Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology

Chapter 147  Europe 1654 Part: 1

The first Anglo-Dutch War eventually came to a close in 1654. The war was ignited in May 1652 by skirmishes between Dutch and English fleets near the English coast. Subsequent major naval battles ensued, with Admiral Robert Blake securing a decisive English victory in June 1652. However, in a surprising turn of events during the Battle of Scheveningen, the Dutch gained the upper hand, creating a more balanced outcome compared to the historical timeline. Unfortunately, the final battle was not in favour of the Dutch because, influenced by the deviation in the current timeline, the Dutch opted to allocate more resources to the war in the middle stages, leading to an earlier exhaustion of its combat effectiveness before the final battle, which gave British a slight advantage.

In the previous timeline, both sides did not achieve a decisive military victory as both the British and the Dutch chose to settle due to financial strain and casualties. The two-year-long war ended with a temporary truce, signing the Treaty of Westminster in April of 1654. But in this timeline, it was different. The Dutch, exhausted early on, couldn't combat the British as equally as before, taking a lower hand and losing a lot more than the previous timeline.

While there wasn't a decisive victory for the British, they achieved major goals despite higher resource expenditure and casualties. The Dutch had to acknowledge English sovereignty over the English Channel, pay higher compensation for wartime damages, reduce tariffs on many English goods, and give some shares in the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which was holding a monopoly on lucrative spice trade routes through Asia.

The significant deviation in the current timeline was because the Dutch failed to open up the Indian subcontinent, allowing the British to take advantage of the Dutch's temporary weakness.

As discussions about the British and Dutch War unfolded in Europe, something unexpected happened. Portuguese King Alphonso de Braganza, leading the Restoration War, started selling bulk quantities of spices which earned him a lot of gold. More Surprisingly, the war went a bit too well, forcing the Spaniards to expend more soldiers dealing with the Portuguese.

Many European nations, suspecting the involvement of a new power in the war, dispatched their spies to gather intelligence. The revelations they uncovered were astonishing. While it was expected that the French supported the Portuguese, the surprising aspect was the success of the Portuguese due to their alliance with India. Europe viewed India as a land of immense wealth and economic opportunities. At the time, contemporary Europeans were not inclined to conquer an entire ancient civilization. However, with the death of the Mughal emperor leading to a power struggle, European nations saw an opportunity to vie for greater economic benefits. Witnessing the potential of the land after they obtained substantial gains, their greed intensified, and they aimed to claim the entire subcontinent for themselves.

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

Hofburg Palace, Vienna.

It has been 6 years since the 30 Years War ended with the Peace Treaty of Westphalia. After this war, The Holy Roman Empire is still riddled with holes.

Ferdinand III of the Habsburgs is discussing the new information obtained from the Iberian Peninsula about the new move made by India, a new player in the European game.

"So, Johann, do you think we could win any benefits from India? Perhaps the gains acquired could expedite the reconstruction of the Empire."

Johann Matthias Wolkenstein, the president of the Aulic Council, pondered for a moment before responding, "I'm afraid not, Your Highness. Maybe before the war, we could have explored the possibility, but now, engaging in trade with India demands a robust naval presence. Regrettably, we lack it. In all of Europe, only a few nations like the British, the Dutch, those from the Iberian Peninsula, and perhaps the Nordic regions might attempt it. However, given our current economic struggles and the turmoil in our religious and political landscape, I would advise against such an endeavour."

Thinking about what Johann said, Ferdinand fell into contemplation. Soon, he made up his mind to listen to Johann. Ferdinand put the matter aside as he again began to discuss the internal affairs of the kingdom.

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Mehmed IV, upon learning about Indian participation in European chess game, frowned in disapproval. Thinking about his distant relative in the Mughal Empire, he summoned his minister, "Grand Vizier."

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Sultan," Köprülü Mehmed Pasha replied to the king's call.

"Send someone to the Mughal Empire and find out what is happening in that blasphemous land."

"Yes, Your Highness."

FRANCE

Capital City Paris:

In the year 1654, The renowned and longest-reigning European monarch, the Sun King Louis the Great, is still a teenager at the age of 16. It would be another 7 years until the death of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, and Louis would famously assume formal power over the Empire, declaring, 'I will do the job myself.' On this particular day, he attended a meeting where Cardinal Jules Mazarin discussed matters concerning the Portuguese.

"Our investment in Portugal did not go in vain, Your Highness," one of the ministers was saying. However, Louis was very bored as he almost had no say in all the matters discussed here. If he had any say, it was only for smaller things. But he did not complain as he knew that Mazarin was working hard for the royal family. He is a die-hard royalist and is working very hard to pursue the centralization of absolute monarchy.

Mazarin replied to the minister, "Yes, yes, you are right. But what do you think about this Indian country that has newly emerged? Our sources tell me that this country was able to double its territory in just a span of a few years. Can we let such an ambitious monarch control the land of such rich wealth?" The cardinal said as he himself fell into contemplation. Louis got interested in this matter and wanted to hear the details about it.

"Anyway, the South Asian country is very far away from us, and we can't invest a lot of our manpower in the Navy. It is better to concentrate on territorial expansion. Maybe after we have consolidated our influence and dominance in Western Europe, we can shift our sights to the Indian subcontinent. For now, open normal trade relations with this country, and let us see if we could do some spice trade and earn some money for expansion." Mazarin came to the conclusion himself as he went on to discuss other topics. But Louis was disappointed as he wanted to hear more. 'I will ask the cardinal again later,' he thought to himself.

ENGLAND

In London, Oliver Cromwell was immersed in reading the latest intelligence report from the Iberian Peninsula. Following the abolition of the monarchy after the civil war spanning from 1642 to 1649, he assumed the role of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. His notable victory against the Dutch and the acquisition of key trade routes to the Asian market had earned him substantial political capital.

Upon reading the report detailing the riches acquired by the Portuguese from India and securing the Asian trade routes from the Dutch, Oliver Cromwell felt a surge of excitement. The prospect of accumulating more wealth crossed his mind, providing him with the means to quell opposition from politicians who remained steadfastly against him. Although he could presently suppress these staunch royalists due to his political influence, the uncertainty of whether his son could effectively contend with them in his absence weighed on his thoughts. In an era where democracy was not widely embraced, Cromwell began formulating a plan to extract the maximum benefits for the kingdom.

DUTCH REPUBLIC

William III of Orange is discussing with Grand Pensionary John de Witt, "John, do you think we should try to open up trade in India again?" William asks, unwilling to let the indigenous country make all the money. The Dutch are more up-to-date with the affairs in India than other countries, considering the loss in the initial battle against Vijayanagar. Maybe only the Portuguese could compare with them because of their alliance. Thinking about the failure in the Indian and British wars, William hesitates to decide what to do.

In response to William's inquiry, the Grand Pensionary took a moment to ponder before shaking his head and responded, "Your Highness, it might not be necessary. Our internal condition is far from stable following the war against the British. Considering that India has now drawn the attention of the British, that foolish Cromwell is likely to eagerly pursue this tempting opportunity. While we are aware of the potential hazards involved, the British, in their ignorance, may not fully comprehend the risks. In my view, we should allow the British to take the initiative. If, by chance, both nations find themselves weakened after their confrontation, the benefits for us could be substantial. For now, I propose that we concentrate our efforts on earnest development in the Americas."

William, thinking about it, nodded his head.

To Be Continued...n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om