Concert of Europe

[King Jan III Sobieski]

Rumors! Major events will happen next chapter! Stay tuned......

[Arjos]

*Excitement reaching unprecedented levels*

[SoFarSoGood]

Sorry... day late but orders sent for Kaisers approval.

[Greyblades]

OOC: Sorry for the late orders, kinda got a few things going on that are taking my attention.

IC, After deliberation Great Britain has decided to cease the supply of weaponry to the ottoman empire until the end of the Danish-Prussian conference whose deliberations will now also cover the Balkan situation, reestablishment, reassignment or extension of said support after the conference will depend on it's resolution.

[Franconicus]

An article in a Parisienne Paper:

Latest news from our reporter S. Latour straight from the front. Today he reports about a small town near Belgrade. After the retreat of the Turks from Belgrade, the small garrison of our small town also left the region to join the general flight. This opportunity was used by a small group of Serbian nationalists to occupy the cityhall and to raise a Serbian flag. This Serbian town was independant until next noon, when Hungarian husars appeared. They entered the town, welcomed by the Serbain population as well as by the Serbian militias. The commander of the husars set his headquarter in the cityhall, replacing the Serbian flag by the Austrian. Three hours later, Austrian infantry approached. It was a unit of Pandurs. The offiver of the Pandurs, obviously a higher rank than the husar's officer, received a report about the situation. Then he decided to disarm the Serbian militia and arrested them. During night they were executed as "armed bandits".

And here a paper from Marseille:
French merchants were attacked by a furious crowd at Tartous. They were able to flee with their ships, but lost all their goods. There are more reports about violation against Christians at the Levante. At Jerusalem a crowd of several tenthousand marched through the streets chasing and beating every Christian. Several churches were devasted.

[SoFarSoGood]

It is not Imperial policy to 'execute' armed militias, indeed those with military experience have the opportunity to enlist. Those who are armed but are without military experience and discipline constitute a threat to public order and are required to hand over their weapons and are then free.

[Franconicus]

In the official statement a speaker of the Austrian government told our newspaper, that [QUOTE=SoFarSoGood;2053479895]It is not Imperial policy to 'execute' armed militias[QUOTE]
Now we understand: it is the Austrian policy to disarm militias and to execute them "unarmed".

[King Jan III Sobieski]

Chapter will be done within a day! Sorry for the delay.... Writing is harder then I thought !

[Greyblades]

As I offer to all hosts; if there is any writing you feel comfortable with me writing, I'll do it.

[SoFarSoGood]

French newspapers have trouble doing anything but writing "...required to hand over their weapons and are then free." No execution is mentioned there.

[Greyblades]

OOC: is the article franconius produced real or just something he made up?

[Franconicus]

Well, I just found it in the papers lately! Thought it may be of interest!

But the important issue is how the Austrians and Russians deal with local nationalists, err fredom fighters err rebels err ruthless chriminals.

[SoFarSoGood]

We regard them as nationalists, not 'rebels' or 'criminals'. However the Kaiser duty is the care of ALL the people and therefore ill disciplined armed men are a threat to civil order. They can enlist and submit to military discipline if they wish to remain under arms or give up their arms so that they do not present a danger to any of the peaceful and law abiding local population.

[Greyblades]

Well, It's not hard to see you two are really bored. Maybe we should start the conference dialouge?

[SoFarSoGood]

I am agreeable: My position is that Shleswig-Holsetien is neither Danish nor Prussian.

[King Jan III Sobieski]

Chapter 2:





Hell on earth;





1/1/1843-12/31/1843:





The year started out in a retelaviiy good state from a social/economic standpoint. I will get to that in another part of the chapter. For the first few months all the nations was modernizing perfectly. However, towards the end, rebellion is slowing some nations down.







Military:



The Austrians have 68,000 men in the Balkans now. They send in 70,000 troops to assist the force and start to mobilize another 30,000 Austrian troops. They are also in the processing of raising

The Austrians at Belgrade are starting to recover there forces. The wounded from illness and the battle are sent back to Vienna within a month with no incident. The garrison is manned by only 18,000 men under Archduke Charles and crew. 2,000 additional men, all foot, are sent to Sarajevo and reach there a week later to join Warman's march on Sofia....



At Sarajevo General Warman is there with 50,000 men. They are building up the town just like at Belgrade. They are about to recieve 50,000 reinforcement at Sarajevo, and 20,000 at Belgrade of which 5,000 will rest and march right back out to Isai to help the Russians in time hopefully













Massarce of the Turks!



2/1/1843-2/2/1843



The Turkish garrison of 10,000 is resting one night when the Austrians attack. The Turks, caught off guard stand no chance. They form one pocket of strong resistance in the town square, a thousand of them. Fierce fighting goes on until the Austrians brings their cannons into the square and massacred the Turks. The fighting ends 12 hours later with the Turkish force wiped out and under 500 men for the Austrians on the rolls.







Austrians:



212 killed

288 wounded





Turks:

8,500 killed

1,300 captured

200 escaped







By This point the Turks now know the Austrians are not on their side anymore. General Warman8 prasies his troops and orders them to rebuild ASAP and they do so. They get word the Russians are about to move in a week and Warman quickly puts together a force to march to Sofia. He gets 80,000 men, half from Sarajevo, 38,000 from Hungary and 2,000 from Belgrade to form the 80,000 men. He also receives his friend Josiep Banaic who will also lead the force as his 2nd in command. 40,000 men stay as Sarajevo for the time being. They are waiting for a 15,000 man Neapolitan force,16,000 Swiss that will be led by Dufour when they arrive and 18,000 Poles aswell as the remaining 30,000 Austrians who are going to be here in a matter of weeks.. They starts towards Sofia with 80,000 men and 200 cannons in late February as 150,000 Russians start to surround Isai with 350 cannons and 5,000 Austrians rush to the scene as well with 12 light cannons.....



At Isai, The Russians/Austrians total 155,000 men under the commands of Mikhail Gorchakov, Valerian Engelhardt, General Baryatinsky and of Austria, General Benedek, a Hungarian. As they about to surrond they get news that the town is garrsion by 13,000 troops from the major battle last year over the Russians plus 50,000 men are outside the town waiting. A 20,000 man Turkish force under the command of a Polish general of all people, Henryk Dembiński. The Russian armies decides to attack the Turks while they still can under orders of the Tzar.



83,000 Turks 200 cannons .vs. 160,000 Russians/Austrians (5K) and a sudden arrival of 5K Balkan ill trained but well equipped volunteers, paid for by the Austrians and 362 cannons.





The Russians from the front of the city and the east hit hand on as the Austrians, all Hungarian Grenadiers, rush the city after a 24 bombement, opening up just a few breaches in the walls. Benedek leds his men from the front as well as Baryatinsky as the other two generals stay back to direct more of the fighting. The 50,000 Turks however fire volleys into the masses of Allies and they fall back. The Austrian light cannons fire half a dozen volleys getting direct hits on the dense Turkish position. This fight is being fought mass wise, like Napoleon in his later days. Russian cannons roar and rip into the lines. Finally, the Allies march again. After 5 minutes of volley fire, all the troops around the town fix bayonets and charge into the Turkish lines with cannons roaring from both sides. Men fall by the dozens. Limbs fly, heads blow apart as cannon balls rip though the lines. Bodies start pilling up 6 feet tall in some areas around the Turkish trenches. Finally, Benedek makes it into the city first and climbs the one city wall with 200 Hungarians and plants the Habsburg Double Eagle banner. The Russians surge in, not to be outdone. Now on the west side, where this is taking place, 1,000 Hungarian elite foot and 3,000 Russians are inside. On the eastern side Barakstiny is inside with 3,000 Russians as well. Men keep pouring in with cannons going.



However, the 20,000 Turks strike on the outside from all around and fought with great skill. 5,000 Balkan troops on the east side are almost wiped out but inflict heavy losses on the Turks and stop them there. On the South and North sides they start to gain ground and captures cannons, only to get push back by cannon volleys at point blank range, same as on the west side of the town.



The fighting in the town rages on. The Turkish commander is killed during the battle. 3 hours before the city falls due to a massive fire where many people die, General Benedek is killed by a sharpshooter during the street fighting and Barastinsky is seriously wounded and carried from the streets to a safe house in the town and treated. 3 days later, March 3, 1843, the town falls to the allied force. The Polish General is wounded and is captured by Hungarian Hussars. The new Austrian commander asks the Russians what they like to do with the Polish General. Hungarian Hussars and Russian Cossacks spent 2 weeks tracking down random men until they are stop by bigger foot troops.





Result:



Decisive Austro-Russian victory



Losses:





Allies: 40,000 men



Russians:

33,000 total:



28,500 KIA

2,500 WIA

1,500 dead from illness or missing.



30 cannons, 5 flags



Austrians:

3,000



1,800 + Benedek KIA

1,200 WIA

3 cannons,1 flag



Balkan Troops:

4,000



3,000 KIA

1,000 WIA/Missing



Turkish Army:



75,000 men



65,000 KIA

8,000 Wounded (captured to)

2,000 Captured



Remaining 8,000 escaped narrowly of which 2,000 died from cholera and 1,000 extra are captured.





















The Polish troops arrived in Isai after the battle. These Poles are the loyalist troops around and was hard to get, very hard. 16,000 Swiss arrive in Sarajevo as well as the 15,000 Italians and General Dufour leaves Belgrade with his new fresh force to join them, bringing the expensive Swiss to 18,500. The Austrians finally make it and the two forces, 35,000 Austrians under Ferenic Ottinger, Swiss under Dufor and Neapolitans under a new general, they start marching south as fast as they can, destroying all Turkish towns but sparing all the friendly ones and feeding the hungry there. They are only harassed by small amounts of men. Egypt has entered the war with 25,000 men and are fighting the Turks. No major battle yet in 1843 but Turks are figuring out what to do.



Take over of Cyprus:



It goes well for the French and their couple thousand troops. They take over the island with only 300 men killed and 200 lost and killed/wound/captured 3,000 Turks. However, some French and British ships get into a strap and 30 French sailors and 10 British are killed. The French almost capture a ship of British weapons heading to the Turks, or what they THINK is British weapons.





French/Greek Victory



Assault on Sofia:



General Warman8 reaches Sofia and it is garrison only by 15,000 men by Omar Pasha. But they are ready for them.



Assault on Sofia!:

May 5th, 1843 ;



General Warman8 is in a Hussar uniform on a hilltop with his men at the south of the town. He gives the order to attack. The town has been bombed for 3 days now, and allegedeary the Sultan is heading out personally for one last try to save his empire with 50,000 elite troops at his head but it will take months at the earliest before the two sides fight, probably not until early 1844.



Banaic attacks with his Croat pandours and mounted and dismounted hussars against the south and west of the walls (he is at the west) . He looks back and faintly sees Warman watching him. Cannons roar on that side and his men scream as 35 of them get killed in a matter of 5 seconds from direct rifle and cannons fire from the walls. On the East and North Austrian troops start pouring into the town. After 2 hours Warman rides down and jumps over the debris of the South wall with his bodyguard and he joins the fight. There are now 3,000 citizens in the fight and the Turks are putting up a good fight. Warman is shot in the arm but is OK. He kills his attacker with his pistol and then another with a Sabre. One tries to rip off his MTO but he is shot in the head by a Austrian line solider. The solider later is award a MTO award by Warman. Franz Schilk finally captured Omar Pasha, a former Austrian trooper from Croatia (A Serb Croat). His whole bodyguard was killed in the fierce fighting. Finally he surrenders the town.









Result:

Decisive Austrian Victory



Losses:



Austrian:

13,800 men



10,000 KIA

2,500 Wounded

1,300 missing or died from a small outbreak of illness before the assault





Turks:



15,000 troops

6,000 KIA

9,000 wounded/captured





3,500 additional citizens killed/wounded

1,500 captured



Grand Turkish total:



20,000 losses































68,500 men Allied Force reach Bosnia then they march onwards so fast they outplace their supply lines. They march upwards east to guard the left flank of Warman at the Kosovo region so their supply lines can catch up.



















In August-December 1843 Revolutions finally come (5 years early!). They come with warning in Austria and Russia, but not much warning. The cost of the war in Austria was paid for in full in year 1 but now it is hardly cover. Another year and Austria will need to get more money or star taking out loans as in years back (OCC: In game 1). 80,000 Hungarians rise up under Kossuth/Gorgey, 30,000 unloyal Poles rise up, 15,000 Italians from Piedmont attack Radesky. 5,000 Irish rise up and 15,000 southern French rise up.

Rest is soon to come!

[Greyblades]

This is the first warning to France, Great Britain is devoted to the protection of it's people, I expect the french government to pay reparation to the families of those killed and to know that we will not tolerate further attacks on our trade.

[SoFarSoGood]

Great chapter ty! Kaiser must have altered my plans alot lol.

Statement from the Austrian War Office:

"If Austria has inadvertently killed any soldiers serving in British colours we shall pay full recompensation.

To Commanders of Iasi, Sarajevo and Sofia the following instruction has been issued: Take such steps as are necessary to maintain peace and return both the city and locality to peaceful order. Funds for rebuilding and compensation of civilians will be sent once you submit an estimate. You are to employ local workmen in rebuilding. Any armed civilians have the choice, hand over their arms or enlist. If they chose enlistment send them to regimental quarters back in Austria where they can be fully trained.

In Iasi a joint Governorship with Russia is permissable until diplomacy and other powers have made their views clear.

Send all wounded to Belgrade where the hospital is now in good order."

We mourn the fallen heros!

[Franconicus]

This is the first warning to France, Great Britain is devoted to the protection of it's people, I expect the french government to pay reparation to the families of those killed and to know that we will not tolerate further attacks on our trade.

Wait a moment, let's first find out who is to blame!
The French troops had strict orders to avoid any fighting with the English and to use their guns only in case of self defense. Now we see that there was some fighting between a French squad of several sol and frigate with some merchants of the English. Although the French had massive superiority, they suffered looses from 3 : 1 against the English sailors.
From this it seems to be clear that the English opened hostlities. So I want to send thewarnings back to London: keep your men under control or you will regret it.

[Greyblades]

Riiiiight...

However, some French and British ships get into a strap and 30 French sailors and 10 British are killed. The French almost capture a ship of British weapons heading to the Turks, or what they THINK is British weapons.

You were demanding that I stop supplying weapons, then the writeup says your men were failed to capture a ship they thought had british weapons on it.

2+2= botched french raid on percieved gun runners. Not a smart thing to do on a superior party that's trained specially to combat you. Cut it out.

I got a reduced tarif rate with the ottomans for the out-of-date ships so there's going to be alot of legitamate traders in the area who dont deserve to be attacked.

[King Jan III Sobieski]

Great chapter ty! Kaiser must have altered my plans alot lol.

Statement from the Austrian War Office:

"If Austria has inadvertently killed any soldiers serving in British colours we shall pay full recompensation.

To Commanders of Iasi, Sarajevo and Sofia the following instruction has been issued: Take such steps as are necessary to maintain peace and return both the city and locality to peaceful order. Funds for rebuilding and compensation of civilians will be sent once you submit an estimate. You are to employ local workmen in rebuilding. Any armed civilians have the choice, hand over their arms or enlist. If they chose enlistment send them to regimental quarters back in Austria where they can be fully trained.

In Iasi a joint Governorship with Russia is permissable until diplomacy and other powers have made their views clear.

Send all wounded to Belgrade where the hospital is now in good order."

We mourn the fallen heros!

This is only part of the chapter.I am working on the social part of the chapter now. It turns out to be a bigger chapter then I thought!

[Arjos]

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!



Eagerly awaiting for the rest...
And as others offered, if there's any need for help, I'm available too ^^

[SoFarSoGood]

The Kaiser sends the Czar the Baton of Field Marshall of the Empire.

[Greyblades]

OOC: The queen sends the Kaiser the newly integrated Baton of Brown Nose of the Suck Up.

[SoFarSoGood]

England is welcome, as are other members of the Concert, to send representatives to evaluate the situation in the surprisingly liberated areas and advise on their administration.

The Field Marshals Baton was sent in honour of the 35,000 Russians who died before Iasi. Their glory shall rise again in Heaven. All Christendom should rejoice at these victories which return Christian people to the rule of Christian Princes and diminish the Ottoman threat to all.

We consider that a combined action of the Powers can now be undertaken against the Straits.

We are sad to hear of Anglo French misunderstanding. If the French troops knowingly attacked a British ship for their own gain we can only assume that this was NOT on the orders of his Sovereign. If he has disobeyed orders, which is not unknown in time of war, then he must be shot.

[Franconicus]

The Conference



As the French emissary I would like to thank my Austrian colleague for opening the conference with his warm words and for his clear and profound words about the Schleswig-Holstein affair. There is little to add from the French side.



Maybe you will not mind, if I start with the French view on the Balkans, which is another area of concern. First of all, the Balkans is neither Austrian nor Russian, as my colleague from Vienna would say. There are a couple of people there, most of them Christian and all suffering from the Ottomans. This is an unpleasant situation, especially as the suppressed people begin to resist the Ottoman administration. This can easily lead to riots and infect the whole region. Therefore, the Concert has the duty to care about it and who should have the leadership if not the neighbors Austria and Russia. Unfortunately, the two of them decided to act without consultations of the concert. We regret this and I think so does the English government. We are here today to fix this. France thinks that a strong control of the Balkans is mandatory. We are pleased by the English proposal to create a new kingdom here, which would at least in the beginning depend on the support of the Concert, just like Greece did. However, there are tow other issues I would like to lead your attention on. First of all, there is the connection of the sea gates of Constantinople. These seem to be of extreme strategically importance to all of us. Current treaties guarantee that they have to remain open for all merchant ships and closed for all warships. This status has to be conserved. Furthermore we suggest that we all guarantee the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire on Asia Minor. It would lead to nothing if we compete there.



Back to the Schleswig-Holstein affair. Both provinces are German, they used to be parts of the HRE and are now members of the German federation. And the Danish King is also Prince of these provinces. However, by changing the legal status of these provinces to become a part of the Danish Realm, he violated the rights of the German Federation. Now who has to deal with it. According to the same logic we used to the Balkans we have to say that Prussia is the natural leader in this affair and we want to thank Berlin that it brought it here to discuss it.



From our point of view, Schleswig-Holstein may not become part of Denmark. We think that it would be best if the Danish King would give up his claim and if the two provinces get a German prince.



Thank you very much!

[Franconicus]

Communiqué of the French War Ministry


The War Ministry announces that three weeks ago Greek forces took over control of the island of Cyprus. This operation was supported by the French Navy and small elite units of the marines and the Foreign Legion. The Ottoman resistance was quickly overwhelmed and the Greek population was freed. Casualties on both sides were marginal. Now the whole island is under control of the administration of the King of Greece.

Unfortunately, some Christian civilians were killed during this operation, namely a couple of British sailors. The circumstances are still unclear, but rumors have been disproved that these victims had been English agents to give military support to the sultan. The Ministry also puts it straight, that neither any English weapons were found nor any English ships were stopped or attacked.

At the current state of investigation the Ministry regards the English sailors as victims of Ottoman fire.

Finally the Ministry wants to point to the fact the support for the Greek operation was completely within the lines of the Concert of Europe, which had decided to support the Greek fighting for liberation. To help the Greek army to defend the island France will have a permanent naval base on the southern coast of Cyprus.



Communiqué of the French Foreign Ministry


The Foreign Ministry announces that France and the Benelux countries signed a treaty of mutual assistance. This treaty will secure all four countries from internal and external threats. Part of the treaty is the deployment of French troops in the Benelux countries.

[SoFarSoGood]

An elderly Metternich rises:

Gentlemen and Princes all (deep bow) I thank my noble and gallant French colleague for his words of honesty and wisdom on these matters. May I start by again sitting down... touch of gout.

Ahem... Gentlemen the words of the French Minster are profound in our ears on the subjects he has addressed. My understanding when called to this noble meeting of allies and friends was that we were to discuss the Schieswig Holstein matter but my Noble colleague from France has raised other matters which, while we are indeed we are most anxious to discuss, are in rapid fluctuation and yet turn against the so far victorious armies. Devolpments may arise in this area as we speak and all our words may count for dead candles with the light of hope extinguished once again. If the Conference wishes to discuss the future of cities and peoples whose fate may not yet within our power to decide let it be considered only as a plan until the campaign is won and peace is with made the Sultan. One other interesting note I take from my French colleague, relating to the Balkans, is that he mentions the campaigns of the Emperor and the Czar but fails to praise the heroism of his own ' marines and the Foreign Legion' in support of the Cypriot Greeks which now allows him to unilateraly declare "a permanent (French) naval base on the southern coast of Cyprus". It may be that some nations object to this idea and of course this is why he does not raise the matter for debate. There are other things we could discuss - many of them that would keep here for months or years but we must decide which issue to discuss at one time. I therefore propose that we resolve and reach a decision on the matter we came here to decide; Shleiswig Holstein.

My opinion of this matter is that Danish Prince, while he has hereditary claim to the region, does not have a legal claim. In previous Treaties, signed by Denmark, Shleiswig Holstein was accounted a member of German Federation. On this there can be no doubt, the treaties signed by myself and your predecessors are available. While we can sympathise with the King of Denmarks claims on behalf of his family does he wish to renounce the signatures of all Europe on the Treaties signed? We would advise him against such action. If he wishes an alliance with the region, such as that between the Emperor and the King of Bavaria, I see no legal difficulty per se. It must still be considered though whether such an alliance may destabilise the Federation.

The Balkan questions Gentlemen we are happy to discuss but I must hurry back to Vienna to attend pressing matters of State (like wtf are my troops doing in Iasi!) and will leave the rest of our talks here in the hands of my Noble friend and colleague Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin.

I thank you all for your patience.

[Arjos]

Admiral Yevfimy Putyatin cleared his throat and said:

Gentlemen the matter is pretty straightforward, there's a sick man in Europe and he's causing great disaffection in the Balkans. Fellow Christians need God-given rulers, Majesties capable of preserving order and ensure prosperity: these are the Austrian Kaiser and the Russian Czar. Several independent entities will only exacerbate petty local squabbles, that may very well threaten to engulf the whole of Europe.
As for setting up yet another kingdom in the area, it is redundant and unnecessary: have we forgotten that we undertaken already such a task with the mission to liberate the Greeks?
Therefore I put to you what has been announced and talked already in many circles: there has to be a tri-partition between Austria, Russia and Greece, the Carpathian-Rhodopes ranges will become the new border between the two empires and the Pindus-Rhodopes mountains the border between them and Greece.
While at the straits there will be no ruler, but free commercial cities, driven by no personal interests (like a ruler would inevitably be) but mediterranean trade. These of course would be under the Concert's protection in case of any attack and administratively they would be autonomous, with any christian nation able to set mercantile companies and embassies: true cities of the Concert, where all Europeans can prosper together.

As we speak, brave soldiers are fighting for this purpose and will make sure that these lands are brought to their respective sovereigns.

To answer regarding Schleswig-Holstein, it is the Czar's understanding that the people of Holstein called for a Prussian unification of the German States (sanctioned by treaties) and its people wish to join Prussia. While the Duchy of Schleswig is divided between a danish northern region and a german southern region: again it goes without saying this seems already settled, let the germanic Holstein and Southern Schleswig join Prussia as they wish and let Northern Schleswig be united with Denmark.

I thank you for your attention. May God bless all the fallen liberators!

[Franconicus]

Chateaubriand stands up:

I want to thank Admiral Putyatin for his explanation. I do not think that there is not a way to meet with the ideas from London, which I hope we will soon hear.

Regarding the words of Metternich I fear that I did not understand everything well. At least I could not understand his ideas about the future of the Balkans. But I understood that we does not want to talk about it, until everything decided by the Austrian armies. That is hardly the way the concert works.

To Cyprus: France supported an operation of he Greek army with the goal to liberate the Greek island from Ottoman occupation. Is there any doubt that this operation is in line with the policy of the Concert? Hardly.
The Austrian minister also mentions the French base on Cyprus. Once again we could not follow his speach. If the souvereign King of Greek, which had been echosen and installed by the Concert, decides that he wants a French base on one of his islands for the sake of the defense of his country, is this an issue that nneds to be discussed i the Concert? Well, if it is so, voila, let's talk about it. We do not mind. Although we think the Balkan affair is more serious and urgent.