Europa Universalis IV Playthrough: Castile Pt. 5

We pick up in late 1511, the new King of Castile - Carlos I plans to put the nation on the path of growth rebuilding the navy and continuing to establish and strengthen the colonies in the New World.

1513
The Naval Fleet is restored to 80% of its theoretical full strength (stronger than it has ever been!).

1516
Enrique is born and named heir, destined to be Enrique V King of Catile and Portugal.

1517
Colonies at Bouyougoula and Santee are established, expanding Castilian presence in the southern portion of North America.
Integration of Portugal begins, slated to take 10 Years.

1522-1523
Diplomats succeed in fabricating a claim on Safi in Morocco and the armies once again storm North Africa. The war is relatively short (but enough time for Algiers to take the opportunity to assault them as well) and in the end we only took the Province of Safi (and forced them to revoke their claims on all Portuguese and Castilian provinces in North Africa we had taken from them). Now our areas in North Africa are all connected and Morocco is no longer a Naval Power (we took their last port).

1524
Colony is established in Mobile continuing to expand Castilian presense in the souther portion of North America and bringing the Louisiana and Florida colonies closer together.

1526
Portugal fully integrated into Castile.
Several colonies form Caraibas, a vireroyalty in the Caribbean.
Portuguese becomes an accepted culture within the Kingdom of Castile.

1529
Algiers annexes Morocco

1530
Colony at Pensacola is established, Louisiana and Florida are nearly connected.

1531
Itamaraca Colony founded in Brazil expanding Castilian presence there.

1533
Enrique V becomes king of Castile after the death of his father Carlos I. Enrique's daughter - Juana is named heir.

1534
Castilian forces invade Aragon intent on forcing them to join a greater Iberian nation, the first mentioning of the Kingdom of Spain occurs around this time.

1535
Castilian forces hold the entirety of the Aragon mainland and begin to branch out, attacking their provinces in Provence and the Mediterranean.

1537
Castilian forces occupy the Baleras Islands along with Sardinia and Provence while seiges are launched on Malta and Sicily. Unfortunately an assault on mainland Italy is completely repulsed by Milanese forces.
New Colonies are formed in Brazil and North America. Several North American colonies form together and form the Viceroyalty of Florida.

1538
Sicily and Malta fall to Castilian seiges. The army is built back and thrown against Milan (they are also trying to reclaim Provence).

1540
Aragon surrenders, half of their mainland provinces are incorporated into Castile.

1541
The two parts of Florida expand to meet eachother. The colonial nation declares war on the Choctaw.

1542
Castilian Colony founded in Acadia in the Northern part of North America.

1543
Aragon suffers from enough rebelions after our war with them to be forced to reform as a Noble state and a new Prince is elected.
Castile takes on the mantle of Defender of the Faith.

1545
Provence regained her independence from Aragon.

1546
Great Britain forms

1548
Castile once again storms Aragon.

1549
After a relatively short war Aragon surrenders and is forced to give up all but Barcelona on the Iberian Peninsula. We also force them to give all of Naples back to our ally Naples.

1550
New Colonies are formed expanding Louisiana and Brazil.

1554
Guyene is annexed.

1555
Castilian forces attack Aragon for the third time in as many decades. Barcelona is the target, with its conquest we can officially form Spain (Aragon would still hold Sardinia, Sicily, Malta and Urbino but we care very little about those areas).

1556
Aragon surrenders and ceeds us Barcelona. We also force them to release Sardinia and Urbino, they are now basically the Kingdom of Sicily, Malta and the Beleares.

1557
Barcelona is fully integrated into Castile. The Kingdom of Spain is formed.

Status 1557
Under King Enrique V, Castile has finally united the Iberian peninsula and formed the Kingdom of Spain. We own large swaths of North and West Africa, Brazil, La Plata, Louisiana and Acadia. We also have colonial nations in the Carribean (Caraibas) and North America (Florida).

With Iberia secure and North Africa fairly secure, our main rivals shift back to being France and England - now Great Britain. France is strong but still struggling to really assert itself with Brittany and Burgandy (both my allies) routinely fighting wars with it. England formed Great Britain when they had all but 1 Province in Wales under their leige, but the united Ireland, and several islands owned by Denmark and the rump Norway keep them from taking over the entirety of the isles.

In other areas, The Ottomans and Malmuks have both expanded and Muscovy is very close to forming Russia. Austira is still a power to be reckoned with as is Denmark but they have had some recent setbacks. The British have joined us in the new world colonizing Bermuda along with large parts of North America which they are calling 'Canada'

Moving forward it is likely time to start taking care of some of the native populations we are running into. In Africa, absorbing Mali would remove a big thorn in our side and allow our forces to travel by land between all of our African provinces. In america we look fondly on the lands of the Aztecs and Maya, these areas collectively known as 'Mexico' could be a powerhouse for Spain. Also there are plans for several more colonies in the Carribean as this area is ripe for expansion.

Played/Wrote for 5 hours (day off) and advanced timeline 44 years.

Europa Universalis IV Playthrough: Castile Pt. 4

We pick up in 1479, King Alfonso XII is setting Castile on the path towards economic growth after several successful wars against France and in North Africa.

1483
St. Lucia colony founded in the Caribbean after Rio Grande in Brazil becomes viable.

1484
Spanish Missionaries succeed in converting the former provinces of Granada

1484-1486
Castilian forces fight to continue the Reconcista in North Africa, this time when the peace treaty is signed the Algiers is forced to cede Oran and Tlemencen. Castile had assaulted in the name of the Catholic church (to fulfill a mission that for some reason didn't fire correctly).

1488
Timucua colony founded in North Florida

1495
Diplomats begin to move towards absorbing Navarra into greater Castile. Castilian diplomats also increase relations accross Europe, Ireland is united by Connacht, Burgandy is striking back against England and France at the same time and Brittany has absorbed Provence.

1500
Chitimatch colony founded on the Mississippi river delta.

1501
All North African provinces under Castilian Rule are cored and converted to Catholicism.

1502
Yamasee colony founded in modern day Georgia

1504
Navarra absorbed into greater Castile

1507-1509
Diplomatic Insult from Algiers drags us into a war with them, although it goes very well on land our Navy is eviscerated (more than 70% lost) to the Ottomans - Algerian allies in the war. Luckily the warscore was based mainly on several land battles. Once we had a ticking warscore and all of Algiers occupied I let the warscore build and then sued for peace from the Ottomans. They were forced to release two provinces to Bosnia (a victory for Christianity at least) and annul their treaties with Algiers and Morocco (in case I need to war them again in the future, it won't be so hard).

1509
Drawn into a war between Brittany and Avingon, just to end the war quicker so I can get back to building colonies I invaded for them.

1510
Colony founded at Sarranos in La Plata (South America)

1511
War between Brittany and Avingon ends.
Aragon goes to war with Naples.
After 39 years as King, Alfonso XII dies and his son Carlos I takes over the thrones of Castile and Portugal.

1511 Status

Castile continues to extend its grasp out into the the rest of the world. We are concentrating on establishing colonies in the different trade areas, currently we have colonies in the Mauritanian Coast and Ivory Coast trade areas in Africa along with the Chesapeake Bay, Mississippi River, Carribean and Brazil trade regions in the new world, also our first colony in the La Plata region of South America has been established and is growing.

France is still growing, but with Brittany now a bigger power after the absorbtion of Provence, and Burgandy still a fighting force (they took back their province from England and even took Calais as well) I think the internal struggles in the French region should keep them down for a while, we can still call on our Vassal (Guyenne) and their claims in southern France should we need to bust a few heads.

England is still very strong, they are assaulting the united Ireland and the remains of Scotland are their vassal. Looks like they are at war with France again though and France has their mainland provinces all captured, not sure which one I want to benefit from the other at the moment.

In 1514 we should be able to start integrating Portugal, not sure if I want to really as they are a great help in wars and now that it looks like I won't be getting the Iberian wedding (and Aragon still wants to be my Rival even though I keep helping them and am massively stronger than them after they lost their vassal Naples) I may need Portugal's help to bring the Argonesse to their knees.

As far as future plans go, the initial goal is to finish establishing the La Plata colony and also finish rebuilding the Navy after the disaster with the Ottomans. Then I will start branching out, maybe expand a colony or two and explore further around Africa and America. Once the navy is at full strength and the army as well (and maybe let Aragon exhaust themselves in their current war some) I may take a look at attacking them, I'll need to reduce them down in size to vassalize and/or annex - but I will form Spain come hell or high water and it looks like they aren't going to let me go the diplomatic route.

Played and wrote for 5+ hours tonight (long session for me) but I advanced the timeline nearly as much as the last three sessions combined!

Europa Universalis IV Playthrough: Castile Pt. 3

We pick up in 1466 just after the War of Portuguese Succession, our economy is not doing so hot, war exhaustion has set in pretty badly and our economy is loosing more than 5 ducats a month! Reinspecting my trade routes for efficiency and disbanding my mercenary units allowed us to move back to the green with the plan of rebuilding the military with regular troops over the next few rebuilding years.

1467-1470
Economy improves, we loose our administrative minister and get one who boosts our Missionary strength so we can start converting some of our Sunni provinces.
In other news Aragon absorbs Urbino on the Italian Peninsula while Austria vassalizes Baden.
A second colony is established in West Africa, Arguin as Rio de Oro approaches self-sufficiency.
Aragmac is absorbed into the state.

1470
England attacks Scotland in the English Reconquest of Northumbria, as allies we are drawn into the fight against Scotland and more importantly their ally - France.
After a few small defeats we push the French and take several provinces. They just absorbed Provence so they are bigger than before but that just means more area to seige! Also looks like Austria is in a big war with them as well and even Aragon joins the coalition after about a year.

1472
With most of France captured by Castilian, Argonese, Burgandy and Austria sad news comes from the front - King Enrique IV dies, his son Alfonso XII is named King and his son Carlos is named heir.

1473
King Alfonso XII signs a peace treaty with France, netting the nation many benefits including money, French abandoning of claims on Castlian owned French provinces and the annulment of all French/Scotish treaties.
Shortly after the war Fioux is absorbed into the state, then the Bearn and Aragmac provinces are joined together and released as the Guyene Vassal.

1474
Alfonso XII personally commands Castilian forces to West Africa to put down a rebelious force in Infi as Castile's economic reconstruction continues.

1477
New Castilian colony is established in Sierra Leon with the intent of expanding Castilian trade into the Ivory Coast Region.

1478
New Castilian colony is established in Rio Grande expanding Castile's power into the new world and expanding trade into the Brazilian Trade Zone.

1479 Status

The Castilian Economy has dipped slightly after the establishment of the Rio Grande colony but I hope to get it back in the green soon. We still enjoy great relations on the Iberian peninsula (Portugal and Navarra are under our Personal unions and while Aragon still sees us as rivals they have fought alongside us against France twice now).

In the north we have advanced our cause in France, Provence is once again a free state and Burgandy has expanded at the detraction of France. We have a new united French vassal (Geuyenne) and our ally England still holds their 4 French provinces (they did not reclaim Normandy in the last big war, I was suprised).

Speaking of England, they not only took Northumbria from Scotland, they also absorbed more than half of the rest of Scotland, and we (through Portugal) helped them smack down the Irish nations a little as well. I may need to back off from supporting England so much lest they get too powerful.

To the south Morocco and Algiers are fighting again, I'll let them stew. We have our colony in West Africa and now another on the Ivory Coast in Sierra Leon. Across the Atlantic we have founded our first American colony, Rio Grande in Brazil. Once these two Colonies are established I plan to see if we have the range to establish both a Caribbean colony and south in La Plata.

Played 2 hours, wrote for 30 minutes, advanced the timeline 13 years.

Europa Universalis IV Playthrough: Castile Pt. 2

We pick up in 1454 with Enrique IV, King of Castile, having finished his father's conquest of Granada and was beginning to move Castile's focus on to bigger and better things.

1454-1457
Exploration of the wide ocean reveals more of the African coast along with a new land across the ocean west of Africa known as 'Brazil' it is eventually concluded that this is part of a seperate continent as explorers move up and down the coast and find more about the massive size of the landmass. Unfortunately it is surmised that it is too far away to make a colony feasible at this time.

1457
Instead, Enrique IV authorizes a new Castilian colony on the African coast - Rio de Oro. From here the plan is to expand into the trade areas down the African coast.
Back home Castilian diplomats are able to bring Aragmac in as another vassal to the kingdom, another blow to the French and increase to Castilian prestige.
Enrique IV decides that he wants his reign to not only be seen for basking in the glory of his father's accomplishments but also continuing to build even higher - and so he begins to plan for conquest in North Africa. Castile's main ally, Portugal, has just finished a war with Morocco (netting them Tangiers) which makes them a perfect target for further predation, it is decided that they will wait the 5 years until the Portugeese truce with Morocco is concluded and then lead the combined Iberian force back to North Africa.

1458
Exploration continues in this period, the southern tip of Africa is found and named the Cape of Good Hope. The southern tip of what is now called South America is found as well. Colonies are planned in Brazil, south in La Plata and north in the Caribean - but the colonial range and technology will have to catch up before these are possible.

1459
King Filipe of Portugal dies, leaving his 21 year old son Michael with the throne, a weak claim and no heir. We fear that he will back out of our agreement but he does not.

1459-1462
Technological and Ideological advancements allow the constuction of Temples, Marketplaces and Docks in several provinces to boost the economic power of greater Castile.
During this period Castilian spies fabricate claims on several different Morrocan provinces as a prelude to the planned war.
Also during this period several key Cardinals are swayed by Castilian influence and Castile takes over as the Papal controller.

1462
Enrique IV of Castile launches the Castilian-Moroccan war of Conquest continuing the Reconquista in the name of Catholisism.
One army marches from Rio de Oro while two more armies (one led by Enrique IV himself) assault Morocco. Several victories along with one fair defeat mark the first six months.

1463
Enrique IV fights back the Moroccan forces and several provinces are put under siege and taken. Portuguese forces also assault several more provinces.
By the end of the year Morocco submits and allows Infi, Casablanca and Melilla to be annexed by us. Portugal also claims the Fez province.

1464
King Michael I of Portugal dies possibly due to injuries he suffered in North Africa, in which he personally commanded Portuguese forces alongside our own forces. He had declared that in the event of his death before he had an heir that his throne would fall to us and so we entered into a Personal Union with Portugal on the 12th of December in the year of our Lord 1464. Once again the French disputed the late young Portuguese King's wishes and so the War of Portuguese succession began.

1465
Unfortunately, at least initially, Castilian and Portuguese forces were badly placed to defend against the French and the French moved two 15,000 men armies into our two Vassals on their border.
The bulk of our forces (with the addition of a few mercenaries) cross the Iberian peninsula and group in Navarra, assaulting the French force in Fioux once they had amassed a large enough force.
King Enrique IV led his force, via naval transport, to the southern French coast and was able to cut off a smaller French army and then deal several big blows to the other French armies as they retreated from the main battlegrounds near the French/Iberian borders.

1466
France capitulates and in the process we force them to denounce their Ally - Brittany (my hope is to eventually pit them, Provence and France against each other to keep them down.


End of 1466 Status

Enrique IV now considers himself as great or greater of a King than his father. With more Sunni lands under Castilian aegis expanding the Reconquista, another victorious war against France, and a personal union with the Kingdom of Portugal, very few can contest his claims.

France has been twice defeated and also fought two draining wars with at least Burgandy and Provence. They seem to have absorbed a vassal or two (they are down to 1) but still they are much worse off than I expected they would be bow now.

Also England is still an ally and claims to have gotten through their 'troubles' (I got an event notice to that effect at least) but they still have Cornwall independent and have lost their former Irish province and Northumbria has been absorbed by Scotland.

Elsewhere Bavaria and Burgandy are doing better than normal and Muscovy is already close to snuffing out Novgorod.

The plan moving forward is to work on reducing our overextension by coring our new provinces in North Africa, continuing to expand our colonies and working towards integrating our vassals and personal unions into a larger Kingdom. I am hopeful to turn Aragon more friendly and eventually have them join as well... maybe a marriage will do?

Played 2 hours, wrote for another hour, advanced the timeline 12 years.

Europa Universalis IV Playthrough: Castile Pt. 1

Game Setup

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.