Volume 2: Soaring! The Overlord of the Region Chapter 213 France's Response
There is a reason why the two Spanish time travelers decided to make the first move in European integration in France.
In the current European continent, apart from the countries controlled by the Habsburg family, there are only two countries that can be truly called great powers: the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania, and France.
However, although the former had a population of about 10 million at that time, the ethnic composition of the country was extremely complex, religious beliefs were too free (there were Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and various Protestant denominations), coupled with the powerful aristocracy and the crappy elective monarchy. This country, which was known as the largest country in Europe at that time, would decline rapidly. In terms of history, this country, except for a brief period of excitement in the 1920s and 1930s when it was known as the sixth most powerful country in Europe, no longer had the title of a "powerful country".
As for Russia, which was once so powerful in later generations? It was still very weak at the moment! They had just recovered their capital, Moscow, from the Poles last year. Before Peter the Great came into being, the Russians had no right to participate in European affairs.
Therefore, the real enemy can only be France.
Although France at this time had a much smaller territory than later generations, its population was close to 20 million, making it a truly populous country in Europe.
The country is now ruled by the Bourbon royal family, whose first monarch is Henry IV. Originally a Huguenot ( the French name for Calvinism), he converted to Catholicism in order to obtain the French throne (France is a country dominated by Catholicism). Such an unscrupulous monarch destined that the Bourbon royal family, although ruling a Catholic country, would never give up their country and royal interests because of religion.
This is indeed the case. During the reign of Henry IV, he vigorously promoted religious reconciliation and freedom of belief at home. Abroad, he worked hard to improve France's national status and fight for the interests of the country - for this purpose, he could form an alliance with the Ottoman Empire and fight against Spain together with the infidels!
Of course, France was not as powerful as Spain at that time, so it was often defeated when challenging Spain. At this time, Henry IV went to the Pope again and said: Your Holiness, France is also a Catholic country. We are two Catholic countries. If there is a dispute, we can just fight to vent our anger. Is it necessary to fight to the death?
Therefore, at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, when France was being held down by Spain several times, it was the Pope who stepped forward to help them out...
As for the Thirty Years' War, France first provided money and guns to support the Protestant countries in fighting the Habsburgs. After a group of its younger brothers were defeated, it simply joined the battle itself... It can be said that the reason why this war lasted so long was that it would have been impossible without France stirring up trouble in the back.
Spain, without the time traveler, always had illusions about France, a Catholic country. They hoped that this country would repent and protect Catholicism together with them. But when the time traveler came to power, they had only one view: With France like this, who else should they attack?
But at this time, France was really not easy to defeat.
Because history has been changed beyond all recognition by time travelers.
In the historical plane, Henry IV, who achieved religious reconciliation within France, ended the civil war that lasted for more than 30 years, prospered the French economy, greatly promoted the development of French industry, and laid the foundation for France to become a powerful country on the European continent, was assassinated on May 13, 1610. He was assassinated by a fanatical French Catholic. The reason for the assassination was that Henry IV was fighting against Spain, the defender of Catholicism...
But in this dimension, Henry IV escaped the assassination because of the timely reminder from Osman's time traveler. At this time, he was only 59 years old, which was the golden age for a politician, and he still firmly controlled France.
Moreover, the Basque prince of Spain also gave Bishop Richelieu a great assist: he sent assassins to assassinate Richelieu twice but both failed, while the bishop of the Diocese of Luçon was assassinated twice, and both times he was rescued by an Ottoman. Such a strange experience successfully attracted the attention of Henry IV. After a conversation between the monarch and his ministers, Henry IV was very happy: all the political ideas of this young bishop were perfectly in line with his own! So, Richelieu soon became Henry IV's Secretary of State.
In short, France at this time was not in the situation of the Thirty Years' War at the beginning of history, with a weak ruler and a country in disarray, and constant rebellion by nobles. On the contrary, because France had successfully established contact with the Ottoman time travelers, its technological level, at least in military technology, was not much different from that of Spain.
In short, the Ottoman time traveler just tapped the wheel of history lightly and gave the Spanish twins an enhanced version of France.
This makes it even more necessary to knock France down first!
May 10, 1613, Louvre.
"Hahaha, everyone is here, please take a seat!"
The current French King Henry IV is tall and handsome. Although he is old, he is still a handsome old man. It's a pity that this handsome old man doesn't like to take a bath. His body odor once made his second queen fall in love with him on their wedding night. As a result, the noble lady of the Medici family had to spray herself with perfume before she could applaud the handsome old man... So, even though they have been together for a long time, when Henry IV approached, Richelieu and Aziz couldn't help holding their breath.
"Richelieu, my young secretary, what news have your little birds brought me to-day?"
"Your Majesty, we can confirm that Spain will launch a war of enormous scale against our country."
"Hmm? Why? Recently, since the coronation of Philip IV of Spain, haven't the two countries been discussing marrying my daughter to their king?"
"Your Majesty, this is all set up by Spain to confuse us! According to the reports of our spies in the Netherlands, a large number of Spanish soldiers have landed in the Netherlands and stationed there since the past month. A rough estimate is that no less than 30,000 soldiers have arrived in the past month. Also transported by ship are a large number of muskets and cannons."
"Do they want to tear up the Twelve-Year Armistice Agreement and suppress the independence movement in the seven northern provinces of the Netherlands again?"
"Your Majesty! This kind of force is too extravagant to suppress the Dutch independence movement. Moreover, our spies in the Netherlands have confirmed that the Spanish Governor of the Netherlands, Albrecht, has reiterated to the Netherlands the importance of adhering to the armistice agreement and expressed his willingness to renew the agreement for another ten years. At the same time, our navy has also monitored that Spain has begun to concentrate its Atlantic Fleet and Mediterranean Fleet. In the shipyards of Ceuta and Barcelona, countless artillery pieces are being hoisted onto newly completed warships..."
"Hmm..." A tall and strong figure suddenly approached Richelieu, and a stench almost made Richelieu faint: "My dear Secretary of State, so, we have to go to war with the damn Spaniards again?"
"I am afraid so, my Lord."
"Hahaha, let's fight!" After laughing heartily for a while, Henry IV said, "Aziz, my distinguished guest. Can that clever young master Ibrahim give us any help?"
"I'm sorry, your majesty. Master Ibrahim is only 12 years old now. He is not even a pasha, so he can't provide you with more help. But he said that as long as France survives this battle, it will lay the foundation for dominating Europe. If it can't survive..."
"Hmm? Is Spain going to start a war of annihilation this time? Oh, this is unbelievable. We are a Catholic country and a loyal defender of the Roman Catholic Church!"
After saying this, the king began to give orders continuously: "Richelieu, write a letter immediately and ask my Prince of Condé to return home quickly! My army needs him to command! I want to sleep with his wife, but the country is in trouble now, and he can't ignore the country to protect his wife! Also, write a letter to the Duke of Sedan and ask him to strengthen the city defense. Sully, my prime minister, mobilize our army, especially the musketeers, to assemble in Paris! Write to Britain and the Netherlands. France is fighting Spain on land, and they are responsible for defeating the Spanish fleet at sea!
Oh, we have too few allies. Aziz, my friend, please go to Istanbul in person and tell your Sultan that I am willing to ally with your country again to fight against the evil country of Spain! If this battle is won, I will give up all my power in Italy, including Rome! "
