State of the World, 1679; French expansionism in the new world and Iberian Peninsula have pushed Italy over the edge. Unwilling to simply let the French King take control of the whole of the Iberian Peninsula and in doing so, hold enough men under his control to threaten the whole of Europe, Italy gears up for a preemptive strike. The greatest, and longest serving Doge, Geovanni Maria Gaetani dell'Aquila, one of the most capable generals in Italy himself, takes control of the largest army personally.
And after the armies are lined up along the French border, a declaration of War is issued to the King of France. The stated Excuse is grievances over territory held by France in the new world that had been claimed by Italy. Of course, this isn't entirely the case.
Apparently sensing weakness, several minor nations in India attempt to stage a reconquest of territory claimed by Italy several decades prior, and declare war. Although they are subdued and occupied without trouble due to a lack of arms and numbers, peace is not brokered until later.
Oirialla is a French vassal state consisting of a single province in Ireland. They declare war on Italy in return, but lacking any real means of supporting the King of France, they are not a threat.
Leon on the other hand has established colonies, and territory in the Iberian Peninsula that could be troublesome should they come to aid the King. However, apparently able to feel which way the wind is blowing, Leon almost immediately withdraws from the war, while the first shots of the war are just being fired.
However, all is not favorable. As Burgundy joins the war, France moves in, and and quickly reconquers and annexes Burgundy.
In northern France, armies move into lightly defended territory quickly, and overwhelm unprepared defenses. the most trouble faced is in Avignon, which boasts a much more sizable fortress than it's surrounding territories. The French counter attack is swift, and it is true that their conquests were possible because they were certainly not lacking in numbers. However, in the battle of Languedoc, a relatively small army of Italian infantry defeat a considerably larger French army. Numbers alone will not earn them victory.
The French line held for several months, a tug of war over the border provinces lasted apparently until the French coffers began to dry. French reinforcement slows, and Italian armies move deeper into French territory. Even the tiny Republic of Ragussa comes to aid in the South of France. Controlling the south, here the Iberian Peninsula becomes a bottleneck is of major importance, as it is understood that the Iberian Territories could support a massive troop buildup that can't be easily stopped from where we sit.
However, it is around this time that Luxembourg joins in the conflict, declaring war on France themselves, and quickly moving to occupy Paris. Faced with a war on Two Fronts the French resistance is essentially already defeated.
It isn't immediately clear what they're up to in Luxembourg, but the fact that they carry on the war after occupying Paris gives some clue as to their designs for Conquest.
Made self evident when they finally broker peace.
Now that France is able to fight on a single front, it was expected that the war would take a turn towards stalemate again, however, Luxembourg demanding probably every ducat France had in their treasury meant that hardly a single new regiment formed on the French side of the war.
However, what men France had still fought as hard as they could. While signing orders to be sent to the generals fighting what resistance still remained in India, a French surprise attack caught the Doge's army from behind. Though the battle resulted in Italian victory against the raiders, a French bullet flew through the Doge's tent, and pierced him through the heart, ending his long and glorious Tenure.
Despite this admittedly large setback, the new Doge is prepared. A general himself, he takes the reins of the war where dell'Aquila left them, and charges on, occupying nearly all of France in Europe.
Finally, after Ile-de-France falls for the second time in this war, this time to Italians, Italy declares Victory, and the French, without any means to fight back, surrenders.
Italy draws out it's demands for peace. This war was not about territorial expansion, although two provinces, Elsass and Lothringen, are claimed. The first, to deny France control over the Center of Trade which they had embargoed their enemies from for purely political reasons several times, and the second for a contiguous border reaching Elsass.
But that does little to Punish the French. As part of the treaty, Four new Republics are established in formerly French territory. Burgundy, which fell in the midst of this very war, is liberated once again. Champagne is created to the North of Burgundy. To the South, Toulouse, and Armagnac
To say that France is weakened by this is a vast understatement.
1682. A new Doge in charge, and more territory. Most importantly, four new Republics built in the old world who call themselves Allies of Italy.
Author
Topic: Lets Play Europa Universalis 3: In Medias Res (Read 8555 times)