Milan if I remember was promised to Austria and maybe the Emilian Duchies are on the range.. But maybe it's just me which hopes this will turn in an Italian early unification & wank with indipendent Corsica in the process.
King Theodore's Corsica
- Thread starter Carp
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Milan if I remember was promised to Austria and maybe the Emilian Duchies are on the range.. But maybe it's just me which hopes this will turn in an Italian early unification & wank with indipendent Corsica in the process.
I'd be interested in seeing an Italy which sees some consolidation, but is still split a few ways. With the Bourbons pushing for a kingdom of Lombardy in this war, they could hardly complain too much if the house of Savoy ever obtains that title. Meanwhile, a Neapolitan kingdom surviving into the modern world would also be interesting.
Have there been any butterflies outside the European theatre? Specifically India and the Americas?
Indeed, albeit a partial annexation is more likely. Sardinia getting the whole thing would be a bit too much by itself, implying better Sardinia performance, worse Bourbon performance, or them giving up something else (whatever bits of Lombardy).
The only way I can see Genoa being wholly annexed is if the Genoese Revolution still happens but is subsequently crushed, most likely because the French either cannot or will not assist the revolutionaries. Revolutionary Genoa was a shambles; the Serene Government vainly tried to stop the uprising and was forced to admit to the Austrians that they had lost control of both the people and the army. Many of the soldiers (ostensibly still bound by the armistice) disobeyed their officers and joined the uprising. If the Austrians had successfully fought their way back into the city, it probably would have been brutally sacked, and the response of the empress would have been something along the lines of "good job, those jerks had it coming." With the old oligarchic government thoroughly discredited and the new revolutionary government presumably hanging from the scaffold, the Austrians would have little alternative but to assert direct military control over Liguria (or at least all of Liguria not already occupied by the Sardinians). Guerrilla warfare may continue, but at this point the state has collapsed, and there will be a strong temptation in Vienna to simply declare the Republic a corpse and announce that annexation is the only alternative to anarchy.
In some ways this might be helpful to finding peace, as it gives Vienna some territory and provides new opportunities for negotiation ("Okay Austria, we'll recognize your annexation of central and eastern Liguria if you cede Parma to Don Felipe"). King Louis considered himself a man of honor and insisted upon the preservation of Genoese territory, but in the face of utter state collapse he might relent on the matter. But it may not be great for Corsican independence, because while the nationals would undoubtedly enjoy the schadenfreude of watching Genoa be crushed beneath the imperial boot, notional Genoese sovereignty also protects Corsica from just getting snatched up by a greater power. If Genoa collapses, Corsica is suddenly up for grabs and probably gets claimed by the Austrians.
It's certainly an interesting idea and I haven't yet decided whether a Genoese Revolution will happen ITTL, although with Schulenburg presiding over Genoa instead of the cruel and pompous Botta Adorno the chances of the same sort of furious uprising are probably reduced.
Not as yet, although I’ve been thinking about whether I still want Madras to fall to the British (as it did in September 1746 IOTL). The French victory was only made possible by the inconclusive Battle of Negapatam off the Coromandel coast which caused the British to abandon the coast and leave Madras vulnerable, and this naval battle was in turn only possible because of reinforcements sent from France; it’s possible the French ITTL don't send the same support to India as a consequence of their losses at Dungeness in early 1744. Even a minor change in weather or illness could affect the outcome, in particular if Commodore Curtis Barnett (who was actually at Dungeness, but by 1746 was in command of a squadron in the Bay of Bengal) avoids his OTL sudden death from disease in May 1746. Barnett is pretty much universally regarded as a more energetic and effective commander than Peyton, the man who replaced him, and might well have commanded more effectively at Negapatam, where the British had better guns and better crews but nevertheless failed to do anything significant.
A British retention of Madras would seriously impact the peace talks in their favor. IOTL Madras was traded back to the British in exchange for the return of Louisbourg and Cape Breton Island to France. Not needing to recover Madras significantly strengthens the British negotiating hand and allows them to insist on other concessions for Louisbourg, or perhaps even to keep Louisbourg, which would seriously harm France’s position in the Americas.
True - while Diu vi salvi Regina is a nice song, you can't really march to it.
In some ways this might be helpful to finding peace, as it gives Vienna some territory and provides new opportunities for negotiation ("Okay Austria, we'll recognize your annexation of central and eastern Liguria if you cede Parma to Don Felipe"). King Louis considered himself a man of honor and insisted upon the preservation of Genoese territory, but in the face of utter state collapse he might relent on the matter. But it may not be great for Corsican independence, because while the nationals would undoubtedly enjoy the schadenfreude of watching Genoa be crushed beneath the imperial boot, notional Genoese sovereignty also protects Corsica from just getting snatched up by a greater power. If Genoa collapses, Corsica is suddenly up for grabs and probably gets claimed by the Austrians.
It's certainly an interesting idea and I haven't yet decided whether a Genoese Revolution will happen ITTL, although with Schulenburg presiding over Genoa instead of the cruel and pompous Botta Adorno the chances of the same sort of furious uprising are probably reduced.
Not as yet, although I’ve been thinking about whether I still want Madras to fall to the British (as it did in September 1746 IOTL). The French victory was only made possible by the inconclusive Battle of Negapatam off the Coromandel coast which caused the British to abandon the coast and leave Madras vulnerable, and this naval battle was in turn only possible because of reinforcements sent from France; it’s possible the French ITTL don't send the same support to India as a consequence of their losses at Dungeness in early 1744. Even a minor change in weather or illness could affect the outcome, in particular if Commodore Curtis Barnett (who was actually at Dungeness, but by 1746 was in command of a squadron in the Bay of Bengal) avoids his OTL sudden death from disease in May 1746. Barnett is pretty much universally regarded as a more energetic and effective commander than Peyton, the man who replaced him, and might well have commanded more effectively at Negapatam, where the British had better guns and better crews but nevertheless failed to do anything significant.
A British retention of Madras would seriously impact the peace talks in their favor. IOTL Madras was traded back to the British in exchange for the return of Louisbourg and Cape Breton Island to France. Not needing to recover Madras significantly strengthens the British negotiating hand and allows them to insist on other concessions for Louisbourg, or perhaps even to keep Louisbourg, which would seriously harm France’s position in the Americas.
True - while Diu vi salvi Regina is a nice song, you can't really march to it.
You could always make one of those Corsicans figthing in the mainland start to whistle a popular song from the Austrians or the Sardinians, or someone in Calvi hear some interesting tune from the British, make a Corsican version of it and spread it among the troops.
What about, say, the official song of a musicians’ club popular in London during the 18th century, “To Anacreon in Heaven”?
I'm affraid it wasn't written yet at the time of the TL. Rule Brittannia, in the other hand...What about, say, the official song of a musicians’ club popular in London during the 18th century, “To Anacreon in Heaven”?
Looking for Italian marches only yields stuff from Il Douche's period. Prinz Eugen, der Edle Ritter should already exist though and the Prince Eugene March was published in 1710, so I'd expect the Corsican troops to hear it. Maybe change out the horns for conch shells for the Corsican version?
Evviva Teodoro, viva la libertà
Che la fortuna ci dia la felicità!
Or something like that...
You’re definitely right that Theodore would be in the lyrics, he wouldn’t accept anything less
If they're going to steal a British song it would presumably be a march, like The British Grenadiers or something. They would have had an opportunity to hear British military music at Calvi, and by the usual custom of the honors of war the French/Genoese would have played a British march during the surrender (as they could hardly have played a Corsican march).
Alternately, since Theodore seems to always have old Jacobite officers around, they could always pick up a Jacobite theme like the classic When the King Enjoys His Own Again, which as it happens is the same tune as The World Turned Upside Down, allegedly what the British band played at the surrender of Yorktown.
My information on 18th century Corsican music is very thin, but the Corsicans had many different musical traditions, varieties, and instruments; they had flutes, fiddles, 18-string citterns, mandolins, and even a native bagpipe (the caramusa - here's an example, played as part of a traditional dance - the moresca, a "war dance" - that sounds a bit like a march). What is now considered stereotypical "Corsican folk music" - polyphonic a capella singing - was just one specific tradition known as paghjella that gained popularity in the late 20th century because it was seen as being "uniquely Corsican," unlike other varieties of folk music that were not perceived as being sufficiently differentiated from French (and more generally southern European) folk music.
Alternately, since Theodore seems to always have old Jacobite officers around, they could always pick up a Jacobite theme like the classic When the King Enjoys His Own Again, which as it happens is the same tune as The World Turned Upside Down, allegedly what the British band played at the surrender of Yorktown.
My information on 18th century Corsican music is very thin, but the Corsicans had many different musical traditions, varieties, and instruments; they had flutes, fiddles, 18-string citterns, mandolins, and even a native bagpipe (the caramusa - here's an example, played as part of a traditional dance - the moresca, a "war dance" - that sounds a bit like a march). What is now considered stereotypical "Corsican folk music" - polyphonic a capella singing - was just one specific tradition known as paghjella that gained popularity in the late 20th century because it was seen as being "uniquely Corsican," unlike other varieties of folk music that were not perceived as being sufficiently differentiated from French (and more generally southern European) folk music.
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Are those pieces of music region-locked, or totally blocked for some bizarre reason?
Perhaps the regulars on Corsica under Lusinchi adopt something based on the British Grenadiers for their regimental march, the units in Sardinian service under Battaglini adopt a savoyad or Austrian march and regular units raised after the rebellion have something composed based on a Moresca, or continue a tradition of borrowing a march from an ally?
Perhaps the regulars on Corsica under Lusinchi adopt something based on the British Grenadiers for their regimental march, the units in Sardinian service under Battaglini adopt a savoyad or Austrian march and regular units raised after the rebellion have something composed based on a Moresca, or continue a tradition of borrowing a march from an ally?
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Bison
Banned
Can't wait for an end to the war! I'm interested in A. Which city Theodore will choose for his capital; that is, on which side of the island (north, south, east, west) will the island be located and towards which region (Provence/Liguria, Saridinia, Tuscany, France/Spain) will it be oriented towards. From a purely urban perspective, Bonifacio would be very well suited to it's central position in Western Mediterranean trade, but very remote from the rest of the kingdom. Ajaccio would be further from Italy and closer to France, but better positioned than Calvi or Porto Vecchio. and B. How Theodore's economy will do. Hopefully he stays out of Mediterranean wars and acts as a safe haven for traders while everyone else is at war.
I think that Corti will remain the official capitol for several reasons: out of tradition, due to it's proven record of being a nice defensive position and to show the least amount of favouritism to the various regions and clans near the port cities. I expect Calvi and Ajaccio to remain the contenders for the biggest & wealthiest city now that Bastia's further development into a major port will likely cease, although I would not be surprised if in the modern day, Bastia would still be larger than Cotri.
Bison
Banned
Corti doesn't have access to the sea, though - given the lack of infrastructure and terrain suitable for quick land communication, the economic and political capital should be on the coast.
Don't have to be the same place, many countries have capitals that are not the economic center. Indeed given Corsica's history they will more than likely want a capital that is protected above economic factors like being a port.