How to force an absolute monarchy?

[Dayve]

As it is, i find United Provinces is probably the most interesting nation to start a game with, at least for someone like me who likes to build up a trade empire and only go to war when my allies call for my help, and then use the opportunity to grab more land, make more money to give to the enemies of my enemies, state gifts to my most valuable friends and sow them that i'm more profitable to be an ally with, rather than an enemy.

Problem is, republics suck. I like to feel as though i'm in TOTAL control of my lands and ministers, and able to replace them with my own puppets to do exactly what i want them to do, whenever i want to replace them.

I don't understand how to make the people rebel in favour of a monarchy though, because a republic is obviously better for the lower classes, who generally fight revolutions, than an absolute monarchy... so how to do it?

Then when i find out i'll begin a game as UP and make it absolute monarchy on turn 2.

[batemonkey]

I think (not that i've actually done it) you need to cause a revolution by the upper classes.

So basically tax them to buggery

[Darth Venom]

I haven't done it myself but to go from republic to monarchy you need two consecutive middle/upper class revolts. The first gives you a const. monarchy, the second absolute. So raise their taxes while lowering the lower class ones (to makes sure they don't revolt simultaniously), and makes them otherwise unhappy (ministers with traits, ...)
Also remove any troops from the capital province to prevent them from intervening during the uprising. Exemt all other European provinces (if any) from taxes.

If everything goes as smooth as possible, you mighty pull that off in six turns. Good luck!

[Fisherking]

It seems to me it would be almost impossible to do, especially with the UP.

The region is so small and the likelihood of getting the nobility that upset is hard to see. With them keeping the lower class halfway happy is hard enough. The upper class almost is never upset enough to do anything.

[Khorak]

Oh it's easy if you do it right from the start. Amsterdam starts off with a school and no entertainment to make it simple for yourself. Just throw your whole army into boats in the channel so they can't get involved and max out upper class taxes. One turn of striking, one turn of rioting, revolution.

I always change the UP to a Constitutional Monarchy as quickly as possible.

[Liberator]

I don't know why but a lot of people seem to have a crush on the form of government.
You can play UP for ages on VH without taking any care of the people in the government.
Sure, sometimes kicking a 2 star minister makes some sence, his replacement just can't be worse.
Still, the overall effect of the form of government can be neglected.

[Khorak]

I don't know why but a lot of people seem to have a crush on the form of government.
You can play UP for ages on VH without taking any care of the people in the government.
Sure, sometimes kicking a 2 star minister makes some sence, his replacement just can't be worse.
Still, the overall effect of the form of government can be neglected.

A Constitutional Monarchy has Nobles as its upper class, and Middle Class at the bottom. It's completely unaffected by Industrialisation and a very large number of unhappiness causing attributes that appear on your government ministers, that only affect those working class peasants a CM doesn't even take into account.

I like factories. I don't like peasants.

[Dayve]

Hmm, i tried a UP campaign up to 1706 with a republic, it's absolutely crap. I can't appoint the right man for the job to the office i would like, and though the opposition to the current government is vastly superior than the current government they keep losing the elections. My minister for America is crap, my minister for India is so-so, but there are opposition members who i want to put into those positions who would give me at least 3% extra tax from each theatre. Bah, the revolution must happen.

Also, i don't know if this has anything to do with a republic government system, but i can't get any agents. My rake was killed in 1701 trying to bump off a Spanish priest, and despite having a theatre in Amsterdam (i destroyed the weavers cottage) for over 4 years now i still haven't been given another rake. Religious agents as well. I destroyed one of the weavers in Flanders to make way for a church school, which i fully upgraded as soon as possible, yet i haven't been given a religious agent to counter the crack Spanish priest spreading catholicism all over my lands, and my navies are too much needed in America and especially Europe to ferry the one from India back to Europe, what with me constantly being at war with France and Sweden who refuse any sort of peace. And besides, he's more needed in India.

[anweRU]

It is easy to get a revolution in Amsterdam. Just convert Den Haag into a second university. Then maximize taxes for the upper class: which is the white-collar workers. They revolt & convert to CM.

I second Khorak. Keep the CM, %^&* AM. With CM you practically don't need a garrison anywhere to keep order. You can tech up & build up at your hearts desire. And you can still fire one minister / turn, and swap ministers within your government. Unlike republics, you won't get a new batch of ministers after an election you won. I seemed to get at least one new minister after every election as UP. I never lost an election as a republic or constitutional monarchy either.

Honestly, I don't see why some people are so fixated with AM. Economically, it is the pits.

@ Dayve: Agent recruitment has nothing to do with the government system. If France is causing you so many problems, why didn't you destroy it already? As UP I took Paris by 1706.

[Dayve]

Because a tiny nation like UP destroying a terrifying/spectacular France under the sun king is as unrealistic as Somalian pirates defeating the American+NATO navy in the region using their fishing boats and soviet cold war era rocket propelled grenades before the month of April is out.

And beside that, i don't want to destroy France.

Also, i think the agent problem did have something to do with being a republic. I triggered a rebellion into constitutional monarchy, and then again into absolute monarchy, ended turn and instantly got 2 rakes, a cardinal and a gentleman.

[Fisherking]

It is cool to know that it can be done!

I have spent most of my time and energy trying to avoid changing government. Usually this means an absolute monarchy from the beginning though.

It gives you more control over the ministers but some times those 0,1, & 2 star monarchs are a real drag. Wars of Secession are also problematic but if you are not France then they are usually bearable.

With all the campaigns I have done so far I have tried to maintain the form of government from start to end.

With this development maybe I will try Brittan as an Absolute monarchy…

Elections and new ministers are such an incontinence.

[anweRU]

I'm pretty sure the agent pop ups are random. I've had a whole bunch appear at once, and had 10+ turn dry spells.

Another way to test is to reload the end-of-turn autosave, and end the turn. Rinse and repeat several times (up to 10 or more). And you'll get different results each time. New agents may pop up, existing agents, generals/admirals and ministers might get traits (good or bad), or die, etc.

[Beskar]

It gives you more control over the ministers but some times those 0,1, & 2 star monarchs are a real drag. Wars of Secession are also problematic but if you are not France then they are usually bearable.

I never had those, they always produce an heir.

[Dayve]

An update on my absolute monarchy.

My king is 4 years old AND HE HAS A MISTRESS!

[Beskar]

An update on my absolute monarchy.

My king is 4 years old AND HE HAS A MISTRESS!

He must have a pretty Nanny.

[Khorak]

An update on my absolute monarchy.

My king is 4 years old AND HE HAS A MISTRESS!

Sadly, considering the society at the time and the above comment about having a pretty nanny, it's very plausible that a woman would take such steps to ensure a good life for herself. High class grooming as it were, once he's old enough not to need a nanny you need another way to keep your hand in the royal purse....