TLIAD Kingdom of Brittany

So this is my first attempt at such a thing. Anyway was recently reading the wiki article on Brittany (a fascinating region) and was inspired to write this. Anyway, without any more stalling here we go.




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Lands owned by the Kingdom of Brittany at its height in 1900. Light blue are former parts of the kingdom while dark blue are still under the kingdoms juristdiction.
Overview
The Kingdom of Brittany is a small western European monarchy bordered by France to the east, English channel to the north. And the Atlantic ocean to the south. With a population of nine point seven million as of its 2010 census the nations economy is largely based on shipping, tourism and agriculture. It maintains a currently cordial relationship with neighboring France, though this has not always been the case. War having broke out between the two nations on multiple occasions. The nation is a participating member of the European community, and uses the Brittonic Franc as its currency.

Much of the population speaks Breton, a local Celtic language, although a growing number in the east speak Gallo. A further Celtic language. Small French speaking minorities exist in the eastern regions of the country, although the language holds no official status in the eyes of the government and increasingly the language is being replaced by either Gallo or Breton as the language of the home. Only Breton is taught in schools. Although in some highschools Gallo can be taken as an elective.

History
12000BC-700AD

The area today known as Brittany was long inhabited by a number of Celtic tribes. When the Roman empire first arrived in the region five tribes had emerged to dominate the region, the Curiosolitae, Namnetes, Osimii, Redones and Veneti. The Romans quickly conquered the region. Adding it to their growing Republic in 51 BC. It would remain a part of the later Roman empire, becoming heavily latinized. When the empire began to collapse and the region was attacked by waves of Franks and Alamanni tribesmen. The regions economy totally collapsed and many surviving settlements became heavily fortified in order to increase their ability to ward off raids.

In the 4th century waves of settlers from the island of Britain began to arrive in the region. Initially hired as troops by the local Roman governors they quickly began to settle the region in large numbers. A process speed up by Roman governors anxious to have a loyal population to call on to call upon to defend the region from the deprivations of barbarian hordes.When the Romans pulled out of the region in the 5th and 6th centuries the settlers remained. Eventually being reinforced by a further wave of settlers from Britain as a result of the Anglo-Saxon conquest of the island.

700-1815
The region was split for much of the middle ages into numerous petty kingdoms. Eventually they coalesced into a proper unified kingdom with the coming of Nominoe, who was king from 845-851. The newly formed kingdom fought a series of wars with neighboring France. Winning both and expanding its territory greatly to encompass parts of Normandy, Anjou, Maine and the channel islands. Attacks by Vikings in the 10th century seriously weakened the kingdom and led to its loss of much of the territory it had one in earlier wars with the French. Attempts by Alan II to retake the lost territory were met with limited success and what lands he did retake were lost by his successors.

The region then became a duchy. Its leaders paying homage to the king of France. A number of Breton lords aided the efforts of William the conqueror when he invaded England in the 11th century. Following the conquest many of these nobles recieved vast estates in England. Often eclipsing what they possessed back home. During the hundred years war the duchy often switched sides depending on who could offer them the most. Thus Breton ships fought the English, Breton cavalry fought the French. And the nation began to increase in prominence.

A civil war was waged in the region between the French backed house of Blois and the English backed house of Montfort. The house of Montfort won in 1364 and again the region became completely independent. France being to weakened to bother with reconquest. However much of this independence was squandered during the mad war and the region again became a vassal of the French king. Charles VIII of France would marry duke Francis II's daughter Ann. Following the death of Charles Ann would marry his heir Louis XII. She would champion, successfully for the duchy to remain independent and when she died in 1514 the region was passed onto her cousin Philip of Navarre, who became Duke Philip I.

For most of the next two hundred and seventy years the region remained in the house of Navarre. However the aged duke Francis VI was deposed by French troops in 1796 during the opening phases of the French Revolutionary wars. Afterwards Brittany was annexed directly to the French republic. Francis managed to flee to England, but would die without an heir in 1801.

Under French occupation Brest would become a major naval base. Being used as a staging ground for emperor Napoleons planned invasion of England and main Atlantic base of the French fleet. Breton troops would serve in the French armies, fighting in some of their most important victories. Following the fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the French monarchy it was initially planned by the great powers at Vienna to merge the nation with France. However local politicians managed to unite and offer the crown of the kingdom of Brittany to English General Arthur Wesley, the Duke of Wellington. With the permission of the British monarchy and backing by the Vienna powers he would ascend the throne as Arthur I in 1815.

1815-1939
King Arthur would focus his efforts after taking office to improving his nations economy and establishing his control. He would reign as an absolute monarch until 1823 when he asked for a Constitution to be drafted. His request was granted and in 1825 the nation became a constitutional monarchy. With the crown sharing power with an Assembly and Judicial branch. When Arthur abdicated in 1826 he passed the throne onto his son. Who took the throne as William I. William had, unlike his father, been educated in statescraft and was an accomplished student. During his reign lasting from 1826 to 1878 the nation would rapidly industrialize. Establishing many factories, mines, railroads and telegraph lines. During the period the nations military was kept to a minimum and a good relationship with France was cultivated.

The country took no part in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, although they did offer to host peace negotiations. And offer turned down by German chancellor Otto von Bismarck who instead forced the French into a humiliating peace, forcing them to give up Alsace Lorraine and Napoleon III to eventually abdicate. Soon after the end of the war relations with France took a major turn and the country was forced to ally itself with Britain. Becoming the only nation on the continent to do so. The nation also developed a modest navy in the period.

A major goal of Queen Sophia, who succeeded William to the throne following his death, was to establish colonies for the kingdom, giving them access to greater resources and wealth than they had previously enjoyed. With such a goal she established control over the southern most regions of south America, known as Megallania in 1882. She also took an active role in the scramble for Africa. Managing to gain important colonies in south and equatorial regions of the continent. These regions would be heavily developed by successive governments. With the southern holdings in particular becoming major centers for immigration.

The nation played a major role in the naval arms race which began in the 1890s. Building over a dozen battleships and many more cruisers and destroyers. The kingdom was the second nation in the world to launch a Dreadnought, following Britain in 1907. Less than eight months after Dreadnought herself had been launched. When world war broke out the nation followed the example set by Britain and chose to stay neutral. When Belgium was invaded by the Germans they did not however declare war. In fact the nation remained neutral until 1916. When the German submarine U-107 torpedoed and sank the cruiser Nominoe without warning. However the nations contribution to the war effort was limited to a few thousand men and their navy being used to hunt German U-boats in the Atlantic.

The nation participated in the Washington Naval Conference and signed the resulting treaty. The nation was given the same tonnage as both France and Italy and would spend most of the 1920s building up their fleet to the treaty limits. While also maintaining a fleet of three battleships. The country was hit hard by the great depression. Choosing to remain with the other gold bloc countries which continued to base their currency on the gold standard. By 1938 the nations economy was only begining to recover.

1939-45
When the Germans invaded Poland in 1939 Brittany did not declare war on them. Their alliance with Britain had long ago ended and their government saw no need to invade. Despite a heavy debate they also refrained from declaring war after Germany invaded France in 1941. Once France surrendered however things changed and Brittany asked the Germans what their intentions were towards the kingdom. German diplomats reassured them that Brittany's borders would be honored by the Germans and that the nation had nothing to fear. On the condition that the German Navy was allowed to use Brest harbor as a base for their submarines. With little alternative they agreed.

In response the British bombarded the Breton fleet. Engaging it in a brief battle in the English channel in which all three Breton battleships were sunk and fifteen thousand men killed. In reply Brittany declared war on Britain. Sending some aircraft to participate in German bombing campaigns against them. The nation allied with Germany and sent troops to fight in north Africa, the Balkans, Russia and Italy. German equipment, such as tanks, planes and guns were soon adopted by the Breton army, licenses being acquired to allow the products to be built domestically.

When the war turned south for the Germans and the allies invaded France Brittany quickly changed sides. Capturing the submarine pens in Brest and bringing a rapid drop in British merchant losses in 1944. Breton troops also swarmed into France. Meeting the allies in Paris. Afterwards Breton troops followed the British army all the way into Germany. Men fighting in Russia were ordered to defect to the Soviets, where they were promised arms and food. Brittany was not seriously impacted by the end of the war. Receiving no punishments for allying with Germany. In fact international courts found the British guilty of forcing the country into the war for their attack on their navy.

1945-present
Following the end of the second world war Brittany quickly recovered its shattered economy by providing food and manufactured goods to the more war torn nations of Europe. Germany in particular became a favorite customer. The nation also benefited very well from the Marshall plan in the US. Receiving billions of dollars in foreign aid. Wars of independence in Africa would lead to the independence of both the kingdoms colonies. However the Breton west Indies. Purchased from Spain and Denmark in the 1870s and 80s remain to this day as a part of the kingdom.The kingdom declared neutrality following the end of the war. Taking no part in the early stages of the cold war between the Soviet Union and United States. Although the nation would join NATO in 1978 and the European Community in 1987.

When the USSR collapsed in 1991, ending the cold war, the nation chose to withdraw from NATO, doing so in 1994. Although the nation remained a part of the European Community, later joining the EU in 1995. Facing no credible threat the nation chose to disband most of its military. Only maintaining a small naval and airforce, alongside a mostly ceremonial army. Freed of having to fund massive armed forces the nations economy has improved significantly in recent years. Surpassing other EU member nations such as Italy and Spain in terms of GDP although possessing a much smaller population.

Recently the increase in international tensions has prompted king James II to ask the assembly for an increase in the national defense budget. Approved in 2016 the bill will see the size of the army and navy dramatically increased. While the airforce will see itself expanded along a more modest scale, receiving however numerous new fighters and interceptors. Namely the excellent Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter. New submarines are also being purchased from Sweden, along side eighteen destroyers and frigates which have recently been ordered from Japan and France. These new planes and ships will dramatically increase the nations combat capabilities while the army has recently requested a domestically produced replacement for their aging Challenger II Main Battle Tanks and Bradley assault vehicles.
 
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