Pro-French Sentiment and Anti-French Sentiment are a gameplay mechanic in The Peninsular Campaign.
General Information[]
In The Peninsular Campaign, each region has varying degrees of happiness or unrest the population feels toward the French occupiers. Populations that are anti-French welcome British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces equally, while pro-French populations cause unrest no matter what non-French faction holds their region.
The higher the percentage of a population that is pro-French, the unhappier they are with their British/Portuguese/Spanish administrators. The reverse is also true for France and French-held regions.
With the exception of the north-east corner of the map, which is historically French territory, most of the map has moderate to heavy anti-French sentiment. The center of the peninsula has about a 50/50 split in the population, while in the surrounding countryside anti-French sentiment can be as high as 90% when the campaign begins. This gives France significant problems as it needs to devote considerable time and manpower pacifying regions.
Regions that have populations sufficiently turned against their occupying factions can revolt, particularly if the region lacks garrisoning troops or happiness/repression raising buildings. If a revolt takes place against a non-Spanish faction in a Spanish region and is successful, the region automatically becomes a Spanish region. If a region owned by Spain revolts successfully, it becomes a rebel region, owned by no faction, with its pro/anti French sentiment set to 50%/50%. Historically Portuguese and French regions do not spawn Spanish rebels, and successful rebellions there turn their regions into rebel regions.
Factors influencing pro/anti-French sentiment[]
Provocateurs can be obtained by all factions to increase the pro/anti-French sentiment in regions over time. Up to twelve provocateurs may spawn. They can also duel provocateurs from other factions to kill them or at least chase them off. More provocateurs spawn if their faction builds and upgrades colleges. Upgraded colleges spread pro-French sentiment (regardless of who builds them). This puts the British, Portuguese and Spanish in an unusual situation: they may choose to keep colleges to benefit from more provocateurs (and a better research rate), or destroy them to halt the spread of pro-French sentiment.
Spain and Portugal also gains priests over time, which fill a similar function to provocateurs, but cannot duel other agents. More priests spawn if their faction builds and upgrades church schools. Church schools spread anti-French sentiment (regardless of who builds them).
Several technologies influence the rate at which agents spread pro/anti-French sentiment, such as Bonapartist Propaganda and Anti-French Propaganda. Researching these technologies also include the maximum cap at which provocateurs and priests can spawn.
Notes[]
While Guerrillos cause unhappiness when placed in other factions' regions, they do not influence pro/anti-French sentiment.
If a region has a successful generic rebellion, pro/anti-French sentiment automatically changes to 50% of the population each.
Pro/Anti-French Sentiment operates similarly as a gameplay mechanic to Religion from previous and subsequent Total War games.