1603 Spring
The War of Iberian Succession began. Yes. it’s a-century- earlier-English-version of the War of the Spanish Succession triggered by Louis XIV of France(1701-1714). Almost everything is just as I always planned.
While Spain(*Iberian Union of Spain & Portugal to be more exact) became bankrupt with 140 million Ducat worth of debt – and they owe me 40 million Ducat – and France went to ruins due to the long civil war between the Catholic and the Huguenots, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Netherlands(* The United Kingdom for short from now.) – my kingdom. I’ve inherited England from my mother Mary I and inherited the Netherlands from my father Felipe II. And I’ve conquered Scotland and Ireland, also reclaimed Calais in exchange for supporting Henry IV during the French Civil War. - became wealthy.
What was out of the blue was the betrayal of France – my daughter Elizabeth(*Not Elizabeth I in original history, but a girl born between me and the late Maria, the princess of Austria. She’s currently the regent of France and the mother of Louis XIII.) to be exact – since they were supposed to be on our side, attacking Spain with us.
But, since I had a hunch she might betray me at this moment, I wasn’t angry. I was disappointed. She had my characteristics, but not my wits.
“Are you waging a 2 front war, my girl?”
That was the first sentence I’ve said when I heard her betrayal.
‘Yes, it’s a wise move that you’ve betrayed me now, my girl. If not now, you could never stop me later.‘
But, although the direction was correct, the basic preparations were too clumsy. If I were in her shoes, I would never, ever, have had a feud with the French nobles.
As Trump said, politics is the art of the deal. Although one man(or woman) might be strong, no one’s power is stronger than the sum of all other’s power.
The Noble, The Bourgeoisie, The Church, The King, ... etc. Each of them is all interest groups.
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Politics is a skill that making his ideal into reality by compromising and log-rolling with several interest groups. Forcing your ideal to others with power is a war. War, in the short run, might be the most efficient strategy to get what you want. But, in the long run, it makes countless enemies, just like Napoleon and Hitler did.
If Elizabeth-the-regent-of-France wanted to rule France as the-De-Facto-Queen-of-France, she shouldn’t have crossed the Nobles, although choosing to side with the Bourgeoisie and distancing herself from the Aristocrats.
“So...you‘re just a mere lioness, huh?“
In the wild, the lioness is more active than the lion. Without mane, she’s not splendid like a lion. But lioness doesn’t care and always in the led during the hunt and hurt a lot. However, she doesn’t express her agony outwards and always courageous. Okay, that’s a good characteristic, not as a King but as a Margrave.
“Gather the army. I shall slay the donkey and the lioness, and will become the ruler of entire Europe!”
”Yes, your majesty!”
‘How disappointing. Not a single child of mine is apt to be a king.’
My eldest daughter Elizabeth should have been a Margrave, the Prince of Wales and my eldest son Richard is born to be a scholar. And my youngest daughter Jane, who is just 10 years old, is just an ordinary sociable princess, who likes clothes and cosmetics and talking with her maids. All of them are not fit to be a king like me.
‘Should I assassinate that Irish bitch by the name of Anna and get a mistress or a new wife and have another child?’
No, let’s forget it. For one thing, I’m currently on a war. And another thing, I don’t want to follow my grandfather - on my mother’s side – Henry VIII that is - ‘s footsteps.
‘Just my luck.’
Maurice, the Prince of Orange and the older brother of the Princess of Wales(My daughter-in-law Emilia) became the commander in chief. Since my daughter showed a ‘Line Infantry’ strategy, I have to counter her with that.
The strategy was simple.
I. Takedown Paris ASAP
II. Make France surrender.
III. Surround and attack Iberia from all directions.
IV. Make Iberia surrender.
How is it this simple? First, Iberia can’t even pay the soldiers’ salary due to endless debts and hyperinflation. And France is a divided house with a feud between the Royal and the aristocrats, so, if Paris is taken down, the rest will topple just like the house of cards.
And it has to be this simple. Why? Soon, the war between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottomans will end. And when the war on the East is over, the Holy Roman Empire will turn it’s head to the West and will try to contain the expansion of the United Kingdom.
“Finish both of them before the Habsburg Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire returns to West Europe.”
That‘s what I‘ve said to my in-law Maurice the Prince of Orange, as I entrust him an army total of 200,000. 160,000 was from the United Kingdom and the rest were the mercenaries.
‘Finish the war before we have to fight with entire Europe.’
“Of course, your majesty.”
Indeed. Maurice knows it too. And so do all the congressmen, the high-rank nobles, bureaucrats and military officials, bankers, traders in the entire United Kingdom knows that fact. In the worst case, the United Kingdom has to fight with entire Europe, just like the Louis XIII’s France did just like the War of the Spanish Succession or the Napoleon’s revolutionary France during the French Revolution or Hitler’s Nazi Germany did at WWII.