Anthology of War, Greed, Fame, Pride, and Nationalism

Bohemia Part 2

A/N: My laptop is closing the window by itself. Welcome back to the series on how Bohemia (the Czech Republic) took over the continent of Ishtar. I'm so grateful for your support. I've unfortunately, noticed the comments section is blank. If you want to make a comment as to how to improve, comment below. As always, hit the star on the upper right-hand corner of your screen. Before we get started, time for a short backstory.

Located in the heart of Central Europe, Bohemia is an enchanting region that lies in the western part of the Czech Republic, bordered by Germany and Poland. With a rich and storied past that spans countless generations, this captivating land is a melting pot of cultures and a haven for various communities.

Once an independent nation, Bohemia underwent a transformation after World War I came to an end in 1918, becoming the Czech Republic. However, its distinct identity thrives to this day. Prague, at its core, is not just the regional capital of Bohemia, but also the vibrant and undeniable capital of the entire country. Without further ado, let's begin! Remember to hit the star. 

Ishtar, as a continent, faced significant economic challenges. One of its regions, Fiore, was particularly affected by a downturn in the dill market. The decline in demand for dill led to an economic bust in Fiore. However, this decline was not the only factor impacting Fiore's economy.

The introduction of two new spices, parsley and nutmeg, grown in the Islands of Caelum, further contributed to Fiore's economic woes. These new spices gained popularity and gradually replaced dill in the market. Unfortunately, Fiore's temperate climate with its humid summers and freezing winters made it unsuitable for growing nutmeg and other tropical spices. The fertile land in Fiore was inhospitable to the cultivation of these sought-after spices.In contrast, Caelum boasted a tropical climate. Snowfall was unheard of in this region, and the weather primarily consisted of rainy days, sunny periods, or cloudy weather. This made Caelum an ideal location for growing nutmeg and other tropical spices.The King of Fiore, desperate to find a solution to his nation's economic crisis, sought various avenues. However, his efforts were in vain. His economists either refused to search for potential solutions in the Royal Library in Crocus or were corrupt, benefiting from the suffering of the working class.With no viable alternatives, Fiore took a drastic step. The kingdom decided to sell itself to the Kingdom of Bohemia, a powerful nation located in Central Europe, south of Poland and southeast of Germany. Though geographically distant, King Wenceslas of Bohemia saw an opportunity in Fiore's situation and was willing to seize it.Despite the geographical distance between the two kingdoms, King Wenceslas did not allow this to hinder his decision. The economic potential and strategic advantages presented by Fiore outweighed any concerns regarding the physical distance between the two nations.In conclusion, Ishtar's continent faced economic turmoil, and Fiore, in particular, struggled due to the decline in the dill market and the introduction of new spices grown in Caelum. The desperate King of Fiore ultimately sold his kingdom to the Kingdom of Bohemia, despite the geographical distance. This decision was driven by the need to find a solution to Fiore's economic crisis and the potential benefits that Bohemia could offer. Fiore's damaged economy was quickly taken over by the Czechs, installing a new class of economists that reported to the Crown. King Norman I of Fiore agreed to marry Princess Anastasia I, sister of King Wenseslas as a gesture of gratitude. The couple fell in love at first sight and the marriage was happy. Nine months after their wedding, a prince was born. He was christened by the Bishop of Crocus as Prince Alexei of Fiore, heir to the throne. But as the nephew of King Wenseslas, he was not next in line for the Bohemian crown. It was his own heir, Vladimir X. At eighteen years old, Alexei was given the throne of Fiore after his parents stepped down to retire from politics. He was an alumnus of the University of Prague, an elite law school located in the Bohemian capital, Prague Town. Soon it was his turn to choose a wife and he agreed to marry the daughter of Lord Dmitry the Deranged, Wenceslas's most trusted spokesman for the nobility. Alexei and Lady Olga were married in a lavish ceremony, and the couple moved into the royal castle in Prague Town. They soon had a son, who was named Vladimir after Alexei's cousin. Alexei unfortunately, was faced with a serious dilemma. The Empire of Alvarez was on the move from Alakitasia, beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Wenceslas agreed to help Ishtar defend itself against Emperor Spriggan's onslaught, but in return he expected more rights to gamble on the famous nutmeg and parsley market. Understanding the demand for nutmeg and parsley in Bohemian cuisine is important because it highlights the economic importance of spices to the region. The spices were valuable commodities that could be used to generate wealth and the King of Fiore was willing to sell his kingdom in exchange for access to both markets, which were both a lucrative source of income. Additionally, the demand for nutmeg and parsley in Bohemian cuisine was a factor in the King's decision to marry his daughter into the House of Habsburg-Fiore, in order to create a closer alliance between the two nations. This decision ultimately led to the conception of Prince Alexei, the heir to the throne of Fiore and an important figure in the history of the region as well as that of his descendants who came after him. This marriage was also significant because it sparked a diplomatic relationship between Bohemia and the House of Habsburg-Fiore. This alliance would last for centuries and would be the source of many other important historical events, such as the war against the Alvarez Empire. Emperor Spriggan was jealous at the wealth King Vladimir I boasted about during his meetings in Prague, but what made him angry was the fact that Ishtar was easily conquered through the use of diplomacy by an "upstart" instead of someone experienced, like him. He led thousands of invasions into Ishtarian territory that all ended in defeat, but he always came back again and again. He ordered a mobilization and sent his newly-built army on a raiding campaign in Europe, coming from the Strait of Gibraltar in Spain. King Carlos the Fair was on friendly terms with Emperor Spriggan, so the Spanish monarch just let them pass through his country. Sadly it was a choice that was not as popular at home as it was in Alvarez. Unlike Spriggan, King Carlos was a figurehead controlled by the noble Vaqueros class, Spain's landowning elite with aristocratic titles. If the Vaqueros were unhappy by a decision Carlos made, it sparked a rebellion until he defended himself or he was overthrown from power and a pretender was elected to the vacant throne. This cycle often repeated itself, leading to instability and chaos in Spain. The Vaqueros effectively held the country hostage, as their decision could plunge the nation into civil war. This instability was a major factor in the Iberian Peninsula's decline. Carlos wrote a letter to Lord August von Ribbentrop, the esteemed Prime Minister of the Alvarez Empire, imploring for his invaluable military support in definitively overpowering his vassals. Mr. Ribbentrop demanded financial compensation in return and the young King readily agreed, then went a step further. He gave away his daughter's hand in marriage. Princess Evelyn was happy to marry a foreign diplomat, until she discovered where he came from. She was afraid that Spriggan would manipulate his minister's wedding for his own political gain and seize control of Spain, but fortunately, the Emperor did not stoop to such tactics. He kept his promise to send 50 billion troops to assist in suppressing the rebellion, and as a result, the Royalists and Alvarez mercenaries joined forces to apprehend and subsequently execute the noble rebels. After being arrested, they lost their noble titles and were forced to live as poor peasants under the rule of King Carlos. Failure to comply with his rule would result in their execution during the impending purge. As a result, the Vaqueros were eliminated as a social group and the working class was given the opportunity to rise, transforming into the new aristocracy. Spain underwent a significant transformation in its political structure during this period. Not only did it evolve into an absolute monarchy, but it also became a vassalized client state under the dominance of the mighty Alvarez Empire. Following the retirement of King Carlos, his son, King Carlos II, assumed the mantle of leadership in Spain. Following this, the neighboring kingdom of Portugal, led by the wise King Miguel, also followed suit. The influence of the Alvarez Empire extended beyond the Iberian Peninsula and reached the borders of France. The illustrious Spriggan 12, consisting of the twelve most formidable and esteemed knights of Alvarez, embarked on a majestic journey through the Pyrenees, venturing into the heart of France. As the Spriggan 12 wintered in Paris, they received an esteemed invitation to attend a meeting of the court by King Charles XI, the reigning monarch of the French kingdom. In this crucial gathering, King Charles XI truly grasped the immense power of the Alvarez Empire and wholeheartedly embraced the advantages of forging an alliance with Spain and Portugal, as well as Alvarez. Consequently, he agreed to join them in pledging allegiance. The influence of the Alvarez Empire kept growing as the fiefdoms of West Germany, located along the River Rhine, also pledged their loyalty. Fiefdoms such as Westphalia, Hesse, Württemberg, and Lower Saxony acknowledged the supremacy of the Alvarez Empire and pledged their loyalty. The Dukes of Bavaria, Austria, Brandenburg, Lesser Prussia, Old Saxony, West Pomerania, and Lusatia, all within the fiefdoms of the Kingdom of East Germany, also bowed in submission before the Twelve. Notably, this allegiance extended beyond the borders of Germany. Not only did the neighboring kingdoms, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, acknowledge the immense authority of Emperor Spriggan, but they also wholeheartedly vowed their loyalty to the mighty Alvarez Empire. This series of events resulted in a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe during that time. The Alvarez Empire rose to power, establishing itself as an unstoppable force. Spain, the Low Countries, Portugal, France, and numerous German fiefdoms all bowed down to its supreme authority. The solidification of strategic alliances among these nations strengthened Emperor Spriggan's influence and control, setting the stage for a transformative era in European history. However, he did not stop in East Germany. He ventured through the majestic Alps and spread his influence across the territories of the Swiss and Lombard, Umbrian, Samnite, Roman, and Venetian United Kingdoms, as well as their subjects in the northern, central, and southern parts of Italy. The Kingdom of Croatia, situated on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea, was ruled by the neighboring Duchy of Hungary. In addition, the Kingdoms of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Illyria, Bulgaria, and Thrace all pledged their allegiance to Spriggan's banner. Spriggan's influence spread quickly throughout Europe through a combination of diplomacy and intimidation. He projected an image of a formidable and influential leader who could not be challenged during his diplomatic encounters with European monarchs, bishops, minor clergymen, and nobles. This resulted in rulers across the continent swearing allegiance to the Alvarez Empire and acknowledging its supremacy. Spriggan showcased the immense power of the Alvarez Empire, claiming dominion over Europe's southwestern, southern, central, eastern, and southeastern regions. With his strategic alliances and impressive power, he was able to effortlessly expand his dominance across the entire continent, forging a remarkable chapter in the annals of European history. Following the conquest of continental Europe, a line of diplomats from the Scandinavian Kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark eagerly sought an audience with the Emperor. He agreed, and they swore fealty to him. Thus, Northern Europe capitulated to his banner shortly after the United Kingdoms of the Russias. King Charles VIII of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man exhibited great wisdom in aligning his kingdom with Alvarez's sphere of influence, demonstrating strategic acumen and foresight. This crucial step prevented a potentially devastating military conquest of the capital city of London Town. King Charles VIII was rewarded for his loyalty to Alvarez with the title of Duke of Britain. He was also given the privilege of using the Russian coat of arms and of having a Royal Court. Furthermore, Russia emerged as a formidable force in Northern Europe, as King Nicholas X proudly proclaimed his nation's rapid advancements in both the economic and military domains.Russian factories produced state-of-the-art automobiles that were exported to Ishtar, in exchange for exports of expensive perfumes. But Alvarez benefited from this trend of globalization the most out of the three. Spriggan was said to have earned 993 trillion dollars from trade with Europe, roughly 87 percent of his Empire's GDP. However, Fiore only managed to accumulate 300 trillion, while the rest of Ishtar earned 500 quintillion on average. The elderly King Alexei was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do. So he had to let Spriggan boast about his wealth during meetings with European heads of state. As for the Kingdom of Bohemia, they resisted Spriggan's demand of total submission. He commanded the Twelve to utterly obliterate Prague. Their raids led to the deaths of an astounding 50 million individuals, among them Alexei's own relative, King Franz Ferdinand I. At the conclusion of World War II, as affectionately referred to by European and Ishtarian bards, peace once again embraced the world, with Alvarez reigning as the mightiest nation on Earth. 

A/N: Will Europe and Ishtar take the chance to throw away the yoke Spriggan placed on them? Find out next time. See you later.