The Zenith of Power: Gameplay Thread

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of Southampton (1873)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in London and Bogotá.

III. The British tariffs on Colombian wheat, sugar, and cotton shall be lowered by 33%.

IV. The Colombian tariffs on British steel shall be lowered by 25%.

V. The tariffs for trade of all other commodities between the two nations shall be lowered by 10%.

VI. The tariff rates in Article V of this treaty will remain in effect for six years, after which they will expire and be subject for renewal by the mutual agreement of the signatories. The tariff rates in Articles III and IV will remain in effect for two years, after which they will be raised to levels in line with the commodities in Article V. If the British Union is still engaged in war with the Kingdom of Quebec or the Kingdom of Louisiana after two years, the tariff rates in Articles III and IV will be subject for renewal by the mutual agreement of the signatories.

VII. The Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Ellice islands will be purchased by the Holy Republic of Colombia for £1,000,000.

VIII. The British citizens residing in the Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Ellice islands will be financially compensated and free to move to other locations under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas.

IX. The Holy Republic of Colombia pledges to remain neutral for the duration of the North American War.

X. The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas formally recognizes Colombian sovereignty over Ecuador and Peru.

XI. The Holy Republic of Colombia formally recognizes British sovereignty over Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and the British claims in Africa.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[windjammer]

We are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the Kingdom of Naples regarding the future of Corsica:

Joint declaration of the Kingdom of Padania and the kingdom of Naples:

1) Both kingdoms agree it is vital that we remain at peace with each others.

2) Both kingdoms understand that Corsica has close ties with both our kingdoms and that this issue should not be resolved by war given the current economical and domestical context.

3) Both kingdoms hereby agree to host a referendum where corsicans will be able to decide their fate between 2 alternatives:
- An alternative presented by the kingdom of Padania
- An alternative presented by the kingdom of Naples

4) This referendum will be hosted by both the kingdoms who will guarantee there will be no fraud.

5) Both kingdoms will accept the result and will cooperate for a peaceful transition.

X Queen mother Charlotte Hohenzollern on behalf of her son King Luigi II of Padania

[GoTfan]

We are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the Kingdom of Naples regarding the future of Corsica:

Joint declaration of the Kingdom of Padania and the kingdom of Naples:

1) Both kingdoms agree it is vital that we remain at peace with each others.

2) Both kingdoms understand that Corsica has close ties with both our kingdoms and that this issue should not be resolved by war given the current economical and domestical context.

3) Both kingdoms hereby agree to host a referendum where corsicans will be able to decide their fate between 2 alternatives:
- An alternative presented by the kingdom of Padania
- An alternative presented by the kingdom of Naples

4) This referendum will be hosted by both the kingdoms who will guarantee there will be no fraud.

5) Both kingdoms will accept the result and will cooperate for a peaceful transition.

X Queen mother Charlotte Hohenzollern on behalf of her son King Luigi II of Padania

x Charles VIII of Naples.

x Francesco Crispi, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Naples

x Luigi Amadeo Melegari, Minister of Foreign and Colonial Affairs of the Kingdom of Naples

[GoTfan]

A Message to the People of Corsica and Sardinia

Corsicans and Sardinians! Your hour of freedom is at hand!

Your Italian brothers and sisters in Rome, Tuscany, Sicily and Naples invite you to join with them in singing from one united Italian voice! An Italian deserves not to have throw himself at the feet of anyone! We Italians, united under God, are turly devoted to theGod-given rights of liberty, democracy and fraternity!

Join with us, and together, we will turn our land into the greatest ever witnessed with human eyes!

[BGBC]

The Treaty of Southampton (1873)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in London and Bogotá.

III. The British tariffs on Colombian wheat, sugar, and cotton shall be lowered by 33%.

IV. The Colombian tariffs on British steel shall be lowered by 25%.

V. The tariffs for trade of all other commodities between the two nations shall be lowered by 10%.

VI. The tariff rates in Article V of this treaty will remain in effect for six years, after which they will expire and be subject for renewal by the mutual agreement of the signatories. The tariff rates in Articles III and IV will remain in effect for two years, after which they will be raised to levels in line with the commodities in Article V. If the British Union is still engaged in war with the Kingdom of Quebec or the Kingdom of Louisiana after two years, the tariff rates in Articles III and IV will be subject for renewal by the mutual agreement of the signatories.

VII. The Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Ellice islands will be purchased by the Holy Republic of Colombia for £1,000,000.

VIII. The British citizens residing in the Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Ellice islands will be financially compensated and free to move to other locations under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas.

IX. The Holy Republic of Colombia pledges to remain neutral for the duration of the North American War.

X. The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas formally recognizes Colombian sovereignty over Ecuador and Peru.

XI. The Holy Republic of Colombia formally recognizes British sovereignty over Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and the British claims in Africa.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

x King Henry X

[Dereich]

On the Continued Situation in China

The Emperor looks with sadness on the continued and indeed increased state of violence and disorder in China. In that light, we look with approval on and support the initiative of the King of the Great Joseon to bring order to China as its Emperor.

[YPestis25]

(Source: Alternate History Weekly Update)

A Proclamation from Gothenburg

A Grievous Plot

Owing to intelligence obtained by the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm, and after consultations with other embassies, the Scandinavian Ambassador to Paris has been withdrawn for urgent consultations. Not all is well in the Parisian court, and I fear for European peace. All of the continent is now at risk.
Withdrawn

[KaiserDave]

Proclamations of State

The following officers of the Russian Army have performed with exemplary skill and courage in the face of the enemy in the field. The entire Russian nation owes them an eternal debt for their services rendered to the motherland. The total victory accomplished by the Russian Army will be heralded for ages. By my hand I have awarded the following men with specified awards for merit, chivalry, and honor.

Field Marshal Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin: Medal of Service to the Motherland (First Class), Order of Suvorov (First Class), Order of the Double-Headed Eagle (First Class), Order of St. Nicholas the the Wonderworker (First Class), Cross of St. George (First Class), Order of St. Dimitry of the Don, Servant of the Order of St. Andrew, Servant of the Order of Michael I Romanov, Victory of Kinichev Medallion (Gold with Laurels), Holy Liberation of Kiev Pendant (Gold with Laurels)

Field Marshal Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko: Medal of Service to the Motherland (First Class), Order of Suvorov (First Class), Order of the Holy Cross (First Class), Cross of St. George (First Class), Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (First Class), Servant of the Order of Michael I Romanov

General of the Cavalry Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov: Medal of Service to the Motherland (First Class), Order of Suvorov (Second Class), Order of the Holy Cross (First Class), Order of Gorchakov (Second Class), Order of St. Anna (Second Class)

Lieutenant General Nikolai Grigorevich Stoletov: Medal of Service to the Motherland (First Class), Order of Suvorov (Second Class), Order of Menshikov (First Class), Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (Second Class), Servant of the Order of Michael I Romanov, Victory of Kinichev Medallion (Silver with Laurels)

Major-General Pyotr Semyonovich Vannovsky: Medal of Service to the Motherland (First Class), Order of Suvorov (Second Class), Order of Menshikov (Second Class), Cross of St. George (First Class), Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (Third Class)

Major-General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov: Medal of Service to the Motherland (First Class), Order of Suvorov (Third Class), Order of Menshikov (Second Class), Cross of St. George (First Class), Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (Third Class), Order of Gorchakov (Third Class)

Staff Officer Mikhail Dmitriyevich Skobelev: Medal of Service to the Motherland (Second Class), Order of Suvorov (Third Class), Order of the Holy Cross (Second Class), Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (Third Class), promotion to MAJOR-GENERAL

x Alexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic


A State Commission on the STATUS OF THE NATIONALITIES shall be formed to investigate the best methods of integrating the various peoples of the Republic into the Russian nation. As well as the best strategies to preserve peace and unity in these trying times.

x Alexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic


Russia takes up the mantle of the Protector of the Christians in the Ottoman Empire with tremendous enthusiasm and vigor. To this end we invite Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Joachim III to Moscow to lead Mass in Saint Basil's Cathedral. We further restate our demands for the total religious liberty of the Christians in the Ottoman Empire, and that they be free from any harassment or unfair treatment. There is an unshakable bond that connects all those who believe in the Mercy and Love of Our Savior, be they Russians, Georgians, Armenians, Bulgars, Serbs, Greeks, or Arabs. Russia holds this bond in the highest regard.

x Alexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic


Funding shall be provisioned for a series of mass housing projects in major cities where necessary to provide livable and decent housing for the growing number of urban workers and their families.

x Alexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic

[Dereich]

The Emperor has reviewed the state of His domains and has found the current situation wanting. The Imperial Government faces an unprecedented financial crisis. The Emperor's ability to act with all appropriate speed and vigor in protecting Imperial interests and security has been curtailed. Petitions received from across the Empire suggest that the failure to renew the compact and roles of Emperor, nobility, and subjects has contributed to the ongoing crisis. The failure of the Imperial Government to adapt to the times as have our rivals have also led to what the Emperor sees as most unChristian behavior that has developed in the factories and other industrial areas. As a remedy to these issues, the following decrees are published, to be enforced immediately in those domains under direct Imperial supervision. In other areas the decrees are referred to the Ministry of Petitions for drafting and submission as legislation to relevant local Diets. Acceptance and support of these decrees are a precondition for any Imperial Prince seeking the favor and support of the Holy Roman Emperor.

Brünnerisch Decrees

Decrees on the Imperial Feudal Structure

1.   The legal distinctions between noble land and non-noble land are abolished. Similarly, the hunting privileges of certain animals held exclusively by the nobility are abolished. Certain Royal forests are also opened to public use.
2.   A title of nobility will no longer be a requirement for holding any public office.
3.   Other laws enforcing separation between the nobility and commoners, such as the ban on marriages between commoners and nobles, are abolished.
4.   As of January 1, 1874, title to feudal land on which peasants currently pay rent will be transferred to the occupant of the land should records on taxation and feudal dues establish that they have lived on said land for at least 7 years. The feudal owners of said land will be compensated by redemption payments equivalent to 20 times the revenue generated in 1870. The peasant rent-payer will be responsible for 40% of the total, the Imperial government 30% and the landowner will lose the remaining 30%.
5.   Should special cause be raised by the landowner and accepted by the Imperial government, the date of title transfer may be delayed until 1880.
6.     All remaining feudal land will be transferred to peasant occupants on January 1, 1880.

Decrees on Worker Protection

1.   All places of business classified as “industrial” must maintain written standards on workplace safety and safe operation that are available on request for review by employees.
2.   Existing laws and decrees forbidding labor on Sunday are clarified to extend to industrial employment.
3.   The working day for women may not extend beyond 11 hours.
4.   The working day for workers under 16 years of age may not extend beyond 9 hours. Workers under the age of 16 cannot be required to work at night.
5.   An Imperial Committee on Worker Redress is established to investigate and arbitrate on cases of abuse of employees by their employers. Employers who fail to abide by the decisions of the committee may be sanctioned by increased taxation or temporary closure.

[YPestis25]

Second Vienna Accord

In the interests of maintaining peace in Germany and across the continent, and recognizing the chaos which has followed from the degradation of traditional Scandinavian-Habsburg ties, the Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Habsburg Monarchy, hereafter the signatories, agree to the following:

I . The signatories reaffirm the Treaty of Warsaw

II . The signatories reaffirm the claims and spheres of influence delineated by the Stockholm Conference and modified by the Treaty of Warsaw.

III . The signatories agree to consult one another prior to any negotiated changes in the post-Warsaw territorial status quo in Germany.
 
IV . The signatories agree to a mutual defensive pact in order to protect the status quo and peace in Germany and Central Europe.

xCatherine II, Queen of Scandinavia

[Dereich]

Second Vienna Accord

In the interests of maintaining peace in Germany and across the continent, and recognizing the chaos which has followed from the degradation of traditional Scandinavian-Habsburg ties, the Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Habsburg Monarchy, hereafter the signatories, agree to the following:

I . The signatories reaffirm the Treaty of Warsaw

II . The signatories reaffirm the claims and spheres of influence delineated by the Stockholm Conference and modified by the Treaty of Warsaw.

III . The signatories agree to consult one another prior to any negotiated changes in the post-Warsaw territorial status quo in Germany.
 
IV . The signatories agree to a mutual defensive pact in order to protect the status quo and peace in Germany and Central Europe.

xCatherine II, Queen of Scandinavia

x Charles VIII von Hapsburg
lol

[GoTfan]

A Royal Decree

Emergency measures are to be established in the Kingdom Naples. In order to ensure that the stain of hunger does not visit us, a Grain Dole is to be established as a measure until the financial situation stabilises. Grain will be purchased from farmers by either the government or the crown directly, and distributed though the Church.

x Charles VIII of Naples

[BGBC]

Wikimedia Commons

By the King,
A  P R O C L A M A T I O N
FOR REPELLING INVASION AND MOBILIZING BRITISH MEN

HENRY X.

Whereas the situation in America has greatly escalated, our kindred has been violently attacked by the Francophone aggressors surrounding it and such act has been committed without the slightest provocation of our countrymen in America or elsewhere, and in order to preserve the integrity of British sovereign soil, we therefore have thought fit to publish this royal proclamation, and do hereby order the transport of the Army of Ireland to the Americas for the reinforcement of New York and Tennesseean defenses, as well as the conscription of able-bodied men of age to the defense of ourselves, our soil and our posterity. Unemployed citizens are of great priority in this endeavor.
Whereas our enemies have expected us to simply surrender our soil to them without retaliation and abandon our fellow countrymen across the Atlantic by lifting the blockade our brave members of the Royal Navy have imposed upon them, we find it fit to not only sustain this blockade but strengthen it with naval barrages along their shores as we fight perilously against the unmasked aggression of these most treacherous nations. Their nation must and will continue to bear the wrath and might of the British people so long as it imposes war against our union.
Whereas the war in the Americas has imposed a heavy toll on our soldiers, we shall expand war rationing across the Atlantic, using food which requires the use of wheat, sugar and cotton, especially to those who are under siege in Albany. We cannot mince words when we state that our countrymen of all origins throughout our great union are under attack by a violent American coalition hellbent on imposing their own ungodly rule on our free people. We call upon the best and the brightest of society to unite around the will of our King in the defense of our fellow countrymen who, though live in the America, hold English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh and other origins within our great union.

Given at Our Court in the year of our Lord one-thousand eighteen-hundred seventy-three.
GOD save the King.

[FT-02 Senator A.F.E. 🇵🇸🤝🇺🇸🤝🇺🇦]

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Offical Firman from the Imperial Court in Kabul

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

I, Emir Samad Khan, in the current Hijri year of 1290, would like to give a few remarks in regards to the conclusion of the Great Western War.

The conclusion of the war has been felt with a wide range and mixtures of emotions here in Kabul. We are saddened by the continued weakening of the Ottoman Caliphate at the hands of the Western powers especially with the granting of the Sudan to the Scandinavians and the Crimea to the Russians but nevertheless, the feeling in Kabul is a sigh of relief and of hopefulness.

With the resumption of peace, the reconstruction of the Suez Canal shall continue unabated and as such, the global economy will make a rapid recovery and with it, the return of foreign investment into our Empire. Inshallah, this state of peace will be around for many years to come. Amen.

- Emir Samad Khan

[Spamage]

1873 News of the World

The Red Queen
Charlotte Ignites War of the Regency

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Following elections in 1872, Queen Regent Charlotte decided to take an unprecedented step in the history of France: the inclusion of socialists in the government. To be more specific, the Queen sought to unite the reactionaries and the socialists into a new governing coalition. After weeks of secret negotiations, the resulting agreement was not natural and did not come easy, but Charlotte managed to win over the two skeptical parties by wedding a socialist economic program to a reactionary, monarchist message. The Queen wrapped herself in nationalism, turning towards the extremes of the political spectrum at the expense of the usual liberal-conservative mainstream parties. She pledged that a benevolent Crown steeped in history and tradition would embark on a new wave of social support for the King’s vast brood of subjects. The reactionaries, traditional nemeses of the socialists, were won over by promises of power and influence, traditionalism and French nationalism. The new government, consisting of Georges Clemenceau (a socialist) as Chancellor and Georges Boulanger (nationalist reactionary) as Vice Chancellor, was utterly unexpected and shook the political scene in France to the core. Most had expected the Queen to continue her usual Conservative-Reactionary program.
   The first program proposed by this new government, which was seated in Paris in March 1873, was the introduction of estate and progressive income taxes in order to stabilize government revenue in the midst of the economic crisis. The Queen ordered the measures in order to nationalize numerous floundering firms, expand infrastructure, and embark on a significant ship-building campaign. It was her goal to employ the numerous out of work Frenchmen into ways that would improve the realm over the long-term. Even labor unions, a widely controversial subject, were to be allowed by the Queen.
   High on her success in helping negotiate an end to the Second Great Eastern War, it is likely Charlotte underestimated the opposition to her new moves. In particular, she had alienated many powerful subjects and classes with the new government, seemingly validating their worst fears by following up the declaration of a socialist government with substantial tax increases and supporting labor unions. Certainly, France was no longer the feudal state of the past centuries, but it remained a stratified one. On top of her existing polarizing reputation, she was now challenging the very wealth of the nobility and burgeoning industrialist class. This was coupled with lingering hostility and suspicion towards socialism from the rural poor. France was the epitome of political stability and moderation, for the government to suddenly veer in such a radical direction had utterly stunned most classes of society.
   No one felt anxiety over Charlotte’s moves more acutely than Prince Xavier. Many note the death of his wife Elizabeth Alexandrine von Wurttemberg-Urbino on February 20th, 1873 as playing a significant role in his decisions over the rest of the year. Reminded of his mortality by the loss of a beloved spouse, Xavier felt anxiety over the path his homeland was embarking on under Charlotte. Now in his sixties, he only had a few years to right the ship of state. Out of favor at Versailles since 1860, Xavier had stood aside as the new queen mustered France’s military strength for numerous foreign adventures, undermined the sanctity of the dynasty with the suspicious circumstances of Louis XX’s birth, and now sought to challenge the existing social order as it had long been understood. The inclusion of the socialists, the same group that had so brutally been repressed for their treason in the Red Friday rising of 1838 in Paris, was a bridge too far. He would stand aside as a passive opponent of Charlotte’s regime no longer. He would not be alone.
   As France intervened in the Spanish Civil War, the opposition saw a chance to act. Padania proved to be the initial spark. Charlotte had only won her title as regent in 1870 through an extremely narrow majority, in large part due to the conservatives giving her the benefit of the doubt. With her move to bring the socialists into government, these conservatives regretted their decision. After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Padanian Assembly declared Charlotte incapable of serving as a regent on June 5th, 1873 due to her “evident hysteria, inability to govern, and blatant foreign allegiances.” In an overwhelming majority, Padania instead named Xavier as Prince Regent of Padania on behalf of his grandnephew. Xavier, as Duke of Savoy, was met with overwhelming praise in northern Italy, thousands rallying in Genoa and Turin.
   Word spread fast, thanks in part to the new technologies of the late nineteenth century. Xavier, accepting the title of regent, declared his intent to “govern in the spirit of Louis XVIII.” He played upon the nostalgia of the French people, reminding them of his father’s 40-year reign, his mother’s stable regency, and the steady-handed leadership he claimed France now lacked. Xavier praised the liberals and conservatives as the mainstream French leadership, arguing the socialist-reactionary regime in Paris was unnatural and ill-intentioned. He called on good Catholics and faithful servants of the Crown to rise up against the corrupting influence of the Queen Regent and put an end to her radical reformist order before it could get off the ground.
   France divided in on itself. The pent-up anger of a three decades long rivalry has cleaved society half. Xavier’s call was heeded by many. The liberals and conservatives, who combined received nearly half of the votes in the prior year’s elections, backed his regency and denounced Queen Charlotte, vacating their seats in the French National Assembly. They moved to historic Avignon, setting up an emergency government there. Most of the nobility and wealthy landowners backed Xavier, as did much southern and northwestern France, the rural poor rising to arms to oppose socialism and support the established order, even if they had been harmed by it. Most Bourbon cadet branches, including the Houses of Bourbon-Genoa, Bourbon-Brittany, and Bourbon-Modena backed Xavier.
   Charlotte would not be friendless though. Nor would she allow Xavier’s statements to go unchallenged. Declaring Xavier a tyrant in the spirit of Caesar and an Italian intriguer like Catherine de Medici, she called on the new France to answer her call against “conservative hesitancy and backwards-looking policies”. Charlotte called on the socialists and reactionaries to prevent their beloved homeland from being oppressed by the stagnant liberal-conservative stranglehold on power. Her support swelled in industrialized cities, the people of Paris, Marseilles, Lyon, Bordeaux, and the northeast of France backing her regency. Aquitaine remained broadly loyal as well. She was joined by the Houses of Bourbon-Aquitaine (grateful for the Crown of Romania) and Bourbon-Conti.
   Thus, the worst domestic infighting in France since the Fronde over 220 years ago has exploded onto the scene, shocking an already tense Europe. It is utterly unthinkable. French society has split, the army collapsing in on itself, the general staff picking sides as their men melted into two opposing armies, each aiming to pacify the whole of France and Padania. While the Navy has backed Charlotte, much of the French bureaucracy has sided with Xavier. The French Church likewise has been riven with division, leadership dividing into Xavier and Charlotte’s very different camps. Xavier’s faction has been dubbed the “Blues,” the prince using the traditional French royal standard with a blue instead of white background to avoid confusion, while Charlotte’s supporters are known as the “Whites,” for their use of the traditional white royal standard.
   The two groups have very different aims should they triumph. A victory for the Blues would likely indicate the brutal suppression of the political extremes, a reassertion of the traditional strength of the nobility and wealthy, limits to foreign expeditions, property protections, and an enforced moderate consensus, even if it infringes on free expression. Victory for the Whites could mean substantial social reform (perhaps even land redistribution?), a curtailing to the influence of the nobility, an assertion of the growing working class, and Charlotte having a totally free hand in both domestic and foreign affairs. What is clear, though, is that the stolid, stable period of French consensus since the eighteenth century has been shattered. The only question now is what will replace it.
   The first fighting began almost at once, though it would initially remain at a small-scale as the various towns, cities, and regions of France staked their side in the growing fight. Operations in Spain, which had initially yielded success, collapsed into chaos as the bid to establish a restored Bourbon realm in the north was put on hold, a development the Catholic Republicans took advantage of. Attempts to declare for Charlotte by the city council of Nantes on June 20th were halted by a mob storming the assembly and demanding the city back Xavier. In Paris, Xavier’s palaces and apartments were burned down on July 5th by angry workers. Charlotte was burned in effigy as a godless socialist in Toulouse in August, while the people of Amiens vowed to never recognize Xavier as regent just weeks later. The anarchy taking hold was underlined further by the eruption of a terror campaign throughout both Blue and White cities in southern France by the Catholic-Republicans, who bombed public squares and assassinated several local officials on both sides of the conflict. In Flanders, locals have gone on strike, demanding Charlotte grant them autonomous status if she hopes to keep their support.
   Larger clashes erupted in the late summer. A bid by the Blues to march on Versailles and end the war at once on August 10th-12th was defeated at the Battle of Chartres, the Whites eliminating any immediate threat to Paris with thousands of dead on both sides. In the south, Xavier crossed the Alps with a substantial force and placed Lyon and Marseilles under siege as the summer wound to a close. Marseilles surrendered on November 2nd. Catholic-Republicans, crossing from Spain, declared their own movement in France, securing extremely limited gains in the Pyrenees as far north as Lourdes, a site they have vowed to defend.
   With thousands of Frenchmen under arms, the fall harvest was hindered and has only further served to exacerbate the poor economic situation. Though the eruption of the French Civil War has served to employ thousands of the jobless, it has also begun to tear French society and infrastructure to pieces. Roads and railways have been destroyed by both sides to prevent the enemy faction from gaining superiority. The financial markets in Paris, already beaten down in 1872, have utterly collapsed amid the turmoil. What foreign capital remains has fled to much safer exchanges in Vienna, Berlin, and London.
   The eruption of the French Civil War has utterly stunned Europe. “It is a Seventeenth Century war being fought with Nineteenth Century weapons,” one newspaper in Vienna observed in late summer, commenting on the dynastic feud that is far more violent than anything seen in that realm before. Indeed, the “War of the Regency,” as the fight has become known in France proper, has potentially created a power vacuum in Europe’s west, perhaps even further afield. While French India and Indonesia remained relatively stable in 1873, local administrators maintaining basic neutrality, how long will this continue if the fighting continues to ravage the French homeland? How will the Indian vassals react to the apparent instability in France, let alone the Durrani in the north? Will the Ottomans use France’s internal chaos to undermine the provisions forced on them in the Treaty of Warsaw? What about Austrian, Prussian, and Neapolitan actions? Europe faces one if its most severe challenges in the past century as a cornerstone of the old order finds itself cracked.

Corsica Votes for Independence
Narrow Result Amid Allegations of Fraud

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   During the first half of the year France and Naples finally set about settling the status of Corsica and Sardinia. Spain, the owner of those islands since 1792, was excluded from any of the discussions. The history of Corsica was complicated. The island had once been owned by Genoa, transferring to a Prussian protectorate in the 1750s for several decades before the Hohenzollern administration was expelled and independence declared contemporaneously with the Catholic Republican chaos in the Italian War (1785-1787). Corsica was then subdued by Madrid, who abolished local autonomy and forced it into its centralized system of government. Though the local language was largely related to Italian, and there were nationalist pockets in favor of Italian unification, just as many Corsicans were nominally in favor of independence or autonomy. The mainland was associated just as much with Genoese oppression as with romantic notions of national unity. Sardinia, part of the heartland of Verri’s Italy had a much more straightforward history, being taken by the Spanish following the collapse of the first Catholic-Republican regime. Italian nationalism was far stronger in this region, which had historical links with the peninsula in a far more positive light.
   The agreement between Paris and Naples involved the two sides each proposing an alternative future path for the region and then allowing the locals to decide. The Neapolitan proposal was straightforward, union within the kingdom by electing King Charles VIII as ruler of both territories. Paris, understanding the poor reputation of Padania in the rest of Italy and aware union with France would lose, chose instead to put forward the offer of independence, the sole condition being the election of Alexander de Bourbon-Genoa, a younger son of the Duke of Genoa, as sovereign. Both sides promised liberalization, either through absorption into the existing Neapolitan political system or a French-backed constitutional government.
    The next few months, even with the growing discord in France proper, would see fierce barnstorming and campaigning by the two sides on the islands. It was ugly, the gravity of the moment meaning operatives on either side were more than willing to stretch the truth. French-supporters called the King of Naples a Spaniard, highlighting the Neapolitan Bourbons’ ties to Madrid. The Neapolitans portrayed France as a dissolute and snobbish kingdom, one which would suppress the true identity of the region as it deemed Italian to be inferior. In their words Alexander was merely a stooge being used by his cousins in Paris to deny the people their Italian brotherhood.
   The voting was concluded on June 18th, 1873, as the true scale of disaster befalling France became clear. In Sardinia, joining with Naples won overwhelmingly (85.4% to 14.6% in favor of the French option), while Corsica remained too close to call. When the final results were certified by June 23rd, independence with a Bourbon Duke beat union with Naples narrowly (50.02% to 49.98%). Support for the French option had cratered when the Civil War erupted. From the announcement of the results, dozens of Corsicans would come forward an allege fraud, claiming they had been pressured by brigands to cast their ballot for France or face public retribution. Still, despite these protests, Alexander of Bourbon-Genoa arrived in Ajaccio and was proclaimed Grand Duke of Corsica by a broad coalition of local leaders. As France exploded into chaos in the north, and many in Naples remained upset about alleged fraud to the south, he declared the neutrality and independence of Corsica. His small realm would look inwards, forging a constitution and reforming itself along democratic lines.

American War Expands
New Holland, Mexico Intervene Further Against London

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   The American War expanded further in 1873, Mexico doubling down on its involvement, while in distant Australia, New Holland took advantage of British distraction to enter the fray. Results have been mixed, both sides able to claim victory on various points. Military analysts have noted that, unlike the Second Great Eastern War, the military situation in North America has resulted in innovation and new tactics being employed in warfare. In short, war has become more terrible and impersonal, being conducted on an industrial scale. Entrenchments now dominate the Northeast and Western theaters, the British seeking to go on the defense and prevent advances into their core regions on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Shelling of Boston
   Expanding the blockade, Britain became far more aggressive with naval operations in 1873. Rather than merely sail off the coast and intercept trade vessels seeking to break out to Europe, instead London ordered active bombardment and disruption to allied naval operations and coastal facilities. Savannah, Biloxi, Havana, and Charleston were damaged, their ports falling victim to British bombardment. London claimed the assaults were retribution for the relentless shelling of the besieged Army of Albany. Nowhere experienced as severe trauma as Boston, however.
   The small New Englander fleet was brushed aside at a series of battles off the coast of Rhode Island in July 1873, British dominance of the seas continuing. Providence and New Haven experienced slight damage over the coming days. The worst would be thrown at the capital of New England. Boston, that famed city and one of the industrial centers of the allied war effort, faced extreme shelling commencing on July 15th. For the next two weeks, New England was helpless as its fleet at port, capital city, and industrial zones were exposed to steady and damaging bombardment at the hands of their former colonial masters. The strike on an ammunition depot on July 20th caused a massive explosion, killing dozens in the surrounding buildings. Henry Wilson narrowly escaped death when his offices were hit, he being home at the time. Fires erupted in the residential districts, thousands fleeing the city. By the time sufficient deterrence was mustered onshore, the damage had been done. Boston, the crown jewel of New England, has been gutted. The government has relocated to Worcester, well away from British bombardment, as morale in the Confederation was severely damaged. Likewise, the industrial capacity of the region has been placed under strain. Boston is merely one symptom of evident British capability to target most coastal cities. The people of New Orleans and Montreal would do well to keep this in mind.
   Attempts at blockade running have only enjoyed sporadic success, oftentimes the Quebecois who made it through to Europe being intercepted by the British on their way back. Although intrigue would yield minor damage to the Royal Navy in 1873, it hardly proved sufficient for the time being to end Britain’s stranglehold on Atlantic trade.

Cape Verde Incident
   Naples, long friendly with the North American powers, determined to challenge the British blockade, sending a substantial flotilla of ships laden with supplies across the Atlantic. This was a deliberate effort to undermine the prestige and effectiveness of the Royal Navy. It would not go unpunished. The Neapolitan ships were surrounded by a far more numerous British fleet under Admiral Michael Seymour, who demanded the they cease their attempt to violate the British blockade in August 1873. Severely outgunned, and unwilling to see their ships sank, the Neapolitan commanders hesitated. Not waiting  for a response, British sailors seized control of a good portion of the Italian vessels in the brief standoff, proving their mettle at sea. The supplies were confiscated and, humiliated, the Neapolitan ships were forced to return home.
   Naturally the Court in Naples has been enraged by the move, calls growing for Naples to punish the British for their haughty behavior. Still, this has been overshadowed in Italy by developments in Corsica and France. It remains to be seen whether Charles VIII will get involved further in the American War.

[Spamage]

War in New York
   Though besieged in Albany, the British forces did not give up hope. Even as thousands more Quebecois and New Englander soldiers poured into the region and a numerous labyrinthine network of trenches was dug, the British held their composure. After all, they were fighting for the survival of the Transatlantic Monarchy. Americans could not be left to Francophone subjugation, a sentiment seemingly reaffirmed with each Quebecois shell that exploded in the town as General John Wimburn Laurie ordered a relentless bombardment.
   The British Army of Ireland and reinforcements from the Army of the Chesapeake moved north from New York City, hoping to break the siege. They ran headfirst into a feint by the enemy seeking to move south, engaging in the Battle of Middletown. Neither force had been aware of the other, so Quebecois orders to act in a defensive manner were disregarded in the confusion. In a chaotic and bloody engagement, the British beat back the Amy of the East, forcing it to flee north with heavy casualties. Still, with the forces sieging Albany far larger than the potential relief force, they were forced to disregard any attempts to relieve the siege. Instead, British General Charles van Straubenzee ordered light cavalry raids into Connecticut, further disrupting the already chaotic state of New England, while keeping the rest of his army in defensive formations. Bristol, Torrington, and Waterbury were all significantly damaged due to a substantial lack of defenses. Raids extended as far east as the outskirts of Hartford, further reminding the New Englanders they were the most vulnerable to British retribution of all the allies.
    Desperate to break the siege of Albany, attacks from within the city commenced on the Quebecois-New England lines on June 25th in the Battle of Albany. Fighting was brutal. The Allied forces had dug trenches around the city, preparing for the likelihood of a desperate chance to break out. While they inflicted intense casualties on the British, several holes were punched through, a sign of the sheer desperation with which the British soldiers were fighting. Though these would be patched up, thousands of British forces managed to extricate themselves from the brutal siege. Still, more than half of the army remained. Seeing no other alternative, and running low on food, General William Codrington formally surrendered on July 7th. The siege of Albany had been an ugly affair, the city left in ruins and thousands of dead from disease and combat on both sides. While the Quebecois Army would seek to follow up with continued operations later in the year, they found morale and discipline lacking in the ranks after months of a tedious siege.
   Further maneuvering by the Army of the Chesapeake and the Army of the East brought a new concept into the war: trench warfare. Attempts to seize the Delaware River bogged down into shelling and extended combat, the British under Straubenzee using the defensive lines as a means of defending the vital cities of Philadelphia and New York. Further gains by Quebec in the latter half of the year would be limited to western operations, the death toll in the east becoming a steady race to bleed the other side white.

Western Campaign
   With only limited reinforcements, the Western Theater would prove to be the most successful for the Quebecois. The Army of Michigan fled east, avoiding battle until it could link back up with allied troops from the Army of the Chesapeake. In the chaos, thousands of square kilometers were ceded to the invaders, most of the Midwest changing hands throughout the spring, an embarrassing development for the British as incredulous subjects found their towns on the frontline overnight and seized in a week. The British forces, reinforced with 10 divisions in Cambridge Ohio, the result here too has been the emergence of a stalemate. Determined to prevent any Quebec crossing over the Appalachians, trenches have been dug intermittently throughout eastern Ohio, slowing the Quebecois advance and bringing the campaign to a halt. Despite all the plans not being conducted to completion, many in Montreal have celebrated the tremendous advances of Henry II’s men. “It seems the Hohenzollern martial spirit is alive and well,” one newspaper declared. Although the hoped-for push into New York and Pennsylvania from the west has been scrapped for the time, Quebecois numerical superiority means it could be resumed in the future.  Even so, some Quebecois commanders have found crossing the Ohio into Kentucky a more enticing prospect moving forward…

Southern Theater
   The southern theater would remain one of the bright spots in the brutal war for the British. Repeated attempts by the Louisianans to seize Knoxville and limit British power in the region were frustrated. The Army of Tennessee enjoyed the advantage of being in the middle of all the forces sent to either dislodge or besiege it.
   Louisiana opened the campaign early, the Army of Des Moines sweeping east into Tennessee and seeking to capture the city of Nashville in mid-February, expecting their opponents to be caught flat-footed. They were utterly halted at the Battle of Hurricane Mills. Fighting raging from February 15th-17th left thousands of dead, including Prime Minister Mouton’s son General Alfred Mouton. The loss of the Louisianan general shocked New Orleans and demoralized the Army of Des Moines, which was forced to give up the gains made in the prior year, fleeing back across the Mississippi and causing headaches for the overall Louisianan campaign in 1873.
   Another portion of the Army of the Chesapeake not sent to aid operations in New York combined with the Army of Virginia and pushed south against the Louisianan Army of Charleston, which was busy digging siege lines and organizing a defense. The Battle of Charlotte saw the Louisianans pushed back south, preventing any attempt to move on Tennessee from the east.
   Only in the south, were the Mexican Expeditionary Force arrived was headway able to be made, that force crossing into Tennessee and securing nominal gains. Still, with North Carolina now almost fully in British hands and Tennessee holding out, most of the Louisianan goals in the southern theater remained elusive. The prospect of a British offensive into the Deep South seems remote, at least for the time being, though, given the relocation of the Army of Texas to Atlanta, where it has united with the remnants of the Army of Charleston.

Australian-Pacific War
   The growing tensions between the Australian colony and New Holland came to a head, the New Hollanders launching a several-pronged assault on the British colony, one which achieved rapid gains, though local resistance would begin to well up throughout the year. With war never formally declared, the New Hollander fleet was able to surprise and trounce the localized British fleet of Oceania. Initial moves were made in the west, though there were little proper settlements to be taken in this region. What followed was two landings, one in the south and the other from the north, each sweeping through vast swathes of the sparsely-populated dominion. While this ensured territorial gains were substantial, it also left ample room for local resistance. Diehard British patriots have fled in small bands to the Outback, where they've launched a stubborn resistance against the invaders. Although it has mostly been limited to raids on supply convoys and the murder of stragglers, stories of the Australian resistance have bolstered the Australian spirit. So distant from Britain proper, most residents of British Australia accept that, for the time being at least, they are on their own. The question is whether or not they will be able to hold out long enough for aid to arrive.
   Quebec, meanwhile, continued to ensure gains in the Pacific, launching the Army of the Pacific against the scattered British outposts remaining in London’s control in the aftermath of the Treaty of Southampton. Unceremoniously the islands of New Caledonia and the Solomons have been taken with little notice, the attention of the world being focused on developments in North America.

Intrigue in the Islamic World
Russia, Ottomans Use Proxies to Continue Old Battles

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   1873 would be the year of intrigue and deception in the Caucuses, both the Russians and Ottomans seeking to undermine the other's position in the aftermath of the Treaty of Warsaw. Though both sides claimed to be not encouraging or fomenting unrest in the highly complicated region, it is apparent to everyone they have both been actively providing supplies and encouraging resistance to the other power. This has already begun to destabilize the tenuous peace and there are fears that yet another conflict between the two perennial foes could erupt as a result.
   Ottoman intelligence discovered a Russian operation to distribute arms, weapons, and supplies to ultranationalist Georgians. Indeed, proving fears well-founded, upon discovery several thousands Georgians have taken up arms against Ottoman rule, employing guerrilla tactics and extensive resistance in the Caucuses in a bid to restore their region's independence. While Turkish forces have maintained control over the cities, the rural countryside has grown increasingly perilous.
   The Ottomans would not be so innocent themselves in the game of intrigue, however. Many noted that the reconstituted Dagestani rebels were employing Ottoman arms against the Russian force sent to finally pacify the region once and for all. Like the Georgians, the Dagestani rebels have found themselves unable to beat the Russians on the field of battle, so instead have turned towards active resistance. The government of Dagestan hides in the Caucuses, while villages serve as staging-posts and hiding areas for the most convicted zealots. Moscow would be infuriated to learn of the death of the promising General Mikhail Skobelev, the young man's career cut short by an Ottoman-supplied rifle.
   Farther afield, signs of Ottoman empowerment of resistance groups has emerged in Morocco, where several thousand volunteers have joined the embattled King in continued resistance to the Prussian advance. Operations in that theater seem far more bleak though, rumors swirling the Moroccan leader may seek a compromise peace with Governor von Bismarck.

Spanish Civil War Turns Decisively
Is an End Finally in Sight?

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   With Portugal steadfastly refusing to bestir itself, and Brazilian aid not appearing evident, the Spanish Civil War took a decisive turn in 1873. The Austrian and Liberal Spanish forces would push north across the Tagus, meeting Nouvilas and his men at the Battle of Mostoles on April 14th, 1873. The result was a rout of the fanatics, the Catholic Republicans crumbling as they came under increasing pressure. Abandoning the absolutely destitute ruined city of Madrid, Nouvilas and what remained of his men fled west, seeking friendlier territory and hoping to limit French gains as that realm finally bestirred itself in Iberia.
   With the Liberal victory at the Battle of Mostoles, Madrid was returned to the liberal cause two years after the utter sacking of the city by the Portuguese. Francisco Serrano formally restored the title of the city as the Spanish capital, even if most Liberal governance remains conducted from Cordoba. With the fall of Madrid, and the flight of the Catholic Republicans to the west, the north finally stood open. Left undefended and undersupplied, the Catholic Republican forces here crumbled like a house of cards. Valladolid, Salamanca, and Medina del Campo all fell throughout the late summer. By the end of the year, Catholic Republican strength in the old Kingdom of Castile was limited to Galicia and pockets in the north.
   Queen Charlotte announced intervention in Spain on April 20th, 1873, declaring her intention to restore Henry V as the legitimate sovereign of a reconstituted Bourbon realm. French soldiers poured into Navarre, Catalonia, and Aragon. Indeed, initial developments were promising. Nouvilas and his weakened army, fresh from defeat at Mostoles, seemed doomed in the face of 30 French divisions. Neapolitan and French forces united at Zaragoza by late June, Bilbao and Pamplona in Navarre surrendering after substantial bombardments. Indeed, this momentum seemed to presage a royalist triumph, that movement emerging from the shadows in both Liberal and French-controlled Spain, substantial numbers of Spaniards suddenly pining for the very monarchy they had so willingly toppled just half a decade before.
   Yet, the eruption of the French Civil War, the disintegration of the chain-of-command, and a massive wave of desertions brought French operations to a complete halt, giving the Catholic Republicans breathing-room they needed. Nouvilas, who had scrupulously avoided battle, engaged the now largely-abandoned Neapolitans at the Battle of Zuera. A surprise victory turned the tide in the Aragonese-Catalonian theater. The Neapolitans retreated to Molina, with Zaragoza falling back into Nouvilas’ hands. A wave of popular enthusiasm in Catalonia has seen the abandoned French forces now besieged at Tortosa and Pamplona, Barcelona likewise being returned to the Catholic-Republican fold. Some of Nouvilas’ lieutenants embarked on a campaign into France itself, pushing into the anarchic civil war in that realm. In short, though the Catholic Republican cause may be on the verge of collapse in Asturias and Castile, it remains very much alive in Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia. Still, with the numbers in his enemy’s favor, Nouvilas’ situation looks far more dire than even a year ago. Some have questioned his commitment to the cause…

Collapse of the Xing Dynasty
Koreans Capture Renci Emperor, Make Push South

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

 
   The Xing Dynasty, which had come to power on a wave of nativist sentiment in in the late 1830s, was on its last legs by 1873. Indeed, many who had helped the Xing expel the Manchu oppressors remained alive to see the Réncí Emperor besieged in Xian by yet another wave of barbarians. The siege of the Xing capital continued throughout most of 1873, stretching well over a year as defenders beat back several Korean assaults in May and June. Still, with victories for the Joseon against the Xing at the battles of Bengbu and Guyuan, there was little prospect of the siege being lifted. Watching his inheritance disintegrate, and seeing the wretched conditions in Xi’an, the Emperor finally announced his decision to surrender the city on August 3rd, 1873. The Réncí Emperor was forced to sign an immediate peace with Korea, formally recognizing himself as a subject of Yi Ho, commanding all of his followers to join the Koreans, and ceding all worldly possessions to the government in Seoul. He was renamed Xing Yong and forcibly relocated to Seoul, where the former emperor was imprisoned.
   Korean successes on the battlefield were followed with major diplomatic wins. With the fall of Xi’an France and Austria, the two preeminent European powers, agreed to recognize Emperor Yi Ho as the sovereign of China, providing Joseon Korea with a substantial degree of legitimacy in their invasion on the international scene. In China proper though, the willingness of foreign powers to recognize a Korean-led China helped to reconcile many former Xing-backers with the Republican cause. Indeed, a series of riots in southern China would see dozens of westerners murdered shortly after they had thrown their lot in with the Koreans. The Habsburgs, in particular, are viewed as an invasive, imperialist menace.
   With the collapse of the Xing, the conflict took on a different tone. No longer was the fight one over the future of China, but whether or not China would exist as a sovereign state at all. A substantial group of former Xing officials arrived in Nanjing and prostrated themselves in from of Li Hongzhang, pledging their loyalty to the Chinese Republic. Nearly every Xing outpost in the south wasted no time in changing sides, the Xing supporters utterly aghast at the treatment of the Renci Emperor. It was too late for most Xing garrisons in the north, most of that half of the country being overrun in the late summer and early fall. Still, many remember the ethnic risings of southern China in the Qing-Xing transition and wonder if the loyalty to the Republic might remain shallow among many of these groups.
   Thus, in the sixth year of the Chinese Civil War, the Republicans triumphed over the Xing. Their victory came not through any act of their own, but the sheer brute strength of Joseon Korea in shattering the Xing Dynasty. Now begins the true final battle for the fate of this extremely important region. Will the Chinese Republicans triumph and shatter an internal order that has governed the region for millennia or will the Koreans succeed, placing the Han under foreign dominance once more?

The Uneven Recovery
Economic Rebound in Parts of Europe a Brief Respite or Turning-Point?

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Of the four primary causes of the Panic of 1872, two were resolved by 1873. With the Suez placed under Austrian and French guardianship, and the Prussian-Scandinavian rapprochement, trade from Asia resumed uneasily. Still, North America remained under an increasingly harsh British naval blockade and grain from the Americas was unable to be transported. This last issue would remain increasingly relevant with the eruption of the War of the Regency. France, one of the agricultural powerhouses of Europe, suddenly found itself in a civil war, further driving up the cost of grain as the supply became ever-smaller. Naturally, the established food-producers of the Habsburg Monarchy, Poland, and Russia were able to benefit from this.
   Indeed, of the continental powers, 1873 would perhaps prove best economically for Emperor Charles VIII’s domain. Extensive foreign credit was secured, the liberal Swiss Republic lending to Vienna after hearing news of the Brünnerisch Decrees, excited about the first tepid signs of liberal concessions in the autocratic monarchy. Likewise, further advances were gained from New Holland and Korea, both who saw merit in cultivating good relations with the Habsburgs. Thus, by using tax revenue, foreign credit, and profits from Suez trade, the emperor was able to offer a substantial bailout package to the various princes and minor nobles of the Holy Roman Empire. Naturally, the conditions of the bailout were adoption of the Brünnerisch Decrees within the Empire proper, a historic development as feudal power was severely curtailed in the Holy Roman Empire for the first time in its history. Desperate for aid, there was little objection among the weak vassals. With the Empire’s economic situation stabilized, the arrival of foreign credit from France, and a booming harvest, Vienna’s economic condition soared. “The longer France burns, the more the world looks to Austria,” said one domestic observer. Only debt servicing and extensive mobilization remain significant costs for the Habsburg Monarchy’s now growing economy.
  

[Spamage]

Scandinavia and Britain would likewise see limited improvement in their respective economic conditions, though it would not be as sizable as the rebound experienced by Austria. Russian credit would stabilize the freefall in the Scandinavian economy. The efforts of Queen Catherine to retool the Scandinavian banking system and embark on public works reassured investors spooked about the various financial issues of the previous year. Dismissing Prime Minister Monrad, and replacing him with Louis Gerhard de Geer, resulted in a secondary influx of capital from private investors in the Netherlands and Prussia, a vote of confidence in the move. Still, Scandinavia remains an importer of food, the growing cost of essentials looming in the background while Russian economic aid has only been guaranteed throughout the conclusion of 1873. Without broader global economic stabilization, there remains the risk of backsliding.
   In Britain, the economy would recover from rock-bottom due to the relatively greater chaos in France, the growing wartime industry, efforts by the Crown to embark on rationing, and the demonstrated continued dominance of the British navy in the Atlantic. Money received from Colombia in exchange for the sale of distant colonial outposts likewise helped the situation. Henry X’s call to aid the nation and defend against the invasion was answered in both Britain proper and the Americas. By all signs, the people of the British Union have proven willing to endure sacrifices in order to ensure that the Transatlantic bond remains unbroken. Some believe the government could even capitalize further with the sale of war bonds.
   Yet, despite the relative improve of these nations’ economic condition, the overall state of the global economic can best be described as poor. Fighting in the Americas, Western Europe, and Asia has continued to weigh on speculation. Economic conditions in the Netherlands, Prussia, and the Holy Roman Empire are middling. Despite efforts to integrate their economies and pivot to Pacific trade, the North American allies continue to struggle with the blockade. While Iran and the Durrani Empire have continued to demonstrate growth unabated, their economies have not yet matured to a point where they can fully offset global economic headwinds.

[Spamage]

The Zenith of Power: Concert of Europe Part IV
Turn 4: 1874

The World in 1874
(Made by Me)

Nations, Leaders, and Players

Kingdom of France: Queen Mother Charlotte von Hohenzollern (X)
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)
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)
Chinese Republic: Protector of the Nation Li Hongzhang (HCP & Devout Centrist)
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
Habsburg Monarchy: Moderate
Kingdom of the Netherlands: Moderate
Kingdom of Prussia: Moderate
Russian Republic: Moderate
Tokugawa Shogunate: Moderate
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate-Weak
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate-Weak
Confederation of New England: Moderate-Weak
Durrani Empire: Moderate-Weak
Kingdom of Quebec: Moderate-Weak
Kingdom of Mexico: Moderate-Weak
British Union: Weak
Chinese Republic: Weak
Kingdom of France: Weak
United Kingdom of Louisiana: Weak

Popularity

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

Current Global Conflicts:
War of the Regency: White France vs. Blue France (1873-)
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: Chinese Republicans vs. Joseon Korea (1867-)
American War: British Union vs. United Kingdom of Louisiana, Kingdom of Quebec, Kingdom of Mexico, Confederation of New England (1872-)

Kingdom of France (Whites)

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-War it is, Queen Charlotte. Xavier and his cowards, too blind to see the true potential in your recent actions, have plunged France into the worst domestic chaos since the Fronde. Though Padania is undoubtedly one of the heartlands of rebel sentiment, a good deal of France is up in arms. While much of the Northeast remains loyal, and Paris is secure for the time being, the Blues have made substantial gains throughout the south and west. With the War of the Regency now in full-swing, your son’s reign potentially hangs in the balance. How will you ensure that the war is one and the traitors receive their just punishments?

-Many believe now is more crucial than ever to secure foreign backing. Although the sight of foreign troops on French soil may be too much for your supporters to bear for the time being, undoubtedly cultivating solid relationships with some of the other European powers could prove beneficial. Xavier, whose daughter is married to the Habsburg heir, will undoubtedly be doing the same. While Prussia has been a fairly reliable ally, there are growing questions about their commitment to your pact, given their erratic dealings with Scandinavia over the past year without consulting you. Will you secure some sort of foreign backing, either direct or indirect, or should the French Civil War be won by French men with French weapons? How will you guarantee that foreign powers don’t take advantage of the vacuum in Western Europe?

-With the conservatives and liberals vacating the National Assembly in Paris and fleeing to their emergency government in Avignon, you have been left in total control of the legislature. You now have extremely limited opposition within the socialist-reactionary rump body. This gives you a good deal of freedom in drafting emergency orders, enacting overdue domestic policies, and pushing through your agenda. Although war has broken out, undoubtedly the work of the legislature must not cease. What policies will you adopt for the Kingdom of France in 1874?

Habsburg Monarchy

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Vienna seems to stand alone as the sole source of relative stability in Europe. There are crises everywhere. France has exploded, the tensions of thirty years being let out in an orgy of violence. Spain smolders, the fight seeming to drag on endlessly. To the east, the Ottomans and Russians each seem to be undermining key assumptions in the Treaty of Warsaw. Prussia remains an enigma, though continued brutality in Morocco makes many wary of Berlin as a potentially vicious rival. Naples is upset over the events in Corsica and could prove unpredictable in the Mediterranean. While you have recently reconciled with Scandinavia, many remember how quick they were to turn to Russia in the past. In such times, many have looked to your government for leadership, Emperor Charles. How will you handle the diplomatic disorder?

-Reforms to the feudal order were impressive to both foreign and domestic observers. Although there was some grumbling from the nobility, most were gratified that the Brünnerisch Decrees did not include substantial tax hikes like those enacted by Queen Charlotte of France. Among those celebrating the move were a group of nobles who formally married their morganatic partners, putting an end to the farce that had long prevented the legality of such unions. Still, the opening of the door to reform has caused some to demand that you go further.

-The economic situation has rebounded to great effect, helped in part by the soaring costs of grain and food for much of Europe. Sometimes it pays to be an agricultural powerhouse. Numerous firms have fled the chaos in France for Vienna, setting up emergency operations in the city. Questions over Austrian credit seem to be on the backburner for the time being. Should current conditions be maintained, your government may even run a surplus this year. There are questions as what ought to be done with that money. Some would have you pay down existing debts, eliminating the need for reliance on foreign credit. Others believe that you should use the money to stay mobilized in the face of so much uncertainty. Your son, Archduke Louis-Henry has proposed that you fund reforms he is pursuing to the Polish army. There is also the prospect of internal infrastructure or aid to domestic businesses. Perhaps some of the money could go to breaking up of feudal estates? What will you do?

Kingdom of Scandinavia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-1874 will be an election year, the actions of the liberal-socialist coalition government coming up for a vote. Given the economic chaos of the past few years and shifts in foreign policy, there are some voters looking for a change. Mostly, the consensus leans towards a conservative victory. Still, some royal advisors believe it would be wise to show royal support for the incumbent coalition, given the uncertainty a change in government could mean for recent economic reforms in addition to the erratic foreign situation. Of course, this risks embarrassment if the people did not respond to such a measure. What will royal policy be towards the election of 1874?

-Russian credit has stabilized the domestic economic situation and seemingly averted the worst of the crisis. Domestic reforms have likewise generated a good deal of confidence in your government’s ability to weather the worst. Moscow has stipulated that it would be limited to only a year though, leaving them the option of either renewing or cancelling it moving forward. Thus far President Suvorin has said little about what his government will do, but should he refuse, you may still require some degree of foreign aid, given the soaring costs of food and uncertainty over trade. Will you request an extension from Russia? Or should other economic partners be sought out, either in Vienna, Naples, or even Amsterdam?

-Prince Charles of Hanover, the heir to the throne, is now a strapping lad of 15 and many believe it is time to either betroth or wed the young man in order to guarantee the survival of your proposed line of succession. Though there were whispers of a Prussian match with Princess Dorothea, the agreement never came to pass. Your husband Archduke Friedrich of Austria has proposed his niece Archduchess Maria Vittoria of Austria (b. 1860), daughter of the heir to the Habsburg throne. Your mother and grandmother back Princess Caroline of the Netherlands (b. 1863) given dynastic connections. The exiled Ivan VII of Russia also has a daughter of an age with Charles, Grand Duchess Charlotte Ivanovna of Russia (b. 1859). Beyond these clear choices, there is no shortage of candidates. Will you find a bride for Prince Charles?

British Union

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Henry X, the military situation in North America seems to have not deteriorated for the time being, but some question whether the American colonies will be able to survive yet another Francophone onslaught in the coming year. London is divided on the matter, as many point to growing strains evident in New England and Louisiana as signs that victory against the invaders may be closer than believed. The bombardment of Boston, while harsh, has underscored that Britain’s presence on the seas ought not to be underestimated. Still, between the war and the blockade, the costs of the fight are mounting. Will you continue the war, potentially reversing any of the enemy gains and toppling the weakened American governments, or it is time to seek some sort of peace?

-The disturbing spike in Irish nationalism and demands for home rule has not gone unnoticed. There have been reports of both Catholic Republican and other sorts of rabble-rousers making their rounds on the Emerald Isle. There are even reports of Irish immigrants in Quebec and Louisiana writing to kin back home and decrying the British war-effort. Some degree of dissent has even been published in local newspapers, Irish nationalists inquiring why events in far-off America ought to be their concern. Some in London have called for limited wartime censorship of Irish publications given the dire state of global affairs in addition to a crackdown on separatism. There are others in London who view this as counterproductive. Which approach will you adopt? How will you handle the growing reports of Irish dissatisfaction?

-More alarming than the Americas has been the Pacific theater. While your moves to aid the Australians and encourage local resistance have helped, the situation remains dire. Without boots on the ground, it is likely that the invading New Hollanders will achieve their gains. The damage to your fleet here has also raised alarm bells.  Many have called for the relocation of ships and soldiers to the region to bolster the defense, though this could weaken your hereto far successful blockade of the American realms. Quebec’s occupation of New Caledonia seems to be a nuisance, but these scattered islands seem not to currently warrant a response with Australia itself under theat. Will you relocate men and resources to Australia? Or should they be left to fend for themselves for the time being, you coming to rescue them only when victory in North America has been secured? Perhaps you could turn to Japan or Korea for limited aid against New Holland if your resources are too stretched, though either power would likely made demands for concessions…

Russian Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Suvorin, with France in disarray, there is a power vacuum in a global scale. Russia has options in every direction. The collapse of the Xing Dynasty and recognition of Korea as possessing the Mandate of Heaven by Vienna and Paris practically begs for a Russian response. Poland sits weakened and seemingly vulnerable. Scandinavia has been economically dependent on you for the past few months and this could give you a potential influence in the policies of that realm. There are others who would have you follow up on the collapse of the Turkic revolts to assault the Durrani and push into India. How will you handle the new and shifting global order?

-1874 will see a parliamentary election, the second since the abolition of the old military-dictatorship under Menshikov and Gorchakov. Prime Minister Chicherin and his coalition must go face the voters, who could perhaps be itching for a change. Early indications show a decline in reactionary sentiment, the aura of the Czars not possessing its former allure, but matters are truly up in the air. Though you have been identified with right-wing parties, most mainstream political groups would likely be willing to work with you given your recent diplomatic victories. Will you get involved in the campaign, perhaps even show a preference for a specific ideology or movement? Some question as well whether you ought not to use your tremendous state power to gain a result suitable to your sensibilities. How will you handle the Russian 1874 Parliamentary Election?

-Ottoman arms have somehow been given to the Dagestani, making many in Moscow quite irate with the Sublime Porte. Though that nationalist, separatist movement seems to be on its last legs once more, developments in Georgia are quite concerning. Given Russia’s role as protector of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, the image of Turkish soldiers combing through the Caucuses in order to hunt rebellious Georgians is particularly nasty. Still, too belligerent a tone risks reviving the Great Eastern Wars, an uncertain prospect given the instability already present in Europe proper. Your militaristic advisors believe that the developments in the west are not a curse, but an opportunity, forcing Vienna to look west while you deal with the Sultan. How will you deal with Georgia and Dagestan?

Ottoman Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Given the setbacks of the past year, perhaps demands for reform were inevitable. Still, whispers of constitutional demands have remained rumors for decades. Only in December 1873 have the conspirators made themselves known. A petition for constitutional reform, signed by a bevy of local officials, generals, average subjects, admirals, and even some notable imams has been published in Istanbul. The document demands the immediate establishment of a constitution or constitutional assembly, protection of Turkish dominance, and limits to your domestic authority. Naturally many have been insulted, viewing such treasonous talk at a time of potential war as both seditious and unproductive. Should you make concessions, there are some at Court who believe you ought to promise a constitution at some point in the future, either indefinite or a specific date, in order to satisfy the malcontents and buy yourself some time. Issuing a constitution by yourself could be an option, as it allows you to really shape the government however you see fit, even if it means the reforms are quite hollow. There’s also the ability to purely ignore the demands and hope they are overshadowed by broader developments elsewhere. What will you do about this annoyance?

-The wretched Russians have stirred up disorder in Georgia, using weapons and promises of liberation to succor the nationalists in that region. While they point to the ongoing Dagestani conflict as your doing, it is a wholly different matter, given that region had already been in revolt. Though the total number of Georgians at arms is quite small, it is an annoyance and there are legitimate arguments that it is meant as a prelude by Moscow towards war. Although some believe that one-on-one the fight could be more balanced than the Second Great Eastern War, many are alarmed that the events in France may leave the other powers distracted and unable to aid you should the worst occur. Furthermore, trust towards your new ‘vassals’ in the Balkans is quite scant in Istanbul. How will you respond to these Russian provocations and what will you do about events in the Caucuses?

-Fighting continues in Egypt and there are fears that a French withdrawal could leave your men outgunned unless you funnel more men into the region. Given diplomatic tensions elsewhere, this may not be ideal. King Ahmed Urabi has offered a compromise, one where he assumes a similar status to the Balkan Kingdoms (under your authority, but with a good deal of domestic power), which could end the fighting instantly but leave Egypt the most independent it has been since the rebellion in the 1830s was crushed. How will you respond to his proposal and the larger conflict in Egypt as a whole?

[Spamage]

Kingdom of Naples

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Diplomatically, Naples potentially finds itself as a kingmaker in global affairs. The outrages committed by the British at Cape Verde have given your realm a just cause for war in the eyes of many Italian subjects. France has imploded, given you potential room to maneuver in regards to the Padanian Question. In Spain, your realm has committed a good deal of troops and could secure a potential victory, though with the French establishment of a “Royalist” faction, there are questions as to whether you should switch from backing the liberals to restoring Henry V, who has remained in Quebec for yet another year. How will your realm deal with so much diplomatic uncertainty, King Charles?

-Those treacherous French have violated the spirit of your agreement for Corsica, using deceit to propose independence to that isle. Needless to say, many at Court were quite angered by the events and have encouraged you to strike at the vulnerable state while France plunges into civil war. Still, that small island has a proud history of independence, and could prove a pain to seize. What will your government’s response be to the recent vote there and will you recognize Alexander of Bourbon-Corsica as Grand Duke? Perhaps he could be incorporated as a vassal to your realm, just as Tuscany was around a decade ago? Others have raised the prospect of punishing Queen Regent Charlotte for her deceit by closing the Mediterranean to French shipping, a provocative proposal, but one that could see French access to India severely limited all the while allowing Habsburg shipping to continue unmolested.

-Your government has been quite progressive in its reforms, enacting broad labor laws, allowing the government to continue to function under your broad coalition, funding a bank, and implementing a grain dole. With so many reforms proposed, the Habsburg Brünnerisch Decrees have been watched with a great deal of interest. While the Neapolitan nobility has been a bit more curtailed compared to their Austrian counterparts, they still maintain a good deal of influence in society and vested privileges on the books from centuries ago. Nobility is as much a marker of status as it is hereditary, the elites having the option to purchase titles for more than a century. The socialists and Catholic Republicans have called on you to follow the example of Emperor Charles and implement your own reforms to not only prevent the creation of more nobles, but kneecap any power of existing nobles already through estate taxes and forcing them into equal status. France could serve as a warning of what would happen should you go too far though, many noting that your brother Prince Alfonso could be Naples’ very own Prince Xavier. How will you handle the issue of the nobility?

United Kingdom of Louisiana

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Henry-Philippe, the last year has been somewhat of a disappointment for Louisiana. As Quebec scored victories in Albany and the Midwest, the campaigns in Tennessee and North Carolina have turned into somewhat of a debacle. Though limited territorial gains were possible in the south due to the Mexican expeditionary force, these have been offset by deteriorating conditions elsewhere. As the American War drags on into yet another year, people look for results. Will you continue the struggle or should the growing dovish faction at Court be entertained? What will Louisiana’s military policy look like in 1874?

-Sensing weakness, the Native American tribes to the west have grown restive. In addition to the remnants of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and other indigenous groups that feel they have been mistreated have repeatedly shown signs of challenging your control over the vast sparsely populated west. Raids on caravans, trespassing on private Louisianan territory, and refusal to negotiate have all popped up throughout the region. Given the historic British relationship with the Native Americans of Louisiana in addition to the already simmering racial tensions around Liberia, some in New Orleans urge you to get this under control, perhaps through the expansion of the network of forts in the region, a show of force or aggression, or economic punishment. There are others that remain afraid about potential warfare and collateral civilian damage should the worst come to pass. This is not even to mention the growing movements sympathetic to the native cause, particularly within the socialist camp. How will New Orleans deal with increased agitation among the native population?

-The “M Project” has achieved significant breakthroughs, including demonstrating the capability to generate electricity. With government backing this technology could prove world-changing and facilities operation within the next couple of years, but the issue of funding remains quite significant. Given the ongoing conflict, blockade, and domestic economic malaise, spending government funds on such a project at present could be quite divisive. Still, the potential of such an advancement in a realm such as yours could be immeasurable. How will you respond to the scientific breakthrough achieved within your borders in the past year?

Qajar Iran

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-With Ottoman-Russian tensions flaring yet again and France divided by internal conflicts, should you wish, you could strike in almost any direction or play any power against another. Iran sits in the unique position of being one area not beset by rebellion, internal economic malaise, or effective isolation. How will you capitalize on this unique situation? Some would have you strike into India alongside the Durrani and undermine the colonial oppressors. Further hostilities with the Ottomans are not a remote possibility either, Egypt potentially being a tantalizing partner should you wish to move against Istanbul indirectly. There is also the remote possibility of teaming up with the Turk to reverse Russian pressure in the Caucuses, as there are some in Tehran that are wary of Russian efforts to encroach in that region yet again by taking out Dagestan and encouraging rebellions in Georgia. What will Iranian diplomacy look like in 1874?

-The explosion in naval spending has yielded great results and even impressed some foreign observers. Undoubtedly, the Iranian fleet would be able to hold its own in the local region. Still, some in the army have complained that the money ought to be redirected to purchasing and beginning the manufacture of western land weaponry, given they have seen actual combat over the past decade, unlike the fleet. Funding could be split, but that would leave no one happy. The two branches have demonstrated a growing rivalry and it is increasingly becoming accepted that you much make your preference clear. While pivoting to army spending could be wise, given the tensions in the west, that may undermine the newfound effectiveness of your ships. Still, many urge you to remain cautious in crossing your generals, given their role in potentially determining outcomes on the field. How will you handle the internal questions over military funding?

Kingdom of Quebec

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Henry, though the war in New York and Ohio has bogged down into stationary warfare, many in Montreal note the success of Quebecois soldiers in the past year. Major gains have been secured across the western theater and thousands of British soldiers that did not escape Albany are now safely in your custody. Still, your allies are in worse conditions, in large part due to the blockade and active British operations targeting them. Will the war be continued? If so, what is to be done to stabilize the alliance in order to guarantee New England and Louisiana do not bow out early? Will you build on the gains of last year, if so, how?

-Many have been intrigued by the numerous inventions deployed against the Royal Navy over the last year, “torpedoes” in particular showing great promise. There are also reports of research breakthroughs with some “unnatural” land weaponry that could aid combat in the entrenched lines. The Quebecois Admiralty, itching for glory like the Army, has quietly begun to lobby for an attempt to be made to break the blockade and put an end to the British-imposed suffering in North America. This could be risky, given the historic prestige and experience of the British fleet, but also has a high upside. Will you seek to break the blockade through naval action, or is losing the navy too much of a potential disaster?

-Your efforts to decrease resistance have divided the local population, those favoring your offer of land redistribution and better working conditions facing off against loyalists to London. Collaborators in many cities have been murdered outright and it is clear the vast majority of the populace sits somewhere from ambivalent to hostile. Some military analysts believe that more people would support your movement if future retribution from London after the war could be prevented. Indeed, the stubborn resistance of British Imperial strength has left many in the occupied territories still thinking that a reversal may be possible at some point. Some have argued for harsher punishment for resistance. If damaging towns is unpopular, perhaps the wealth of the regions could be looted. Some in your economic camp have argued for confiscation of land, goods, or equipment from those caught in the act of resisting, though this could potentially engender more hatred. How will you handle the continued resistance from the British-Americans?

United Provinces of New Holland

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Your boldness in assaulting Australia has achieved great gains and most military advisors see that colony as eventually falling under your total control if you are given time to consolidate your gains and assault further. Still, it must be noted you are facing a somewhat undermanned region, most of London’s power concentrated in North America. You are not a formal ally of the American powers and there are some concerned they could very well leave you out to dry. How will you prosecute the war in 1874 and what will you do to make sure you are not left out of any potential peace settlement?

-Following your loan to Vienna, foreign traders have begun to take note. As a remote, stable power, there has been an increased interest among bankers and traders in Europe to expand operations in both Willemstad and Batavia, viewing them as potential economic hubs in East Asia and Oceania. Given turmoil in France, Eastern Europe, Spain, and the British Europe, this window seems wide open. The closure of the Suez caused great instability in the financial system as well as trade, so it is hoped that by having a matured market in your realm, the potential global ripples of such a disruption could be lessened. In order to expand operations in your realm though, these companies are requesting generous tax breaks, government subsidies, and a light touch in regards to regulation. While some view this as a no-brainer, there are many New Hollanders who are wary of the precedent and fear an influx of foreign wealth could deprive your own citizens of ownership of the economy. Still, this is also a tantalizing potential for advancing the economy to the next stage. What do you think of this economic proposal?

Kingdom of Mexico

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Adept handling of the recent election has resulted in a sizable conservative majority. Given this is the first government under the new constitutional system, there are many issues that must now be addressed. Who will you name as Prime Minister? What policies should the new government focus on, keeping in mind its right-wing bent. How will you direct the new government to deal with the ongoing war? People look to you for direction, King Luis.

-Some advisors have come forward with evidence that Brazil has begun funding an aggressive outreach effort to the native Mayans in the Yucatan and Guatemala, pushing Catholic-Republican ideology and preaching the merit to separation from Mexico. Several priests have been arrested and relocated to the capitol. Needless to say, these reports are alarming. Brazil has always been viewed as an untrustworthy partner, unlike Colombia, but the encouragement of sedition is a next level entirely. Rio maintains its innocence, claiming these reports are an effort by conservatives in your realm to distract national attention. How will you handle this provocative act? Some would launch a preemptive strike into Brazilian Central America, Colombia be damned, in order to protect your national sovereignty. There’s also the prospect of encouraging separatism in Brazil’s newly acquired provinces as well, those that chafe under the rule of Catholic Republicans. Not responding could be seen as a sign of weakness, but also may be the most prudent path. Still, should a revolt ultimately erupt in this region it could leave you embarrassed and discredited. What will you do?

Holy Republic of Colombia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-At long last the Holy Republic will experience its first true test of the new constitution, with elections to be held in 1874. The ideologies abound and there is excitement in the air. There is a myriad of political groups and ideologies that are seeking office. Hardcore Catholic Republicans seek to limit any further reform and roll back what are seen as the excesses of your past few years. A more grassroots, pro-worker faction has emerged within Catholic-Republicanism as well. Moderates, generally seen as your camp, argue for the continued opening of society under the current model. There are republicans calling the past thirty years a mistake, secular liberals proposing internal economic reform, radical socialists calling for the workers to rise up, and reactionaries who still pine for the brief Kingdom of Colombia or Henry V and Spanish rule. With the voting system untried, and your popularity quite high, you could probably get a result of your choosing should you make your opinion known, though some feel that undermines allowing votes in the first place. What will you do about the 1874 Colombian general election?

-You have played both sides quite well in the American war. Indeed, Colombia seems to be on cordial terms with everyone, but reports of a Brazilian-led effort to foster Catholic Republicanism in Mexico's south may force your hand. Perhaps it is at long last time to cut the strings of affection to Brazil, that state being seen more and more as a source of unnecessary instability? Many are wary of this, though, fearing diplomatic isolation and used to friendly ties with Rio. On top of all of this, there have also been vocal complaints in the London press that your continued trade with states such as Mexico is only serving to undermine the British blockade and undermine their efforts. What will Colombian diplomacy look like amid such uncertainty?

Chinese Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Greetings Protector of the Nation Li Hongzhang. Under your leadership the Chinese Republican movement has endured. With the Xing Dynasty collapsing once and for all to your north, you stand alone as the sole ethnic Han state in the midst of the Korean invasion. Indeed, Joseon Korea has proven to be a formidable opponent, conquering much of the north, aided by their largely westernized economic and military systems, cooperation with France and Austria, and Japan’s sluggishness. As your struggle to unite China under a republican system continues into yet another year, what will you do to leave yourself victorious? How will you handle the military situation and guarantee victory over foreign oppression?

-While the Xing were largely nominal allies with Scandinavia, and France and the Habsburgs have cooperated with the Koreans, you have largely stood alone on the global stage. Some in your government believe that it is time for this to change. Foreign backing could deter further intervention in the internal Chinese situation, provide valuable supplies, and turn the tide in the conflict. Will you seek out potential allies? The Russians seem to have a similarly authoritarian republican system to yourself, while Japan undoubtedly has an interest in deterring Korean expansion in East Asia. There are also other options, such as Britain, New Holland, or even those powers that have sided with the Koreans. What will be your approach to the diplomatic situation?

-Your movement has largely been one of reform, seeking to shatter the old Chinese customs and implement a newer, more westernized model of governance and internal affairs. This, naturally, has experience significant blowback from those attached to Confucianism, Taoism, the old imperial order, and Chinese folk customs. Not a major issue when the Xing served as the pole for traditionalism, but with the dynasty’s collapse there has been an influx of ex-Xing officials and soldiers into your movement. Will you moderate your reformist tendencies in order to appease them, or should the cause of Chinese internal reform continue unabated?

Confederation of New England

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Chairman Wilson, your nation has borne the brunt of the British assault. Boston has burned, Connecticut been raided, and thousands dislocated amidst the chaos. Though your men achieved victory alongside Quebec in the siege of Albany, the move on New York City proper has descended into brutal trench warfare, the prospect of advance undermined by efforts on both sides to defend the land they currently hold. Many prayed for more results by now. How will you prosecute the war in the coming year?

-The damage to Boston has haunted your government, but even worse was the damage to the domestic industry. Still, New England does have factories all around the region. Given the emergency and dire military situation, some in your government are calling for an emergency nationalization of all factories and repurposing them for wartime purposes, given the loss of production in Boston. While this is feasible and could offset the shortage in weapons and ammunition production, it could alienate the owners of said factories in addition to the workers. Without nationalization, others believe that the losses could also be offset by Quebecois and Louisianan trade, though this would have the potential of damaging your economic competitiveness long-term. How will you approach the remaining factories and firms in New England in cities besides Boston that have thus far been unharmed?

[Spamage]

Kingdom of the Netherlands

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Election returns are in, your majesty, and with the popularity of your rule, have yielded a conservative-liberal alliance in government, loyal to the Crown. With this victory comes the question of what domestic policy ought to be pursued, events in the rest of Europe meaning there are many tantalizing possibilities. France and Naples have pursued labor laws and taxation reforms, though this ultimately led to the War of the Regency. The Netherlands still has vestiges of the old nobility, though not as powerful as it once was. Some would have you go further than Austria and abolish the significance of nobility outside of the Royal Family entirely. There is also the prospect of changes to tariffs, handling the ethnic Scandinavians who moved into Groningen, and reforms to the Dutch Church. With so much potential, what will you focus on?

-The Flemish, seeing the French Civil War as an opportunity, have organized into pan-nationalist organizations, gone on strike, and demanded more autonomy from Paris. Some believe this could be the opening for a Dutch intervention in the fight, just as you did in Groningen two years ago. Still, this could be risky, as the Flemish issue was the cause of the most recent French invasion of the Netherlands. Perhaps the offer of military support in return for the transfer of the Dutch-speaking provinces would be appropriate? Or maybe even the Low Countries as a whole? Hawks would have you strike first and dare either Charlotte or Xavier to take the land back. Of course, you could maintain a status of noninvolvement, though this could be embarrassing in the Flemings face consequences from Paris. What is to be done?

Durrani Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-With the eruption of civil war in France, the situation in French India has never seemed more uncertain. Colonial officials, unsure of who to back between the Blues and Whites, have largely remained neutral and focused on keeping stability in France’s vast colonial holdings. Without the backing of the metropole, and hundreds of thousands of locals outnumbering them, there are legitimate feelings that now could be the time to strike, either on your own or with Persian aid, making a blow on French colonial rule for the first time in a century. Still, the prospect is risky given uncertainty over what will happen in Paris. Will you adopt an aggressive posture and take advantage of chaos in Europe to reverse colonial gains, or should you wait and see?

-Your dynasty is Punjabi, but the regions controlled by your Empire contain a wide array of ethnic groups including Turkmen, Uzbek, Baloch, Punjabi, Hazara, and Shina. It is not secret that, especially with recent engagement with the modern world and reform, that these groups have growing increasingly resentful of your authority and the dominance of Pashtuns in your Court. While some degree of reform is feasible, your generals war that emboldening the various ethnic groups could undermine cohesiveness and have extended consequences. Indeed, among the Pashtun there is little desire to compromise with those that have been deemed to have been subjugated. How will you handle this complicated and potentially quite troublesome situation?


Army Strength:

Kingdom of France (Whites)
45 division Army of the North
33 division Army of Aquitaine
20 division Army of Belgium
15 division Army of Lorraine
6 division Army of Pamplona
4 division Army of Navarre
7 division Army of Tarragona
(130/149 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Kingdom of France (Blues)
30 division Army of Lyon
25 division Army of Toulouse
25 division Army of Brittany
20 division Army of Anjou
20 division Army of Padania
(120/140 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Kingdom of France (Neutral India and Colonies)
10 division Army of India
10 division Army of Egypt
9 division Army of South Vietnam
9 division Army of North Vietnam
2 division Army of Ceylon
3 division Army of Sumatra
1 division  Garrison of Suez
(46/93 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Habsburg Monarchy (Excluding HRE)
20 division Army of Transylvania
10 division Army of Austria
10 division Army of Lombardy
15 division Army of Silesia
12 division Spanish Expeditionary Force
5 division Army of Madagascar
6 division Chinese Expeditionary Force
1 division Ethiopian Army
(79/299 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
20 division Army of Jutland
10 division Army of Finland
5 division Army of Fujain
5 division Army of Sudan
5 division Army of Cyprus
(45/104 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

British Union
20 division Army of Britain
16 division Army of Tennessee
15 division Army of Ohio
10 division Army of Virginia
26 division Army of New York
5 division Home Guard
(92/121 divisions possible raised, max 4% conscription)

Russian Republic
10 division Army of St. Petersburg
30 division Army of Minsk
35 division Army of Kiev
15 division Army of Romania
40 division Army of the Caucuses
10 division Army of Turkestan
30 division Army of Manchuria
10 division Army of Inner Mongolia
10 division Army of Mongolia
(190/306 divisions possible raised, max 10% conscription)

Ottoman Empire
52 division Army of the Danube
5 division Army of Egypt
65 division Army of the Caucuses/Armenia
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
17 division Spanish Expeditionary Force
5 division Army of the Po
5 division Army of Tunis
(47/102 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
13 division Army of Des Moines
16 division Army of Atlanta
1 division Army of Bermuda
2 division Army of Jamaica
2 division Army of Cuba
(34/49 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Joseon Korea
35 division Chinese Army
20 division Army of Central China
30 division Army of Manchuria
15 division Army of Taiyuan
10 division Army of Heze
10 division Army of Borneo
(120/140 divisions possible raised, max 10% conscription)

Kingdom of Poland
10 division Army of Warsaw
(10/55 divisions possible raised, max 16% conscription)

Qajar Iran
5 division Army of Erzurum
5 division Army of Syria
5 division Army of Basra
5 division Army of Qatar
8 division Army of Homorzegan
3 division Army of Mashad
3 division Army of Gwadar
1 division Imperial Guard
(35/130 divisions possible raised, max 20% conscription)

Kingdom of Quebec
18 division Army of Ohio
14 division Army of New York
5 division Army of Champlain
5 division Army of the Interior
2 division Foreign Legion
3 division Army of the Pacific
(47/48 divisions possible raised, max 16% conscription)

Kingdom of Mexico
9 division Louisianan Expeditionary Force
5 division Royal Guard
2 division Army of the Yucatan
5 division Army of Guatemala
(21/56 divisions possible raised, max 15% conscription)

Chinese Republic
50 division Army of Hunan
40 division Army of Nanchang
30 division Army of Hubei
20 division Army of Hefei
20 division Army of Guangxi
20 division Army of Fujian
10 division Army of Chengdu
(190/250 divisions possible raised, max 3% conscription)

United Provinces of New Holland
6 division Army of Western Australia
4 division Army of Northern Australia
4 division Army of Southern Australia
(14/39 divisions possible raised, max 8% conscription)

Holy Republic of Colombia
4 division Army of Haiti
1 division Army of Trinidad
1 division Army of Panama
3 division Army of Cartagena
4 division Army of Maracaibo
2 division Army of Caracas
1 division Army of Venezuela
1 division Army of the Interior
2 division Army of Bogota
2 division Army of Guayaquil
2 division Army of Trujillo
4 division Army of Lima
(27/35 divisions possible raised, max 15% conscription)

Confederation of New England
18 division Army of New York
1 division Army of Boston
(19/19 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
2 division Army of Groningen
5 division Army of Amsterdam
(7/26 divisions possible raised, max 14% conscription)

Spanish Catholic Republic
2 division Army of Galicia
12 division Army of Aragon
(14/14 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)

[KaiserDave]

All to be distributed as propaganda in domestic and foreign press

WHITE GENERAL DEAD: KILLED BY TERRORISTS

The heroic White General Mikhail Dmitriyevich Skobelev, of whom the songs will sing of forever, whose bravery in the Ukraine will never be surpassed, has tragically died in the fighting in Dagestan. The heroic White General, who as a Staff Officer who was always first into the fray in the Second Great Eastern War, whose great deeds helped achieve victory for the homeland, who was known for his clever use of subterfuge and disguise, has tragically died in the fighting in Dagestan. What's more, he was brought down by a Turkish rifle, in the hands of those terrorists who even now receive Turkish support. There is also word of Dagestani terrorists being used to repress the heroic Georgian christians. The White General died only after slaying 10 terrorists with his saber, and bringing down 5 more with his revolver. He died only after making sure those under his command escaped. He died a martyr for Holy Russia, he died a faithful Christian, and he died a hero. There will be a statue erected in Moscow to the White General, to honor his great deeds and sacrifice for our homeland. Already patriots are rushing into the street to demand recompense for his death from the Turkish aggressor, who even now is engaged in hideous crimes against the Georgian Christians...

OFFICIAL ULTIMATUM TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

The Treaty of Warsaw proclaims the RUSSIAN REPUBLIC as the protector of the Christians of the Ottoman Empire. Per proclamations signed by my hand, the Russian Republic takes this duty seriously, and we recognize a bond between brothers of the faith that supersedes the border between Russia and the realms of the House of Osman. Therefore, the Russian Republic is OUTRAGED by the conduct of the Osman overlords in Georgia. The Kremlin has received reports of torture and murder against those Georgian Christians expressly their natural desire for self-government, just as our brothers the Romanians, Bulgars, Serbians, and Greeks have. We also mourn the murder of Major-General Mikhail Dmitriyevich Skobelev, the white-uniformed hero of the Russian people, who died in battle, murdered by terrorists in the employ of the Ottoman Empire. I have instructed the Russian government, and Prime Minister Chicherin to publicize the true nature of these events in all of the press and in the cities and the countryside. Our beloved martyr Skobelev was murdered by the same terrorists who are now harassing the Christians of Georgia. The violations of the Treaty of Warsaw by the Ottoman Empire know no bounds. To that end, we release the following formal demands
The Ottoman Empire will immediately withdraw completely from the territories of Georgia and cede it to the Georgian people.
The Ottoman Empire will immediately stop aiding, abetting, and protecting rebels and terrorists in the Russian province of Dagestan
The Russian Republic seeks peace with the Ottoman Empire, but peace cannot continue if the Ottoman Empire continues to flagrantly violate the terms of the treaty it agreed to. If the Ottoman Empire does not immediately comply with our legitimate and justified demands, there will be steep and severe consequences. We issue this ultimatum with the hope it will guarantee peace and preserve Warsaw.

xAlexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic


Out of Character Note: Very eerie parallels to modern Russian foreign policy, which is an interesting historical observation. Such policy is disgusting of course. This is all in game.

[KaiserDave]

OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION OF STATE

Under no circumstances will the Russian Republic accept Joseon dominion over all China, or the Joseon Emperor on the Dragon Throne. Russia has watched and let our partners take the lead on the affairs of China, but we cannot tolerate total Korean domination over all Asia, especially so long as the unlawfully occupy Russian territory in Transamur, and the Russian city of Vladivostok. The Russian Republic plans no military action at this time, but the Government of the Russian Republic is considering an effort to support the Chinese Republic. I, President Suvorin had held meetings with the government and discussed the Chinese question with more frequency. It is the unanimous opinion of the government, and the view of Prime Minister Chicherin and myself that Joseon domination of China is unacceptable and offensive to the Russian nation. We never plan for conflict, but we intend to defend core Russian interests in that region.

xAlexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic

[Kuumo]

The Treaty of St. Petersburg (1874)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Russian Republic

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Moscow and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 12%.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

[KaiserDave]

The Treaty of St. Petersburg (1874)
A Treaty between the Holy Republic of Colombia and the Russian Republic

I. The signatories hereby confirm their desire for a peaceful and economically productive relationship, and hereby commit to the following:

II. Respective diplomatic embassies will be opened in Moscow and Bogotá.

III. The tariffs for trade between the two nations shall be lowered by 12%.

x Archbishop-President Vicente Arbeláez Gómez

x Alexsey Suvorin, President of the Russian Republic

[KaiserDave]

RUSSIAN MISSION TO FUZHOU

The Government of the Russian Republic hereby organizes a military mission to support the Chinese Republican in their right and moral struggle against ancient arbitrary tyrannies. The Chinese Republic is the only power in China that can provide a bulwark against the rule of princes with oriental delusions of divinity, and against the ever present threat of anarchy, rank democracy, and mob rule. We demand an end to Joseon aggression in China based on fictitious claims. We demand total respect and safety for European colonial holdings. To this end, we are sending an official military mission to Fuzhou in the Chinese Republic to keep stability and deter Joseon's expansionist ambitions. The mission will consist of an initial shipment of bullets, powder, and sabers. It will also consist of a team of around 100 men including officers, engineers, munitions experts, military theorists, political advisors, and staff led by Major-General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov.

All Victory to the Chinese Republic, the only legitimate government of China! Down with Joseon expansionism! Freedom to the oppressed Russians inside Korea!

xBoris Chicherin, Prime Minister of the Russian Republic