Balearic Islands (AU)

[indiajuliet]

I've been working on this for quite a while, but still in the process of writing the history etc. but here is what I have so far.
This AU is based on the real Balearic Islands, but with an alternate (British) history.


Balearic Islands / Illes Balears


Map



State Flag



Outline

The Balearic Islands consist of four main inhabited islands, and other smaller islands. The four main islands are Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa and Formentera (the original Catalan language names were retained by the British). The capital city is Palma de Mallorca, situated in the South West of Mallorca, home to all governmental and administrative services. The Balearic Islands retain close links with the United Kingdom, Spain, and the recently independent Catalonia, as many citizens can trace their origins to these countries, and as a bilingual nation, the official languages are both English and Catalan.

As a constitutional monarchy, the Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. The Balearic Islands Government was formed subsequent to the Statute of Westminster in 1931, which also gave greater independence to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.


A Brief Military History

Originally as Spanish territory, the Royal Navy led the invasion of the Balearic Islands after the successful Invasion of Gibraltar in 1704. Menorca was the first island to be liberated from the Spanish in 1708, followed by Eivissa and Formentera in 1709, and the larger and more prestigious island of Mallorca in 1711 following a long naval blockade which weakened the defences on the island.

Along with Gibraltar, the Balearic Islands were officially ceded to Britain in 1713 under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht, when it then became a British Overseas Territory. The British Balearic Islands, as they were then known, played a major role in the British Empire, by expanding the Royal Navy’s control of the seas into the Western Mediterranean, now with a chain of bases, including Gibraltar, the Balearic Islands, Malta and Cyprus. Palma de Mallorca became a secondary base to the Mediterranean Fleet.

The Balearic Islands experienced a higher level of autonomy than many other British territories, and this proved to be beneficial as islanders welcomed the British who provided trade, defence and healthcare amongst other benefits. Gaining full autonomy and control after the Statute of Westminster in 1931, the Balearic Islands became a fully independent state.

During both the First and Second World Wars, the Balearic Islands played a vital strategic role for the Allies in the Mediterranean, supporting all branches of the armed forces. The ports and airfields were used to ensure that the Western Mediterranean remained in Allied control, but also in World War Two, to support the War in North Africa, and later, in Italy. In WW1, soldiers, sailors and airmen fought as members of a British Overseas Territory, whilst in WW2, they were recognised as Balearic Islanders supporting the British Empire.

Although the Balearic Islands played no official role in the Spanish Civil War, a small number of voluntary mercenaries supported the Nationalists. The Balearic Islands also welcomed many Spanish civilians seeking to escape the war through Barcelona and Valencia, and most remained on the islands after the war.

In more recent history, the Balearic Islands have sent detachments to support NATO/coalition missions in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, as a NATO member, and RBAF Palma de Mallorca often hosts NATO aircraft for training or stopovers. Today, the Balearic Islands do not operate as an offensive force, but instead the armed forces are part of the Balearic Islands Defence Force.

The Balearic Islands Defence Force consists of the following:
- Royal Balearic Navy (and Royal Balearic Marines, Royal Balearic Coastguard)
- Royal Balearic Air Force
- Royal Balearic Army (and Royal Balearic Islands Police)


Flags & Ensigns of the Balearic Islands

State Flag


Civil Flag


Civil (Red) Ensign


Government (Blue) Ensign


Balearic Islands Defence Force Flag


Royal Balearic Navy (White) Ensign


Royal Balearic Navy War/Ceremonial Jack (State Flag used otherwise)


Royal Balearic Marines Ensign


Royal Balearic Coastguard Ensign


Royal Balearic Air Force Flag


Royal Balearic Army Flag


Royal Balearic Islands Police Ensign


Flag of the Governor General of the Balearic Islands


Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Mallorca


Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Menorca


Flag of the Lieutenant Governor of Eivissa and Formentera



I welcome any comments, there should be more to follow and I hope to start posting drawings soon...

[bezobrazov]

Interesting story. I wonder, however, how they might have remainder British after 1783. I don't know if you're Spanish, but as a matter of an interesting fact is that twice, during the American Revolutionary War, did the Spanish fleet manage to inflict such crippling losses on the British that Britain almost cut its losses and left the war: 1780 and 1782. As a result Minorca was ceded back to Spain though Gibraltar remained British. What I'm saying is that, I think you're underestimating Spain's actual power and resilience to recover from defeats. In fact it emerged as a victor in 1783!
Otherwise I absolutely love your flags and am excited to see what kind of navy you're going to build up.

[dreadnaught111]

Interesting story. I wonder, however, how they might have remainder British after 1783. I don't know if you're Spanish, but as a matter of an interesting fact is that twice, during the American Revolutionary War, did the Spanish fleet manage to inflict such crippling losses on the British that Britain almost cut its losses and left the war: 1780 and 1782. As a result Minorca was ceded back to Spain though Gibraltar remained British. What I'm saying is that, I think you're underestimating Spain's actual power and resilience to recover from defeats. In fact it emerged as a victor in 1783!
Otherwise I absolutely love your flags and am excited to see what kind of navy you're going to build up.

Hypothetically, the Islands could've been occupied by the Spanish during the revolution and returned to them, only to be ceded back to the British after the Congress of Vienna.

[dreadnaught111]

The Balearic Islands retain close links with the United Kingdom, Spain, and the recently independent Catalonia...

Wait, Catalunya's independent in your timeline?

[bezobrazov]

Dreadnought, you're right there. After the long Peninsular War Spain was weakened. However, there's one teeny glitch in such a scenario: Spain was effectively, from 1808 till the war's end Britain's ally, and ceding an age-old territory 'back' to a former foe, albeit now ally, well that'd be complicated to say the least!

[indiajuliet]

Interesting story. I wonder, however, how they might have remainder British after 1783. I don't know if you're Spanish, but as a matter of an interesting fact is that twice, during the American Revolutionary War, did the Spanish fleet manage to inflict such crippling losses on the British that Britain almost cut its losses and left the war: 1780 and 1782. As a result Minorca was ceded back to Spain though Gibraltar remained British. What I'm saying is that, I think you're underestimating Spain's actual power and resilience to recover from defeats. In fact it emerged as a victor in 1783!
Otherwise I absolutely love your flags and am excited to see what kind of navy you're going to build up.

Thanks for your comments, and I'm from the UK. I hadn't really considered Spain being in the position to retake the islands. My thoughts are that the British used the Balearic Islands as a new colonial model, in which the native population are primarily self-governing, with guidance and support from Britain to develop. This greater level of autonomy gained popularity with the Balearic Islanders, with many preferring to ally themselves with Britain rather than Spain. The islands were partly fortified, but the real attempted invasion of Menorca took place, but with a different result. I'll continue below...

Interesting story. I wonder, however, how they might have remainder British after 1783. I don't know if you're Spanish, but as a matter of an interesting fact is that twice, during the American Revolutionary War, did the Spanish fleet manage to inflict such crippling losses on the British that Britain almost cut its losses and left the war: 1780 and 1782. As a result Minorca was ceded back to Spain though Gibraltar remained British. What I'm saying is that, I think you're underestimating Spain's actual power and resilience to recover from defeats. In fact it emerged as a victor in 1783!
Otherwise I absolutely love your flags and am excited to see what kind of navy you're going to build up.

Hypothetically, the Islands could've been occupied by the Spanish during the revolution and returned to them, only to be ceded back to the British after the Congress of Vienna.

The fall of Menorca was in part due to poor leadership from Admiral John Byng in the Royal Navy, and I wouldn't change that, as the aftermath helped to shape the modern Royal Navy. Menorca had been taken by the Spanish in 1756, but its forces were not strong enough to capture Mallorca or Eivissa, which were better defended after the loss of Menorca. Your analysis seems to be the most plausible, with the island returned to the British in 1815 after the Congress of Vienna, as it would be unlikely to be recaptured following the Battle of Trafalgar, and after the British supported Spain in the Peninsular War, Menorca may be the price they were happy to pay for that support.

The Balearic Islands retain close links with the United Kingdom, Spain, and the recently independent Catalonia...

Wait, Catalunya's independent in your timeline?

Yes, well, maybe late 2010's, with the Basque Country also gaining independence at the same time. Many other Spanish regions also seek independence and in another AU, Spain as we know it would be broken up, with the Valencian Community and Catalonia forming a new Catalan Union/Community in which the Balearic Islands are invited to join. This was just another thought of mine at the sidelines, and maybe something for the future.

Dreadnought, you're right there. After the long Peninsular War Spain was weakened. However, there's one teeny glitch in such a scenario: Spain was effectively, from 1808 till the war's end Britain's ally, and ceding an age-old territory 'back' to a former foe, albeit now ally, well that'd be complicated to say the least!

I think it's possible, and it could have been used as a bargain to ensure full support from Britain during the Peninsular War. Added pressure on Spain from Portugal, a long term ally of Britain may have swayed them?

Please let me know what you think, I hadn't really fully thought through losing and recapturing the islands before.

[indiajuliet]

Based on the Archer Class used by the Royal Navy; the Royal Balearic Navy and Royal Balearic Coastguard use the Defender Class for patrol, training and SAR.

[bezobrazov]

Portugal attempting to sway Spain? I hardly think that could be possible, considering Portugal's own mounting problems viz. its colonial empire, national bankruptsy etc. One country that could, seemingly attempt to influence Spain to make concessions would rather be the Kingdom of Naples, which shared a dynastic link with Spain and also had been an ally of Britain. (That is, not Joachim Murat's kingdom, but Bourbon Ferdinando's!) That is where I think you ought to investigate how to spin that off!

[Gollevainen]

Read the forum guidelines, This section is for SHIPBUCKET drawings. All other scale drawings goes to the dedicated forum

[bezobrazov]

Why don't you just scale these drawings down to the SB-scale? you certainly have talent enough, judging from those nice drawings above!