Fraternité de Rébellion: WI the French Revolution failed?

[mapperific]

THIS IS OUTDATED: FOR THE REVAMP, PLEASE VIEW HERE
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...ever-happened-fraternité-en-rébellion.492683/

Fraternité en Rébellion is a Hearts of Iron IV mod set in the flames of 1933.

In this alternate history timeline the French Revolution is narrowly avoided through the combination of wiser policy directions, a tougher stance on governance and a little stroke of luck. Its flames of liberté, égalité, fraternité never cut across Europe and the liberal thought of the Enlightenment is in time overshadowed by the continued hegemony of the Church and the Divine Right. Through oppression of the masses and suppression of the intellectuals, the absolutist monarchs of Ancien Europe cement their grip on power throughout the 19th century.

However, the old order shall soon tremble - with Berlin erupting into a popular revolt, Prussia became a republic by 1880. Before them, Britain had transitioned into a liberal republic in the 1860s, reforming its Empire into a visionary Commonwealth. The revolutionaries vowed to spread the once extinguished ideals of the Enlightenment across Europe and the world. Now, in a Europe torn between ideological fault lines, a Great War seems inevitable, in a Europe split in two.

THE POD OF THE TIMELINE HAS CHANGED AND MANY MAPS ARE NOW OUTDATED: THOSE THAT SAY FR FAILED ARE NOT UP TO DATE



That being said, this is a mod for a game.

Please do not expect every part of the timeline to be fully realistic, as we are putting gameplay over total realism. While we do require realism to a certain extent, it has to make a fun experience for the player, because in the long run, that is the whole goal of a mod like this one.

Territories of the Bourbon Monarchy in Exile (1826)

In 1826, The Spanish American Wars for Independence were finally over and as the South gained their independence, the Bourbon crown managed to keep ahold of New Spain and New Granada. Since Spain was embroiled in a civil war until mid 1826, Liberal forces had actually temporarily couped and seized control of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. However, they were eventually pushed back by Bourbon king Ferdinand VII's forces from New Spain and the Viceroyalty of New Granada was reorganised.

While the Liberals won on the home front, the Bourbons managed to survive in their overseas colonies, but lost the Viceroyalties of Peru and Rio de La Plata to independence movements, a huge loss for the once great Spanish Empire. Now, the Bourbon crown of Spain fights on overseas, and one day, the crown will return home.

Note that this map is outdated and will be reworked in future.

Aftermath of the Ottoman - Egyptian War (1839)

The Ottoman Empire, a once great empire, spanning Europe and Africa and once threatened to form a Mare Nostrum and to create a caliphate that will last the ages. Yet the dream was never fulfilled, and after many decades, this is the major beginning of Ottoman decline in power.

The Ottoman Regency of Algiers was invaded by France after arguments between the two nations’ diplomats, and the Ottomans rushed over to defend it. Being a far away territory, the Ottomans called upon the Eyelet of Egypt, an Ottoman vassal led by Muhammad Ali to defend it. However, things will soon turn for the worse as Egypt would demand Syria in exchange, which the Sublime Porte denied. This spiralled into a major war between Egypt and Ottoman that would last the next four years.

The Russians had been eyeing Ottoman territory for very long and had many interests in taking over the southern ports, and this worried Britain and Prussia. Hence, both nations would send volunteer forces to the Ottomans to help slow down Ottoman decline such that it could not be easily conquered by Russian forces in future. As the war went back and forth, Russia took the opportunity and invaded Ottoman Moldavia and and Wallachia, with strong condemnations from Britain and Prussia. Austria, too, seeing its rival, Prussia making moves, took the opportunity to seize Bosnia from Turkish hands.

As tensions erupted between major powers, many saw a huge war incoming. Thankfully for Europe, the Ankara Conference was held exactly to prevent this, and the four powers agreed to stop intervening in Ottoman affairs, while Austria kept Bosnia and Russia kept Moldavia for a 20 year long non-aggression pact. The Ottomans had no choice but to accept the terms. The Egyptians would eventually win the war and the Treaty of Alexandria would finally end the war, with Egypt gaining its independence and many new territories.

The French invasion of Algiers would finally end, repelled by Algiers forces in a tough guerilla war. The Algiers forces would declare independence from the Ottomans after the war in 1839, seeing Ottoman incompetency and inclination towards Egypt, knowing full well staying with the Ottomans could mean Egyptian aggression. The Ottomans would denounce Algiers, but with the Empire already in decline, was unable to do anything. Algiers would sign a defensive pact with Egypt some years later.

This war marked the beginning of Ottoman decline in power, and the beginning of a rivalry between Ottoman and Egyptian forces that would last more than a century. As the Sultan frantically tries to hold the Empire together, the future looks grim for the once glorious Ottoman Empire.

The Native Confederation (1869)

On 26 May 1868, various native groups united to form the Native Confederation. The tale began in 1806, where the tribal leader of Yakama pushed for modernisation, after worries towards the tribe’s future.

After uniting modern-day Oregon under Yakama rule, the US took them over to gain access to the Pacific. In the war between New Spain and the US in 1835, Yakama rebelled, and in 1837, the state was fully free.

However, due to oppression and discrimination, the other tribes would rise up in 1867, and would seize control of the state. The Native Conventions soon after finally formed the Confederation.

The Native Confederation will be a playable nation in the 1933 scenario of the HOI4 mod, one where a state caught between two powers seeks to prevent the outbreak of total war, and to play the powers against each other, knowing full well one's victory could mean their demise.

The state struggles with internal threats of its own, from internal rivalries, a clash of cultures, varying political views, and many more that has brought an era of political instability to the state for many years. Currently supported by New Spain to help fend off the United States, the Confederation remains alive, but for how long?

We will be releasing more as time goes on, do stay tuned!

-

We hope you enjoyed what we've got so far!

As me and my team continue to work on and improve the history behind this massive project, we will be posting new maps and other related material over here, and on our other various platforms as well. Do stay tuned, and if you have any feedback or wish to help out, do tell us, we love and appreciate every form of help we can get.

» Development Application Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
» Our Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/FdRmod/
» Our Discord: https://discord.gg/mEf4tcZ

 

[mapperific]

Kingdom of France after the Failed French Revolution (1797)

The Revolution has collapsed. The combined Austrian, Prussian, British and Spanish forces slaughtered our glorious nation, and restored the king on the throne. Our rights, our freedoms, our ideals that we so brutally fought for, all gone down the drain. But the Revolution will live on. We will fight for democracy and freedom for all peoples of the world. We will stand for the torch of the free surrounded by the darkness that is monarchism and autocracy. We toil and work underground, fighting for our freedoms, and one day, France, will be free again!

Hello again! This is Mapperific here once more with another map for Fraternité de Rébellion, an alternate history Hearts of Iron IV mod for what if the French Revolution failed.

On May 6, 1789, France would go through the Empasse of the Three Estates, one of the main starting points of the French Revolution. As time went along, France would fall into chaos and instability, and the French Revolution is sparked, and the people aren't happy.

France turns into a Republic, and many of its neighbours see it as a threat to their autocratic rule under kings and queens, for their ideals could be dangerous to the world. Now, they must show their people that such revolutions will never succeed, and the armies march towards France. France puts up a strong fight, but unfortunately, their enemies are stronger. Through a series of smart strategic decisions and perhaps sheer luck, such as in the battle known as the Miracle of Fleurus, the First Coalition, or simply, Anti-France Coalition known in this timeline (debatable name) would emerge victorious, and the Bourbon monarchy is restored, with Louis XVIII as king.

Dunkirk and Lorraine both join the Holy Roman Empire, as a Free City and as a Duchy respectively, and are firmly under Austria's grasp. Dunkirk serves to provide docking rights for Russia, Britain, Spain and of course, Austria, and provides an easy gateway into France should any new Revolution break out in future, in which all four powers agreed to intervene in. Now, as a new White Terror begins, some would flee down south into Spain, and spread Revolutionary thought and ideals, and the Spanish Civil War begins... but thats for another day.

 

[mapperific]

The Cape Colony in 1933

Dutch South Africa is often considered the Crown Jewel of the Dutch colonial empire, one of the largest within the Dutch realms. The colony has been expanded to new heights during the 1800s and is now governed under Governor-General Phillipus Cloete, in 1933. However, things aren't all going smooth for the Jewel. Unrest and dissent due to segregationist measures taken by the Dutch crown and the overall lack of care for the natives has caused tension and sparked many past riots and protests against colonial governance. The blacks and whites also often clash in conflicts and the racial division is beginning to pull the Cape Colony apart in two. As a new age dawns on Europe, the Dutch must wrestle to continue their grip over South Africa, and many of their other colonies, or else, the Dutch colonial empire may be meeting its demise...

Without the Napoleonic Wars, Britain never had reason to seize the Dutch Cape Colony, in which the Dutch soon expanded to new heights during the 1850s, moving into areas such as Botswana, the Northern Cape, and South West Africa. The discovery of gold and diamonds in some regions would lead to a huge immigration of settlers wishing to capitalise on this new found fortune and allow themselves a better life, and a better future, which allowed the Cape Colony to grow. However, not all is always fine and dandy for the Jewel, as shown in the First and Second Cape Town Riots, and various segregationary tensions.

Either way, should the Jewel wish to survive into the future, there are many internal issues that currently rock the colony's foundations and post a threat to its survival, as people grow ever more tense in their desire for freedom and self-governance.

 

[baltur2]

At the risk of sounding somewhat lacklustre, didn't it also fail in OTL?

No country follows the French Republican Calendar, the Catholic Church has regained its previous power, in fact there was a renaissance of monasticism in 19th century France, and women's rights and freedoms were arguably worse and more limited in 19th century Victorian Europe, than in the Middle Ages.

Later movements which tried to incorporate ideals of the French Revolution (mostly those that were later associated with Socialism and Communism) eventually led to failure, and future Communist governments of the 20th century led to the development of countries that were less free than their capitalist counterparts. Compare East Germany to West Germany, or the Soviet Union to the USA.

Capitalist Austria and Communist Hungary were cases where Hungary was arguably more liberal than Austria, especially sexually and religiously, but even there Austria was open to free trade with the world, while Hungary was left to its own devices as the "most advanced country of the East Bloc" heavily taxed by the Soviets, while Austria was the "boondocks of the West" even more ignored than Italy.

 

[Xgentis]

Yes the revolution did fail otl. I was expecting another pod like Louis XVI avoiding the revolution.

 

[mapperific]

At the risk of sounding somewhat lacklustre, didn't it also fail in OTL?

No country follows the French Republican Calendar, the Catholic Church has regained its previous power, in fact there was a renaissance of monasticism in 19th century France, and women's rights and freedoms were arguably worse and more limited in 19th century Victorian Europe, than in the Middle Ages.

Later movements which tried to incorporate ideals of the French Revolution (mostly those that were later associated with Socialism and Communism) eventually led to failure, and future Communist governments of the 20th century led to the development of countries that were less free than their capitalist counterparts. Compare East Germany to West Germany, or the Soviet Union to the USA.

Capitalist Austria and Communist Hungary were cases where Hungary was arguably more liberal than Austria, especially sexually and religiously, but even there Austria was open to free trade with the world, while Hungary was left to its own devices as the "most advanced country of the East Bloc" heavily taxed by the Soviets, while Austria was the "boondocks of the West" even more ignored than Italy.

Well, the French Revolution is often said to have ended once Napoleon took power i believe, though I may be wrong, but either way I get what you mean. However in a sense its a much simpler PoD and we felt that the French Revolution was often seen to have succeeded, its just that France lost the Revolutionary Wars afterwards, in which it was not in any way a republic. If we honestly dive deeper, I personally feel that the failed Revolution ITTL being so restricted to just France slowed down much of the spread of revolutionary ideals that would shake Europe, which would prevent a lot of the independent and democratic movements. Furthermore, without the rearrangement of borders by the Congress of Vienna, many things like the Holy Roman Empire never collapse, and so does Spain's colonial empire. Rises in nationalism in places like Germany would have never sparked the same way it did and it would remain splintered and disunited. In fact, without the Congress, and just the Congress alone, so many dominos would fall.

 

[funnyhat]

At the risk of sounding somewhat lacklustre, didn't it also fail in OTL?

No country follows the French Republican Calendar, the Catholic Church has regained its previous power, in fact there was a renaissance of monasticism in 19th century France, and women's rights and freedoms were arguably worse and more limited in 19th century Victorian Europe, than in the Middle Ages.

Later movements which tried to incorporate ideals of the French Revolution (mostly those that were later associated with Socialism and Communism) eventually led to failure, and future Communist governments of the 20th century led to the development of countries that were less free than their capitalist counterparts. Compare East Germany to West Germany, or the Soviet Union to the USA.

Capitalist Austria and Communist Hungary were cases where Hungary was arguably more liberal than Austria, especially sexually and religiously, but even there Austria was open to free trade with the world, while Hungary was left to its own devices as the "most advanced country of the East Bloc" heavily taxed by the Soviets, while Austria was the "boondocks of the West" even more ignored than Italy.

On a superficial level it failed, but on a profound level it permanently changed French society.

The Catholic Church did not regain its previous power. Its lands lost in the early stages of the Revolution were never restored. The Concordat of 1801 was very favorable to the French State vis à vis the Pope, and Protestants and Jews were given essentially the same legal recognition as Catholics, in dramatic contrast to the situation before 1789. Also, while there was an increase in religious belief in the XIX century, there was always a strong anti-clerical movement as well, whereas before 1789 most people (besides some famous Enlightenment thinkers) did not dare to express those views.

The nobility also lost a lot of its lands, which were not restored either. France had already had a substantial class of small landowners but this was very significantly increased.

The division of France into départements became permanent ; the old provinces were never restored. The metric system similarly became the permanent standard.

Perhaps most importantly was that absolutism was permanently discredited and all French rulers from Napoléon had to at least superficially recognize the idea of popular representation. Under Louis XVIII and Charles X there were regular elections, which did not grant the vote to many, but nevertheless this was a huge change from the ancien régime.

 

[mapperific]

On a superficial level it failed, but on a profound level it permanently changed French society.

The Catholic Church did not regain its previous power. Its lands lost in the early stages of the Revolution were never restored. The Concordat of 1801 was very favorable to the French State vis à vis the Pope, and Protestants and Jews were given essentially the same legal recognition as Catholics, in dramatic contrast to the situation before 1789. Also, while there was an increase in religious belief in the XIX century, there was always a strong anti-clerical movement as well, whereas before 1789 most people (besides some famous Enlightenment thinkers) did not dare to express those views.

The nobility also lost a lot of its lands, which were not restored either. France had already had a substantial class of small landowners but this was very significantly increased.

The division of France into départements became permanent ; the old provinces were never restored. The metric system similarly became the permanent standard.

Perhaps most importantly was that absolutism was permanently discredited and all French rulers from Napoléon had to at least superficially recognize the idea of popular representation. Under Louis XVIII and Charles X there were regular elections, which did not grant the vote to many, but nevertheless this was a huge change from the ancien régime.

Yeah, and this is not even taking into account the profound effects it had on the rest of Europe as well, and its definite that should it not have happened to the scale that it did in OTL, the world would be a drastically different place.

 

[mapperific]

The Prussian Republic in 1933

The flames of revolution spread through Prussia, many years back, embroiling the state in flames, in a brutal civil war that would lock the nation in constant conflict for years. Prussia's influence collapsed upon itself and it would take many years for Prussia to recover. But now, in 33', the nation state is ever stronger. The beacon, the torch of democracy that guides us Prussians, the shining light in the vast, dark and empty seas that brings us all hope, the world never burnt brighter. Our friends in Britain, and abroad, we stand here, today, together, on this vast continent, on this huge world, to bring down the monarchistic shackles that hold the people down! We will free the German peoples from the Austrian crown, and bring the Holy Roman Empire to its knees! We will liberate France, we will liberate Russia, we will liberate the world!

Today, on the New Years of 1933, we pledge an oath.
Today, we march with the torch of democracy. Today, we promise to stand together. Today, we unite as one Prussia- No. Today, we are no longer Prussian anymore.

Because today,

We are Germans.

 

[Warpfarer Petrokov]

Our friends in Britain

So is Britain a republic or just a more liberal constitutional monarchy?

 

[mapperific]

So is Britain a republic or just a more liberal constitutional monarchy?

A republic, more info is TBA

 

[mapperific]

The Japanese Republic in 1933
Map by mapperific
Lore and description by shirohitei166

The dragons of the east have been thoroughly beaten. Pale-faced monsters are ravaging our countries, and raping our citizenry. Our ‘brothers’, across the Tsushima Strait have betrayed us to those heartless monsters, born not of earth and blood but rather of snow and bile.

The era for emperors and idle isolation is far gone. We are no longer a chain of islands. The winds and earth may help us, but we can no longer enjoy our sweet solitude. The men of ice and steel have rocked our harbours and taken our women and treasure, and only dumped in their ruthless ideals and heathen fanaticism. We regrettably trade our isolation, only for the tools to get back at this humiliation, so that we may inherit the knowledge of the gods, and use them for good.

To the west, our elder brother China stands with us, both in spirit, and in plight. Once great, they have now been corrupted by the whites, feeding them false ideals, and disuniting their people. We must help them in this great deed to drive the devils of the open oceans away from our holy land. We must not let the great dragons that drive the sun across the sky, from east to west, stop in their heavenly voyage. Only once the harsh winters have been fought back, can the warmth of the sun return.

Today, in the year now called 1933, or as we once called it, Kiyuu, the year of the Yin Water Rooster, we stand cornered. Tanegashima and Kagoshima have been imprisoned and tortured by these foreigners, while our betrayers have raped the once beautiful Kitakyushu, and our lovely twins Iki and Tsushima. We are now picking up the weapons once used against us, so that no enemy may shame us in such a way ever again. These new-fangled houses of manufacture, they are now our dragons in the nursing, puffing dark smoke into the air, and blessing us with the weapons to regain our glory. Our most grave mistake was losing sight of ourselves in the quest for these tool, and losing these tools in the quest for isolation. Japan now understands, that we must fight fire with fire.

May we bring forth glory, to the twin Dragons of the East!

 

[mapperific]

The New Dutch South Africa Loading Screen!

Art by Darth Riki 01
Map and Writeup by Mapperific

Today, we present you the first of many more loading screens that we will be including within our mod. This loading screen features a tabletop view within the colony of Dutch South Africa, and makes use of an existing map that you may have seen here as well. We hope you enjoyed this small teaser of ours to keep you entertained, our next one will be the biggest one yet, showcasing the region of the north... to what that is, you will have to wait and see! Stay tuned!

 

[mapperific]

The Nordic Countries in 1933

The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway

The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway stands on the edge of great change. Having fought various wars against Sweden in the 18th and 19th centuries", notably the Great Northern War in 1721 alongside rising nationalism in Norway and Iceland through the latter 19th century had left the country in an unfavourable situation, culminating in the king accepting the people’s demands for reform and allowing for the creation of a parliament for Denmark and its overseas territories in Copenhagen on 4th of May 1867, those destabilizing events and the ideals of the enlightenment and the revolutionary French government seemed to be of the past until the Prussian revolution of 1905 (subject to change) and the abdication of the king of Sweden, bringing it’s pro Prussian government to rule the country brought the fears of their ideals to her king, Christian and his government but hope to many of her subjects.

Seeming beset on all sides by the flame of revolution, both within and outside of her borders, Denmark’s authoritarian king, Christian the X must face the dilemma of compromising his ideals for royal power and potentially be overthrown or following them and compromising the stability of his realm. Whatever may come next, only the king himself may know.

The Republic of Sweden

The tale that is Sweden begins in the early hours of 1794. In 1794, Sweden made a highly controversial move, choosing a member of the Bourbon family to head the royal throne, after the Swedish Succession Crisis, in which the previous king died without a heir. The various German states and Austria issued diplomatic protest and the fragile relationship between the nations shattered. To make matters worse, much of the government of Sweden were pro-German, and dissent was rising against the "French King".

Unrest started the boil within the Finns in Eastern Sweden and with the large German popularion in Swedish Pomerania, making it difficult for the Swedish government to find any good solution. Stockholm's decrees were often met with riots and revolts, like when the "Available Education Act" was passed on May 25th 1845, protests and riots were sparked in Swedish Pomerania and with the local Finnish population. Promising to make teaching the Swedish language compulsory for all students, many saw it as a crude way of erasing their native culture.

Sweden was not doing very well overseas either. The crushing of a rebellion in Swedish Pomerania in March 1795 has led to diplomatic conflicts between the nations of Prussia and Sweden, and Prussia's strong will to protect and liberate the German population in Swedish Pomerania would almost spark a war, however, it was fortunately averted at the last few moments. Its relations with its neighbours were rough as well, having lost Finland to Russia in a war and fighting over a mistakenly sunk cargo ship against Denmark-Norway in 1824 to 1825 meant that Sweden was surrounded by hostility.

In 1930, following greater unrest and dissent, and with the whole population against him, the Swedish king abdicated. A republic was put in place and the pro-German side of the government were finally in control, and decided to take steps to improve relations in Prussia. Negotiations over the ceding of Swedish Pomerania back to Prussia began in 1931, and is scheduled to occur in the morning days of 1933.

As 1932 comes to a close, the years ahead will not be kind towards Sweden. A war is coming, for Sweden, and tensions are already sky high against the ideologically polar opposite nation of Denmark-Norway. The Russian Empire to the east, with its vassal of Finland, also poses a severe threat towards Swedish sovereignty. Now, Sweden will have to find new friends, and cut old ties, should Sweden wish to survive the war that is to come.

The Grand Duchy of Finland

The story of Finland is not one any Finn would tell you fondly, for Finland has never been free. Always being held captive, Finland has transferred hands once during a war between Sweden and Russia, and was established as a vassal of the Russian Empire. Its masses oppressed and resistance suppressed, Finland would see itself in war again many years later, however this time fighting not for the Swedes, but for themselves.

The Russian Civil War between the democrats and the monarchists provided a window of time for the Finnish people to fight for their freedom and their beliefs, and sparked a war of independence that would last almost 8 years. Enraged and determined, the new Finnish government would see itself make gains in the early stages of the war, but as the Russian democrats began to lose ground, the monarchist faction only grew in strength, and a part of the army was diverted to fight in the Finnish front.

Battered, tired, yet resilient, the Finnish people fought on, fighting to create a free home for their people and their children, but it was not enough. The skilled and battle-hardened Russian forces, having gained vital experience from the main front, was able to defeat the Finnish army, and soon, despite their valiant efforts, Finland was crushed and oppressed yet again. The Grand Duchy of Finland was reestablished, and further resistance was almost always futile, as soldiers sought to suppress any form of unrest.

Now, as Finland enters 1933, Finland has a crucial choice to make. Should it bring itself favour with the Russian government and slowly gain autonomy for a peaceful, stable future, or should it continue to fight on for Finland's freedom, and attempt to shake off the chains that held it down once more? Only time will tell.

The Colony of Iceland

The Colony of Iceland

Iceland had been a colony of the kingdom that was, and still is, Denmark-Norway, however, in recent years it had been able to steadily gain more autonomy and control over its own home affairs. In 1874, Iceland would gain more home-rule, granting them their own parliament for the first time in hundreds or years with Jón Sigurðsson as the president of the highly independent Icelandic Republic.

Being de facto independent, Iceland is still able to receive economic, military and political support from Denmark-Norway, and its very special relationship has allowed the small island state to thrive and grow. Iceland’s future, goes hand in hand with that of Denmark-Norway’s, and should Denmark-Norway fall apart, Iceland will have trouble heading its way…

Author Notes

Hey there! Thank you for reading all of this, we have really worked hard to bring you the lore of these nations and we're proud to present to you this map today. I personally spent many hours on the map itself and many more have been spent by others in the team on lore and other research. We really do hope you can continue to support us along this journey and together, we'll do something greater. Thank you!

 

[mapperific]

The Two Romanian Principalities in Fraternité de Rébellion!
Made by Euxinus this time!


God, after He made the world, called the peoples of the world to Him so He could assign to each a purpose. He taught the Italian how to strum the lute. To the German He gave tools and materials so he could be a tradesman. He called the Magyar and said to him: “I shall give you many clothes, and boots with spurs; resin so you can twirl your mustache and many fields to work. You shall be priggish and enjoy the banquets and parties.” Next came the Turk, to whom God said: “You shall be dumb; but with your power and sword you will force your will upon the others.” To the Serb God gave a plow and pitchfork, so he could be a farmer. Last came the Vlachs, who kneeled in front of God as He was looking at them with pity in His eyes.

He said: “And you, downcast lot, why are you late?"

“We are late, Milord, for we roam with our sheep and donkeys. We walk slowly, climbing mountain treks and going down steep valleys. We toil, day and night, saying nothing, and only our sheep’s bells make our presence known. Our tiny hamlets are up high on rocky peaks and distant meadows, and upon them the wrath of thunder and storms always descends. What do you have to give us, Milord?”

“I am afraid you came last”, God said with a pitiful voice. “You are dear to Me, but I cannot help you with anything. You will remain with what you already have. I cannot give you anything more, besides a joyous spirit, so you can live your lives in peace and be fulfilled with what you have.”

So goes a folk fable that some older shepherds enjoy sharing as they lead their herds up the peaks of the Carpathians, for they think it accurately describes the destiny of Romania. While this legend may have its origins in tales of times immemorial, it is, unfortunately, painstakingly true for the state of their country in 1933.


Historical Background

Unlike their southern neighbours, the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldova had historically managed to avoid direct Ottoman administration, however, they still had to accept Turkey’s overlordship, paying yearly tribute and being subjected to the whims of the Porte. That changed abruptly in 1871, when the whole Balkan Peninsula erupted into rebellion. By the spring of 1871, the Ottomans had been decisively overwhelmed and admitted defeat, recognizing the independence of the Balkan states. The conflict helped to mature the shared identity that was developing between Moldavia and Wallachia, and as such the provisional governments of both newly independent principalities voted for a union. The Kingdom of Romania was born. The euphoria of new beginnings wore off quickly however, as the clouds of cold geopolitics and confrontation were gathering above the young country.

To the south, Bulgaria developed a close relationship with Tsarist Russia, while Austria looked suspiciously towards a country which could claim vast territories from its eastern lands. After 4 decades of tense diplomacy and backroom scheming, the Balkans once more erupted into war in 1907. This would prove to be a catastrophe for Romania. Staying neutral at first, Romania joined the Balkan Entente against Bulgaria in 1909 with hopes of gaining territory in Dobruja and the Black Sea coast. After a few early victories, the Russian Empire declared war on Romania, citing its special partnership with Bulgaria.

Unfortunately, Bucharest had the backing of no Great Power. The Romanian Army, now fighting on two fronts, only had green reservists and local militias to form a credible defence against the rolling Tsarist colossus. Even so, this patchwork army managed to stall the Russian advance for weeks thanks to the formidable Iasi-Chisinau line that had been built over the past two decades. The line was however bound to break at one point, and so it did in August 1909. Under constant pressure from frontal assaults and pincer movements, the lines slowly crumbled one by one before disintegrating into a massive rout; the bulk of the Romanian army was then encircled and destroyed in southern Moldavia. When all seemed lost and the road to Bucharest was open, salvation came from the least expected place: Vienna. Unwilling to see its arch-rival Russia secure the Danube Delta and with it a dominant position on the river, Austria intervened in Romania, taking back the Delta and forcing Russia to stop offensive operations. After Austria’s interests were secured, Vienna brokered a peace deal: The Treaty of Bucharest, signed in October 1909.
Russia was to keep all the land it had conquered. This meant that the Kingdom of Romania ceased to exist in practice, as the Russians re-established the Principality of Moldova as a puppet state. Central Dobrogea was snatched by Bulgaria, but Romania managed to hold on to the strategic port of Constanta, albeit demilitarized and with the condition of scuttling the Romanian Navy. To add insult to injury, Austria established an international body to govern the Danube, its delta and its trade: the KdD (Kommission der Donau-Commission of the Danube), headquartered in the small city of Sulina. Romania had to pay war reparations to Bulgaria in the form of grain and refined oil shipments.


The Kingdom of Romania

For all intents and purposes, the Treaty of Bucharest destroyed Romania. However, King Carol I and the government in Bucharest were adamant. Romania (which by then encompassed only the former Principality of Wallachia and roughly one quarter of Dobruja) signed the treaty with Bulgaria but refused to ratify the treaty handing Moldova to Russia. The Kingdom claims that the Principality of Moldova is occupied territory and maintains a government-in-exile for the region in Bucharest.

After the Balkan War, the Kingdom saw itself constrained to gravitate closer to Austria, given that it was the only Great Power capable of challenging Russia in the region. As a consequence, the Kingdom’s economy came to be dominated by Habsburg interests: Bucharest recognized the full authority of the KdD in 1918; the Ploiesti oilfields and refineries, the largest in Europe, are practically controlled by Austrian conglomerates; Austrian banks and capital have a monopoly on liquidities within the Romanian economy.

Romania will have to face a choice: keep placating the Austrians in the hope that national reunification will come through the goodwill of Vienna or unshackle itself from Habsburg economic exploitation and forge a future of its own. What is certain though is that the only deterrent Romania has against external aggression is the extent of Austrian investments in the country…

As 1933 dawns, King Carol II is at the helm of a bitter, but stabilised little Kingdom. Romanians in both Principalities and beyond dream of reunification. Will Carol unite them under the banner of enlightened monarchy, or will the ideologies of this new age replace the old institutions and lead Romania themselves into the next decade?


Principality of Moldova

Moldova entered the Balkan War as a region of Romania; it left it as a vassal of the Russian Empire. The country also bore the brunt of the fighting in the short but destructive Russian-Romanian war, with armies ravaging its countryside and looting its cities. With the Treaty of Bucharest on the 11th of October 1909, hostilities ceased between Romanian and Russian forces, and the 1871 Union was abolished, thus reinstating the historical Principality of Moldova within its old borders. The South refused to acknowledge the dissolution of Romania however, and Wallachia maintains the government of the rump “Kingdom of Romania” in Bucharest, complete with a Moldavian administration-in-exile.

The lion does not concern himself with the opinion of sheep however, and Russia installed the young Mihail of the Sturdza noble family on the throne in Iasi. Russia hopes to ingrain a new identity in its newly acquired vassal by promoting “Moldovenism”, a doctrine according to which the Moldavians are a people distinct from the Romanians, speaking a different language and having a different, more Russian-centric origin. This is failing to gain traction however, as most Moldavians resent the Russian presence as unlawful occupation. Moldova is a “rebel” subject of the Tsar, staying loyal only insofar as Russia has the required force to pressure it into remaining so.

Due to the harsh conditions under which it was put by Russian tutelage and subsequent radicalisation, Moldova has been the epicentre of Romanian political trends, as the ideologies and platforms of the Iasi political scene slowly spread into the remnant Kingdom to the south, and even in Habsburg Transylvania and Bukovina, both of which have significant Romanian populations. Liberals and republicans are flocking to the Dacia Movement, which borrows the name from an earlier Moldavian organization of the same name. They see themselves as direct continuers of that tradition; whereas the 1871 Generation fought for the Union of Romania, the “Generation of 1922” fights for the “Reunion”, a word which has become their slogan. With many of its members schooled at prestigious Prussian universities, the Dacia Movement borrows heavily from the Prussian republican tradition.

The impetuous student “Generation of 1922” is not entirely made up of republican germanophiles however. Under the leadership of one charismatic law student from the University of Iasi, a significant proportion of them have instead rallied around an ultranationalist ideology, espousing the exceptionalism of the Romanian nation and combining it with a mystical interpretation of Orthodoxy. Their influence has grown substantially over the 1920’s, and now they are a major political force in the Romanian space.

In the meanwhile, with street brawls and confrontations with the Gendarmerie becoming commonplace on the streets of Iasi, the puppet regime of Prince Mihail Sturdza and its artificial Moldovenism are growing more unpopular by the day.

In 1933, Moldova’s physical scars may have mostly healed, but its emotional wounds remain wide open. Most people still dream of reunion with the Kingdom, and perhaps even of union with Austrian Bukovina and Transylvania. The Russian domination is resented. The economy is stable, albeit stagnant; the Muscovite overlord has not lifted a single finger to industrialize or urbanize the country. Trade links with the Kingdom of Romania in Wallachia have slowly reopened with Russian permission, and with the flow of trade comes the flow of ideas. By 1933 the political scenes of the Danubian Principalities are practically interconnected, with parties and platforms becoming a mostly shared affair. Rumors are that the principality dreams of breaking free, but first it must find a way to deal with its political division and, most importantly, the Russian garrisons stationed across the lands of Moldova.

KdD-Commission of the Danube

After the ceasefires between Romania and Russia & Bulgaria in 1909, Austria quickly set up the internationally administered KdD (Kommission der Donau - the Commission of the Danube), headquartered in the small city of Sulina, with the purpose of supervising and regulating the Danubian Trade. Romania was not even notified of this development, but with Austrian troops garrisoned in the country and being the only deterrent against Russian aggression, there was little room for protest. In its original structure, the KdD included Austria (with veto powers), the Kingdom of Romania and, de jure, the Principality of Moldova, which however served as a proxy for Russia. (Russia had been unable to join the advisory board due to it not being a riparian state). While in theory offering an equal playing field for the nations of the Danube, the Austrians will try and use their influence to maximize their benefits from the existence of this organization…

Shortly after the Balkan War, Austria started to send out formal invitations to all the riparian nations of the Danube; the “invitations” were strongly worded and included threats of economic embargoes in case of refusal. One by one, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bavaria and the smaller German states on the course of the Danube up to the Black Forest agreed, and by 1918 the KdD’s jurisdiction covered the whole course of the river. The Commission’s endowment also grew fast; by 1919 Austrian subsidies were no longer needed and by 1921 it was yielding a net profit. By 1933, the Commission has been an economic blessing for the Habsburg Empire for over a decade. As its unofficial monopoly holder, the lion’s share of the profit goes to Vienna; the constant need for modern patrol craft has led to a boom in profits for Danube shipyards like the Budapest-based Ganz-Danubius.

At the dawn of 1933, the KdD is an international organization with a navy bigger than some sovereign states. Its pride is the River Fleet, consisting of modern gunboats, torpedo boats, monitors and even small river-going corvettes on the wider sectors, which ensures the safety of Danubian trade, all the way from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. The Commission also has a small but powerful Black Sea squadron stationed at Sulina, consisting of an assortment of second-hand Austrian destroyers and cruisers, and the battleship KdDS Danubius, a former Erzherzog Karl pre-dreadnought class. With this arsenal at its disposal, the KdD can guarantee the safety of seaborne traffic all the way from the Bosphorus to Baden-Wurttemberg.

However, some policy makers, both in Vienna and the Delta, dream even bigger. Recently, German engineers and geologists have confirmed the feasibility of connecting the Danube with the river Main via a man-made channel. As the Main is a tributary of the Rhine, this would create a pan-European waterway, linking the Dutch ports on the North Sea with the ports of the Delta and the Black Sea. There is also a daring proposal of digging a direct canal between the Danube and the Romanian port of Constanta at the Black Sea, thus shortening the final leg of the journey by more than 400km. The potential for profits is huge, but Austria will have to gain the appropriate funding and leverage in the German space and beyond to put these projects in motion.

 

[Peppe]

Republican Japan

the only part I don't believe in this TL, while the hogun could have been ousted on a rebellion, Japan taking out its emperor is kind of like if catholicism took out the Pope

 

[mapperific]

the only part I don't believe in this TL, while the hogun could have been ousted on a rebellion, Japan taking out its emperor is kind of like if catholicism took out the Pope

I have heard similar complaints as well. We may need to rework Japan at a later point to make it more realistic, however since Japan teaser does not include its respective lore that much I do believe the Japan dev that created it does have some reasoning behind his work. TBA, i suppose.

 

[mapperific]

The Austrian Empire in Fraternité de Rébellion!
Indivisibiliter ac Inseparabiliter

The Austrian Empire stands tall as the uncontested hegemon of Central Europe. The influence of Vienna extends from the plains and forests of Central and Southern Germany to the Balkans and the Black Sea. However, strong though they may seem, the past century has been tumultuous for the Habsburg Monarchy, and under the outer shell of a Great Power lie many cracks ready to burst at the slightest pressure applied. To understand the situation of Austria in 1933, one must first understand its past...

Map and teaser description made by Euxinus
Austria lore development spearheaded by TheWalrusMan

1789-1847: Metternich’s Ideal

Austria had been part of the victorious Coalition in the war against the French Republic. Crushing the revolution in its infancy assured that dangerous republican ideals didn’t spread into the German space, and Austria managed to maintain the Holy Roman Empire, and within it a dominant position. Still wary of the ghost of the French Revolution, and with distant memories of Rákóczi's War of Independence in the 18th century, the empire under Kaiser Franz II and his trusted minister Klemens von Metternich embraced neo-absolutism from the early 1800’s, pushing for the centralization of the empire under Austrian German rule and strong opposition to all liberal and nationalistic ideas. To facilitate a unified identity and discourage separatist movements, the offices and titles of the Habsburg Realms are formally united into a single “Austrian Empire”, with the Kaiser being crowned “Emperor of Austria”, besides his Holy Roman titles.

1848: Mit Kíván a Magyar Nemzet

Dissatisfied with the treatment of Hungary under neo-absolutism, civil dissent in Budapest culminates with mass demonstrations on the streets. The Magyar leadership publishes its “12 Points”, among which are extensive autonomy and union with Transylvania. The local Austrian authorities accept the demands, only for their decisions to be quickly out-ruled by the new Kaiser Franz Joseph. A more radical faction takes power in Budapest, and under the leadership of Lajos Kossuth they now demand full independence from the Habsburg Crown. The protests in Hungary degenerate into a full-blown civil war within the lands of the Monarchy and the Imperial Army suffers a string of defeats in the first months of the conflict, putting the Hungarian revolutionaries in an advantageous position. However, due to the strong exclusionary nationalism and the ideas of magyarisation entertained by the Kossuth cabinet, Austria manages to secure alliances with the minorities within and around Hungary, thus bolstering its ranks with Slovaks, Ukrainians, Romanians, Serbs and Croats. Vienna promises to its allied nationalities cultural rights and territorial autonomy after the defeat of Hungary, but these prove to be lies as the Habsburgs will ignore their requests later on, sometimes outright imprisoning minority leaders. The regrouping of the Austrian army, together with units from the allied nationalities and a fresh French Expeditionary Corps sent to aid its fellow monarchy in crushing the liberal Hungarian Revolution all contribute towards the final defeat of the 1848 movement in the Danubian region. Klemens von Metternich, bitter that his policies failed to prevent a national uprising in the Empire, puts Hungary under brutal martial law.

1849-1865: Interbellum

Journalists are summarily executed at the outskirts of cities for as much as mentioning nationalism or liberalism in their articles. Peasants see their harvests being arbitrarily taken from them by rough-handed soldiers to “support the policing forces of the Monarchy”. This is the reality of everyday life in Hungary under Austrian martial law. While the 1848 Revolution was defeated, the people of Hungary are only pushed further to clamour for liberty by the abusive treatment of Austria. It will not be long until Hungary rises to fight for its freedom again.

1866-1867: Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death

An oppressed Hungary full of revolutionary fervour represented a threat to Austria in any potential confrontation with Prussia, and the Prussians were fully aware of this. As such, 1848 revolutionary and general György Klapka had made an agreement with Bismarck in early 1866 to set up a Hungarian Legion, and to kick off a third freedom fight for Hungary. The Prussians were glad to offer help to anyone wishing to destabilize their Austrian rival. By the 3rd of August, the Legion had set foot on Hungarian soil and the freedom fight had officially started, when a Hungarian student assassinated Kaiser Franz Joseph, the one who reversed the policies of the 1848 Revolution. Although suffering a big blow to their image, the Austrians remain stable and symbolically name the 3 year old Franz Ferdinand as Emperor of Austria. In practice, however, the empire will be ruled by a regency council until Franz Ferdinand comes of age. Even with the tacit support of Prussia, the Hungarians face tough odds. In a surprising turn of events, the ethnic minorities once again accept Austrian promises of autonomy and rights in exchange for their military support of the Imperial Army. Perhaps judging that the absolutist policy of the Empire was about to fall anyways, the minorities pledge their loyalty to the Kaiser. The Austrian Army, consolidated and modernised since the events of 1848, is much more effective than in the previous revolution, and with the ethnic minorities pincering the Pannonian Plains from all directions, György Klapka’s freedom fight is subdued by the Doppeladler in 1867.

1868-1879: The Bloody Decade

After the defeat of Klapka’s Legion, the Austrians once more impose martial law on the lands of Hungary. Vienna also disregards its promises towards the ethnic minorities again. This time, many disgruntled leaders and national parties voice their concerns in a stronger manner. Shortly after the defeat of the 3rd Hungarian insurrection, the Habsburgs have to deal with growing discontent in most of their provinces, most notably Voivodina and the Banat, Transylvania, Slovakia and Galicia. One particular case which caused widespread consternation was the arrest and summary execution without trial of Transylvanian Romanian leader Avram Iancu in 1872, after he had repeatedly petitioned Vienna to grant the promised rights. Imperial Authorities place all of the problematic provinces under martial law and deploy army divisions in the provinces to quell unrest and arrest (and execute if need be) all the “troublemakers”. Parties were banned, newspapers and publications closed en-masse, and the big cities of the provinces witnessed daily public executions in their central squares. The years 1870-1880 came to be known as the “Bloody Decade” due to the reign of reactionary terror that the ruling Regency Council unleashed upon the Empire, no doubt taking inspiration from the late von Metternich (d. 1859)

1881: Gott Erhalte Franz den Kaiser

Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand is officially crowned as Kaiser in a grand ceremony in Vienna, with royal families from across the continent attending.

1882-1900: Mending the Wounds

Court gossip has it that, as a teenager, Franz Ferdinand was personally disgusted by the way the Regency Council handled the Bloody Decade Crisis “in his name”. The new Kaiser takes quick and concrete steps to tone down the absolutism that had characterised his empire for so much of the 19th century. Metternich-era laws are gradually scrapped, giving some basic liberties of association and press independence back. All of the remaining minority leaders still imprisoned are released and their charges symbolically rescinded. Martial law is finally lifted from Hungary in 1885, albeit only after long desiderates from leading Hungarian figures. Vienna still maintains an iron grip over its Empire that has been centralised by force, but as 1900 dawns one can at least say that a certain degree of stability has returned to the realms of the Habsurgs. The new Kaiser, with his policies of increased tolerance, is probably another central factor that keeps the Empire from fracturing at this point in time. Looking back on the 19th century, it can be said that von Metternich’s dream of an absolutist and united empire has been achieved. However, one cannot help but wonder whether the cost paid in destruction, suffering and death was worth it...

1898: Bread and (Political) Games

Due to bad agricultural policies and particularly because of a bad harvest in the past year, wheat and bread prices soar up in Habsburg-aligned Lombardy-Venetia. The government of Lombardy-Venetia declares a state of emergency and calls Austrian troops of rural backgrounds for possible assistance into the agricultural crisis. Kaiser Franz Ferdinand I authorises an attempt at peaceful resolution, offering to increase wheat imports from the empire in order to lower prices. However, the economic and social upheaval caused by the Wheat Crisis encourages various radical groups to speak out. Based out of Porta Monforte, Lombardi-Venezian anarchists demand reforms such as freedom of speech, accident insurance, and relaxed union laws. Even with Franz Ferdinand being a moderate compared to his 19th century predecessors, Vienna cannot allow such movements to gain traction so close to home. Austrian troops are mobilised and storm Porta Monforte; some are killed in the ensuing confrontation, many are arrested.

1909-1910: Balkan Entanglements

In the context of the Balkan War, Austria deploys troops on Romanian territory in September 1909. Seeing how the Danube Delta was occupied by Russian troops, Austria decided to intervene with its own troops on the ground in order to safeguard its Danube trade interests. They succeed within a week because the Russian troops stationed there had overextended and were not prepared for any counterattack. With the Danube secured by early October, Austria recommends the Romanian government that it sues for peace, promising Romania its “backing” in negotiations. Austria therefore sponsors a ceasefire on the Romanian-Russian frontline. The Treaty of Bucharest is signed in separate documents between Romania and Bulgaria, Romania and Russia on 11 October 1909; Austria stands as a diplomatic observer and ratifies a separate annex treaty with Russia. One point of the treaty was that The Commission of the River Danube would be established by Austria, and further members be added by invitation. Austria quickly set up the internationally-administered KdD (Kommission der Donau - the Commission of the River Danube), headquartered in the small city of Sulina in the Danube Delta, with the purpose of supervising and regulating the Danubian Trade. At first, the KdD included Austria (with veto powers), the Kingdom of Romania and, de jure, the Principality of Moldova, which however served as a proxy for Russia. (Russia had been unable to join the advisory board due to it not being a riparian state). Shortly after the Balkan War, Austria started to send out formal invitations to all the riparian nations of the Danube; the “invitations” were strongly worded and included threats of economic embargoes in case of refusal.

1912: Die Donau unter dem Doppeladler

Bulgaria and Serbia accept their “invitations” into the KdD, transferring their riparian sovereignty to the international organization. A central administration building is laid down in Sulina, the designated KdD headquarters. Austria seeks naval investors to expand the docking facilities of the small Danube port.

1914: Holy Roman Waterway

Bavaria joins the KdD, expanding Austrian economic dominance in South Germany even more.

1918: Von dem ‘Wald bis an die Delta

The last South German states transfer their Danubian riparian sovereignty to the KdD; the reluctant government of the Kingdom of Romania finally acknowledges KdD sovereignty over the Romanian section of the Danube and the Delta, thus withdrawing its administration from the Tulcea and Sulina counties and formalizing KdD territoriality in the Danube Delta. As such, the KdD finally has full sovereignty of the Danube River, from the Black Forest to the Black Sea.

1919-1921: Some Are More Equal Than Others

The KdD becomes financially self sufficient in 1919 and by 1921 it is yielding a net profit. Due to the inherently unequal arrangement created by Austria, the lion’s share of the KdD’s profit goes to Vienna.

1925: A Whole Bucket of Trouble

On the War of the Bucket’s 600th anniversary, Modenese pranksters stole a bucket from Bologna again. Keeping in line with the name of the anniversary, Bolognese citizens, mostly youngsters, then laid waste to Modenese crop fields using fire as retaliation. Shocked at the destruction of Modenese fields over such a trivial matter, the Austrians and their client state Venetia-Lombardy announced their support for Modena in the dispute. The spirits of the two rival cities were far from calming down however, as the Bolognese Civic Militia and Papal Zouaves were mobilised by Bologna and Modena respectively. In an attempt to defuse tensions, Heinrich Mataja, Austrian foreign minister met with Pope Pius XI to discuss a resolution. In a meeting between representatives of the parties involved, a solution was finally agreed upon after several hours of bickering between Modenese and Bolognese officials. Bologna had to pay for the damages to the ravaged fields while Modena had to pay for the stolen bucket. An additional clause stating the possibility of the bucket’s return at a later date was added to appease the Bolognese who had to pay more due to the amount of land damaged.

Into 1933:

The later years up to 1933 have been rather uneventful for the Habsburg Realm. So far, the neo-absolutist paradigm seems to be have been able to keep the Empire united, but a new generation of intellectuals and idealists is posed to reach the forefront of national politics in the 1930’s. This, coupled with Kaiser Franz Ferdinand’s old age and subpar health, may lead to yet another domestic political crisis on the Danubian Plains if the Emperor dies. But Austria is not safe from the outside either; spurred by the success of the Prussian Revolution, republican groups all over Europe are springing into existence. They are sponsored by the aggressive posturing of the Prussians and clamour for the day when they will get the chance to extract revenge on Metternich’s Absolutism and “policies of stability”, which brought so much terror and bloodshed in the 19th century under the Franco-Austrian dominance of Europe. Vienna has only the French Crown and the Papacy as trusted allies, while the rest of the Old Continent is being engulfed in the flames of new ideologies...

 

[Nuka1]

First development diary!

 

[Nuka1]

Balkan teaser!