Europa Universalis 3 - New and Improved! (with ongoing MP game and AARs)
01-06-2012
, 08:21 AM
01-06-2012
, 08:09 PM
01-06-2012
, 10:35 PM
01-07-2012
, 12:15 AM
01-07-2012
, 03:50 AM
01-07-2012
, 11:23 AM
01-07-2012
, 11:55 AM
01-07-2012
, 05:21 PM
01-07-2012
, 05:43 PM
http://www.europa3.ru/cgi-bin/mpstat...&yearsave=1459
FML I used the wrong year, it should be 1459. Stupid stats error. Fixing that in the spreadsheet so it'll be right next week.
FML I used the wrong year, it should be 1459. Stupid stats error. Fixing that in the spreadsheet so it'll be right next week.
01-07-2012
, 06:31 PM
01-07-2012
, 07:23 PM
And where is Portugal on this map? King Chilis Baby Back Ribs wishes to know.
01-07-2012
, 07:48 PM
Part 1: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...postcount=1032
Part 2: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...postcount=1135
History of the Netherlands, Part 3, 1438-1459
Choices, there were choices to be made. The Dutch were torn between two goals. The first was completing their exploration and conquest in the new world, made much more urgent by the arrival of the Portuguese in those virgin lands. Dutch affairs there needed to be concluded before the Portuguese were able to take territory that the Netherlands wanted for herself.
On the other hand, Dutch advisors and diplomats became ever increasingly sure that there would be another major war between France, England, and England's allies. Such a war would deplete the french army, giving the Netherlands a rare window in which an attack on France, aimed at liberating the southern lowlands, would have a chance at success. But, to even have a chance, the Dutch army would have to be massively expanded far past the usual organizational capacity. Such an effort would take time, years in fact, to recruit the new regiments and to allow Dutch manpower to recover. It would also be ruinously expensive to maintain such a force.
In the end, Queen Jakoba I chose to do both. An expedition into creek lands was launched while simultaneously dozens of regiments were recruited in the interior provinces of the Netherlands, away from where prying eyes would see the military buildup. The hope was that the creek campaign could be concluded and those 12,000 Dutch troops returned to Europe prior to a war with France. Things rarely go to plan however...
Immediately before the expedition to Creek lands was launched, both of Hollands generals died. They were veterans of the many wars fought by the Netherlands up until this point, and were both extremely skilled at commanding cavalry (1 shock 6, 1 shock 5). Both died within a few months of each other, and while vile treachery could not be proved it was certainly suspected. None the less, the Creek nation needed to be subdued, and a new less skilled general, Jan Van Walbeeck, was given command of the Dutch expeditionary force. General Jan fought well and bravely, crushing equivalent numbers of creek troops at the Battles of Yamasee and Muskogee.
The war ended rapidly after the Dutch victory with most of the creek territory being ceded. The Dutch troops immediately set about building forts to hold the provinces in case of (exceedingly likely) rebellion by the natives. It would be a year before they would be free to join in on any European war.
Meanwhile, the Dutch Army in afrika managed to get itself wiped out by natives, necessitating sending a relief force of another 12,000 Dutch troops, this time under the command of general Frederik Hendrik Schouten, to restore order to those lands. Further fragmenting the Dutch Army.
So of course, just as the fleet passed the Iberian peninsula, France initiated the predicted and waited on war. The French King had picked the exact moment when 24,000 Dutch troops were not in Europe and likely would not be for some time. Cursing fate, Queen Jakoba could to little but watch and pray that the English and Spanish did not lose too quickly.
Surprisingly, word of English victories began reaching the Dutch court. Instead of folding like a wet paper bag, as was half-expected of them, the English were instead putting up a fight. As the months passed however, France began to steadily wear down English and Spanish forces. Luckily for the English, by then the 12,000 Dutch troops that shipped down to Africa had returned and the GLORIOUS Army of the Netherlands, 60,000 strong, was prepared for war. Mere days before pouring over the undefended border a notice was sent to the French King;
"Lowlands mine, not urs.
Love, Queen Jakoba"
24,000 Dutch troops under the command of General Frederik immediately marched on Antwerp and assaulted the castle, occupying it in a matter of days, then moved onto Vlaanderen. Another 12,000 Dutch troops began the siege of Ghent while the remainder marched toward Liege and Namur intending to threaten those provinces and deal with the French vassals in the area.
The first major battle of the war was fought in Vlaanderen. A french army counter-attacked the sieging forces in Vlaanderen, only to be defeated as 12,000 Dutch reinforcements arrived on the field.
The Dutch army persued the retreating French, who eventually made their stand at the Battle of Artois. Despite equal numbers, and a much more skilled French General, the Dutch delivered a crushing defeat to the French killing nearly 14,000 troops for only 5000 thousand Dutch losses.
Following the Battle of Artios the Dutch army retreated into Picardie as it had lost nearly a 3rd of its strength and morale was low. A smaller French army chose this moment to attack, hoping to capitalize on the weakened dutch troops. However English regiments arrived and together with the salwart Dutch administered another defeat.
With his armies in northern France beaten, but not broken, the French king sued for peace with the Netherlands, hoping to preserve his forces for the continuing war against England. An rough draft of the terms met with global derision, most European monarchs seemingly believing that the Netherlands asked for too much, but in the end a peace was agreed on. The furious french king signed the agreement, ceding the provinces of Ghent, Antwerp, and Vlaanderen to the Netherlands in addition to releasing the nation of Liege. Through trickery and skilled diplomacy Queen Jakoba and the Netherlands had beaten a foe far superior in land forces and taken back Dutch land. But the Dutch economy had been strained in the effort, thousands of gold had been spent, and Dutch coffers were pitifully empty. This could not stand.
From far africa however, word reached Queen Jakoba (who was in the middle of a small dispute with the newly released liege as to who actually ruled the country, eventually settled by 24,000 dutch troops) of a vast and powerful nation in South America. Calling themselves the Inca, they had shown immense sums of gold to the Dutch explorers who had arrived there, more than enough to refill Dutch coffers. An expedition was authorized to "negotiate with the Inca as to how much money they should give us", and after several furious "negotiations" and "war crimes" the coffers of the Inca were opened to Dutch accountants, who then took everything.
This strategy proved so successful that a repeat was attempted on Mutapa, an east african nation who had comparable amounts of gold provinces to the Inca. This campaign however quickly proved to be a disaster. Not only could the 12,000 Dutch troops not defeat the army of Mutapa, but the Mutapans had taken to the distinctly European practice of building forts everywhere which prevented quick and efficient occupation. And to top it all off it was eventually discovered that despite the abundant gold in the area the Mutapans were actually dirt poor. After losing an estimated 10,000 men in the Mutapan hellhole the Netherlands signed a peace with Mutapa, gaining only a single province for the whole debacle.
On April 8th, 1457, Queen Jakoba I finally died of old age. Her second son, Karel I Lodewijk de Reginar ascended to the throne, inheriting the province of Oldenburg as he did so (Liege however was NOT inherited, a fact that irked the new King immensely). His first act was to declare a week of mourning for the Great Queen, who had led a 2 province Holland into a world power and an unprecedented era of prosperity.
Not all is peaceful however. Beyond the border an unimaginably destructive war rages between a France fueled on revenge and an England refusing to give in no matter the odds. The outcome of which will profoundly affect the balance of power in western Europe, something that the Dutch cannot ignore forever.
Part 2: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...postcount=1135
History of the Netherlands, Part 3, 1438-1459
Choices, there were choices to be made. The Dutch were torn between two goals. The first was completing their exploration and conquest in the new world, made much more urgent by the arrival of the Portuguese in those virgin lands. Dutch affairs there needed to be concluded before the Portuguese were able to take territory that the Netherlands wanted for herself.
On the other hand, Dutch advisors and diplomats became ever increasingly sure that there would be another major war between France, England, and England's allies. Such a war would deplete the french army, giving the Netherlands a rare window in which an attack on France, aimed at liberating the southern lowlands, would have a chance at success. But, to even have a chance, the Dutch army would have to be massively expanded far past the usual organizational capacity. Such an effort would take time, years in fact, to recruit the new regiments and to allow Dutch manpower to recover. It would also be ruinously expensive to maintain such a force.
In the end, Queen Jakoba I chose to do both. An expedition into creek lands was launched while simultaneously dozens of regiments were recruited in the interior provinces of the Netherlands, away from where prying eyes would see the military buildup. The hope was that the creek campaign could be concluded and those 12,000 Dutch troops returned to Europe prior to a war with France. Things rarely go to plan however...
Immediately before the expedition to Creek lands was launched, both of Hollands generals died. They were veterans of the many wars fought by the Netherlands up until this point, and were both extremely skilled at commanding cavalry (1 shock 6, 1 shock 5). Both died within a few months of each other, and while vile treachery could not be proved it was certainly suspected. None the less, the Creek nation needed to be subdued, and a new less skilled general, Jan Van Walbeeck, was given command of the Dutch expeditionary force. General Jan fought well and bravely, crushing equivalent numbers of creek troops at the Battles of Yamasee and Muskogee.
The war ended rapidly after the Dutch victory with most of the creek territory being ceded. The Dutch troops immediately set about building forts to hold the provinces in case of (exceedingly likely) rebellion by the natives. It would be a year before they would be free to join in on any European war.
Meanwhile, the Dutch Army in afrika managed to get itself wiped out by natives, necessitating sending a relief force of another 12,000 Dutch troops, this time under the command of general Frederik Hendrik Schouten, to restore order to those lands. Further fragmenting the Dutch Army.
So of course, just as the fleet passed the Iberian peninsula, France initiated the predicted and waited on war. The French King had picked the exact moment when 24,000 Dutch troops were not in Europe and likely would not be for some time. Cursing fate, Queen Jakoba could to little but watch and pray that the English and Spanish did not lose too quickly.
Surprisingly, word of English victories began reaching the Dutch court. Instead of folding like a wet paper bag, as was half-expected of them, the English were instead putting up a fight. As the months passed however, France began to steadily wear down English and Spanish forces. Luckily for the English, by then the 12,000 Dutch troops that shipped down to Africa had returned and the GLORIOUS Army of the Netherlands, 60,000 strong, was prepared for war. Mere days before pouring over the undefended border a notice was sent to the French King;
"Lowlands mine, not urs.
Love, Queen Jakoba"
24,000 Dutch troops under the command of General Frederik immediately marched on Antwerp and assaulted the castle, occupying it in a matter of days, then moved onto Vlaanderen. Another 12,000 Dutch troops began the siege of Ghent while the remainder marched toward Liege and Namur intending to threaten those provinces and deal with the French vassals in the area.
The first major battle of the war was fought in Vlaanderen. A french army counter-attacked the sieging forces in Vlaanderen, only to be defeated as 12,000 Dutch reinforcements arrived on the field.
The Dutch army persued the retreating French, who eventually made their stand at the Battle of Artois. Despite equal numbers, and a much more skilled French General, the Dutch delivered a crushing defeat to the French killing nearly 14,000 troops for only 5000 thousand Dutch losses.
Following the Battle of Artios the Dutch army retreated into Picardie as it had lost nearly a 3rd of its strength and morale was low. A smaller French army chose this moment to attack, hoping to capitalize on the weakened dutch troops. However English regiments arrived and together with the salwart Dutch administered another defeat.
With his armies in northern France beaten, but not broken, the French king sued for peace with the Netherlands, hoping to preserve his forces for the continuing war against England. An rough draft of the terms met with global derision, most European monarchs seemingly believing that the Netherlands asked for too much, but in the end a peace was agreed on. The furious french king signed the agreement, ceding the provinces of Ghent, Antwerp, and Vlaanderen to the Netherlands in addition to releasing the nation of Liege. Through trickery and skilled diplomacy Queen Jakoba and the Netherlands had beaten a foe far superior in land forces and taken back Dutch land. But the Dutch economy had been strained in the effort, thousands of gold had been spent, and Dutch coffers were pitifully empty. This could not stand.
From far africa however, word reached Queen Jakoba (who was in the middle of a small dispute with the newly released liege as to who actually ruled the country, eventually settled by 24,000 dutch troops) of a vast and powerful nation in South America. Calling themselves the Inca, they had shown immense sums of gold to the Dutch explorers who had arrived there, more than enough to refill Dutch coffers. An expedition was authorized to "negotiate with the Inca as to how much money they should give us", and after several furious "negotiations" and "war crimes" the coffers of the Inca were opened to Dutch accountants, who then took everything.
This strategy proved so successful that a repeat was attempted on Mutapa, an east african nation who had comparable amounts of gold provinces to the Inca. This campaign however quickly proved to be a disaster. Not only could the 12,000 Dutch troops not defeat the army of Mutapa, but the Mutapans had taken to the distinctly European practice of building forts everywhere which prevented quick and efficient occupation. And to top it all off it was eventually discovered that despite the abundant gold in the area the Mutapans were actually dirt poor. After losing an estimated 10,000 men in the Mutapan hellhole the Netherlands signed a peace with Mutapa, gaining only a single province for the whole debacle.
On April 8th, 1457, Queen Jakoba I finally died of old age. Her second son, Karel I Lodewijk de Reginar ascended to the throne, inheriting the province of Oldenburg as he did so (Liege however was NOT inherited, a fact that irked the new King immensely). His first act was to declare a week of mourning for the Great Queen, who had led a 2 province Holland into a world power and an unprecedented era of prosperity.
Not all is peaceful however. Beyond the border an unimaginably destructive war rages between a France fueled on revenge and an England refusing to give in no matter the odds. The outcome of which will profoundly affect the balance of power in western Europe, something that the Dutch cannot ignore forever.