New Sovereign takes Oath

Today 6^th March 1714, Princess Elisenda has just taken oath on the Defiant Principality Constitutions as customary (not without previous harsh negotiations with the Commons, as it can be read here). Chancelleries of all around Europa are invited to the Coronation Ceremony event, which is due to be held on next 21^st March at Saló de Sant Jordi (=Saint George Hall) in Catalonia's Generality Palace.

18 Cent. Flag plates

Hi, just a short note to acknowledge to anyone eventually interested that, while in the process of refurbishing The Defiant Principality blog, I'm taking advantage for restoring some flags and uniforms plates hosted there that went missing --whatever the reason why. Well, not just restoring them but rebuilding these at some extent. Besides of those plates directly related to the Principality itself, I have now online again a couple of plates else: for the Kingdom of France theone, and for the Kingdom of Spain the other. Just click on each to see it larger, if curious.

Plates themselves are a bit crude if compared to those professionally printed that can be found in market, but perhaps their uncommon subjects (land and state flags, as well as maritime ensigns) may be useful to someone. In any case, I'm getting a lot of fun at drawing them!

The whole flags collection will be posted on this particular page of my blog: what-if-catalonia.blogspot.com/p/flags.html

A battle to help explain a peace

As announced a few days ago, I've already started to explain how The Defiant Principality manages to survive the War of Spanish Succession. A much needed piece of information on how and why it happens is the critical battle of El Bruc, fought between 8 and 14 December 1713 in a key pass in the route toward Barcelona City.

Well, we gamed it three years ago (some weeks before our will to keep gaming faded away) and was still pending an AAR. Now that we've happily agreed to resume the story, it becomes compulsory to tell what happened there, and how it affects our currently projected setting.

Wish you enjoy it, despite my poor English! what-if-catalonia.blogspot.com/2016/04/post-war-1-decisive-battle.html

The Revenant Principality

The Defiant Principality is going to ride again. Yes, I know --that's right what I said two years ago. "Let's re-take the story", I said. Sadly it didn't happen, due to incidences and problems in our lives –-such kind of random events no one expects.

However, now I'm confident enough to announce it publicly, for the original team of gamers have gathered once again and are excited to re-start the game, after some planning already done. If anyone willing to learn more, please check our latest post at The Defiant Principality blog.

AAR in three acts

Just posted on the Defiant Principality blogsite the first one of a series of three AAR reports, reflecting the development of a critical battle from three different points of view, in a chronological sequence leading to the battle climax and aftermath...
This first report is intended to reflect the point of view of the entrenched defending line men (and women), heavily bombed at the battle start while the enemy tide approaches.

The battle was actually gamed on last weekend using BLB 1st edition (we haven't had the time to read thoroughly enough its 2nd edition) with 15mm miniatures of my own collection. I played the Spanish side and my gaming mate Jordi lead the Catalans, while Herr Rittmeister Krefeld (Stephan) performed as privileged witness, reporter and international adviser to the Catalan side (grrr). Quite a lot of fun, wish we can repeat such events more often!

Ambush in the Pyrenees AAR

A pretty small, albeit furious battle has taken place on 7th December 1713 in a remote, snowy valley in the Pyrenees. A full battalion of Walloons escapes from anihilation in the last minute, thanks to a momentary loss of control in their ambushing enemy's lines.
If curious, you can read the AAR here.
Cheers,
Lluís

Back again

Willing this to be a final return back, I've just posted a new scene on my Defiant Principality blog --thus bringing the survival struggle hectic to it again.

I strongly wish things start running better from now on --or, at least, I hope to be able to deal more calmly with the unavoidable eventualities linked to any self-re-invention...

Well, that's all what I wished to say. Glad to be back.

Lluís

No time for crying

Almost simultaneously to the dramatical military setback experienced at Montblanc battle --whose two parallel scenarios were proxy gamed and thoroughly reported at MurdocK's MarauderS blogsite--, the authorities of our what-if Principality have already started the process of raising a new regiment. This will eventually fill the void left by one of the two veteran units destroyed at Montblanc --albeit partially, for there's no real replacement for a lost tough, battle-hardened regiment through conscription...

More details on the new unit in this posting. Comments and suggestions welcome!

2nd Montblanc battle AAR

A battle of the WSS campaign we're currently running was fought on last weekend. Yet a pitched fight, results were pretty unconclusive, for night fell before the attacking Hispannic/Spanish army had the chance of exploiting a lately gap in Galatan/Catalan lines.

Battle gamed with 15mm miniatures using "Beneath the Lily Banners" ruleset including some optional rules, such as random events, limited ammunition and rapid fire. Must say we had a huge lot of fun at playing it, in spite of some vacillation in a few stages --due to our still imperfect knowledge of both period and ruleset itself. An illustrated after battle report has been conveniently posted at Defiant Principality's weblog.

News from the fight are likely to have some repercussion on the negotiations Princess Elisenda is currently holding at Versailles, for a separate peace with Gallia/France --not less than the news of premature death of Queen Anne of Brittannia, coincidentally happened that very same turn.

Diplomatic advice needed

I've just started posting at Defiant Principality's blog the first one of a projected series of posts, aimed at reporting the development of the eventual peace conversations between Gallia/France and Galatea/Catalonia, following an hypothetical preliminary agreement at Rastatt (late 1713).

As it becomes virtually impossible for me to assume both sides' roles (i.e. their eventual acceptable yieldings or respective 'red lines' in a negotiation), I've chosen to divide the event into several separate scenes. In each one, both sides explain their starting positions with regard to a particular issue. This is followed by some discussion and eventually a dealing proposal; but I'm not accounting any final agreement, thus leaving open the end.

My ultimate purpose would be accounting such agreement later, after considering readers' comments and reasonings. And I believe such inter-activity would be a nice approach to the real thing. Or, at least, some sort of not-so-usual musing in our hobby. This is why I'd like to encourage you all to drop a thought of your own in each proposed scene --and warmly thank in advance any one's.

[At this my first negotiations round, both sides have agreed a prisoners exchange, regardless of negotiations ultimate result --as a mutul sign of goodwill and eagerness to reach a satisfactory agreement. However, Gallian/French dignitaries are by no means unaware of the strong bonds of Galatans/Catalans toward Emperor Charles, that might get them military involved in adventures contrary to the interest of France. So that they've tried to get reassured about Galatan intentions by means of a similar military alliance to them. Of course, their Galatan counterparts are also willing of some reassurement face to an eventual Hispannic/Spanish rejection of the treaty. How to reach a satisfactory enough agreement?]

Street fighting AAR

Just played a street fighting battle --and an approrpiate AAR posted at Principality of Galatea weblog. Please read it at what-if-catalonia.blogspot.com/2012/02/urban-fight-aar.html, if curious.

Cross of Sant Jordi to King of Wittenberg

Following a suggestion of Princess Elisenda, the Galatan Corts or Parliament have agreed awarding His Majesty King of Wittenberg (*) the Cross of Sant Jordi d'Alfama, 1st class, in recognition for the warm welcome and assistance to the Princess during her stay in the above mentioned kingdom, as well as for His admirable support attitude toward Knowledge and Science --as witnessed by Her Highness from the sky!!!

[Out of character: given the relative asinchrony of my own Imagi-Nation with respect to Wittenberg's time, I eagerly leave in hands of Allan to decide whether it is King Leopold IV who's awarded, or His August father instead ;) ]

Proxy naval battle AAR

Thanks to the selfless collaboration of Jeroen72, another proxy fighting played for the Defiant Principality can be now read at our weblog. Despite the lack of game pictures, I honestly believe that Jeroen72's thrilling account allows us to vividly imagine the scene. On my side, I've done my best to illustrate the narration with images the most appropriate I've been able to find.

If curious, you can read the whole AAR at this blog posting.

Proxy games available

Due to a thankfully happy event (my gaming mate's wife is about to have their second child), we're in the dilemma of either halting our Imagi-Nation's campaign for several weeks, or seeking a temporary gaming adversary, or seeking EvE's community help by proxy gaming some of our most recent military encounters.

It also happens that our 13^th campaign turn, corresponding to the 2^nd week of October 1713, has produced up to three different confrontations. All of them involving a small amount of troops, all different to each other: a field battle between two balanced Horse forces, a street fighting between a town's garrison and its revolted population, and the naval interception of a small convoy by a privateer.

If necessary, I could gather the figures due for gaming the second battle, although most scenario items should be improvised somehow. But I have neither Horse forces or ships enough for the other two. Is anyone needing a scenario for training his generals/admirals skills?

Some more info at this blog posting. Detailed scenario data would be worked out for eventual volunteers, of course.

Couriers to Wittenberg

October 11^th, 1713

...Couriers have already arrived in Kingdom of Wittenberg taking personal messages from both Emperor Charles VI and Princess Elisenda to H.M. King Leopold, letting him know in advance the scheduled journey of that young Galatan/Catalan Lady through his land, as well as some confidential details about her otherwise small retinue. A more detailed file comprising listings and safe-conduct copies have also been delivered to Count Hermann Munster.

[Out of character, please consider Princess Elisenda retinue already on their way and about to enter Wittenberg, so that she can be freely introduced in an ppropriate scene at will, accordingly with your own interests. I'm going to suspend for a while my Defiant Principality narrations on her particular journey, in order not to hamper eventual scenes/adventures inside Wittenberg. If any interest or need to contact me whatever the reason for, my usual gaming e-mail is soldadets [at] wargames [dot] cat --Lluis ]

Couriers up and down

...Couriers have been dispatched by Emperor Charles VI to King Louis XIV at Versailles, and also to Wittenberg and the rest of lands on the Vienna - Paris road, acknowledging them on the imminent journey through their respective countries of an official retinue under His protection: Lady Elisenda Folc de Cardona, who has just been appointed as Princess of Galatea/Catalonia by His Imperial Majesty, wishes to arrive in Gallia as safely and fast as possible, with the aim to obtain King Louis' approval to the appointment and ease the achievement of a satisfactory peace with that powerful Nation.

The above mentioned couriers are carrying full detailed accounts on the journey scheduled milestones, retinue members listings and safe-conducts to be delivered to respective Authorities, along with a request on the additional measures they esteem appropriate to ensure the retinue's peaceful transit through their lands. The retinue itself can be identifiable through the two standards they will carry:

Also, others couriers have been sent by Princess Elisenda herself to the Sovereigns of Poland, Beerstein and Lagerburg-Slobbovia, acknowleding them on her pledge to visit their respective Imagi-Nations as soon as her duties in Versailles are duly fulfilled.

Details on the whole can be learnt here.

Pragmatica Sanctio

Vienna, 1^st October 1713

...or how Emperor-King Charles VI intentions are finally unveiled after the development of parallel conversations respectively held by Eugene of Savoy at Rastatt and Marquis of Vilana at Monte-Cristo, and how these do affect our graceful Lady Elisenda Folc de Cardona. With a last minute starring appearance of Herr William, first Baron of Beerstein.

If curious, you can read the event thoroughful report here: Pragmatica Sanctio

Battle of Montblanc, 4th October 1713

Taking advantage of a gap in the Hispannic/Spanish lines leaving unprotected a town that was key to the communication between two of their major armies, two Galatan/Catalan columns converged upon that town -not other than Montblanc, a beautiful medieval city not far from Tarragona where Catalan mythology sets their version of the Legend of Saint George and the Dragon!

As it couldn't be otherwise, Saint George clearly favoured the Galatans and allowed them to release the town, expelling from it the Hispannic garrison -not without an after battle intense negotiation, while sunlight was slowly fading away. This was finally arranged in a honourable way to the Hispannic commander, whose men had so bravely behaved in spite of numerical inferiority...

If curious, you can read the illustrated battle report here: Montblanc town released!

A never-ending plot

We've just dropped a new layer of complication to the Defiant Principality general plot, expressed by the addition of a new playing character whose role is likely to become key in the desperate war that rebel Principality is fighting against their powerful lord, King Philip V of Hispannia. This new character is Lord Guillem Ramon VIII de Montcada, Marquis of Aitona, Colonel of the Hispannic Guards Household Infantry and the main supporter of King Philip among the High Nobility of Galatea/Catalonia.

If our first storyboard layer consisted just of war of a minor Nation against a major Power, shown in a simplified and therefore, somewhat manichean point of view (the enemy are "the evil ones", you know), we later added a second layer on, intended to exploit future internal dissents (through a popular, republican party eventually confronted to the ruling class). Now, this new third layer is aimed at going further beyond, showing Hispannic internal tensions about the ultimate solution to be applied to the rebel Principality, as well as a new episode of struggle -this time, between the two most powerful nobiliary houses in Galatea/Catalonia: those of Cardona and Montcada, each of them siding to one of the WSS pretenders to the Hispannic Crowns.

If curious, you can read Lord Montcada's introduction into the story here: what-if-catalonia.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-supreme-commander.html

What the hell for...!?

What the hell would any Army need such a bizarre device for?

A convenient explanation and pictures, here: what-if-catalonia.blogspot.com/2011/06/such-bizarre-device.html