Prussia (Principia Moderni II Map Game)

The

Pre-protectorate
Prior to the founding of the protectorate by the nobles Prussia had been in a long period of economic downturn and technological recession. In 1727 it had lost a war to Lithuania, in which it's military had been effectively crushed by the Lithuanian and the Prussians had been forced to use an alliance with Russia as their only defence. For years Prussia fell into decay, with common people fearing another invasion despite the Russian alliance. However in 1741, there was a change of ruler in Lithuania and they changed from building up military on Prussia's border to attempting to influence them in Lithuania's favour.

In the years 1741-1745, Lithuania sent agents into Prussia with the aim of trying to bring them around to Lithuania, these came in the form of priests who attempted to convert people, spies who spread positive news about Lithuania and envoys to the government. They only stopped after a small rebellion in 1746 when a village in the south east hung several Lithuanians in response to them offering bribes to locals and proceeded to gather support. In 1748 the government finally sent an army south however the rebellion disbanded before any conflict took place. While the crisis was ended, the effects were still felt, many eastern Prussians had fled west into the cities leaving whole swathes of land unused. Lithuania had fallen silent since 1746 and many feared what would come next. On top of this putting down the rebellion had almost emptied the national coffers.

The border population continued to flee west towards the cities. As Lithuania went unchecked, public finances dried up and the government fell inactive public anger grew. Refugees from the east felt that due to the placid nature of the ruling class they had been forced out of their homes and into poverty in the cities. Junkers feared that they would lose their land should the status quo continue, many made petitions and ultimatums to the government in the years 1747-1752. The final straw came when what was left of the military unofficially disbanded after being unpaid for a year in late 1752. In 1753 a small group of powerful nobles came together and began organising to seize control of Prussia.

Founding of the protectorate
In 1754 the nobles rose up against the government supported by local landed lords in the 1st Konigsberg uprising. Backed by mercenaries and militias they managed to seize the city with little bloodshed. After the city had been taken the nobles deposed the old government calling it corrupt and incompetent in dealing with Lithuania's advances and began organising for a civil war. However as the news of the uprising spread many people showed their support for the nobles and the Junkers overwhelmingly ignored calls to arms by loyalists. The next move was to spread news of an offer to all the Junkers of Prussia, of wealth and influence in government in return for their military support and loyalty, most Junkers immediately replied addressing the nobles as the Adligenrat or noble's council and the loyalists as rebels.

They went to work straight away, clearing out loyalist strongholds and forcing recognition of the Adligenrat. By winter Prussia was largely under the noble's control and the new government was made official and inaugurated with the Adligenrat at it's head. In November the Adligenrat elected Albert Heinrich von Felsberg to be Herr aus Preußen (form of lord protector) to rule Prussia with their consent. Using their personal wealth they started to reorganise the remains of the old government, a large amount of money was also put into hiring mercenaries to reinforce the Prusso-Lithuanian border. Taking it upon himself to forge new diplomatic links for Prussia, Albert wrote letters to Russia, Bavaria, Saxony and the German Empire asking each for an alliance and a trade deal.