Legacy of the Revolution - Gameplay Thread (Turn 2 - 1803)

[Lumine]

Legacy of Revolution

Victory, Glory and Defeat in the Napoleonic Age

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Cast:

French Republic – First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte (Spiral)
United Kingdom – King George III Hanover (OBD)
Hapsburg Monarchy – Emperor Francis II Hapsburg (DC)
Kingdom of Prussia – King Frederick Wilhelm III Hohenzollern (GoTfan)
Russian Empire – Tsar Alexander I Romanov (Kuumo)
Ottoman Empire – Sultan Selim III Osman (AFE)
Spanish Empire – First Secretary Manuel Godoy (Windjammer)
Kingdom of Sweden – King Gustav Adolf IV Vasa (Lakigigar)
Kingdom of Naples – Queen Consort Maria Carolina Hapsburg (Spamage)
Kingdom of Norway-Denmark – Prince Regent Frederick Oldenburg (SuzerainOfSwat)
Kingdom of Portugal – Prince Regent Joao IV Braganza (Dkrol)
United States of America – President Thomas Jefferson (TimTurner)
Kingdom of Sardinia – King Charles Emmanuel IV Savoy (FalterinArc)
Electorate of Bavaria - Prince-Elector Maximilian Joseph IV (King Saul)
Batavian Republic - Ambassador Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck (Dereich)
French Royalists – Charles Philippe, Count of Artois (Caroyln)

[Lumine]

Turn I:

January - December 1802

Popularity:
First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte: Very High
Ambassador Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck: High
King George III Hanover: High
Prince Regent Joao IV Braganza: High
King Frederick Wilhelm III Hohenzollern: Moderate
Tsar Alexander I Romanov: Moderate
King Gustav Adolf IV Vasa: Moderate
Queen Consort Maria Carolina Hapsburg: Moderate
Prince Regent Frederick Oldenburg: Moderate
President Thomas Jefferson: Moderate
Prince-Elector Maximilian Joseph IV: Moderate
Emperor Francis II Hapsburg: Moderate
King Charles Emmanuel IV Savoy: Unpopular
Sultan Selim III Osman: Unpopular
First Secretary Manuel Godoy: Unpopular
Charles Philippe, Count of Artois: Very Unpopular

Economic Performance:

Kingdom of Prussia: High
Kingdom of Norway-Denmark: High
Kingdom of Portugal: High
United States of America: Moderate
French Republic: Moderate
United Kingdom: Moderate
Russian Empire: Moderate
Batavian Republic: Moderate
French Royalists: Low
Hapsburg Monarchy: Low
Spanish Empire: Low
Kingdom of Sweden: Low
Kingdom of Naples: Low
Kingdom of Sardinia: Low
Electorate of Bavaria: Low
Ottoman Empire: Very Low

Army Level:
Merit-based, leveé en masse: France
Merit-based, conscription:
Wealth-based, conscription: Britain
Ancien Régime, traditional: Austria, Russia, Portugal, Denmark, United States, Sweden, Batavia, Naples, Bavaria, Spain
Feudal, obsolete: Sardinia, Ottomans
Special (Mercenary): Prussia
No Military: French Royalists

Naval Level:
United Kingdom: Hegemonic, Innovative
French Republic: Large, Modern
Spanish Empire: Large, Modern
Russian Empire: Large, Traditional
Kingdom of Sweden: Large, Modern
United States of America: Medium, Modern
Kingdom of Portugal: Medium, Modern
Kingdom of Norway-Denmark: Medium, Modern
Batavian Republic: Medium, Modern
Ottoman Empire: Medium, Traditional
Kingdom of Naples: Small, Modern
Hapsburg Monarchy: Small, Modern
Kingdom of Sardinia: Small, Modern
Kingdom of Prussia: Non-existent
Electorate of Bavaria: Non-existent
French Royalists: Non-existent

Army Information:

Logistical Limits: Armies that exceed 60,000 men per side in an individual theater or region will severe logistical penalties. A dice roll will further determine the impact of attrition.

French Republic:
Army of the Interior (Paris): 120,000
Garrison Duty: 40,000
(Can raise 90,000 men, and expand mobilization in Coalition War)

United Kingdom:
Army of Britain (London): 30,000
Army of Ireland (Dublin): 20,000
Army of the East Indies (Calcutta): 18,000 (plus Indian auxiliary forces)
Army of Canada (York): 2,000
Garrison Duty: 50,000
(Can raise 30,000 men, and call for active militias if the British isles are invaded)

Russian Empire:
Imperial Russian Army (St. Petersburg): 140,000
Garrison Duty: 60,000
(Can raise 100,000 men, and call for Cossacks if main Russian territory is invaded)

Hapsburg Monarchy:
Imperial Army (Vienna): 120,000
Garrison Duty: 30,000
(Can raise 50,000 men)

Spanish Empire:
Army of Spain (Madrid): 70,000
Garrison Duty: 70,000
(Can raise 40,000 men)

Ottoman Empire:
Army of the Balkans (Edirne): 30,000
Army of Anatolia (Alexandretta): 20,000
Janissary Corps (Istanbul): 45,000
Nizam-i Cedid: 5,000
(Can raise 30,000 men directly, and/or call on the armies of the regional power-brokers)

Kingdom of Prussia:
Royal Prussian Army (Berlin): 100,000
Garrison Duty: 20,000
(Can raise 50,000 men)

United States of America:
Army of the United States (Washington DC): 3,000
Garrison duty handled by state militias, forbidden from crossing state lines.
(Increases require Congressional Approval)

Batavian Republic:
Batavian Army (Amsterdam): 20,000
Garrison Duty: 30,000
(Can raise 10,000 men, until such a point in which France authorizes further mobilization)

Kingdom of Sweden:
Swedish Army (Stockholm): 25,000
Garrison Duty: 20,000
(Can raise 20,000 men)

Kingdom of Naples:
Neapolitan Army (Naples): 20,000
Garrison Duty: 15,000
(Can raise 15,000 men)

Kingdom of Sardinia:
Royal Piedmontese Army (Cagliari): 3,000
Garrison Duty: 3,000
(Can raise 4,000 men)

Electorate of Bavaria:
Bavarian Army (Münich): 15,000
Garrison Duty: 5,000
(Can raise 10,000 men)

Kingdom of Norway-Denmark:
Danish Royal Army (Copenhagen): 25,000
Garrison Duty: 20,000
(Can raise 20,000 men)

Kingdom of Portugal:
Royal Portuguese Army (Lisbon): 15,000
Garrison Duty: 15,000
(Can raise 20,000 men)

[Lumine]

French Republic:

Citizen General,

Two years in, even your enemies would concede that the Consulate has achieved far more than the Directory ever did, stabilising public finances, reaching a Concordat with the Vatican that opened up the churches again, and even putting up a partial amnesty for royalists, even though the bulk of the emigrés remain banished or are unwilling to return in solidarity. And yet, the burning question of your powers and term in office remains. Strictly speaking, you’re up for re-election only in 1809, but many feel even this is a sign of weakness against the monarchies of Europe. Not everybody agrees with a single solution. Your family and Talleyrand push for you to take up the crown, while Carnot, Lucien and Fouché stand against. Compromises are suggested, including taking up the First Consulship for life if need be. Where do you draw the line?

Amiens is signed, and peace with Britain is a reality. This undoubted triumph is, however, fraught with difficulties. For one, Britain is yet to fully comply with treaty provisions in Malta, Egypt, and the Dutch Cape Colony. For another, in the vacuum of an official commercial treaty many push you to enact aggressive protectionism to protect the nascent French industry from competition in this new context. The Helvetic Republic in Switzerland, from where you recently withdrew, is a hotbed of radicalism and instability and may yet collapse. The Holy Roman Empire is meant to be undergoing reorganisation, and the list goes on and on. How will you handle the implementation of Amiens? And how far dare you go regarding the questions that are still open?

The end to hostilities and the sudden opening of major sea lanes to France has brought up a series of important questions regarding the Republic’s colonial holdings, with Saint Domingue - and Louisiana - taking on particular relevance. Highly profitable before the Revolution and a slave revolt, Saint Domingue and the whole of Hispaniola is presently controlled by the former slave Toussaint Louverture. Louverture, who claims to be loyal to France, has recently insulted you by enacting a Constitution without your approval that abolishes slavery and makes him Governor-General for life.  An expedition under your brother-in-law, General Leclerc, is ready to sail in response, but there’s disagreement in how to handle Saint Domingue, with some voices going as far as to push for the return of slavery so the colony becomes highly profitable once again. What to do?

United Kingdom:

Your Majesty,

As Lord Cornwallis returns to London upon signing the Treaty of Amiens, London seems to breathe a sigh of relief. Peace, at least today, seems to be popular with a public tired of a decade of war with the French Republic, and a respite to a tired, exhausted economy. For now, implementation requires that Britain evacuate Malta (to the Knights of St. John), Egypt (to nominal Ottoman control) and the Cape Colony (to the Batavian Republic), but the pro-war party of William Pitt clamour that such strategic spots, Malta in particular, cannot be relinquished. Others are willing to risk evacuating these territories, but would much rather see Bonaparte make concessions elsewhere, be it Italy, Switzerland or in the Netherlands. Prime Minister Addington, though technically responsible for the treaty, defers to you. How should Britain stand on the matter?

With the arrival of peace, there’s a sense that Parliament warrants dissolution for a General Election, even though it could be technically continue until 1803. Addington expects his Tory government to secure an easy landslide, with only a handful of Pitt’s pro-war Tories and Charles James Fox’s Whigs to stand as an opposition. There’s a case for Addington to be given free reign as his victory would shut out men you personally dislike from power for a while, but there’s a catch: unexpected developments could bolster Fox, whose radical and pro-French nature you detest; or the collapse of Amiens could see a revival of fortunes for Pitt, whom you sacked as Prime Minister after he outrageously tried to remove current restrictions on Catholics (so called “emancipation”) as part of the union between Britain and Ireland. Should Addington be allowed to call for an election?

Slowly but surely, British power through the East India Company (EIC) has built a veritable empire across India, including zones under direct control and large domains under friendly vassal princes. Lord Mornington, the EIC-appointed Governor of British India, reports on the affairs of the largest and still independent Indian domain: the Maratha Confederacy.  Yashwantrao Holkar, a young and anti-British Maharaja, prepares to march against his rivals: the equally anti-British Maharaja Daulat Rao; and the nominal ruler of the Confederacy, the deceitful Baji Rao II. Though long distances ensure that the EIC essentially acts will full autonomy – and impunity -, Mornington requests instructions. How do you want Indian affairs handled? Should Britain let the Confederacy rip itself apart before intervening? Or should it intervene before a anti-British force consolidates?

Hapsburg Monarchy:

Your Imperial Majesty,

For ten years Austria has been at the heart of the struggle against the French Revolutionaries, but the fight has come, if not to a definitive end, at least to a substantial pause. Though the Hapsburg Dynasty has avoided the worst, steady defeats have led to the loss of the Austrian Netherlands, the left bank of the Rhine, and much of Northern Italy; with only Venice to show for as a recent compensation. The nation is militarily beaten, but under no circumstances out of the game: a strong secret police under Count von Perger exerts strong censorship and vast control over your subjects. And the bureaucracy, while still infected by the “enlightened despotism” of your uncle Joseph, seems opportunistic enough to shift if pushed towards a different direction, and vast enough to – slowly – implement your designs. But where is the monarchy headed towards?

Despite your attachment to the Imperial Crown, the Holy Roman Empire lays moribund and in mortal danger, with an unsolved issue creating a concerning problem. Although the Treaty of Luneville pledged that the hereditary Princes who lost territories on the left bank of the Rhine to France (Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and others) would be compensated, a goal implied to be achieved through the destruction of city states, small principalities and most of the ecclesiastical princes (“secularization”), no action was taken. Now Vienna faces a moral quandary over the reorganization of the HRE, facing intense interest by these princes and others (Russia, Prussia, perhaps even Sweden) that hunger for lands. Should the whole process of reorganization of the Empire be allowed through to earn goodwill and buy time? Should Vienna try to split the vultures apart by siding with a specific court? Or should Britain be sought for assistance?

Kingdom of Prussia:

Your Majesty,

Five years in, it must be said you’ve reached success in separating yourself from your father’s more dissolute legacy, and even in asserting your rule despite criticism of inconsistency. The court has recovered much moral legitimacy aided by the popular – if domineering – Queen Louise, and in staying away from the Coalition Wars since 1795 Prussia has been able to focus on swallowing its allocated part of Poland, an issue in need of further feedback. Though seemingly causing much resentment with the local population, the Prussian nobility is adamant that the new provinces be thoroughly Germanized, including if need be the banning of the Polish language to ensure Berlin can hold onto these vast domains in the long term. On this issue and others, it can be said that the future of your reign is very much up to you, but what is it that you desire? 

Recently diplomatic alignment has led Berlin to work alongside Paris in matters such as a short-lived occupation of British Hanover, but the issue of Prussia’s foreign policy alignment remains very much open. So much so, that at Louise’s insistence Louis XVIII and his family have been granted refuge after their expulsion from Russia by Tsar Paul last year, currently residing as guests in Warsaw. Perhaps the biggest test of Prussia’s alignment will be the planned reorganization of the Holy Roman Empire. Having lost some territory on the left bank of the Rhine, Prussia is entitled to compensation. But how best to go about it? Working with Austria to block other people’s gains in return for Imperial support? Work alongside the Tsar while also empowering Baden and Württemberg? Seek out Bavaria in an anti-Hapsburg axis of sort? Or directly deal with Bonaparte?

Russian Empire:

Your Imperial Majesty,

It is less than a year after the regrettable demise of your father Paul, and you’ve done your best to tread carefully, remaining an enigma not just to much of the nation, but to the court itself. An idealist still, you’d like to reform Russia without having to show the subservience to Europe that reformers are often saddled with, but there’s a serious question of how far can go you if ever confronted by the Orthodox Church, the nobles, or even the army. While your closest friends – the Privy Committee – pressure for the establishment of actual Ministries to replace the inefficient government departments (“Collegium”), the conservative elements target the reformer and liberal Alexander Radishchev, who was tasked to reform the law; and all but demand you remove your protection over him. How far dare you go, Majesty? Or do you perhaps intend to change tact altogether and embrace the reaction for the sake of stability?

The arrival of peace is greatly welcomed in St. Petersburg and the court, a brief and enjoyable respite that will, sadly, soon be followed by renewed questions about the future. It is no secret that British trade reigns supreme in the city and greatly influences the high aristocracy, pushing them to seek friendship in London. But it is also clear that the reforming aristocrats and burghers admire France and Bonaparte himself, professing at least some ideological sympathy that leads them to advocate for Russia to seek friendship in Paris. This matter may yet be tested in the planned reorganization of the Holy Roman Empire, with your familial ties to Baden and Württemberg leading your kin to pressure you to isolate Austria and impose a settlement that would see these principalities greatly expanded. Will you meddle in the HRE? And how will you handle Britain and France, Majesty?

Ottoman Empire:

My Lord Emperor,

The lack of strong government in Istanbul in previous decades has gradually allowed many of the Empire’s provinces to fall under chaos, anarchy and warlordism, a weakness that foreign powers – including the upstart Bonaparte in Egypt – have tried to exploit for themselves. The list this year is almost endless: the Bey of Tripoli turns a blind eye to piracy and outrages the Christian World; the Janissaries in Serbia have just murdered your progressive Vizier and established a four-man Dahije; the unruly Osman Pazvantoglu raids and burns Wallachia while serving as a Pasha; the returning Mamluks battle your officers in Egypt for power while the British prepare to leave; and the Albanian Ali Pasha, who keeps the Greeks at bay by stepping on their throats, freely negotiates with foreign powers. Any one of these threats could force a war or a foreign intervention, and yet you must start somewhere if you are to restore authority. Where will you first seek to restore order?

There may be peace in Europe, but the Empire is anything but peaceful. Aside from the uprisings warranting your attention, political tension has risen after your past attempts to enact ambitious military reform. Even as the Nizam-i Cedid policies have yielded a small, modernized corps, the Janissaries firmly oppose reform and any loss of privileges, ceaselessly boycotting your edicts and making it all but clear that the expansion of the modernized corps will not go unanswered. To make matters more awkward, the cost of such reforms further strains the treasure, leading ministers to claim that it is either bureaucratic centralization or military reform, but not both. And yet having this independent force could be what saves the Empire from the Janissary decadence. What to do, my lord?

[Lumine]

Kingdom of Spain:

Your Excellency,

Yet another extravagant ball is held on the Palace of Aranjuez, this time to celebrate ten years of power as Charles IV’s all-powerful minister, as well as Queen Maria Luisa’s closest friend – and/or lover, you’re not telling -. The friendship of His Catholic Majesties has done much for you, ranging from a litany of offices and titles all the way to the honorific of “Prince of the Peace” under which you’re now best known. You’re even married to the King’s cousin. And yet one goal eludes you: a crown of your own. You came very close when the joint Franco-Spanish invasion of Portugal almost overran the nation, but the prize eluded you due to geopolitical developments. Still, as the eminence grise for a multi-continental empire on the onset of peace in Europe, there is much to look for in life. So what will be the height of your ambition, Excellency? What can the world expect of Manuel Godoy?

For a few years now, Spain has tied her diplomatic fate to the French Republic. It has proved somewhat profitable, if troublesome in terms of disruptions caused by the indefatigable British. With the arrival of peace, many wonder about Spain’s place in Europe, and particularly in Italy. One of the apparent victories you’ve secured has been the establishment of a Kingdom of Etruria, in which the King’s daughter, Maria Luisa, serves as Queen Consort, and in which Spain is supposed to hold a share of influence. But a lack of clarity to the extent of French and Spanish influence in Etruria has led many to suspect the Italian kingdom is but a French puppet, for indeed it is only garrisoned by French troops. Others look to the Prince of Asturias and the Infanta Maria Isabella, the King’s remaining unmarried children, and see alliances to be made in Naples and/or elsewhere. How will you play your cards?

United States of America:

Mr. President,

It has been an intense first year in office, but the foundations of free and republican government seem as strong as ever. Domestically, Vice President Burr has been effectively emasculated while secretaries Gallatin (Treasury) and Madison (State) serve as your faithful lieutenants. Congress (with Democratic Republican majorities in both houses) is in the process of repealing the outrageous Midnight Judges appointments by the Federalists, though the Federalist-dominated Supreme Court is expected to have words on the matter sooner rather than later. One goal looms larger than the rest: erasing the enormous national debt, for which Gallatin intends to slash spending and do away with Hamilton’s taxes. What can the people expect of Mr. Jefferson this year?

Although your reluctance to engage in foreign affairs is more than well-known, there is one front in which you have been unwilling to budge: the barbaric acts of the Bey of Tripoli, Yusuf Karamanli. The Bey, a nominal Ottoman vassal who prides himself on his power and influence, not only allows piracy that pillages the American merchant fleet, he’s had the gall to demand crippling financial ransoms every year. Previous actions in concert with Sweden and Naples have thus far failed to stop him. Thus the question arises on how to stop this humiliation. “Hawk”-ish advisors would have you seek Congressional authorization to send the US Navy and do battle, even as Gallatin pressures to drastically decrease military spending. Should the Marines head to Tripoli, or you do have an alternate course of action?

Kingdom of Sweden:

Your Majesty,

Ten years after your father’s monstrous assassination by the power-hungry aristocracy, the Swedish autocracy endures. As a God-fearing autocrat and a known opponent to Jacobinism, many wonder what is to follow for Sweden after Amiens has opened up many doors in the realm of foreign policy. Fersen, the Marshal of the Realm – and Marie Antoinette’s friend and/or lover – would have you form and lead a counterrevolutionary league to counter republicanism at every turn. Others look for a fight with Denmark over Norway, or give threatening looks to Russia after their persistent attempts to swallow Finland. Still others, citing Sweden’s role in the Treaty of Westphalia and your domains in Swedish Pomerania, argue you have a role to play within the Holy Roman Empire and its ongoing reorganization. There is flexibility of action, but what will you use it for?

Kingdom of Norway-Denmark:

Your Royal Highness,

For eighteen years now you’ve held the regency over your insane father, who, in his early fifties, gives no sign of giving up the throne. But so be it, for you are used to the hardships of politics, having been forced to stage a coup to even get the regency. One year after Admiral Nelson engaged and defeated the Danish fleet for having the audacity to want free and uninterrupted trade with France, the question of alignments has risen yet again. Sweden looms as a threatening neighbour ever hungry for Norway, and there are strong voices at court wishing to seek a firm protector in Paris or St. Petersburg. Others still push for neutrality in hopes of avoiding another British raid, provided the Treaty of Amiens ensures the flow of trade the nation depends on. Will Denmark seek such an alignment? Or is the nation better protected through firm neutrality?

Kingdom of Naples:

Your Majesty,

As you step out of the carriage following a joyful sojourn in Vienna, you remind yourself once again that there is much to be done. The French have withdrawn from Naples, but you can feel their poisonous presence everywhere. Antoinette was your favourite sister, and you will never – ever! – forget nor forgive what was done to her. With the Bourbons back in power, and through your dominating influence on your equally reactionary husband King Ferdinand, Naples must be cleansed. Though last year’s treaty with France forced the crown to provide amnesty to thousands of political prisoners – Jacobin rabble really -, you know better than to give the heathens a chance. Your English chief minister, Sir John Acton, would support reviving the secret police and thoroughly cleansing the kingdom. Cardinal Ruffo, whose Sanfedisti recovered the throne in the first place, seems more open to clemency. What will it be?

Kingdom of Portugal:

Your Royal Highness,

The arrival of Amiens is, in a way, a welcomed development, enabling Portugal to finally resume trade with London after Paris forced you to close the ports. Yours has certainly been a difficult position to be in. The madness of your mother has forced you to take on an awkward regency, the French stole half of Guyana, and even though your wife Carlota Joaquina is daughter to the King of Spain, the Spaniards still tried to carve your nation up to give Godoy a throne. Thus you’re placed in the middle of a difficult, deadly dance, having to fend off the predatory Godoy and Bonaparte while your wife – whom the court itself mocks as “the Shrew of the Palace of Queluz” – seemingly plots for Madrid’s behalf. But it is not the first time you have been underestimated. Portugal has a pious, resolute and humble regent, and Brazil grows every day as a net producer of key goods. How will you handle this complex situation?

Kingdom of Sardinia:

Your Majesty,

It has been a tough six years of your reign. Inheriting the crown right as Bonaparte ravaged the fertile Piedmont, a subsequent occupation in 1798 forced you to flee to the island of Sardinia, an awkward situation that has lasted for three years now as you refuse to acknowledge the French occupation. General Joubert sits there as viceroy of a puppet Subalpine Republic, all while hopes that the Treaty of Amiens could secure your return to Turin failed to materialize. Sardinia, while a key strategic point in the Mediterranean that Paris and London hunger for, lacks resources compared to the wealthy Piedmont, and is filled with local grievances and resentments. A difficult decision lies ahead. Should you try to negotiate with Bonaparte the return of your ancestral lands, even at the cost of entering the French sphere of influence? Or would you rather bide your time and hope for the downfall of that Corsican ogre?

Electorate of Bavaria:

Your Highness,

The Electorate stands in an awkward position, persistently drawn into the Austrian and French squabbles. Two French invasions and a forceful Austrian occupation – the latter dragging you into the Austrian side at the disastrous Battle of Hohenlinden – have left the Electorate exhausted, though the tireless work of your all-powerful minister Count Montgelas and of yourself has made some headway in repairing the damage. Plainly, Bavaria seems forced to pick sides, even more now that the prospect of the reorganization of the Holy Roman Empire could mean compensation and expansion. Montgelas feels Vienna to be a more threatening predator and would rather jump to Bonaparte’s arms, but the choice lies within you. Will Bavaria align with France? With Austria? Or will it seek diplomatic autonomy?

Batavian Republic:

Ambassador,

You return home from the Amiens negotiations with decidedly mixed feelings. Britain has recognized the Republic, returned most of the colonies, and even spared the nation from having to pay compensation to the House of Orange (with France, Prussia and Britain footing the bill). But Ceylon is lost, the British are yet to withdraw troops from the Cape Colony, and French troops occupy the country still. And following a coup by Augereau last year, the government has become more autocratic as the twelve-member Staatsbewind (State Council) uneasily holds onto power. As the Republic’s most prominent - non-exiled - citizen, you have a responsibility to the Dutch people. Will you merely seek to wield influence as an advisor to the Council? Establish yourself in an official capacity? Or perhaps, seek a master or an ally to put you firmly in power? And how should the Republic handle the implementation of Amiens at such a delicate moment?

French Royalists:

Your Royal Highness,

Thirteen years of exile see you now reside in Holyrood Palace at Edinburgh, a guest of the British government with an annual stipend that gives you some freedom of movement. The state of the royalist cause after the Peace of Amiens appears to be dismal: the last emigré army dissolved in Bavaria last year; Louis XVIII was expelled from Russia by the late Tsar Paul and forced to live in Warsaw as an underfunded Prussian guest, and, for now, Bonaparte is firmly in power. But not all is lost. The indefatigable Cadoudal remains ever willing to spy and try to kill the usurper again; Pichegru and the Polignac brothers remain valuable advisors; and you personally have not only two sons - Louis has none -, one of them is married to Louis XVI’s hapless daughter. What follows? Should new plots be hatched? Or a new emigré army built under some foreign patron? Perhaps Louis XVIII could assisted into a new home? What is to be the road under which the Bourbons will return to their rightful throne?

[Carolyn]

COMTE D'ARTOIS - I

He was Charles Philippe in his most intimate moments, the comte d'Artois because of the fortune of his birth, and Monsieur by right as heir to the throne of France. In his mind’s eye, he can still sketch the scenes of that beloved land and the benighted people that occupied it. But his exile had been so long that those visions were slowly fading. He found Holyrood Palace and the Scottish hinterlands taking pieces of his imagination more and more.

Currently, the stout prince, healthy and spry for his middle age, was a guest in Gordon Castle. It was the residence of an infamous duke and his equally rakish wife. The Gordons were serial adulterers. The act in itself was not unusual. Only the length and breath of it. Audacity was their motto. It was fortunate then that the duke was the keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.

«Je vous présente mes sincères condoléances pour la soi-disant paix d'Addington,» said the duke Alexander. «Quel culot de capituler si ouvertement! Il fait honte à l'honneur du roi et à celui de la nation. J'en connais beaucoup qui pensent comme moi. Même l'opposition a beaucoup de mauvaise volonté à son égard.»

«Je suis reconnaissant pour le sentiment,» the prince responded. «Personne ne connaît mieux que nous la souffrance des Anglais. Mon frère languit en Prusse. Pour la bravoure de sa résistance, il est nourri de l'ingratitude du monarque russe et des dettes du monarque autrichien.»

«Des jours noirs, en effet.»

The prince wanted to clench his fist but his manners prevented him. The drilling he took on society was helpful at containing his emotions.

«Je ne voudrais pas que ces revers déçoivent votre cœur. Face à la force de l'usurpateur, la force de Dieu est avec nous. Il nous met à l'épreuve, nous punit pour notre orgueil, mais il nous ramènera si nous restons fidèles.»

The duke snorted.

«Comme les Israélites.»

The prince offered polite laughter. How they masked his rage.

«Dans ce cas, j'espère ressembler davantage à Josué qu'à Moïse.»

[windjammer]

I would love to write POVs as well but given we are talking about Godoy it would be likely deemed as pornographic lol

[DKrol]

A Missive from the Portuguese Court to the Court of St. James
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent Joao VI

To His Majesty the King George III of Hanover, greetings.

I seek to renew the long-standing Alianca Luso-Inglesa. I need not remind you this is the oldest alliance in the world, established when your Philippa of Lancaster was wed to my namesake Joao I in 1387. Although various developments have strained or paused the Alianca over the centuries, I assure you that the hearts of the Portuguese have always looked towards London fondly. Given the many pressing challenges we both face in Europe, and our ever growing enterprises across the seas, I believe the time is ripe to re-assert our friendship and alliance. I would offer to you the hand of my daughter, Infanta Maria Teresa, a beautiful young girl on the cusp of womanhood, to one of your several noble sons as a living symbol of the Alianca. They would serve as a modern day Philippa and Joao, and establish a renewed Alianca to last five hundred more years.

I eagerly await your reply.

Yours,
Joao

[Devout Centrist]

Einberufung einer außerordentlichen Reichsdeputation

Dated: 15th of January, 1802 A.D.

We, his imperial majesty Francis II, by the grace of God elected Roman Emperor, welcome the newfound peace that salves the European continent of the terrible affliction of war. In our capacity, we have acted to foster a just and fair peace that has or has attempted to, at all possible opportunities, guarantee the political rights of all states, no matter how great or small. We, the Hapsburg Monarchy, have acted to protect all due political rights and preorgatives presently ennobled to the states of the German-Roman Empire.

It is this same capacity in which we have also recognize the new material realities of the present state of the Empire require certain adjustments of territorial boundaries and sovereignities to allow for the fair compensation of all princes, barons, bishops and counts that possess titles to Imperial land. We did not desire such an adjustment until, through circumstances and forces external to the Empire, we were compelled into such an arrangement. However, it is evident that we are called upon to present a settlement to relevant parties who have suffered greviously under these circumstances and must receive precious forms of compensation for the the blows inflicted upon them.

Therefore, we declare and create an Extraordinary Imperial Deputation to settle the present matter of compensation. We further proclaim that this Deputation will adjucate between the various claims of all principalities in the Empire and shall decide equitable boundaries or transfers in all relevant areas where adjustment and compensation are necessary.

This decree, signed in the Schloss Schönbrunn, on the 15th of January, Anno Domini 1802

X Franz II

[Senator Spiral]

Franco-American Treaty of the Seas

The French Republic and the United States of America, bonded by friendship in republicanism and solidarity against the forces of barbarism, hereby agree to the following:

1. The French Republic shall come to the aid of the United States in a joint declaration of war against the Regency of Tripoli.

2. The United States shall come to the aid of the French Republic in a joint declaration of war against the rogue regime of Saint-Domingue.

3. The signatories shall partake in all necessary measures to sanctify maritime commerce in accordance with these military campaigns.

X First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, French Republic

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Franco-American Treaty of the Seas

The French Republic and the United States of America, bonded by friendship in republicanism and solidarity against the forces of barbarism, hereby agree to the following:

1. The French Republic shall come to the aid of the United States in a joint declaration of war against the Regency of Tripoli.

2. The United States shall come to the aid of the French Republic in a joint declaration of war against the rogue regime of Saint-Domingue.

3. The signatories shall partake in all necessary measures to sanctify maritime commerce in accordance with these military campaigns.

X First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, French Republic

x President Thomas Jefferson, United States of America

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Treaty of Wilmington

The Kingdom of Sweden and the United States of America, bonded by the historic friendship and building further on the existing Treaty of Amity and Commerce agree to the following

1. The Kingdom of Sweden shall come to the aid of the United States in the war effort against the Regency of Tripoli

2. The signatories condemn the Regency of Tripoli for its intrusion on the freedom of commerce of European merchants.

3. The United States of America and Kingdom of Sweden hereby shall commit to a non-agression pact between the two states.

4. The United States hereby recognises the inherent claim made by Sweden on the territory of Nova Zealandia which shall be renamed into Nya Svealand and shall represent the Swedish position internationally.

X King Gustav Adolf IV Vasa, Kingdom of Sweden

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Treaty of Wilmington

The Kingdom of Sweden and the United States of America, bonded by the historic friendship and building further on the existing Treaty of Amity and Commerce agree to the following

1. The Kingdom of Sweden shall come to the aid of the United States in the war effort against the Regency of Tripoli

2. The signatories condemn the Regency of Tripoli for its intrusion on the freedom of commerce of European merchants.

3. The United States of America and Kingdom of Sweden hereby shall commit to a non-agression pact between the two states.

4. The United States hereby recognises the inherent claim made by Sweden on the territory of Nova Zealandia which shall be renamed into Nya Svealand and shall represent the Swedish position internationally.

X King Gustav Adolf IV Vasa, Kingdom of Sweden

x President Thomas Jefferson, United States of America

[DKrol]

Luso-Congolese Treaty of 1802
1. The Portuguese Empire recognizes the House of Agua Rosada as the one legitimate dynasty of the Kingdom of Congo and shall provide all supports necessary to protect the dynasty.
2. The Portuguese shall receive exclusive slaving rights within the Kingdom of Congo.
3. King Garcia V and his successors in the House of Agua Rosada shall receive 1/3 of the revenue on slaves sold by the Portuguese from the Congolese territory to Brazil, paid annually.
4. The Portuguese shall receive exclusive European settlement rights within the Kingdom of Congo.
5. The Portuguese shall receive exclusive European development and mining rights within the Kingdom of Congo.
6. A Portuguese fort, the Fortaleza de Braganca, shall be erected at the confluence of the Kasai River and the Congo River. The garrison at the Fortaleza de Braganca shall provide instruction and training in European warfare to the local population.
7. Colonel Miguel Pereira Forjaz is hereby appointed Portuguese Military Ambassador to the Kingdom of Congo and shall serve as an advisor to King Garcia V.
8. King Garcia V and his successors in the House of Agua Rosada shall pay an annual tribute equal to 40$500 real to Prince Regent Joao VI and his successors in the House of Braganca.
9. This treaty shall expire should Clause 8 be violated, or on December 1, 1900, whichever occurs first.

x Prince Regent Joao VI of Portugal

Luso-Matamban Treaty of 1802
1. The Portuguese Empire recognizes King Francisco II as the one legitimate King of Matamba, and the Kingdom of Matamba as the one legitimate state in the central Highlands, and shall provide all supports necessary to protect his dynasty and kingdom.
2. The Portuguese shall receive exclusive European settlement rights within the Kingdom of Matamba.
3. The Portuguese shall receive exclusive European slaving rights within the Kingdom of Matamba.
4. The Portuguese shall receive exclusive European cotton production rights within the Kingdom of Matamba.
5. King Francisco II and his successors shall receive 1/3 of the revenue on cotton sold by the Portuguese from Matamban territory, paid annually.
6. King Francisco II and his successors shall pay an annual tribute equal to 20$500 real to Prince Regent Joao VI and his successors in the House of Braganca.
5. This treaty shall expire should Clause 4 be violated, or on December 1, 1900, whichever occurs first.

x Prince Regent Joao VI of Portugal

[Devout Centrist]

Treaty of Caserta

Recognizing and reaffirming the kinship, historic ties, and military cooperation between their two realms, His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Francis II and His Majesty King Ferdinand agree to the following:

1. A pact of mutual defense will be adopted between the two realms effective immediately. An attack on either party will be treated as an attack on both.

2. The Habsburg Monarchy, in its tremendous generosity, will provide the government of Naples with a significant annual stipend. To be used to increase the prosperity, industry, and infrastructure of the Neapolitan realm.

3. A deputation of Imperial military advisors will be dispatched to Naples to disseminate latest military tactics and training methods for the Neapolitan Armed Forces.

4. Recognizing Naples' esteemed maritime history, a deputation of Neapolitan admirals will be dispatched to Habsburg naval bases at Trieste, Pola, and Fiume to share their expertise regarding shipbuilding, naval tactics, and navigation.

5. The two powers reaffirm the importance of a secure Adriatic and will engage in periodic joint naval exercises to ensure the tranquility of said sea.

6. In their historic roles as Holy Roman Emperor and King of Naples and Sicily (historically a Papal fief), Francis II and Ferdinand agree to respect and defend the Holy See from any future depredations and revolutionary violence.

X Kaiser Franz II

[Spamage]

Treaty of Caserta

Recognizing and reaffirming the kinship, historic ties, and military cooperation between their two realms, His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Francis II and His Majesty King Ferdinand agree to the following:

1. A pact of mutual defense will be adopted between the two realms effective immediately. An attack on either party will be treated as an attack on both.

2. The Habsburg Monarchy, in its tremendous generosity, will provide the government of Naples with a significant annual stipend. To be used to increase the prosperity, industry, and infrastructure of the Neapolitan realm.

3. A deputation of Imperial military advisors will be dispatched to Naples to disseminate latest military tactics and training methods for the Neapolitan Armed Forces.

4. Recognizing Naples' esteemed maritime history, a deputation of Neapolitan admirals will be dispatched to Habsburg naval bases at Trieste, Pola, and Fiume to share their expertise regarding shipbuilding, naval tactics, and navigation.

5. The two powers reaffirm the importance of a secure Adriatic and will engage in periodic joint naval exercises to ensure the tranquility of said sea.

6. In their historic roles as Holy Roman Emperor and King of Naples and Sicily (historically a Papal fief), Francis II and Ferdinand agree to respect and defend the Holy See from any future depredations and revolutionary violence.

X Kaiser Franz II

X- Queen Consort Maria Carolina von Habsburg-Lothringen, on behalf of her beloved husband, His Majesty King Ferdinand IV de Bourbon of Naples

[Lumine]

Mid-1802 News

The Action of 18 April 1802,
Wikimedia Commons

The Cape of Good Hope Incident

British forces refuse being relieved by Batavian expedition,
Naval skirmish takes place between rival navies,
Is the Treaty of Amiens at risk of collapse?

Despite the painful loss of Ceylon as part of the Treaty of Amiens and the general disregard shown for the Batavian Republic's negotiating position, a key accomplishment for Amsterdam was the clause that oversaw a British withdrawal from the Cape of Good Hope. Having had it seized by the Royal Navy in a traumatic and resounding defeat in 1795, the Republic was keen to recover the strategically-key Cape Colony, a much needed reassertion of their authority and colonial power after years of instability.

Backed by the influential ambassador Schimmelpenninck, the Staatsbewind resolved to establish firm control over the territory as soon as possible, authorizing the immediate start of an expedition meant to peacefully relieve the British occupation forces from their duties. Carrying the new would-be Governor General within the flagship Van Troomp, Batavian Vice Admiral Pieter Hartsinck made the c. three month voyage swiftly and without encountering difficulties. That is, until the Cape of Good Hope was sighted.

According to reports, an initial friendly talk between Admiral Hartsink and British Governor Francis Dundas soon turned into an acrimonious bout, with the Governor asserting that the Batavian expedition was unwelcome, and that the Cape Colony would be handed over based on eventual instructions from London. Hartsink, on the other half, accused the British General of deliberately not wanting to comply with the Treaty of Amiens, perhaps even under instructions. Although the details of what followed remain unclear, soon the Batavian and Royal Navy squadrons were locked in battle.

With mutual accusations of having fired first, a half-hour skirmish ensued, only being stopped by the intervention of two neutral vessels. The Batavians withdrew with a damaged frigate and two dozen dead, leaving at least a dozen British sailors dead and a fort heavily damaged. Hartsink sought refuge and found it by seizing the neighboring Saldanha Bay, managing to land several hundred men as a tense standoff has emerged in the region. With urgent messages sent to London and Amsterdam for instructions, observers in Europe wonder now if the Treaty of Amiens is not endangered by this unexpected incident.

Toussaint's Declaration of Independence,
Wikimedia Commons

Birth of a new Republic

Treaty of the Seas shocks and stuns Saint Domingue,
Toussaint Louverture reluctantly declares independence,
New Republic of Saint Domingue to stand against Jefferson and Bonaparte

By all accounts, Governor General Toussaint Louverture felt confident and secure in his position after drafting and enacting his Constitution of 1801. Despite predictions by more militant and nationalist officers that the First Consul would react badly to Louverture's assumption of power for life and the abolition of slavery, few expected what was to follow. The signing of the Franco-American Treaty of the Seas by Secretary of State Madison and French Ambassador Louis-André Pichon utterly stunned most observers and, in particular, the Saint Domingue rebels. Far from any negotiations or talks, Paris would go directly for war, with the unforeseen aid of the United States of America.

Domestically, Bonaparte was to encounter some criticism within Republican circles over what appeared to be a war to restore slavery, albeit heavily muted through Fouché's permanent censure of the press and the general support for a close association with the American nation. In Washington DC, Jefferson was the subject of wildly contradictory reactions, with abolitionists and northern Federalists angrily chastising the President whilst southern Congressmen - Democratic Republicans and Federalist alike - widely cheered the President for a strong stance against what was seen to be a dangerous slave revolt. While the specific effects remain to be seen, the unpopularity and perceived radicalism of anti-slavery positions seem to have a strong majority of public opinion behind hostility to Louverture.

The reaction in Saint Domingue proper was one of confusion followed by outrage. White residents, many of whom collaborated with Louverture if only to try and deter more radical actions, proved terrified by the news given the lack of actual French or American troops on the ground, suspecting it could give the rabid former slaves reason to take drastic action. Louverture, who was said to be despondent for days, seems to have struggled mightily with his eventual course of action. In the end, and after several days locked in prayer, the former slave resolved that the Franco-American declaration simply left him with no alternatives, not even the faintest hope of a compromise.

Wielding his absolute powers as Governor General, Louverture had the Republic of Saint Domingue declared from Cap Francais, a sovereign and independent state in which he would transition from the office of Governor General to the title of President (for life). Paris and Washington had thrown the gauntlet, and the Louverture had thrown it back. Whether the new nation, the first one built by former slaves, could survive or even find any recognition remained to be seen.

Russian forces secure the Georgian Military Road,
Wikimedia Commons

The Tsar's on the move

Alexander I orders military surge across the Caucasus,
Controversial withdrawal under Tsar Paul reversed, Circassians revolt,
Qajar Persia on the brink of war with the Russian Empire

Although many reasons can explain the sudden death of Tsar Paul I at the hands of his own officers - still presented as a natural death according to the formal Russian sources -, one of them includes the decision to cancel a large military expedition to the Caucasus upon the death of Catherine the Great. The commanders, embittered by having been robbed of what they judged to be an inevitable victory over the Persians and Agha Mohammad Shah, would later join the conspiracy that brought an end to the controversial Russian monarch.

His son, while still very much a mysterious enigma to people and even to an important part of the court, was seemingly made of different stuff. Georgia, recently annexed by the Russian Empire and facing an uneasy occupation, awoke to the arrival of well over 20,000 troops under the new Governor General of Kartli-Kakheti, the fiery and fearless Pavel Tsitsianov. Tsitsianov wasted no time in quelling any sign of unrest, arresting the would-be heir to the defunct Georgian throne, Prince David Bagrationi, and most of his relatives. Despite some signs of defiance, the new Viceroy was ready to crush any resistance.

An additional 10,000 troops arrived in tow, intended to be used for an actual offensive across the unoccupied parts of Chechnya and Dagestan and thus ensure Russian dominance over the Caucasus region. The Russian troops experienced an early success after securing control over the Georgian Military Road, a key - if in heavy need of development - route into Georgia, but soon it became clear the number of troops was insufficient for the task ahead. Spurred into action, Circassian rebels arose across the region, remaining strong in the countryside or holed up in strong redoubt with full intent to resist Russian dominance.

Diplomatically, the news was to anger the Persian Shah, Fath Ali, as well as the still powerful Persian vassals that bordered Russian Georgia. Though stopping short of an actual declaration of war, the Persians have sent an ultimatum to St. Petersburg calling for an immediate withdrawal, all while the surviving Georgian claimant not under Russian custody, Prince Alexander, tries to mobilize anti-Russian assets within Persian territory. The response of the Ottoman Empire remains to be seen, as is the international attitude to Fath Ali, who has issued calls for foreign support to "contain Russian expansionism".

[Devout Centrist]

Treaty of Bath

Preamble:

In the interest of fostering amicable cooperation among the great powers, ensuring lasting peace throughout the European continent, and promoting economic prosperity, the Hapsburg Monarchy and the United Kingdom do hereby agree to the following conditions.

Article I: Mutual Aid Grant

1. The United Kingdom agrees to provide a substantial mutual aid grant to the Hapsburg Monarchy. This grant shall consist of an annual payment to be delivered in two installments, made payable in specie on the first day of January and July of each year. This payment is intended to support economic and social development within lands who pledge loyalty to the Hapsburg Monarch.

2. The United Kingdom shall send economic advisors to the Hapsburg Monarchy, to assist with the administration of grant funds provided from the British treasury.

Article II: Commercial Rights

1. The Hapsburg Monarchy grants the United Kingdom the right to conduct business and trade within its territories. This right shall include the establishment of British trade missions, offices, and warehouses.

2. British goods imported into Hapsburg territories or services provided by British subjects shall be subject to limited custom duties, capped at a maximum rate of 10% of the goods' value. This provision is intended to facilitate and promote free trade between the two nations.

3. The Hapsburg Monarchy agrees to provide the United Kingdom with the most favored nation status in all commercial dealings, ensuring that British merchants and goods receive no less favorable treatment than those of others nations in the European continent.

Article III: Non-Aggression Pact

1. The Hapsburg Monarchy and the United Kingdom hereby agree to a non-aggression pact. Both parties pledge not to engage in any hostile actions, including but not limited to military attacks, invasions, or support for third-party hostilities against one another.

2. This non-aggression pact shall remain in effect for a period of five years from the date of ratification of this treaty. It may be extended by mutual agreement of both parties.

Article IV: Ratification and Implementation

1. This treaty shall be ratified by both parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes.

2. The treaty shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

X Kaiser Franz II

[OBD]

Treaty of Bath

Preamble:

In the interest of fostering amicable cooperation among the great powers, ensuring lasting peace throughout the European continent, and promoting economic prosperity, the Hapsburg Monarchy and the United Kingdom do hereby agree to the following conditions.

Article I: Mutual Aid Grant

1. The United Kingdom agrees to provide a substantial mutual aid grant to the Hapsburg Monarchy. This grant shall consist of an annual payment to be delivered in two installments, made payable in specie on the first day of January and July of each year. This payment is intended to support economic and social development within lands who pledge loyalty to the Hapsburg Monarch.

2. The United Kingdom shall send economic advisors to the Hapsburg Monarchy, to assist with the administration of grant funds provided from the British treasury.

Article II: Commercial Rights

1. The Hapsburg Monarchy grants the United Kingdom the right to conduct business and trade within its territories. This right shall include the establishment of British trade missions, offices, and warehouses.

2. British goods imported into Hapsburg territories or services provided by British subjects shall be subject to limited custom duties, capped at a maximum rate of 10% of the goods' value. This provision is intended to facilitate and promote free trade between the two nations.

3. The Hapsburg Monarchy agrees to provide the United Kingdom with the most favored nation status in all commercial dealings, ensuring that British merchants and goods receive no less favorable treatment than those of others nations in the European continent.

Article III: Non-Aggression Pact

1. The Hapsburg Monarchy and the United Kingdom hereby agree to a non-aggression pact. Both parties pledge not to engage in any hostile actions, including but not limited to military attacks, invasions, or support for third-party hostilities against one another.

2. This non-aggression pact shall remain in effect for a period of five years from the date of ratification of this treaty. It may be extended by mutual agreement of both parties.

Article IV: Ratification and Implementation

1. This treaty shall be ratified by both parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes.

2. The treaty shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

X Kaiser Franz II

x King George III Hanover

[OBD]

A Missive from the Portuguese Court to the Court of St. James
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent Joao VI

To His Majesty the King George III of Hanover, greetings.

I seek to renew the long-standing Alianca Luso-Inglesa. I need not remind you this is the oldest alliance in the world, established when your Philippa of Lancaster was wed to my namesake Joao I in 1387. Although various developments have strained or paused the Alianca over the centuries, I assure you that the hearts of the Portuguese have always looked towards London fondly. Given the many pressing challenges we both face in Europe, and our ever growing enterprises across the seas, I believe the time is ripe to re-assert our friendship and alliance. I would offer to you the hand of my daughter, Infanta Maria Teresa, a beautiful young girl on the cusp of womanhood, to one of your several noble sons as a living symbol of the Alianca. They would serve as a modern day Philippa and Joao, and establish a renewed Alianca to last five hundred more years.

I eagerly await your reply.

Yours,
Joao

A Missive from the Court of St. James to the Portuguese Court

Prince Regent Joao,

Your generous offer is most graciously accepted. The alliance between Portugal and the United Kingdom is a bedrock of British foreign policy, having endured for five hundred years, and it is my wish to see it endure for five hundred years more. I am personally committed to ensuring the continuing independence and prosperity of the Portuguese realm, hand in hand with that of my own. As the seas of Europe writhe with tumult, now more than ever must we stand hand in hand and renew our vows of Alliance and camaraderie.

It is in this spirit that I do formally offer the hand of Edward, Duke of Kent to your daughter, Infanta Maria Teresa. I propose that while the betrothal occur immediately, that the marriage be formally consummated in the summer of 1808, as your daughter enters womanhood. It is, as with you, my fervent hope that this union symbolize the enduring strength of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, and that our grand empires continue to grow and prosper alongside one another.

Yours,
King George III Hanover

[DKrol]

A Missive from the Portuguese Court to the Court of St. James
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent Joao VI

To His Majesty the King George III of Hanover, greetings.

I seek to renew the long-standing Alianca Luso-Inglesa. I need not remind you this is the oldest alliance in the world, established when your Philippa of Lancaster was wed to my namesake Joao I in 1387. Although various developments have strained or paused the Alianca over the centuries, I assure you that the hearts of the Portuguese have always looked towards London fondly. Given the many pressing challenges we both face in Europe, and our ever growing enterprises across the seas, I believe the time is ripe to re-assert our friendship and alliance. I would offer to you the hand of my daughter, Infanta Maria Teresa, a beautiful young girl on the cusp of womanhood, to one of your several noble sons as a living symbol of the Alianca. They would serve as a modern day Philippa and Joao, and establish a renewed Alianca to last five hundred more years.

I eagerly await your reply.

Yours,
Joao

A Missive from the Court of St. James to the Portuguese Court

Prince Regent Joao,

Your generous offer is most graciously accepted. The alliance between Portugal and the United Kingdom is a bedrock of British foreign policy, having endured for five hundred years, and it is my wish to see it endure for five hundred years more. I am personally committed to ensuring the continuing independence and prosperity of the Portuguese realm, hand in hand with that of my own. As the seas of Europe writhe with tumult, now more than ever must we stand hand in hand and renew our vows of Alliance and camaraderie.

It is in this spirit that I do formally offer the hand of Edward, Duke of Kent to your daughter, Infanta Maria Teresa. I propose that while the betrothal occur immediately, that the marriage be formally consummated in the summer of 1808, as your daughter enters womanhood. It is, as with you, my fervent hope that this union symbolize the enduring strength of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance, and that our grand empires continue to grow and prosper alongside one another.

Yours,
King George III Hanover

A Public Proclamation from the Portuguese Court

It brings Us great joy to announce that His Majesty the Prince Regent has accepted the offer of His Majesty the King George III of Hanover to wed His Royal Highness Edward, the Duke of Kent, to Infanta Maria Teresa. We graciously look forward to the consummation of their union in the summer of 1808 and the re-uniting of the Portuguese and English families. Until the formal ceremony uniting the Royal Couple, the Infanta shall summer with her betrothed and his family and shall spend the remainder of the year in Our court.

It is Our wish to continue to see the two Empires grow ever closer together whilst the formal marital union approaches. We shall seek to execute public and foreign policy to this effect.

[OBD]

Treaty of Cardiff (1802)

The British Empire and the Portuguese Empire acknowledge each other as the pre-eminent Atlantic powers. To that effect, each empire agrees to the following:

1. Ships bearing the flags of either empire shall have safe harbor rights at any port under their control;

2. Ships bearing the British flag shall be able to conduct trade in Brazilian ports at a reduced tax rate but the Brazilian interior shall be closed to British merchants;

3. Ships bearing the Portuguese flag shall be able to conduct trade in Canadian ports at a reduced tax rate but the Canadian interior shall be closed to Portuguese merchants;

4. The navies of both empires shall conduct joint drills and training, alternating in location between the Azores, the English Channel, the coastal waters of Angola, and the Caribbean;

5. The armies of both empires shall conduct joint drills and training, alternating in location between Wales and the Porto District; and

6. Should either empire come under invasion or direct military threat, the other empire shall be obligated to respond to a written invocation of the terms of this treaty.

x King George III Hanover

[DKrol]

Treaty of Cardiff (1802)

The British Empire and the Portuguese Empire acknowledge each other as the pre-eminent Atlantic powers. To that effect, each empire agrees to the following:

1. Ships bearing the flags of either empire shall have safe harbor rights at any port under their control;

2. Ships bearing the British flag shall be able to conduct trade in Brazilian ports at a reduced tax rate but the Brazilian interior shall be closed to British merchants;

3. Ships bearing the Portuguese flag shall be able to conduct trade in Canadian ports at a reduced tax rate but the Canadian interior shall be closed to Portuguese merchants;

4. The navies of both empires shall conduct joint drills and training, alternating in location between the Azores, the English Channel, the coastal waters of Angola, and the Caribbean;

5. The armies of both empires shall conduct joint drills and training, alternating in location between Wales and the Porto District; and

6. Should either empire come under invasion or direct military threat, the other empire shall be obligated to respond to a written invocation of the terms of this treaty.

x King George III Hanover

x Prince Regent Joao VI, on behalf of Her Most Faithful Majesty Queen Maria

[GoTfan]

Treaty of Breslau

-The Kingdom of Prussia and French Republic agree to a 10% reduction in tariffs to stimulate commerce.

-Both nations re-affirm their commitment to the terms of the Peace of Basel, originally signed in 1795.

-Military officers of the French Republic are invited to observe the 1802 exercises of the Prussian Army.

-Military officers of the Kingdom of Prussia will observe French action in Haiti.

[Senator Spiral]

Treaty of Breslau

-The Kingdom of Prussia and French Republic agree to a 10% reduction in tariffs to stimulate commerce.

-Both nations re-affirm their commitment to the terms of the Peace of Basel, originally signed in 1795.

-Military officers of the French Republic are invited to observe the 1802 exercises of the Prussian Army.

-Military officers of the Kingdom of Prussia will observe French action in Haiti.

X First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, French Republic

[GoTfan]

Treaty of Breslau

-The Kingdom of Prussia and French Republic agree to a 10% reduction in tariffs to stimulate commerce.

-Both nations re-affirm their commitment to the terms of the Peace of Basel, originally signed in 1795.

-Military officers of the French Republic are invited to observe the 1802 exercises of the Prussian Army.

-Military officers of the Kingdom of Prussia will observe French action in Haiti.

X First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, French Republic

X Frederick William, King of Prussia.