Batavian Republic/Kingdom of Holland, a Soldier Emperor Variant
by David Meyler

The earliest and one of the staunchest and earliest supporters of the
American Revolution was the Dutch Republic. The British initially
ignored the actions of their erstwhile ally, but by late 1780, open war
had erupted. What the Dutch call the Fourth English War was an
unmitigated disaster for the Republic, aside from the Battle of
Doggersbank in 1781, where an out-gunned Dutch fleet fought the British
North Sea fleet to a standstill. When peace was signed in 1784,
responsibility for the abysmal Dutch performance was dumped on the head
of Willem V, Prince of Orange, captain-general of the Republic’s fleet
and army, and effective head of state. A ground swell of radical
opposition, the Batavian party, swept the openly pro-British Willem out
of power. French radicals, who found needing a safe haven, were welcomed
by the Batavians. 

A truly democratic republic may have developed, but Willem was married
to Wilhelmina, sister of the Prussian king. Frederik Wilhelm II sent an
army of 20,000 into the Netherlands in 1787, the Batavian opposition
collapsed without a shot being fired, and Willem was restored. Many
Batavian leaders sought exile in Paris, adding to the growing republican
movement there, which would erupt into full revolution less than 24
months later. 

By 1794, the French revolution had survived both internal and foreign
counter-attacks, and had begun its first foreign conquests. The Austrian
and British armies were driven out of Belgium, and aided by Batavian
supporters, both in France and at home, the Dutch Republic itself was
invaded during the winter by General Pichegru. Willem’s army, largely
based on mercenaries, collapsed, but to the chagrin of not a few
politicians in Paris, the Batavians declared a new independent republic
in Amsterdam before the French armies could occupy the city. 

The Batavian Republic was allowed to survive as an ally, but was saddled
with a hug war indemnity, agreed to maintain its battle fleet and a
field army of 25,000, and also had to pay for a 20,000-man French
garrison (although these 20,000 men were rarely in the Netherlands). The
Batavian fleet was mauled at Camperdown in 1798, part of the failed
effort to invade Ireland, but the army put up a creditable performance
the following year, defeating an Anglo-Russian invasion force in North
Holland. 

Still, the French believed they never got full value out of their Dutch
ally. The myth of limitless Dutch money persisted, but most Dutch
investments had been in speculative bonds and there was little real cash
that could be exploited. The Dutch government persistently refused to
implement national conscription, frustrating French demands for more
manpower. The Dutch also refused to implement the continental blockade,
which would have led to total economic collapse. 

The Emperor Napoleon attempted to get more secure control of the region
following the Jena campaign of 1806 (the Dutch while having no
hesitation to fight the Prussians had refused to violate the territory
of minor German states with which they had no argument), abolished the
Batavian Republic, and reformed it into a kingdom under his brother
Louis. However, Louis proved to be no puppet, and so identified with his
new subjects that he learned Dutch and probably protected Dutch
interests better than they could have done themselves. In growing
frustration, in 1810, Napoleon finally convinced his brother to abdicate
and annexed the Netherlands outright. But this still did not solve the
manpower and money issues. Conscription was met with widespread
opposition and rioting. The continental blockade was imposed, but many
traditional enterprises collapsed while the rate of smuggling ballooned.

In 1810, Dutch army regiments were integrated en masse into the French
army. While given French regimental numbers, they remained as distinct
ethnic units under their old officers, and sometimes even wearing their
old uniforms. While Napoleon denigrated Dutch military performance, he
took an entire regiment of cavalry into the Imperial Guards. He also
took the Dutch guards regiment and re-named it as the 3rd Regiment of
the Imperial Guards, complete with their white uniforms. Aside from a
regiment of Polish lancers, no other foreign troops served as distinct
ethnic units in the Guards. 

If the 1812 campaign in Russia proved to be calamitous for Napoleon, it
was a complete disaster for the Dutch army. Of the 20,000+ Dutch
soldiers serving in Russia, only a few hundred returned home. As Russian
troops crossed the Dutch borders in 1813 and full scale rebellion
against the French broke out and the son of Willem V, Willem Frederik,
returned and became Willem I of a new Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

The Dutch Republic held an ambivalent position in the Napoleonic era.
Once a great power, the centre of a coalition against the France of
Louis XIV, the republic had long fallen from even middle power status.
Still, the Dutch had a huge colonial empire, and the mystique of its
wealth and naval power had not entirely disappeared by the time of the
French revolution in 1789. The rapid collapse of the Dutch army in 1795
still had come as something of a shock. The Dutch managed to maintain a
precarious independence as a French ally, even under the reign of
Napoleon, for a decade and a half before the annexation of 1810. But the
French occupation of Holland would last less than three years, and
before the end of 1814, a new Dutch kingdom would be established which
continues to this day. The following rules attempt to reflect this
ambiguous role within the framework of Soldier Emperor. 

For Soldier Emperor, in the 1803, 1805 and 1809 scenarios the Batavian
Republic begins the game as a French Minor Ally (technically, in the
1809 scenario, the name should change to the Kingdom of Holland, but
there are no effects on the game, so Batavian Republic only will be used
for game purposes), comprising the area Holland (this is no longer
considered a French home area). 

Beginning forces are 1 Netherlands Army and 1Netherlands Fleet
(reduced), placed in Holland. Recovery level for the Batavian Republic
is 1. Reduce French at start forces by one army. The Netherlands Army
may only move in Holland and any adjacent land areas (Calais, Kleves and
Hannover). The Netherlands Fleet is not restricted. 

France collects 1 Money from Holland during the Money and Manpower phase
as long as the Batavian Republic exists as a French minor ally
(representing the indemnity placed on the Dutch and the monies required
to pay for the 20,000 man French garrison troops ­ which were rarely in
the Netherlands). 

The Batavian Republic may neither be “stolen” by another power (17.6),
nor “stabbed in the back” by France (16.3). As long as the Batavian
Republic exists the Holland card (19.3) may not be played. 

France may annex the Batavian Republic simply by stating this intent
during the Diplomacy phase. The Batavian Republic immediately ceases to
exist and Holland is treated as a French home area. The Netherlands
fleet may be kept and is subject to usual game rules (see the relevant
section in 19.3). The Netherlands army is removed and any one reduced
French army may be brought back up to full strength (including the Old
Guard), or a new French army (reduced) may be placed in Holland. Once
annexed, the Holland card may be played as usual with all the provisions
of 19.3. While a French home territory, France may collect only 2
Manpower and 2 Money from Holland. 

If, before any French annexation, the Holland area is controlled by any
other power than France, immediately remove any Netherlands units. The
Batavian Republic ceases to be and the Holland card may be played as
usual. 

If France regains control, Holland will be treated as a French home
territory subject to restrictions above (i.e. 2 Manpower and 2 Money). 

For Victory Points, Holland counts as any other minor area (worth 5 VP
to the French, for example). Once annexed, however, it would now count
as a French home area (and so generate no VP for France), until or
unless the Holland card is played. When using this option, the French
automatic victory level is increased to 40 points while the Batavian
Republic exists. 

If the Batavian Republic ceases to exist, for whatever reason, the
French automatic victory level is decreased to 35. 

_________________________________________________________________
Take charge with a pop-up guard built on patented Microsoft® SmartScreen 
Technology. 

http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=
1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines  
Start enjoying all the benefits of MSN® Premium right now and get the 
first two months FREE*.