V-5: The Mediterranean Sea Theatre
Chapter 5: The Mediterranean Sea Theatre
—c. AD 1803—“In order to survive the commonwealth had to expand its influence.”
from The Second Commonwealth of England
The Battle of Elba [43] [lxxi]
from The Second Commonwealth of England
The Battle of Elba [43] [lxxi]
Unfortunately for the continental monarchies, they were on the defensive in a war that they had officially declared, and were without a true plan. What plan they did have was simply to cut off all trade with England from the continent. Most nations did agree to this trade ban. But many weaker economies only agreed officially and turned a blind eye to any smugglers still willing to make the trip.
The first thing that England did was put its navy to use. Blockading important French and Spanish ports. It also attempted to resurrect the Golden Age of Piracy by offering letters of marque to anyone with a ship and willing to plunder Spanish trade routes. Third, with the help of Corsican ports, England landed soldiers on the Mediterranean islands to protect the local republican movements. Many of these soldiers would be drawn from the North American states. The Balearic Islands, Sardinia and Sicily would all succeed in being liberated with English help. And under English supervision, they would set up their own independent republican governments. These governments would differ slightly from the system used in England. All three new republics would function as sister republics to the English Commonwealth. Their main military goal would be to disrupt as much trade in the Mediterranean as possible. The Balearic Republic was the most like a puppet state. Sardinia and Sicily both had movements fueled by emigration from other parts of Italy that they were able to create their own governments. But the Balearic Republic was completely constructed by England. And even though it had a Spanish president, he was much too young to effectively run the country and England simply dictated what he should do.
The English Commonwealth did attempt to establish several footholds on the continent itself. But none of them were successful. England could not commit all its infantry to a single invasion point. So, any attempt was quickly overwhelmed by that country’s entire army. Unlike previous wars, England could not rely on continental allies or mercenaries divide their foes attention.
***
Balearic RepublicRepública Baleares (spa) | |
Flag of the Balearic Islands [lxvii], Mark of the Balearic Islands [lxxii, lxxiv], & Location of the Balearic Islands (rose) [xxxix] | |
Motto: | “Esperanza, Juventud, Crecimiento” (spa) (Hope, Youth, Growth) |
Capital: | Palma |
Official language: | Spanish |
Common language: | Catalan |
Official religion: | Deism |
Demonym: | Balearic |
Government: • President • Vice President | Unitary presidential constitutional republic Rafael del Riego Baldomero Espartero |
Legislature: • Upper house • Lower house | Congress Senate House of Representatives |
Currency: | Balearic dollar ($) |
Sardinian Republic Repubblica Sarda (ita) | |
Flag of Sardinia [lxvii], Mark of Sardinia [xlviii], & Location of Sardinia (rose) [xxxix] | |
Motto: | “Libertà, Virtù, Eguaglianza” (ita) (Freedom, Virtue, Equality) |
Anthem: | “The Sardinian Patriot to the Lords” |
Capital: | Cagliari |
Official language: | Italian |
Common language: | Sardinian |
Official religion: | Deism |
Demonym: | Sardinian |
Government: • Director | Unitary presidential directorial republic Carlo Guiseppe Guglielmo Botta |
Legislature: | Legislative Assembly |
Currency: | Sardinian dollar ($) |
Sicilian Republic Repubblica Siciliana (ita) | |
Flag of Sicily [lxvii], Mark of Sicily [xlviii, lxxiii], & Location of Sicily (rose) [xxxix] | |
Motto: | “Unione, forza e libertà!)” (ita) (Union, Strength, and Liberty!) |
Capital: | Palermo |
Official language: | Italian |
Common language: | Sicilian |
Official religion: | Deism |
Demonym: | Sicilian |
Government: • Director | Unitary presidential directorial republic Carlo Lauberg |
Legislature | Legislative Assembly |
Currency: | Sicilian dollar ($) |
Endnotes
43. OTL: The Destruction of “L’Orient” at the Battle of the Nile.
lxxi. (Arnald, 1825-1827)
lxxii. (Modified from source: Glasshouse, 2011)
lxxiii. (Modified from source: Glasshouse, 2012)
lxxiv. (Modified from source: Glasshouse, 2016)
Arnald, George. The Destruction of "L'Orient" at the Battle of the Nile. 1825-1827. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Battle_of_the_Nile.jpg. Accessed 18 May 2022.
Glasshouse. Royal Monogram of Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. 25 February 2011. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Monogram_of_Bernhard_III,_Duke_of_Saxe-Meiningen.svg. Accessed 18 May 2022.
Glasshouse. Royal Monogram of King Albert of Saxony. 27 August 2016. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Monogram_of_King_Albert_of_Saxony,_Variant_2.svg. Accessed 18 May 2022.
Glasshouse. Royal Monogram of Sarah, Duchess of York. 21 April 2012. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Monogram_of_Sarah,_Duchess_of_York.svg. Accessed 27 May 2022.
Last edited: