Royal Antoran Armada: Difference between revisions

The earliest form of organized navy in Andora was the ships of the Pinoan merchants. As the Kingdom of Pinoa expanded their trade across the North Concordian Ocean in the 8th century, the ships of various merchants would be supplied with large deck-mounted ballistae and squadrons of marines to prevent piracy. The Pinoan trade became very profitable, and the nation grew to be a contender in nautical affairs. Certain alliances and guilds would form to protect the mercantile interests. These merchant-navies operated with the blessing, and often funding and direction, of the king. Most ships belonging to the Pinoan merchant-navies were simply converted merchant vessels, but a few vessels sponsored by nobles and the crown would be purpose-built galleasses.

When Avantana began to conquer the coastal states in the 13th century, it became apparent that it needed to find a way to counter the strong naval capabilities of Pinoa. An eventual solution was reached in the form of a strong core of biremes, triremes, and galleasses which would be proceeded by a multitude of cheaply constructed fire ships. This tactic was effective against the Pinoan navies, which were slow to maneuver. The Battle of Costa Tranquila was an Avantanan victory, where their fire ships caused chaos among the different Pinoan formations. What ships were not burned were captured and converted to the Avantanan Armada. This force remained small, and much like the Pinoan system would take a large amount of wartime power from mercantile vessels. However, all noble houses that had the means in Avantana, and later the Kingdom of Casilló, were required to maintain a fleet of warships. This allowed the crown to assemble a professional naval force in emergencies and the nobility to proactively defend their shipping and territory.

These ideals of local defense and compartmentalization were carried over to the much more organized navy of the Kingdom of Corric, founded in 1584 with the absorption of the Kingdom of Réal. While Réal never had access to the ocean, it had an abundance of resources that allowed the Crown to expand and consolidate the navy. The forests and mines of Réoran land provided matierals to construct more capable warships. The astronomers of the Réoran mountains had much better star charts than Arranzic scholars which allowed for more accurate navigation. The increased population also let the Armada recruit more, especially from Réoran populaces that were curious about the sea.

In 1588, the Royal Arranzic Armada, the various fleets of the nobility, and the warships of shipping guilds were all brought together in the Great Fleet Project. This initiative was the combined brainchild of King Felipé III and his wife, Queen Alicia la Joven, former princess of Réal. The Queens newfound love of the ocean, and the desire for the King to have a national project to unify the Réoran and Arranzic peoples, made this the first large-scale Crown-sponsored project of the new kingdom. Older ship designs were scrapped or sold, new ones built or bought, crews were trained and standards set. The Armada was officially headquartered at Porto Armada on the southern coast. After nearly four years of preparation, the Royal Corric Armada was fully formed. The new navy was tasked with much of the same duties as had previously fell to its predecessors. The new command structure enabled it to be vastly more effective than the earlier organizations had been, and a Royal Admiral position was created within the crown's government.

Heavy fighting against coastal and deep-water shipping pirates in the 17th century left the Armada battle-hardened but diminished. By the late 1600s, the ships of the fleet were mostly relegated to coastal defense duties, which left most long-distance shipping vulnerable to attacks. The losses of merchant ships, combined with the general flow of wealth to the nobility and already-wealthy commoners, was one of the greatest contributors to the Ambrezar Revolution of 1659. The revolution, headed by Armada captain Marco Juan Ambrezar, was a general movement of the people of Casilló y Réal to reform the standards by which they were governed. Large portions of the Corric economy were paralyzed, and significant numbers of military personnel joined the revolutionaries. The nobility and royal family were threatened with death and exile unless they complied with the populaces' demands. King Juan Teo was forced to sign the First Constitution of the Kingdom of Corrí, which established the constitutional monarchy the nation exists as today.

Part of the Constitution enshrined in law the governments responsibility to protect trade. Section 10 of the document makes it illegal for the Crown to maintain less than a certain number of professional military forces, stipulating the following:

''"...And as '''1.)''' the defense of all maritime territory, '''2.)''' the defense of all native goods being traded, '''3.)''' the defense of all peoples of the '''state''' that use the water as a means of livelihood, '''4.)''' the defense of the coasts and their inhabitants, is important to the people of this '''state''', '''5.)''' the '''government''' of the people, specifically the '''Minister of Armed Services''' established in this document, '''Section 10.A.6''', and the '''organ of the state''' that is the '''Royal Family''' and '''King or Queen''', will be hereafter required to pay, equip, maintain, train, task, and employ such an establishment as a professional and modern navy, '''6.)''' an '''Armada''' of no less than thirty vessels of good disposition and heavy gun, '''7.)''' that may be enlisted for the defense of all articles of this '''Section 10.C.1 through 4''', and to the best and honest and honorable extent of its commanders and sailors accomplish these charged tasks, '''8.)''' and if necessary the '''organs of the state''' mentioned previous in this '''Section 10.C.5''' may expand the ships available for it to carry out these tasks, '''9.)''' through the reallocation of funds, increase of specific taxes, tariffs, or duties, or the seizure of assets held within the financial systems of this '''state''', '''10.)''' so long as these funding methods be examined and approved by the legislature '''government Ministry of Popular Assembly''', established within this document '''Section 2.A.2, 11.)''' and that the '''organs of state''' mentioned in '''Section 10.C.5''' be also required to pay, equip, maintain, train, task, and employ such an establishment as a professional and modern force of marine infantry, '''12.)''' that will assist the '''Armada''' with its duties of defense, '''12.)''' that will garrison the lands and shores of all major oceans, lakes, waterways, and ports of the '''state''' when established as necessary in times of armed conflict, '''13.)''' that will act as a deterrent for criminality and intrusion upon the facilities used by the '''Armada''', '''14.)''' and to bring the force of arms of the people of this '''state''' to enemies abroad such that require an armed presence conveyed to their lands via water..."''

The Constitution, while moving the headquarters of all military branches of the internal city of Descarei, Porto Armada remained the most important naval installation. Large portions of wealth from private coffers was sized by the newly-created parliamentary Ministry of Armed Services to build out its portfolio, including the Armada. By 1688, the Armada is recorded as having 45 ships of respectable tonnage and guns and over 200,000 sailors and marines. The Royal Corric Defense Forces successfully defended territory and economic interests several times in this period, securing the eastern Novaris coast for shipping and commerce.