Post by puppyavenger on Jul 23, 2010 6:56:52 GMT 1
players
krennel as: Celtic Empire
Moral: +++-
FO:++
Spy:++-
Military:++++
Economy: ++-
Technology: +++-
Murska as Sweden
Territory: Sweden, Norway, Swedish Pomerania, most of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, all of the islands in the Danish Straits, including Sjaelland and Fyn.
Form of Government: Monarchy, though it isn't very uncommon for a strong leader to take the power from an 'unworthy' king.
History:
The Swedish Empire was lost back in the Great Northern War. However, the ambitions of it's leaders were not. The Swedish nation was kept efficient by a string of strong leaders, and as Europe fell into troubled times, Sweden always profited. They regained some of their territories in successful wars, some others via political maneuvering, marriages, assassinations and other means, and soon they grew to be a power in Europe once more.
King Gustav IV held a great hatred of Napoleon, a hatred that led to his dethroning by the new King Johan I as it was deemed to threaten the interests of Sweden. With a more moderate policy, Sweden came to the eventual odds with Russia in a better position and kept Finland.
Recently, the genius of the inventor family Nobel has helped the Swedish technology quite a lot. Their main focus militarily is on explosives, but the Nobels have helped the average worker's life aswell with a number of machines.
Just a year ago, Swedish forces, allied with certain German groups (and Icelandic mercenaries, assuming Iceland remains as it was) surprised Denmark with an attack which crippled them and, in the span of a few months, forced them into signing a peace on very favourable terms(to the Swedish).
Strengths: The Swedish military is professional, well-trained, armed with good weaponry and explosives.
The espionage of the kingdom is good, with their networks reaching all around Europe and the world. Multiple deaths, sudden changes of heart of important people and other such fortuitous events have helped Sweden re-establish it's dominion of northern Europe in the past years.
The Nobels have founded an organization in service of the State where the highly-gifted individuals gather for Science.
Immanuel Nobel is truly a genius and spends most of his time working on his own little gadgets and projects.
Moral:++
FO: +-
Spy: ++++
Military: ++++
Economy: ++
Technology: ++++-
Sayn as Heavenly Empire
Moral: +++-
FO:++-
Spy: ++/++++
Military: +++
Economy: ++++
Technology:++
Odin as Israel
Symbol: The Star of David. Usually on a white flag.
Territory: Jerusalem and the surrounding area.
History:
It's been almost two hundred an fifty years since the mechanical genius Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel constructed the Golem of Prague. While the golem successfully defended the Jews of Prague from persecution, Loew took the secrets of its construction, along with the golem itself to his grave.
That is until Loew's decedent Bezalel Loeb, deciphered on of Loew's unpublished treaties and began work on his own golem. Loeb's succeeded in recreating his ancestors feat. Soon there was not only a golem to protect the Jews of Prague again, but also golems in major Jewish settlements throughout Europe.
Unfortunately for Loeb, his dream of Jewish emancipation, was for not. Although thousands of Jews where now safe from gentile pogroms it didn't mean an end to discrimination and hatred. The golems themselves became lightning rods for antisemitism, many rulers tried to seize Loeb's creations so that they could recreate their own mechanical men.
After a near success by a power hungry Prussian baron, Loeb decided that enough was enough. He began installing a device in every golem's chest, that would cause the golem to explode if it were tampered with. He also began working on a more permanent solution to the problems of the Jewish people.
Gathering up all of his golems, he traveled to the court of Mahmud II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire with a proposition. In exchange for the city of Jerusalam and a sovereign Jewish state, Loeb and a cadre of fellow rabbi would build an army of golems to aid the Empire's armies.
Mahmud II agreed and so the State of Israel was created. In exchange the mechanical armies of Isreal have helped to put down the first and second Greek Rebellions in 1821 and 1828, along with a whole slew of minor rebellions.
Now the city of Jerusalem has been reborn. It's a center of religious learning, Jewish and Islamic, and mechanical acumen. Great Academies push scientific advancement just as New Seminaries progress religious understanding.
The area is at peace, Jewish Rule so far has been fair and equitable. The only restriction on other faiths has been that you must be Jewish to hold political office, but even that isn't set in stone, as is evident by Alhazred's election, setting the precedent that it's fine to be "Jewish in name" for purposes of electability.
Unfortunately Isreal doesn't seem to be doing nearly so well on the World stage. As a client state of the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman's get to dictate Isreali foreign policy. Many Isrealis wish to see Isreal sever it's ties with the Empire, a fact that hasn't escaped the notice of the new Sultan Abdülmecid.
Moral:+++
FO:+-
Spy: +++-
Military: ++-
Economy: +++-
Technology: ++++
Arcadia
Territory: Newfoundland, Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI
History: After the rebellions in 1837 lead by a mad scientist using new (and faulty) technology nearly defeated the British, they decided to reform Canada into two seperate colonies. Canada to the west and Arcadia on the coast. Arcadia would become an asylum/research faciluty. Under the admistration of the mad and with a constant influx of the unstable and the genius, a constant stream of new technology is provided to the British. They also maintain close ties with Canada and there is alot of smuggled traffic between the two.
Moral: ++
FO: ++-
Spy: +-
Military: +++
Economy: ++++
Technology: +++++
Falconer as Iberia
Monarchy
Territory: Spain, Portugal, Sardinia*, Sicily**
Colonies: Western Sahara, Morocco, Cuba, the Philippines, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea, Guam, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, dozens of other small colonial enclaves and trade posts.
*Includes the northwest chunk of Italy
**Includes a southern chunk of the Italian peninsula
History:
Following Napoleon's occupation of Spain, the former monarch Ferdinand VII was quickly put to death, to secure the French claim. Thusly, following Napoleon's defeat and exile, it was Ferdinand's brother Charles V that took the Spanish throne. Taking as his wife a Portuguese princess, he achieved something that had not been achieved for two centuries: an Iberian union, a single empire over the whole peninsula.
With his newfound power, he managed to make Iberia a major player at the Congress of Vienna. It was one of the Congress' goals to surround France with strong, unified monarchies to counterbalance its power. Charles convinced the council that Iberia should serve as one of those nations. Even amid protests, it was decided that the kingdoms of Sardinia and Sicily would be conjoined to the Empire, further adding to its power.
Moral: +-
FO: ++-
Spy: ++++
Military: ++++-
Economy: +++-
Technology: ++-
Goblin as Bohemia
Symbol[image]
Territory: The lands of the current day Czech Republic, plus the western half of modern day Slovakia.
History: The Hapsburgs had ruled the Bohemia hills and mountains for centuries, reducing once-glorious Prague to little more then a country town, and making the proud Bohemians/Czechs lesser citizens under the Austrians and even Hungarians. This mistreatment of the ancient culture of the Czechs lead to a long-lasting resentment of their German rulers. However, the Hapsburgs had a strong control over those lands, and it was not until Napoleon's second defeat that the people of Bohemia seized their chance.
Electing a minor Czech noble named Vilem of Moravia (and more importantly his army marshal, the brilliant Jan of Prague), the Czech citizens of the Austrian Empire revolted en masse, driving the Hapsburgs out, and establishing themselves as an independent nation once more. General Jan even conquered the western half of the Austrian-controlled Slovakia with ease.
Now, King Vilem sits in Prague, drawing the people of Europe to it through sponsorships of art, dance, writings, and even military inventions; if it can enrich his nation's cultural standing, the King supports it. His state is staunchly Catholic, and the Czech cardinal and chief diplomat, Viktor, stands a good chance of becoming next Pope.
The leadership in Prague seems to have nothing but good days ahead for it's fledging nation, and the only thing that could possibly stop it would be jealous rivals...
Moral: +++-
FO: ++++
Spy: ++
Military: +-
Economy: +++-
Technology: ++++
Sambucus as Argentina
Form of Government: Mixed democracy and monarchy. (See History)
Territory: Argentina, Chile.
History:
After the end of the Spanish American wars of independence in 1826 Argentina got stuck with a poorly working government. As a consequence the nation suffered both economically and politically. One man, however, had a vision for Argentina’s future. He saw the rich lands that weren’t properly used, the opportunities thrown aside. Quirino Augusto, as the man was named, decided to go against the government.
With his promise of a better future for the people, his influence over Argentina grew. His name spread like wildfire, and the possibility of a better life seemed clearer now than ever before. When the military, also tired of the poor government, took the side of Quirino the government started to realize their quickly dwindling power.
One warm August evening, the government had set a time for them to speak with Quirino. They wanted to put a stop to the “madness” that this man had dragged in to their doorstep, but instead of having their will put through – all they heard was the words that finally united Argentina once again;
“If you want to speak with me, you will speak with the whole nation. Today, we have decided that you’re not welcome here anymore. Leave.”
With the people behind him Quirino Augusto was became something along the lines of The Merchant King. He established provinces throughout Argentina, and set well respected people in the lead for those areas. The areas in question then have their own representative within the government, to finally have a voice – which they hadn’t had for a very long time. After over a decade as king the aging Quirino also decided to open up Argentina, which had been isolated over the time of the last government.
Moral: +++-
FO: +++
Spy: ++
Military: ++-
Economy: ++++-
Technology: +++
and returning
JJ as Swiss cantons
The great age of Swiss independence and prowess has yet to end. In 1798 the French Revolutionary armies had attempted to 'liberate' the Canton's from their old, feudal ways. Quite content with their internal squabbles and none to pleased with the foriegn incursion, and in by 1799 the citizens of the Canton's launched a guerilla war, most in support of the Austrian and Russian forces fighting the French. By 1802 the Unitarian Republic was collapsing and all was well. Then Napoleon reoccupied the area, seeking to contain the instability. And here we break from history.
The Swiss fought back. Napoleon backed down, called a meeting and issued the Act of Mediation. Unfortunately, the other powers now saw the Swiss as a militant force aligned against the French. Come 1805, the British and Russians asked for Swiss support in the Batavian Republic. The Cantons, throughly fed up with the mess, refused, and in turn became a target. By the time the Swiss managed to disentangle themselves from the wars, (mostly via Napoleon's victory at Austerlizt redering Switzerland a moot point) the Swiss soldiers had traded their passion for professionalism, and grew on the idea of shooting at just about anyone, regardless of ideology. And soon they recovered and restored true glory to the tratition of Old Switzerland: Mercenary work. Swiss mercs helped Napoleon win at Austerlitz, and the arrival of those very same mercenaries on Napoleon's flank at Waterloo is credited with his defeat. (von Blücher's reaction to this glory stealing when he arrived a scant half hour later will be omitted for the sake of the children.)
Lately bussiess has been good. India, China, Japan, Africa, the New World, Eastern Europe, and anywhere a bourgeoisie revolution of the nouveau riche needs support or a prolitariat rebellion needs putting down.
Moral: +++-
World Opinion: +-
Military: ++++-
Tech: +++
Espionage: ++
Economy: ++-
krennel as: Celtic Empire
Symbol: A clover with two spears going through in, parallel and down. Most banners have a human head sitting below them, though it isn't part of the flag.
Territory: Ireland, Scotland, The Isle of Man, and Jamaica.
Type of Government: Parliamentary Monarchy.
History: In 1802 Mary Shannon was named Queen of the Celts by resistance fighters in both Scotland and Ireland. how she managed this is anybodies guess. However she used her newfound power to great effect. She started a guerrilla war that lasted for ten years. In those ten years the Celtic forces become some of the most disciplined on earth, with technology that, surprisingly, outstripped their enemies int he Empire. The war was ended when it was discovered Shannon, the leader of the armed forces, was dieing of TB. Her people, in an attempt to keep what they had won, bought peace from the British Empire, who was also tiring of the fighting, and had bigger problems with the French.
In 1815, three years after the Celtic empire became a nation and two after Mary's death, her son found himself in a predicament. A rebel leader of the Maroons, escaped slaves from Jamaica, came asking for a trade. It seamed the British were stepping up their policies in slavery, constituting weekly beatings for slaves, and the ability to substitute one's prison sentence for a fine and a slave serving the same amount of time.
The deal was this. Help the Maroons free themselves from the English, and they would join the Celtic Empire.
Ainmire was told it was a bad idea by his top officials, but he pushed ahead with it anyways. When the Royal Lawyers drew up Legal documents for the Maroon leader to sign, King Ainmire Shannon personally rewrote it to include the freedom, and a requirement to build public schools and hospitals for all citizens, which would include the Jamaicans.
It was settled with that signing, and The Celts went to war.
Shipments of troops were sent out, and in true Celtic style they were lead by their king. The Maroons harbored them as they raided the ports, cities, and farms of Jamaica. The war was surprisingly fast. The troops proved adept, and learned the tactics of the Jungle from the Black Slave fighters faster than was expected, and proved to be surprisingly resistant to most of the diseases. Britain was not willing to start another war with the Celts, and the Jamaicans were not worth fighting over anyways.
In 1818 Jamaica officially joined the Celtic empire.
In 1830, due to cries among the people that their voices weren't heard in the empire, Ainmire opened the Celtic Parliament. This actually took a load off the king's shoulders, as parliament officials, elected from their districts, took over local and Empire wide laws, as well as seeing to new technologies and strategies for things like education.
Then the Parliament turned corrupt, tried to enslave Jamaica, and end the Public school system, and Ainmire, who had been slowly slipping into the twilight of old power, stepped in. He deployed army personnel to take the Parliament into custody. Private armies made some resistance, leading to the Dublin Massacre. The people were not happy with the government. However, it was parliament, and their "Secret Police" who took the wrath. the Dublin Massacre sparked the powder keg, and recruitment into the Celtic Army shot up towards the sky as training improved. Riots among those who did not enlist got tot eh point where three of the four Parliament officials who had not already been arrested were dragged out of their homes by angry mobs. three of them were executed on the spot. The fourth committed suicide as legions of Soldiers and Civilians with rifle appeared on his doorstep. And so the Empire was restored to peace.
Territory: Ireland, Scotland, The Isle of Man, and Jamaica.
Type of Government: Parliamentary Monarchy.
History: In 1802 Mary Shannon was named Queen of the Celts by resistance fighters in both Scotland and Ireland. how she managed this is anybodies guess. However she used her newfound power to great effect. She started a guerrilla war that lasted for ten years. In those ten years the Celtic forces become some of the most disciplined on earth, with technology that, surprisingly, outstripped their enemies int he Empire. The war was ended when it was discovered Shannon, the leader of the armed forces, was dieing of TB. Her people, in an attempt to keep what they had won, bought peace from the British Empire, who was also tiring of the fighting, and had bigger problems with the French.
In 1815, three years after the Celtic empire became a nation and two after Mary's death, her son found himself in a predicament. A rebel leader of the Maroons, escaped slaves from Jamaica, came asking for a trade. It seamed the British were stepping up their policies in slavery, constituting weekly beatings for slaves, and the ability to substitute one's prison sentence for a fine and a slave serving the same amount of time.
The deal was this. Help the Maroons free themselves from the English, and they would join the Celtic Empire.
Ainmire was told it was a bad idea by his top officials, but he pushed ahead with it anyways. When the Royal Lawyers drew up Legal documents for the Maroon leader to sign, King Ainmire Shannon personally rewrote it to include the freedom, and a requirement to build public schools and hospitals for all citizens, which would include the Jamaicans.
It was settled with that signing, and The Celts went to war.
Shipments of troops were sent out, and in true Celtic style they were lead by their king. The Maroons harbored them as they raided the ports, cities, and farms of Jamaica. The war was surprisingly fast. The troops proved adept, and learned the tactics of the Jungle from the Black Slave fighters faster than was expected, and proved to be surprisingly resistant to most of the diseases. Britain was not willing to start another war with the Celts, and the Jamaicans were not worth fighting over anyways.
In 1818 Jamaica officially joined the Celtic empire.
In 1830, due to cries among the people that their voices weren't heard in the empire, Ainmire opened the Celtic Parliament. This actually took a load off the king's shoulders, as parliament officials, elected from their districts, took over local and Empire wide laws, as well as seeing to new technologies and strategies for things like education.
Then the Parliament turned corrupt, tried to enslave Jamaica, and end the Public school system, and Ainmire, who had been slowly slipping into the twilight of old power, stepped in. He deployed army personnel to take the Parliament into custody. Private armies made some resistance, leading to the Dublin Massacre. The people were not happy with the government. However, it was parliament, and their "Secret Police" who took the wrath. the Dublin Massacre sparked the powder keg, and recruitment into the Celtic Army shot up towards the sky as training improved. Riots among those who did not enlist got tot eh point where three of the four Parliament officials who had not already been arrested were dragged out of their homes by angry mobs. three of them were executed on the spot. The fourth committed suicide as legions of Soldiers and Civilians with rifle appeared on his doorstep. And so the Empire was restored to peace.
Moral: +++-
FO:++
Spy:++-
Military:++++
Economy: ++-
Technology: +++-
Murska as Sweden
Territory: Sweden, Norway, Swedish Pomerania, most of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, all of the islands in the Danish Straits, including Sjaelland and Fyn.
Form of Government: Monarchy, though it isn't very uncommon for a strong leader to take the power from an 'unworthy' king.
History:
The Swedish Empire was lost back in the Great Northern War. However, the ambitions of it's leaders were not. The Swedish nation was kept efficient by a string of strong leaders, and as Europe fell into troubled times, Sweden always profited. They regained some of their territories in successful wars, some others via political maneuvering, marriages, assassinations and other means, and soon they grew to be a power in Europe once more.
King Gustav IV held a great hatred of Napoleon, a hatred that led to his dethroning by the new King Johan I as it was deemed to threaten the interests of Sweden. With a more moderate policy, Sweden came to the eventual odds with Russia in a better position and kept Finland.
Recently, the genius of the inventor family Nobel has helped the Swedish technology quite a lot. Their main focus militarily is on explosives, but the Nobels have helped the average worker's life aswell with a number of machines.
Just a year ago, Swedish forces, allied with certain German groups (and Icelandic mercenaries, assuming Iceland remains as it was) surprised Denmark with an attack which crippled them and, in the span of a few months, forced them into signing a peace on very favourable terms(to the Swedish).
Strengths: The Swedish military is professional, well-trained, armed with good weaponry and explosives.
The espionage of the kingdom is good, with their networks reaching all around Europe and the world. Multiple deaths, sudden changes of heart of important people and other such fortuitous events have helped Sweden re-establish it's dominion of northern Europe in the past years.
The Nobels have founded an organization in service of the State where the highly-gifted individuals gather for Science.
Immanuel Nobel is truly a genius and spends most of his time working on his own little gadgets and projects.
Moral:++
FO: +-
Spy: ++++
Military: ++++
Economy: ++
Technology: ++++-
Sayn as Heavenly Empire
Symbol/Flag: [image]
Territory: Japan, Korea, what would have been called Manchuria.
History:
Can you imagine the surprise of the rest of South-east Asia when Korea announced that they were to marry their Crown Princess to the Japanese Crown Prince? In either case, it was quite the chock for the other nations in that area when the two isolationist nations joined together through a very political marriage.
They threw open their gates and began to trade with the world once more, and began to grow quite prosperous under their new leadership. Many other reforms were made to the new nation, newly named the Heavenly Empire, ruled by their 天王 (Ten'ou, Heavenly Emperor) and his queen, and morale spiked to an unprecedented high.
China, the until recently only real superpower in Asia, began to dislike this new and progressive nation. So, they eventually declared war upon them. But this new empire had been preparing for that very thing.
Which is why the war was pretty one-sided, in favor of the Heavenly Empire. They launched a lightning campaign into China, forcing the nation to sign a treaty to end the war. The terms included giving up a portion of China, and paying a pretty substantial amount of money in war reparations to the Empire.
The Heavenly Empire, now more than twice as large and suddenly in control of large amount of natural resources, decided to take a more peaceful route. They kept their now veteran forces, but did not add to them. There is still a mandatory period of military training, but that is all. Instead of more militaristic focuses, the Empire began to build its economy. With the support of the people, and the slowly increasing technological level of the nation, the Heavenly Empire not only grew in financial might but became a true economical force in the world.
Now they are working on improving their reputation with the rest of the world, as well as trying to catch up technologically.
Territory: Japan, Korea, what would have been called Manchuria.
History:
Can you imagine the surprise of the rest of South-east Asia when Korea announced that they were to marry their Crown Princess to the Japanese Crown Prince? In either case, it was quite the chock for the other nations in that area when the two isolationist nations joined together through a very political marriage.
They threw open their gates and began to trade with the world once more, and began to grow quite prosperous under their new leadership. Many other reforms were made to the new nation, newly named the Heavenly Empire, ruled by their 天王 (Ten'ou, Heavenly Emperor) and his queen, and morale spiked to an unprecedented high.
China, the until recently only real superpower in Asia, began to dislike this new and progressive nation. So, they eventually declared war upon them. But this new empire had been preparing for that very thing.
Which is why the war was pretty one-sided, in favor of the Heavenly Empire. They launched a lightning campaign into China, forcing the nation to sign a treaty to end the war. The terms included giving up a portion of China, and paying a pretty substantial amount of money in war reparations to the Empire.
The Heavenly Empire, now more than twice as large and suddenly in control of large amount of natural resources, decided to take a more peaceful route. They kept their now veteran forces, but did not add to them. There is still a mandatory period of military training, but that is all. Instead of more militaristic focuses, the Empire began to build its economy. With the support of the people, and the slowly increasing technological level of the nation, the Heavenly Empire not only grew in financial might but became a true economical force in the world.
Now they are working on improving their reputation with the rest of the world, as well as trying to catch up technologically.
Moral: +++-
FO:++-
Spy: ++/++++
Military: +++
Economy: ++++
Technology:++
Odin as Israel
Symbol: The Star of David. Usually on a white flag.
Territory: Jerusalem and the surrounding area.
History:
It's been almost two hundred an fifty years since the mechanical genius Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel constructed the Golem of Prague. While the golem successfully defended the Jews of Prague from persecution, Loew took the secrets of its construction, along with the golem itself to his grave.
That is until Loew's decedent Bezalel Loeb, deciphered on of Loew's unpublished treaties and began work on his own golem. Loeb's succeeded in recreating his ancestors feat. Soon there was not only a golem to protect the Jews of Prague again, but also golems in major Jewish settlements throughout Europe.
Unfortunately for Loeb, his dream of Jewish emancipation, was for not. Although thousands of Jews where now safe from gentile pogroms it didn't mean an end to discrimination and hatred. The golems themselves became lightning rods for antisemitism, many rulers tried to seize Loeb's creations so that they could recreate their own mechanical men.
After a near success by a power hungry Prussian baron, Loeb decided that enough was enough. He began installing a device in every golem's chest, that would cause the golem to explode if it were tampered with. He also began working on a more permanent solution to the problems of the Jewish people.
Gathering up all of his golems, he traveled to the court of Mahmud II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire with a proposition. In exchange for the city of Jerusalam and a sovereign Jewish state, Loeb and a cadre of fellow rabbi would build an army of golems to aid the Empire's armies.
Mahmud II agreed and so the State of Israel was created. In exchange the mechanical armies of Isreal have helped to put down the first and second Greek Rebellions in 1821 and 1828, along with a whole slew of minor rebellions.
Now the city of Jerusalem has been reborn. It's a center of religious learning, Jewish and Islamic, and mechanical acumen. Great Academies push scientific advancement just as New Seminaries progress religious understanding.
The area is at peace, Jewish Rule so far has been fair and equitable. The only restriction on other faiths has been that you must be Jewish to hold political office, but even that isn't set in stone, as is evident by Alhazred's election, setting the precedent that it's fine to be "Jewish in name" for purposes of electability.
Unfortunately Isreal doesn't seem to be doing nearly so well on the World stage. As a client state of the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman's get to dictate Isreali foreign policy. Many Isrealis wish to see Isreal sever it's ties with the Empire, a fact that hasn't escaped the notice of the new Sultan Abdülmecid.
Moral:+++
FO:+-
Spy: +++-
Military: ++-
Economy: +++-
Technology: ++++
Arcadia
Territory: Newfoundland, Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI
History: After the rebellions in 1837 lead by a mad scientist using new (and faulty) technology nearly defeated the British, they decided to reform Canada into two seperate colonies. Canada to the west and Arcadia on the coast. Arcadia would become an asylum/research faciluty. Under the admistration of the mad and with a constant influx of the unstable and the genius, a constant stream of new technology is provided to the British. They also maintain close ties with Canada and there is alot of smuggled traffic between the two.
Moral: ++
FO: ++-
Spy: +-
Military: +++
Economy: ++++
Technology: +++++
Falconer as Iberia
Monarchy
Territory: Spain, Portugal, Sardinia*, Sicily**
Colonies: Western Sahara, Morocco, Cuba, the Philippines, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea, Guam, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, dozens of other small colonial enclaves and trade posts.
*Includes the northwest chunk of Italy
**Includes a southern chunk of the Italian peninsula
History:
Following Napoleon's occupation of Spain, the former monarch Ferdinand VII was quickly put to death, to secure the French claim. Thusly, following Napoleon's defeat and exile, it was Ferdinand's brother Charles V that took the Spanish throne. Taking as his wife a Portuguese princess, he achieved something that had not been achieved for two centuries: an Iberian union, a single empire over the whole peninsula.
With his newfound power, he managed to make Iberia a major player at the Congress of Vienna. It was one of the Congress' goals to surround France with strong, unified monarchies to counterbalance its power. Charles convinced the council that Iberia should serve as one of those nations. Even amid protests, it was decided that the kingdoms of Sardinia and Sicily would be conjoined to the Empire, further adding to its power.
Moral: +-
FO: ++-
Spy: ++++
Military: ++++-
Economy: +++-
Technology: ++-
Goblin as Bohemia
Symbol[image]
Territory: The lands of the current day Czech Republic, plus the western half of modern day Slovakia.
History: The Hapsburgs had ruled the Bohemia hills and mountains for centuries, reducing once-glorious Prague to little more then a country town, and making the proud Bohemians/Czechs lesser citizens under the Austrians and even Hungarians. This mistreatment of the ancient culture of the Czechs lead to a long-lasting resentment of their German rulers. However, the Hapsburgs had a strong control over those lands, and it was not until Napoleon's second defeat that the people of Bohemia seized their chance.
Electing a minor Czech noble named Vilem of Moravia (and more importantly his army marshal, the brilliant Jan of Prague), the Czech citizens of the Austrian Empire revolted en masse, driving the Hapsburgs out, and establishing themselves as an independent nation once more. General Jan even conquered the western half of the Austrian-controlled Slovakia with ease.
Now, King Vilem sits in Prague, drawing the people of Europe to it through sponsorships of art, dance, writings, and even military inventions; if it can enrich his nation's cultural standing, the King supports it. His state is staunchly Catholic, and the Czech cardinal and chief diplomat, Viktor, stands a good chance of becoming next Pope.
The leadership in Prague seems to have nothing but good days ahead for it's fledging nation, and the only thing that could possibly stop it would be jealous rivals...
Moral: +++-
FO: ++++
Spy: ++
Military: +-
Economy: +++-
Technology: ++++
Sambucus as Argentina
Form of Government: Mixed democracy and monarchy. (See History)
Territory: Argentina, Chile.
History:
After the end of the Spanish American wars of independence in 1826 Argentina got stuck with a poorly working government. As a consequence the nation suffered both economically and politically. One man, however, had a vision for Argentina’s future. He saw the rich lands that weren’t properly used, the opportunities thrown aside. Quirino Augusto, as the man was named, decided to go against the government.
With his promise of a better future for the people, his influence over Argentina grew. His name spread like wildfire, and the possibility of a better life seemed clearer now than ever before. When the military, also tired of the poor government, took the side of Quirino the government started to realize their quickly dwindling power.
One warm August evening, the government had set a time for them to speak with Quirino. They wanted to put a stop to the “madness” that this man had dragged in to their doorstep, but instead of having their will put through – all they heard was the words that finally united Argentina once again;
“If you want to speak with me, you will speak with the whole nation. Today, we have decided that you’re not welcome here anymore. Leave.”
With the people behind him Quirino Augusto was became something along the lines of The Merchant King. He established provinces throughout Argentina, and set well respected people in the lead for those areas. The areas in question then have their own representative within the government, to finally have a voice – which they hadn’t had for a very long time. After over a decade as king the aging Quirino also decided to open up Argentina, which had been isolated over the time of the last government.
Moral: +++-
FO: +++
Spy: ++
Military: ++-
Economy: ++++-
Technology: +++
and returning
JJ as Swiss cantons
The great age of Swiss independence and prowess has yet to end. In 1798 the French Revolutionary armies had attempted to 'liberate' the Canton's from their old, feudal ways. Quite content with their internal squabbles and none to pleased with the foriegn incursion, and in by 1799 the citizens of the Canton's launched a guerilla war, most in support of the Austrian and Russian forces fighting the French. By 1802 the Unitarian Republic was collapsing and all was well. Then Napoleon reoccupied the area, seeking to contain the instability. And here we break from history.
The Swiss fought back. Napoleon backed down, called a meeting and issued the Act of Mediation. Unfortunately, the other powers now saw the Swiss as a militant force aligned against the French. Come 1805, the British and Russians asked for Swiss support in the Batavian Republic. The Cantons, throughly fed up with the mess, refused, and in turn became a target. By the time the Swiss managed to disentangle themselves from the wars, (mostly via Napoleon's victory at Austerlizt redering Switzerland a moot point) the Swiss soldiers had traded their passion for professionalism, and grew on the idea of shooting at just about anyone, regardless of ideology. And soon they recovered and restored true glory to the tratition of Old Switzerland: Mercenary work. Swiss mercs helped Napoleon win at Austerlitz, and the arrival of those very same mercenaries on Napoleon's flank at Waterloo is credited with his defeat. (von Blücher's reaction to this glory stealing when he arrived a scant half hour later will be omitted for the sake of the children.)
Lately bussiess has been good. India, China, Japan, Africa, the New World, Eastern Europe, and anywhere a bourgeoisie revolution of the nouveau riche needs support or a prolitariat rebellion needs putting down.
Moral: +++-
World Opinion: +-
Military: ++++-
Tech: +++
Espionage: ++
Economy: ++-