Gilded Ambitions: Concert of Europe Part V (Gameplay Thread)

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The Treaty of Delhi (1901)

The Kingdom of France and the Durrani Empire, henceforth referred to as "the signatories", recognizing the shared interest in securing peace in the region hereby agree to the following:

1) A non-aggression pact between the two nations, including a commitment not to enter a conflict in which the other signatory was the victim of an unprovoked attack.  "Unprovoked" is defined here as being the victim of an attack by a nation which the victim had not first attacked.


2) The Durrani Empire shall respect the rights and liberties of all Catholics within its borders and the Kingdom of France shall respect the rights and liberties Muslims within its colonial empire.

3) Aceh and Mysore shall become French Protectorates within the greater French Colonial Empire rather than being annexed into existing colonies.  While both will be under French administration and the Kingdom of France shall exercise full and absolute control over their military and foreign policy affairs, both protectorates shall be afforded a reasonable degree of autonomy such as the ability to collect their own taxes provided the colonial taxes are being paid and the ability to implement their own laws with respect to local and certain domestic issues.


4) The Protectorate of Aceh and the Protectorate of Mysore shall both be permitted to build a domestic police force to enforce their domestic laws.  It may be large enough to effectively enforce their domestic laws yet not so large as to potentially represent any threat to French control

5) The signatories agree to normalized trade status, including the lifting of the French embargo on the Durrani Empire and work to further improve economic ties where opportunities for such exist.

x Louis XX De Bourbon, King-Emperor of France

X. Abdul II Durrani, Shah of the Durrani Empire and Supreme Sovereign of the Lands of Afghanistan, Hindustan, Khorasan, and Turkestan

[Spamage]

1901 News of the World

Royal Revolution
After Trebizond, Romania Forges a New Path

King Augustus II of Romania and his wife, 1900
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

  The Russian decision to annex Trebizond, rather than restoring the deposed Alexios VII, had dramatic and unforeseen consequences. King Augustus II, besides lodging an official protest on behalf of his brother-in-law, was convinced that Moscow would soon turn its attentions on his realm and undermine his monarchy. Not willing to step aside and let that happen, he decided to act, finally challenging the democratic concessions his mother had been forced to make during his regency. He was backed by the military.
   On October 15th, 1901 Parliament was surrounded by several battalions, the body being fully blockaded from the rest of the city. Prime Minister Ghica received a message from the Crown demanding the formal dissolution of the body. Ghica refused. While he was loyal to the king and a true conservative, he was unwilling to see any roll-backs to the Constitution of 1889. Thus, the building was besieged for several hours, the Prime Minister confident the people would come to his aid. He underestimated the broader frustration of the populace with the inefficiencies of democratic rule and the elitist nature of governance thus far. Little aid came, most residents of the capital merely contenting themselves to watch the proceedings from behind the military lines.
   In order to hurry along the process General Ioan Culcer had artillery shells fired on the building after nightfall. One even burst near the chamber, killing several members of Parliament who were off the floor of the legislature. The delegates, now fearing for their lives, hastily dissolved the body and surrendered to the Crown. While Ghica held out for several more hours, barricading himself in his offices, he too was forced by circumstance to yield.
   As dawn broke telegraphs were distributed throughout the country. King Augustus II declared a new day for the people of Romania. Denouncing liberal interference over the past decade, he promised substantial reforms to alleviate the difficult situation faced by many Romanian peasants. The government would no longer work for those few elites that had suffrage, but instead for the entire Romanian people. The Constitution of 1889, signed ‘under duress’ was to be thrown out. In a clear sign of his Reactionary Socialist leanings, he denounced the ‘bourgeois leeches’ and ‘tyrants of the estates’ that sought to frustrate true social progress. By returning to Orthodox principles and ending flirtation with modernism, Romania could thrive once more.
   Romania’s neighbors have expressed grave concerns over the developments. The global financial community has watched warily, wondering what this meant for their investments in the region. Habsburg Austria suddenly finds itself with a Reactionary Socialist realm now to its east, on top of France’s looming presence in the west. Some feel the realm is being encircled by the toxic ideology. Russia, whose actions helped to precipitate the crisis, has likewise watched Augustus II’s actions with alarm, refraining from direct intervention. Few missed the denunciation of liberalism as a repudiation of Milyukov’s ideology. Trebizond had been a key intermediary in Russo-Romanian relations. With it now a Russian oblast, some question if the governments will truly be able to effectively cooperate. In Bulgaria, the stress of the crisis was likely too much for the aged King William-Henry, who suffered a stroke and died on November 7th, 1901, leaving the throne to the 45-year-old Charles of Bulgaria. Charles publicly blamed Augustus II for his father’s death, increasing tensions between the two families.
   Only in France was the Romanian Revolution greeted with genuine enthusiasm. After decades of tenuous balancing between Paris and Moscow, it seems the Romanian government is now decidedly in the camp of Louis XX. Some have wondered if the Royal Revolution was not tacitly coordinate with Versailles, perhaps as revenge for Habsburg meddling in La Plata and Russia’s annexation of Trebizond. Only time will tell if the developments here will spiral further out of control.

A 'Great' War?
Britain, Colombia, and China vs. France, Japan, Quebec, and Brazil

John Bull Stirs

Battle of the Channel, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   For Britain the year opened with celebrations and peaceful intent. Queen Mary III wed the dashing Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton in Saint Paul’s amid widespread public acclaim. With this union it seemed assured that a truly British family would one day rule the United Kingdom once more. Many Scots, in particular, were jubilant while the broader English public leaned into the romanticization of Scottish life that had been in vogue as of late. The North Americans also relished the occasion, many American MPs crossing the Atlantic for the occasion. While peace and eternal bliss were toasted after the ceremony, the distant drums of war grew yet louder.
   London could not stand idly by and allow the mutilation of Colombia to continue unchallenged. Britain and France had been at peace since the end of the First War of the Grand Coalitions in 1763. They had remained uninvolved in one another’s affairs during the First North American War, the French War of the Regency, and the Scramble for Africa. Yet, to British eyes the French threats to their economic interests and the world order could be tolerated no longer. At Queen Mary’s request, with the assent of Parliament and Prime Minister Salisbury, the United Kingdom declared war on France, Quebec, and Brazil on May 15th, 1901. 138 years of peace were over. The bloodshed began at once.

Carnage in the Channel
   The British entry into the war triggered contingency plans on the part of the French. It was a mad scramble on the water. Both powers sent their fleets into the Channel, seeking to wrest control of the seas from the other before any side could seize a clear advantage. Battleships pounded one another in punishing volleys, the awful sound echoing from the White Cliffs of Dover to Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy. Civilians on both sides crowded the shores, watching the flashes in the darkness as the two foremost naval powers beat each other senseless. France launched ships from Pays-Bas and Normandy, while the British poured out of harbors on the Thames and Falmouth.
   Yet, the British held the initiative from the start. Royal orders specifically commanded more than half of the vaunted Royal Navy to be present, so important was deemed the necessity of a French blockade. The French Admiralty was already overseeing operations in the Caribbean, East China Sea, and Indian Ocean. War with Britain meant more actions in the Mediterranean and the Channel. Needless to say, facing the bulk of the largest fleet on Earth in a surprise attack, they could only do so much. The British Navy struck hard and fast. The French fought admirably, but vessels were forces to scatter as time continued to pass. Most returned to the safety of Bourdeaux, where they could be safe under the protection of land artillery. In a particularly awkward diplomatic situation, one crew ran their vessel aground right off the coast of Scandinavian Norway, out of fuel and seeking refuge. The men were arrested and interned by the government in Stockholm while it crafted a diplomatic response to both the British, demanding the handing over of the crew, and the French, urging their release.
   Britain followed up its victory in the Channel by opening up an incomplete blockade on northern France, from Brest to the Pays-Bas. While initial plans had called for a wholesale blockade of the French Atlantic positions, the survival of a substantial French fleet at Bourdeaux made including the Bay of Biscay seen as too risky. The Admiralty thus settled with the closure of Breton, Norman, Dutch, and Belgian ports in return for a stronger naval defense of the British Isles rather than overextending itself. Bourdeaux, meanwhile, was the sole major French Atlantic port left open to the sea. Yet, few are willing to brave the perilous North Atlantic now that war has erupted on the waves. French trade has been effectively halved, only able to trade by land or via the Mediterranean and Suez. The economic implications will likely ripple well beyond the French borders, market distortions already becoming evident in Spain, Austria, and Scandinavia. The British blockade also bottled up commerce along the Rhine, which flows through the heart of the newly-centralized Holy Roman Empire.

Pillars of Hercules Slammed Shut
   A mutual blockade at the Straights of Gibraltar emerged just days after the horrific carnage in the English Channel. The French fleet, operating out of northern Morocco, was ordered to bar the entry of British warships into the Mediterranean. The British, themselves operating out of their base on the Canary Islands, were determined to prevent the French from leaving the sea. What has resulted is an effective halt to all trade in that theater in an uncomfortable standoff. Though both powers claim only to be targeting, boarding, and inspecting hostile vessels, the severe delays and potential for mistaken identity have deterred most commercial freight from the region. Trans-Atlantic trade between North America and Europe has effectively ceased, barring the bold seafarers heading to French Bourdeaux, Spanish ports such as Vigo, and a far northern route via Iceland and south into Norway and Denmark.

Blockade of Quebec
   Yet, there were blockades on the western Atlantic as well. Operating out of New York and Norfolk, the British were similarly determined to teach the Quebecois a lesson. Empress Wilhelmina and her government could only look on with dismay as the Royal Navy fully barred the transit of ships out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On a scale unseen since the days of the North American War, Quebec has been placed under a blockade. Unlike in the past, when the British had to contend with similar blockades in Mexico, Louisiana, and New England, Montreal stood alone.
   The British fleet was extremely lenient to New England in this theater, eager to reassure them that they were a noncombatant. Still, even though the New Englander vessels were granted passage and could come and go as they pleased, there was little places available for them to trade, given the various blockades and active military theaters all throughout the planet. The already perilous situation of Boston, Nantucket, and Portland’s mercantile economies has tottered towards collapse. Whispers on the docks of worker’s cooperatives apparently emerged, some questioning if their government cared at all for their plight.
   Further to the south, smaller British squadrons surprised Quebecois garrisons at Trinidad and Puerto Rico, both islands falling into enemy hands in a fell swoop. Yet, with the Franco-Brazilian fleet still lingering in the Caribbean off the coast of Colombia, some wonder if these recent gains will be able to endure. Still, the development undoubtedly has been a morale boost for the beleaguered Colombians.

Battle of New Cornwall/Nouvelle-Cornouailles
   Britain’s actions would not merely be confined to the waves, the United Kingdom mobilizing for a conflict on land in North America once again. For the fourth time in roughly a century, the courts of London and Quebec find themselves at war. Despite its repetitive nature, this iteration was novel. Quebec had stood with its North American allies in the most recent two conflicts. Yet, with Louisiana fighting for its survival and New England caught between the two feuding titans, it seemed it would stand alone this time. While newspapermen in both realms would dub this the ‘War of the Women’, pointing to the genders of Wilhelmina and Mary, it was the men who would bleed.
   And bleed they did. Lakes Erie and Huron became naval battlefields at once, small vessels raiding the opposite shore as civilians scrambled to get off the bodies of water. By land, the British issued a push into their former colony of New Somerset, seeking to eject the Quebecois occupiers and redeem the North American cause. Quebec had prepared for such an eventuality. While the element of surprise gave the British an initial edge, much of the region falling in their push along the Plains towards the Mississippi, Quebecois defenders held the line in Michigan and established a frontline near Wisconsin.
  

The Sun Rises to the East

Japanese Soldiers Land in the Philippines, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   Britain was not the only power to see opportunity in the crisis. The Japanese Republic had never forgiven the Colombians for their treachery. It had been to the Catholic-Republicans they were forced to cede their first empire in the Pacific, losing both the Philippines and New Guinea to the zealots. Now, in Colombia’s hour of need, they were succored by both France and Quebec. Tokyo was promised the prospect of revenge and restoring its position as a great power. President Tokugawa Iesato, eager to demonstrate the enduring strength of the nation, emperor or no emperor, declared war on May 17th, unaware that the British too had acted just a day prior.

Philippines Campaign
   Closest of home, and seeming ripe for the taking, the Japanese focused first on subduing the Philippines, taking over operations in that region from the smaller Quebecois fleet. Thousands of Japanese soldiers were disembarked at Manila, the invaders following up with landings all throughout the islands in the coming weeks. The restoration of the Japanese Philippines was proclaimed by a newly installed Governor Tokugawa Satotaka, brother of the Japanese president.
   The response of the inhabitants ranged from rage to despair. Filipinos had been willing to repel Quebec out of duty, expelling the Japanese was a matter of survival. After decades of independence, there was little desire among the population of the islands to return to colonial subservience. Even with overwhelming Japanese numbers, firepower, and training, the Catholic-Republican government of the Philippines resisted. Brutal fighting exploded in the countryside, the Filipino forces maintaining control of central Luzon. The Japanese, for all their martial glory, faced people desperate to keep them out. Both sides employed tactics deemed ghastly to outside observers. Atrocities towards the locals by the Japanese fueled the flames of continued resistance, while the brutal punishment of ‘collaborators’ alienated some Filipinos hostile to the old government. Still, attempts by the Japanese to capture the Archbishop-President in the initial invasion were foiled, Donato Guimbaolibot vowing the people would resist as long as necessary. Reportedly the cleric was living out of a remote cave somewhere in the islands, commanding his forces from hiding.
   Yet, not all on the islands were loyal to the old regime. The predominantly Muslim population in the southern islands had persecuted for decades under the Catholic-Republicans. Seeing in Japan a means of reversing their fortunes, many defected in this region. Parang and Iligang City welcomed Japanese occupation, thereby opening up the front on Mindanao as divisions poured south via ship from Manila.

Battle of Nauru & War in the Pacific
   Britain and Japan, two late entrants to a war (that neither had started) raging on the other side of the planet from either of their homelands, found themselves at odds, clashing in the Pacific when their mutual operations found themselves in the path of one another. This was a shocking development for each side. When London and Tokyo had each went to war, they only perhaps envisioned peripheral operations against one another. Yet, given the contested state of the Pacific, this was wishful thinking. The Battle of Nauru would force each side to alter its plans for the remainder of the year, having a chain effect that would see other goals elsewhere go unfulfilled.
   The vessels stumbled on each other wholly on accident. The Japanese were sending their initial invasion force down to Papua New Guinea to take over that campaign from Quebec. The British were steaming north, seeking to dislodge the Quebecois from the occupied Caroline Islands. It was an awkward and confused engagement. While the British ships were undoubtedly superior, they were fewer in number. Both sides scrambled to shell one another, battleships blasting away off the coast of the remote island.  
   Nauru was ultimately inconclusive, neither side willing to gamble on all-out victory. Japan carried the field, disembarking its men at New Guinea and relieving the Quebecois force there, but the British fleet remained a potent threat. Still, the northern squadron of the Royal Navy’s Pacific Fleet was prevented from engaging in a blockade of Quebecois shipping along the coast of Mexico as had been planned earlier. Instead, it played a supporting role to the other British squadrons aimed at restoring the Colombian position in the region. In a reversal of fortune, the Quebecois garrison on Fiji was shelled into surrendering. Secondary operations also saw Quebecois Polynesia fall into Anglo-Colombian hands. While Japan and Quebec controlled the north of the ocean (the Caroline Islands and Hawaii), the British and Colombians have successfully seized the south.

Galapagos and Ecuadorian Expeditions
   Quebecois and Japanese vessels rendezvoused at Hawaii. While the Japanese squadron was reduced as a result of delays caused by the Battle of Nauru, nevertheless, both powers felt confident that they would outnumber the Colombian squadron. They made for the Galapagos, hoping to relieve the fleet besieged at that port before then launching relief operations for the Army of Pisco.
   They had anticipated finding the bulk of the Colombian fleet besieging the port, instead being stunned by only a few token vessels, Bogota instead having elected to deploy its ships elsewhere in a stunning act of deception. Still, this gave the Japanese-Quebecois fleet the freedom it needed to land the French expeditionary force at Ecuador, engulfing yet another constituent republic into the horrors of war. Their efforts were costly however, the Colombians having deployed extensive minefields around their ports. The Japanese, in particular, expressed great reluctance to continue operations so far from their own theater moving forward, especially as more and more stray ships were either damaged or sunk outright by the minefields.

[Spamage]

Fight for Colombia

Anglo-Colombian Raid on Rio de Janeiro, 1901
(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

Propaganda War
   France was particularly unabashed in its sponsorship of malcontents and disorder. Propagandists flooded the countryside, proclaiming that the Archbishop-President was a ‘devil-worshiping pedophile who fornicates with a three-eyed, black-furred talking sow’. These turncoats argued that Federico González ‘bathed in the blood of altar boys and signed his name with ink of sulfur in the devil's black book with a pen made from the shin bone of a Catholic babe snatched from her mother's breast and slaughtered in a blasphemous Pagan human sacrifice.’
   Yet, this effort to demoralize the people of Colombia failed for two reasons. First, the passage of the Sedition Act of 1901 in the Colombian legislature preemptively targeted this exact sort of action, the regime willing to curb free speech liberties given the dire situation. French propagandists were brutally executed, drawn and quartered in some situations by vengeful Colombians. Indeed, the Colombian Church sponsored counter protests, framing Louis XX as the anti-Christ, the son of the ‘Jezebel witch Queen of France, Charlotte’. To most, especially as fighting reached Colombia proper, the Franco-Brazilian invading force was evil incarnate. The populace was willing to make grave sacrifices if it meant killing the attackers who had so unjustly assaulted the Holy Republic.

War in Colombia Proper
   The Battle of Colombia has been brutal. The masses of Franco-Brazilian soldiers pour into the region, countered by perhaps the strongest resistance on the part of the people ever before seen. Mass amounts of manpower were deployed by each army. Colombia, in addition to its own forces, was bolstered by the arrival of ‘volunteers’, similar to those observed in the Mexican-Louisianan War last year.
   Initial operations were a lopsided victory for the allies. While their offensives were repeatedly slowed by Colombian schemes, their sheer numbers and continued landings proved too much for most coastal settlements. The fall of Cartagena was a major coup, that city coming with the battered remnants of the Colombian Atlantic fleet, albeit not much at this point. Army Group 1 meanwhile sauntered across the coast of Venezuela as far west as Maracaibo, linking up with their allies and ending Colombia’s presence along the Atlantic Ocean.
   Yet, ‘God could not have made a safer country than Colombia’, the Archbishop-President reportedly stated to the people at the start of the year. Indeed, the invaders faced a daunting task. In addition to the already unfamiliar climate, they had to contend with intense local resistance, the destruction of infrastructure, harassment of their supply lines, disease, and the Colombian Army. Bogota, the sought-after target, was well-above sea level in the mountains, the only way to reach it being the long Magdalena River valley.
   Extended war perhaps tends to favor the defenders. In a true demonstration of Colombia’s resolve, infrastructure was completely devastated to slow the assault. Railway tracks were dismantled after Colombian troops had safely evacuated. Rivers were crowded with mines, some locals even using small-scale materials to deploy their own amateur copies. The most significant development came near the end of the year, when the dams along the Magdalena River, constructed to provide hydroelectricity for Bogota and Medellin in the 1880s, were unceremoniously destroyed as the allied forces attempted to move upriver, killing thousands of allied troops as they attempted to march south into the heartland. While much of the Colombian coastal lowlands have been captured, Bogota remains elusive.

Siege of Pisco
   The Colombians made sure that the Army of Pisco had no respite. Prior to the arrival of their naval relief, the besieged men were shelled from the sea and subjected to occasional low-level bombing raids by Colombian dirigibles. By far the most damaging development, and perhaps one that will set a worrying precedent, was the Colombian dropping of horse manure into the water supply. Among the already malnourished men, disease ran rampant. The region, already inhospitable, became intolerable. Thousands died as food supplies ran out and the leadership formally began to debate surrender, only refraining for fear that the Colombians and Andeans would massacre them outright. Indeed, the level of attrition here made the Brazilian losses in the Amazon pale by comparison.
   Yet, with word of an approaching Brazilian Army from the south, the Colombians made their move, numbers bolstered by the volunteers joining their ranks from some other power. A massive three-way assault commenced along the besieged settlement. For two days the sides did battle, extensively savaging one another. Yet, for all their fortifications, the defenders could only hold out for so long. Constantly shelled, starving, and ill, the remains of the Brazilian Army surrendered. Colombia had won a decisive victory, capturing dozens of Brazilian divisions that remained, the men being led to internment camps to the north in Peru. For most, life in Colombian captivity entailed better living conditions than they had endured in the waning days of the siege. While Colombia’s numerical losses had been significant, taking a whole Brazilian Army out of commission was deemed to have saved Lima and forestalled any enemy actions in Peru.
   Yet, the Colombian-Andean decision to focus on eliminating the force at Pisco meant that a second Brazilian Army of the Andes, was able to deal the Free State a crippling blow. La Paz fell, as did most of the urban areas. By the end of the year Brazilian forces had even reached the Pacific, ominously facing the recently victorious Colombian-Andean force to the north, fresh of its victory at Pisco.

Invasion of Paraguay
   While the Brazilians had eventually been willing to make peace with the collapse of La Plata, that did not mean they did not see opportunities to be had in it. Without so much as a declaration of war, Brazilian battalions crossed into Paraguay and began to seize control of settlements from the locals. The populace, indignant, fought back. Gravely outnumbered, many doubt that Paraguayan resistance can continue for long, that nation having only a brief period of independence before being returned to the Catholic-Republican fold. By the end of the year, the forces of Rio stand at the gates of Asuncion, most of the Guarani resistance focusing on fighting in the countryside rather than defending the meager urban settlements in the region.

Brazilian Surprise!
   Yet, the true destination of the Colombian fleet, absent as it was from the Galapagos, was uncovered soon enough. In a surprise development, it crossed Cape Horn, capturing the Brazilian Malvinas Islands. Several Brazilian divisions sent to occupy the extreme south of former La Plata found themselves accosted by the Colombians, who forced them to surrender. The surprise expedition swept north. Montevideo, the capital of the Cisplatine Republic, was bombarded extensively, spreading panic among the populace, wholly unprepared to be the subject of an assault. Already struggling with the influx of refugees during the collapse of La Plata, the regime in Montevideo buckled yet further with their inability to defend themselves from the attack.
   Yet, the true target of the expedition was evident soon enough. In concert with the British Cape Fleet, the Colombians appeared off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Holding little back, a full-scale bombardment commenced. Buildings caught flame, a particularly concerning explosion occurring at the docks as the oil tankards were struck by enemy shells. Flames whipped through the city, which descended into utter anarchy. Archbishop-President Cavalcanti himself had the good sense to flee the city for the inland, determined not to meet the fate of his liberal predecessors who had been killed in a similar strike earlier last century.
   Still, the Anglo-Colombian Fleet had little chance of holding the city, withdrawing in good order back to the Malvinas in the south and leaving the region greatly disturbed. Not everything would be good news for the British though, word emerging that the French had begun their own blockade of the Cape Colony in concert with the Prussian Republicans at New Potsdam.
   The Brazilian public had felt a sense of security around the Colombian war since its start. While the economy had certainly worsened, many people were willing to bear it so long as stories of national glory came from far-away battlefields. In one stroke, the Colombians brought the fight to the Brazilian homeland, shattering this sense of security.  With the economic situation deteriorating and the attack on the capitol, there are for the first time in decades public grumblings against the regime. In particular, the tremendous demands of mobilization are starting to show their cost as the conflict seems set to enter its third year.

CANAL SABOTAGED; INOPERABLE FOR “YEAR OR TWO AT BEST”
   The Panama Canal passes through varying terrain, requiring a lock system in order to allow vessels to enter, gradually be raised or lowered to the height of the next segment, and then eventually enter or exit the body of water. At the time of construction, the system was deemed a miracle of engineering, celebrated by the various builders. Yet, unlike the relatively level Suez, the lock system made for a relatively easy target. Under the cover of darkness in the middle of one night a series of explosions occurred at both the Pacific and Atlantic lock system. While the Atlantic section escaped relatively unscathed, thanks to inaccuracy due to the darkness, the Pacific side was severely savaged. The machinery for operating the canal has been rendered in operable and some of the absolutely massive gates have been left open, their water spilling and draining outwards. Local observers have looked on in horror, keenly aware of what the development means from the already skeletal remains of global trade and transit.
   Unlike damage to the Suez in the 1870s, this inoperability of the locks would normally be able to be fixed within a year or two, when proper equipment was delivered. Yet, given the perilous state of the global diplomatic situation and the unending conflict in the region, the possibility of dispatching a repair team, supplies, and materials seems extremely remote. Thus, the Atlantic and Pacific have been ripped apart once more, the only way to operate between the two by water being around the treacherous to navigate Cape Horn.
   Some soldiers on guard have sworn that aeronautic ships were seen in the skies above the dark, though no hard evidence of such bizarre claims has been substantiated. Others claim the explosions occurred in the water itself, blaming some sort of underwater vessels. Blame has been spread in every direction. The French and Brazilians were the ones operating the canal when the damage occurred, some thinking this was a way to avenge themselves on the Colombians. Those powers have blamed the Colombians, pointing to their willingness to blow dams and destroy infrastructure to slow the allied advance. The Mexican push into Brazilian Central America seemed suspiciously close to the occurrence as well, many noting Mexico’s past threats to blockade the canal and provide its own alternative. Yet, without hard evidence there’s also been theories positing a wide range of other powers as responsible. Panamanian separatists, Britain, Scandinavia, and Louisiana have all been accused with varying degrees of credibility. Regardless, the collapse of the Panama Canal is a tremendous headache for all the powers in the Americas, even those with Transcontinental rail lines.

Mexico Acts!
   Determined to show itself true to its word, and seeing an opportunity, Mexico launched a separate operation south into Brazilian Central America. Calling for a protection of the Panama Canal, they plunged into the lightly defended Nicaragua and Costa Rica, subduing the region in rapid fashion. While there was some vocal grumbling on behalf of the locals irritated by the military presence, in truth many felt little loyalty to the far-off Portuguese-speaking regime way off to the south. Perhaps rule by Mexico would be preferable to the decades of authoritarian rule by the Church?
   While the Mexicans were successful, the bold move catching the Triple Alliance off-guard, full occupation of Panama was held-off for the time being, there little appetite among Mexican commanders to engage in a scuffle with the French force garrisoning the region. Still, tensions between Paris and Mexico City have now escalated to an unprecedented level. Will the two American conflicts merge into one massive war?

Franco-Chinese War

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Fall of Mysore
   It had perhaps been clear since the start of the year that Mysore was doomed. It may have been the start of the war that was now engulfing Asia, but it certainly would not survive to see the conclusion, whatever that ended up being. The Sultan, trapped in his capital, was besieged by the French in an increasingly desperate situation. Seeing no other alternatives, especially despairing when news reached him of the Franco-Durrani Treaty, the Sultan of Mysore surrendered on September 10th, 1901. After almost 60 years of intermittent warfare, France had seemingly tamed Mysore completely. Eager to blunt the religious or nationalist appeals, the French quickly established a new puppet regime to govern their conquest. The Hindu Wadiyar Dynasty was restored to the throne of Mysore as Maharaja, ending the decades-long interlude of rule under the Muslim Sultans.
   As the last independent Indian principality, this represented a major watershed in the eyes of many. Staunch loyalists to the defeated sultan would curse the Durrani, calling them false friends for their abandonment of their onetime ally. Over it all, one question lingered. Would southern India ever be the same again?

Blockade of the Middle Kingdom
   China may have had the largest population of any nation in the world and a tremendous land force, but it also was severely behind in terms of naval capabilities. With the French decision to strike back at the Chinese came a tacit agreement with the Republic of Formosa for naval basing rights. While Japan publicly protested the agreement, arguing that Formosa ought to be neutral, many Chinese observers saw this as a fig-leaf, given their dominant position in the Formosan Republic. French ships poured out of the Indian Ocean, across the Strait of Malacca and into the East and South China Seas. From a base at Taipei, the vessels began to spread out and block all Chinese trade, save for vessels going to and from the various European concessions. Starting at the Gulf of Tonkin, within weeks the blockade extended as far north as Shanghai, then yet further to Tianjin. China was cut off from the Pacific and the various maritime trade networks the Republic had established over the past decades. While many protested, particularly New Holland who was hurt by blockade of one of their largest trading partners, little effort was made to stop it. The Austrians, Scandinavians, and Portuguese expressed their displeasure but did little, a sentiment becoming quite common in their diplomatic pronouncements. So long as their trade continued unmolested by France, it was felt that the East Asian war was not their problem.
   Yet, France sought a loophole in its agreements with the other powers. While it had been agreed that no shipping going to and from the concessions would be impeded, the negotiations said nothing about commerce by land. A series of French landing parties attempted to seize the land around Leizhou, Ningbo, and Macau, thereby impeding Chinese trade with the European powers. While the existing Chinese coastal defense force repelled the landings at Ningbo, there was success further to the south. Both Leizhou and Macau were encircled by French forces, who then seized any commerce bound for the outposts. The French scrupulously refrained from direct violation of Scandinavian and Portuguese sovereignty by giving the border a wide berth, but the fact remained that the cities effectively were forced into the blockade against their will. More severe was the prospect of food shortages in the concessions, as they had relied on Chinese produce to feed their burgeoning population rather than expensive European imports. Many in both Stockholm and even nominally friendly Lisbon have castigated France for the move, wary of famine in their possessions.

The Return of the Emperor
   There was no lengths France was not willing to go to in order to chastise the Chinese government for its perceived treachery. A figured almost wholly forgotten about, the Réncí Emperor, was returned to China via an elaborate scheme, fleeing his ‘refuge’ in Dai Viet dressed as a peasant under the cover of darkness. He was given passage aboard a French vessel for Calcutta, then embarking on a perilous overland journey in the company of roughly one hundred retainers through the eastern passes of the Himalayas. The emperor had been a young, headstrong thirty-year-old when he had faced the dual threats of the Korean Invasion and the Chinese Civil War. Captured by the Koreans, he had then spent several years in captivity, before joining the Joseon family in exile in Dai Viet after the Daeboreum Revolution. Now in his sixties, discontent after decades of dull exile and seeing one last chance to retake the throne of his father, he elected to follow the French plan. With him was an ample supply of weaponry, gold, and several dozen French soldiers. It was a perilous journey, through the extreme heights and remote regions. Alfred Le Chatelier, a noted French adventurer, led the trek. The party resurfaced more than a month later in Chengdu, keeping a low profile and moving north towards their ultimate destination.
   On October 10th, 1901, the Xing Dynasty was formally proclaimed restored, the Réncí Emperor being enthroned in the lightly-defended city of Xi’an, his old capital. With the central government so focused on operations on the coast and in Burma, little thought had been given to garrisoning the city. The populace of the city awoke to news of the emperor’s return. At first the people reacted with incredulity; many had believed the former sovereign deceased. It was only after several former palace attendants confirmed the identity of the aged man standing before them that true emotional responses began. The elderly instinctively deferred to their onetime absolute sovereign. Hundreds flocked to his cause and the city’s republican government found itself arrested before it had even become aware of the disturbances. As news spread to the rural populace, the people flocked to the cause of their old leader. The region had been a haven of pro-Xing sentiment, even during the dynasty’s perilous collapse.
   For better or worse, Xi’an was well on the periphery of the Chinese heartland and it took weeks of confusing reports before Kang Youwei’s government was aware what had occurred. By that time the movement had picked up real momentum, gathering the support of the numerous villages and smaller settlements all around the Qin-Ling Mountains.
   Yet, it must be kept in mind that this is not the China of the 1870s. While the Shaanxi Region has flocked to the cause of the aged dynast, there are many who look back on the Chinese Republic’s first three decades with satisfaction. Support for the Emperor is reportedly rather soft among the urban youth, many of whom know little other than republican rule. Indeed, of the Réncí Emperor’s dominions, Xi’an itself is perhaps the weakest link.

[Spamage]

Siam Enters the Fray & War in Burma
   It initially seemed as though the Burmese front would be quiet in 1901. Both the French and the Chinese dug themselves in, each side using elaborate fortifications along a growing frontline between them. They both assumed the other would attack, no assaults being forthcoming as they eyed one another warily across their defensive positions. France attempted to spring an elaborate trap with mines and booby traps in the foliage, while the Chinese contended themselves with elaborate earthworks and defensive positions.
   It would be Siam’s sudden entry into the war that would get the front moving once more. Chulalongkorn, the king of that realm, had been less than pleased by Chinese talk in 1900 of freeing Siam and Vietnam from ‘reactionary, backward looking monarchies.’ When the French approached with suitable proposals, and after several rounds of negotiation, their joining the war was agreed. In addition to another source of manpower, the Siamese opened up a front to the south, surprising the Chinese with their assault over the border into Burma.
   The Chinese defended themselves well, but it was increasingly clear to commanders that they would be vulnerable to encirclement should the Thai and French forces attempt to link up through joint operations to the north. This was coupled with a numerical advantage for the Franco-Siamese Armies. Thus, an orderly withdrawal from the region was commenced. While the French lines would open fire when it became clear that the Chinese forces were retreating, casualties were scant, the hasty withdrawal aided by China’s forces using existing supply lines.
   As the French and Thai forces liberated southern Burma, there would be a series of extremely shocking discoveries. Amidst the Chinese supplies left over were numerous caches of ammunition and guns with Cyrillic writing on them. Further investigation revealed a striking similarity to known Russian weaponry. Many French colonial officials have screeched with fury about the prospect of Moscow supplying the Chinese Republic with guns and munitions employed against the French.
   Even worse, however, was the sabotage of facilities conducted by the Chinese before their departure. Yangon’s port was rendered practically inoperable by the severe levels of sabotage, minimizing its role as a supply hub in any further engagements in the region and preventing ships from docking in good order. The Chinese forces had also left behind booby traps of their own. Several dozen French soldiers attempting to go to mass in a liberated Catholic Church in Yangon were killed alongside the Burmese congregants when a bomb exploded. Likewise, the countryside was riddled with Chinese holdouts, using the remote terrain to their advantage.
   The main Chinese Army turned to face the invaders at a defensive position more to their liking, in the mountainous Shan highlands. While the French and Siamese have followed, the frontline shifting to this new area, the Shan hills will be a difficult region in which to launch an offensive for either side.

Chinese Guy Fawkes?
   In such a tense political situation, anyone within China possessing a modicum of French connections were under suspicion from the start. These fears were seemingly confirmed when a series of Chinese agents on the French payroll were uncovered in Beijing with stacks of dynamite and weaponry. Led by a strident Francophile, Duàn Zhaohui, the group had been plotting to set the city ablaze by exploding their caches and assassinating President Kang. Duàn had led an interesting life, working as local staff for the French embassy in the capitol until war had forced Paris to shutter the offices. The scheme was certainly elaborate, but betrayed interestingly enough by a Black Banner ultranationalist who had infiltrated the group. Duan and his dozen or so coconspirators were caught in the city’s sewers. Their attempt to destroy their evidence was, in the eyes of the public, comedically thwarted by when the leader slipped in the sewage, falling into the authorities’ hands. The scant western press corps in China has dubbed the event the ‘Chinese Gunpowder Plot’. The conspirators were incarcerated well away from the city where they confessed to having received direct orders from French intermediaries before being summarily executed for treason. 

French Landings and Fall of the Capital
   The main thrust of the French war against China would not occur in Burma, like most had predicted, but instead in a surprise assault against the Chinese heartland. Indeed, the ‘Chinese Gunpowder Plot’ would later be seen to have presaged the landing and deployment of thousands of French soldiers on the Chinese mainland
   Initial landing parties disembarked at Rizhao and set about securing Weifang and Linyi. Their operations were slowed by the beefed up Chinese Coastal Defense force, providing the central government in Beijing valuable time to assess the situation. Still, the sheer number of French arrivals proved overwhelming for the Chinese, who temporarily disengaged. In the meantime, the French captured both Weifang and Linyi, eventually securing the Shandong Peninsula in coming days. Their activity in the first few weeks then shifted to a dart northward, hoping to capture Beijing and decapitate the government in one stroke. President Kang was no fool however, and had relocated all essential operations to Wuhan, well within the center of the republic. He lingered on in Beijing for several days himself, only leaving the capitol when news reached him of the French moves. Despite a spirited effort on the part of the invaders to locate the president, even arresting dozens of men deemed to resemble the Chinese leader, President Kang resurfaced in Wuhan within several days and vowed to fight on.
   The fall of Beijing is undoubtedly a blow to the Chinese war effort, though Kang was quick to dismiss it in his address to the national assembly, reminding them that ‘the Koreans had occupied Beijing too’. The city meanwhile, witnessed the unusual sight of the French white field of fleur-de-lis being unfurled atop the Qing Era Forbidden City. France had come to China and the republic would be fighting for survival on its own soil once more. Was the republic strong enough to endure?

The Harmonious Union
   The French invasion of Chinese soil, and the reappearance of the old emperor in outlying Xian had broad implications for Chinese politics. In a moment the situation was thrown up in the air. Factions such as the virulently anti-European Black Banner Movement, seethed at the arrival of ‘barbarians’ in the Middle Kingdom. In their anger they joined with the government, pledging to nominally support the regime for the duration of the war and volunteering in droves. All throughout South China, a mass movement among these extreme nationalists riled up the populace and called on the people to resist the invaders at any cost. Any sort of disunion within the national assembly has been quieted, the parties from left to right locking arms in the face of this blatant foreign incursion into their homeland, opposition leaders calling for a ‘Harmonious Union’ in the face of the chaotic French maelstrom.

Parties, Elections, and Politics II

(Source: Made by Me)

Holy Roman Empire
   Perhaps a bit overshadowed in the brewing global crisis was the first election to the Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire. Occurring in July 1901 it came after the state of general warfare had become known, but before more horrifying details such as the damage to the Panama Canal and British blockade of France became known. The results were, perhaps typically given the nature of the Empire, complicated. A wide variety of parties had competed and a wide variety would be represented in the body. While the predominantly Catholic Conservatives would undoubtedly form the core of any subsequent Imperial government, thanks to the system’s total bias in their favor due to the presence of the noble Knights, they lacked a majority and would have to form a government in league with some of the other political factions.
   Of these there were many. Protestant rural conservatives, eager to preserve their religious identity and advocating for a weak central government, rallied together under the banner of the Pietist Party, more popularly referred to as the ‘Lutheran Coalition’. This group dominated in Prussia, Silesia, and most nominally Protestant areas of the Reich, especially those fed up with extremist politics after decades under the Hohenzollerns in their prime. Yet, the other predominantly Protestant political movement took a very different form. Dubbing itself the “German People’s Party”, the nominally anti-Scandinavian German nationalists overperformed in Hanover and Pomerania. While not advocating for outright Prussianism, as such a move would be illegal, the movement sought to ensure a strong Empire to balance the overarching control of Stockholm in their daily affairs. They were solely an Imperial Party, not contesting Scandinavian local elections. The United Liberals benefitted from being competitive in almost every corner of the Empire. While many liberal seats were won by narrow margins, especially in races where their candidates faced four or five opponents, a win was a win. The League of German Socialists overperformed expectations, thanks to a strong performance in coal-mining regions and the growing industrial portions of the Empire. Yet, this alliance was rather loose, containing everything from borderline reactionary socialists to moderate social democrats to socialist republicans. As one critic put it, the party was ‘everything to everyone in different ways.’
   Beyond the ideological parties were the various national interest groups, aiming to give their people a seat at the table in a German-dominated institution. The Czech, Pole, Slovene, and Sorbian interest groups combined managed to carry 31 of the 400 elected seats, a respectable showing, even if it was diluted further thanks to the seating of the Imperial Knights.
   Now the Reichstag would have to determine what it truly stood for and how it would operate. No doubt 1902 would be a crucial year in setting both the tenor of the body and broader political norms in the aftermath of the Third Imperial Reform. Would the Diet become a laughingstock like the Regensburg Perpetual Diet had been, or something more effective?

New England
   Amidst the global carnage, positive news emerged out of New England, the Confederation making history with its approval of female suffrage. Passed through a broad cross-partisan coalition, the legislation was historic. While Mexico had legalized women’s right to vote in 1900, the war and domestic civil conflict had many questioning the legitimacy of that election. Similarly, Maria the Mad of Portugal had likewise sought to enfranchise the women within her realm during the 1790s, shortly before her overthrow. With New England the first republic has taken this major step. 
   Chairman Fitzgerald hosted a wide variety of activists for whom the cause was very dear at his signing of the bill. In peak symbolism, the ceremony occurred in the shadow of the still under construction State of Liberty donated on the part of the Russians, the statue clad in a kokoshnik looking down as her counterparts received equality before the law. Susan B. Anthony, a lifelong New Englander, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a New Englander by virtue of the Adirondack Annexation, both were present. They praised the wisdom of the chairman and pledged their vocal support for his reelection in 1905, joining him on a whistlestop tour of the republic to celebrate the development. While some have vocally criticized the move, in general the mood has been one of surprising elation, many perhaps realizing how long overdue to the development truly was. Would other realms take note?

Korea
   It had initially been expected that the first Korean elections would be rather perfunctory. Indeed, given First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon's popularity as a result of the promulgation of the new constitution and the general loosening of the autocratic controls over Korean society, it was believed a new day was dawning. Yet, the matter of the constitution would eventually become a background issue in the campaign, Korea finding itself caught in the middle of a chaotic diplomatic situation in 1901. With the Franco-Chinese War raging to the west, a French blockade barring Korean commerce with their largest trading partner, and Japan's campaign in the Philippines came economic and diplomatic challenges for the young government.

Korean Presidential Election, 1901
First Minister Gwon Jung-hyeon: 3,892,764 (90.42%)
Ambassador Lee Hoe-Yeong 412,568 (9.58%)

In the presidential election, Gwon faced token opposition from Ambassador Lee Hoe-Yeong, though it was merely a symbolic challenge in order to emphasize the newly democratic nature of the Korean system. He was truly the people's choice to lead them through the next five years. A more varied result occurred in the National Assembly vote.

Korean National Assembly Election, 1901 250 seats (125 needed for majority)
Liberal Party of Korea: 94 seats
Korean National Party: 77 seats
United Popular Front: 47 seats
Peasant Socialist Revolutionary Party: 32 seats

Gwon's party fell just short of an outright majority, thanks in large part to a last-minute surge by the militaristic Korean National Party. With such a precarious diplomatic situation, the electorate flocked to a party that championed the armed forces and made many voters feel safe. By the same token, the war was seen as much more challenging for both the conservative United Popular Front and Socialist Revolutionary parties to overcome. The President must now assemble a coalition of he is to truly achieve his goals in the coming years.


Spain

   While many celebrated the new era in Spain with the easing up of authoritarian rule and the implementation of a constitution, it had not fully been evident how truly divided the populace was. Following ratification, a spirited campaign erupted in the normally subdued nation. It seems that some of the issues dating all the way back to the First Spanish Republic in the early 1870s continue to this day, namely the lack of any clear ideological or political majority. When the votes were case the liberals had triumphed, yet were well short of the 400 seats (393 in truth, given the Anarchist refusal to participate in the body).

1901 Spanish General Election, 800 Seats (400 Needed for a Majority)
Liberals, Republican: 153 seats
Conservatives, Monarchist: 120 seats
Hardline Catholic-Republicans: 118 seats
Conservatives, Republicans: 89 seats
Socialists, Republicans: 70 seats
Moderate Catholic-Republicans: 65 seats
Catalan National Interest: 56 seats
Reactionary Socialist, Monarchist: 44 seats
Basque National Interest: 36 seats
Castilian Supremacists, Republican: 25 seats
Anarchists, Abstentionist: 15 seats
Galician National Interest: 9 seats

   The result was so fractured for a variety of reasons. After decades under the old Catholic-Republican system, many regions had become accustomed to broad autonomy, something reformed in the new constitution. Thus, there was a ready base of support for the regional interest groups. Ideologically, Spain had swung from Kingdom to Republic to Catholic-Republic over the course of the past century. It was only natural that each group would continue to wield significant political influence in the minds of the electorate. The Monarchist Conservatives have been aided in particular by the success of the former King Henry V in Chile, absence making the heart grow fonder. After Naples' election fraud, there are also many Spaniards concerned that foreign powers may have meddled. President Tristany will have to horse-trade his way into a government or perhaps call another election if he is to get a pliable majority in the body. 1902 will undoubtedly be yet another novel year in this newly-opened Spanish political scene.

A Night at the Opera
Russia Rocked by Political Assassination

The Bolshoi Theater, Site of the Bombing
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

   August 31st, 1901 seemed a normal night in Moscow. Russia was at peace, a rare island of stability in a world increasingly engulfed in conflict. The populace seemed willing to make the most of the situation, the whole city out and about, enjoying the splendid summer evening. At the Bolshoi Theater, the Russian Premiere of Puccini’s ‘Tosca’, an opera set during the collapse of Pietro Verri’s regime and the chaos in Rome, was talk of the town. Dozens of major political figures were in the stand. Prime Minister Lvov, Foreign Secretary Mikhail Suvorin, and Chairman Muromtsev were all seated together with their wives in a box. President Milyukov had been due to attend as well, delayed by pressing reports of the current situation in China. Even part of the opposition was present, both the right-wing Nikolai Markov (the co-chair of the Nevsky Front) and Peter Struve (more moderate socialist) were also seated in the illustrious hall.
   The evening progressed as normal until an explosion at the end of the Second Act burst amidst the crowded theater, the lights cutting out and screams of pain and confusion spreading. The building cleared in a panic as the Moscow police attempted to restore order. A fire erupted in the aftermath of the blast, set pieces going up in flames. There was little doubt the explosion was intentional. It took hours to restore order to the blaze, severe damage being done to this prized Russian construction.
   When the smoked cleared and the dead were counted, more than a dozen had been killed and roughly thirty severely wounded. Muromstev, Lvov, and Suvorin’s wife had perished. Suvorin himself and the wives of the two dead men had been spared, stepping out to partake in drinks prior to the start of the second act. Markov too had been injured, severe burns on his skin. It was only in the following hours that a broader understanding of the attack took place, Milyukov himself supposed to have been in attendance. Someone had wanted to the President, and his government, dead.
   The initial investigation has revealed little evidence, but the public has run wild with theories. The left blames the right and the right blames the left. The attack has been an excuse for the latest round of street scuffles between the various extremists. Some have framed the military or spies hired by the House of Romanov. Foreign powers have been blamed, Russian nationalists eyeing France, Scandinavia, and Austria warily. Whoever it was had covered their tracks it seems. Immediately there were calls by many for a thorough investigation and brutal punishment for those who sought to break domestic peace.

[Spamage]

Trouble Among the Qajar

The Hapless Shah and his Advisors, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Armenian-Kurdish Feud
   The Armenians and Kurds had a long and checkered history, dating back centuries. Each of their fortunes had ebbed and flowed, the two nations witnessing the rise and fall of numerous powers in their neighborhood. They had both been independent realms, vassals, and provinces at various points. Yet, despite their shared history, there was little love lost between the two peoples. Racism, religious differences, and different economic circumstances made for a relatively tense relationship.
   Yet, outright feuding had been avoided for decades under Qajar rule. Naser al-Din had been a watchful ruler, keeping those seeking to breach the peace in check and using the specter of an Ottoman resurgence to keep both obedient. It was in his last year that the normally wise sovereign made a rare misstep that brought unrest to the region and caused sparks to fly.
   Eager to shore up his position in the Caucuses, the Shah had proposed to annex the Armenian Kingdom under direct Iranian control in return for a generous compensation of local elites and continued local administration. The Armenians had been perhaps a little reluctant, only agreeing after Naser al-Din promised the transfer of Diyarbekir to their control. The city was nominally Armenian populated in a Kurdish region. The Kurds themselves were bought off through the transfer of all the lands on the border with the Turkist Empire to their control. With this, it was hoped to create a buffer to future aggression from Anatolia.
   Yet, while the agreement seemed perfect on paper, it was more complicated in practice. From the start feuding erupted between the Kurds around Diyarbekir, resenting their lowered status, and the newly haughty Armenians. Scuffles turned into brawls that turned into feuds. Dozens were killed within months of the formal land transfers, as families in either nation vowed revenge. Both sides appealed to the central government and Sultan Mozaffar to do something, but he dithered, fearing showing too much favor to one side would alienate the other. The result was a growing conflict well-within the borders of the Qajar Empire.
   Yet, beyond the internal implications of the unrest, was broader geopolitical concerns. Both Russia and Turkey had been unaware of Iran’s decision to annex Armenia, a key historical region. Mozzafar belittled their ambassadors, claiming the matter was an ‘internal affair’ and arguing it was akin to the Russian annexation of Trebizond. Tensions in the Near East ratcheted up further.

Battle of Al-Shinan & Aftermath
   A decisive blow was struck against the Rashidi Arabians at the Battle of al-Shinan on July 5th, 1901. The Saudis seemingly abandoned their nominal Omani allies to their fate, determined to wrest control of the Arabian Peninsula from their historic enemies once and for all. The two sides clashed in the middle of the desert, both Emirs Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Al Saud and Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid on the field themselves. The engagement turned in favor of the Saudis through a shift of the winds and the deployment of heretofore concealed Turkish weaponry. The Rashidi, largely abandoned by the indecisive and incompetent Shah in far-off Tehran, were shredded by concealed machine gun fire. Muhammad himself fell on the field of battle, throwing his cause into disarray at the most inopportune moment. In the following weeks tribes would defect to the Saudi cause as much of the moribund Kingdom of Arabia joined Abdul Rahman. Yet, some fear the triumph has been counter-productive, as the indolent Mozaffar stirring at long last.
  
Dynastic Drama
   The Court of Tehran rapidly descended into paranoia and intrigue throughout 1901. Most had known Mozaffar was not necessarily cut of the same cloth as his father had been. They were unaware of how truly ineffective he was. While the Kurds and Armenians feuded, the Scandinavians encroached in the region, and the Rashidi satellite realm was fighting for survival, the Shah refused to commit men to any front, wary of destabilizing the realm yet further. His elder brother Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan attempted to restore some sanity to the situation, leaving his base at Ishfahan alongside some retainers to bring his brother to his senses in late July. Yet, in this the paranoid Mozaffar saw a plot against his life. Retainers in his circle filled his head with the idea that his brother, the longtime favorite of his father and the public, was coming to topple the government.
   Thus, Mass’oud was promptly arrested upon his rival in the city, his retainers scattered or incarcerated themselves. Mozaffar sealed the gates of the palace, having his guards thoroughly inspect anyone entering or exiting. Kamran Mirza, the younger brother of the two feuding Qajars, elected to flee Tehran for Mashad, where he refused summons for his return. Many suspected the Durrani at least of nominally protecting the rogue prince, who vocally questioned his brother’s actions and called for the release of Mass’oud.
   It was at this moment that the liberal cause in Iran became public once more. Thousands took to the streets to protest the clear incapability of Mozaffar to govern. The reformists came from many quarters in society, ranging from clerics to the growing western-educated ideologues. Matters were not helped by a growing economic malaise caused by a decline in commerce with Scandinavia and China. Yet, at the end of the day, the regime was still willing to use force to bring about order, still loyal battalions of the ethnic minorities such as the Cilicians and Alawites opening fire and dispersing the mobs before the situation spiraled out of control.
   Yet, it seemed initially the unrest was a wake-up call for the weak and indecisive sovereign. Divisions were tasked to Arabia, where they were to shore up the threatened Iranian control over Hejaz and the eastern coast of Arabia before full-scale intervention into the Arabian interior. Likewise, divisions were sent as a peacekeeping force to stop the growing feuding between the Kurds and Armenians, hundreds of locals dead in the brutal low-level conflict between the two substates. With the reformists sulking in the shadows, nursing their wounds and cursing the shah, many wonder if this pivot is too little, too late?

American Carnage

Louisianan Troops Training for Combat, 1901
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Liberia & California
   King Luis II called on the Liberians to rise and end their subservience to New Orleans. Only by shattering the Commonwealth could the Black Louisianans truly achieve full self-determination, Mexican propaganda smuggled into the region stated. Indeed, there was a substantial internal divide in how to proceed. Many Liberians were excited to see the whites humbled with their loss of much of Texas in the previous year. Still, Mexico was not viewed as a reliable partner, the Luis Reforms exceptionally off-putting for the majority on the Great Salt Lake.
   Yet, the regional government in Freetown remainder staunchly in favor of the established order. Warning of Mexico’s socialist radicalism, incumbent Governor Byron Gunner refused to entertain the prospect of defection. Other elements sought to challenge this, though an attempted coup by the Black Socialist Liberation Army, a paramilitary group operating out of the Wasatch Range, was foiled on September 20th, 1901. The militia had attempted to march on the Liberian capital and arrest the assembly, losing in a firefight to the police and the small Louisianan Army garrison. Those captured following the scuffle were arrested and executed, while surviving BSLA members fled back into the mountains to continue low-level resistance.
   Further to the west, Mexico was largely unchallenged as it pushed into California, the 10 divisions meeting token resistance as they pushed along the coast northwards. While unease in San Francisco has grown, the people of the west coast wary of the radical Mexicans nearing their largest city, there was little interest on the part of the Mexican command on taking the settlement, at least for the time being.

Battles of St. Vrain (Denver) and De Bore (Dallas)
   The key offensive along the Mexican-Louisianan front occurred north of the Brazos River. Mexico sought to bypass the growing mutual entrenchment along the Texan river by bypassing it entirely. One force struck north, hoping to seize St. Vrain and the surrounding region, thereby cutting Louisiana in half and sparking a rebellion in Liberia. A second force moved along the Red River, hoping to pound the Louisianans and encircle their forces further to the south. Yet, Louis-Phillippe himself had sought to exploit the same opening in the frontlines, sending thousands of its own men on offensives in the directions of New Mexico and the Rio Grande. Given the open nature of this terrain, the result has been the two largest mobile battles yet fought between the combatants.
   The Mexican offensive into Colorado showed initial promise. The city of Pueblo fell on July 5th, cutting off yet another of the transcontinental rail routes between Louisiana’s western and eastern coasts. Yet, the Northern Pacific Line (analogous to the OTL Central Pacific) remained free of enemy control, barring occasional acts of sabotage by the BSLA along the Wasatch Range. As Mexico made to seize that line, marching north towards the city of St. Vrain, they ran face-first into the oncoming Louisianan onslaught. The Louisianan Army of Colorado was led by Prince Jean, the king’s younger brother. Taking advantage of the vast openness of the Plains, he lulled the Mexicans into a false sense of security after their seizure of Pueblo, emerging at once as they neared St. Vrain. Luis II’s men were caught off-guard by the initial artillery barrage. An aggressive pincer movement saw the Mexicans split in half and scattered in confusion. Half the force was captured, including Mexican General Gregorio Ruiz. The survivors staggered back to Pueblo, outnumbered and bracing for a counteroffensive in 1902.
   The Battle of De Bore would be largely inconclusive further to the south. The Louisianans had anticipated Mexico’s action, the two forces of men meeting on a vast, dry front in the middle of nowhere. While the sparse population meant that civilians were spared from the carnage that ensued, the two sides becoming locked in weeks of back-and-forth offensives and counteroffensives, the region was devastated. Supply proved to be difficult for the Mexicans, who had come over the Llano Estacado and lacked an integrated transportation system like the Louisianans, who were aided by their supply depots being close at hand. The Mexican command was forced to call off the offensive, at least temporarily, by the end of the year, having been unable to crack the shell of Texas in 1901.

The Second Border War
   Amidst all of the struggles on the frontlines to the north and south, civil conflict continued as well. Luis II dispatched 7 divisions to clean up the rebellion in Durango and Sonora. While the number of men was a significant boost, overwhelming the guerilla forces that were blocking the railroad north, the terrible state of the economy saw continued sympathy for the rebels on the part of the locals. The situation was perhaps illustrated best when Luis II’s men recaptured the city of Durango in late October. Upon entering the town they found it utterly abandoned, the populace having fled for the countryside to carry on the fight. Instead their supply shipments were raided and locals encountered proved wholly uncooperative.
   Matters were not helped by the brutality demonstrated on the part of Royal Troops. Combatants caught under arms were summarily executed and given no quarter. Subjects deemed to be aiding the rebels had their property seized by government patrols, driving them into either poverty or starvation. While the rebellion against the Crown has remained confined to the primarily white northern Mexican settlements, there are some who worry that the economic malaise could cause tensions to rise even among the King’s more loyal constituencies.
  
LeJeune’s March North
   It became readily apparent to General LeJeune and the Louisianan Army based at Veracruz that their position was growing untenable. The Mexican capitol, so close in terms of distance, remained out of reach. Rather than waiting to be boxed in and besieged, the commander acted on his own initiative. After receiving a small number of reinforcements from New Orleans, Veracruz was sabotaged and abandoned, the city set aflame as the Louisianan forces departed and the ports rendered borderline inoperable. The Louisianan-Augustinian force smashed north against the Mexicans organizing their initial siege of the city. Indeed, with the confusion, the forces of Luis II were placed in a reactionary position for the remainder of the year, shadowing the invading army as is moved one step ahead of them.
   Conscious of the need to keep his men supplied without a port of his own, LeJeune ordered his men to live off of the land. As his men marched north towards Tampico, they left destruction in their wake. Crops were trampled or stolen, while farm animals were requisitioned and slaughtered. Many of the Mexicans in the region were left in desperate need of food and supplies from the central government by the end of the year.
   Tampico itself was briefly occupied, looted, and sacked before the Louisianans made the wholly unexpected decision to turn inland. Finally, the general’s aims became clear, his strike towards San Luis Potosi indicating a desire to link up with the rebels in Durango and Sonora. By the end of the year he would be in that city, the Mexican forces on his tail, winded and undersupplied after having wandered through their depleted countryside for several months. While newspapers in Mexico City castigated LeJeune as a modern-day Attila or Alaric, in Louisiana he was celebrated as a bold war hero, willing to take decisive action in order to aid the cause.

The Louisianan Homefront
   In a shocking act of wartime censorship, the Columbian Nationalist Party was formally proscribed and suppressed. In a series of midnight raids echoing of authoritarianism, hundreds of members were arrested all throughout the region. Columbian Nationalist newspapers saw their printers smashed and party offices were firebombed. The civilians were stunned, but the show of force prevented any sort of formal action. Instead, their hatred was channeled towards local scapegoats, Black Louisianans being the targets of brutal racist relation, many white Columbians detesting their vocal support for the Crown’s actions. Still, already there have been whispers that the Columbians will not take this lying down. There is talk in the air of the 'Columbian Republican Army', though no such group has been in evidence as of yet.

[windjammer]

Brazil formally declares War against Mexico

[Spamage]

Gilded Ambitions: Concert of Europe Part V
Turn 3: 1902

Map of the World in 1902
(Source: Made by Me)

Cast and Characters
Kingdom of France: King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon (X)
Habsburg Monarchy: Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen (Dereich)
Russian Republic: President Pavel Milyukov (KaiserDave)
Kingdom of Scandinavia: King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover (Ypestis)
United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Queen Mary III of Hanover (S019)
Empire of Quebec: Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern (Lumine)
Divine Republic of Brazil: Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti (Windjammer)
Commonwealth of Louisiana: King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans (Dkrol)
Kingdom of Mexico: King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans (Laki)
Chinese Republic: President Kang Youwei (HCP & DevoutCentrist)
Republic of Japan: President Tokugawa Iesato
Kingdom of Naples: Francis III de Bourbon-Naples (GoTfan)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez (Kuumo)
Turkist Empire: Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha (Spiral)
Spanish Republic: President Arsenio Linares y Pombo (DwarvenDragon)
Confederation of New England: Chairman John F. Fitzgerald (OBD)
Durrani Empire: Abdul II Shah Durrani (AverageFoodEnthusiast)
Republic of Korea: President Gwon Jung-hyeon (oldkyhome)

Popularity
Grand Vizier for Life Ahmed Muhtar Pasha: High, Divisive
Archduke-Regent Louis-Henry von Habsburg-Lothringen: High, Impassive
King-Emperor Louis XX de Bourbon: Moderate-High, Divisive
President Gwon Jung-hyeon: Moderate-High, Impassive
Abdul II Shah Durrani: Moderate-High, Impassive
Chairman John F Fitzgerald: Moderate-High, Impassive
Archbishop-President Federico González Suárez: Moderate-High, Impassive
President Pavel Milyukov: Moderate, Divisive
King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans: Moderate, Divisive
King-Emperor Charles XIV of Hanover: Moderate, Impassive
Empress Wilhelmina von Hohenzollern: Moderate, Divisive
Queen Mary III of Hanover: Moderate, Impassive
President Kang Youwei: Moderate, Impassive
President Arsenio Linares y Pombo: Moderate, Impassive
King Francis III de Bourbon-Naples: Moderate, Divisive
Archbishop-President Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti: Moderate-Low, Divisive

Economic Standings
Habsburg Monarchy: Strong
Turkist Empire: Strong
Kingdom of Naples: Moderate
Spanish Republic: Moderate
Russian Republic: Moderate
Durrani Empire: Moderate
Kingdom of Scandinavia: Moderate-Weak
Republic of Japan: Moderate-Weak
Republic of Korea: Moderate-Weak
Empire of Quebec: Weak
Chinese Republic: Weak
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas: Weak
Commonwealth of Louisiana: Weak
Kingdom of France: Weak
Confederation of New England: Weak
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia: Very Weak
Divine Republic of Brazil: Very Weak
Kingdom of Mexico: Very Weak

Kingdom of France

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-France fights on, your soldiers showing élan despite dirty tricks and less than ideal conditions. In Asia, Beijing has been seized, the Chinese capitol now under French occupation. Further to the south, your landings have established a modest beachhead near Macau and Hainan. The war in Aceh continues, the sultan refusing to yield. In the Mediterranean your ships face a counter British blockade, while access to the Atlantic hangs by a thread at Bourdeaux. In the Americas, Haiti endures, albeit rather battered. France has found a new foe in the treacherous Mexico, while Colombia seems determined to use all means at its disposal to kick you out. With such a global presence in a chaotic world order, what will your strategy be in 1902?

- British blockade has had substantial effects on the French economy, both the Loire and Rhine closed. Brest, Le Havre, Caen, Antwerp, Ostend, and Amsterdam have all been forced to shutter their ports, thousands of men put out of work. For the first time in decades, there have been grumblings against your authority in the outlying provinces, many people fed up with far-off wars that have only seen their living conditions deteriorate. You will need to address two things in the coming year. How will you handle the economic damage to numerous communities affected by the blockade and continued wars? Secondly, what will you to about those whispering against the regime? Some say the Sons of St. Louis should increased in strength and given free reign to punish dissent, others are wary that extreme repression could only serve to harden the hearts of malcontents.  

-War is expensive and action must soon be taken to deal with the spiraling cost of all your various operations. While French soldiers have acquitted themselves well on the battlefield, such moves will be useless if the government runs out of money. While this matters little internally, where the king’s word goes, unfortunately foreign firms do not feel bound to follow French decrees and would prefer cash. There are a variety of strategies available to you in order to alleviate the cost. Taking advantage of the authoritarian nature of your rule, some advisors call for a onetime ‘patriotic requisition’, seizing the wealth of individuals for the greater good of the French cause. Likewise, you could simply raise taxes, though some fear doing so with heightened unemployment. Rationing on the homefront could alleviate some of the strains of war as well. Others believe it is time to start looking for foreign credit, either private or public. The European powers at peace, such as Austria and Scandinavian, undoubtedly would be able to help fund your operations, though such a move could leave you indebted to them in the longer term and deplete French bullion. Others have argued for private credit instead, by approaching banking houses in Switzerland or Germany. While you could extract wealth from your conquests, this would probably only be a shorterm solution to a growing problem. How will you ensure that your funds continue to flow?

Habsburg Monarchy

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Archduke-Regent, the global situation is more dire than your government had even imagined just one year ago. Britain has, for better or worse, elected to challenge the French efforts in the Americas, bringing tumult to Europe proper. France has done itself no favors in terms of public opinion through its attempted surrounding of Ningbo and reckless disregard for international norms. Romania, with its upstart king, seems poised to become a staunch ally to Louis XX. Russia, rocked by political divisions and attempted assassinations hardly seems the picture of stability. The Habsburg Monarchy been around for a long time. Yet, it never has perhaps witnessed warfare on such a global scale. How will you lead the realm through the year 1902?

-The first session of the Reichstag will convene in Regensburg this year, a major milestone achieved at long last. While young Emperor Maximilian will open the assembly, it will be largely up to you to fashion a majority in the legislature. Given the novel nature of the proceedings, it is expected that the first couple of years could very well set the long-term tone and influence of the body. Will it descend into an ineffective meeting of diplomats like the Perpetual Diet of the 1700s, or will the body become a major political force in its own right. Who will serve as Chancellor? What legislative pushes will be adopted? How will you deal with any situations where your own or Scandinavian legal codes conflict with Imperial laws? There is much to be done.

-The economy in Austria proper has shown surprising resilience, despite the onset of the Mediterranean blockade and absolute chaos all throughout other regions of the globe. Trade ports in Lombardy-Venetia still maintain access to your Asian colonies, for the most part, through the Suez. This is coupled with the fact that the realm is, by and large, not a mercantile state along the lines of Britain and Scandinavia. In fact, the Austrian trade balance has turned negative, an inflow of foreign capital resulting in substantial domestic inflation and relatively full employment. More alarming has been the situation along the Rhine, thousands of men thrown out of work by the collapse of the trade industry. Goods have become substantially more expensive for these Germans, the rail lines not prepared to handle the necessary diversions caused by the British blockade. Two issues must be addressed. How will you guarantee the internal economy does not run too hot and create a bubble? Secondly, what will the government’s response be to the economic distortions occurring in the Rhineland?

Russian Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Suvorin, nothing has consumed the attention of the republic so much as the attempt on your life. Two good men and one faithful wife have been slain by attackers unknown. The political scene has been rocked by the development, members of most of the political parties attending the funeral for the slain in Moscow. Above it all hangs the question of who is responsible. No groups have as of yet claimed responsibility, only serving to rachet up paranoia and concern. While there has been some political finger-pointing, the presence of such a broad swathe of the political spectrum at the ill-fated performance of ‘Tosca’ has given many pause. Even more unnerving is the prospect that someone outside of the Republic is responsible. French actions in China, including the attempted assassination of President Kang, have definitely aroused the suspicions of some observers. Scandinavia is a know intriguer and has intermarried with the Romanov’s. Perhaps even the hapless Shah of Iran was trying to preemptively prevent a Russian resurgence in the Near East? There are few leads, though many in the secret police have urged you to question anyone involved ‘sharply’, starting with the theater staff. Others believe for the good of the republic that you should seek to move forward, fearing what will be uncovered. How will you deal with the aftermath of the attempt on your life?

-Madness fills the world. The King of Romania has toppled his parliament and thrown out the constitution. The Qajar are proving increasingly inept in maintaining control over the Near East. France leads two invasions on opposite sides of the globe, the scuffle with Britain trashing Trans-Atlantic commerce. China has lost Beijing, the old emperor returning to the fray. Russia’s strength and neutrality undoubtedly give great weight to your actions this year. How will you steer the Russian ship of state during this diplomatic maelstrom?

-Russia finds itself in the rare and enviable position of relative economic stability while the rest of the world is in chaos. Aided by your extensive overland and railway networks, foreign trade has been little disrupted for the vast bulk of Russians, only port cities such as St. Petersburg and Konstantingrad experiencing any notable slumps. It seems the humiliation of the Panic of 1888 may soon be reversed, your government now finding itself in the position as potential creditor for a wide variety of more desperate powers. Similarly, largely due to a European reliance on your agriculture, there has been a substantial trade surplus for Russia, fueling inflation as an influx of bullion proliferates. What will Russia’s economic actions be in 1902?

Kingdom of Scandinavia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Charles, darkness seems on the horizon. The world has erupted all around your realm and various colonial possessions. Leizhou and Hainan sit under a de facto French blockade, Paris blatantly disregarding the spirit of your agreement regarding trade in China. Britain and France have battle it out for control of the Atlantic, the result bringing trade across the ocean to calamitously low levels. Public opinion is decidedly tilted in favor of your dynastic partner and close economic partner Britain. The Mediterranean impasse is viewed with extreme concern, given the risk it poses to your access to the broader colonial empire. What course will you take in the coming year? Should you act in concert with Austria or perhaps take a clear stand on your own? Another dilemma to be addressed is what is to be done with the interned French crewmen that washed up on your shores last autumn…

-1901 witnessed both triumphs and frustrations for the Scandinavian operations in North Africa and the Near East. The Senussi and their ill-fated rebellion were at long last crushed by joint Scandinavian-Egyptian-Turkish operations. The last of the bandits has surrendered, with even Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi falling into your custody. What is to be done with the captured foe? Further afield, your government was gratified to see the tacit acceptance of the Saudis to your overtures. Still, the war with Oman continues, that sultan stubbornly refusing to surrender in the hopes that your attention will be drawn elsewhere. Perhaps this was somewhat prescient, given what the Mediterranean blockade has done to your access to your colonial holdings. What will your actions in this theater consist of during the coming year?

-Domestically, you were able to increase your popularity with the long sought after reconciliation with your Hesse-Darmstadt cousins. With them happily in the royal fold, it has been hard for your government's opponents to paint them as a figurehead for the opposition. Yet, there have been challenges elsewhere. The economic slowdown of last year seems to be turning into a full-blown slump, as a result of the intense naval warfare pervading the Atlantic Ocean. It is feared the lower classes could become restive if conditions don't suitably improve. Also alarming have been the Imperial and Hanoverian Elections. Within your possessions, many subjects took advantage of looser Imperial laws by voting for the German People's Party, a borderline Prussianist organization. The Hanoverian elections, not contested by these radicals, have resulted in the influx of a significant number of German-interest parties. How will you handle this plethora of local issues?

United Kingdom

(Source: Made by Me via Midjourney)

-Queen Mary, Britain has joined the fray. Your determination to teach the French a lesson was met with hearty approval in most of Britain and the Americas. While the Irish were indifferent, and the growing Labour movement questioned the necessity of direct intervention, the vast majority of British subjects are behind the cause, determined to teach France, Quebec, and Brazil a lesson for their flagrant disregard for the global order. Fighting continues. Your fleet has secured a blockade of the northern French coast, but it is an open question as to whether or not it is worth it to close down the French Atlantic coast entirely. Further afield, will you continue the existing blockades of Quebec and the Mediterranean? On the ground, what actions will you undertake in the American theater? Will British soldiers be engaged elsewhere?

-Blockades have proven to be tremendously successful in disrupting economic activity. They also have led to protests from neutral powers, who find their shipping prohibited from reaching some crucial trade destinations. In order to manipulate the market and keep global opinion on your side, some in Parliament have proposed reimbursing countries for goods seized and purchasing surplus goods from other powers that might fall into enemy hands. While this would undoubtedly be an effective action, it is also rather expensive and could erode London’s financial strength as bullion is gradually given to foreign creditors. Will you undertake reimbursement for seized cargo? Beyond this, will Britain enact any economic changes now that the realm is officially at war?

-You are in an interesting position as queen, conducting a Transatlantic war on a scale never before seen. North America’s position in Britain has changed markedly over the past several decades, a majority of your subjects residing there rather than the British Isles. Some American MPs, such as the indominable Theodore Roosevelt, well-aware of anti-Royal elements present in nearby Ireland and the socialist industrial areas in Britain, have called on you to lead the war effort from North America proper with Parliament in tow, overseeing operations firsthand as sovereign. In truth, the war does present an opportunity to enact such a bold reorganization of the political status quo. In Britain, it is proposed your stepmother or half-sister could act as regent in your absence. Such a move would undoubtedly go a long way to bolstering morale in that theater. Others are loathe to leave the perceived safety of the British Isles, given the understood strength of Britain on the high seas. Will you go to America?

[Spamage]

Empire of Quebec

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The struggle has come to your own doorstep, Empress Wilhelmina. Britain has awoken, charging back into its former colonial possessions and blocking the transit of your sea traffic. Puerto Rico and your newly-captured Caribbean islands have fallen out of your hands. On the Pacific, the combined might of the British and Colombian Navies have kept the struggle alive in that region, frustrating your attempts to achieve total victory there last year. Your allies in France and Brazil continue to try to devour the Colombian realm, facing searing resistance. With the struggle entering its third year, what actions will you take?

-The British blockade is the most serious threat to the Quebecois economy in decades. While the Pacific remains free, the vast majority of Quebec’s exports cross via the Atlantic trade route. With that closed, prices for the numerous raw materials and crops produced have cratered. Wheat intended for export to Europe rots in fields on the Quebecois Plains, it being too expensive for farmers to harvest it. Timber prices have cratered and numerous companies are on the verge of bankruptcy. Your realm finds itself precariously isolated on the economic front, only being able to trade with the smaller New English economy. While in the past Louisiana might have worked as a pressure-release valve, that realm has naturally adopted protectionist economic policies with the outbreak of war with Mexico. Two competing tendencies have revealed themselves with this severe economic challenge. Business leaders argue that the reforms of the État-social are causing needless expenses and want them rolled back or postponed until the fighting is over and normal economic order emerges. Prime Minister Papineau, on the other hand, has called for an increase to the welfare state, advocating at least nominal unemployment relief for the destitute, though this could be quite expensive given the ballooning costs of war.

-Despite the outbreak of war, Quebec is due for a general election early in the year, the National Assembly’s mandate expiring in February after being briefly extended due to the British assault last year. Perhaps a vote could be a means of ending your awkward partnership with Papineau, though much has been achieved by this relationship. Some have argued that the vote ought to be postponed until the British threat has been handled and peace restored, others more warily urge you to stick to democratic norms now more than ever. Will the people go to the polls in 1902?

Divine Republic of Brazil

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Brazil yet stands, though there are enemies all around. The war in Colombia is entering its third year. While there were gains in the last few months, including tremendous acquisitions in northern Colombia and Venezuela, the shelling of Rio has shaken your realm and the constituent republics to their core, a sense of security and stability shattered in a single afternoon. Still, triumphs elsewhere must not be overlooked. Much of the Andean Free State was captured, as well as most of the Colombian lowlands. How will you manage the war in the coming months?

-The economic situation is growing rather dire, a product of three years of near-full mobilization. At home, there is a growing restlessness among the women and children left to manage day-to-day activities. Productivity overall has decreased, so many men away at the frontlines. The disruption to Trans-Atlantic trade has further increased the misery, the price of raw goods in Brazil proper cratering. There have been whispers of strikes and further unionization, especially in the effected industries. Some believe the government ought to step in an take direct control over these ailing industries. It would also be helpful to find a source of funds for continued operations in the war, be it a foreign power or direct contributions from within the republic. How will you keep Brazil from economic calamity during the coming months?

-As stated previously, the shelling of Rio de Janeiro has caused some to publicly question the decision-making process of your government, other radical elements going so far as to question your government entirely. Of particular concern is the situation in Cisplatina and the Republic of the Parana, where even some local officials look towards Chile and the Pampas as potential sources of inspiration. While better economic circumstances or a clear victory would undoubtedly quell such discontent, there is no guarantee of either for the time being. In the interim, the hardliners within the Catholic-Republican movement call for a crackdown, warning that a trickle of criticism can quickly snowball into an avalanche of protests. Others argue that too harsh of treatment will enflame the situation and only cause the radical elements to become more entrenched in their views. How will you deal with internal opposition to your government? Or is the matter best ignored, domestic political opinion too much of a perilous minefield?

Commonwealth of Louisiana

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Louis-Philippe, the war with the Mexican invaders continues into another year. Your men acquitted themselves admirably last year, holding off a fall of Texas and preventing the Commonwealth from being cleaved clean in half. Yet, it does not seem to be near a conclusion. Minor rebels operate out of the Wasatch Range in Liberia, while the Mexicans have gained ground in California. Further afield, the rest of North America has descended back into violence, Britain intervening against Quebec. What will your military instructions be in 1902?

- Elections are scheduled to be held this year in line with the Constitution, though some have called for delaying them until hostilities have ceased. Will you hold the vote at this time or crisis? If so, will the Crown get involved in favor of any of the various political factions? Columbia simmers, irate over the loss of its nationalist political representation, the suppression of the CNP opening up numerous seats in the National Assembly. Most of the other parties have been lockstep behind the war so far, though there are some beginning to question what the Commonwealth’s endgame will be. The political situation will undoubtedly continue to play a role of great importance in the coming months.

-The wretched Treaty of Trois-Rivieres has resulted in a punishing embargo of Louisiana by many major powers willing to ignore the fact you had never signed the document. Brazil is the only major regional power to keep up trade with your government. The conditions of the various signatories for lifting the embargo include a foreign inspection of chemical manufactories and a public commitment not to employ chemical weapons again, among other stipulations. Some believe it is best to agree to their demands and move forward, willing to foreswear this weaponry in order to ease up the economic pressure. Others believe that you are tying your hands in terms of strategy by doing so, also cognizant of the fact that Mexico may have additional demands. What will you do about the chemical weapons embargo?

Kingdom of Mexico

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Luis, Mexico stands against the various foes seeking to roll back the clock and reverse your reforms. While the gains along the Colorado-Texas front were less than ideal, your men did make significant advancements into California. Many have also praised the decision to seize Brazilian Central America, ejecting that power from its awkward border with your kingdom after almost eight decades of uneasy neighborly relations. Still, problems exist as well. The rebels at home are growing in strength, as the Louisianan Army at San Luis Potosi operates well within your homeland, wreaking havoc and causing widespread devastation. What actions will you undertake in the coming months on the military front?

-The deteriorating economic situation will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for Louisiana’s internal politics. The changes brought about by the Luis Reforms, coupled with the total mobilization of society, and the severe impediments to global trade have utterly savaged the domestic economic situation. While the poorest of the poor recognize your struggle as just, identifying with the cause, the more troublesome groups to handle are those from the upper and middle classes than have seen their economic positions deteriorate with the onset of fighting. From those camps further upheaval, rebellion, or domestic unrest are feared. Some call for preventative, proactive action through the silencing of the loudest dissidents before their venom spreads. Others believe that doing so would only create martyrs. Above it all is the question of how you propose to keep up the fight economically? Many believe this opposition is motivated by empty stomachs and ballooning government expenses. Perhaps foreign creditors such as the British, Scandinavians, or Austrians could be approached in order to keep the regime solvent in global finance?

Chinese Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Kang, China battles the biggest threat the republic has ever faced. French troops have landed in your realm, seized the northern capitol, and begun to punish your people for intervening in Burma. To the west the ghost of the emperor has risen once more to haunt the country. In the south, your men have lost control of southern Burma, though not before giving the city of Yangon a good thrashing. Japan, meanwhile, has been perfidious in the east. While not officially declaring war, their puppet serves as a staging ground for a punishing French blockade. As the war continues the people have rallied to the cause, determined to defend the homeland. How will China prosecute the war in the coming year? What will be done to preserve your democratic republic in the face of foreign opposition?

-The war undoubtedly has great implications for the economy. While China has never been wholly reliant on foreign imports, the closing of the sea is a nuisance. Overland routes endure with Russia and Vietnam despite the blockade, but the loss of Beijing has effectively curtailed commerce with Korea. The French incursions, meanwhile, have disrupted internal supply lines. As economic cohesion is challenged, several issues must be addressed. Some advisors call for the implementation of rations, government requisitioning of production, and mobilizing the whole state for the conflict. Others fear too harsh of conditions could drive people into the arms of the emperor or the invaders. Even without rationing, many officials believe that the government needs to take a more active role in the distribution of food stuffs throughout the republic, in order to prevent famine in regions closer to the frontlines. There has also been talk of securing foreign credit so you can buy necessary goods to carry on the fight, the Russians in particular seeming an attractive option. What economic actions will you take in 1902?

-Given the vastness of the republic, and the various centers of command that will be required along the frontlines in North China, Hainan, and Burma, some of your advisors and military commanders have proposed creating several autonomous command areas, where broader latitude will be given to local generals and political figures to coordinate resistance to the French expeditions. The Black Banner Movement has been particularly enthusiastic about this proposition, promising that it could raise thousands more volunteers from the Southern Chinese countryside. This seemed well in-evidence during their mass anti-French rallies following the initial landings in 1901. While such a move would undoubtedly aid the war effort, longer-term thinking has some concerned that the new commanders would be reluctant to give up their authority and in effect establish personal fiefdoms within China. Will you delegate authority or maintain full control of the war effort from your new capitol in Wuhan?

Kingdom of Naples

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-King Francis, as one of the key players in the Mediterranean, your realm undoubtedly has a significant role to play in resolving the intolerable joint Franco-British blockade at the Straight of Gibraltar. This act of economic warfare has severely damaged the Neapolitan economy, which relies on commerce and seafaring. While intervention as a neutral power, perhaps alongside your Spanish and Neapolitan allies is a potential solution, other militarists have called for ultimatums or even military actions against either of the belligerents. There’s little love lost between Naples and France after decades of feuding, so perhaps it would be wise to strike them while they are preoccupied. Others believe that a détente with the old foe could open up potential gains elsewhere and a realm free of French meddling. Perhaps your Russian friends could be coerced into joining whatever course of action you adopt?

-Tunis has long been an integral part of Naples, a key aspect in your control over the central Mediterranean alongside Malta and Sicily. Yet, in recent years, domestic outrage over the actions of the great powers against the uncolonized such as France in Haiti and Mysore, Austria in Abyssinia, and Scandinavia in Oman, have generally been met with revulsion on the part of the Neapolitan populace. In such circumstances, many have begun to reconsidered the role of Tunis within the realm. The issues divides even your own government, Prime Minister Tittoni has been forced to straddle the divide between Socialists, who would grant the region significant autonomy or outright independence, and the nationalists, who would rather end its status as a colony and make it an indivisible part of Naples proper. By naming your son Prince Alfonso as Viceroy, you have demonstrated that some degree of delegation is possible. How will you tackle the Tunisian problem? Or is it best to hold off until the nearby diplomatic situation stabilizes somewhat?

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The struggle for survival continues, the people of Colombia lock-step behind your leadership in this never-ending slog. The Atlantic has been lost for the time being, but Colombia did experience some significant successes over the past year, namely the reconquest of the South Pacific and the victory at Pisco. Similarly, the shelling of Rio helped shake Brazil to the core, many hoping that the pain on their home fronts will force the attackers out. Still the French and Brazilian devils keep up their advance, even as thousands now lie moldering in the ground. The Andean Free State has been savaged and there are concerns over what the enemies next actions will be. How will the war be fought in the coming year?

-The economic situation grows worse almost every single day. While necessary, the destruction to domestic infrastructure is a heavy cost for the Holy Republic to bear. This is coupled with the extensive government expenses relating to supplies and other military expenses. Along with many other combatants, many believe it would be wise to find a source of funds to keep the struggle going. Britain is an obvious partner, given your alliance, but other avenues could be pursued as well. Perhaps Russia, Austria, New Holland, or Scandinavia could provide loans to keep the war machine well-oiled? Domestically, perhaps it is also time to consider government requisitioning in still-controlled territories, though this undermines the liberal economic principles your government has embraced in the past several decades. How will you act regarding the economy?

-While the loss of Guayanquil was lamentable, your project in Lima has been successful, yielding numerous prototypes and working models that probably can be safely employed in the coming months against your enemies. What strategy will you adopt regarding this matter?

Turkist Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The situation in Tehran grows rather grave, the feuding Qajar brothers demonstrating the dynasty’s growing decadence. Your intrigue may have been crucial in helping the situation along. Closer to home, the annexation of Armenia has been received with loud objections from Turkish society, especially as it came on the heels of the Russian annexation of Trebizond. It is felt that your nation is being slowly strangled, many calling on you to take action. There may be some windows opening to do so as well. The Armenians and Kurds feud, requiring the inept Mozaffar to send his men as mediators. In Arabia, the Rashidi have been thrashed and it seems the Saudi will seek to eject the existing Persian garrisons in the holy cities. Further to the east, the defiance of the young prince at Mashad demonstrates that the dynasty is not fully onboard with the status quo. Will you involve the Turkist Empire, or is the time still not yet ripe to meddle in the affairs of your neighbor?

-While there may be economic malaise in much of the world, the Turkish economic boom is a thing of wonder. It seems as though a new nation is rising from the decadent Ottoman past, the level of economic dynamism coupling with your numerous military, political, and infrastructural reforms. Unemployment is actually extremely low, the result of so many available jobs in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and the government. This labor shortage is causing some inflation, workers exploiting their superior bargaining position for higher wages. In order to alleviate the economic heat, some have called to follow the Russian example and allow for foreign workers to operate, such as Bulgarians, Bosnians, Albanians, or even Iranian Kurds. Still, with your fundamental ideology being one of unrepentant Turkism, this could stoke backlash among your nationalist base. Will you respond to the calls from the business community to loosen up the restrictions on foreign labor?

[Spamage]

Spanish Republic

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-President Tristany, a new era has dawned in Spain. While the election may have been overshadowed by developments elsewhere, it is no less significant for the future course of your country. The electorate has delivered a fractious and divided National Assembly. Ranging from outright unrepentant monarchists to socialist republicans, a wide variety of ideologies are represented in the body, courtesy of such a decentralized electoral system. It will be up to you to establish a working majority in order to deliver for the Spanish people. What political forces will you seek to court? Upon doing so, what will be your legislative priorities in this crucial year of Spanish history? How will you handle the seemingly irreconcilable factions such as the radical Catholic Republicans and Reactionary Socialists?

-War is everywhere. While Spain has been spared the indignity of being directly blockaded, the closure of the Mediterranean by the British and French has been an inconvenience. In the initial chaos, hundreds of foreign vessels docked at Spanish ports such as Cartagena, Vigo, and Barcelona. Dozens of Spanish ships, meanwhile have been left stranded far from home, many unwilling to risk traveling through warzones. Further afield, France continues to battle Colombia for supremacy in the Americas, that conflict similarly having curtailed the access of your merchants to the region. In order to prevent the deterioration of the economy, some advisors are calling for bold steps, perhaps even a guarantee of investments or subsidies for the shipping companies suddenly finding themselves challenged with operating in a warzone. The newly-elected socialists, meanwhile, are using the growing economic troubles to call for unemployment payments and the permitting of unionization efforts in Spanish society. Others believe the central bank ought to take action to stabilize the economic situation. What steps will you take to maintain Spanish economic stability at this tumultuous time?

Confederation of New England

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-1901 was a year of tremendous legislative success for New England, your Federalists aligning with the Progressives to undertake bold reform. Women gained the right to vote and ethnic discrimination was prohibited, two wins in social fights that have been raging for decades. Less celebrated, but no less significant, was the legislation reworking term length and election dates, set to go into effect in 1904 when both you and Congress will face the electorate. Yet, these great successes were overshadowed in an instant by the outbreak of war, Britain attacking Quebec for its alliance with France and Brazil. New England has never felt so isolated, its two titanic neighbors beating one another to a pulp as the Confederation sits idly by. How will you handle this diplomatic situation?

-The blockade and its economic effects have had severe repercussions for the Confederation. The sea has always been a cornerstone for New England. Boston is a hub of vessels coming and going, whaling and fishing being major commercial enterprises alongside tremendous investments in freight and a sizeable merchant marine. Yet, even while New Englander vessels have been permitted passage, the outbreak of war ruined thousands of livelihoods overnight. Unemployment in coast cities such as Nantucket, Portland, and Boston itself is ballooning. There is unrest as well, those few still at work threatening strikes and collective action as destitution spreads. An extremely notable development occurred on December 6th of last year when Philip Van Patten formally founded the Socialist Worker’s Party of New England, vowing to contest the 1904 elections. What steps will you take to stabilize the economy so radicals like Van Patten are kept out of the halls of power?

Durrani Empire

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-The diplomatic situation is quite alarming. To your east, France and China have locked into a serious struggle, greatly destabilizing the region. To the south, the prospect of a free Mysore seems to be fading into the history books, France dominating the Indian subcontinent. To the west, Iran seems on the verge of numerous crises, the Shah proving an inept buffoon, his younger brother operating out of Mashad as a tacit denunciation of Mozaffar’s incapability. The Empire could probably act in any of these directions, should it so wish, though they all would have serious implications. How will you navigate the dire diplomatic situation in the region?

-There have been talks of further formalizing the Loya Jirga into an actual legislative body. While indeed, the assembly is certainly not ready to be chosen through anything like direct elections, there is pressure from some established leaders, particularly from the Ghilji, who are frustrated by the approval of infrastructure projects such as the Bamyan Mine near their regions without any means of consenting. All are well-aware that you could dissolve their assembly on a mere whim, so it is hoped that some sort of constitution, or even a simple compact, agreed by you as Shah would cement their status. Still, numerous advisors at court are loathe to cede any sort of power to these factionalist provincials, fearing it will undermine your position. How will you respond to these informal demands?

Republic of Korea

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Congratulations on your election as the first President of Korea, Gwon Jung-hyeon. You have seemingly achieved the true aims of the public decades ago through the establishment of a functioning, mainstream democratic republic. A new era opens to your nation, though true action cannot begin until you form a government. Your allies in the Liberal Party have secured a plurality in the National Assembly, but are still 31 seats short of a majority. Any of the other political forces could probably be convinced to join a coalition, though each would have significant repercussions for the first session of government. Working with the socialists would require quite a bit of labor and government reform undoubtedly, in a pro-worker direction. This could alienate traditional business interests at a time when you’re attempting to foster economic growth. The conservative United Popular Front is a secondary option, though working with them could taint your government with the corruption of the old regime. It’s also feared that they will be the opposite of the socialists, in that they are too cozy with the established elites. A wildcard choice would be working with the Korean National Party, especially given the geopolitical situation, but they are insufficiently committed to the Constitution and could be an active impediment in its continued security. Who will you partner with to achieve your political goals in 1902?

-Korea finds itself surrounded by war. China, by far your largest trading partner, has been cut off from your markets thanks to the French naval blockade and the loss of Beijing. There’s already growing signs of an economic slump as trade further afield is deemed as too risky due to French and Japanese operations all across the Asia-Pacific. In such a chaotic region, perhaps it would help to tighten your ties with Russia yet further, to dissuade others from taking too much of an interest in Korean affairs. Others would have you join the fray, either as an opportunist seeking to grab bits of China or an Asian liberation movement seeking to eject the French colonizers. What will your diplomatic actions consist of during the coming year?

Army Strength:
Russian Republic
20 division Army of Subotic (Vladivostok)
20 division Army of Kuropatkin (Moscow)
15 division Army of Linevich (Mongolia)
13 division Army of Krodatenko (Ukraine)
10 division Army of Ivanov (St. Petersburg)
5 division Army of Dragomirov (Konstantingad)
5 division Army of Alekseyev (Circassia)
5 division Army of Mishchenko (Turkestan)
(93/637 divisions possible raised, 14% mobilized)

Kingdom of France
170 division Army of Burma
75 division Army of Beijing
49 division Army of Venezuela
39 division Army of Panama
30 division Army of France
28 division Army of Mysore
18 division Army of Haiti
13 division Army of Aceh
15 division Army of Ecuador
10 division Army of the Darien
10 division Army of Padania
25 division Army of South China
(482/612 divisions possible raised, 79% mobilized)

Chinese Republic
112 division Army of Burma
39 division Coastal Defense Force
27 division Army Central Army
9 division Army of the South
10 division Army of Shanghai
26 division Tibetan Defense Force
3 division Burmese Defense Force
(226/536 divisions possible raised, 43% mobilized)

Habsburg Monarchy
10 division Army of Hungary
10 division Army of Abyssinia
9 division Army of Lombardy
8 division Army of Ruthenia
8 division Army of Austria
4 division Army of Bohemia
2 division East Africa Reserve
1 division Army of Singapore
1 division Army of the Sahel
1 division Army of Ningbo
1 division Gibraltar Garrison
(55/507 divisions possible raised, 11% mobilized)

Great Britain, Ireland, and Americas
41 Army of New Somerset
36 division Home Guard
34 division Army of the South Pacific
30 division Army of Virginia
15 division Army of the Mississippi
8 division Army of the Cape
7 division Army of Virginia
4 division Army of Australia
(175/297 divisions possible raised, 59% mobilized)

Republic of Japan
71 division Army of the Philippines
18 division Army of New Guinea
15 division Army of Tokyo
14 division Army of Nagasaki
5 division Imperial Guard
5 division Army of the Pacific
1 division Army of Hokkaido
(129/255 divisions possible raised, 50% mobilized)

Kingdom of Scandinavia
5 division Army of Sweden
4 division Army of Hanover
7 division Army of the Persian Gulf
6 division Army of Oman
2 division Army of East Africa
2 division Army of Cameroon
2 division Egyptian Expeditionary Force
(25/166 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Qajar Iran
10 division Army of Kurdistan-Armenia
10 division Army of Mecca
10 division Army of Iraq
8 division Army of Mesopotamia
4 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Azerbaijan
(46/161 divisions possible raised, 29% mobilized)

Kingdom of Naples
10 division Army of the North
3 division Army of Sicily
2 division Army of Tunisia
(15/157 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Durrani Empire
5 division Royal Guard
4 division Army of Herat
4 division Army of the Indus
1 division Army of Baluchistan
(14/141 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Union of Spain
10 division Army of Castile
7 division Army of Catalonia
(17/126 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Commonwealth of Louisiana
68 division Army of the Brazos
21 division Army of Colorado
4 division Army of San Luis Potosi
4 division Augustinian Volunteers at Veracruz
4 division Army of the Northern Territory
2 division Army of Cuba
(99/121 divisions possible raised, 83% mobilized)

Divine Republic of Brazil
46 division Army of the Andes
20 division Brazilian Reserve Army
10 division Army of Southern Brazil
**26 division Interned by the Columbians**
(76/111 divisions possible raised, 69% mobilized)

Kingdom of Mexico
27 division Army of Texas
28 division Army of Nicaragua
20 division Volunteer Force (Texas)
19 division Army of Tampico
17 division Army of Colorado
10 division Army of California
7 division Army of Durango
(108/108 divisions possible raised, 100% mobilized)

Empire of Quebec
34 division Army of Michigan
20 division Army of the Pacific
10 division Army of the Caribbean
8 division Army of Wisconsin
5 division Army of Montreal
3 division Army of Vaudreuil
2 division Army of Hawaii
2 division Army of the Plains
(84/105 divisions possible raised, 80% mobilized)

United Provinces of New Holland
5 division Army of Batavia
3 division Army of Malaya
3 division Army of Willemstad
(11/116 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Ottoman Empire
10 division Army of the East
5 division Army of Ankara
4 division Army of Sinope
3 division Army of Cyrenaica
(22/104 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Korean State
4 division Army of the Capital
4 division Army of the North
(8/87 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Holy Republic of Gran Colombia
32 division Army of Peru
35 division Army of Colombia
8 division Volunteer Force (Peru)
7 division Venezuelan Liberation Force
1 division Army of Tahiti
(83/83 divisions possible raised, 100% mobilized)

Confederation of New England
5 division Army of Boston
(5/47 divisions possible raised, 10% mobilized)

Kingdom of Portugal
10 division Army of Lisbon
2 division Army of Angola
2 division Army of Goa
(14/42 divisions possible raised, 33% mobilized)

Andean Free State
36 division Army of Peru
(36/36 divisions possible raised, 91% mobilized)


Naval Strength*:
Naval Technology
First-Rate: This navy employs all of the latest technologies across its fleet including new tactics, equipment, and training. Truly among one of the best seafaring fleets in the world.
Innovative: New strategic ideas are planned and tested, further modifications have been made to equipment for more efficient operation.
Advanced: Ships are modernized and equipment is top of the line. Overall better organized than modernized fleets.
Modernized: Navy is at standard levels of development for time period.
Reformed: The naval equipment is near-modernized, though experience and training with new supplies is lacking.
Modified: Although still dominated by old ships and methods, efforts have been made to reform the navy, including the purchase of ships from more advanced powers.
Traditional: This navy still employs tactics, methods, and equipment from the 1870s or earlier. Limited sea capabilities and stagnant mindset.

Naval Size
Dominant: This power truly has a global naval reach. Advanced fleets at various points of the world and the ability to supply said vessels with relative ease. More than two hundred vessels in active service
Massive: Extensive naval reach, able to operate in most areas, assuming supply is secured. Around two hundred vessels.
Sizable: Naval reach includes most of surrounding seas. Roughly one hundred and fifty vessels, with the ports able to supply them.
Standard: Naval strength can be projected in the region, with further excursions when necessary. Around one hundred ships.
Limited: Several dozen ships. Extensive and long-distance operations are possible, but only on rare occasions.
Small: A dozen major ships, limited regional navy.
Nonexistent: Primarily applies to landlocked countries. No navy in existence.*

*-Not applicable for anyone right away


Navies of the World
United Kingdom of Britain, Ireland, and the Americas (First-Rate, Dominant)
Kingdom of France (Innovative, Dominant)
Kingdom of Scandinavia (Innovative, Massive)
Confederation of New England (Innovative, Limited)
Republic of Japan (Advanced, Sizable)
Kingdom of Naples (Advanced, Sizable)
United Provinces of New Holland (Advanced, Standard)
Holy Republic of Gran Colombia (Advanced, Limited)
Russian Republic (Modernized, Massive)
Divine Republic of Brazil (Modernized, Standard)
Commonwealth of Louisiana (Modernized, Standard)
Holy Union of Spain (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Quebec (Modernized, Standard)
Kingdom of Mexico (Modernized, Standard)
Habsburg Monarchy (Modernized, Limited)
Korean State (Modernized, Small)
Chinese Republic (Reformed, Standard)
Qajar Iran (Reformed, Limited)
Turkist Empire (Reformed, Small)
Durrani Empire (Reformed, Small)

[Spamage]

OOC: A very original treaty that I definitely didn't crib from Wulfric because I needed a template; do not steal!

The Treaty of Lisbon (1900),
A Treaty between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of France

1.) The signatories agree to the following:

2.) The mutual reduction of tariffs by 20 percent between the signatories.

3.) A non-aggression pact between the signatories subject to renewal by the consent of both signatories ten years from this day.

4.) A defensive alliance, whereby each signatory pledges to support the other militarily in the event of an attack.

5.) The signatories shall grant each other favored nation status for the purposes of trade.

X Louis XX de Bourbon, King-Emperor of France

X Antonio II of Portugal

(Missed this, oops!)

[KaiserDave]

An Ukaz: On the Public Emergency

By the Hand of His Excellency THE PRESIDENT on this Day September the Second, Year of our LORD 1901

By the powers invested in me by the Constitution of the Russian Republic and the will of the Russian people, I hereby do order,
 
A ten-day period of mourning for the Honorable G. Y. Lvov, S. A. Muromtsev, and Gospozha Suvorina, esteemed and dutiful citizens of the Republic, murdered by terrorists, as well as for all victims of the bombing of the Bolshoi.

A state funeral to be held for the Honorable G. Y. Lvov, S. A. Muromtsev, and Gospozha Suvorina.

A state guard to be established at the Bolshoi to stand watch over the improvised memorial established by those laying flowers for all those victims of terrorism.

A comprehensive and thorough investigation into those responsible for the bombing of the Bolshoi Theater, in keeping with the law.

A state fund to be made available for the reconstruction of the Bolshoi, a centerpiece of our national culture, pending the approval of the Zemsky Sobor.

A reconstruction of the government, with the Honorable V. A. Maklakov to be named PRIME MINISTER of the Republic, and the Honorable Senator A. S. Zarudny to co-serve in the cabinet as MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR.

x Pavel Nikolayevich Milyukov, President of the Russian Republic

[DKrol]

A PROCLAMATION FROM THE COURT OF NEW ORLEANS

BY ORDER OF HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE III

Given the unprecedented emergency the Commonwealth faces, His Majesty the King has declared a State of Emergency. Effective immediately, the Constitution of 1877 is placed under suspension. All laws shall, until the State of Emergency is lifted, derive from Emergency Order #1.

Emergency Order #1
1. All devolved political power is reabsorbed by the Crown.
2. All devolved legislative bodies are dissolved.
3. All devolved executives are dismissed.
4. The National Assembly and the Senate are dismissed.
5. No elections may be held during the State of Emergency.
6. All political parties are disbanded.
7. The Crown is hereby the supreme political, military, and economic agent in the Commonwealth.
8. In order to ensure the integrity of the Court of New Orleans, no member of the Royal Family may claim or hold a foreign crown.

[Devout Centrist]

PRESIDENT KANG RALLIES THE NATION BEHIND THE NATIONAL WAR OF RESISTANCE

Behind you stand a symbol of oppression. The Chengdu Winter Palace of the Xing Dynasty where a thousand men perished to build a pleasure palace in the name of this criminal, the Renci Emperor, who has been held up to you by the barbarians as the shining example of justice, wisdom, and benevolence!

You have been supplied with a false idol to stop you tearing down the corrupt and decadent symbols of this foreign barbarism! Let me tell you the truth about the Renci Emperor from the words of his current Minister of State.  "Li Hongzhang didn't destroy the Zhongguo. He saved the Han people, then he took up the mantle of national leadership so he could, without honors or acclamation, save our people from the barbarous Korean imperialists who shackled 50 million of our brothers in perpetual bandage. It is to my eternal shame that I built a lie around this fallen Emperor. I praised the madman who tried to eradicate my own people and replace them with the iron will of the barbarians. But I can no longer live with my lie. It is time to trust the Zhōnghuá Mínguó with the truth, and it is time for me to resign." And do you accept this man's resignation? And do you accept the abdication of the Barbarian Emperor?! Of all the corrupt and decadent men bribed and corrupted by the perfidious French barbarians?!?

We take Zhōnghuá Mínguó from the corrupt, the rich, the barbarian oppressors of generations who have kept you down with myths of divine right and Papist supremacy - and we give it back to you, the people. The property of the barbarians is yours. No Han shall interfere, do as you please. But start by storming the Barbarian Emperor’s Winter Palace and freeing all oppressed Han across China!

Step forward, those who would serve, for an army will be raised. The powerful will be ripped from their decadent nests, and cast out into the cold world that we know and endure. Courts will be convened. Spoils will be enjoyed. Blood will be shed. The barbarians from the West will survive, as they learn to serve the Mínguó. My fellow countrymen, this great Mínguó - it will endure. China will survive.

[KaiserDave]

The Government Survives

September 12th, 1901. A Black Day. Though the ten-day mourning period had ended, the resplendent Hall of the Order of St. George was filled with men in all-black suits, and the guards posted to the entrances had black ribbons on their uniforms. It was still dark in the Russian Republic, the Bombing at the Bolshoi had shook the nation to its core. The loss of two statesman, so great in stature and foundational to the new constitution, was hard to accept. But this was the hand that fate had dealt Russia.

The entire Zemsky Sobor was to assemble in the Grand Kremlin Palace, the residence of the President. The men of the State Duma were proceeding to the palace from Petrovsky, where they had just held a special session to elect a new State Duma Chairman, the Honorable Nikolai Ivanovich Kareev, and to establish confidence in the new Prime Minister, Maklakov. Now, President Milyukov would address the entire Assembly of the Land.

The deputies of the Duma and the Senators took their spots, Senators at the front. Mikhaylovsky and Chicherin the two most recent Presidents, with St. Nicholas-ian beards, sat at the front with other Senators, but Suvorin the Elder sat next to Kareev, right behind the President's rostrum.

The guards beat the drum, the hall fell silent. A shout from the Colonel-in-Chief, "His Excellency, President of the Republic, Pavel Milyukov!" Milyukov emerged, his face marked by many sleepless nights, sharpened from its usual gentlemanly softness. The entire crowd came to its feet and gave him a cheer. Socialists and nationalists both. Milyukov approached the rostrum, set his speech down and out from his suit pocket, and began.

"Deputies of the State Duma, Senators, Chairman Kareev, President Suvorin. It is a terrible tragedy that I am here to give this speech, which is born of terrible tragedy, but nonetheless it is my duty to give it. There has been a savage, ruthless attack against our state. Though this attack, made through the use of crude explosive, was unsuccessful in its aim of destroying the leadership of the Republic in fire and smoke, it claimed the lives of brilliant statesmen and decent citizens of the Republic. It is a bloody and terrible blow to us all. This is why we have mourned so deeply, and why thousands of Russians have gone to the steps of the Bolshoi to lay flowers and light candles.

Despite our grief, we must be clear-eyed. This was a terrorist attack, intended to assassinate the entire government, including myself, and destabilize the Republic. This was an attack on the constitution, this was an attack on democracy. But, I tell you now, I am alive, this government survives, and we will not be frightened.

(Applause)

Though this terrorist savagery has failed in its primary aim, it still may, in failure, seek to paralyze the government. Leave it immobile in shock, prone to act rashly or not act at all, become crippled by dysfunction. I say simply to the terrorist masterminds of this dark, bloody conspiracy...not afraid! Not afraid! The Russian Republic stands, poised and ready to strike back!

(Applause)

Make no mistake, a comprehensive investigation will be conducted with all available state elements to discover the faces behind this act. We will find them, whether they are within Russia or abroad, and we will destroy them utterly. They will not find safety in any royal court on the planet, in any country, or in any cave or mountain. Russia will find them wherever they go. If they live, they will live in a constant state of mortal terror, fleeing from one miserable hideaway to the next, until they are found and compromised. There will be no rest, neither for them or agents of the state.

(Applause)

We must also understand the attack as one against our national culture. The Bolshoi has stood as a global marker of Russia and Russia-ness for three-quarters of a century. It must be rebuilt to its former glory, every work of architectural genius will be restored, and not a single physical mark of the bombers work will be allowed to stand. Russia rebuilds, stronger than before!

(Applause)

In closing I must ask you all once again to come together as Russians. This was an attack on our state, our government, but also the entire country. Representatives of all political parties and factions were shoved in front of the flame. Each and every person in this room would have been a target, and so each and every person here must unite, come together. I am asking for a harmonious domestic house, so that together we will restore strength and unity, and obtain justice. In a chaotic world, Russia stands as a light in the dark, and we mustn't let the light waver.

Long live the Republic! Glory to Holy Rus'! Long live the Constitution!

(Applause)

Milyukov remained at the rostrum to receive the applause. The President endures. The government lives. The Republic and the constitution shall endure. There is much to be done.

[Spamage]

Treaty of Chișinău
The signatories hereby recognize the historic and significant cultural bonds between the French and Romanian people, rooted in their shared Latin origins and Christian faith.
Both governments recognize the inherent Truth of Reactionary Socialist principles, an ideology rooted in natural law and justice.
Princess Therese of France will be betrothed to Crown Prince Augustus of Romania, to be married upon both parties coming of age.
France and Romania agree to a full defensive alliance up for renewal every decade following the signing of this treaty.

X- King Augustus II of Romania

[GoTfan]

Statement from the Kingdom of Naples

The King extends his full condolences to the Russian people on the recent terrorist attack. This was a monstrous, cowardly attack perpetrated by 'people' who could not even look their victims in the eye as they bombed a stage play.

We in particular mourn the deaths of Prime Minister Lvov and Chairman Muromtsev, both dedicated servants of the Russian people, and the death of Mrs Suvorin; for whom the King wishes to extend his deepest personal sympathies to Minister Suvorin. A one-week mourning period has been decreed in Naples; flags shall be flown at half-mast and all members of the government and royal family shall be dressed in black.

The Kingdom stands ready to assist the Russian Republic in investigating the cowardly attack.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Treaty of Chișinău
The signatories hereby recognize the historic and significant cultural bonds between the French and Romanian people, rooted in their shared Latin origins and Christian faith.
Both governments recognize the inherent Truth of Reactionary Socialist principles, an ideology rooted in natural law and justice.
Princess Therese of France will be betrothed to Crown Prince Augustus of Romania, to be married upon both parties coming of age.
France and Romania agree to a full defensive alliance up for renewal every decade following the signing of this treaty.

X- King Augustus II of Romania

x Louis XX De Bourbon, King-Emperor of France

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Mexican Electoral & State Reform

The following changes are made

1. The Kingdom of Mexico changes its parliamentary system to 3000 seats, with 2800 directly elected, 50 reserved for the royal dynasty, and 150 for notable admirals & generals associated with the kingdom.

2. The districts will now have equal political weight (with the exception of special districts for indigenous representation), without a division between urban & rural districts, and will all be proportional.

3. All districts will be elected simultaneously, with elections held every four years; the next ones will be held in 1904.

4. New districts will be established for the population in Barbados & Guadeloupe after being previously suspended.

5. Additional districts will be drawn for newly admitted states in the Kingdom.

6. The following states will have temporarily suspended parliamentary representation until the rebellion is declared over: Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Coahuila & Chihuahua, with their seats left vacant.

7. The following states will be newly admitted: Mosquitia, Nicaragua & Costa Rica, with new districts drawn from these lands, and indigenous rights extended. All inhabitants of these new states will receive Mexican citizenship.

8. The Gracias a Dios Department in the Honduran state will become a part of the new Mosquitian state.

9. Mosquitia will be given special state status, similar to Yucatan.

Other reforms

1. In the new states of Mosquitia, Nicaragua & Costa Rica, Spanish & indigenous languages will be the official languages. Portuguese will be phased out.

2. The existing laws of Mexico will be applied to these new states.

3. While schools in Mexico will remain owned by the government, the Church of Mexico will be responsible for the teaching of children and values. The matter of ownership is considered a practical issue.

4. All assets & property in the newly admitted states shall be immediately nationalized, following existing Mexican laws, prioritizing assets & property still under Brazilian control.

5. The population in Nicaragua, Mosquitia & Costa Rica will be exempt from serving in the Mexican military. However, they should be available in the event of an attack on their respective areas. The focus will be on rebuilding what is destroyed and economically aiding the country, with an emphasis on food production and the tropical fruits sector.

6. The price changes made in 1900 are hereby annulled

7. All women are expected to engage in labor work, and to alleviate the labor shortage, it is strongly encouraged to hire women.

8. Children, starting from the age of 12, can be hired for labor on Saturdays and Sundays for as long as the war remains, with exemptions for attending mass. This exemption applies to all laborers on Sundays.

9. Domestic leagues (football, other sports & entertainment) are temporarily suspended until the end of the war.

10. Construction of the canal is put on hold until further notice, with conditions being the arrival of peace and a better economy.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

On the World Cup

Mexico announces that, due to the ongoing global conflict, it finds itself unable to host the World Cup of football in 1904. Therefore, it withdraws its status as the host. Mexico remains interested in hosting a World Cup of football once the world and the nation achieve peace again, with plans to aim for hosting in 1908 or 1912. However, it no longer intends to host the cup in 1904.

[DKrol]

TREATY OF TROIS-RIVIERES (1900)

ARTICLE 1
Any form of biological warfare, as well as all forms of chemical warfare with the sole exception of non-lethal tear inducing irritants for emergency domestic situations; are hereby considered to be ungentlemanly forms of warfare.

ARTICLE 2
The previously mentioned forms of ungentlemanly warfare are hereby banned within the territory of the signatures for domestic use, and for international use in terms of pre-emptive or first-use.

ARTICLE 3
The stockpiling of agents for biological and chemical warfare is hereby prohibited. All current stockpiles of such agents must be disposed of.

ARTICLE 4
Research on chemical and biological warfare will only be allowed for the purposes of finding countermeasures, antidotes or for purely scientific purposes. Incentives and support will be provided for experts in such fields to switch to non-lethal research. Signatures must share their findings with the Ungentlemanly Warfare Commission in order to prevent and/or deter the start of a new arms race.

ARTICLE 5
The sale of agents for chemical and biological warfare will be made illegal. Companies that held a role or stake in such fields until January 1st, 1900, and who may encounter financial losses as the result of this protocol, may be reasonably compensated by their respective nation if they so decide, under their preferred mechanism.

ARTICLE 6
The signatories will further formally renounce the right to non-first usage of chemical and biological weapons in self-defence for all time. To enforce this renunciation, all signatories will agree to enact immediate and full economic sanctions, including an economic embargo, against any nation that engages in ungentlemanly warfare after the aforementioned date. Signatories must also pass legislation or enact decrees that ensure compliance with Article 6.

ARTICLE 7
An Ungentlemanly Warfare Commission will be established in a city belonging to the Swiss Republic or any such other neutral and non-aligned nation, with participants from all signatories. Delegations from the Commission will be provided reasonably access to signatory countries to ensure compliance with the previous articles.

The Commission must ensure that the make up of delegations to specific countries places emphasis on neutral, non-aligned, or non-rival nations to the one to be inspected. Information thus collected will remain the private, exclusive property of of the Commission, which must enact regulations with harsh penalties for any actors who illegally access or divulge any of its contents.

Suspicion of non-compliance must be brought to the Commission, who will issue a report – by majority vote – within 90 days outlining whether Article 6 ought to be invoked.

x Wilhelmina I von Hohenzollern,
Empress and Defender of Québec

x Chairman John Francis Fitzgerald, Confederation of New England
x Secretary of State Lucius F. C. Garvin, Confederation of New England

x Francis III, King of Naples.

x Tommaso Tittoni, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Naples

x Giovanni Giolotti, First Minister of State and Minister of Foreign and Colonial Affairs of the Kingdom of Naples.

x President Arsenio Linares y Pombo

x Foreign Minister Francisco Silvela y Le Vielleuze

x Federico González Suárez, Archbishop-President of the Holy Republic of Gran Colombia

x Manuel Antonio Matos, Secretary of State of the Holy Republic of Gran Colombia

x Louis XX de Bourbon, King-Emperor of France

Charles XIV, King of Scandinavia and Emperor of Africa

x Nikolai Nikolayevich Pokrovsky, Envoy of the Russian Foreign Ministry
on BEHALF of
x President Pavel Nikolayevich Milyukov
x Prime Minister Georgy Yevgenyevich Lvov

X, Queen Mary III, Queen of the United Kingdom

x Maximilian von Habsburg-Lothringen, manu propria at the behest of his regents

x Han Gyu-seol, Designated Ambassador of the Korean delegation
on behalf of
x Gwon Jung-Hyeon, First Minister of the Republic of Korea

X, Shahzade Amanullah, Crown Prince of the Durrani Empire

X, Abdul II, Padshah of the Durrani Empire

X King Luis II de Bourbon-Orleans

x, His Majesty King Louis-Philippe III de Bourbon-Orleans

[DKrol]

A PROCLAMATION FROM THE COURT OF NEW ORLEANS

BY ORDER OF HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE III

Emergency Order #2
1. In compliance with the Treaty of Trois-Rivieres (1900), all biological and chemical weapons currently in stockpiles are to be decommissioned and destroyed.
2. In compliance with the Treaty of Trois-Rivieres (1900), all biological and chemical weapons currently in supply on the Mexican front are to be returned to New Orleans for decommissioning and destruction.
3. An international delegation will be allowed to oversee, inspect, and confirm the implementation of Emergency Order #2.

A written copy of Emergency Order #2 will be sent to the Ungentlemanly Warfare Commission, along with a request that inspectors from the Empire of Quebec serve as the leading continent of the delegation.

[DKrol]

A PROCLAMATION FROM THE COURT OF NEW ORLEANS

BY ORDER OF HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE III

Emergency Order #3
1. The Black Socialist Liberation Army is hereby designated as a terrorist organization.
2. The Columbian National Party is hereby designated as a terrorist organization.
3. Any person found to be a member of an officially designated terrorist organization will be subject to immediate lifetime imprisonment, hard labor, or death.

[windjammer]

Brazil offers its condoleances to the Republic of Russia. WE truly Hope these terrorists will be found and be executed

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

France offers its condolences to Russia and is already doing its utmost to help ensure those responsible for the assassinations are brought to justice.  We will have more to say if and when our investigations bare fruit.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Statement from the King

The King wishes to express his deep regret and clarifies that he does not consider the inhabitants of Liberia as terrorists. He emphasizes his exemplary record on indigenous, peasant, worker, and Afro-Mexican rights, citing recent domestic changes. Additionally, he condemns the recent actions of the misguided Louisianan king, who, after the Liberians fought ardently for the constitution of 1877 (now disbanded), has unjustly deprived them of their rights. This further highlights that the King of Louisiana does not prioritize the Liberian cause, asserting that Louisiana is not and will never be their home. The Kingdom of Mexico pledges to use its best capabilities to liberate Liberia from the oppression of Louisiana, and promises to reward the Liberian resistance for their courageous efforts.