EUIV: From the Isles Out

[Grover]

As a young monarch, just 23 years old, King Henry VI Lancaster of England has known nothing but war in his short lifetime. It is late 1444 and the English and French have been waging war for 107 years. England still controls parts of what the Valois dynasty of France considers French land. The provinces of Calais, Caux, Gascogne, Labourd and Normandie, all controlled by King Henry VI and England.

However, young Henry doesn't seem to be one for war. He has grown tired of the constant battling. He knows that thousands of English and French have lived out their whole lives from birth to death without ever knowing peace.

He wanted this to end. He believed that England would never prosper unless the war reached a conclusion. After 100 years of fighting, the two sides were no nearer to a solution than they had ever been. Realizing any move that he would make that didn't result in England taking Paris would be seen as a failure in the eyes of nobles and peasants alike, he summoned what courage he had to end the Hundred Years' War between France and England...

King Charles VII of France was made king under desperate circumstances in 1429. His father, Charles VI, or 'Charles the Mad' disinherited his son to recognize Henry V of England as the heir to the French crown. All while a civil war raged between France and their vassal of Armagnac. Charles' military nous and political ability led him to the throne, along with the help of Joan d'Arc as a spiritual and military leader.

In the event that will leave Charles VII of France known forever as Charles the Victorious, he meets with Henry VI of England in Paris and they discuss the war and the many other struggles of what it takes to be a monarch. After lots of laughs and wine, Henry VI finally gains the courage to make his offer to Charles VII.

“Charles, I've grown weary of our warfare. We've needs to put an end to it. For the betterment of both our nations. We can no longer wage our wars and hope to prosper from it. We may never be allies, or even friends of state, but this can go on no longer. I'm willing to pledge to you the lands we have along the north and west coast of France and we will stay out of French lands as long as Lancaster sits on the English throne.”

Charles VII hid his smile as he accepted.

November 12, 1444. Two warring countries, the most powerful on the continent have finally made peace. Out of the dust comes a pair of nations. Strongly developing senses of national pride and self worth that will unfold over the course of 375 years.

[Grover]

ENGLAND
Government Type: Feudal Monarchy
Ruler: King Henry VI Lancaster (0/0/0)
Religion: Catholic
Capital Province: London
Rivals: France, Burgundy, Castile
English Traditions:
Morale of Navies: +20.0%
Embargo Efficiency: +33.0%
When we have gained all the English Ideas we will also gain:
Leaders without Upkeep: +1

November 12, 1444
PEACE WITH FRANCE
England has ceded Calais, Caux, Gascogne, Labourd and Normandie to France.
England has lost cores on all of the above provinces, as well as Picardie and Armagnac.
France's opinion of England changed by +50.
Gain 1 Stability (+1)

November 13, 1444
England has entered military alliances with Leinster and Navarra.

Current Mission
Royal Marriage with Leinster.

November 15, 1444
Diplomat Henry Drake has been sent to Brittany to fabricate a claim on Armor.

November 25, 1444
Herald from Leinster
King Donnchad MacMurrough-Kavanagh of Leinster has accepted our offer of a royal marriage.

November 26, 1444
Mission Complete
Royal Marriage with Leinster
Gain 5 Prestige (8)
Gain 25 Diplomatic Power

December 17, 1444
Royal Marriages
We have secured royal marriages with both King Juan II de Trastamara of Navarra and King Friedrich III von Habsburg of Austria.

December 25, 1444
Lack of an Heir
The lack of an heir has caused rumors at the court concerning Henry VI's alleged infertility. This is most troubling as there are several nobles waiting in the wings, ready to claim the throne at the death of Henry VI Lancaster.

England gets 'Low Fertility' until the death of Henry VI, giving the following effects:
Increased chance of a new Heir: -50.0%

December 28, 1444
Diplomat Archibald Hood has been sent to Scotland to fabricate a claim on Ayrshire.

February 11, 1445
Herald from Portugal
We have accepted a royal marriage proposal from the regency for King Afonso de Avis of Portugal.

November 16, 1445
Casus Belli
We have gained the 'Conquest' Casus Belli against Brittany.

November 21, 1445
Herald from Tyrone
King Eoghan II O'Neill of Tyrone has agreed to our request for a royal marriage.

November 30, 1445
Diplomat Drake has been sent to Connacht to fabricate a claim on the province of the same name.

December 5, 1445
Margaret of Anjou
Our ruler, Henry VI suffers from bouts of insanity, and he suffered a complete breakdown when his son was born. Margaret of Anjou, his beautiful, passionate, proud and strong-willed wife has already taken to rule the kingdom in his place. She understands her duty to protect the interests of the Crown fervently, a trait probably inherited from her mother and grandmother. Her mother fought to establish her husband's claim to the Kingdom of Naples. Yolande of Aragon, Margaret's grandmother, governed Anjou with a man's hand. Put the province in order and kept out the English. She is the 'champion of the Crown', by viture of personality and family example.

King Henry VI, in his brief moments of sanity decides to make his wife an advisor.
Gain 100 Administrative Power
Gain 100 Diplomatic Power
Gain 100 Military Power
Gain the skill 2 Statesman 'Margaret de Anjou' in London.

December 31, 1445
Casus Belli
We have gained the 'Conquest' Casus Belli against Scotland.

STRATEGY DISCUSSION
So what's going on here? I wanted to fabricate a claim on Armor to give us a claim on something else bordering France. A mainland claim. We should be able to vassalize Brittany in one war.

We fabricated a claim on Ayrshire, because we need to take over all nations on the British Isles to eventually form Great Britain.

And now we're fabricating a claim on Connacht because they are allied to Scotland. I cannot directly declare war on the Scots without getting the French involved. Claiming war on Connacht gets Scotland involved without French interference.

[Grover]

January 17, 1445
We have entered into a military alliance with Tyrone.

January 23, 1446
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Leinster to improve relations.

Current Mission
Vassalize Scotland

Casus Belli
We have gained the Subjugation Casus Belli against Scotland.

January 25, 1446
Gift to the State
Good governance would sometimes prompt the nobility and the businessmen of the realm to donate cash to the treasury, out of pure patriotism or in exchange for the sales or transfer of honorary titles and positions.
Gain 10 Prestige (18)

April 12, 1446
Cardinal Minister
One of the cardinals in England has proven to be a skilled administrator and already provides useful advice to the King. At this point, making him a minister in our government would almost be only a formality, but an important formality nonetheless, since he may grow more powerful yet. Having a cardinal in our service would certainly lend us credibility with the Pope and strengthen the sentiment that England is a Catholic nation first and foremost.

King Henry VI believes he does not need this Cardinal's advice to rule England.
Gain 10 Prestige (28)

July 1, 1446
THE WAR OF THE ROSES
Henry VI Lancaster has suddenly died! As the nation mourns, two junior branches of the old House of Plantagenet, the House of Lancaster and the House of York, both claim to be the rightful heir to the throne of England. Sporadic fights between their supporters have already broken out in a number of provinces around the country. Their heraldic symbols, a red rose and a white rose, have already become synonymous with the conflict now commonly known as the War of the Roses.

The House of Lancaster has been supported!
Henry VII Lancaster (6/5/3) with a Strong claim has become King!
Lose -7,852 manpower
Yorkshire gets 'Support House of York' for 10 years, giving the following effects:
Local Unrest: +10.00

23,000 Pretenders rise up in revolt under Richard York, spurned by favor for the Lancasters.

July 5, 1446
Royal Marriage
We have accepted Austria's proposal for a new royal marriage.

July 14, 1446
Royal Marriages
We have accepted royal marriage offers from Leinster and Tyrone.

August 3, 1446
The Battle of Yorkshire
Richard Neville led 43,000 English soldiers against Richard York's 23,000 and came out victorious, stamping down the York following.

Support for Lancaster
Local support for Lancaster in the War of the Roses keeps growing among the people as peasants and nobles alike rally to our banner!

Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Wessex, Oxfordshire, Glamorgan and Marches get 'Local Support' for ten years, giving the following effect:
Local Unrest: -3.00

August 11, 1446
Rebel Leaders Captured
At the Battle of Yorkshire, several leaders of the revolt were captured by our forces. What should we do with them?

King Henry VII wants them pardoned.
Lose 10 Legitimacy (78)
England gets 'Benign Ruler' for five years, giving the following effect:
National Unrest: -1.00

September 3, 1446
Declaration for the York Pretenders!
The nobility of one of our provinces has long been divided over the War of the Roses, and now there are further nobles proclaiming for House of York.

Northumberland and Cumbria get 'Suppports House of York' for 10 years, giving the following effects:
Local Unrest: +10.00

October 21, 1446
Influenza!
Rumors say that sailors came back from a trip sick like hell, and the ones who didn't die on board infested the whole city with their disease. It is time to act before the whole country dies from coughing and cold sweat.

King Henry VII declares the port quarantined. Let the sick die.
Cumbria gets 'Quarantined Influenza' for one year, giving the following effects:
Local Trade Power: -100.0%
Goods Produced: -50.0%
Local Tax Modifier: -50.0%
Local Manpower Modifier: -50.0%

November 9, 1446
An Heir to the Throne!
Charles James (3/0/4) is the new heir to the throne!

December 2, 1446
Casus Belli
We have gained the Conquest Casus Belli against Connacht.

December 4, 1446
Soldiers Desert
War exhaustion in the form of starvation and plague is not only affecting the civilian population, but our armed forces as well and the number of deserters keeps growing.

King Henry VII decides to import food from abroad.
England gets 'Importing Food' for five years, giving the following effects:
National Unrest: -1.00
National Tax Modifier: -25.0%

January 2, 1447
Declaration for the York Pretenders!
The nobility of one of our provinces has long been divided over the War of the Roses, and now there are further nobles proclaiming for House of York.

Lancashire, Gwynedd and Derby get 'Supports House of York' for 10 years, giving the following effects:
Local Unrest: +10.00

March 23, 1447
Diplomat Drake has been sent to Austria to improve relations.

November 20, 1447
The Lollard Heresy
Lollards were a heretical group following the theological teaching of John Wycliffe. Popular protests against the wealth, power, and the provide of the clergy, were frequent, and in times of disorder would express themselves in an extreme form. They had been persecuted several times during the 14th century, and their last appearance was in the early 15th century.

King Henry VII decides to let them be.
Catholocism Gain +5.0% Reform Desire
England gets 'Tolerate Lollards', giving the following effects:
Tolerance of Heretics: +1.00
Yearly Papal Influence: -1.00

The Papal State, France, Burgundy and Brittany's opinion of England changed by -50.

February 1, 1448
Grant Export Licenses
When the Crown could not or would not pay cash to the nobles they would instead grant them privileges to collect special revenues from which they could make a healthy profit.

King Henry VII grants the privileges.
Leinster's opinion of England changed by +20.
Lose 10 Legitimacy (69)
England gets 'Tax Income Boost' for five years, giving the following effect:
National Tax Modifier: +10.0%

October 17, 1448
Administrative Technology Advance
National Ideas (4)
Choosing the direction acountry is going to take is perhaps the toughest choice a ruler will ever face. National ideas are the concepts that will shape our country for years to come.

Bonus Effect:
Allows Another Group of Ideas.

We have unlocked the Economic Ideas idea group.

[Grover]

January 13, 1449
Herald from Leinster
Leinster has accepted the once in a lifetime opportunity to become our vassal. We now get half of their monthly tax income.

January 19, 1449
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Tyrone to improve relations.

January 30, 1449
Scotland Intervenes!
The rebels have sought foreign support for their revolt and have managed to convince Scotland to aid them with some troops!

7,000 Pretenders rise up in revolt in Northumberland.

March 2, 1449
Battle of Northumberland
Richard York's forces were beaten back with ease in a four day battle.

April 9, 1449
End of the War of the Roses
The armed conflict over the succession of the English throne is finally over as the ruling dynasty defeats the rebels!
Gain 1 Stability (+2)
Gain 50 Prestige (73)

April 29, 1449
The English Subjugation of Brittany
With the internal strife in England quelled for the time being, King Henry VII feels it is time to take another go at the European mainland. Brittany is a four province minor kingdom that constitutes the peninsula of France. It will make the perfect platform from which to attack France.

Austria, Leinster and Navarra are aiding our cause. Meanwhile, Savoy is aiding Brittany.

May 28, 1449
Diplomat Drake has been sent to France to fabricate a claim on Normandie.

August 30, 1449
Diplomatic Technology Advance
Marketplace & Dock (4)
Creation of legal and regional infrastructure in order to promote trade will not only encourage commerce, but also allow us to better tax it.

Bonus Effect:
Trade Range: 10
Can now build Dock.
Can now build Marketplace.

The Army of Ireland has finally landed in Armor, led by General Neville.

November 26, 1449
The Battle of Morbihan
Out of nowhere 20,000 troops from Britanny and Savoy landed in Morbihan, taking us by surprise. Luckily for us, General Plantagenet's Royal Army had arrived and joined the fray. It was a successful battle.

December 23, 1449
The Battle of Nantes
General Plantagenet takes the Royal Army into Nantes, the Breton capital and finishes off the army. We split the armies in half to siege the entire four province nation.

February 4, 1450
The House of Lancaster is Shaken
There seems to have been a misunderstanding regarding the heritage of the great grandmother of Henry VII. It seems that she was the daughter of a lowly farmer from outside London.

King Henry VII denies it fervently.
Lose 5 Legitimacy (66)

June 1, 1450
Diplomat Drake has been sent back to France, this time to fabricate a claim on Caux.

July 12, 1450
Siege Victory!
After 263 days we have won the siege of Morbihan!

July 14, 1450
Siege Victory!
After 211 days we have won the siege of Nantes!

January 24, 1451
Siege Victory!
After 391 days we have won the siege of Armor!

February 19, 1451
Peace with Savoy
We have agreed to a white peace with Savoy.

March 27, 1451
Siege Victory!
After 451 days we have won the siege of Finistère!

March 29, 1451
End of the English Subjugation of Brittany (April 29, 1449 – March 29, 1451)
King Francois I de Dreux of Britanny has agreed to terms of peace with King Henry VII of England.

Terms:
Britanny will cede Armor to England.
Britanny will become a vassal of England.
This peace will cost England 50 diplomatic power.
With the Conquest Casus Belli, England gains 8.5 Prestige (79) and suffers 17.3 aggressive expansion relations penalty.

We have spent 51 Administrative Power to turn Armor into a core. It will take 24 months.

A look at our new holdings in Armor, as well as Britanny which surrounds it. You also get a good look at France and northern Castile.

[Grover]

April 3, 1451
Diplomat Hood has been sent back to Tyrone to improve relations.

July 10, 1451
Military Technology Advance
Pike Square (4)
Throughout the middle ages cavalry's dominance was being challenged by disciplined pikemen. In battles such as Bannockburn or the Golden Spurs, cavalry was defeated by pikes. A combination of improved training and discipline, and the addition of swordsmen to provide close combat support has raised this formation to the peak of its efficiency.

Bonus Effect:
Military Tactics: +0.25
Land Moraly Increased by: +0.50
Can now build Armory.

July 30, 1451
Diplomat Drake has sent a gift of 25 ducats to Tyrone on King Henry VI's behalf.

July 31, 1451
We have arranged a royal marriage with Brittany.

August 9, 1451
Diplomat Drake has been sent to France to fabricate a claim on Picardie.

December 19, 1451
Economic Ideas Advance
Bureaucracy
Allows us to increase our tax revenues by adopting a more bureaucratic administrative system governed by state officials.

Bonus Effect:
National Tax Modifier: +10.0%

January 3, 1452
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Provence to fabricate a claim on Anjou.

February 5, 1452
Nobles Demand Privileges
The privileges of the nobility have been under continuous assault as Henry VII has attempted to centralize more and more control. The nobles have finally lost their patience and are demanding that they are given back what they believe is rightfully theirs.

King Henry VII ignores the nobles demands.
England gets 'Disorder' for one years, giving the following effect:
National Unrest: +2.00

July 14, 1452
National Bank Pays Dividends
Several shrewd loans have led to very good profit for our National Bank. The bank is hiking its dividend and buying back some of its shares.
Gain 85.60 ducats (122.90)

September 9, 1452
Diplomat Drake has been sent to Scotland to fabricate a claim on Fife.

December 19, 1452
A Call to Arms
The nation of Austria has asked us to join them in the Austrian Conquest of Breisgau against Baden, Ulm and Ansbach.

We agree.

April 2, 1453
Core Gained
The province of Armor is now considered part of our patrimony.

December 1, 1453
Herald from Austria
They have accepted peace terms with Ulm. Ulm will become a vassal to Austria.

December 11, 1453
Herald from Tyrone
Tyrone has accepted the once in a lifetime opportunity to become our vassal. We now get half of their monthly income.

Good news to report, Munster is allied with Scotland.

December 18, 1453
Diplomat Drake has been sent to Scotland to fabricate a claim on Aberdeen.

February 15, 1454
Scandal at the Court
Sometimes a scandal would erupt in the royal court and would upset a monarch to the point where most diplomatic activity would come to a standstill until things quietened down a bit.

King Henry VII takes the blame and moves on.
Lose 1 Stability (+1)

Diplomat Hood has been sent to Brittany to improve relations.

May 30, 1454
Herald from Leinster
The great statesman Donnchad MacMurrough-Kavanaugh of Leinster has died. Our royal marriage with Leinster has ended.

July 14, 1454
Herald from Baden
Baden has accepted peace with Austria. They will cede Breisgau to Austria.

July 28, 1454
Royal Marriage
We have entered a new royal marriage with Leinster.

December 25, 1454
The English Conquest of Connaught
With Connacht out the picture, Munster has given us the claim on their newly acquired province. They also happen to be allied to Scotland. This is doubly good. We will rely on our vassals in Ireland to take care of Munster while we work on wearing down the Scots. We'll try and take as much land from them as feasibly possible.

May 27, 1455
Battle of Ayrshire
While General Plantagenet lay siege to Lothian, an army of 21,000 had amassed in Ayrshire. General Neville, fresh from Armor with his army of 25,000 took the battle to the Scottish battalion and beat them back, sending 12,000 troops into retreat.

August 14, 1455
A Call to Arms
Austria has requested our aid in the Austrian Conquest of Zagreb against Hungary, France and Province.

We have to decline. It breaks our alliance with Austria, but the timing is terrible.
Lose 25 Prestige (41)

September 25, 1455
Siege Victory!
We have won the siege of Lothian after 241 days!

General Plantagenet's Army of Scotland marches on Aberdeen to take on the remaining 8,000 Scottish troops.

October 30, 1455
The Battle of Aberdeen
General Plantagenet's 25,000 men descended onto Aberdeen and only 3,000 Scottish men made it out alive or uncaptured.

November 16, 1455
Scotland is now under a complete siege.

Meanwhile in Ireland, Connaught and Munster are both at 7% by Leinster and Tyrone respectively. Munster has Leinster at -28% in their siege.

December 12, 1455
A Military Leader has Died
Terrible news as General Richard Neville has died.

General Jeremy Bedford will take his place with the Royal Army.

January 12, 1456
Support the Florentine School
Because of our relative nobility, we are in a position to support the Italian artists in the Florentine School. Being perceived as patrons of international art will definitely help our propaganda efforts.

King Henry VII promises his support.
England gets 'Supporting the Florentine School' for 40 years, giving the following effects:
Yearly Prestige: +1.00
Lose 30 Administrative Power
Lose 10 Diplomatic Power
Lose 125.37 ducats (20.07)

February 7, 1456
Build a Great Palace
Monarchs were often struggling with ways to subdue the nobility. The rise of firearms reduced the nobles' roles as warriors but left them with, in the eyes of the monarchs, too much idle time. Some monarchs created great new palaces with elaborate court rituals to dazzle the nobles and keep them occupied. Versailles is the greatest expression of this movement.

King Henry VII wants the palace built.
Gain 10 Prestige (52)
Gain 20 Legitimacy (89)
Lose 78.36 ducats (-58.28)

March 2, 1456
We have taken a bank loan of 63 ducats to get out of debt.

September 24, 1456
Welsh Revolt
The ongoing oppression and exploitation of the Welsh minority has finally reached its boiling point. The citizens of Cornwall have decided to take up arms against the oppressors.

King Henry VII attempts to negotiate.
England gets 'Rebel Negotiation' for one year, giving the following effects:
National Tax Modifier: -5.0%
Stability Cost Modifier: +10.0%
Lose 30.00 ducats (4.21)

February 8, 1457
Siege Victory!
After 463 days we have won the siege of Aberdeen!

February 17, 1457
Siege Victory!
After 630 days we have won the siege of Ayrshire!

March 26, 1457
Siege Victory!
We have won the siege of Western Isles after 481 days!

July 19, 1457
Production Stifled
Our producers become complacent as our use of Smithian Economics led to our production techniques being so advanced.
England gets 'Production Stifled' for five years, giving the following effects:
Production Efficiency: -10.0%

February 8, 1458
Gift to the State
Good governance would sometimes prompt the nobility and the businessmen of the realm to donate cash to the treasury, out of pure patriotism or in exchange for the sales or transfer of honorary titles and positions.
Gain 10 Prestige (59)

June 29, 1458
Siege Victory!
After 954 days we have won the siege of Highlands!

July 2, 1458
Herald from Scotland
King James II of Scotland has accepted peace.

Terms:
Scotland will cede Aberdeen, Ayrshire and Fife to England.
Scotland will pay 27 ducats.
This peace will cost England 135 diplomatic power.
With no Casus Belli, England gains 6 Prestige (64) and suffers 16.5 aggressive expansion relations penalty.

We have spent 120 Administrative Power to turn Ayrshire, Fife and Aberdeen into cores.

July 10, 1458
End of the English Conquest of Connaught (May 27, 1455 – July 10, 1458)
King Turlough IV O'Brien of Munster has accepted peace with England.

Terms:
Munster will cede Connaught to England.
With the Conquest Casus Belli, England gains 1.0 Prestige and suffers 2.0 aggressive expansion relations penalty.

We have spent 20 Administrative Power to turn Connaught into a core.

Administrative Technology Advance!
Constables & Temples (5)
Housing the machinery of government is as important as the machinery itself and one should never forget of the importance of religion when doing so.

Bonus Effect:
Can now build Temple
Can now build Constable.

Diplomatic Technology Advance
Basic Financial Instruments (5)
Overseas trade is very risky but also highly profitable. The development of financial instruments like letters of credit will help reduce the risk, increasing our profits.

Bonus Effect:
Trade Range: 20
Trade Efficiency Increased by +10%

Strategy Discussion
Yes, I could have fully taken Munster, but I chose not to. Why? They're still allied with Scotland, of course. My mission is to vassalize Scotland. Because of the Auld Alliance, I cannot directly attack them, because France has guaranteed their independence. By leaving Munster around, I can lure Scotland into protecting them in the next war, where I'll be assured of vassalization of Scotland and annexation of Munster.

[Brian Swartz]

Fascinating. It looks like your master plan is well on it's way.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Fascinating. It looks like your master plan is well on it's way.

So far so good. The alliance with Austria will be a massive cog in all of this, especially when we decide to go after the French again. I wish I could get an alliance with Castille for the same reason, but they were set as a rival right from the game start. However, Austria and the might of the HRE along with England and her vassals might have enough about them to start eating into France.

It's well accepted that we will be an absolute naval and colonial powerhouse when the time comes. What I'm trying to do is give England a meaningful footprint on mainland Europe.

[Grover]

July 16, 1458
King Henry VII has issued a trade embargo against France.

July 20, 1458
King Henry VII has issued a trade embargo against Burgundy.

January 2, 1459
The English Subjugation of Provence
This is too much to pass up and is completely unexpected. Provence has lost their capital province of Provence (what's your clearance Clarence?) and has just three provinces remaining. Maine and Anjou, which both border Armor and a good bit more of France, as well as Barrios, which borders Champagne. They also hold a Personal Union over Lorraine.

We use our claim on Maine to hide our real ambition of vassalizing Provence.

July 7, 1459
Cores Gained
The provinces of Ayrshire, Fife and Aberdeen are now considered part of our patrimony.

August 17, 1459
Economic Ideas Advance
Organized Construction
The need to upgrade the infrastructure of our government is a costly business, if we structure the process correctly we can do this cheaper.

Bonus Effect:
Build Cost: -20.0%

October 12, 1459
Military Technology Advance
Standardized Pikes (5)
A pike is a remarkably simple weapon to make, but to get the full benefit from the use of pikes, it's required for the whole formation to be wielding weapons of similar length and blade.

Bonus Effect:
Combat width increased by 2.
Infantry Shock: +0.15
Enables Men at Arms
Enables Longbow
Enables Galloglaigh Infantry.

All Infantry are being retrained as Galloglaigh Infantry.

February 21, 1460
Build a Great Palace
Monarchs were often struggling with ways to subdue the nobility. The rise of firearms reduced the nobles' roles as warriors but left them with, in the eyes of the monarchs, too much idle time. Some monarchs created great new palaces with elaborate court rituals to dazzle the nobles and keep them occupied. Versailles is the greatest expression of this movement.

King Henry VII wants the palace built.
Gain 10 Prestige (74)
Gain 20 Legitimacy (100)
Lose 99.84 (116.71)

July 15, 1460
Core Gained
The province of Connaught is now considered a part of our patrimony.

November 23, 1460
Siege Victory!
After 382 days we have won the siege of Maine!

April 3, 1461
Diplomat Hood is returning from Britanny after maximizing relations.

Diplomat Drake has been sent to Leinster to improve relations.

June 26, 1461
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Austria to improve relations.

December 19, 1461
Siege Victory!
After 301 days we have won the siege of Barrois!

January 29, 1462
Herald from Austria
The great statesman Friedrich von Habsburg of Austria has died. Our Royal Marriage has ended.

Herald from The Holy Roman Empire
The electors have elected Friedrich II of Saxony as the new Emperor.

February 12, 1462
Nobles Demand Old Rights
The nobility during this period still recalled the days when the King was just the first among many nobles. The nobility wanted to return to these days and would frequently pressure the King to regain certain lost rights of privilege.

King Henry VII rejects the claims.
Lose 1 Stability (0)

March 24, 1462
Siege Victory!
After 349 days we have won the siege of Metz!

May 8, 1462
Economic Ideas Advance
National Bank
By establishing a central authority for financial matters, we will have better control over our nation's economy.

Bonus Effect:
Yearly Inflation Reduction: +0.10

English Ideas Advance
A Royal Navy
Beginning around 1495, the Tudor monarchy invested heavily in not just ships, but the infrastructure to support them. This for many was the official founding of the royal navy.

Bonus Effect:
Heavy Ship Combat Ability: +10.0%
Yearly Navy Tradition: +0.25

May 3, 1462
End of the English Subjugation of Provence (January 2, 1459 – May 14, 1462)
King René I de Valois of Provence has treated with King Henry VII of England and the two have arrived to a peace conclusion.

Terms:
Provence will cede Anjou to England.
Provence will become a vassal of England.
This peace will cost England 50 diplomatic power.
With the Conquest Casus Belli, England gains 8.5 Prestige (79) and suffers 17.3 aggressive expansion relations penalty.

[Grover]

May 16, 1462
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Leinster to begin integrating the province into England.

July 5, 1462
Royal Marriage
We have accepted Provence's offer of a Royal Marriage.

July 29, 1462
Stability Increase
Our decision to give more power to local magnates has ensured that people of importance feel good about our government. So, they have been telling everyone else how well they are being governed.
Gain 1 Stability (+1)

January 1, 1463
Integrating Leinster
When a smaller country gives up its independence to join a greater realm, there is a lot of adapting, and while some parts are easy, the administration of the realm will still need to expand to accommodate all possibilities.

England gets 'Annexed Subjects' for 10 years, giving the following effects:
Diplomatic Reputation: -3.00
Gain 5 Prestige (82)

We have spent 60 Administrative Power to turn Anjou into a core. It will take two years.

Diplomat Drake has been sent to France to fabricate a claim on Poitou.

January 6, 1463
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Tyrone to improve relations.

October 2, 1463
A Military Leader has Died!
General Richard Plantagenet has died. He served us faithfully and well. Only the finest funeral will do for such a colossus of combat.

January 5, 1464
Construction
Marketplaces are under construction in Norfolk, Kent, Wessex, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Lincoln and Derby.

February 4, 1464
Herald from Austria
The regency council for Johann Leopold of Austria has accepted our offer of a royal marriage.

February 21, 1464
Military Alliance
We have accepted Austria's offer of a military alliance.

Large Revolt
Although we are well aware that no one likes paying taxes, you would think that people would have the sense to realize that glorious victories on the battlefield require a little more taxation. It seems we will have to explain it to them.

5 Peasant Regiments rise up in revolt in Gwynedd.
8 Nationalist regiments rise up in revolt in Anjou

General Nehemiah Somerset has been named leader of the Royal Army.

March 21, 1464
We have easily won the siege at Anjou.

March 28, 1464
And at Gwynedd.

March 29, 1464
Diplomat Drake has been sent to Munster to fabricate a claim on Munster.

November 13, 1464
Construction
Docks are under construction in London, Essex, Yorkshire, Cornwall, Leinster and Northumberland.

February 1, 1465
Core Gained
The province of Anjou is now considered a part of our patrimony.

March 8, 1465
Diplomat Hood has been sent to Tyrone to begin their annexation.

May 7, 1465
Diplomat Drake has been sent to Provence to improve relations.

January 30, 1466
Diplomatic Technology Advance
Embassies (6)
We can develop better relations with neighboring countries by establishing embassies in their capitals, allowing our ambassadors to maintain permanent presence in their courts.

Bonus Effect:
Can now build Embassy

Construction
Marketplaces are now under construction in Cornwall, Glamorgan, Gwynedd, Marches and Lancashire.

February 10, 1466
Integrating Tyrone
When a smaller country gives up its independence to join a greater realm, there is a lot of adapting, and while some parts are easy, the administration of the realm will still need to expand to accommodate all possibilities.

England gets 'Annexed Subjects' for 10 years, giving the following effects:
Diplomatic Reputation: -3.00
Gain 5 Prestige (80)

[Grover]

To be fair, I completely forgot I was writing about this.

We're in 1581.

Here's a map!