Protectorate (ETW)

A protectorate is a minor nation under the protection of another nation.

Overview

Protectorates cede half their income to their protector nations, in exchange for a pledge from the protector faction to ally itself with it and declare war on enemies invading the protectorate. Protectorates also grant, and automatically receive, indefinite military access from and to their protector faction. They also have friendlier relations with their protector nation. Only minor nations may become protectorates, and not every minor nation is given the option to do so. A nation cannot be the protectorate of two nations at once. At the beginning of a campaign, some minor nations are already protectorates of others. Other minor nations such as Portugal simply do not allow the option, although military defeats may encourage them to reconsider their stance. The richer a nation is, the more practical it is to make it a protectorate. Venice is a good example of this. When a minor nation has suffered great military defeats and/or lost a considerable amount of land, it may offer to become a protectorate rather than face complete destruction. It usually also demands a huge amount of money in return, though, so it is usually a good idea to ignore this proposition unless the invading faction is spread thin militarily.

Factions with protectorates at the beginning of a campaign

The Ottoman Empire: The Barbary States and The Crimean Khanate

Poland-Lithuania: Saxony and Courland

Great Britain: Thirteen Colonies

France: Louisiana

Spain: New Spain