John Fredrick Parker
Donor
What are the yellow shaded areas (in northern North Georgia, northwest Augusta, etc)?
Odyssey of Fritz, the Turncoat Prince
- Thread starter Alt History Buff
- Start date
Chapter 305
Chapter 305
June, 1821
Hawaii
Captain Sidney Smith of the United East India Company would sailed into the harbor the natives called "Honolulu". For centuries, the Spanish had sailed by the islands from Acapulco to Manila in their annual "Manila Galleon" without apparently discovering the island. Only a few decades prior was it visited by British and Dutch and perhaps a few other nations.
This alone left Smith holding the Spanish Navy in some form of contempt. Anyone who looked at a map of the Pacific would realize that these islands were the key to trade...and trade was what the United East India Company did best.
For the past two years, the Company had dispatched diplomats to negotiate a treaty granting the company rights to the fine harbor. Unfortunately, several outbreaks of disease had withered the island of Oahu to the point where the Kingdom had started to fall into chaos. There were multiple claimants to the throne and the Company started playing one against the other. Little by little, the company added more and more manpower to the region, mainly Indian or Filipino hirelings. By 1821, the Company was ready to dispense with the pretense that they were allies. With over 800 personnel on the island, the directors would massacre most of the surviving chieftains and lay waste to most of the nearby villages.
This was enough to pacify Oahu. Smith was commissioned to command a party of settlers and soldiers to continue their occupation of Oahu and, when he deemed it prudent, conquer the surrounding islands...though this was less of a priority. He was also appointed governor.
The thousands of settlers would be only the first. Within a decade, the Asians and whites would become numerically dominant on Oahu, making it easy to conquer the other regions of Hawaii.
Puerto Rico
"General" Simon Bolivar led the fifty survivors of his "invasion force' intended for Granada plus a few dozens sailors whom had effectively been forced into service into the highlands of northern Puerto Rico. There they came upon several hundred escaped slaves whom had been leading the modest rebellion against the Spanish.
Realizing that his dream of liberating his homeland both from Spain and its liberators was effectively dead, Bolivar would volunteer his men to help overthrow the government of Puerto Rico. The slaves, assured that Bolivar would fully emancipate upon victory, was welcomed.
In truth, the slaves needed all they help they could get. They were being pursued through the highlands by a former North Carolinian slave-hunter named Andrew Jackson.
Tierra del Rey (formerly Mexico City)
Viceroy de Godoy had received word from his allies in Madrid that the crown was well and sick of him. After two wars with America, his reputation had collapsed to the point that the long-standing accusations of corruption were being heeded in Madrid and the King was selecting a new Viceroy to sail west to "order him home to account for his governance". This was a euphemism for arrest. And de Godoy was quite certain that there would be ample evidence to have him executed or placed in prison for life.
De Godoy was not stupid. He and his allies in New Spain had quietly opened accounts in neutral nations like America or the Dutch Republic with huge quantities of embezzled silver and tax money. If he had to run, he'd run. Still, the majority of what he'd consumed over the years remained in New Spain and he was loath to give this up.
The American influence on New Spain was strong: many desired autonomy from Spain if not total independence. For decades, de Godoy had stifled this. Seeing the writing on the wall, de Godoy gathered his cronies (whom he'd made rich, buying their loyalty), de Godoy presented the problem to them. Each knew their fate when (and not IF) their corruption was made public in Spain. These were not the same aristocrats whom led New Spain's gentry. These were men that de Godoy had made and would probably hang when de Godoy fell. They knew to whom they owed their fortunes.
De Godoy suggested it was time for a change in government...and not the one that the King of Spain demanded.
For the past several years, de Godoy had used the powers of his office to move his own allies to key positions in government and the military and his enemies to less vital posts. In many ways, the war in Granada was a godsend. It allowed him to ship off the Spanish regulars whom owed him no loyalty as well as granting commissions abroad in the volunteer Regiments to men he considered dangerous. By 1821, de Godoy was prepared to make the move he never truly thought was possible.
He ordered the arrest of dozens, if not hundreds of men he considered sure to support the King on the flimsiest of pretexts. Within a week, many had been placed on ships for Spain with absurd charges attached to their names. Others were quietly moved to a remote location...and executed.
By the summer of 1821, New Spain did not have a Viceroy but a dictator whom issued a proclamation that the King had betrayed New Spain by draining her resources for centuries while giving nothing back. It was time for a new nation to rise from the ashes, an independent Republic in which "all men would be free". He implied some sort of Legislature but left that deliberately vague.
The next step was to choose a name for the new nation (New Spain was not acceptable) and what title he would choose. King? President? Prime Minister?
He supposed it didn't matter.
June, 1821
Hawaii
Captain Sidney Smith of the United East India Company would sailed into the harbor the natives called "Honolulu". For centuries, the Spanish had sailed by the islands from Acapulco to Manila in their annual "Manila Galleon" without apparently discovering the island. Only a few decades prior was it visited by British and Dutch and perhaps a few other nations.
This alone left Smith holding the Spanish Navy in some form of contempt. Anyone who looked at a map of the Pacific would realize that these islands were the key to trade...and trade was what the United East India Company did best.
For the past two years, the Company had dispatched diplomats to negotiate a treaty granting the company rights to the fine harbor. Unfortunately, several outbreaks of disease had withered the island of Oahu to the point where the Kingdom had started to fall into chaos. There were multiple claimants to the throne and the Company started playing one against the other. Little by little, the company added more and more manpower to the region, mainly Indian or Filipino hirelings. By 1821, the Company was ready to dispense with the pretense that they were allies. With over 800 personnel on the island, the directors would massacre most of the surviving chieftains and lay waste to most of the nearby villages.
This was enough to pacify Oahu. Smith was commissioned to command a party of settlers and soldiers to continue their occupation of Oahu and, when he deemed it prudent, conquer the surrounding islands...though this was less of a priority. He was also appointed governor.
The thousands of settlers would be only the first. Within a decade, the Asians and whites would become numerically dominant on Oahu, making it easy to conquer the other regions of Hawaii.
Puerto Rico
"General" Simon Bolivar led the fifty survivors of his "invasion force' intended for Granada plus a few dozens sailors whom had effectively been forced into service into the highlands of northern Puerto Rico. There they came upon several hundred escaped slaves whom had been leading the modest rebellion against the Spanish.
Realizing that his dream of liberating his homeland both from Spain and its liberators was effectively dead, Bolivar would volunteer his men to help overthrow the government of Puerto Rico. The slaves, assured that Bolivar would fully emancipate upon victory, was welcomed.
In truth, the slaves needed all they help they could get. They were being pursued through the highlands by a former North Carolinian slave-hunter named Andrew Jackson.
Tierra del Rey (formerly Mexico City)
Viceroy de Godoy had received word from his allies in Madrid that the crown was well and sick of him. After two wars with America, his reputation had collapsed to the point that the long-standing accusations of corruption were being heeded in Madrid and the King was selecting a new Viceroy to sail west to "order him home to account for his governance". This was a euphemism for arrest. And de Godoy was quite certain that there would be ample evidence to have him executed or placed in prison for life.
De Godoy was not stupid. He and his allies in New Spain had quietly opened accounts in neutral nations like America or the Dutch Republic with huge quantities of embezzled silver and tax money. If he had to run, he'd run. Still, the majority of what he'd consumed over the years remained in New Spain and he was loath to give this up.
The American influence on New Spain was strong: many desired autonomy from Spain if not total independence. For decades, de Godoy had stifled this. Seeing the writing on the wall, de Godoy gathered his cronies (whom he'd made rich, buying their loyalty), de Godoy presented the problem to them. Each knew their fate when (and not IF) their corruption was made public in Spain. These were not the same aristocrats whom led New Spain's gentry. These were men that de Godoy had made and would probably hang when de Godoy fell. They knew to whom they owed their fortunes.
De Godoy suggested it was time for a change in government...and not the one that the King of Spain demanded.
For the past several years, de Godoy had used the powers of his office to move his own allies to key positions in government and the military and his enemies to less vital posts. In many ways, the war in Granada was a godsend. It allowed him to ship off the Spanish regulars whom owed him no loyalty as well as granting commissions abroad in the volunteer Regiments to men he considered dangerous. By 1821, de Godoy was prepared to make the move he never truly thought was possible.
He ordered the arrest of dozens, if not hundreds of men he considered sure to support the King on the flimsiest of pretexts. Within a week, many had been placed on ships for Spain with absurd charges attached to their names. Others were quietly moved to a remote location...and executed.
By the summer of 1821, New Spain did not have a Viceroy but a dictator whom issued a proclamation that the King had betrayed New Spain by draining her resources for centuries while giving nothing back. It was time for a new nation to rise from the ashes, an independent Republic in which "all men would be free". He implied some sort of Legislature but left that deliberately vague.
The next step was to choose a name for the new nation (New Spain was not acceptable) and what title he would choose. King? President? Prime Minister?
He supposed it didn't matter.
Assuming they'd follow his claims, that is. Because that's pretty vague.
Chapter 306
Chapter 306
November, 1821
Madrid
King Luis III of Spain would not consider himself an impatient man but the third invasion by Americans of his realms would prove that the United American Provinces intended to attack his Empire until it ceased to exist.
Fortunately, his Empire numbered well into the millions. It was exponentially cheaper to utilize local resources than try to ship soldiers across an ocean. He was pleased he had his loyal colonials at hand.
Ciudad de Mexico (Formerly Tierra del Rey)
In October of 1821, Viceroy de Godoy formally read a list of accusations against the crown "on behalf of the people of New Spain". Called the Cry of Godoy, he called upon the whole of New Spain to form their own nation, which he would officially call Aztlan, after the probably mythical homeland of the Nahuatl people.
Similarly, the city of Tierra del Rey was renamed the Ciudad de Mexico, after the Mexico people.
The people of "Aztlan" were stunned, not least due to the minor fact that de Godoy had spent over two decades murdering or imprisoning any Republicans whom dared voice a desire for either independence or local government.
His allies had complete control over Veracruz, the vital port in the east, and Acapulco, the only significant port in the west. The abject inability of Spain to issue forth significant resources from Iberia to battle the rebellions in the Yucatan, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Granada led de Godoy to believe that he could get away with his coup d'état without significant resistance from Spain. To his mind, only the people of his newly proclaimed country (of which he would formally declare himself "President for Life") would threaten him.
In the meantime, he managed to sign a contract with the United East India Company to provide huge quantities of military armaments and powder from India. Going back east was Zacatecas silver to pay for the goods (the silver shipment back to Spain had been "held up" the previous winter)...and into his banking accounts in Goa and Madras.
Just in case.
Puerto Rico
Simon Bolivar was in his element. Despite his aristocratic heritage, Bolivar would enjoy leading an insurgency (mainly of slaves) against the Spanish Government of Puerto Rico. Oddly, it was the handful of Americans which had taken residence in Puerto Rico would lead the repression. After having fled America in the wake of the defeated American rebellion, General Andrew Jackson would prove himself the most dangerous adversary Bolivar had to fear.
Staying in the highlands, Bolivar led several raids and ambushes against the dogged North Carolinian.
Cartagena
After months of maneuvering, de Buonaparte would crush the colonial forces dispatched that summer from New Spain. He even managed to march further west to the southern border of the Intendancy of Panama.
The predominantly Royalist southwest of Granada - centered around Medellin and Bogota - remained to the south and de Buonaparte knew he could not hope to crush them with his current resources...not while also keeping an eye for Boves to the east.
Jose Tomas Boves still styled himself the leader of ALL of Granada, not just the eastern half. De Buonaparte and Miranda both agreed that Boves was more of a danger in the short term than either the isolated Royalists or a potential Spanish invasion.
Shortly after de Buonaparte arrived back in Cartagena, he learned of de Godoy's betrayal in New Spain (or Aztlan or whatever the hell he called it now) and rumors of an American "invasion" of Puerto Rico. De Buonaparte did not know what to make of the latter but both rebels agreed that this made meaningful Spanish resistance less likely in the near term.
De Buonaparte, whom was feeling poor after suffering from abdominal pains, would press to renew the attack now when at least one front was not likely to be attacked (the northern front against Spain). De Buonaparte would urge an attack on Caracas, the center of Boves' strength. But Miranda did not want to be see as an aggressor against a nominal "Republican" leader. He would rather make another attempt at Medellin.
Not particularly caring either way, de Buonaparte acceded.
At long as he could fight someone.
Manhattan
Though he loathed the expediency, President Rufus King would make a deal with the devil. In exchange for accepting all of the national laws passed regarding the new Provincial borders, the abolition of slavery and granting Negroes "rights", King would allow the Provinces of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina back into the fold.
King felt he had no other choice. The Spanish belligerence was getting worse and worse and, should war come, he could not risk a civil war while fighting a foreign power. America was lucky to come out of the last war as well as it did. Luck tended to be fickle.
Thus, the Legislatures of these Provinces held a caucus and formally agreed to all national laws passed while they were occupied by the Continental Army. Almost immediately, the soldiers would march out of these Provinces for the extremities of the nation: Santander, New Orleans, Biscayne Bay, Jamaica, St. Dominic, etc.
Fortunately, the navy was in moderately good shape since the last war. Every year a handful of new ships were produced thus the fleet was at least modern. More importantly, it was closer to the Caribbean than Spain's navy.
November, 1821
Madrid
King Luis III of Spain would not consider himself an impatient man but the third invasion by Americans of his realms would prove that the United American Provinces intended to attack his Empire until it ceased to exist.
Fortunately, his Empire numbered well into the millions. It was exponentially cheaper to utilize local resources than try to ship soldiers across an ocean. He was pleased he had his loyal colonials at hand.
Ciudad de Mexico (Formerly Tierra del Rey)
In October of 1821, Viceroy de Godoy formally read a list of accusations against the crown "on behalf of the people of New Spain". Called the Cry of Godoy, he called upon the whole of New Spain to form their own nation, which he would officially call Aztlan, after the probably mythical homeland of the Nahuatl people.
Similarly, the city of Tierra del Rey was renamed the Ciudad de Mexico, after the Mexico people.
The people of "Aztlan" were stunned, not least due to the minor fact that de Godoy had spent over two decades murdering or imprisoning any Republicans whom dared voice a desire for either independence or local government.
His allies had complete control over Veracruz, the vital port in the east, and Acapulco, the only significant port in the west. The abject inability of Spain to issue forth significant resources from Iberia to battle the rebellions in the Yucatan, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Granada led de Godoy to believe that he could get away with his coup d'état without significant resistance from Spain. To his mind, only the people of his newly proclaimed country (of which he would formally declare himself "President for Life") would threaten him.
In the meantime, he managed to sign a contract with the United East India Company to provide huge quantities of military armaments and powder from India. Going back east was Zacatecas silver to pay for the goods (the silver shipment back to Spain had been "held up" the previous winter)...and into his banking accounts in Goa and Madras.
Just in case.
Puerto Rico
Simon Bolivar was in his element. Despite his aristocratic heritage, Bolivar would enjoy leading an insurgency (mainly of slaves) against the Spanish Government of Puerto Rico. Oddly, it was the handful of Americans which had taken residence in Puerto Rico would lead the repression. After having fled America in the wake of the defeated American rebellion, General Andrew Jackson would prove himself the most dangerous adversary Bolivar had to fear.
Staying in the highlands, Bolivar led several raids and ambushes against the dogged North Carolinian.
Cartagena
After months of maneuvering, de Buonaparte would crush the colonial forces dispatched that summer from New Spain. He even managed to march further west to the southern border of the Intendancy of Panama.
The predominantly Royalist southwest of Granada - centered around Medellin and Bogota - remained to the south and de Buonaparte knew he could not hope to crush them with his current resources...not while also keeping an eye for Boves to the east.
Jose Tomas Boves still styled himself the leader of ALL of Granada, not just the eastern half. De Buonaparte and Miranda both agreed that Boves was more of a danger in the short term than either the isolated Royalists or a potential Spanish invasion.
Shortly after de Buonaparte arrived back in Cartagena, he learned of de Godoy's betrayal in New Spain (or Aztlan or whatever the hell he called it now) and rumors of an American "invasion" of Puerto Rico. De Buonaparte did not know what to make of the latter but both rebels agreed that this made meaningful Spanish resistance less likely in the near term.
De Buonaparte, whom was feeling poor after suffering from abdominal pains, would press to renew the attack now when at least one front was not likely to be attacked (the northern front against Spain). De Buonaparte would urge an attack on Caracas, the center of Boves' strength. But Miranda did not want to be see as an aggressor against a nominal "Republican" leader. He would rather make another attempt at Medellin.
Not particularly caring either way, de Buonaparte acceded.
At long as he could fight someone.
Manhattan
Though he loathed the expediency, President Rufus King would make a deal with the devil. In exchange for accepting all of the national laws passed regarding the new Provincial borders, the abolition of slavery and granting Negroes "rights", King would allow the Provinces of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina back into the fold.
King felt he had no other choice. The Spanish belligerence was getting worse and worse and, should war come, he could not risk a civil war while fighting a foreign power. America was lucky to come out of the last war as well as it did. Luck tended to be fickle.
Thus, the Legislatures of these Provinces held a caucus and formally agreed to all national laws passed while they were occupied by the Continental Army. Almost immediately, the soldiers would march out of these Provinces for the extremities of the nation: Santander, New Orleans, Biscayne Bay, Jamaica, St. Dominic, etc.
Fortunately, the navy was in moderately good shape since the last war. Every year a handful of new ships were produced thus the fleet was at least modern. More importantly, it was closer to the Caribbean than Spain's navy.
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Because this was originally "Southern" California before they broke off into Borealia and Australia.
I'm actually surprised that other regions had not been called "Australia" before your country got its name.
The Lesser Antilles has been largely emptied out after a lack of slave trade for 75 years or so and a negative 5% to 10% annual demographic change.
Not overly much is happening in La Plata, Chile, Peru or Brazil but they will no doubt be called upon by Spain to help put down the other rebellions.
Chapter 307
Chapter 307
January, 1822
Zacatecas
The loathsome swindler Gregor MacGregor would not halt his games. Having abandoned hundreds of people off the Miskito Coast, he would learn later that the entire coast had come under control of the rebels, either Mayan or Nicaraguan. MacGregor didn’t care much either way. Apparently, as they retreated from the coast, the Spanish authorities would bring the American prisoners with them to Roatan Island where they were kept in terrible conditions.
Never missing a beat, MacGregor passed through the port of Galveztown and rode inland. This was dangerous as there were still horse-dealers in the region whom he owed money. However, he was putting together a group of bandits for the biggest score of all…
Robbing the Zacatecas mint. Almost alone of the major posts of New Spain, the Governor of Zacatecas Province would remain loyal to Spain. His militia humiliated “President” de Godoy’s forces dispatched to seize the silver-producing region. Many suspected this was more due to the less-than-total support for de Godoy among the people and the militia rather than any love of the King of Spain in Zacatecas.
With the forces of Zacatecas focused southwards, the silver mines continued to produce and fill the mint. This proved too tempting as MacGregor and his new friends would gather up several dozen desperadoes and ride south for the bank. In the night, they carried off hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of silver. The gang fled north of the border and probably rode west.
MacGregor knew his enemies were closing in and opted for the safest path: he rode west to Yerba Buena and hopped a United East India Company ship bound for India…leaving many of his allies in the port city still expecting him to divide up the loot.
The episode would have consequences well out of scale of its importance. With the show of weakness by de Godoy’s forces, the ACTUAL republican forces in New Spain rose up en masse and cast him off. Most of the militia under his nominal command under a Iturbide would revolt and start killing their officers. Iturbide, whom had been bought off years ago by de Godoy, would be among the first to fall. Another aristocrat name Santa Anna would only barely escape with his skin. He would flee north to America and wound up in New Orleans where he offered his services to the United American Provinces.
De Godoy himself learned of these events just as a mob was forming in the newly rechristened “Mexico City”. Reading the writing on the wall, de Godoy fled for Acapulco where several old allies maintained control. He would board a UEIC ship bound for Asia.
By happenstance, de Godoy and MacGregor’s ships arrived at the half-way point of Honolulu on the same date. As the ships provisioned, de Godoy learned of MacGregor’s feat and invited him to dinner.
The two wealthy men laughed and spoke of their future. With huge amounts of wealth, both sought to become major shareholders in the United East India Company.
Madrid
Decrying the “invasions” of their territory by American filibusters and accusing America of backing de Godoy’s coup, the King of Spain would declare war upon the United American Provinces as the emissary Plenipotentiary, John Quincy Adams, sputtered in protest. Adams had been personally requested by the President to sail to Spain and resolve the tensions. To his deep embarrassment, the situation deteriorated further.
It appeared that, once more, America and Spain were at war and, for the life of him, Adams could not understand why. Surely, the King knew that a few hundred filibusters did not represent America.
But the Spanish public was as outraged as the King and appeared fully in support of the declaration of war.
January, 1822
Zacatecas
The loathsome swindler Gregor MacGregor would not halt his games. Having abandoned hundreds of people off the Miskito Coast, he would learn later that the entire coast had come under control of the rebels, either Mayan or Nicaraguan. MacGregor didn’t care much either way. Apparently, as they retreated from the coast, the Spanish authorities would bring the American prisoners with them to Roatan Island where they were kept in terrible conditions.
Never missing a beat, MacGregor passed through the port of Galveztown and rode inland. This was dangerous as there were still horse-dealers in the region whom he owed money. However, he was putting together a group of bandits for the biggest score of all…
Robbing the Zacatecas mint. Almost alone of the major posts of New Spain, the Governor of Zacatecas Province would remain loyal to Spain. His militia humiliated “President” de Godoy’s forces dispatched to seize the silver-producing region. Many suspected this was more due to the less-than-total support for de Godoy among the people and the militia rather than any love of the King of Spain in Zacatecas.
With the forces of Zacatecas focused southwards, the silver mines continued to produce and fill the mint. This proved too tempting as MacGregor and his new friends would gather up several dozen desperadoes and ride south for the bank. In the night, they carried off hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of silver. The gang fled north of the border and probably rode west.
MacGregor knew his enemies were closing in and opted for the safest path: he rode west to Yerba Buena and hopped a United East India Company ship bound for India…leaving many of his allies in the port city still expecting him to divide up the loot.
The episode would have consequences well out of scale of its importance. With the show of weakness by de Godoy’s forces, the ACTUAL republican forces in New Spain rose up en masse and cast him off. Most of the militia under his nominal command under a Iturbide would revolt and start killing their officers. Iturbide, whom had been bought off years ago by de Godoy, would be among the first to fall. Another aristocrat name Santa Anna would only barely escape with his skin. He would flee north to America and wound up in New Orleans where he offered his services to the United American Provinces.
De Godoy himself learned of these events just as a mob was forming in the newly rechristened “Mexico City”. Reading the writing on the wall, de Godoy fled for Acapulco where several old allies maintained control. He would board a UEIC ship bound for Asia.
By happenstance, de Godoy and MacGregor’s ships arrived at the half-way point of Honolulu on the same date. As the ships provisioned, de Godoy learned of MacGregor’s feat and invited him to dinner.
The two wealthy men laughed and spoke of their future. With huge amounts of wealth, both sought to become major shareholders in the United East India Company.
Madrid
Decrying the “invasions” of their territory by American filibusters and accusing America of backing de Godoy’s coup, the King of Spain would declare war upon the United American Provinces as the emissary Plenipotentiary, John Quincy Adams, sputtered in protest. Adams had been personally requested by the President to sail to Spain and resolve the tensions. To his deep embarrassment, the situation deteriorated further.
It appeared that, once more, America and Spain were at war and, for the life of him, Adams could not understand why. Surely, the King knew that a few hundred filibusters did not represent America.
But the Spanish public was as outraged as the King and appeared fully in support of the declaration of war.
Chapter 308
Chapter 308
March, 1822
Manhattan
General Frederick Hohenzollern took a few hours to witness Congress half-heartedly declaring war upon Spain in response to the shocking dispatches from Madrid informed them that Spain had formalized hostilities. For all the embarrassing incidents over the past few years, few in Manhattan expected real war to commence, including Hohenzollern himself. Spain had warred with America twice before in the past thirty years and gained nothing from the experiences.
Why try to repeat this now?
More mystifying, the King of Spain opted to initiate hostilities when half if its Empire lay under rebellion already.
Hohenzollern sighed. He would prefer to remain at home with his wife and children but his duty called. No longer a young man, Hohenzollern was still young enough to face battle and he vowed not to hide behind younger men like Winfield Scott, Edmund Gaines, Johnathan Swift and Alexander Macomb. He hated the old men whom issued orders from the safety of their offices. However, with so much of the local Spanish Empire under revolt, it was uncertain exactly WHERE America and Spain were to fight.
Hohenzollern and his General Staff naturally had been keenly watching the rebellions against the Spanish Crown particularly in New Spain. No one had foreseen the loathsome Manuel de Godoy pronouncing himself "President for Life" though his rapid fall was less surprising. As the man had spent decades propping up...and BEING propped up...by the Royal Authority. Once that authority was removed and he alienated the clergy, royalists and conservatives, he had no power base capable of sustaining himself against the revolutionaries. His authority folded almost immediately.
As de Godoy fled with a large portion of New Spain's (or Aztlan's) treasury, the vast colony fell into abject civil war between the reformers and conservative factions.
Hohenzollern was uncertain what, if anything, America would do regarding New Spain...or Aztlan...or whatever it was called. Would America invade?
The General knew that such political considerations were beyond his purview. But what could and would America do to retaliate against Spain beyond assist the revolutionaries?
There was a slave rebellion in Puerto Rico, a civil war in New Spain (or whatever it was called), the ongoing independence of the Mayan Republic, the newfound independence of Nicaragua and the civil war in Granada. What direction would America take with her rapidly consolidating forces?
Having seen the possibility of war, however remote, looming, Hohenzollern had worked closely with the Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy to determine the optimal regions to attack. Naturally, the preferred target would be Cuba, just off the coast of South Georgia, which would remain the greatest threat to America's independence. However, this brought many problems, not the least that Havana was the most formidable fortress city in the western hemisphere. Worse, the tropical diseases would likely wither any invading army.
It would be up to the President to determine the choice of target.
Unfortunately, Rufus King would not get the chance to determine the nation's course in war. He was discovered dead the following morning in his bed.
March, 1822
Manhattan
General Frederick Hohenzollern took a few hours to witness Congress half-heartedly declaring war upon Spain in response to the shocking dispatches from Madrid informed them that Spain had formalized hostilities. For all the embarrassing incidents over the past few years, few in Manhattan expected real war to commence, including Hohenzollern himself. Spain had warred with America twice before in the past thirty years and gained nothing from the experiences.
Why try to repeat this now?
More mystifying, the King of Spain opted to initiate hostilities when half if its Empire lay under rebellion already.
Hohenzollern sighed. He would prefer to remain at home with his wife and children but his duty called. No longer a young man, Hohenzollern was still young enough to face battle and he vowed not to hide behind younger men like Winfield Scott, Edmund Gaines, Johnathan Swift and Alexander Macomb. He hated the old men whom issued orders from the safety of their offices. However, with so much of the local Spanish Empire under revolt, it was uncertain exactly WHERE America and Spain were to fight.
Hohenzollern and his General Staff naturally had been keenly watching the rebellions against the Spanish Crown particularly in New Spain. No one had foreseen the loathsome Manuel de Godoy pronouncing himself "President for Life" though his rapid fall was less surprising. As the man had spent decades propping up...and BEING propped up...by the Royal Authority. Once that authority was removed and he alienated the clergy, royalists and conservatives, he had no power base capable of sustaining himself against the revolutionaries. His authority folded almost immediately.
As de Godoy fled with a large portion of New Spain's (or Aztlan's) treasury, the vast colony fell into abject civil war between the reformers and conservative factions.
Hohenzollern was uncertain what, if anything, America would do regarding New Spain...or Aztlan...or whatever it was called. Would America invade?
The General knew that such political considerations were beyond his purview. But what could and would America do to retaliate against Spain beyond assist the revolutionaries?
There was a slave rebellion in Puerto Rico, a civil war in New Spain (or whatever it was called), the ongoing independence of the Mayan Republic, the newfound independence of Nicaragua and the civil war in Granada. What direction would America take with her rapidly consolidating forces?
Having seen the possibility of war, however remote, looming, Hohenzollern had worked closely with the Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy to determine the optimal regions to attack. Naturally, the preferred target would be Cuba, just off the coast of South Georgia, which would remain the greatest threat to America's independence. However, this brought many problems, not the least that Havana was the most formidable fortress city in the western hemisphere. Worse, the tropical diseases would likely wither any invading army.
It would be up to the President to determine the choice of target.
Unfortunately, Rufus King would not get the chance to determine the nation's course in war. He was discovered dead the following morning in his bed.
He is the second president to die naturally it office. If you catch any forms of dying office he is the third
So what happens to New Spain in the future? UAP will not annex all of it because of relatively obvious reasons. I hope a sane guy gets to lead that place.
And Santa Anna going American? That's neat. I actually expected him to go south. You know, be a protege of Nappy or something.
And Santa Anna going American? That's neat. I actually expected him to go south. You know, be a protege of Nappy or something.
Chapter 309
Chapter 309
March, 1822
Manhattan
President “Joseph” Fernandez had never expected to ascend to the Presidency. Born in the now-US territory of Vizcaya, he had been accepted into West Point at eighteen and learned the harsh lessons of being a Catholic in America. Oddly, his native language of Spanish was less a hindrance in certain circles than his faith. Some regions were indifferent to the faith. Others would rather truncate America’s population by banning Catholic immigration and expelling the Catholic “Latin” Provinces.
In the Army, this seldom mattered as petty jealousies were ignored in the harsh life of the soldier. Fernandez was stationed frequently (including during the last war) in the Latin Provinces and eventually was elected to Congress. Tired of boring peacetime garrison duty commanding a few hundred men, Fernandez accepted the nomination and spent a few years in Manhattan, which would become like a second home to him.
He knew that his selection for the office of Deputy President was purely political, a brazen attempt to curry favor in swing provinces (those Provinces which would loath a Catholic in high office would not vote for Rufus King anyway). Yet, despite the previous two Presidents prior to Rufus King dying in office, no one seemed to think it was likely that Fernandez would actually ascend to the Presidency. King was an older man but in adequate shape and there was no reason to suspect the Deputy would do anything but write his memoirs and collect his generous salary.
But President he now was and President he vowed to be.
Unfortunately, Fernandez would encounter resistance. His Secretary of State, Henry Clay, would attempt to seize upon this moment to pressure Fernandez to his will. Having faced Spanish bullets and the ire of West Point drill sergeants, the Vizcayan was unimpressed with the politician’s brazen bullying.
With an amused smirk, Fernandez would retort that there was no Constitutional Amendment making the Secretary of State President when the elected man died and there would be none in the immediate future. Fernandez then demanded that Clay either pledge the same loyalty he had showed Rufus King (or better yet, more) or resign his position. Clay blustered and sputtered…but could not bring himself to resign. He would be out of power for at least a year (when the next session of Congress was sworn in). Besides, this war with Spain was what Clay had secretly wanted. He could not abandon his country in time of need, not with this man as President.
In truth, Clay had no antipathy to Fernandez, his politics or his faith. Clay’s actions were simply a power play…one that failed.
Clay backpeddled when he realized that no one else in the cabinet from Secretary of War Crawford, Attorney General Livingston or proposed Secretary of the Navy John Quincy Adams (Adams had returned from Madrid with an urge to renew his public service) were interested in supporting his little coup. Worse, his attempts to unconstitutionally seize power were not to be well received by the public as both his opportunism and his humiliating tongue-lashing by the President would make him a mocked figure in the press (his enemies made sure that the entire nation knew of his actions).
Fernandez, whom sympathized with the rebels of New Spain (or Aztlan), would formally declare that this was not to be a war of conquest. Instead, his nation would “support the freedom” of their neighbors and brothers to the south….on the mainland, anyway. He fell short of promising a direct invasion of New Spain but ordered supplies from the American border Provinces to be sent to the rebels without delay.
As far as he was concerned, though, the islands of the West Indies were fair game for American conquest and he ordered General Hohenzollern and the Admiralty into action as soon as practical.
Western Granada
For the second time in as many months, General de Buonaparte would rout the Royalist forces controlling the far west of Granada. Centered in Medellin, Bogota and as far south as Quito, the Royalists had a very long supply line. Very few resources could be shipped along the western coast of South America. There were generally few trained Spanish soldiers in South America in the first place and Iberia had not sent more than a few thousand since the troubles began.
With half the Empire in revolt and now at war with America, the fragile military and economic hegemony of Spain was fragmenting.
While de Buonparte was not yet prepared for an invasion of the west, he was rapidly gathering up his forces for the attempt.
Aztlan
Almost ignoring the rest of the world, the denizens of New Spain (or Aztlan) would continue to tear into one another. Royalists feuded with Republicans, country versus city, Federalist versus Centralist, strong man versus strongman, Church versus apostate.
By Spring, the entirety of New Spain / Aztlan was under complete civil war.
In the south, a mulatto by the name of Vicente Guerrero would assume control of the Republicans. Other generals would control other regions. In the American province of Santander, a new arrival from New Orleans named Santa Anna would be appointed a Brigadier in the Provincial militia.
March, 1822
Manhattan
President “Joseph” Fernandez had never expected to ascend to the Presidency. Born in the now-US territory of Vizcaya, he had been accepted into West Point at eighteen and learned the harsh lessons of being a Catholic in America. Oddly, his native language of Spanish was less a hindrance in certain circles than his faith. Some regions were indifferent to the faith. Others would rather truncate America’s population by banning Catholic immigration and expelling the Catholic “Latin” Provinces.
In the Army, this seldom mattered as petty jealousies were ignored in the harsh life of the soldier. Fernandez was stationed frequently (including during the last war) in the Latin Provinces and eventually was elected to Congress. Tired of boring peacetime garrison duty commanding a few hundred men, Fernandez accepted the nomination and spent a few years in Manhattan, which would become like a second home to him.
He knew that his selection for the office of Deputy President was purely political, a brazen attempt to curry favor in swing provinces (those Provinces which would loath a Catholic in high office would not vote for Rufus King anyway). Yet, despite the previous two Presidents prior to Rufus King dying in office, no one seemed to think it was likely that Fernandez would actually ascend to the Presidency. King was an older man but in adequate shape and there was no reason to suspect the Deputy would do anything but write his memoirs and collect his generous salary.
But President he now was and President he vowed to be.
Unfortunately, Fernandez would encounter resistance. His Secretary of State, Henry Clay, would attempt to seize upon this moment to pressure Fernandez to his will. Having faced Spanish bullets and the ire of West Point drill sergeants, the Vizcayan was unimpressed with the politician’s brazen bullying.
With an amused smirk, Fernandez would retort that there was no Constitutional Amendment making the Secretary of State President when the elected man died and there would be none in the immediate future. Fernandez then demanded that Clay either pledge the same loyalty he had showed Rufus King (or better yet, more) or resign his position. Clay blustered and sputtered…but could not bring himself to resign. He would be out of power for at least a year (when the next session of Congress was sworn in). Besides, this war with Spain was what Clay had secretly wanted. He could not abandon his country in time of need, not with this man as President.
In truth, Clay had no antipathy to Fernandez, his politics or his faith. Clay’s actions were simply a power play…one that failed.
Clay backpeddled when he realized that no one else in the cabinet from Secretary of War Crawford, Attorney General Livingston or proposed Secretary of the Navy John Quincy Adams (Adams had returned from Madrid with an urge to renew his public service) were interested in supporting his little coup. Worse, his attempts to unconstitutionally seize power were not to be well received by the public as both his opportunism and his humiliating tongue-lashing by the President would make him a mocked figure in the press (his enemies made sure that the entire nation knew of his actions).
Fernandez, whom sympathized with the rebels of New Spain (or Aztlan), would formally declare that this was not to be a war of conquest. Instead, his nation would “support the freedom” of their neighbors and brothers to the south….on the mainland, anyway. He fell short of promising a direct invasion of New Spain but ordered supplies from the American border Provinces to be sent to the rebels without delay.
As far as he was concerned, though, the islands of the West Indies were fair game for American conquest and he ordered General Hohenzollern and the Admiralty into action as soon as practical.
Western Granada
For the second time in as many months, General de Buonaparte would rout the Royalist forces controlling the far west of Granada. Centered in Medellin, Bogota and as far south as Quito, the Royalists had a very long supply line. Very few resources could be shipped along the western coast of South America. There were generally few trained Spanish soldiers in South America in the first place and Iberia had not sent more than a few thousand since the troubles began.
With half the Empire in revolt and now at war with America, the fragile military and economic hegemony of Spain was fragmenting.
While de Buonparte was not yet prepared for an invasion of the west, he was rapidly gathering up his forces for the attempt.
Aztlan
Almost ignoring the rest of the world, the denizens of New Spain (or Aztlan) would continue to tear into one another. Royalists feuded with Republicans, country versus city, Federalist versus Centralist, strong man versus strongman, Church versus apostate.
By Spring, the entirety of New Spain / Aztlan was under complete civil war.
In the south, a mulatto by the name of Vicente Guerrero would assume control of the Republicans. Other generals would control other regions. In the American province of Santander, a new arrival from New Orleans named Santa Anna would be appointed a Brigadier in the Provincial militia.
I think I answered most of these questions with my last chapter.
I'm not sure if Nappy would live long enough to have a real protégé.