For Installation instructions, see the README file in the download. This mod aims to reflect the period of the War of the Grand Alliance or Nine Years War (1688-97). The current release includes new factions (The Jacobites and the Cossack Hetmanate). It also features some faction-specific campaign map models, and some factions have more than one generals that can recruited in the custom battles. The mod also features custom loading screens reflecting the period concerned. This is a beta and I intend to update it in the future. The campaign historical events still needs some work. I wish to thank the Hetmanate TW team for their models and textures.
This mod aims to reflect the period of the War of the Grand Alliance or Nine Years War (1688-97). The current release includes new factions (The Jacobites and the Cossack Hetmanate). It also features some faction-specific campaign map models, and some factions have more than one generals that can recruited in the custom battles. The mod also features custom loading screens reflecting the period concerned. This is a beta and I intend to update it in the future. The campaign historical events still needs some work. I wish to thank the Hetmanate TW team for their models and textures.
Historical Background: The causes of the Nine Years War (1688-97) stemmed in part from the War of the Reunions (1683-4). With Habsburg Austria distracted by the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, Louis XIV of France exploited the situation to seize several fortresses in the Spanish Netherlands and the Rhineland, including Courtrai, Dixmude, Strasbrourg and Luxembourg, in pursuit of Louis' objectives of reaching what he considered "defensible" borders i.e. the Rhine. During this war, The Republic of Genoa moved out of the Spanish and into the French sphere of influence. When France discovered that Genoa - the main bankers of the Spanish monarchy - had allowed Spain to reinforce the Spanish Netherlands through the port of Genoa - it bombarded the city. A French landing however failed. The Genoese sued for peace, and became neutral, forging close economic ties with France. The War ended with the Treaty of Ratisbon in 1684, confirming most of French gains except that Dixmude and Courtrai were returned to Spain. The peace was supposed to last 20 years.
But in December 1688, Louis declared war on the Dutch Republic and occupied the town of Phillipsburg in the Holy Roman Empire, capturing it on October 30th 1688. The successful defence of Vienna and conquest of Hungary from the Ottomans now allowed the Holy Roman Empire to turn its attention West again. The final trigger for war was the French seizure of the town of Phillipsburg. This time France was without allies, other than the Jacobites - the supporters of the exiled former King of England James II. James lost his throne in the Revolution of 1688 to the Dutch Stadholder, William III, establishing the Protestant Succession in England. However, there is opposition to the revolution in Ireland and to a lesser extent in Scotland. In Ireland, the Jacobites have refused to recognise the change of regime and have allied with France. James II has landed with a largely French army and laid siege to the Williamite fortreess of Derry in the north. Following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, France could no longer find allies in the Protestant world.
A "Grand Alliance" of Habsburg Austria, Habsburg Spain, the German states, the Netherlands and Sweden has been formed. Piedmont-Savoy is neutral but is courted by both sides. On the one hand, France considers it to be under its influence, and it interferes in its policy towards the Huguenot refugees and the Protestant Vaudois in Northern Italy. This has angered England and the Dutch Republic. But the Duke of Savoy resents Louis' interference in its internal affairs, and this could create an opportunity for the Grand Alliance to court it as an ally in the war with France. An opportunity for Louis lies in an alliance with the Kuruc rebels in Transylvania. The region was conquered by the Imperials in the Turkish War. But broken promises of autonomy and toleration for the Protestant religion have fed discontent which France and the Ottomans are trying to exploit. With the Holy Roman Empire still at war with the Ottomans, a two front war could reduce pressure on France in the West. Louis cannot even count on the support of the Papacy, with Pope Innocent XI angered by his refusal to aid Vienna during the siege or agree to a crusade against the Ottomans, who are also at war with Venice. Innocent's relations with the Jacobites are also poor. When King of England, James II had unsuccessfully pushed for his confessor, Edward Petre, to become a Cardinal. The Pope criticised Petre for his "ambition". At the time of the "Glorious Revolution" in England, Catholic Europe refused to support James, regarding him as an ally of France. But he still has much support in Ireland and some in Scotland. A rising in Scotland under the Viscount Dundee has begun, while William III has sent the Anglo-Dutch brigade there to suppress it. The Parliament of Scotland supports William, but there is also a Jacobite faction there.
