1855 : Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC][REBOOT][Semi-closed]

[Conwy-Shire]

Courland did you send me something in the IC like we discussed? I may have missed it otherwise I really only have a reply for Tracian.

Ach, Akai forced me to post the India-part of my story first sorry, I'm editing in the rest, including your thing like discussed

[Costa Fierro]

Is there still room for additional nations?

[Conwy-Shire]

Is there still room for additional nations?

Read the announcement on the Opening Post

[Cymrea]

All hail the new Sweden! Your app looks cool to me. Feel free to export raw materials to France and import processed goods from France. Also the more you to leans towards a republic - the less monarchical you are - the better your relations will be with France.

Very cool. Be sure to make note of the failed Copenhagen conference of not too long ago. That's your lead-in to the story, Vulkanas. And welcome!

[Second Helghan Empire]

My Revised App. Anything can be changed if necessary.

Full Nation Name : The Kingdom of Sweden
Majority/Official Culture : Swedish (though Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, etc. are accepted)
Territorial Core : The Light Blue provinces on this map.
Territorial Claim : The pink provinces on this map.
Capital City : Stockholm
Population : 4 million (this can be adjusted if necessary, I couldn't find much historical data)

Government Type : Constitutional Monarchy, with multiple parliaments (similar to the IRL United Kingdom)
Government Ideology/Policies : Imperialist, Scientific
Government Focus : Science & innovation, industrial development
Head of State : King Charles XIV Bernadotte
Head of Government : Prime Minister Fredrik Sundström (Social Democratic Party)
Government Description : The King is officially the ruler, and all law must be passed through him before being put into practice. There is a Swedish parliament, which handle all the national affairs of Sweden (in which only people in the region of Sweden get to vote) as well as overall international affairs and empire-wide law. The Swedish Parliament handles business for overseas territories as well. There is also a Norwegian Parliament, which has limited powers for national affairs in Norway only (similarly to how the Scottish parliament works in the IRL UK).

Majority/State Religion : No official state religion, however of those who practice religion Protestantism is most common
Religious Description : ---

Economic Ideologies : Mercantilism, but with Socialist ideas becoming more prominent (i.e. The state owning things).
Major Production : Timber, Fish, Copper & steel, ships.
Economic Description : A prominent but small economy in world trade, which relies mostly on the exports of raw materials. Industry is somewhat behind that of other European nations.

Army Strength : Environmental hardiness, well-equipped, well disciplined
Army Weakness : Quite small
Naval Strength : High quality ships, abundance of materials, many trade ships
Naval Weakness : A less than encouraging naval history (think Vasa, Götheburg, etc)
Further Military Description : The army's size is just 200,000 and the colonies have very little protection. Warships are not in abundance, but trading ships are.

National Goals : Reconquer Finland and Estonia, increase industrial strength, cultivate more science
National Issues : The economy needs to grow, Norway needs further integration, methods must be found of improving infrastructure despite harsh climate.
National Figures of Interest : Well there's Alfred Nobel who will invent dynamite very soon, but I'm not sure if he counts yet. Dynamite will improve mining greatly though.
National Ambition/Aspirations : Becoming a true great power.

History :
- For centuries, the Swedes and other Norsemen were famed merchant seamen, well known for their far-reaching trade. By the 10th Century AD, the creation of better ships, high quality weapons, and a quest for better things had set Swedes on global journeys, spreading their name across Europe, Russia, Asia, even across the Atlantic Ocean.
- During the 11th and 12th centuries, Sweden gradually became a unified Christian kingdom that later included Finland. Until 1060, the kings of Uppsala ruled most of modern Sweden except the southern and western coastal regions, which remained under Danish rule. The Vikings sailed rivers, plundered, and brought back wealth to an otherwise remote kingdom.
- Sweden faced a difficult period after the ways of the Vikings were abandoned - troubles with the black death and internal civil wars. In 1327, the Danes imposed the Union of Kalmar upon Sweden and Norway. While the Swedish nobility agreed at the time, Sweden's people were soon to fight for their freedom. There were conflicts between Sweden and Denmark for decades, even centuries. Sweden found its independence in the 16th century, when Gustavus Adolphus Vasa led Swedes to disintegrate the Kalmar Union, crushed attempts to restore it, introduced the Swedish Lutheran Church, and his inventive military tactics established modern Sweden, and set its trajectory to become a great power.
From 1560 onwards Sweden grew from strength to strength, winning wars against Denmark, Norway, even Russia. Sweden was at the height of its glory. Until 1700...
- The Great Northern War was the turning point in Sweden's expansion. A Coalition of Russia, Norway, Denmark, and several other states removed much of Sweden's power. Finland was lost, the Baltic provinces gone, and the economy brought down by years of war. It was a slow recovery.
- Sweden joined in the 'Enlightenment culture' of the day in the arts, architecture, science and learning. A new law in 1766 established for the first time the principle of freedom of the press—a notable step towards liberty of political opinion. The Academy of Science was founded in 1739 and the Academy of Letters, History, and Antiquities in 1753. The outstanding cultural leader was Carl Linnaeus (1707–78), whose work in biology and ethnography had a major impact on European science.
- Following half a century of parliamentary domination came the reaction. King Gustav III came to the throne in 1771, and in 1772 led a coup d'état, with French support, that established him as an 'enlightened despot,' who ruled at will. The Age of Freedom and bitter party politics was over. He was a well educated patron of the arts and music. His edicts reformed the bureaucracy, repaired the currency, expanded trade, and improved defence. The population had reached 2.0 million and the country was prosperous. Gustav III weakened the nobility and promoted numerous major social reforms. He felt the Swedish monarchy could survive and flourish by achieving a coalition with the newly emerged middle classes against the nobility. He personally disliked the French Revolution, but he decided to promote additional antifeudal reforms to strengthen his hand among the middle classes.
(This is what I would consider to be the "point of divergence". History before this point is reasonably accurate to what actually happened IRL. After this point I still stay quite close to what actually happened, but notable things have been changed.)
- When Gustav declared war on Russia and did poorly he was assassinated by a conspiracy of nobles angry that he tried to restrict their privileges for the benefit of the peasants. Under King Charles XIII, Sweden joined various coalitions against Napoleon, but was badly defeated and lost much of its territory. The king was overthrown by the army, which in 1810 decided to bring in one of Napoleon's marshals, Bernadotte, as the heir apparent. He had a Jacobin background and was well-grounded in revolutionary principles, but put Sweden in the coalition that opposed Napoleon. He served as a quite conservative king Charles XIV John of Sweden.
- Sweden experimented briefly with overseas colonialism, gaining the territories of Nya Göteborg (IRL South Georgia), Julön (IRL Christmas Island), and Stillahavsöarna (IRL New Caledonia and several other Pacific Islands).
- During Charles XIV reign, the first stage of the Industrial Revolution reached Sweden. This first take-off was founded on rural forges, textile proto-industries and sawmills. The 19th early century was marked by the emergence of a liberal opposition press, favour of free enterprise, the introduction of taxation and voting reforms, the installation of a national military service, and the rise in the electorate of three major party groups—Social Democratic Party, Liberal Party, and Conservative Party.
- An increased science funding saw the founding of technical institutions such as the Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan and a decline in the religious population, with atheism becoming more popular. Despite this, the move to having no set state religion was internationally controversial.
- An unlikely alliance between the Hansa Federation and Sweden in 1833 saw Denmark conquered by the Germans and Norway granted to the Swedes. A union was established and a system of separate parliaments introduced (as explained above in the government section).
- And so, we find ourselves in the present. Sweden is a country with little industry, a small empire, poor Norwegian integration, no money, a weak army, but what it does have, is solidarity, hardiness, innovation, spirit, and most of all, potential. Sweden is not a great power. But the people believe it can be once more. The present is bleak, with strong neighbours that desire land, and the risk of intervention from other great powers. But people are inspired. Inspired to learn, invent, discover. Will they discover a great future for Sweden?

Comparison Points – Political : 3
Comparison Points – Cultural/Religious : 1
Comparison Points – Economy : 4
Comparison Points – Military : 2
Total Comparison Points used (10 Points MAX) : 10/10

Please tell me if there is anything that needs to be changed or elaborated upon.

I very much like your application....however there is a problem with a claimed territory. Iceland has been a rogues state and was slapped around by me in the old IC. I am actually preparing to seize it with the interest of restoring order and bringing it into the Federation. Other than that however it is a great app.

[Second Helghan Empire]

All hail the new Sweden! Your app looks cool to me. Feel free to export raw materials to France and import processed goods from France. Also the more you to leans towards a republic - the less monarchical you are - the better your relations will be with France.

Very cool. Be sure to make note of the failed Copenhagen conference of not too long ago. That's your lead-in to the story, Vulkanas. And welcome!

Cymrea would you support my troops by sea in seizing Iceland. It will need to be taken out of Vulkanas's app but it is a continued problem I had wanted to deal with in the old IC but never got a chance too.

[Cymrea]

Very cool. Be sure to make note of the failed Copenhagen conference of not too long ago. That's your lead-in to the story, Vulkanas. And welcome!

Cymrea would you support my troops by sea in seizing Iceland. It will need to be taken out of Vulkanas's app but it is a continued problem I had wanted to deal with in the old IC but never got a chance too.

As an Atlas League ally and in light of events preceding Vulkanas' app - yes, Cambria would be supportive. Especially if Hansa succeeds in making it look like civil protection of Iceland. So, Vulkanas can either accept your IC moves and change his app...or contest them in IC and then there's some fun drama. Win-win.

[Tracian Empire]

So, until the end, what happened to Persia?

[Vulkanas]

I'm working on an initial IC response - can someone fill me in on the situation for Iceland in the previous version of this RP? I will have no problem in letting it go from the app, but I thought that if it actually made sense for Sweden to own it at this time then it would make for another interesting point of clash with Cambria, the Hansa, and Curonia. Of course that's only if it makes sense.

[Cymrea]

I'm working on an initial IC response - can someone fill me in on the situation for Iceland in the previous version of this RP? I will have no problem in letting it go from the app, but I thought that if it actually made sense for Sweden to own it at this time then it would make for another interesting point of clash with Cambria, the Hansa, and Curonia. Of course that's only if it makes sense.

The Copenhagen thing here was my way of explaining the last Scandinavian guy's collapse. Helghan will have details on Iceland for you.

[Cymrea]

Good start in the IC, Vulk.

Has it been decided one way or the other about Iceland, or are you claiming it and see what happens, sort of thing?

[Second Helghan Empire]

I'm working on an initial IC response - can someone fill me in on the situation for Iceland in the previous version of this RP? I will have no problem in letting it go from the app, but I thought that if it actually made sense for Sweden to own it at this time then it would make for another interesting point of clash with Cambria, the Hansa, and Curonia. Of course that's only if it makes sense.

Well the Icelandic people had once before imprisoned some Hanseatic citizens and killed a few others and so Hansa attacked them and told them if it happened again they would be taken under the guiding wing of Hansa. I was going to request that happened in the five year gap between the last RP and the reboot. However I never did. What I am doing currently is writing IC showing why I am going to be invading them.

I noticed you claim much of the land I own and also realize we could fight over Iceland. Which means we most likely have very poor relations am I correct? Just note that if we go to war over Iceland I won't attack you first, and if you attack me quite literally all of the rest of europe save Russia and Rome is obligated to come to my aide.

Also I am the most technologically advanced nation in Europe and my navy consists of Ironclads capable of venturing unhindered into open sea. I don't mean this all as a threat just trying to inform you of the whole situations should we come to blows.

[Cymrea]

I'm working on an initial IC response - can someone fill me in on the situation for Iceland in the previous version of this RP? I will have no problem in letting it go from the app, but I thought that if it actually made sense for Sweden to own it at this time then it would make for another interesting point of clash with Cambria, the Hansa, and Curonia. Of course that's only if it makes sense.

Well the Icelandic people had once before imprisoned some Hanseatic citizens and killed a few others and so Hansa attacked them and told them if it happened again they would be taken under the guiding wing of Hansa. I was going to request that happened in the five year gap between the last RP and the reboot. However I never did. What I am doing currently is writing IC showing why I am going to be invading them.

I noticed you claim much of the land I own and also realize we could fight over Iceland. Which means we most likely have very poor relations am I correct? Just note that if we go to war over Iceland I won't attack you first, and if you attack me quite literally all of the rest of europe save Russia and Rome is obligated to come to my aide.

Also I am the most technologically advanced nation in Europe and my navy consists of Ironclads capable of venturing unhindered into open sea. I don't mean this all as a threat just trying to inform you of the whole situations should we come to blows.

Just playing diaboli advocati here, but any invasion of an Iceland that the Swedish Empire claims could be seen as an attack, and a provoking one at that.

[Vulkanas]

Well the Icelandic people had once before imprisoned some Hanseatic citizens and killed a few others and so Hansa attacked them and told them if it happened again they would be taken under the guiding wing of Hansa. I was going to request that happened in the five year gap between the last RP and the reboot. However I never did. What I am doing currently is writing IC showing why I am going to be invading them.

I noticed you claim much of the land I own and also realize we could fight over Iceland. Which means we most likely have very poor relations am I correct? Just note that if we go to war over Iceland I won't attack you first, and if you attack me quite literally all of the rest of europe save Russia and Rome is obligated to come to my aide.

Also I am the most technologically advanced nation in Europe and my navy consists of Ironclads capable of venturing unhindered into open sea. I don't mean this all as a threat just trying to inform you of the whole situations should we come to blows.

Just playing diaboli advocati here, but any invasion of an Iceland that the Swedish Empire claims could be seen as an attack, and a provoking one at that.

I think that I will, for the sake of making things more interesting, keep my claim on Iceland, at least for now. It makes sense for Sweden and the Hansa to be enemies, and Iceland adds to it. I'm glad to hear that you won't attack me first, because I am certainly in no position to fight a war. It seems that all my neighbours want to munch my clay, so I'm not in a hurry to fight anyone. We shall see how the situation develops.

[Second Helghan Empire]

Well the Icelandic people had once before imprisoned some Hanseatic citizens and killed a few others and so Hansa attacked them and told them if it happened again they would be taken under the guiding wing of Hansa. I was going to request that happened in the five year gap between the last RP and the reboot. However I never did. What I am doing currently is writing IC showing why I am going to be invading them.

I noticed you claim much of the land I own and also realize we could fight over Iceland. Which means we most likely have very poor relations am I correct? Just note that if we go to war over Iceland I won't attack you first, and if you attack me quite literally all of the rest of europe save Russia and Rome is obligated to come to my aide.

Also I am the most technologically advanced nation in Europe and my navy consists of Ironclads capable of venturing unhindered into open sea. I don't mean this all as a threat just trying to inform you of the whole situations should we come to blows.

Just playing diaboli advocati here, but any invasion of an Iceland that the Swedish Empire claims could be seen as an attack, and a provoking one at that.

Except that Iceland is an independent entity invaded once previously. Having said that it can be played either way, Sweden could even declare as defending the independent state of Iceland.

Just playing diaboli advocati here, but any invasion of an Iceland that the Swedish Empire claims could be seen as an attack, and a provoking one at that.

I think that I will, for the sake of making things more interesting, keep my claim on Iceland, at least for now. It makes sense for Sweden and the Hansa to be enemies, and Iceland adds to it. I'm glad to hear that you won't attack me first, because I am certainly in no position to fight a war. It seems that all my neighbours want to munch my clay, so I'm not in a hurry to fight anyone. We shall see how the situation develops.

Yes. However I will have given an ultimatum to Iceland saying they killed many of my sailors and imprisoned some of my people. They either accept it or prepare for the full frontal Hanseatic hug.

[Old Tyrannia]

Just playing diaboli advocati here, but any invasion of an Iceland that the Swedish Empire claims could be seen as an attack, and a provoking one at that.

I think that I will, for the sake of making things more interesting, keep my claim on Iceland, at least for now. It makes sense for Sweden and the Hansa to be enemies, and Iceland adds to it. I'm glad to hear that you won't attack me first, because I am certainly in no position to fight a war. It seems that all my neighbours want to munch my clay, so I'm not in a hurry to fight anyone. We shall see how the situation develops.

Vulkanas, our previous Scandinavian player had a brief conflict with Japan over New Guinea. I was wondering if you would like to keep that previous history or erase it? I'm happy either way.

[Conwy-Shire]

...would make for another interesting point of clash with Cambria, the Hansa, and Curonia...

*Thinks Courland gives a Swedes arse about Iceland

[Oscalantine]

Yo folks~!

Good to see that activity is coming back. Did everything that happened early January finish?

Regardless, I am waiting for Sweden to finish his post. Furthermore... ... ..

I will contact Soviet, Persia, and Mormon today. It seems that they haven't been active at all. I said I would TG Soviet yesterday... but... meh, was a bit busy on weekend, as per usual ^^;;;

[Tracian Empire]

The triumphus will begin today, finally.

[Raventsvo]

The triumphus will begin today, finally.

THIS POSTER IS A VAMPIRE.
DO NOT TRUST HIS WORDS.

[Tracian Empire]

The triumphus will begin today, finally.

THIS POSTER IS A VAMPIRE.
DO NOT TRUST HIS WORDS.

You've started to stalk me on the forums, Comintern?

[Raventsvo]

THIS POSTER IS A VAMPIRE.
DO NOT TRUST HIS WORDS.

You've started to stalk me on the forums, Comintern?

VE HAEV YUO NAO, VAMPIR!

[Cymrea]

You've started to stalk me on the forums, Comintern?

VE HAEV YUO NAO, VAMPIR!

Make an app or go away, please.

[Vulkanas]

I think that I will, for the sake of making things more interesting, keep my claim on Iceland, at least for now. It makes sense for Sweden and the Hansa to be enemies, and Iceland adds to it. I'm glad to hear that you won't attack me first, because I am certainly in no position to fight a war. It seems that all my neighbours want to munch my clay, so I'm not in a hurry to fight anyone. We shall see how the situation develops.

Vulkanas, our previous Scandinavian player had a brief conflict with Japan over New Guinea. I was wondering if you would like to keep that previous history or erase it? I'm happy either way.

I think I have enough on my plate with what's happening in Europe, so unless you especially want to keep it I am happy for it to be erased.

[Cymrea]

Vulkanas, our previous Scandinavian player had a brief conflict with Japan over New Guinea. I was wondering if you would like to keep that previous history or erase it? I'm happy either way.

I think I have enough on my plate with what's happening in Europe, so unless you especially want to keep it I am happy for it to be erased.

Or just have a short paragraph about the new Swedish government making peace included in a post somewhere.