Nation: Castile
Date: 1444
Part 1
We find ourselves in 1444 as Juan II de Trastamara ruler of Castile. Immediately I assess the situation and decide that France is my main rival in the area. Portugal and eventually Aragon (once they get over seeing us as rivals) shall be our friends with the hopeful long-term goal of integration into one Iberian nation. The first steps in this process will involve integration of the two smaller Iberian nations - Navarra and Granada, the plan is to absorb the first via diplomacy and the second via war.
Early 1444
Relations are secured with Portugal and Navarra including alliances, royal marriages, protection guarantees, military access, etc. This satisfies several missions for Castile and increases prestige and diplomatic power. Later relations are established and improved with the Papal State to further increase Castilian prestige and diplomatic power.
Late 1444
Relations with Navarra improve nearly to the point of accepting vassalization under Castile when their King dies - without an heir! Navarra enters a personal union under Castile and Juan II assumes leadership of the tiny nation alongside his own.
French nobility, having been tied in a Royal Marriage with Navarra as well, disputes the Castilian right of succession and the War of Navarran Succession begins.
1445
Despite being tied up in the 100 years wars with England, France is in an excellent position to move against Navarra while Castile had most of her armies in the south (near Granada, whom they had fought less than a half century earlier). Navarran forces are driven from their homelands and the area is beseiged for a short time before the Castilian army arrives driving the French and their allies from Iberia and striking back almost immediately on French soil.
1446
Castile is able to secure several victories, mainly against French vassals (as their main forces are engaged with the English in the north near Normandy) and successfully captures the Bearn province - effectively capturing Fioux, one of France's vassals.
1447
After another string of victories and several more provinces captured in the south of France, the Castilian army begins to move to support the English near the coast.
Although no formal alliance is established between Castile and England, Military Access treaties are signed and Castilian armies began periodically moving into the two nearby English provinces and smashing the French armies attempting to seige them.
By the end of the year not only does France agree to relinquish her claim on Navarra, but they are also made to release Foiux and Aramac from vassalige.
The heir, Juan II's son Enrique dies leading a portion of the victorious army in France. Shortly after a new heir is announces - Enrique! turns out both Juan II and his brother Filepe had named their first-born sons after their own father (Enrique III who ruled Castile before Juan II).
1448
With Navarra secured and the French put in their place, Juan II shifts Castilian focus back to the southern portion of the Iberian peninsula. The truce with Granada ends, and Juan hopes that a swift victory against that nation could help to assuage some of the war exhaustion from the fight with France.
Castilian Reconquest of Granada begins
In honor of his late son, King Juan II and his nephew Heir Enrique lead the two main portions of the Castilian army to invade Granada. One key battle occurs in the Garnatha province while other portions of the army move to secure the Granadian countryside.
1449
January - Unfortunately King Juan II will not see the realization of the Reconquista as he dies of disease, Enrique IV assumes command of the Kingdom in the midst of the final Granadian seiges.
February - After a little over a year the Castilian Reconquest of Granada ends with the successful integration of Granada into Castile.
1450-1454
Enrique IV moves to solidify Castile's position following two successful conflicts. The relationship with Portugal and England are further strengthened and very positive relations are established with Foiux and Aramac after freeing them from French vassalage.
Hundred Year war ends with England accepting the loss of Normandy but retaining their other 4 provinces in France. Despite this relatively good position they experience rebellions across England, Wales and in Ireland.
Foiux accepts vassalage under Castile by 1453 and the diplomats are on their way towards doing the same for Aramac.
Enrique IV moves the nation towards Exploration ideals and by 1454 the first Spanish explorers begin exploring the African coast and out into the Atlantic.
1454 Status
Castile is allied with Portugal and England and trying to keep relations as cordial with Aragon as possible. We have vassalized Fioux and Navarra (they have a personal union under us until at least 1495) and are building the relations to do the same with Aramac.
Portugal is currently warring with Morocco (who lost two previous wars, 1 to Algiers and the Ottomans and the other to us when they sides with Granada).
The truce between France and England hasn't fallen yet (I don't think) but they are in no position to move when it does as they are tied in a war with Burgandy.
England lost their Irish province to rebellion and was also forces to recreate the nations of Cornwall and Northumberland, I am interested to see if they try to leverage their relatively powerful situation on the mainland or if they focus on reclaiming the lost areas in the Isles.
Moving Forward
At this point my plans are mixed. I had hoped to colonize an area of islands off the African coast called 'Cape Verde' but this has already been claimed by our allies, the Portugeese. I man try to establish a colony on the mainland between Morocco and Mali but this presents some difficulties (the natives are very hostile and it could potentially pull us into wars with Morocco and/or Mali which I care very little about at this point). On the colonization front I will likely keep looking as my hope is to find much more easily colonized land in abundance somewhere over the horizon.
On the home front I plan to continue good relations on the Iberian peninsula (as good as Aragon will let me) and move to vassalize Aramac to go along with Foiux. Should France decide to war with England again I will likely be pulled in due to our now official alliance - if this happens my plan is to execute this war much like the last we had with France and see if I can rip another vassal from their service, or potentially add provinces to my own vassals.
Played about 3 hours, wrote for about 45 minutes, advanced the timeline 10 years.
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