Bar

This article is accurate for the latest versions of EU3, Napoleon’s Ambition, In Nomine and Heir to the Throne 4.1b.
Please help update this page to include information on the DW expansion.

Bar is a one-province minor introduced in Heir to the Throne. It has acquired a reputation for being among the most difficult nations to survive with.

Bar

At the start of the Grand Campaign – 14 October 1399

Basic Stats

Government type

Feudal Monarchy

Technology group

Latin

Number of provinces

1

Capital province

Barrois

Center of Trade

none

State religion

Catholic

Other accepted cultures

None

Sliders

Centralization	<▪▪▪▪♦▫▪▪▪▪▪> slightly centralized	Decentralization

Aristocracy	<▪♦▪▪▪▫▪▪▪▪▪> very aristocratic	Plutocracy

Serfdom	<▪▪▪▪♦▫▪▪▪▪▪> slight serfdom	Free Subject

Innovative	<▪▪▪▪▪▫▪▪♦▪▪> quite narrowminded	Narrowminded

Mercantilism	<▪▪▪▪▪♦▪▪▪▪▪> balanced	Free Trade

Offensive	<▪▪▪▪♦▫▪▪▪▪▪> slightly offensive	Defensive

Land	<▪▪▪▪▪♦▪▪▪▪▪> balanced	Naval

Quality	<▪▪▪▪▪▫▪♦▪▪▪> somewhat quantity oriented	Quantity

Starting position

Militarily, Bar has few options to expand locally, with most of its neighbours being several times larger than itself, including France and Burgundy. The latter of these has a core on Bar's only province, Barrois, which puts its independence seriously in question. As a member of the Holy Roman Empire, Bar has some form of protection, but a weak emperor can be Bar's downfall.

Economically it is far better off; it boasts the typical low research cost of an OPM, and also features sliders suited to trading. If it survives Bar can easily become a wealthy nation.

Heir to the Throne

Opening strategy

Naturally, Bar's first goal is to survive, but the player should wait for an opportunity rather than attempting to make his own luck. While waiting for a chance at freedom, merchants should be sent to every Centre of Trade within reach, and slider changes should focus on Free Trade. This way a steady source of income can be built up to fund Bar's actions.

These actions are more diplomatic than military; securing allies and generally bribing Burgundy are the two main ways Bar will normally spend its money. Eventually, however, it will need to gain a second province if it is to evade the designs of France or Burgundy. Two main options exist for this:

A Burgundian province. This is the harder of the two goals, and will generally only be possible when they are fighting France or Austria and Bar fields an army of mercenaries.
An Imperial province. This is much more manageable for Bar, but brings with it the threat of the Emperor's revenge. Again, this is tricky to pull off, especially for Bar.