Victoria 3 - Russian Empire: Episode 19, Breaking The British Hegemony Over India

In our first series in the 1.7 patch (the Sphere Of Influence DLC), we’ll be running Russia, maintaining the power of the tsars and traditionalist rule while challenging the British for control over central Asia and the middle east as part of the new Great Game event chain. This run will focus on enforcing traditional power structures wherever possible, but in the game as in history, that could mean a sudden, climactic shift toward progressive politics in the late game. Only time will tell...
In episode nineteen, we offer military support to an officers’ revolt in Shandong in exchange for them joining our power bloc as a Russian protectorate. Our major action in foreign affairs, however, is waging a war in India against the British East India Company in support of a revolt of the anglo-British Landowning class. Obviously, this requires us to square off with Britain, which sours the relations which have been improving since their previous government was overturned by an aristocratic revolt in Britain itself, leading us once again into open rivalry with the British. The loss of control over most of India out of the British Empire and the establishment of the state of Bengal, however, radically changes the shape of the Great Game, catapulting Russia ahead economically as Bengal rises into the position of #4 great power in the world. With the playing field leveled, the headway we've made in the middle east, central Asia, Siberia, and Manchuria will finally soon bring us into a position of dominance in the Great Game.
Episode Timeframe: January 1871 - December 1872
Recorded in patch 1.7.1 "Kahwah" with all DLC enabled.