1720-1741 : The Peace of the Barons

Here is that story!
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Map 42

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For 21 years, from 1720 until the death of Conan II in 1729 and then during the adolescence of Conan III, his grandson, Brazil experienced almost total peace.

The Barons make the law, share positions, divert taxes to build magnificent baroque fortified palaces. Cultural life, which was rather dull, became abundant with the arrival of numerous Italian, French and German artists.
The corruption and arrogance of the Barons exasperate the population. But Conan II does not dare to confront them and Conan III, barely 10 years old in 1729, is also very afraid of them. The regent, his mother, has no authority.

As for the two Princes, of the Baie and of Argentina, they prefer to avoid a new conflict which could bring Brazil together and be fatal to them.

The main military action of Louis I of Argentina was to annihilate the Indians of the Pampa to allow the colonization of the region. The founding of Châteaulouis in 1732 marks the maximum progress. This action which mobilizes disproportionate forces (up to 20,000 men) is also a means of maintaining a high level of competence in one's army.
He pursued a policy of intense colonization of Eastern Patagonia (Uruguay) by calling on Brazilian settlers who benefited from large tax reductions. The rich lands that are easy to cultivate also interest them while certain regions of Royal Brazil are reaching saturation.

For his part, Jean II de la Baie carried out work to make the Saint François River navigable and expand towards the west. He is also eyeing Pernambuco but the opportunity will never come to attack it.

Jean II established colonies in the Amazon by founding Camuta in 1723. He ousted the Portuguese who had frequented the region since the 16th century. In 1729 a land connection was established between Port Conan and Camuta via the Tocantins River.
In 1734 he founded another city, Saint Jean sur Amazone. These two colonies attract a few adventurers but nothing of value is discovered other than wood. They are maintained above all by princely investment which maintains missions and garrisons.