The Age of Enlightenment. Game 9.

And so it seems that G9, the latest turn reaching us today, is turning into some strange lovechild of G7 and G10.  We have France and England both at war with Spain to varying degrees, though in a novel twist the Dutch are also at war with Spain.  The Austrians seem to want to go to war with France but also want the Reich to join them and the Reich doesn't speak with one voice.    The Jacobites are revolting (well we all knew that) in England and a foreign power is offering to support the Stuarts to get their lost thrones back, though  it's the Spain who are offering support...clearly the G9 French are more closely related to their G10 cousins than their G7 ones as they quite rightly recognise the Stuarts ain't no kings. Oh and the Spanish throne is disputed with claims of deviousness on the part of the Spanish.  Of course, I may have some of these matters wrong and so may need to be corrected but they are unimportant and in distance lands...

...as we all know, the area of true importance is the Far East and China most of all.  Unfortunately not all is well in this peaceful part of the world as the Spanish and Dutch ships threatened to opened fire on each other...though they must have all had too much gin and...whatever the Spanish drink...as the mere sight of the enemies guns seem to stop either side from opening fire.  Lord Fong may have words to say on this bringing of warfare to the Empire's sphere of influence...
Much to my surprise the Holder of the Mandate of Heaven showed great mercy to the 33 Austrian vagabonds.  Instead of castrating them or hanging them from  the nearest tree (or castrating them and then hanging them from the nearest tree) they were merely beaten with rods and forced to crawl on their knees for over a mile; clearly the empire is a lot milder than it was in earlier games.  They were then read the Edict of December 1704 and told "Vienna's that way" and they took the hint...
Now, quite why Xu Qing of Shantung decided this was the time to restore a Catholic cathedral is a bit of a mystery at the moment. Despite what he feared, given the Emperor's reaction to the vagabonds, think it's fair to say the Holder of the Mandate of Heaven wasn't embarrassed at all at its decrepit state.  
Not sure if this means Shantung has an active player at last (in which case welcome to Team China) and this is the first sign we have of them...or if it's an NPC action by Richard, perhaps to show that the Empire isn't anti-Christian, merely anti-Missionary (I understand that the cathedral mentioned in game was restored in 1699/1700 on the orders of the Emperor-who also paid for it)

Interesting how G9 seems to have jumped a dacade and is now trying out the War of the 1718-1720 Quadruple alliance against Spain.

Will be interesting to see if this war in Glori ends up much like the real thing:

In brief the historic war was caused when Philip of Anjou (now King of Spain) decided to reclaim the Italian lands he had signed away to end the WSS and secure his Spanish throne (mostly the children of his second Italian Wife could inherit them) from his old rival Charles von Hapsburg (now Holy Roman Emperor following death of this father Leopold and his elder brother).

Philip no doubt thought that 1718 was a good time to strike as Prince Eugine and most of the Austrian Army was now in a very unhappy Hungary fighting the last great Ottoman attack in the West and likely to be busy for some time. Minus the best Austrian troops the Spanish Army won in Italy but at Belgrade Prince Eugine Army responded to being outnumbered, outgunned and trapped against the walls of Belgrade by a huge relief Army which was laying "siege" to him responded by attacking in the fog and ending the war in a day. Which freed Eugine and the best Austrian Army ever for use in Italy.

Also after fighting the WSS and signing on the dotted line France, England and the UDP responded to Philip ripping up their nice treaty my demanding that he get out of Italy and honour the treaty (even if it was three years old!). The French lead by the Jacobite Duke of Berwick (and one of Philips best friends) invade Spain in a very, very polite manor. While the English sent a Navy to the Med with orders to stop any more Spanish troops sailing to Italy........which it did when it found and sunk most of the Spanish Navy.

With his troops in Italy victorious but cut off and his French relatives and friends turning against him Philip accepted the demand to withdraw from Italy but not before he got back at the English a Jacobite revolt in Scotland with gold and Spanish troops. This revolt and the whole War is probably one of the least known of the period, probably because it just rubber stamped everything which had gone before. Spain totally forgot Flanders, continued to sulk over Italy but secure in its "Family Alliance" with France spent its time expanding into North America.

But one wonders what would have happened if the Jacobite-Spanish army had won and triggered a revolt across the whole of Scotland against a very new and not very popular German King of England/Scotland. Also if Eugine had been crushed at Belgrade in the same way as the Ottomans had defeated Peter the Great a few years before.

Think to make G9 interesting and give Cardinal Portocarrero a better fighting chance he needs more Ottomans in the game!

I think if Sweden had remained involved and invaded Scotland as planned, that would have been more likely to a Scotland-wide revolt than any success by the Spanish-Jacobites.

The sun’s heat shimmered on the Palatine, as it slipped past the mid-point of the afternoon. The Cardinal-General leaned back in his chair, sipped has glass of Patron, and smiled at his guests, the Scottish Lawyer and the West Country ‘Naval Advisor’.
‘We trust in God, our allies and our plans, my friends. It always darkest before the dawn, but the dawn will break all the brighter for it.’
Cigar smoke and the sound of crickets hung over the veranda.
‘I have enjoyed our lunch, and your thoughts. Like you, I find wisdom in the repartee. Until next time?’

Jun 1706.

1. The Duke of Villeroi attempt to take Brussels by storm have been beaten back by the Spanish defenders and formal Siege operations have began. An attempted sally by the defenders also failed and French Dragoons have now cut-off the city from the outside world.
2. King William III is entertaining the Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia in London, meanwhile in the North Newcastle remains in Jacobite hands and Durham has now declared for James III, despite the presence of Government troops in the region,
3. Antonie Heinsius celebrated Buisjesda and let the Spanish Ambassador know that the peace terms presented are unacceptable to the UDP. Strange that a Spanish settlement in Singapore is seen as a cause of war whilst a French Army in Flanders is of no concern.
4. King Louis XIV states whilst he is awaiting the Pope's final ruling on Infanta Christiana legitimacy he considers previous statements by the Holy Father sufficient to legalise his invasion of Flanders. James III or James Stuart has been accosted by the Spanish Ambassador after leaving a private meeting with King Louis XIV, the Ambassador suggests that the French are not his true friends and that he should relocate to Madrid.
5. The Elector of Liege-Cologne denounces the French invasion and calls on the Emperor to defend the Reich. As if on cue 24 Sqn of Reich Cavalry ride into Cologne, closely followed by the Northern Reich Army marching from Munster. Austria is also constructing defensive facilities in the city. In a blatant move to sure up support the Emperor reaches into his bag of goodies and raises Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau common born wife to the rank of Imperial Princess, legitimising their 3 sons.
6. Bavaria continues to act as Frances agent within the Reich, touring the border states and issuing assurances of French good will.
7. In a somewhat confused session in the Imperial Diet, Bavaria fully supports France and threatens to withdraw its contingent from the Reicharmee. As expected France claims Flanders is not part of the HRE, Spain and Liege-Cologne claim otherwise and demand the Reich take action. The Emperor bemoans the current state of affairs, but clearly see Flanders as a redline. France has September to withdraw its troops or Austrian and the Reich march, this will be a Police action to be confined to Flanders? Despite being misunderstood by the Bavarians the Emperor's proposed Canal, Postal Service and Reich Banks are accepted by the Diet.
8. The Marquis of the Balbases launches into yet another verbal broadside, denouncing the French and accusing them of biological warfare against the Spanish state, crops destroying insects having been found to have been smuggled in from France. King James III is lauded as the true Ruler of England, Scotland and Ireland and the peoples of these lands are encouraged to rise in his name.
9. Rome remains a bearpit of propaganda and deceit, the rival French, Roman and Spanish Cardinals denouncing each other in their turn. The Shadowy figure of the Cardinal-General has arrived from Spain with the Queen-Dowager and the Maid Christina. The Cardinal-General has prostrated himself before the Holy Father with a show of humility which may have been false or genuine depending on your point of view. The Pope has questioned the Queen-Dowager about her pregnancy and she has thus far provided plausible if not entirely convincing answers.
10. The Polish Government have denounced the Swedish claims to its northern coastline as entirely false. The King of Sweden has had himself painted in a Martial pose as the Lion of the North.
11. Forces loyal to the Tsar have retaken Kharkov.
12. The English begin siege operations against Havana, the attempts by the Spanish to get the English Army and Navy to come over to the Jacobite cause have thus far failed.
13. Dutch forces occupy minor Spanish outposts in Asia and the America.
14. The Moghuls forces have withdraw from Dacca lifting the siege of the city.
15. The 33 Austrian priest, having marched all the way to Peking in an epic overland journey have not been granted martyrdom by the Manchu Emperor, the Emperor has dismissed them and told them to return from hence they came. This is despite the bloodthirsty pronouncements of his lapdog Fong, who appears to wish the most hideous deaths upon the poor weary Priests.

You have to admire the Spanish in their efforts to get the Royal Navy and English army to change sides. Takes a lot of balls to suggest it given how the game is going.

As to the Great Lord Fong, he is not bloodythirsty, he simply expected usual imperial policy and is just as surprised at the leniency and mercy shown by the Emperor. Could this be the start of a new whole approach to punishment within the Empire-all executions to be merciful? Castration to be only done on one side for the first offence?

I am a little surprised at the withdrawal of moghul forces from Dacca, I wonder if the Great Moghul has had enough of war?

...Lord Fong studies maps trying to find this insignificant place called "Hague" in an effort to understand why some lowly peasant there seems to think he has the power to say who may and may not do things in the waters near the Empire of the Holder of the Mandate of Heaven...

....then he remembers hearing a story that the Dutch cower behind banks of earth, fearing that the sea should flood their homes...perhaps this has happened and that is why he cannot find "Hague" on his maps as it is underwater?

....one must pity these barbarians muses Lord Fong, perhaps he should take pity on these Dutch and send some engineering missions to their sunken land, to build proper walls for them so they may live free from the fear of drowning...

Jul 1706.  New Players scene.

1.  The Duke of Villeroi's troops make progress in their attempt to capture Brussels, but the siege is suddenly raised by orders from Paris.  The Dauphin marches off to the west at the head of over 30,000 horse and foot from the besieging forces.  Bounties are given to the Irish troops in the French army to secure their loyalty.
2.  The news from Havana is less favourable to the Spanish, as English troops besieging the city tighten their grip, elsewhere in Cuba Santiago falls to English arms.
3.  General John Churchill's government forces capture Newcastle from the Jacobite rebels.
4.  A major Naval engagement takes place before Cadiz between the Spanish and Dutch fleets.  The Dutch Navy having the better of it and force the Spanish to return to port after heavy losses.
5.  If you considered Infanta Christiana a miracle child an even greater miracle has occurred.  Queen Mary II of England has given birth to a healthy boy despite having died in 1694.
6.  The Archbishop of Cologne voices his concerns to his confessor about the aggressive intent of King Louis XIV and hopes the Emperor and the Cardinal-General will defend the liberty of Europe.
7.  King Louis XIV addresses the French nobility in a closed meeting..
8,  Austrian and Bavarian delegations shuttle around the states of the Reich trying to drum up support for their opposing factions.  Bavaria continues to act as Frances vassal in the Reich, barring Austrian troops from crossing it territory, whilst inviting French troops into the heart of the Reich.
9.  The Cologne-Liege and Spanish delegates in the Reich unsurprisingly support the Emperors ultimatum to the French.  The Emperor confirms that Flanders is part of the HRE whilst concentrating on measures to unite the Reich.
10.  The usual fiery rhetoric from the Spanish court is well received amongst the Spanish nobility.
11.  The Grand Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Savoy, signal their support for France, as Savoy is linked by marriage to France and Tuscany has recently received a massive bribe from France this is hardly surprising.
12.  The Cardinal-General remains in Rome stirring up his usual brand of Machiavellian intrigue,  the paragon of honesty Cardinal Portocarrero and the Maid Christiana appeared to confirm that the Infanta is indeed the true heir to the throne of Spain.  The Pope will let the interest parties know his ruling in January of 1707.
13.  The Swedes clarify their claims on polish territory, all protestant Polish lands on the Baltic should be transferring to the Vasa Crown.
14.  The Tsar attends various religious and diplomatic events in Moscow, he pledges friendship to France whilst praising the Emperor and hopes a peaceful solution can be agreed by 2 such honourable rulers.  He is less pleased by the Swedish claim to Poland and pledges to defend the Orthodox peoples.
15.  In a frenzy of activity the shadow of God on Earth Sultan Mustafa Oglu Mehmed II has emerged on the diplomatic scene, letting all know that the Grand Turk will no longer be ignored or denigrated by the Rulers of Europe.
16.  The Lord Yea of Shatung has made his presence known both in Peking and amongst the wider world.  Lord Yea makes Lord Fong look like a liberal.  The barbarians are Hairy red monkeys and the full force of the board of punishment must be brought against them.  Foreign weapons are looked upon with contempt only traditional Chinese weapons are acceptable.
17.  Lord Fong has launched his own independent foreign policy, with his fleet calling on the Sultan of Johore and Hue.

A good summary

Must admit I had assumed Yea was an NPC character but now starting to think there is a second active Chinese player Will be good if there is, will need to touch base and see which they are

Nice summary but can someone clarify what the King of Sweden is claiming? Does anyone know if Courland is Protestant majority at this stage? Or Danzig due to all the Scots?

Will a second China Position see a more rapid expansion of Chinese take aways across the Far East, eventually spreading into Europe.

Not sure about the relegious state of Courland, but if the lands of the Teutonic knights are being claimed, they were a Catholic order, they still exsist in game time, in the Austrian Army a Curassier regiment called "Military Order" was formed from members of the order & followed their traditions.

Danzig has a German majority to its population , but again not sure of the relegious mix, Also a large Jewish population.

Don't forget there are divisions within the "Protestant" branch of the Christian faith as well, Luthereans & Calvanist doctrine isn't the same so they may not be so welcoming as first seems ot be the case.

The Swedes seem to be claiming the entire Catholic Vasa inheritance ie a Swedish-Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth, but their particular target is Royal Prussia and the Duchy of Courland. The Duke of Courland can remain as long as he pledges allegiance to the Swedish crown and the Elector of Brandenburg-Prussia territories are not affected. Royal Prussia is to be annexed by Sweden one Presumes. How the Elector of Brandenburg, King in Prussia feels about most of his territory being surrounded by the Swedes is unknown and the King Augustus is unlikely to agree to such an outrageous landgrab.

After the battle of Thorn, the Teutonic Order had to swear loyalty ot the king of Poland, so not sure how the Vasa claim would fit in , with Poland having an elective monarchy I would guess blood lines of the royal family don't really count.

The Cynical side could point out that relegion is maybe being used as a political smoke screen to hide a bare-faced land grab. If no other reason present sitself relegion is a good old fall back Position.

Historically, I think the last Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order in Prussia converted to Protestantism and turned the order state into the secular state of Brandenburg-Prussia.

For a while the Duke of Prussia was a vassal of the Polish Crown but I think this relationship ended some time in the 1660's.

In G9 I played Augustus the Strong of Saxony for a while (got wiped out by two famines in Saxony)......in his daul role as King (more like CEO) of the Polish Commonwealth he did manage to sleep round most of the Commonwealth and if nothing much has changed Danzig now includes a chunk of his Guard, one of his Mistresses and her child by the King, while the Garrison is commanded by her brother. Which could make for an very interesting siege.

As for Courland in early days the Duke was very, very young and the regent was a young widow who was acting very shy when Augustus was trying to court her.

So either Charles Vasa is not actually invading the Commonwealth he is just doing some (rough?) courting in Courland and trying to save the love of his life from that infamous cad and bounder Augustus. Or alternatively the Lady may change he mind and decide Augustus is actually rather dashing and handsome after all.

The other question is if Charles Vasa and Augustus get into a fight over the Duchess of Courland what will the young ladies brother the Elector of Brandenburg have to say?

J Flower wrote:Will a second China Position see a more rapid expansion of Chinese take aways across the Far East, eventually spreading into Europe.

Let me assure you, any expansion by the Eternal Empire will be completely peaceful and will be categorised by a complete lack of anyone having bits cut off...honest

It is great to see G9 really coming on line. If my estimate is correct, we have had at least 3 new players join in two months.
Welcome to Venice, Ottoman Grand Vizier & China (Player 2)!

Always good to get new players. The original Doge was a true Machiavellian Prince, as slippery as an eel and more crooked than a corkscrew. Hopefully the Grand Vizier will be a peaceful scholarly gent, who quietly studies the Koran, whilst introducing a new tax scheme. No point going to Vienna, tourist trap and the locals are terrible snobs. Lord Yea appears to be a reactionary of the old school, what will he think of Fong’s navy?

Goldstar wrote: Lord Yea appears to be a reactionary of the old school, what will he think of Fong’s navy?

Who knows, we might all end up seeing Lord Fong as a nice liberal chap

Jason2 wrote:

Goldstar wrote: Lord Yea appears to be a reactionary of the old school, what will he think of Fong’s navy?

Who knows, we might all end up seeing Lord Fong as a nice liberal chap

Do we have a China version of the Man in the Iron Mask..........what have you done with the real Lord Fong?

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Jason2 wrote:

Goldstar wrote: Lord Yea appears to be a reactionary of the old school, what will he think of Fong’s navy?

Who knows, we might all end up seeing Lord Fong as a nice liberal chap

Do we have a China version of the Man in the Iron Mask..........what have you done with the real Lord Fong?

Oh, don't worry the real Lord Fong is free and ready to cut bits off people...I just suspect this Lord Yea might not have my forgiving nature

Richard sending the turn on Monday morning while you are at work is the new "pure evil"

Luckily I'm not working today So once the housework is done....

I wonder who Prince Yea is, clearly a man of mystery...

Aug 1706. The Calm before the storm.

1. The English siege of Havana continues, with the redcoats seeming to be gaining the upper-hand.
2. French troops are withdrawing from the Brussels siege lines. The Spanish claim victory, but the political situation and the Reich armies massing in Northern Germany may have had a part to play.
3. The French seem to be forming a block in northern Italy with Savoy and Tuscany, given Savoy is a member of the HRE and Tuscany is an Imperial vassal the Emperor may be less than pleased.
4. King Williams new son George is Christened in London, it is still claimed that the mother is Queen Mary II, despite her being dead? Has William gone mad? London society is worried about the Jacobite rebellion in the north. Williamite Scottish troops surround Jacobite Durham, whilst anti-English and Scottish rumours abound on both sides of the border.
5. The Dutch government appears to share Emperor Leopold's poor option of the upstart petty official Lord Fong.
6. Prince Eugene marches into Cologne at the head of the Army of Germany, 600 Lieige Cologne recruits appear to have been disappeared into the Emperor's Reich Armee.
7. King Joseph continues to traverse the Reich trying to drum up support for his father's policies, a Bavarian delegation does the same in the cause of King Louis.
8. Having withdraw their troops from the Brussel's the French appear to be going down the Legal route and have lodged a case with the Reichskammergericht demanding that the Emperor must recognise the Dauphin as the heir to Flanders.
9. Prince Stanislaw of Poland dismisses the Swedish claim Polish crown territory to as utterly illegal and dismisses their ambassador, who promptly relocates to Courland.
10. Despite the current political situation the Bavarian government is happy for Austrian Engineers and surveyors to enter the Electorate for purposes of planning the Danube / Rhine Canal.
11. Archduke Karl is meeting the Palatine of Hungary and buttering up the local nobility. The Emperor journeys to Munich to challenge the Elector about his invitation for French troops to be based in Bavaria.
12. The Danish government suddenly becomes active and announces the Sound Toll will once again be enforced on ships entering and leaving the Baltic.
13. The usual anti-English and French rhetoric flows from Madrid, but more surprisingly Charles Edward Stuart relocates his court and perhaps his troops to the Spanish capital.
14. The Cardinal-General humbly asks the Popes permission to return to Spain with the rest of the Spanish delegation. The Pope Rules that Infanta Christiana is indeed the Queen-Dowagers child, but will not rule on her legitimacy until the new year.
15. The new Grand Vizier is very active in Constantinople and the wider Ottoman world, Christian boys are once more to be enslaved as cannon fodder for the Sultan's armies.
16. Lord Fong and Yea appear to be engaged in a contest to who can be more obsequious to the Chinese Emperor, or more extreme in their hatred of the foreign barbarian devils.
17. The Swedish government appear to be positioning themselves as the champion of the protestant cause, offering protection to the Ulster protestants and sending warships to protect England from the Popish scourge.

Thanks Goldstar, an excellent summary as always

I am rather amused that as Lord Fong I am in danger of becoming the soft, cuddly face of the Empire Whatever next? An Ottoman player who doesn't cut bits off everyone all the time?

Jason2 wrote:Thanks Goldstar, an excellent summary as always

I am rather amused that as Lord Fong I am in danger of becoming the soft, cuddly face of the Empire   Whatever next?  An Ottoman player who doesn't cut bits off everyone all the time?

I forgot to mention the Grand Vizier is an admirer of Lord Fong, which does not bode well for his future relations with the West.