The Viking America

[Fabilius]

In the year 1000 Iceland is christened. That same year Thorfinn Karlsefni, a nordic seafarer attempts to settle somewhere on the coast of Newfoundland, or what the Vikings call Wineland.

1020: By the year 1020, several more colonisers have settled on the shore of newfoundland. The trade with the indians which was at first peaceful, has ceased, and the vikings drive them away. Some are taken as slaves, although the church opposes slavery. (It doesn´t matter cause there are no churches yet in America and it has little power there).

1040: Most viking settlements in Iceland and Greenland have been abandoned. The reason is, there is a better climate and more wood for housebuilding in Wineland. Iceland exists only as a trading stop for, ships to buy water and food. The vikings trade with Britain and Norway, selling both wood and food. The population reaches 50.000 and no more settlers are coming, since there is little in Iceland, and no need to move away from Scandinavia.

1060: Hlaðir is now the main trading port in Wineland. It has population of 2000 and the vikings have Althingi meetings there. In Hladir, a church is constructed, and Isleifur the holy becomes the first roman catholic bishop of America. (Instead of becoming the first bishop of Iceland).

1100: The Oddaelir and Krokdaelir are the richest families, that share all the power. They occasionally fight, but through out the century both families remain peaceful. The king of Norway eyes Wineland jealously and hopes to conquer it one day. Many people in Wineland actully swear allegiance towards him, and it is custom for young men to travel to Norway and receive gifts from him instead of swearing loyalty to him.

1200: A young and ambitious, Lawsayer (a sort of lawyer in the viking tradition) named Sturla becomes very wealthy both through marriage and succesful cases. His son Snorri studies in church and writes down what comes to be known as the Eddas. He moves to Norway and writes there Heimskringla which is the story of Norway.

1256: Snorri returns home and settles few miles away from Hladir. He remains loyal to the king and makes a case for joining Norway on the Althingi. Shortly after that he is killed.

1257: Thordur Kakali, son of Snorris brother hears of the murder. He is in Norway and the king gladly gives him military support. Thordur returns to Wineland to avenge and starts a civilwar.

1260: Thordur defeats Oddaeli, and Krokdaeli and Wineland becomes a part of Norway. The population is now 100.000 and Wineland is spread all over Newfoundland and even reaches down to OTL New York state. Many of the inhabitants are mixed indians and normen. The upperclass is though wholly nordic and the lowest and most poor are those of indian birth.

1266: Some Oddaelir move away from Wineland and down Huron river to the great lake states.

[Iñaki]

Interesting and nice.:cool:

Some questions the characters that you name in this ATL existed in OTL or all them existed only in this ATL?

What changes has happened in Europe caused by this far more effective viking colonization in America? Or no important changes?

[Fabilius]

Interesting and nice.:cool:

Some questions the characters that you name in this ATL existed in OTL or all them existed only in this ATL?

What changes has happened in Europe caused by this far more effective viking colonization in America? Or no important changes?

The characters all existed. They are borrowed from Icelandic history. Thorfinn tried to settle in New found land, but gave up. If the first settlement would have worked out, I´m sure more would have joined, because the climate is much better in "Wineland" than in Iceland. The Icelanders probably would have moved.

What changed in Europe. A lot, but not much early on. Iceland didn´t impact the rest of Europe at all in the middle ages. (And didn´t really change much for the rest of european history). Except, for one point in time, when France offered Loisiana to Denmark in exchange for Iceland. It would have been strategically important against England, but Denmark refused because they were afraid the of a war with England. (It would have been interesting to see a Danish Loisiana though. The Danish part in New Orleans...)

Anyway, I´ll have to think about what the effects are in Europe.

[stevep]

The characters all existed. They are borrowed from Icelandic history. Thorfinn tried to settle in New found land, but gave up. If the first settlement would have worked out, I´m sure more would have joined, because the climate is much better in "Wineland" than in Iceland. The Icelanders probably would have moved.

What changed in Europe. A lot, but not much early on. Iceland didn´t impact the rest of Europe at all in the middle ages. (And didn´t really change much for the rest of european history). Except, for one point in time, when France offered Loisiana to Denmark in exchange for Iceland. It would have been strategically important against England, but Denmark refused because they were afraid the of a war with England. (It would have been interesting to see a Danish Loisiana though. The Danish part in New Orleans...)

Anyway, I´ll have to think about what the effects are in Europe.


Fabilius

Interesting to hear about that proposed swap. When was it suggested? Suspect, unless you have a period of British weakness it would be followed by a British occupation of Iceland during the next war with France. Could make a significant difference in history as the population of Iceland was marginal for much of the time and hence should be reasonably easily absorbed. Actually I think Britain would welcome such a swap as it would see a Danish Louisiana as much less of a threat than a French one.

Steve

[Fabilius]

Fabilius

Interesting to hear about that proposed swap. When was it suggested? Suspect, unless you have a period of British weakness it would be followed by a British occupation of Iceland during the next war with France. Could make a significant difference in history as the population of Iceland was marginal for much of the time and hence should be reasonably easily absorbed. Actually I think Britain would welcome such a swap as it would see a Danish Louisiana as much less of a threat than a French one.

Steve

It was suggested sometime around the seven years war. I can´t name any books about this, but it made the headlines in Icelandic news about a year ago. I think that Britain would have welcomed the swap too, but not under those circumstances. After all, during a war, this would give the French a naval base from which they could attack the British from the north. It would probably end with the British occupying Iceland though. That´d change Icelandic history considerably.
I think that the real reason the Danish didn´t agree was that, they didn´t have the confidence of ruling such a large area, and getting into wars about it. Denmark is a pretty small country and since the 1600s haven´t really had much of an army. Even Spain would´ve kikced their ass in a war in America. So it´s easier to keep Iceland which noone has an interest in. Even in the Napoleonic wars when Denmark was allied with France, the British didn´t have any interest in attacking Iceland. It was occupied in for half a year by Jörgen, a soapmerchant who claimed to be doing it for the british. (He didn´t have any military assistance, he just had one ship and a few guns). The British weren´t impressed sent him to Australia for the favour.

[Count Dearborn]

Perhaps they had better relations with the Skraeylings(Amerindians)?

[stevep]

It was suggested sometime around the seven years war. I can´t name any books about this, but it made the headlines in Icelandic news about a year ago. I think that Britain would have welcomed the swap too, but not under those circumstances. After all, during a war, this would give the French a naval base from which they could attack the British from the north. It would probably end with the British occupying Iceland though. That´d change Icelandic history considerably.
I think that the real reason the Danish didn´t agree was that, they didn´t have the confidence of ruling such a large area, and getting into wars about it. Denmark is a pretty small country and since the 1600s haven´t really had much of an army. Even Spain would´ve kikced their ass in a war in America. So it´s easier to keep Iceland which noone has an interest in. Even in the Napoleonic wars when Denmark was allied with France, the British didn´t have any interest in attacking Iceland. It was occupied in for half a year by Jörgen, a soapmerchant who claimed to be doing it for the british. (He didn´t have any military assistance, he just had one ship and a few guns). The British weren´t impressed sent him to Australia for the favour.

Getting off the subject but an interesting topic. I would have thought that Britain would have been interested in occupying Iceland during the Napoleonic period to get control of the fisheries. [Or did they have enough on their minds or available anyway perhaps?]

I suspect that Iceland wouldn't have been that useful as a base for the French. Think it largely lacks trees and other resources and for much of the period the population was pretty low and thinly spread so supporting any naval base would have been a strain. Also it might have been highly vulnerable to British attack. Furthermore the Protestant Icelanders, under a fairly light Danish rein, might not have been too happy being transferred to autocratic and Catholic France, albeit that it was a lot more religiously tolerant than it had been under Louis XIV. Another factor is the northern seas are pretty stormy so it could be costly maintaining forces there.

Anyway thanks for the information. Gives me a few more what ifs to play with.:)

Steve

[Fabilius]

Getting off the subject but an interesting topic. I would have thought that Britain would have been interested in occupying Iceland during the Napoleonic period to get control of the fisheries. [Or did they have enough on their minds or available anyway perhaps?]

I suspect that Iceland wouldn't have been that useful as a base for the French. Think it largely lacks trees and other resources and for much of the period the population was pretty low and thinly spread so supporting any naval base would have been a strain. Also it might have been highly vulnerable to British attack. Furthermore the Protestant Icelanders, under a fairly light Danish rein, might not have been too happy being transferred to autocratic and Catholic France, albeit that it was a lot more religiously tolerant than it had been under Louis XIV. Another factor is the northern seas are pretty stormy so it could be costly maintaining forces there.

Anyway thanks for the information. Gives me a few more what ifs to play with.:)

Steve

I concur. No trees, not good weather, thin population. I don´t think though there would´ve been much objection to the change of government. The Icelanders were so badly treated by the Danish they´d have welcomed the change. Religion has for some reason never been a hot topic in Iceland.

I really don´t know why the British weren´t interested in Iceland in the Napoleonic wars. :confused:

I suppose, that it was maybe because they got everything they needed anyway from Iceland. British traders bought fish and soap at extremely low prices and there was nothing the Danish could do about it. The Danish navy for an understandable reason never dared confronting the British, and I think that at this point in history most of it had been crushed with relative ease.

[Fabilius]

1300 The population has started fishing more. Traders from Germany and England visit frequently buying fish. The fish market grows as it is thought of as suitable food during fast. (This happened on Iceland OTL too).
The population grows rapidly and though it officially is subject to Norway, and thinks of it self as nordic, many English and German traders settle over there. Indians and whites also mix more and in 1305 slavery is abolished, because of the demands of the church. This doesn´t change the fact that the indian population is still badly treated and looked down on. The normen refer to them still as Skraelings.

1319 Magnus the third becomes king of Sweden as well as of Norway and Wineland. (This is as in OTL)

1330 Edward the third takes power in England after a palace coup. (This is still as in OTL).

1333 Chieftains in Norway revolt against Magnus III. Edward III ceises the oppurtunity. The importance of Wineland trade has been growing in England, and Edward is looking for a worthy conquest. Edward declares war on Norway and starts preparing to send a fleet to conquer Wineland.

1334 English land in Hladir. They declare the town property of the English crown. After defeating the revolt Magnus allies himself with Scotland. Norwegian and Swedish troops land in Scotland and assist a Scottish invasion into England.
The English leave Wineland and head home. The resistance in Wineland was fiercer than expected and the natives used their knowledge of the local area well against the invaders.

1336 After two years of war, Edward signs a humiliating peace treaty giving away considerable land to Scotland. This constitutes a severe blow to the English nationality and chivalry becomes unfashionable. Norway gives away Shetlands and Orchneys to Scotland as promised before the war.


1337 Magnus hopes to pay of the price of the English war by raising taxes in Wineland. In Wineland people resent Norwegian influence for two reasons:
The Norwegians had no military in Wineland to protect the local villages from being pillaged by the invasion.
Also they have distanced from Norway, the language no longer resembles norwegian so closely after takin English, German and indian influences.

1338 Magnus prepares a fleet he intends to send to Wineland. Wineland declares independence again, and declares Althingi to be the high council of the land. There is no king, although Bjorn Erikson is the unchallenged leader of the revolt. There is a sort of a draft, no formal army is founded but all men of right age swear an oath to fight in the name of Althing. The bishop Isleif Skulason blesses the revolution as he sees it as a golden oppurtunity to extend Church power.
But Magnuses fleet never reaches Wineland. Before it is sent chieftains in Norway revolt again. (As in OTL, with one slight difference). They succeed, and Norway is split from Sweden. Civil war starts in Scandinavia.

1339 Greenland and Iceland join Wineland and swear allegience to Althing. In the fall Björn sails to Iceland, and opens a port in Reykjavík. He realises the importance of Iceland as a trade port between Wineland and Europe.

1340 Björn visits Faero islands. They are at first reluctant to declare independence from Norway, but change their mind when Björn threatens them.
Björn returns home to Hladir. In the summer meeting of Althingi he suggests that a formal army is founded and that taxes are raised to supply it. He suggests making it mandatory for each man between 18 and 24. He wants ships to be built for a navy, in the name of Althing.
Althingi disagrees and rumour starts circulating that Björn intends to become king.

1341 Björn is killed by Sigurd Skulason. Sigurd is brother of Isleif the bishop and although Björn was popular, it is officially acknowledged by most that it was necessary to kill him, to prevent him from becoming king.
In the summer meeting of Althingi Sigurd suggests pretty much the same things as Björn did, and this time Althingi agrees.

1343 Sigurd visits Scotland. Scotland and Wineland ally, Scotland promises to protect Wineland militarily, if all trade goes through Scotland. This agreement enrages those at home in Wineland that feel it an uneccessary bargain.

1344 Björn´s younger brother, Magnus Eirikson kills Sigurd. It starts a civil war between the two most powerful families in Wineland.

1347 Magnus Eirikson defeats the last remnants of opposition. Magnus is declared king, but Isleif bishop refuses to crown him.

1348 The bubonic plague wreaks havoc in Norway, killing two thirds of the population. (As in OTL). Sweden and Norway unite again under king Eirik. Isleif bishop flees to Norway, and dies there in the plague.

1352 War starts between France and England, later to be known as the sixty years war. It lasts for 58 years.

1356 Hakon Björnsson (son of Björn Eirikson) becomes king when his uncle dies. He raises taxes to be able to build a castle. During his thirty year reign the bubonic plague killes almost half of the population, settlements end in Greenland, and the monarchy strengthens.

1363 Eirik king of Norway and Sweden, conquers Denmark.

1371 Robert II becomes king of Scotland.

1386 Magnus II, son of Hakon becomes king of Wineland. He marries Anna, the daughter of Robert, king of Scotland.

1391 Magnus II, later known as the pious, starts raising money to build a cathedral in Hladir. More settlements are built in OTL area of east coast USA. Where OTL Boston is, a new town is founded, named Gladheim.

1401 The first Skraeling wars begin. Skraelings gather to fight against settlers, Magnus II decides that he must convert all the heathen Skraelings in the unknown lands.

1405 The first Skraeling wars end, Magnus military campaign reaches the great lakes. He claims to have succesfully converted all Skraelings in Wineland.

1407 Magnus II chokes on a fishbone and dies. He is taken up as a saint by the church, and buried in Hladir cathedral. Since he has no son, Althingi votes for a new king. The king is an easily controlled puppet of the Althing, he is a distant cousin of Magnus named Olaf Sveinsson.

1409 Skraeling insurrection results in massacre and genocide commited by Olafs troops. Althingi demands further action and Olaf declares a second war against Skraelings. Now all heathens must either convert or be destroyed.

1411 Olaf is killed in battle, and his son Robert ascends to the throne. He is considered a complete imbecile, but turns out to be married wisely. His wife Olavia is turns out to be quite intellegent and cunning.

[Fabilius]

1413. The second Skraeling war is ended, and the monarchy is broke. The althingi suggests to take a loan from the church, but to every ones surprise Robert refuses to comply.

1415 Under advice from his wife Robert starts reforming the monarchy. He builds a library in Hladir, and he starts a road building program. The road is supposed to reach from Hladir to the great lakes and down to Gladheim.

1418 German traders have at this point forced English traders out from the seas. Olavia realises that the influence the Hansa states have over chieftains in Wineland is a threat towards the independence of Wineland. Robert starts reform in the navy, preparing for a war.

1415-1450 Several Germans settle in OTL USA eastcoast. They found their own extremely religious catholic communities. In fact those who left to live there do it mostly to get away from "corrupt" Europe. They claim the plague was sent to Europe as punishment, and only those who are pure can come to live in the new holy land. Their name of (OTL America) will later dominate completely and the continent will be called Helga.

1421 Robert dies. Althingi intends to elect another king for he has only daughters, but Olavia has a different plan in mind. She marries her nine year old daughter Gerd to the son of the most powerful chieftain, Olaf. She promises Olaf that she will make him king if he assists her in maintaining power until she dies. Olaf who is considerably younger agrees to this.

1422 Althingi elects a young noble named Hans to kingship. Olavia uses military troops to end Althingi and declares that Althingi is outdated.

1423 Civil war starts when Althingi hires German mercenaries to help Hans gain power. The move is unpopular that Olavia, gains support from the public. Many join Olavia to fight the mercenaries.

1425 The civil war ends and Olavia is declared the first queen. The road program continues and is finished. After Olavia declares that the monarchy will assist in raising a cathedral in Gladheim, she is crowned by the church.

1431 Olaf becomes more and more impatient to become king, and Olavia agrees to rule alongside with him. Olaf, eager to prove his valour as king decides it is time to convert some heathens like former kings. He starts the third Skraeling war, in which finally, all OTL Quebeck is settled.

1433 Olaf is assasinated. Olavia takes his son away from her daughter to raise him. His name is Magnus.

1445 Olavia dies. She will later be named the great. Her grandson Magnus III becomes king. He will on the other hand, later be known as the incompetent.

1451 The king of England Henry VI (take note, this is not Henry VI of OTL, in this version of events there is no war of the roses). Henry decides it is time to expand to the west. After conquering Ireland he sends of ships to settle in the West continent. The first English settlements are in OTL Florida. The next that follow are in OTL Georgia, and are Irish. They´ll be known as New Wales, and New Ireland.

1457 The pope in Avignon (There was a rebellious pope in Avignon OTL) declares that the continent of Wineland shall from now on be called Helga on maps.

1460 More and more Germans settle in Helga. Some settle in Wineland, others join other German communities that are independant.

1473 King Olaf III is crowned in Hladir. Under his reign the middle class in Hladir starts to emerge, as traders become more and more important. He reopens Althingi as a court, but not as legislation. The power of the chieftains has become less and less.

1483 A protestant movement starts in Germany. Small monarchs in north Germany renounce catholic papacy and reap church soils as a reward.

1489 The king of Scandinavia Kristian II has succesfully conquered Estonia and Finland.

1490 Christopher Columbus finds the seaway to India.

1494 Vasco Da Gama founds Portugese settlements in the Caribbean

1495 Kristian II joins the protestant movement. Civil war starts in Scandinavia. In the end Catholic Norway and Sweden divide from protestant Denmark.

1501 Björn I becomes king of Wineland. He is very interested in science, and he builds a planetarium.

1501-1510 Gladheim becomes a trading center between German and Winelandian settlers.

1507 Americo Vespucci leads an exploration crew to the Caribbean

1513 Great fire burns down most of Hladir. Björn I secretly celebrates since this allowes his ambitious building programs to come to reality.

1514 Constructions for the new royal palace begin. Björn gives German traders a big area to build homes, in what becomes the German district. During this rebuilding the town divides into it´s famous historic quarters such as the indian quarter and the Jewish town. In fact at this point nearly 5% of Hladirs population was Jewish since many Jews immigrated from Germany and other places in Europe to Wineland, to flee from persecution. It would later rise to 10%. Björn supported them, because he liked educated immigrants, and many moved just to work as scientists for him.

1518 The great Winelandian thinker Theodor Schwarts writes his famous book on the movements of planets. The church bans the book, but since Theodor is under protection of Björn nothing happens to him.

1525 Margareth becomes the queen of Wineland after Bjorns death. She is very religious but not hostile towards scientists though. Much of the research supported in Bjorns time continues, although with a less budget.

1531 Margareth sends an army to the south. The German communities in the south are forced to accede to her power. The English/Irish settlements in New Ireland and New Wales, fear for their safety.

1532 Henry IX (He might be OTL Henry VIII, I leave that up to the reader), sees the moves of Margareth as a good oppurtunity to try out his military. He sends warships to New Ireland, and starts building a bigger navy.

1533 Margareth has no intentions of starting a war with England, and her envoys settle on a neutral zone between English colonies and Wineland. Henry IX is not thrilled when he hears the news, but instead he sends his fleet to find other countries to conquer in Helga.

1535 English warships land in OTL Mexico. They find an Aztec empire, completely absorbed in chaos, as the inhabitants believe end of the world is near. After conquering the Aztecs, the colony is named Henry´s land or Henria.

1537 Portugese land in Brazil. The Spanish are eager to find something before the British take it all invade Peru and the Incan empire.

1539 Magnus IV becomes king. He is enraged that all the gold in the continent is being taken by the English, Portugese and the Spanish. This he feels is humiliating. After all he is the king of a nation who has been in the continent for five centuries and yet all this was unknown to them.

1542 Magnus decides to send ships to the north in order to find a way to China north of Helga. His advisors tell there is no way, but Magnus refuses to listen. He puts abundance of money and power into building a navy. Even though he doesn´t discover the way to China, he catches up with the British, Spanish and Portugese in naval technology.

1547-1555 Magnus gives up on trying to find a way to China but continues to build up the navy. In stead he sends explorers further into the continent hoping to find civilisation like Aztecs and Incans in north Helga. Despite the fact that some explorers reach the pacific ocean and give detailed charts of the continent, Magnus is aggreviated. He is later known as Magnus IV, the frustrated.

1540-1560 During the reign of Magnus Winelandian pirates under the leadership of Leif Schilling robbed many English and Spanish goldfreights. This was encouraged by Magnus, and caused Phillipe king of Spain, and Arthur I king of England to ally against Wineland.

1557 Magnus confiscates all church property and becomes a protestant.

1561 England and Spain, both catholic declare war against Wineland. They intend to free it from protestanism and put an end to all pirating. They gather together in Holland, a fleet bigger than any other fleet known in history. (In Europe at that point at least). It´s called the invinceble fleet and is based on huge ships mostly.
They suffer a humiliating defeat from Winelandian forces. Magnus gleefully laughs home in his palace. But it´s not over yet.

1563 In stead of focusing on one huge attack force, the Spanish and British focus on smaller divided attacks. June 3d Gladheim is burned to the ground by British forces. Spanish ships attack by surprise and almost reach Hladir. Magnus flees from the capitol to his summer estate near the great lakes.

1564 The British and Spanish forces are repelled, but the catholic majority of the country uses the absence of the king to start a rebellion. A new king comes in stead of Magnus, by the name of Friedrich. He is of German origin and not a nordic nobleman, but from the German middle class.
This enrages the noblemen, but it also enrages the mostly German population around Gladheim. They see Friedrich as an ally of the British that burned down Gladheim, and revolt.

1565 Civil war in Winelandia. Arthur I uses the oppurtunity and invades the neutral zone. He takes contro of Faero islands and Iceland also.

1567 Friedich is caught and hanged. Hladir becomes protestant again, as Magnus returns. But not for long.

In next episode, the Civil war escalates, war against England, and the first move towards a democracy.

[Iñaki]

Nice this Wineland kingdom:cool:

Originally posted by Fabilius
1483 A protestant movement starts in Germany. Small monarchs in north Germany renounce catholic papacy and reap church soils as a reward.


Originally posted by Fabilius
1495 Kristian II joins the protestant movement. Civil war starts in Scandinavia. In the end Catholic Norway and Sweden divide from protestant Denmark.


Apart of this (and the reference that Wineland is protestant) I don´t see any reference to religious wars in Europe.

This means that in this ATL the protestantism is not so extended that in OTL? and because this not massive religion wars in Europe? (apart of the civil war in Scandinavia)

Originally posted by Fabilius
1352 War starts between France and England, later to be known as the sixty years war. It lasts for 58 years.


If I have read well, I don´t have find more reference in the timelines to this war. Who is victorious, France or England? I see that in the ATL after this data no more reference to France is made and some to England, this means that England gains the war and the dream of OTL Henry V of England of conquest france has happened?

A nice timeline, please continue:)

[Fabilius]

As the Vikings settled on the coast of Wineland and stayed there, it was only a question of time until they´d start using tobacco. It is not known when it happened, The sagas, manuscripts made in the 12th and 13th century mention that some characters used Tobacco. It is known that Thordur Kakalaki who brought Wineland down under the norwegian throne used tobacco.
In the 13th and 14th century fish was the main export from Wineland. British and German traders from the Hansa alliance bought dried fish to be used on fasts. Since Europe was all catholic back then fish was very important.
During the first Skraeling wars under Magnus the first, when German influence in Wineland was at its peak Tobacco spread to Europe. Both British and German traders started using it, and by 1450, when Magnus the third ruled, Tobacco had become the main export. In fact 30% of Gladheim´s inhabitants made a living out of tobacco.
In the sixteenth century when the colonies New Wales and New Ireland emerged, the Tobacco industry suffered. In fact later on, inhabitants in Wineland started to envy the colonies in the South for their cotton and tobacco industry. Wineland was not a suitable competitor in that area.

[Fabilius]

1568: 10% of the people are indian. 10% are nordic. 60% are a mix of nordic and indian. 15% are of German origin 5% are Jewish.
There is a social turmoil in Wineland. The German settlers, are now 3d generation and have become in their opinion Winelanders. They don´t feel accepted in the country, since the nordic upperclass views Winelanders as just descendants of Viking settlers. This is a reason for some conflicts. The upper class is no longer as rich and privileged as it used to be, while the German descended middle class has bloomed.
That´s the situation in Gladheim and Hlaðir. In the countryside, the Winelanders relate to their origins in both being indian and nordic. While the cities have turned protestant, the countryside remains catholic, and very religious. They feel disappointed by the king, since he lost Iceland, and Faero islands, but more importantly for becoming protestant.
Jon Arason a nobleman leads an uprising in the countryside against the king. (He is the last catholic bishop of Iceland, in OTL, and did pretty much the same thing).
The former supporters of Friedrich join him, and their forces prepare to slaughter protestants.

1569 The Gladheim movement under the leadership of Vilhelm Stratz, demands a new king. They are mostly protestant, but not all. They are not religious but simply against the rulership of Magnus.

1570 Magnus defeats Jon Arason, but his forces are spent. Vilhelm captures Magnus, and beheads him. In order to make peace with the catholic movement, he releases Jon Arason. A month later the two movements defeat the royalists, and Bjorn, the son of Magnus flees the country.

1571 Vilhelm calls for the resurrection of Althingi. Althingi still existed in some form as a court, but now he uses the same name for a parliament. It´s made out of Vilhelm´s and Jon´s supporters. Althingi passes a resolution, that the borders of Wineland reach from the east coast, to the west coast of Helga. (Inhabitants though, don´t reach further than to the great lakes). Also it passes a resolution against European powers in Helga, and demands that Wineland will gather an army to gain back Iceland. It is decided that Vilhelm will be: the high lawsayer. Which is really the equalient of a king.

1572 Vilhelm starts the great fleet initiative, preparing to fight Britain out on the ocean. That same year, James, king of Scotland becomes a protestant.

1573 Althingi passes the immigrant law. It states that, all immigrants are welcome to Wineland. They´ll get land in the west. This is done with the hope that Wineland will be bigger and more populous than countries in Europe.

1574 Leif Schilling, the old chief explorer of Magnus IV is made the general of the navy.

1576 While Wineland was building up after the civil war, England used it´s supremacy on the ocean to rob trading ships heading from and too Wineland. On May 6th an English ship is shot down by a trading frigate short way from Faeroe islands. It is caught and sinked two days later by English military ships. Arthur II of England, declares war against Wineland.

1577 Wineland loses the battle of Greenland. English ships attack Hlaðir, and shoot with a cannon at the cathedral. Vilhelm doesn´t flee, and he gains popularity by doing that. People still remember when Magnus IV fled from the English. It is said that what formed and defined the Winelandian nation was when Vilhelm looked at the clocktower of the Cathedral go down, from the balcony of the parliament and said:
"All towers can fall, but they can just as well be rebuilt."

1578 Spain declares war against Wineland too. Spanish and English forces gather a massive army. They think now is the time to convert Wineland, and make into a colony, just like the Aztecs and Incans were. Arthur II is said to remark: "since Winelanders are weakened by their indian blood, they like the Aztecs need to lead by stronger minds in the light. Heresy, is inheritive in the blood of Helgans."
Sir Francis Drake leads the army. But to his great surprise, Leif Schilling attacks the navy on the middle of the Atlantic. Leif dies, but Francis survives. The English and Spanish navy, lose despite being more than twice the size of the Winelandian army.

1579 James fears that if Wineland is oppressed into catholism then so will Scotland be. He and Frederic II of Denmark, declare war against England.
Most of the English navy is fighting in Iceland, close to Wineland, and in the atlantic. The Danish army lands close to York, ironically in the former Danelaw. At the same time the Scottish army invades England.

1580 Arthur II flees to France. James V of Scotland becomes, James I of Britain. (In this scenario, the English had won the 100 years war, which is called the sixty years war here, France is therefore a part of England, but now it has become separate from it). French protestants, called the Hugenots, revolt against English rule. The war has now spread to north Helga, Great Britain, France, Scandinavia and Spain. But not only those places. The hapsburghs of Austria declare war against the german protestant small states. Soon Denmark´s attentions are focused to Germany, in fear of a great Hapsburgh state.

1581 Vilhelm and James I meet. They agree, that Iceland and Faero islands belong to Wineland, as well as New Ireland and New Wales in Helga.

1582 Spain signs a peace treaty with Wineland. Sir Francis Drake joins James I. Arthur II defeats the rebels in France. Winelanders conquer New Ireland, and New Wales. (So Wineland now reaches from OTL Florida, to Greenland).

1583 Winelandian army invades Henria, (OTL Mexico). The invasion failes completely, as Winelandian troops are now overcome with arrogance. James I claims that Henria belongs to him and not Vilhelm. Spain invades Henria and succesfully claims it.

1584 Spain and France declare war. Austria defeats Denmark and reaches Jotland. Scandinavia, although catholic, fears Austrian empire. They invade Germany.

1585 Vilhelm signs peace with France and Britain. The religious wars in Denmark, Germany, and the religious purism in Scandinavia, drives a lot of people to move to Wineland. Irish, and English move as well, for some don´t feel safe from the Scottish extreme protestant government. Many of the Hugenots persecuted in France move to Wineland as well.


1585-1610: Wineland population doubles. It becomes: 35% Nordic indian mix, 5% nordic, 10% indian, 7% Jewish, 7% French, 25% German, 10% Scandinavian. As a result, trade, science and arts develope rapidly.

1586 Vilhelm dies.

1586-1596 the ten years of anarchy. More than ten people become First lawsayers, but none manage to keep the same control as Vilhelm had. Despite economy being good, there are many fights over religion and race in the country. People fear new civil war.

1597 Althingi agrees on making Kristian I, the younger brother of Frederic king of Denmark king. Kristian rules alongside Althingi.

1601 Kristian sends troops from Wineland to Germany to assist Denmark against Austria.

1603 Denmark and Scandinavia, sign peace treaty with Austria.

1612 Kristian dies. His son Björn II becomes king.

[Iñaki]

Nice new installment:)

Originally posted by Fabilius
(In this scenario, the English had won the 100 years war, which is called the sixty years war here, France is therefore a part of England, but now it has become separate from it).


And thanks for the explanation:)

Also please if you can, you can make a little list of the countries in TTL that are catolic or protestant?

[Max Sinister]

Nice TL. Some suggestions to further improve it:

- Some things happen too fast (slavery forbidden in Wineland, chivalry becomes unfashionable in England)
- Is there really such a difference between Nordic and Scandinavian?
- Some names aren't that authentic (Olavia?). I think you mixed German and Scandinavian names...
- Why do the Germans call America Helga?

[arctic warrior]

I concur. No trees, not good weather, thin population. I don´t think though there would´ve been much objection to the change of government. The Icelanders were so badly treated by the Danish they´d have welcomed the change. Religion has for some reason never been a hot topic in Iceland.

I really don´t know why the British weren´t interested in Iceland in the Napoleonic wars. :confused:

I suppose, that it was maybe because they got everything they needed anyway from Iceland. British traders bought fish and soap at extremely low prices and there was nothing the Danish could do about it. The Danish navy for an understandable reason never dared confronting the British, and I think that at this point in history most of it had been crushed with relative ease.

Actually Denmark during the Napoleonic wars tried initially to keep neutral AND have the neutrality of its shipping respected by the warring fractions. As its merchantmen were stopped by Royal Navy ships and loads declared to be contrabande confiscated, convoy was initiated and several incidents between Danish and British warships occured.
The Danish Navy did fight the Royal Navy and the last Danish ship-of-the-line, Prince Christian Frederik, went down fighting the British off Sjaellands Odde March 22. 1808. Also the frigate Najaden went down fighting in Norwegian waters July 6. 1812.

[Wendell]

Well South America be called "America" in TTL?

Could we see some maps?

Will that major war with the English, Scottish, Winelanders, et al. be dubbed the "World War" in TTL?

How has shipping improved, if at all, in TTL?

[Fabilius]

Nice TL. Some suggestions to further improve it:

- Some things happen too fast (slavery forbidden in Wineland, chivalry becomes unfashionable in England)
- Is there really such a difference between Nordic and Scandinavian?
- Some names aren't that authentic (Olavia?). I think you mixed German and Scandinavian names...
- Why do the Germans call America Helga?

Well slavery was forbidden in Iceland, because of the church, and I assumed the same would´ve happened in Wineland, because I imagined the social structure wouldn´t change that dramatically.
But it also might be that religion could play into it in a different way. After all, you couldn´t have Irish christian slaves, after converting to a christian way of thinking. But you might allowe yourself a Skraeling, that looks different and isn´t christian.
I assumed that chivalry would become unfashionable because of bad luck in wars. Maybe, I overassumed...
Olavia, actually it was me trying to translate the Icelandic Ólöf, into a more english version of the name. I´ll change it...
As for Helga, I´ll have to think of a better name? Any ideas? Can´t have the whole continent called Wineland.
Helga is a name, but it´s also holy in the old norse, and old german. So it´s the holy land. But it´s not grammatically correct, and I´ll have to come up with a better name.