receive Belize? There are some in Mexico City who have openly floated a separate peace with London, though this undoubtedly could damage your relations with your cousins to the north. What will Mexico’s involvement in the military conflict look like in 1873?

-Few Mexican men may have been killed, but the economy is experiencing a contraction, just as many other global powers. For Mexico, a state that has seen great leaps forward in industrialization, modernization, and technological improvement, the loss of access to European markets has been particularly acute. Mining operations have ground to a halt as unemployment is exploding, some families being taken advantage of and selling themselves into debt peonage. There are numerous proposals on the table, including increased taxation, debt relief, subsidies, and foreign debt. These are naturally opposed by most liberals, who argue the government would hinder the free functioning of the economy and could get in the way of any recovery. Still, it could stave off social unrest. What do you think?

-Elections are around the corner and will occur in 1873. With the war and economy likely dominating the campaign, there are legitimate fears your government could end up with a similar result as occurred in France, socialists garnering the most votes. Given this will be the first government under the new constitution, some see such a prospect as intolerable, the nobility and capitalists foremost among them. Still, outright support for the conservatives or other mainstream parties could taint the government from the get-go. How will you manage the campaign of 1873?

Holy Republic of Colombia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your approval has soared, Archbishop-President. With the winding down of hostilities in South America, the promulgation of a constitution, and trade remaining open with Europe, Colombia is booming. Migration has begun to increase as many see settlement in your lands preferable to the instability of Europe. With war exploding to the north, there are some who wonder if Colombia ought to get involved, perhaps as the conduit for illicit North American trade or as a more active participant in hostilities. With elections coming in 1874, getting bogged down in a conflict or diplomatic dispute could be risky, but the situation in the Caribbean is at its most flexible in decades. Will you seize this potential opportunity? Or is the potential blowback too much?

-With the partition of the former Spanish colonies, Colombia has gained control over much of Peru proper. There is now the question of what will be done with these new regions. Will they be annexed outright or should a puppet Catholic-Republican regime be established? Unlike Brazil with Upper Peru, the recent reforms to your government may make integration into Colombia a far easier prospect, given your regime is less authoritarian. Still, it is a matter that must be addressed. What will be done?

Confederation of New England

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-New England has joined the war against the British. Decades ago, your men stood against London alongside Quebec in your struggle for freedom, today you stand together once more. Though your military may be small, it could be crucial in tilting the balance of the American theater. What will you do militarily in 1873? How will you protect your gains and ensure that your realm doesn’t become a future target for British aggression?

-As one of the industrial hubs in the Americas, Boston has been hit hard by the British blockade. Furthermore, the flow of immigrants across the Atlantic has stopped up. The New English economy is under significant strain. It will be up to the government to find a way out. While some propose full-on wartime mobilization, that does little about rising prices of consumer goods as well as materials. Perhaps subsidies could be provided to domestic industries or price controls could be implemented? Some think that the seizure of more British territory could provide enough spoils to offset any further ill-effects, though this would undoubtedly alienate the Americans being occupied. How are these shortages to be managed?

Kingdom of the Netherlands

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The seizure of Groningen was a masterstroke, being met with cheering crowds and applause. Images of Queen Catherine of Scandinavia were torn down and replaced with your own likeness as the Dutch people proclaim that a century of national humiliation has now been ended. This could still be too premature. Scandinavia has made no concessions and, barring Prussian support, you lack any other allies on the Continent. How will you guarantee these amazing gains are held onto? Will you undertake any military operations in the coming year?

-Your popularity has soared and, with the constitutional revisions, it is time for elections once more. As the Dutch people go to vote, with suffrage at its highest levels in your nation’s histories, is there a type of government you tacitly favor? With the socialists, liberals, nationalists, reactionaries, and conservatives all competing, it is truly anyone’s race. Will you take a position in the upcoming elections or should the people be left to decide without leveraging your popularity?

Durrani Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The establishment of so many state-owned industries signaled great change within your realm, but certainly has excited foreign investors. Indeed, the inflow of capital to the Durrani Empire seemed all but assured prior to the closure of the Suez and Panic of 1872. With investors in those far off lands losing so much capital, the prospect of investment in your realm has all but evaporated. Action will be necessary to ensure that you have the funds you need to pursue these ambitious projects. Some believe the Iranians could be the partners you need in the region, given that realm has been unscathed by the financial disturbances. Russia too could prove to be a valuable partner. Or, perhaps courting foreign capital is unnecessary and the crown should merely print money to pay for these ambitious reforms? What will you do?

-The establishment of the University of Kabul was met with praise by the reformist factions within your domain. Still, there are those who see the admission of foreign staff as potentially inflammatory. Some would have you bar Christians from serving as educators as a means of ensuring Afghan youth are not corrupted by misguided foreign beliefs. This could alienate some of the established colonial powers, however. Will you ban Christian staff from the University of Kabul or should learning by conducted by all for all?

[Spamage]

Army Strength:

Kingdom of France
15 division Army of the North
16 division Army of the South
10 division Army of India
13 division Army of South Vietnam
10 division Army of North Vietnam
5 division Army of Ceylon
5 division Army of Sumatra
(71/394 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Habsburg Monarchy (Excluding HRE)
25 division Army of Bohemia
10 division Army of Austria
10 division Army of Lombardy
10 division Army of Silesia
12 division Spanish Expeditionary Force
5 division Army of Madagascar
7 division Chinese Expeditionary Force
1 division Ethiopian Army
(80/300 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
19 division Army of Suez
15 division Army of Finland
15 division Army of the Baltic
18 division Army of the Nile
10 division Army of Denmark
5 division Army of Fujian
5 division Army of Cyprus
(90/107 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

British Union
30 division Army of the Chesapeake
18 division Army of Tennessee
16 division Army of New York (Albany)
7 division Army of Michigan
5 division Army of Virginia
5 division Army of Ireland
5 division Home Guard
(95/136 divisions possible raised, max 4% conscription)

Russian Republic
20 division Army of St. Petersburg
5 division Army of Moscow
67 division Army of the Danube
17 division Army of Azov
20 division Army of Syria
38 division Army of Vitebsk
14 division Army of Manchuria
10 division Army of Mongolia
58 division Army of Crimea
7 division Army of Turkestan
3 division Army of Astrakhan
4 division Army of Inner Mongolia
(263/304 divisions possible raised, max 10% conscription)

Ottoman Empire
35 division Army of the Danube
8 division Army of Southern Poland
14 division Army of Poland
47 division Army of the Caucuses
18 division Army of Dagestan
5 division Army of Constantinople
5 division Army of Algeria
(132/187 divisions possible raised, max 12% conscription)

Divine Republic of Brazil
10 division Army of Brazil
5 division Army of the Congo
2 division Army of Southern Africa
3 division Army of Bahia
(20/75 divisions possible raised, max 22% conscription)

Kingdom of Naples
10 division Army of Florence
10 division Army of Sicily
7 division Spanish Expeditionary Force
5 division Army of the Po
5 division Army of Tunis
(37/102 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Kingdom of Prussia
30 division Army of Hanover
30 division Army of the East
6 division Army of Morocco
5 division Army of Pomerania
3 division Army of Danzig
2 division Army of Bremen-Verden
5 division Army of Berlin
5 division Army of South Africa
(86/129 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Tokugawa Shogunate
10 division Chinese Expeditionary Force
10 division Army of Niigata
10 division Executive Guard
7 division Army of Kyoto
5 division Army of the Philippines
3 division Army of New Guinea
(45/185 divisions possible raised, max 10% conscription)

United Kingdom of Louisiana
15 division Army of Des Moines
12 division Army of Charleston
7 division Army of Texas
1 division Army of Bermuda
2 division Army of Jamaica
2 division Army of Cuba
(39/52 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Joseon Korea
35 division Chinese Army
15 division Army of Busan
10 division Army of Pyongyang
15 division Army of Taiyuan
10 division Army of Heze
10 division Army of Borneo
5 division Army of Malaya
(100/140 divisions possible raised, max 10% conscription)

Kingdom of Poland
33 division Army of Bialystok
(33/53 divisions possible raised, max 16% conscription)

Qajar Iran
14 division Army of Kars
13 division Army of Syria
5 division Army of Homorzegan
3 division Army of Gwadar
3 division Army of Mashad
1 division Imperial Guard
(43/128 divisions possible raised, max 20% conscription)

Kingdom of Quebec
10 division Army of the West
10 division Army of Michigan
9 division Army of New York
5 division Army of the Interior
2 division Foreign Legion
(36/52 divisions possible raised, max 16% conscription)

Kingdom of Mexico
5 division Army of Mexico
5 division Army of Belize
5 division Army of Guatemala
3 division Army of the North
(25/58 divisions possible raised, max 15% conscription)

United Provinces of New Holland
2 division Army of Java
2 division Army of New Holland
(4/38 divisions possible raised, max 8% conscription)

Holy Republic of Colombia
17 division Army of La Paz
3 division Army of Venezuela
(20/35 divisions possible raised, max 15% conscription)

Confederation of New England
15 division Army of New York
1 division Army of Boston
(16/22 divisions possible raised, max 17% conscription)

Kingdom of Patagonia
3 division Army of Cordoba
3 division Army of Paraguay
(6/22 divisions possible raised, max 15% conscription)

Kingdom of Portugal
17 division Army of Lisbon
3 division Army of Porto
(22/23 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Kingdom of the Netherlands
5 division Army of Groningen
5 division Army of Amsterdam
(10/24 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Spanish Catholic Republic
22 division Army of Madrid
(22/22 divisions possible raised, max 8% conscription)

Spanish Liberal Republic
17 division Army of Cordoba
3 division Army of Segovia
(20/20 divisions possible raised, max 8% conscription)

Durrani Empire
2 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Karachi
2 division Army of Herat
(8/30 divisions possible raised, max 11% conscription)

[Dereich]

Mobilization Announcement

Poland Calls and the Empire Answers! The Emperor calls 1 million men to arms to defend Breslau and peace in Eastern Europe.