A War of Mud and Steel[AH-OOC-OPEN]

[Newne Carriebean7]

The Brits see Canada, and we hunger for the second tea reich to appear again,come hell or high water, we'll find an excuse perfectly thought out reason to wage war on the Vatican and the north...

But we're allies with the Vatican and Austrians, damnit!

Anyways, with your support, you'll get Canada, France gets maybe-Quebec, the Union is shrekt and the western states temporarily go to Mexico.

If all goes according to plan, that is.

well shit, you should've told me that before I declared war
Just kidding, I'm organizing a naval flotilla to the Americas, the First Republican Naval Expeditionary Force of bombarding the shit out of uncle Sam and helping Johnny reb.

rolls off the tongue, dont it?

[Alsheb]

wut

Oh yas

Gavrilo Princip disapproves. Perhaps I can invite him to the Balkan Federation

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

So can anyone accept me?

[Alsheb]

So, Holy Roman Empire, any chance of cooperation with your neighbours in the Balkan?

[Red Party]

Hmmmmm, should I just storm Libya?

[Benuty]

So Britain is going to love a certain part of my history lol.

[Newne Carriebean7]

So Britain is going to love a certain part of my history lol.

*twitch*
who are you again?

[Benuty]

So Britain is going to love a certain part of my history lol.

*twitch*
who are you again?

The Stuarts who have lost their way, and gone native in the Benelux.

I will have the application up soon.

[Newne Carriebean7]

*twitch*
who are you again?

The Stuarts who have lost their way, and gone native in the Benelux.

I will have the application up soon.

oh right, can't wait to see those Stuarts that we kicked out of the mainland!

[Greater Aterria]

Time for some submarine warfare. Thanks Germany, for your help. Brit warships are going to be sinking one by one soon enough.

[Newne Carriebean7]

Time for some submarine warfare. Thanks Germany, for your help. Brit warships are going to be sinking one by one soon enough.

um, look, the Live Bait Squadron get them!

[The New Byzantine II]

So, Holy Roman Empire, any chance of cooperation with your neighbours in the Balkan?

"Cooperate" with me. HRE is a traitorous bastard!

[Benuty]

Nation Application

Full Nation Name: Grand Kingdom of the Benelux.

Short Nation Name:GKB or Greater Benelux.

National Symbols: Flag, Coat of Arms For the Kingdom, English Stuart coat of arms

Capital: Brussels.

Territory:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Free_State

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_South-West_Africa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surinam_(Dutch_colony)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borneo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulawesi

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy.

Head of State: His Majesty (trying to figure out a line of descendants here).

"Grand King of the Benelux by the Grace of God, and all its colonies. King of the English Netherlands, and Stadholder of the United Provinces. Rightful king of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and the protector of our liberties as a united people."


Head of Government: Prime Minister below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Broqueville

Population:
1) The homeland: 7.5 million in "the English Netherlands", and 6 Million in the United Provinces.
2) Benelux East Indies : 10 million.
3) Benelux Suriname: 50,000
4) Benelux Africa: 500,000 (Benelux South West Africa), 20 million (Benelux Congo), and 8 million (Benelux Angola).
Total population: 42,050,000

Military Description:
Total active military personnel (population divided by 20%)
2,102,500 with an additional one million in either reserve or militia companies (practice carried over from the United Provinces).

Grand Army: 325,625.

Grand Navy: 80,000.

Colonial Companies: 496,875.

Militia Companies: 700,000.

Support Staff, and Services: 500,000 (may or may not be combat able).
*Includes some scouting aircraft as well.

The active military focuses on a defense doctrine especially with artillery as a means of preserving the territory it already has. Infantry, and cavalry are used when necessary. Naval warfare tends to be the stronger point of the Benelux given its position between multiple powers has forced it to carve out zones needed for defense. Colonial companies are used to provide order in the colonies during times of war, and are made, and led often exclusively of the natives living there. The military is a meritocracy having been so since the multiple war of the exiles which occurred some time back. The military is made up mostly of volunteers with a draft being a last ditch tactic.

Economic Description: Mixed capitalism in order to balance the increasing demands of the socialist influence in government, and society. The port cities of the Benelux often look the other way for what most Europeans would consider distasteful or unusual products, and as a result the coastal cities attract people from all over the world to see the black markets. In the United Provinces fishing, shipping, trading, agriculture, and banking help make up a good part of the economy there.

United Provinces also has a significant investment in electronic goods, metallurgy, and machinery with an increasing presence in factories. The government has kept a keen eye on workers rights, and strives to provide generous benefits (albeit out of pragmatic concerns). Profits have spurred major infrastructure changes, and great building projects for all to benefit from. Foodstuffs from their ventures are sold out to the rest of Europe.

The English Netherlands focuses heavily on exporting machinery, equipment related to it, food stuffs, diamonds, and other things such as chemicals. In the Benelux Suriname plantations of rice, and bananas along with the aristocracy centered around them remain strong while mining companies take advantage of the resources there such as aluminum ore, gold, and oil in the area. Lumber is provided as well, but are more restricted due to concerns primarily by the planter aristocracy than anything else.

In the Benelux East Indies textile mills, plantations, petroleum companies, and mining companies (gold, copper), and factories clash to be the dominant force there. While in Benelux Africa rubber, cobalt, gold, diamonds, and other raw materials come from the Congo. In Angola plantation agriculture, diamonds, oil, and gold play a role as their major exports. In South West Africa mining, factories, and plantations serve the majority of people living there.

Ideology: Pan-Beneluxian beliefs mixed with revanchism (aimed primarily at the British). Militarism. Egalitarianism in regards to all of its subjects, and ethnic nationalism.

Allegiance: To themselves, their people, and the continuance of the ideals which make them who they are. However given the French set the stewarts on the throne of what was originally called the English Netherlands (renamed from the Spanish Netherlands) the relations with them are cordial despite the French having lost their monarchs some time ago.

Goals: To preserve the empire that they have built while looking at ways to curb the influence of the vile British republicans.

Point of Divergence: Created in the long run by the French placing Charles "the exile" Stuart on the throne of the newly conquered Spanish Netherlands.

History:
Charles I "the exile" of House Stuart (1654-1660 CE)

Charles the first a man without a throne, and a family to deal with as well. The French were less than thrilled of the idea of the former English king going to the new world with a daughter from the royal family they had married off some time ago. So the captain of the ship was paid a considerable sum to dock them in Calais where they headed to the royal court. Soon the defeated royalist forces made haste to France as well taking everything they could grab with them. The English were less than thrilled, and made attempts to stop the exodus before the french navy ensured safe passage.

1648-1650 (The Exodus)
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1650-1654 (War of the Exiles)
Rather than have Charles, and much of his court stayed exiled in France the regent for Louis XIV planned for a long term strategy to invade the British Isles by taking out the Spanish Netherlands first. A sizable host had formed over the years, and with considerable support from France they moved to liberate the occupied Netherlands (what would be considered Belgium irl), and use it as a platform to launch an invasion for later. The war of the exiles despite being short scarred, and humiliated the Spanish empire for a time. With peace made a large chunk was granted for Charles to rule while French claims on the area enforced as well. Other areas that intended to stay with the HRE (in order to prevent war with them) were allowed to leave.
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1654-1660 (A New Kingdom)
In Brussels a crown made especially by the French was placed by the Pope onto the head on Charles the 1st. As a condition for support Charles, and his supporters would have to bend the knee to the true church. The prince bishopric of Liege was included in the territory Charles ruled, but still reported to the pope thanks to the large degree of autonomy it was granted. The local nobility as long as they didn't revolt or engage in certain activities were allowed to retain their titles. The Spanish who wished to stay as well were granted allowances to do so. Charles didn't see any need in being mired down in revolt in a kingdom that his family hoped would only be temporary.

Of course Charles himself would not live to see Britain again dying at the age of 59 in the year 1660.
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Charles II "the lawgiver" of House Stuart (1660-1685 CE)

Charles the II took control from his father, and was at the helm of a very different nation than the one he was raised in. The English Netherlands was a border state between France, and the United Provinces so there was severe border tension. The English Netherlands navy was in constant competition with both the Spanish, and the homelands for a zone of control. A patron of the arts, and sciences hospitals, observatories, and other accomplishments dedicated to man were built in the country. Charles II set about creating a universal law system for the country to reform the antiquated feudal law set in by the Spanish.

Colonial wise Charles the II set about funding an expedition to what is now Benelux Suriname by 1665 with the beginnings of the colony in 1667 under control of plantation aristocrats. Mercenaries fighting in the name of Charles II seized forts, and plantations around coastal Angola from the declining Portuguese who were too bankrupt to fight back. Charles was notorious for his hedonistic lifestyle, and fathered many bastards which of course the church took a dim view of. He would die bedridden at the age of 54 from what is now known as kidney failure.
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James I "the short reigned" Stuart (1685-1688)

Despite the notoriously short reign of James the first there were certain things accomplished such as a charter accepting the basic rights of people living in the English Netherlands, and acceptance of the protestants within the kingdom. He commissioned an expansion of the Grand Navy, and prepared a host for an invasion of Britain. The government was reformed as well trying to transition the kingdom out of any remaining feudal elements. James the first died of an unknown illness, and some suggest that he was possibly poisoned.
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The Regency era (1688-1701)
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The son of James had just been born, and the kingdom was placed in regency by James mother till her son proved to be mature enough to take the reigns. A french woman her influence on the court began to strip away much of the English preferences instead moving the royal government, and the people to accept a compromise of French, and Flemish in order to appease the more radical elements of society. During the regency trade wars became common with the United Provinces till a peace treaty was brokered out primarily after the massacre of a family attending a wedding in one of the colonies.
--------------
James II "the Old" Francis Edward Stuart (1701-1766)

James II was the youngest monarch ever coronated in Beneluxian history. At the age of 13 the royal advisers forced his mother to give up as regent, and allowed him to reign mostly unchecked. He was controversial for encouraging the various cultures to meld into one culture so they could move forward, and was the first monarch to speak English as a secondary language with French, and Flemish as their primary.

The tutors from France, and the Italian states brought him up in the ways of the enlightenment, and James II sought to get over the legacy of absolutism which had plagued the Stuarts since Charles the 1st. His reign saw the purchase of the United Provinces East India Company as they were failing. The company renamed, and with a new vision set forth to strike trade deals with the various kingdoms, and sultanates in the east indies while also carving out larger zones of interest. The final elements of feudalism were forced out in favor of a more meritocratic system (for the time anyway).

The Colleges of Estates based off a more reformed version of the French institution was used to give the people of various groups a say in government.

2nd War of the Exiles (1755-1765)
The biggest if not worst decision made by James II was to launch an invasion de facto of the British Isles. Jacobites followers of the exiled Stuarts had been waiting for this moment for quite some time, and it was immense. Catholic supporters in Ireland rose up while Stuart loyalists in Scotland among the nobility raised their militias banners. In Wales the military was in open revolt while in England itself several of the disgruntled both common, and noble raised what they could. From France launched an army of exiles along with mercenaries paid for by the French king.

Riot broke out in major cities while battles scarred the farmlands, and urban areas alike. Hundreds of thousands died as did the momentum when James II convinced by a letter from the Pope himself swore off any involvement. So the supporters of this war found themselves lacking legitimacy, and fled overseas burning anything they could along the way.

James II would go to Rome, and bow before the pope begging forgiveness for what had occurred. He would then be the first stuart to step foot in former home soil with a translator to help repair the damage done. For the rest of his life he would set about funding the rebuilding of the Union's civilian population, and caring for the widows leaving him in the end a man filled with regret.
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Charles III "The Young King" Edward Stuart (1766-1788)
An ironic name for the eldest son of King James II, but fitting nonetheless as he was often described as youthful, and spirited. Having grown up in the shadows he privately cursed his father with contempt for not taking his rightful place, and leading the charge to reclaim the throne that was theirs by right of God. Many of the social reforms went into effect to care for the widowed, poor, elderly, and sick out of pragmatism since many came back from the war just like that. Any signs of defiance from the nobility over the disaster were silenced quickly as a uniform tax code was sent out to blackmail them.

3rd War for the Exiles (1775-1785)
A contentious king he believed he could fix the mistakes of his father so he waited. He sent informants throughout Europe, and hoped to gain support from the French yet again, but this time it was much smaller as they were helping upstart colonists in the Americas. With what they had an army led by Scottish, Irish, and Welsh dissidents plan on creating a united front before pushing down south. For the first five years guerrilla warfare was used to continuously whittle away before riots began taking place in major cities.

A garrison opening fire on rioting civilians in 1783 Dublin was the spark needed, and militias began to assemble making life difficult for British authorities. The turning point seemed to have an end of the British republic in its future as the militaries gathered, and fought battles in their perspective areas. In 1785 a large armed force made its way south, but was stopped in York at the battle of the many colors as they call it now. Seasoned battle veterans from the former colonies lead the charge against a large force in support of King Charles the III. Unlike the last war this king stood among them, but fate had tricked them, and the battle was a disaster with most on both sides ending up dead among them laying the King.


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Henry I "the blessed" Benedict Stuart (1785-1807)

A man many thought would never be king, but somehow was. Upon the death of king Charles the III chaos broke out as many gave up their chance at the throne in fear of a reprisal invasion by the British. A pious priest in training was ferreted from Rome to find himself with a crown. Henry I granted an olive branch to the British, and suffered a strict treaty of peace. He was forced in London to renounce the Jacobite cause (despite having nothing to do with it), and renounce claims on the British isles. Henry wasn't allowed to let any of the Jacobites back in so they could face trial for causing such immense destruction, and was forced into long term repayments over the war.

Henry I would remain a celibate man devoting himself primarily to the realm, it's people, and the faith. Accepting the religious minorities in the realm, and its colonies while also spreading Catholicism without force. In Angola he treated the colonial natives as equal, and published several works on the religions of the natives in Benelux territories. He died a man truly devoted to humanity, and to many he is a saint for also willing to defend the natives of the colonies against brutal oppression put in place by the ruling elites there.
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Henry II "the bastard" Edward Stuart (1807-1830 AD)

Henry II wasn't even supposed to be a king by all rights the house of Stuart died with Henry I, but a bastard born of one of the sons who abdicated he was legitimized by money, and other favors to a corrupt legal official. Henry II was officially a Stadholder in the United Provinces having been born to a mistress of a hedonistic royal who fled their responsibilities. The United Provinces was on the the front of a potential invasion by Napoleonic France, but the inheritance of the throne of the English Netherlands changed things for Napoleon since the EN was traditionally French aligned.

So while Napoleon went elsewhere for their ambitions the two countries would form a new one. The bastard as they called him set about reforming the trade, and military as war ravaged Europe. Ideas of nationalism, and other less savory matters began to sprout up yet the bastard tried hard to prevent them from overtaking country. His son would take up the mantle however, and begin to see a new world.
Grand Act of Unification (1808)
The english netherlands, and the united provinces formed into one kingdom yet each kingdom could retain it's distinctive identities under this action set forth by the government. Due to the tense circumstance around the kingdom this was the best action to take.
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Charles "the imperious" IV Albrecht Stuart (1830-1901)
Another long lived monarch Charles IV saw the empire the French built crash, and burn as he went on to tutored in France, and Italy. While the Stuarts had a long tradition of taking, and bedding either french or italian women Charles IV took a german for a wife instead causing scandal at the royal court. Charles integrated dutch as one of the three big languages spoken in the Benelux, and cautioned the religious sects to respect each others areas something the United Provinces had failed to do for so long.

Railroads, and factories stretched across the Benelux as the laissez faire stance prevailed allowing industry to explode at a perhaps unhealthy rate. Of course socialism, and other far gone ideologies forced the government to compromise, and set up an intensive list of workers rights, welfare packages, and support systems to ensure a revolution didn't happen here. By the 1840s any slave found with Benelux territory was automatically freed, and granted access to the Act of rights, and responsibilities as all citizens were. This would draw the ire of the Confederacy as runner ships would often attack any ship carrying slaves.

In the 1880s either by diplomacy or military action Benelux influence in southern, and central africa expanded rapidly, but following caution from his advisers chose not to divide the natives into classes as the other European powers had done. While done partly out of pragmatism they didn't want a repeat of the revolts by native groups which had happened across India, and Africa nor anger independent native countries. Despite Charles IV devout catholic faith he refused to approve legislation's on sexual morality (he denied the existence of lesbians or homosexuals thus causing them to flourish), believed brothels were a necessary evil (yet expected them to be well checked), and believed banning alcohol was pure nonsense brought over by the British puritans.

Charles IV had outlived many of his children thanks to advances in medical technology he died in his sleep.
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Albrecht Charles Stuart (1901-present)

The 29 year old came into power as the youngest of the fifth child Charles IV had, and is struggling to take things seriously. He is also the first to start taking amongst the family to start taking native names (in this case) Flemish instead of traditional Stuart names from the english custom. Albrecht (albert) despite not speaking any english has chosen to claim the titles that his family had given up long ago either out of tradition or arrogance. They way the world is now he probably assumes being king of those places is feasible. Assuming the Benelux doesn't get torn apart by the three powers first as they fight a god forsaken war.

Have You Read, Understand, and Agree with the OP Posts & Rules In Detail? Your answer should be yes, because you should have, or else, impaling.)
#Cibinium(do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

[Benuty]

Obviously the history is incredibly focused, and skimmed since you don't want to read a novel. I had more in mind, but really wanted to get this done by tonight.

[Zelent]

Ignore this, overhauling app.

[Zostra]

The Navy is considered extremely vital to the Italian defense structure and is thus well developed and funded, supplied and kept up to date technologically. It consists of roughly 38,000 Sailors spread among 16 Battleships, 18 Cruisers, and 37 Destroyers with a variety of smaller patrol craft and fast moving torpedo boats.

16 battleships is quite a lot.

[Greater Aterria]

The Navy is considered extremely vital to the Italian defense structure and is thus well developed and funded, supplied and kept up to date technologically. It consists of roughly 38,000 Sailors spread among 16 Battleships, 18 Cruisers, and 37 Destroyers with a variety of smaller patrol craft and fast moving torpedo boats.

16 battleships is quite a lot.

America has more than that, but then again, Merica'.

[The V O I D]

benuty your app makes me feel incompetent

y u do dis

[Togeria]

Yeah, China posted. Now time to finalize these relations with the USA

[Dires]

Yeah, China posted. Now time to finalize these relations with the USA

Sorry been lazy, so had a quick conference and preparation for war post.

[Dires]

I decided to name our alliance the "Allies of Freedom" if that's okay with you guys. Also is France with us or not?

[Zelent]

The Navy is considered extremely vital to the Italian defense structure and is thus well developed and funded, supplied and kept up to date technologically. It consists of roughly 38,000 Sailors spread among 16 Battleships, 18 Cruisers, and 37 Destroyers with a variety of smaller patrol craft and fast moving torpedo boats.

16 battleships is quite a lot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regia_Mar ... orld_War_I

Regia Marina had about that many in 1914.

[Zostra]

16 battleships is quite a lot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regia_Mar ... orld_War_I

Regia Marina had about that many in 1914.

With over double your population and the industrial, urban north to back it. This is AH so obviously things are different, but it seems weird to take the historically less developed half of Italy and be able to field the same navy.

[Togeria]

I decided to name our alliance the "Allies of Freedom" if that's okay with you guys. Also is France with us or not?

I would've called it the United Bloc or United Leagues and as to France.....I can only hope.

I also see India's role is the farm of the alliance.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

I decided to name our alliance the "Allies of Freedom" if that's okay with you guys. Also is France with us or not?

I would've called it the United Bloc or United Leagues and as to France.....I can only hope.

I also see India's role is the farm of the alliance.

Ethiopia?