Part 45: Europa Universalis III: Chapter 15 - Seven Years' War: 1560 - 1580

1560 - 1580: Seven Years' War

The Imperial Administration Reform Act is victorious in the Reichstag, which continues to be dominated by moderates and reformers who would rather see the Emperor's attention focused solely on internal matters.


Another loan is taken out in 1562 to fund the construction of a Refinery in Franken.



Some of the new taxes gained through the more efficient burueacracy is also spent on the construction of a new palace in Württemberg.



Ernst III seems content to follow the Reichstag's non-interventionist policy, and when the Militia Act appears before it in 1564, it is simply seen as yet another reform aimed at improving the efficiency of Imperial government by clearly designating the chain of command and structural organization of the Imperial Army. It is not until the act has passed that the Reichstag realizes that they have just signed away their veto over military funding and placed absolute control of the Imperial army in the hands of the very much interventionist Emperor Ernst.



Appearing before his generals, Ernst explains his plans: The island of Iceland is a catholic stronghold where the efforts of Protestant Scandinavia to convert the population have failed, and where discontent and revolts against the Scandinavian crown are brewing. Scandinavia, Ernst claims, is preparing to try and convert the population through force of arms, and as Emperor he sees himself forced to intervene to brotect his brothers of the faith.


In preparation, a small army of 5,000 has already been sent to Scotland, where it has been given temporary lodgings by the British Crown.


In April of 1565, Emperor Ernst demands that Scandinavia grant Iceland the status of a Swabian protectorate. A number of forged letters outlining Scandinavia's plans to massacre the Icelandic population and replace it with Protestant Swedish settlers are circulated along with his declaration.


Naturally, Scandinavia refuses his demand, and Ernst declares war. While his forged proof is hardly enough to convince foreign rulers of the righteous in his case, the general population of Swabia support Ernst, reducing the domestic impact of his belligerence.


Despite the fact that Scandinavia is allied with the Byzantines, Swabia's coalition has the numbers on their side, though as usual Great Britain can only really be relied on for its fleet.


Troops immediately land on the undefended Iceland, beginning to lay siege to its forts.


The British fleet enters the Baltic, beginning to blockade Scandinavian ports.


The 1st and 2nd armies are sent against Byzantium, attacking their Italian holdings, which Ernst hopes to liberate for Swabia.


Several Byzantine counter-attacks are driven off, though each time at a high cost - the Byzantines have excellent cavalry, but lack the discipline to stay in the fight as long as the battle-hardened Swabians.



The war takes a turn for the worse in August of 1566, as domestic opposition results in King Henry withdrawing from the war, even agreeing to pay the Byzantines reparations for sunk ships.


A month later, Iceland has been fully occupied, and the Swabian fleet patrols Öresund, preventing any chance of a Scandinavian counter-attack.


Facing constant attacks from the Byzantines, the Imperial army slowly advances across Croatia. By 1569, most land west of Serbia is in Swabia's hands.



However, Swabia is beginning to feel the effects of war, with regular risings, and its manpower reserves depleted from costly battles.


Zeta falls in 1571, but is retaken by a massive Byzantine counterattack of 30,000 men, which almost succeeds in destroying the combined 1st and 2nd armies altogether. As it is, several regiments are wiped out and only 2,000 men manage to withdraw, retreating all the way back to Swabian soil.


Byzantine fleets are also blockading Swabian ports, driving up war exhaustion, and the Swabian fleet is recalled from the Baltic to begin clearing the Mediterranean of enemy ships.


The Byzantine Emperor asks for peace in August of 1571. The Reichstag and his advisors implore Ernst to accept it - risings are becoming more and more common, one even seizing control of the Imperial City of Mantua - but Ernst stubbornly refuses, determined to get at least something out of this war.


Having driven off the Byzantine galleys, the Imperial Navy begins to blockade Constantinople, preventing the crossing of troops from Anatolia.


The 3rd and 4th armies are sent to meet the huge Byzantine army advancing across Croatia, and after a ferocious battle, succeed in encircling and destroying it, though at the cost of almost 30,000 swabian troops.


The remaining 10,000 troops advance across Greece mostly unopposed, as the bulk of the Byzantine army is stuck in Anatolia. Ignoring the various cities and forts in his way, Ernst is focused on one goal - Constantinople.


Second Rome is besieged, and spies are sent into the city to bribe disloyal palace servants and disgruntled officers. One bribed guard captain manages to open a side door, and the Imperial army swarms into Constantinople, seizing control of the city.



Ernst's victory comes at a much needed time - Swabia is crippled by war exhaustion, and there are no longer any manpower reserves to cover its losses.


The Byzantine Emperor refuses to cede any Byzantine territory, but agrees to give Swabia Iceland, something that does little to endear him to the the Scandinavian King. Peace is signed in December of 1572, bringing an end to seven long years of war.


Iceland now belongs to Swabia, giving it an Atlantic naval base, though the price paid for it has been extremely high.


Of course, many Icelanders aren't too happy about trading one overlord for another, and are just as willing to rebel against the Catholic Ernst III as they were against the Protestant Christian IV.


Revolts by Italian patriots and Swabian peasants are also quite common, but are kept in check by the Imperial army, which has now been fully recalled to Swabia.


Ernst III leaves Italy via ship to travel to his new possession in July of 1573. Outside the coast of Ireland, his ship is caught in a storm and crashes into the rocks of the shore. All aboard drown, including Ernst III, whom many say to have justly received God's reward for all the suffering he inflicted.

His son Friedrich II is a more balanced man, talented in all fields, though he is not the genius that his grandfather was. The Duchy of Meissen has lost most of its support, some of which has instead switched to Saxony. Still, Swabia receives three votes to Saxony's two, and the Imperial crown remains in Hohenzollern hands.


With Friedrich II's ascent, Pommerania is formally made a part of Swabia as well, a move that draws little protest from its largely loyal population. Soldiers and missionaries are sent in to secure Swabia's hold over its new domain.



The effects of the Imperial administrative reform have been profound, and Swabia has benefitted greatly from it through the establishment of a new class of court bureaucrats that have done much to strengthen the King's control over the means of production. This new Administrative Monarchy is a great boon for Swabia's coffers.



France proves itself as treacherous as ever by first severing its alliance with Avignon, whose battle for independence they sponsored, and then declaring war on their former protectorate in a purely territorial move that Friedrich publically condemns.


A new Byzantine Emperor, Manuel V, sits on its throne, and begins to carefully reach out to Friedrich in hopes of repairing the badly damaged relations between the two halves of the Roman Empire. A marriage between Friedrich's sister and Manuel's uncle is arranged in 1575.


A squabble breaks out in the Reichstag over the rights to Ancona - as a descendant to the former liege of the Duke of Urbino, Friedrich claims rights to its lands, a move that is obviously seen as threatening by Austria, who consider themselves rightful rulers of Urbino by inheritance.


Through the people of Iceland, Swabia gains access to some relatively old maps of Scandinavia's widespread colonies in the new world and Greenland. Though the information is out of date, it is nonetheless helpful in mapping out which parts of the New World have been claimed by who.


Though it has been several years since the end of the Seven Years' War, Swabia has not fully recovered, and sporadic risings in Italy continue.


Conversion of Pommerania goes smoothly, though it retains a strong Protestant minority, protected by special rights negotiated for over the years under Swabian overlordship.


In November of 1579 France decides to make yet another play for the Rheinland by attacking the tiny Republic of Cologne. Swabia and France are yet again at war, and this time there is no British fleet to blockade the Frenchmen into submission.