Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Mar 1, 2015 21:45:49 GMT
The year of our Lord, 1688, has come to an end.
This year has been a quieter one, with the Great Eastern War continuing in a stalemate. However, Tsar Pyotr, feeling his control over his country waning, has called for a death or glory march into Poland. He is preparing to besiege the Polish fortress in Polotsk. Whether this march will work will depend on the cunning Jan III Sobieski.
In the West, France has went from a war with the Dutch to war with Spain. Prompted by French aggression against Genoa, Spain opted to defend its ally and attack the French navy in the Ligurian Sea. Of course, this was made more successful by unsuspected assistance from Venice. The Republic claimed that if Genoa were to fall it would have devastating implications for the rest of Italy. The dastardly Duc de Luxembourg was the centerpiece of a major diplomatic incident. After Doge Mario Odescalchi of Genoa was invited for peaceful talks, the Duc, Prince Eugene of Savoy, all men involved in the conflict, and the Lord our God, bore witness to his murder. Rumours spread across Europe. Some say Mario took 2,000 bullets before he fell to his knees, others say he was not killed but protected by angels and delivered by them to heaven. Ultimately, this caused an even greater diplomatic problem for France. Mario was, of course, a first cousin of Pope Innocent XI! Innocent, who had long been a sickly man, seemed to have been tipped over the edge of life with grief. Many faithful Catholics swear they have seen his ghost wandering Europe, prompting calls for his canonisation.
However, not all news is bad. Genoa eventually made a separate peace on terms offered to them by the Kingdom of France. Europe also welcomes into the world two very important children: Prince James, House of Stuart, Heir to the the Kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland, and; Infanta Caterina Isabella, House of Hapsburg, Heir to the Kingdom of Spain and all her Crown territories.
Territorial changes:
Avignon occupied by France
Kola and Karelia occupied by Sweden
Swedish Pomerania ceded to Brandenburg.
This year has been a quieter one, with the Great Eastern War continuing in a stalemate. However, Tsar Pyotr, feeling his control over his country waning, has called for a death or glory march into Poland. He is preparing to besiege the Polish fortress in Polotsk. Whether this march will work will depend on the cunning Jan III Sobieski.
In the West, France has went from a war with the Dutch to war with Spain. Prompted by French aggression against Genoa, Spain opted to defend its ally and attack the French navy in the Ligurian Sea. Of course, this was made more successful by unsuspected assistance from Venice. The Republic claimed that if Genoa were to fall it would have devastating implications for the rest of Italy. The dastardly Duc de Luxembourg was the centerpiece of a major diplomatic incident. After Doge Mario Odescalchi of Genoa was invited for peaceful talks, the Duc, Prince Eugene of Savoy, all men involved in the conflict, and the Lord our God, bore witness to his murder. Rumours spread across Europe. Some say Mario took 2,000 bullets before he fell to his knees, others say he was not killed but protected by angels and delivered by them to heaven. Ultimately, this caused an even greater diplomatic problem for France. Mario was, of course, a first cousin of Pope Innocent XI! Innocent, who had long been a sickly man, seemed to have been tipped over the edge of life with grief. Many faithful Catholics swear they have seen his ghost wandering Europe, prompting calls for his canonisation.
However, not all news is bad. Genoa eventually made a separate peace on terms offered to them by the Kingdom of France. Europe also welcomes into the world two very important children: Prince James, House of Stuart, Heir to the the Kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland, and; Infanta Caterina Isabella, House of Hapsburg, Heir to the Kingdom of Spain and all her Crown territories.
Territorial changes:
Avignon occupied by France
Kola and Karelia occupied by Sweden
Swedish Pomerania ceded to Brandenburg.