1493 Second Draft 1500-1509

[Aussey]

1500: King Emmanuel sends his second eldest son, Prince Marcos, back to Europe with the Portuguese, along with some Portuguese-speaking courtiers, to meet with the Holy Father in Rome.

[AJNolte]

1500: using the gold which they received for the sail of Sicily to Naples, the Spanish outfit Columbus with a moderately-sized armada, instructing him to sail to the new world and claim as much of it for Spain as possible. Columbus sets out, planning to map the Caribbean and the fabled continental lands which border it.

[AJNolte]

(Sorry for not reposting the 1493-9 stuff earlier, but I was computerless and/or moving until today).
1495: Henry Wettin, second son of duke Albert of Saxony, enters a monastery after being saved from bandits.
1498. Having completed his novitiate and spent a year as a monk, Henry takes up a position teaching at the University of Leipzig, which Albert patronizes richly, thereby depleting his already dangerously low funds.
1500. Frederick, duke of Ernestine Saxony, founds a University at Wittenberg, at which a young miner's son named Martin Luther will study and teach cannon law and theology.
1501. Henry makes pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. Though he is impressed with the Holy City and the Rhodean knights, Rome is another matter.
1502. John, the unmarried brother of Duke Frederick of Saxony, goes on a pilgrimage after hearing of Jerusalem from his cousin, and there is so taken with the Rhodeans that he immediately announces his intention to join their order.
1502. Frederick and Elizabeth's second child, a son (Philip Albert) is born.
1503. Henry begins writing his first commentaries on the Bible. Though not deeply scholarly, they do possess a "back to the Bible" character which makes them quite popular. Henry also begins to write copies in German.
1505. Martin Luther enters Wittenberg University, studying cannon law and (to the consternation of his father), theology.
1506. Luther reads Henry's commentaries and is impressed. The bold young student writes to the Duke's son, and they strike up a life-long friendship. Henry's phlegmatic personality complement's Luther's volcanic one. As Henry begins disputing with other theologians Luther quickly becomes established as "Wettin's bulldog"--a gifted polemicist for Henry's ideas. As yet however, Henry's thought is not particularly radical.
1506. George, heir to the Duchy of Albertine Saxony, dies in a hunting accident. Henry, still intending to hold to his monastic vows, rejects the heir's title.

[Aussey]

1500: King Emmanuel I dies, and is succeeded by his son as "Diego I Ngola," King of the Ndongolese. The Macota, or privy council, arrange with Matamban lords to have him crowned Ngola a Matamba, as well. His wife, however, the current queen-regnant refuses to surrender her power. The Matamban lords are outraged at her refusal to follow the traditions of marriage and of past Matamban queen-regnants; and they lead a coup of the people against her. She is imprisoned in Kabasa, while her husband is crowned king of the Matambans. She is soon released weeks after his coronation, and settles down as the royal consort. Few Matambans remain supportive of her cause.

1501 Spring: Prince Emmanuel is born to King Diego and his queen. The King creates him Duke of Benguela. The Queen dies shortly after giving birth. A Catholic Matamban lord is created "Viceroy of Matamba," by King Diego.

1501 Summer: Portuguese missionaries from Ndongo are sent back into Matamba by King Diego, and meet a less forceful resistance from the Matambans. The Ndongolese seminary is finished. King Diego declares all Ndongolese must begin to learn Portuguese. A handful of Ndongolese lords complain.

1501 Fall: King Diego I marries a converted daughter of the Kongolese king, the Princess Maria. The King's brother, Prince Sebastião, is sent to conquer the Jaga Casangi in the southwest.

1502 Winter: Ninety-percent of the Ndongolese are now Catholic. Only about a quarter of the Matambans are.

[Keenir]

1500:
the Shia of Egypt flee in two major directions, and one minor direction. Most emigrate to Persia, some others head to Mamluk North Africa in the hopes of finding favorable rulers there, and a few families head deeper into Africa.

(ooc: I wasn't sure if I could make such a post -- if its not good, feel free to negate it)

[Keenir]

Yes, but who's in charge of the Rock?

good point.

edit: adding one detail:


April 1500:
Emperor Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire delivers a speech before those assembled before the gates of his palace, with copies of his speech sent to the Pope in Italy, the Pope in Cairo, DAubusson of the Knights of Rhodes, the Imams and tribal chiefs of the Druze communities, and the monarchs of Naples and Spain:

I, Ahmed Ibn-Bayezid, Emperor of the Roman Empire, Caliph of the Faithful, Shadow of God on Earth, heir to the Prophets, successor to Julius Caesar, do make the following notations to the layout of my land and those conquered lands.

I now strengthen the millet of the Druze, granting them self-rule within the Lebanon portion of my Empire to a greater degree than ever before. The Lebanon may administer its spiritual governance, though taxes/tribute still need be sent to Constantinople; in the matter of secular governance, appeals may be made to my august person. That in mind, I agree to promote the development of an Army of the Lebanon, led by Lebanese in battles against our mutual enemies.

To avoid the quibbling and squabbles which may lead to civil wars and invasions of a land I myself consider sacred, I hereby state that the Realm of Jerusalem is to be governed by the Latin Patriarch, and I leave it to my Catholic allies to settle amongst themselves which of them shall hold that post. For as long as there is peace in Jerusalem, I shall allow it autonomy (though the Patriarch must acknowledge my civil dominance of the landscape around him); should great violence break out, the armies of the Ottomans and the Druze shall be upon you. Also, Jerusalem must not bar the travel nor molest the Sunni travelers from my Empire, the Yemeni lands, nor Misir. Should any Christian man or Christian family wish to leave the Realm of Jerusalem, he and they must not be barred from leaving, nor his relatives harried; in return, I shall allow any Christian within my land to emigrate to Jerusalem if they so wish to do so. Lastly, the keys to the Church of the Sepulchre shall not be taken from the possession of the families to whom Salah-Al-Din (Saladin, as you call him) entrusted those keys to; in that spirit, administration of the Dome of the Rock shall be granted to the families entrusted by Salah-Al-Din with the keys to the Holy Sepulchre, and neither the land of the Dome of the Rock nor the families involved in administrating it, shall be molested or threatened.

I shall approve a Coptic Christian to rule the conquered lands of Misir, upon the selection of a suitable candidate by his holiness the Pope of Cairo. I leave your self-governance in your own hands, for as long as you prove capable of doing so. Tribute shall be sent to Constantinople on a yearly basis; this is symbolic, so you remember that I can easily raise the amount if given cause – do not give me cause. Do not raise your hands or allow hands to be raised against the Sunnis in your land, as they are under my spiritual protection. Know that your trade shall primarily be with the Ottoman Empire, the merchants of Yemen, the Knights of Rhodes, and lastly, the Alodi. Lastly, I task the Coptic lord of Misir to raise an army loyal to Misir which will not raise arms against myself.

These are my words.

[Aussey]

1503: Queen Maria gives birth to her first son, who is named Prince Marcos. King Diego creates him Marquis of Cotombo. He also creates his brother, Prince Sebastião, off fighting the Jaga Cassangi, Count of Mafiango, and names him Ngolambole, or "military leader,"; and his daughter, Duchess of Dvando. The King announces his plan to eventually construct a European-style building to house the Macota.

1504 Spring: Prince Sebastião returns to Kabasa to gather more soldiers. The King agrees. 1,000 soldiers return to Jaga Casangi country under the command of HRH Prince Sebastião Ngolambole.

1504 Summer: The King's sister, Princess Maria-Joana, dies, and her fifteen year-old son, Henrique, is adopted by the King, and made a prince. He is sent to the Seminário real de Ndongo de Emmanuel de Rei in Kabasa. King Diego renames the city São Rafael o Arcanjo de áfrica, "City of Saint Raphael the Archangel of Africa."

1504 Fall: Queen Maria dies giving birth to a son, Miguel; who is created Marquis of Rainha-Santa-Isabel-de-áfrica. King Diego marries his cousin, Princess Maria-Betânia. She is crowned Queen Betânia of the Ndongolese, but not of the Matambans, after Catholic Matamban lords say the cousin-marriage "surely is against the law of Our Good and Blessed Savior..." (Little do they know about European Catholics...) An attempted rebellion to place the baby Duke of Benguela as sovereign king of Matamba fails, and many are executed. The husband of Princess Maria-Isabel, the King's sister, is made Viceroy of Matamba.

[Aussey]

On behalf of AJNolte and myself...

1500-1503: João I of Kongo dies, and his radically-Catholic son, Afonso, becomes Nzinga Mbemba a Kongo. However, his staunchly Catholic and Europist ways lead him to abolish all forms of African titles throughout the Kongo, and he declare's himself "His Majesty Afonso I, By the Grace of God, King of Kongo, King of Kikongo, King of Luango, King of Songo, King of Macoco & Anzico, Overlord of the Surronding Kongos, and Great Prince of All Africa."

King Afonsi I marries the youngest sister of King Diego of the Kongo, Princess Maria-Beatriz, and she gives birth to fraternal twins, Prince Pedro and Princess Ana-Cristina.

Prince Henrique, the heir-designate of the Kongo, departs with the Portugese to Iberia to attend the University of Salamanca.

The Kongolese Army begins to conquer lands north of Luango.

[marl_d]

1499-1502: War goes much as OTL(not sure how to do the red)

September 13th 1502: During the battle of the Seritsa River (Battle of Smolin) Wolter von Plettenberg was turning the tied of the war until he is killed by Russian artillery while attempting to take on the Russian forces. (OTL he is able to defeat the Russians with a force of only 12,000 against anywhere between 30-40,000) The demoralized Livonian army retreats toward Riga in hopes of help from abroad.

1503: After a long and tiresome siege with little help from the outside, the Remaining leaders of the Livonian Confederation send out request for help to the Kalamar Union, who rejects the Livonian request, and the Hansa/Teutonic Knights (ooc: their response will be added later)
After the fall of the Livonian Confederation, the Territory is split between the four powers (see division map in the map thread). The remaining Knights of the Order are given an Option, be expelled from Russian controlled Livonia (including Riga) or convert to the Orthodoxy and become Crusaders for the Patriarch. Most of the order leaves either retires in the Catholic Poland/Lithuania territory of Courland or goes to join the Teutonic Knights.

However a small band of about 175 Knights and 200 apprentices and squire’s stay, lead by a young, charismatic Aloysius Marmaduke (ooc: Alik Yakovlev in Russian and made up, can't find any names beyond the Grand Master of the Livonian Order), convert to the Orthodoxy and Establish the Knights of St. Andrew. These knights are sent to Moscow to start a school and training center, and will become the core of Russia’s future military. (Much like the Cossacks of OTL)

[Tom Veil]

1500 January: The Haudenosaunee warriors generally outclass the Wyoming in battle, but the winter forces them to retreat.
1500 September: The Cayuga and Onondaga fortify their camps in the Wyoming Valley. These are the beginnings of the towns of Wagyeh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkes-Barre,_Pennsylvania) and Swadyeh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scranton,_Pennsylvania). The population growth in the homelands ensures that these camps are well populated from the beginning.
1500 December: The Susquehanna attack the Wyoming from the south while the Cayuga and Onondaga attack from their fortified camps. The Wyoming are expelled. Most bands flee deep into the western mountains, but some become absorbed into the Susquehanna and Haudenosaunee settlements; these people become known as the Scahentoarrhonons. The Susquehanna in particular make use of them to populate the burgeoning farm belt just south of the Wyoming Valley.
1501 March: Noting the difficulty of casting canoes from the shore, the Susquehanna mimic some of their neighbors and build a crude dock so that the canoes do not have to start in the shallows.
1503 March: The Susquehanna and Haudenosaunee complete the (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_81) road (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_88_(east)) connecting the central Susquehanna lands with the Mohawk, via the Wyoming Valley settlements. They agree to call the new road Wolfpack Road, commemorating how the sister nations hunted down the Wyoming like wolves.
1503 April: At the point in southern Mohawk lands where Wolfpack Road, Great Peacemaker Road, and Mohawk Trail meet, the Mohawk build a new city, Sganeda’dih (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenectady). Although the Mohawk are late to the settling game, Sganeda’dih will soon outclass all of the new settlements and become a bursting metropolis with a few thousand inhabitants.

[Tom Veil]

1501 February: The Susquehanna, hearing from their southern brethren about the good trade to be had at the south of the bay, send a few of their largest canoes along the coast to the Powhatan shores.

[Keenir]

March 1501: Sultan Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire sends one of his sisters (still in her early twenties) to the Khan of the Krimea, in appreciation for Krimea's loyalty.

Late April 1501: Sultan Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire sends an embassy (led by his older sister, who's in her early or mid thirties) to the lord of the White Sheep Turks, with the intention of opening relations between the White Sheep and Ottoman Turks.

[Glen]

Below is a rough draft for John Cabot's last big journey. I'd like a rough idea how long people think this round trip would take. Also, many of you have people along this route (basically from Canada to the Spanish Main and back), so if you'd like to write of your encounters with the strange white fleet, I would love to hear your ideas.


New World:

1500-1502:

John Cabot, accompanied by his son, Sebastian, sets out for his most ambitious journey with a small fleet. Cabot intends to sail south until he finds China.

The early part of the journey goes smoothly as the fleet retraces the route of previous journeys down the coast of Norasia. They discover a major bay to the South, making note and heading further south. Eventually, they find that their journey South is ended without hitting China. Determined, John Cabot continues hugging the coast and finds that they have rounded a peninsula. Heading west now along the continental coast, they find a large river rivaling the Meryk, but still no clear sign of the wonders of China. Eventually the coast curves to the south once more. Finally, they begin to encounter a complex civilization that John Cabot believes could be China. However, they possess no silk nor porcelain, and use sharp obsidian glass rather than steel. Eventually, they reluctantly decide that this can not be China. Obsessed, Cabot pushes the crews further South until they need to make repairs after a tropical storm. Some of the crew, including young Sebastian, take the opportunity to explore inland. To their surprise, they discover another ocean, which Sebastian Cabot names after the Prince of Wales, the Arthurian Ocean. John Cabot comes to believe that they are on another peninsula, and they attempt to round it, but the land curves away to the East. After several hundreds of miles, John Cabot reluctantly admits that they are not in Asia, and that China must still lie beyond yet another continent and possibly even another ocean. Reluctantly, the ships turn back. John Cabot dies of fever on the long journey back, and his son takes command, leading them back. Eventually, they return to England, with incredible tales and exotic trade goods and much more complete charts of the New World, but still no route to China.

[VulcanTrekkie45]

1500: While looking from the north tip of the island out toward the mainland, a Manisses scout notices a strange formation of clouds, one of which displays a red cross-shaped pattern. As he watches, the clouds approach and eventuallymake their way to the island. (Glen, you can take it from here)

[pa_dutch]

Spring 1501 AD: The Waponahkiyik, having witnessed the strange "sea monsters" off the coast, sends messengers to the Haudenosee seeking a mutual trade and defense pact.

[Smaug]

1504. The Muisca Confederation, having finally reached the Great Sea ( The Caribbean), at an area that is blessed with both a brackish fresh water lake, and the open Sea (Maricaibo). The area is quickly built up due to Carib raids. Trade with sea-going people is vigorously encouraged.

1505. Maricaibo (?for lack of a better name) is visited by a priest from Chichen Itza, who wows the local chief in the area with his abilities, and is quickly sent to the Hunza, where his knowledge of astronomy, and ability to write, impress the Zaque to no end. He is offered a position as educator to the nobility and also given a position as translator of the stars. (Just trying to get a written language here, and some knowledge)

[DuQuense]

1501
several dozen Ethiopians arrive in South India and begin hiring shipBuilders

1502
2000 shipyard personal from South India arrive in Djibitiuo, along with their families, establishing India's first African Colony.

1502
a large Diplomatic expiditon leaves Ethiopia, headed for Europe. It includes 500 Journeymen Carpeters, instrusted to get jobs in shipyards around europe.

1502
The Ethiopians arrive in Eygpt.
They present the Caliph a large trapesty showing ships transversing the Nile Canal. It shows the ships paying tolls at either end. It also shows a map along the bottom of where the Canal was.

1502
The Ethiopians arrive in Constantinople, and pay their respect to the Patriarch of Contantinople, and invite all Christians in the Ottoman empire to seek refeguee in the Byzantine Christian Kingdoms of Adiol and Axum

1503
The Ethiopians, arrive in England,, France and northern Europe. They are looking to hire Shipwrights.

[General_Paul]

April 20, 1500: One week after the spring campaigning season opened, Babur lead an army of 27,000 men, mostly Mongol horsemen, footmen, archers, and a handful of men who wielded crude muskets who were either veterans of his campaigns two years prior to eliminate his disloyal relatives and members of the so-called, "cabal," or men who served under his relative's banners and came to his army instead, in an effort to bring Samarkand under his control.

On April 20, 1500, on the hills and grasslands outside of Samarkand, Babur engaged in combat against an army of equal or greater strength lead by his chief adversary, Muhammad Shaybani, khan of the Uzbeks. In a struggle lasting most of the day, no less than 65,000 men engaged in battle. The fight between Babur and Shaybani became a hand to hand struggle late in the day when the sun was beginning to set in the west. It is said that when Shayabani drew a bag of gunpowder to throw at the feet of Babur's horse, he proclaimed, "No man claiming lineage from the great Genghis Khan would stoop to such lows to secure victory!" With one swift motion, Babur removed the head of Shaybani with his sword, letting it fall to the ground, mouth still agape, before stabbing the head, raising it in the air, and screaming at the top of his lungs to the still battling armies, "Look how your bastard half-khan has faired in battle!"

While most did not bother to pay attention, within hours of this disasterous turn of events, the army of Muhammad Shaybani dissolved under the directed pressures of Babur's repeated cavalry charges and cleaver use of his small number of musket armed men in tangent with archers to scare the enemy horses as well as drive gaping holes in their defenses.

It is said that as day turned to night and as the forces of Shaybani either fled to the hills or surrendered to Babur's army, the crescent moon rose over the cupola of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built by Timur in 1404. With this, Babur declared, "It is the will of Timur and the past leaders of the Mongol people that I should have this day as mine to celebrate this glorious victory!"

Afterwards, Babur entered the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, and prayed for the first, and only, time in his life. Close advisors to Babur would claim in later decades that his prayers were only of one thing, that Allah would bless his armies in all their campaigns in the future and would see fit that it would be his rule from a throne in Samarkand that would be the litigating factor in Earthly politics with his authority answerable only to the will of Allah and the will of Timur.

The last effort which Babur undertook on this day was to take the severed head of Muhammad Shaybani and place it in a box of salt to keep it safe and remind him of what must be done to secure that which he wanted most, power.

May-December 1500: In the wake of his successful capture of Samarkand, Babur's securing of his domain takes a brutal toll on the subjects of Samarkand who still held loyalty to the fallen Khan, Muhammad Shaybani. Those who refused to submit to Babur's authority, most of whom were more wealthy landowners, were killed outright, without any warning. The family of those landowners killed had their familial rights of inheritence stripped of them, their wealth was taken, and their land and wealth was distributed amongst the peasant farmers who lived on and worked the land, some for generations on end. Finally, the bodies of the landowners were decapitated, the heads placed on pikes outside their homes and their bodies thrown to wild animals to be devoured as a warning to all those who would oppose his domain over the lands.

These actions may be seen as being revolutionary for the time, however Babur carried with him alternate motives. He needed a strong power base in Samarkand and the surrounding regions to have legitimacy in his rule, and to eliminate any future threats from the peasantry. With the peasantry behind him, the greater majority by numbers, the elites would have little choice but to fall in line and agree with his rule.

With the placating of Samarkand by the end of 1500, Babur began planning his next moves: The conquests of Herat and Kabul.

[BlackMage]

Gowa

1502:
Victory in the Yolgnu Wars has led to a widened national prosperity in Gowa, thanks to a flood of trepang, pearls and exotic foods into Makassar.

In recognition of this, the Gowan Shahbandar opens up the port of Makassar to all foreign nations-effectively, becoming a free port, without tariffs or boundaries.

The karaeng of Tallok marries a Gowan princess, creating closer links between the two nations.

1503:
A rather uneventful year for Gowa, notable mostly for the creation of closer economic links with Marege.

The effects of smallpox have forced most of the northern tribes to subsist mainly along the coast, in order to gain access to the vital Macassan markets. The trading stations established along the coast begin to attract Aboriginal populations, who rapidly become the major source of labour.

Elements of Hinduism become common amongst Aboriginal populations in Marege, but only as a syncretic element with pre-existing beliefs. This new belief system is later characterised as 'Alcheringa Hinduism', a reference to the Aboriginal concept of 'the Dreamtime'.

Macassan traders first encounter the Wik, on the east coast of the Royal Gulf (OTL's Gulf of Carpentaria). By now, trade networks stretch from OTL Broome, in the west, to OTL Cape York, in the east.

1504:

A low-level border dispute between Gowa and Polombangkeng is exacerbated when ships from Polombangkeng are discovered trading with tribes in areas in Marege annexed by Gowa. Claiming a violation of their sovereignty, Gowa declare war.

In need of troops, Gowa offer the benefits of citizenship to many of their more compliant client tribes in Marege-with offers of self-government and honoured status. The majority refuse, but some tribes accept. The remaining independent tribes are increasingly squeezed between Gowan areas. Yolgnu remain strictly neutral.

The war, however, does not go well. After initial advances, the Gowan advance is bogged down. An alliance of states in the region opposed to Gowan expansionism destroys the Gowa-Tallok-Marege army at Bungaya, and takes Garassik. Gowa sue for peace after only four months of fighting.

The terms are harsh. The Gowa-Tallok alliance is broken off. Some areas in Marege are granted to the principalities of Galesong, Polombangkeng, Siang, and Maros. In Gowa, the power of the Bate Salapang is at last broken, as the general nobility are discredited due to the war.

As 1504 dawns, Marege has been divided up amongst rival Sulawesian principalities, proxy tribes, independent tribes...and the emerging power of Yolgnu.

[DuQuense]

1505
Muhammad XII leads his army to Tunis where the Sultan agrees to appoint Boabdil as his Heir.
The Granadain Army begins to reaccert control over the countryside, and bring the period of warlordism to a end.

[AJNolte]

1503. A small Rhodean commandry is opened in Djibouti, consisting of knights, a hospital and a few chaplains, as well as Rhodean shipwrights. DAubusson also begins quietly encouraging some of the more difficult Orthodox Rhodeans to move to Djibouti.

[Tom Veil]

Spring 1501 AD: The Waponahkiyik, having witnessed the strange "sea monsters" off the coast, sends messengers to the Haudenosee seeking a mutual trade and defense pact.
1501 August: The Haudenosaunee agree to the Waponahkiyik pact, and send a group of diplomats to live amongst them as a show of their loyalty. The group is led by a young woman named Hurit who (according to tradition) is Hiawatha's granddaughter.

[Aussey]

rough outline:
THIS WILL INVOLVE BASICALLY ALL OF EUROPE...
I need all these nation to PM me so we can discuss, uh, the discussions!

1500 April: HRH Prince João-Baptista meets with the Portugese Court.

1500 May: HRH Prince João-Baptista meets with Neapolitan-Sicilian-Jerusalemite Court.

1500 Summer: HRH Prince João-Baptista meets His Holiness the Pope and stays a while to discuss the furthering of Catholicism and Italian politics in southern Africa.

1500 Fall: HRH Prince João-Baptista meets heads-of-state and tours the Holy Roman Empire

1500 November: Prince João-Baptista meets with Scandinavian and Hanseatic members.

1500 Winter: Prince João-Baptista stays the Winter in England

1501 March: Prince João-Baptista returns to Portugal, and travels by land to meet Their Catholic Majesties of Spain

1502 May: Prince João-Baptista meets with the North African Christians on his way to the Holy Land.

1502 Summer: Prince João-Baptista meets with Christian and Muslim states in the Holy Land, before travelling by land to Istambul to meet with the Sultan himself. Thousands of books, statues, relics, crucifixes, and the like are purchased for his return to Ndongo.

1502 Fall: Prince João-Baptista tours Eastern Europe.

1502 Winter: Prince João-Baptista stays the Winter with the Hansa, a second visit.

1503 Spring: Prince João-Baptista returns to southern Africa, with treaties, trade, and treasures from across Europe and the Holy Land

[The Sicilian]

1502: King Alphonso sends an Royal delegation headed by his youngest son, also named Alphonso, to the court of King Emanuel. It is for several purposes. Establishing an Italian sphere of influence in Ndongo and ensuring the economic rights guaranteed to Sicily are the top priorities. Alphonso’s wife Maria Christina helps with the missionaries conversion efforts, as she herself converted. Italian engineers, scientists, scholars and architects are sent to help modernize Ndongo.

1503: Alphonso II meets with representatives of the Hanseatic League. After negotiations Alphonso agreed to the sale of Malta. In exchange, the Hansa would pay for a Sicilian expedition to the New World and there would be a joint Sicilian-Hansa expedition to round the tip of the southern lands.

[AJNolte]

1500. Juan and Margaret's first son, Ferdinand, is born.
1502. Their Catholic majesties begin a policy of favoring the Castilian and Aragonese towns at the expense of the great nobles. Thus begins the rise of the communeros.
1503. Juan's second son, Juan-Philipe, is born.

[AJNolte]

(Note: may I assume that responses will be similar from the Ottomans, Itallians, Pope, etc?
1504/5. Not to be outdone by his friendly rivals in Ndongo, King Joao I of Kongo sends his son Crown Prince Aphonso on a European grand tour of his own, paying close attention to their Catholic Majesties of Spain, and seeking an alliance with them so as to counter-balance the lass-than-active Portugese. Having had their interest peaked by the Ndongolese, their Catholic Majesties readily consent to an alliance with Kongo. On his visit to Spain, Aphonso visits the University of Salamanca and is greatly impressed, determining to send his son Henriqe there for priestly education. Aphonso, a very theologically literate man, would also do much to keep himself up-to-date on the happenings at Salamanca. Aphonso was also well-received in the Hansa cities and the Holy Land. Upon his return to Kongo, Aphonso sent letters to the king of Ndongo suggesting a broader pact between their two nations, so as to prevent a united front before the potentially dangerous Europeans and prevent them from ever playing one African Christian nation off against another, while at the same time maintaining good relations with as many of them as possible.

[Aussey]

1506 April: TRH The King's Sister Princess Maria-Renata and her husband, Prince Miguel, depart as co-ambassadors to replace the current Spanish Ambassador, Prince João-Baptista. Prince João-Baptista and family depart Spain after a short time there, and travel by land to Berlin, where he presents his credintials to His Imperial Majesty the Holy Roman Emperor, as Royal Ambassador of the Kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba.

[KineticBots]

1500: Ryukyuan King Sho shin has increased royal influence across the archipelago, expanding the army and placing outposts on all major islands north to south. Previously Ryukyu had been very Okinawa-centric. The Taiwan incident has changed that thinking.

1504: Relations are improving between Ryukyu on one hand and Japan and China on the other. The volume of trade passing between East and South-East Asian nations, with Ryukyu as the 'middle-man' is slowly but surely increasing (no objections from Indo-Chinese players?). The rule of King Sho shin - a golden age for Ryukyu - shows great prosperity for that nation. King Sho shin, seeing an opportunity for expansion of Ryukyuan production and commerce, announces the establishment of a colony in northern Taiwan. The purpose of this colony will be for acquisition of timber, metals, and other supplies needed to feed the emerging Ryukyuan production industries.

1505: First colonists leave for Taiwan.

1506: First colonists return to Ryukyu. While the initial outlook for the colony is good, government expenditure is a high, and benefits are not felt for some time.

1507: To improve volume of trade and prosperity of the colony, an adviser to King Sho shin suggests trading directly with the local people. This suggestion is put into action later that year.

1509: The Ryukyuan colony in northern Taiwan is taking too much government time away from domestic affairs. In the past few years, word has reached Okinawa of a new commercial concept emerging out of China - called the 'joint stock company', or something similar. Ryukyuan government officials and rich commoners are sent to China to learn of this concept, and the ramifications it may have for Ryukyu - a small nation with disproportionately high commercial influence.


That's all for now.

Regards,
KineticBots

[KineticBots]

1500: Following the reply of the Ming Emperor to the Ryukyuan requests of 1497, Ryukyuan naval and land forces embark for Taiwan to contribute to the occupation of that island. Since the incident that sparked the tensions (two years since the Ming reply), the Ryukyuan navy has been expanded to a size able to protect Ryukyuan interests.

At the death of the Japanese Emperor Go-tsuchimikado, and the subsequent ascension of the Emperor Go-kashiwabara, Ryukyuan King Sho shin commissions an embassy of tribute to sponsor improved relations with the secondary trading partner of the archipelago kingdom. The Japanese Imperial court is very pleasantly surprised at the lavishness of the Ryukyuan embassy, and express their wishes for closer ties between the two nations.

1501: Ryukyuan troops and government officials complete a cartographic survey of Taiwan.

1502: The tax collected from Taiwanese inhabitants by the Ryukyuan army as retribution for the 1497 incident is deemed sufficient; most Ryukyuan naval and land forces return to the home islands. A few small garrisons remain in the north of the island to 'maintain order and protect Ryukyuan interests' - this is not received well by the natives but is considered necessary by King Sho shin.

1505: Ryukyuan colonists arrive on Taiwan to establish a resource colony. That year, mining and lumber camps are built in north Taiwan.

1506: Ryukyuan transport ships return to Okinawa with supplies from the colony.

1509: The Ryukyuan colony in northern Taiwan is taking too much government time away from domestic affairs. In the past few years, word has reached Okinawa of a new commercial concept emerging out of China - called the 'joint stock company', or something similar. Ryukyuan government officials and rich commoners are sent to China to learn of this concept, and the ramifications it may have for Ryukyu - a small nation with disproportionately high commercial influence.


That's all for now.

Regards,
KineticBots

[Tom Veil]

1500 June: Repairs are finished in the battle-scarred areas of Bhārata. Work still continues, however, on a monument at the Mathura Battlefield. Raimal has made a daunting request – the monument must rejoice in how the Muslim nations’ misfortunes allowed the Rajputs to rise to prominence, but also reflect the sadness of the great loss of life; it must commemorate the Great Guru’s now-famous meditation, but not imply that the empire endorses any particular religion.
1502: Bhārata’s administrative reform program is now generally in place, making tax collection and government services much more efficient. And a good thing too – the triple disruptions of war, a change in administrations, and the Muslim exodus are still affecting the economy.

[Tom Veil]

1502 September-December: Rajamaharana Raimal sends Rawat Surjamal on a military expedition to shore up the eastern border of the Bengal province, where border raids had compromised the empire’s legitimacy in recent months. Militarily, the mission is a resounding success, as Surjamal is able to secure the border all the way to Chittagong. Tragically, though, Surjamal is injured in battle. He dies in Dhaka.
1503 February: A Hindu soldier launches a coup and takes control of the Orissa Sultanate. In an over-ambitious attempt to cover for being the wrong caste to rule, he coronates himself with the audaciously blasphemous name Raja Jagannath (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath).
1503 August-December: Jagannath launches an aryavarta to confirm his legitimacy, and is rather successful. He reaches the GodavariRiver in the south and crushes Gondwana in the east. Most significantly, Jagganath, and puts a terrible scare into the Bhārata troops defending Bengal – Lord Jaimal is forced to retreat to Dhaka before driving Jagganath back. The two grow to respect one another in battle, and they soon reach a peace treaty – Orissa will keep eastern Gondwana, while the west becomes a Bhārata dependency, and Bhārata will cede the city of Midnapore to Orissa. They also agree to an “everlasting promise to defend against mutual enemies.”

[DuQuense]

1505
For the past 8 years Tunisia due to the uring of Muhammahad XII has been encouraging the Portuguese Jews expelled under the 1497 degree to immigrate to tunisia.
In this year the first Jewish run bakery and the first Jewish Farms are started. In OTL Jews in Europe were forbidden by law to run trade shops, or to own Farms.

[AJNolte]

1504: The Hansa takes control of Malta, with plans to establish a "Christian Republic" under the sovereign direction of the Hansa.

1505: A constitution is drafted, borrowing heavily from those of Rome, Venice and, more recently, the Republic of Dithmarsch in Schleswig. Hansa advisors begin training Maltese marines and "national guard" (army), and constructing a navy with the aid of the Teutonic Knights and the Knights of Rhodes, who accept a Hansa offer to establish a small commandry on Malta. Construction of a port city is begun.

[AJNolte]

1500-1505: Success in the Crusade boosts the popularity of the Rhodeans, swelling their ranks with recruits and their coffers with rich gifts. The Rhodeans begin expanding, establishing commandries in Djibouti, Ndongo, Kongo and Malta.
1506. The Knights of Rhodes officially vote to change their name to "The Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Jerusalem and Rhodes". Commonly however, people begin once again referring to them as the Hospitalers. As more and more Hospitaler strength becomes concentrated in Jerusalem, questions are raised as to the future of Rhodes.

[AJNolte]

1502. Cem the Pretender dies. Upon his death, a shocking discovery is made when a young Greek lady of Rhodes comes forward as Cem's mistress, who has born him a son, named Constantine by her. The girl has a wild notion of using her son to launch a crusade for Constantinople, or at the very least, making him king of Rhodes, and this latter idea is wildly popular with Greek Rhodeans. Crowds throughout Rhodes protest for young Constantine (who has a claim to the Byzantine throne through his grandmother) to be made King of Rhodes.
1504. DAubusson, alarmed by these events, returns to Rhodes, and promises to consider native rule for Rhodes when Constantine comes of age. In the meantime, DAubusson takes the boy as his ward, with the previso that he will be raised an Orthodox Christian. Requests are sent to Constantinople asking for Orthodox spiritual advisors to be sent to the boy. The situation on Rhodes calms, and jubilant Greeks begin anticipating the day when Rhodean independence will (hopefully) come.

[marl_d]

1499-1502: War goes much as OTL

1500: Upon hearing of the letter the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire sent to the Pope, Spain and Naples proposing being crowned Caesar as a successor to Rome, Ivan writes the Following to the Sultan:

To Ahmed Ibn-Bayezid Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,
I must object to your claim as the successor to Rome, and appeal to the Pope, King and Queen of Spain, and King of Naples that this coronation does not go through as I, Tsar Ivan III claim this title based on my marriage to Zoe Palaiologina (Sophia Paleologue) nice of Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. I demand that I am recognized as such, in return will support your Title as Caesar of the Mohammedans. I will also continue to support your actions against the Malmuks as is required by our alliance.
Tsar Ivan III

1502: Ivan, under pressure from his wife for Vasili to be crowned co-regent, he keeps his promise to Dmitriy Ivanovich. Having different plans for Vasili. Vasili and his mother are hysterically upset about the move. In order to keep a civil war from happening while in the mists of the war with Livonia, Ivan reveals his plans for his son to both Vasili and Dmitriy, and asks that they keep the plans secret until they can be put into motion. Vasili is appeased and vehemently supports Dmitriy’s regency.

September 13th 1502: During the battle of the Seritsa River (Battle of Smolin) Wolter von Plettenberg was turning the tied of the war until he is killed by Russian artillery while attempting to take on the Russian forces. (OTL he is able to defeat the Russians with a force of only 12,000 against anywhere between 30-40,000) The demoralized Livonian army retreats toward Riga in hopes of help from abroad.

1503: After a long and tiresome siege with little help from the outside, the Remaining leaders of the Livonian Confederation send out request for help to the Kalamar Union, who rejects the Livonian request, and the Hansa/Teutonic Knights (ooc: their response will be added later)

After the fall of the Livonian Confederation, the Territory is split between the four powers (see division map in the map thread). The remaining Knights of the Order are given an Option, be expelled from Russian controlled Livonia (including Riga) or convert to the Orthodoxy and become Crusaders for the Patriarch. Most of the order leaves either retires in the Catholic Poland/Lithuania territory of Courland or goes to join the Teutonic Knights.

However a small band of about 175 Knights and 200 apprentices and squire’s stay, lead by a young, charismatic Aloysius Marmaduke (ooc: Alik Yakovlev in Russian and made up, can't find any names beyond the Grand Master of the Livonian Order), convert to the Orthodoxy and Establish the Knights of St. Andrew. These knights are sent to Moscow to start a school and training center, and will become the core of Russia’s future military. (Much like the Cossacks of OTL)

1504: With the establishment of the Knights of St Andrews, plans for the proposed training facility, School and Cathedral/Monastery are drawn up to build near Tver. The building is slow and steady and takes about 5 years to complete but when it is, it becomes one of the Chief training areas for Russian Military Leaders. Eventually all Russian Princes are required to spend at lest 5 years training at the Facility. In the mean time a temporary facility is based in Moscow.

May 1504: Riga is reopened as a free trade city under the auspice of the Grand Duke. Ivan sends Dmitriy on a trip to England, France, Spain, and other parts of Europe to open trade routes. While abroad Dmitriy hears of the adventures of Columbus, Cabot. He marvels at the news and rumors of the New World and Envisions a Russian Colony, but first, Russia must build a Merchant and Military Navy

August, 27 1505: After returning from his trip in July Dmitriy is married to Solomonia Yuryevna Saburova (Vasili’s OTL wife) a descendent of the Tartar Khans.

Oct 27, 1505: Ivan III dies and Dmitriy assumes the title of Grand Prince of Muscovy.

Oct 28, 1505: Dmitriy formally places the Sect of Skhariya the Jew, which he and his mother are members of, under direct protection of the Grand Prince. And orders the construction of the first Merchant and Naval ships.

(OOC: if anyone wants to make any formal trade deals with Russia let me know.
Also to Keenir there is Ivan's response :D:cool:)

[RCTFI]

OOC: Glen, taking your advice...

IC:

In 1500, Maximilian I finds his newly acquired Emperorship already slipping away as the southern parts of the Empire, Switzerland and Tyrol, begin to seem out of hand. Frustrated, he orders one of his generals to take 4,500 men to the border of the Swiss Confederacy, while he himself takes a larger army into Tyrol.
In Tyrol, he allows his troops to do as they please, something which alienates the locals - soon what little support he had in that region is evaporating, and the Tyrolians are calling for Switzerland to come to their aid.
At the same time, Heinrich Schneider is getting out of hand, acquiring more and more support, while at the same time becoming more and more extreme in his views. When he issues a sermon that seems highly critical of the local bishop, and that sermon is greeted by cheers from a huge crowd, the bishop and the conventional clergy begin to become nervous. As some low ranking priests begin to join Heinrich Schneider in his views, his support within the local nobility begins to weaken. However, by that point he no longer needs that support - on November 14th 1500, soldiers are sent to arrest him under the orders of the city government. The soldiers arrive at the church he was in, and are met by a huge crowd. They say that they were sent to get Father Schneider and bring him to speak to the city government, but the crowd does not believe them. As they nervously hesitate, the inspiration of the crowd speaks - he calls for the Restoration of the Church to the position of moral purity that it had once had.
The crowd listens, and rapidly becomes a mob - it attacks the soldiers, killing many of them, and in moments the survivors are in flight.

While the revolt in Wien is by no means widespread, it does take control of the city - when the followers of Father Schneider seem certain to triumph over the garrison, a large portion of the garrison switches sides.

Hearing of the situation in Wien, Maximilian I is caught indecisive - he hesitates for a week, then orders most of his army in the Tyrol back to the north, to besiege Wien. He himself joins that force, and ensures that it consists of most of his best troops...

[Keenir]

1500: Upon hearing of the letter the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire sent to the Pope, Spain and Naples proposing being crowned Caesar as a successor to Rome, Ivan writes the Following to the Sultan:
To Ahmed Ibn-Bayezid Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,
I must object to your claim as the successor to Rome, and appeal to the Pope, King and Queen of Spain, and King of Naples that this coronation does not go through as I, Tsar Ivan III claim this title based on my marriage to Zoe Palaiologina (Sophia Paleologue) nice of Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. I demand that I am recognized as such, in return will support your Title as Caesar of the Mohammedans. I will also continue to support your actions against the Malmuks as is required by our alliance.
Tsar Ivan III

Late in 1501: Ahmed writes the following to the Tsar:
To Ivan (third of your name) III Vasilevich (Иван III Васильевич), Tsar of the Rus’ and Tsar of conquered peoples of the North,

I confess I am confused. You state that you will allow me the title “Caesar of the Muslims,” yet refuse to recognize me as “Caesar” and refuse to recognize the very successor nature of my capital, founded by Emperor Constantine himself?

I also confess to curiosity: how are you to bring any army or navy to bear upon the Mamluks? You are far removed from any supporter of the Mamluks which I am aware of.

1502. Cem the Pretender dies. Upon his death, a shocking discovery is made when a young Greek lady of Rhodes comes forward as Cem's mistress, who has born him a son, named Constantine by her. The girl has a wild notion of using her son to launch a crusade for Constantinople, or at the very least, making him king of Rhodes, and this latter idea is wildly popular with Greek Rhodeans. Crowds throughout Rhodes protest for young Constantine (who has a claim to the Byzantine throne through his grandmother) to be made King of Rhodes.

1503: Emperor Ahmed, taken aback by the rumours that he has a cousin, fires off a message to Grand Master DAubusson. Ahmed both demands confirmation/negation of these rumors, and demands that the boy be brought to Constantinople.

1503-07: (ooc: will be determined once I receive DAubusson’s reply)

OTL: Karabıyıkıoğlu (“son of Blackbeard”) Hasan Halife, aka Şahkulu (“slave of the Shah”) a prominent rebel leader who is hailed as both a Messiah and as a Prophet. He has followers in Rumeli and in Anatolia.

Summer 1504-late spring 1509: Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire fights to put down uprisings led (but poorly coordinated) by Karabıyıkıoğlu Hasan Halife, imprisoning the rebel leader at first opportunity.

10 September 1509: Great earthquake takes place. Annals record it as “Lesser Judgement Day.” Istanbul and the surrounding area is devastated. {that was all OTL}

OTL: By this point in time, Emperor Ahmed’s sons are Osman, Alaedin, and Murad. (ooc: in ATL he might have more, but they'd be younger sons - these are his sons born before Bayezid's OTL death)

By November of 1509, Prince Osman has already begun amassing a following in the province of Istanbul: his speeches, given between the times of prayer for devoted Muslims, also count many Christians among the listeners. Osman tells of God’s impatience, that the Lord Allah indeed blesses the Empire, but has sent the earthquake to remind the people that He desires action be taken against the heretic, and not to waste so much time with the schismatic and the unbeliever – translation: Osman has been tasked by God to raise a war against Persia (rather than deal over-much with the Latins). (for Persia hasn’t yet been struck down like Egypt has)

OTL-vs-ATL Note: while Bayezid was rather spiritual, and thus left Persia alone; Ahmed’s only reason for not tackling Persia is that he’s already occupied elsewheres. Historians might well wonder if ATL Ahmed had any role in the planning for this raising of an army.

[The Sicilian]

(OOC: I've worked out the first three events w/ John)
1501: Alphonso claims that Pope Alexander VI is interfering with the secular affairs of Naples. He uses this as a pretext for and invasion of the Papal States.

1502: Neapolitan armies arrive outside of Rome and Romagna. The latter falls by the end of the
year, while the former holds.

1503: Alphonso meets Giuffre for peace negotiations.

1504 Autumn: Two boats from Prince Alphonso's delagation are forced to land during a storm. Thay discover a natural harbor (which haad allready been discovered by the Portugese). They establish a small camp until a break in the weather allows for repair.

1505 Summer: A large Sicilian armada (the one paid for by the Hansa) make their way towards the New World.

1505 Fall: The armada reaches a wide channel between the penninsula that Cabot described and a large tropical island, which the lead explorer names 'Messina'.

1506 Spring: The armada reaces an even larger penninsula. They find large stone structures that have been strangely abandoned.

[Aussey]

1507 Spring: King Diego, and a two-thousand man strong army of Ndongolese and Matambans leave to fight in Lunda. Breaking from tradition, he appoints Queen Betânia as Regent, instead of a senior member of the Macota. Acting as Regent, Queen Betânia recieves the Kongolese emissary, and signs their proposed alliance. The Macota question her eligibility to sign alliances, however the Franciscan Tendala, explains to them the powers of a Catholic regent in Italy.

1507 May: After discussions with the Franciscans from Rome, the Regent signs the proclomation establishing the Ndongolese Inquisition. With threats of secession from the Matamban lords, the proclomation was declared on for the "Reame Dongese," the Ndongolese realm. Bishop Lorenzo of São Rafael is made Grand Inquisitor. Unlike its European counterpart, the Ndongolese priests gave their fellow countrymen "one month's time," to convert and prove themselves good Christians. A little less than three-hundred pagani, those who refused to convert, fled into Matamba. The rest were burned at the stake. A non-Christian Matamban lord by the name of Lukeni Ndambi declared that the Monarchy and the Ndongolese had become "slaves of the white men," and gathered a large Matamban following.

1507 Summer: Ndongo-Matamba breaks out in Civil War. The Ndongolese and Matamban Catholics against the unconverted Matambans. With her husband and a large part of the trained army off crusading the jungles of Lunda, Queen Betânia asks the Kongolese to help crush the rebellion. She sends her own brother, Prince Francesco-José, with a small diplomatic team, aboard a Spanish ship, to have the ambassadors in Spain, Naples, and Hansa request these nations help intervene, "for the Continuation and Prosperity of the Holy Religion of Our Lord in deepest Africa..."

[marl_d]

Oct 28, 1505: Dmitriy formally places the Sect of Skhariya the Jew, which he and his mother are members of, under direct protection of the Grand Prince. And orders the construction of the first Merchant and Naval ships.

this is to be changed to

Oct 28, 1505: Dmitriy formally places the Sect of Skhariya the Jew, which he and his mother are members of, under direct protection of the Grand Prince. He also orders that groups of tradesman are sent to various European countries to learn shipbuilding.

[Smaug]

1507. Oroduwa, the king of the Oyo, receives word of fabulous tales of pale skinned peoples from the North, who tell tails of eternal life for a those who believe in a man who was nailed to a tree. These people have amazing technology, and ride the sea in massive canoes. The people to the South are benefiting from thier patronage. He send an Embassy to the Kongo, wishing to receive an ambassador of these people. He promises safe passage in his lands, and a very healthy gift to both the King of Kongo, and the White Skinned people who follow the Man Who was Nailed to a Tree.

[Smaug]

1508. The Zipa, who heads the Southern Muisca Confederation dies without a male child. His wife, having seen the success of the Hunza, suggests to the Zaque, that he betroth his youngest son to her eldest daughter, and completely unify the Confederation. The Zaque agrees immediately, with promises of spreading his successes to the Southern peoples.

1509. The Zaque, with his newfound muscle, spread East and completely surrounds the lake and even further along the coast. The newcomer, called the Maya, tells him to avoid war where possible, and fight when neccesary.

He therefore tries to marry nobles into tribes when possible, and when war is the last option, to be forgiving when hostilies end. To this end, he never takes control of villages and cities, but rather, sets up fortified trading stations with a mind to bringing the less civilized peoples into the Confederation. He trys to place these stations at strategic points that will benefit trade for the most part, but they are truly fortified.

The next few years will be spent trying to reach the Great River (Orinoco)

[Glen]

1500 January 1:

Safaviyeh's young leader, Ismail, is assassinated by a rival within the Sufi sect. Rumor has it that he was paid to do so by the Akkoyunlu, who were concerned about their strident brand Shi'a destabilizing their rule. Whether true or not, history has no doubt that this benefited the Akkoyunlu as the Safaviyeh were thrown into a intercine strife that would tear the movement apart in mere years.

[Glen]

1500 Summer: Prince Arthur of England falls ill, suffering from sweating spells. He has a long but full recovery. During his convalescence, he wiles away the time reading through the newest edition of Le Mort D'Arthur.

[AJNolte]

1500: Upon hearing of the letter the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire sent to the Pope, Spain and Naples proposing being crowned Caesar as a successor to Rome, Ivan writes the Following to the Sultan:
To Ahmed Ibn-Bayezid Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,
I must object to your claim as the successor to Rome, and appeal to the Pope, King and Queen of Spain, and King of Naples that this coronation does not go through as I, Tsar Ivan III claim this title based on my marriage to Zoe Palaiologina (Sophia Paleologue) nice of Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. I demand that I am recognized as such, in return will support your Title as Caesar of the Mohammedans. I will also continue to support your actions against the Malmuks as is required by our alliance.
Tsar Ivan III

Late in 1501: Ahmed writes the following to the Tsar:
To Ivan (third of your name) III Vasilevich (Иван III Васильевич), Tsar of the Rus’ and Tsar of conquered peoples of the North,

I confess I am confused. You state that you will allow me the title “Caesar of the Muslims,” yet refuse to recognize me as “Caesar” and refuse to recognize the very successor nature of my capital, founded by Emperor Constantine himself?

I also confess to curiosity: how are you to bring any army or navy to bear upon the Mamluks? You are far removed from any supporter of the Mamluks which I am aware of.

1502. Cem the Pretender dies. Upon his death, a shocking discovery is made when a young Greek lady of Rhodes comes forward as Cem's mistress, who has born him a son, named Constantine by her. The girl has a wild notion of using her son to launch a crusade for Constantinople, or at the very least, making him king of Rhodes, and this latter idea is wildly popular with Greek Rhodeans. Crowds throughout Rhodes protest for young Constantine (who has a claim to the Byzantine throne through his grandmother) to be made King of Rhodes.

1503: Emperor Ahmed, taken aback by the rumours that he has a cousin, fires off a message to Grand Master DAubusson. Ahmed both demands confirmation/negation of these rumors, and demands that the boy be brought to Constantinople.

1503-07: (ooc: will be determined once I receive DAubusson’s reply)

OTL: Karabıyıkıoğlu (“son of Blackbeard”) Hasan Halife, aka Şahkulu (“slave of the Shah”) a prominent rebel leader who is hailed as both a Messiah and as a Prophet. He has followers in Rumeli and in Anatolia.

Summer 1504-late spring 1509: Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire fights to put down uprisings led (but poorly coordinated) by Karabıyıkıoğlu Hasan Halife, imprisoning the rebel leader at first opportunity.

10 September 1509: Great earthquake takes place. Annals record it as “Lesser Judgement Day.” Istanbul and the surrounding area is devastated. {that was all OTL}

OTL: By this point in time, Emperor Ahmed’s sons are Osman, Alaedin, and Murad. (ooc: in ATL he might have more, but they'd be younger sons - these are his sons born before Bayezid's OTL death)

By November of 1509, Prince Osman has already begun amassing a following in the province of Istanbul: his speeches, given between the times of prayer for devoted Muslims, also count many Christians among the listeners. Osman tells of God’s impatience, that the Lord Allah indeed blesses the Empire, but has sent the earthquake to remind the people that He desires action be taken against the heretic, and not to waste so much time with the schismatic and the unbeliever – translation: Osman has been tasked by God to raise a war against Persia (rather than deal over-much with the Latins). (for Persia hasn’t yet been struck down like Egypt has)

OTL-vs-ATL Note: while Bayezid was rather spiritual, and thus left Persia alone; Ahmed’s only reason for not tackling Persia is that he’s already occupied elsewheres. Historians might well wonder if ATL Ahmed had any role in the planning for this raising of an army.


1503: DAubusson replies:

It would indeed appear that your uncle was most indiscrete with a Greek notable's daughter. I have examined the boy; his likeness is uncanny. Fear not; I have dissuaded the lad's mother from any claims toward Constantinople at this point. It is my hope to consider the establishment of more native autonomy, perhaps under this claimant (you might also consider that an independent Greek Rhodes would be a useful place to send any Greek agitators). [It is worth noting that DAubusson would probably also point out to his European
Christian allies that the boy's legitimate claim to Constantinople makes him a useful person to keep around, but the depth of DAubusson's machinations will not truly be known until long after his death].
As to the trip to Constantinople, I should be glad to bring the lad to meet you, though I must warn you that he is a Christian.

In any event, I feel little doubt that Rhodes shall conspicuously fail to amount to a threat to your empire, even in Greek hands. And I intend to ensure that tribute is still paid to the Order, and a strong commandry on Rhodes is maintained. However, the Order is becoming quite widespread, and this potentially creates a means of further diversifying our future options.

[AJNolte]

(Note: worked out with John).
1502/3(?) Receiving word of the peril of their Levonian allies, the Hanseatic and Teutonic navy, as well as some army forces, move to aid the Levonians. They help hold the city of Konigsberg successfully. Additionally, when it's fall seems iminent, they help evacuate many of the Levonian Knights from Riga, thereby testing their new navy. Though unable to save the Levonian Confederation, they achieve their war aims--the preservation of much of the Levonian Order and the preservation of Konigsberg as a Hansa city. Their military effectiveness pleases the various Hansa cities, and reaffirms their determination to work together. The possible alliance between Russia and the Calmarnists greatly concerns the Hansa, and military spending is increased, and aid sought from the German princes. As he enjoys much peace and quiet at home, Frederick the Wise of Saxony sends support to his nephew, the grand-master of the Teutonic Order, and begins a series of trade negotiations with the Hansa.

[AJNolte]

1501: Katherine of Aragon marries Prince Arthur of England.

[AJNolte]

(point that I forgot to clarify, brought out by Keenir on a different thread).

1501: the Grand Commandry of the Rhodeans in Jerusalem is officially established. Over time, this will grow into one of the major Hospitaler commandries in the world.

[Aussey]

The Inquisitions were set up to find secret Jewish or Muslims, nether of which you will have.

Also even under great pressure from Spain, Portugal right next door withstood Spain till the 1530. So 50 years after Spain set up the first Inquisitions.

You are ok with the wars, but I think you are moving to fast in the Religious sphere. There would be a lot more low level Resistance, and with the poor travel times in country ............

Agreed. Inquisition disallowed....for now.

OOC: The Catholic Church in Kongo spread very rapidly since the Portugese arrival in 1483. The King, who strayed away at the end of his life, was succeded by his uber-Catholic son. The Kongolese quickly converted to Catholicism.

In this TL, we started off with Ndongo as, indeed, a tributary, and lordship of the Kongolese king- So this massive spread of Catholicism was indeed in the coastal kingdom of Ndongo as well.

In OTL, it was the inland kingdoms, such as Matamba, which were more reluctant to convert, and who stayed mainly NON-Catholic, well into the 18th century. That is why, ITTL, you see a very Catholic and pro-Europist Ndongo and Kongo, and an animist-traditionalist-anti-Europist Matamba.

By this point in OTL, Kongo and Ndongo were mainly-Catholic, though as Tom said, Catholic in name mainly. Then again, most Catholics throughout the world were Catholic-in-name.

As you said, there will be quite some religion-opposition, and as you said, in OTL and ITTL, it was from the lower classes in Ndongo- but in Matamba, it was the nobility as well. Don't forget- Catholicism allowed for a Queen-Regnant, Matamban-tradition did not. That is why Isabella was disposed. I've been trying to hint at friction between the two, and now I have.
(The only reason the queen-regnant Ana-Nzinga became sovereign queen of Matamba in the 17th century in OTL, was because she was a mighty warrior, and started off as a queen-regent.)

Also, Catholicism is spreading even faster ITTL than in OTL, because of the presence of MORE missionaries- namely the Spainards, Franciscans, and Neapolitans.

About the Inquisition-

You are thinking of the Medieval Inquisition. The idea of trying those who were purported to be agaisnt Catholic dogma has existed since the beginning of Christianity- First against Gnosticism, Marcionism, Montanism and various forms of Monarchianism; Then against the Donatists or the Arians. Only in the 12th century did the Medieval Inquisition, the most famous one, start- For the Jews and Muslims in Spain (though it spread to Italy and Portugal as well.) Indeed, this inquisition was also headed by Dominicans.

The Inquisition in the mainly-(in name)Catholic kingdom of Ndongo is different in two ways- A) It is not being used as a last resort to expell people, it's a method of forced Conversion for the remaining Ndongolese, and B) It is headed by the Franciscans, famous for their successful conversion of Central Amerindians with their Franciscan Inquisition, centered on the Yucatan.

I'd also like to say, that we have a large Spanish presence ourselves, not to mention the Spanish, (and I say this unofficially,) protectorate of Kongo, of which we are still bound by ancient tribal tribute, thus making us, a de facto quasi-semi-independent-protectorateship-under-Italian-influence ourselves, while WE are (and I say this unofficially,) a protectorate of Naples-Sicily.

The idea of an inquisition in a Catholic-minority kingdom, such as Matamba, I agree, would be definatley not plausible. But I ask you (both) to reconsider, as this IS different than what you are both thinking, and, to think of it otherwise, why CANT a Catholic nation try non-Catholics for heresey?

Sorry, but no. How do you expect to extend across all that territory in the 16th century? To the best of my knowledge, there was never a Sub-Saharan nation that pulled that off. The terrain is not favorable to fast movements or travel. You face dozens and dozens of tribes that are not going to welcome you with open arms.

Can it be done? Theoretically. But it will be the work of lifetimes.

Ummm...this was definatley NOT meant to be taken as something that was going to be accomplished within the next, um, century?! It was a mere outline of my country, for like, maybe the 19th century at that? It was also based off previous discussions about Muslim Africans and such with Keenir. I'd just like to clarify, I was definatley not going to plan on accomplishing this ANYTIME in the far future.

[The Sicilian]

1507: Upon hearing of the civil strife in his ally (protectorate) Ndongo, Alphonso dispatches a large army under his brother Frederick. It is not the usual Condottiero army. They were well trained, with the best equipment for traversing the mountains and jungles of South-Central Africa . Thus, the Spedizioniero* was born. It would be highly effective in the exploration and colonization of the Americas.

1508: The army arrives on the coast and sails a few miles inland to Sao Rafael. The army is split into two groups. The larger one is headed by Frederick and is sent to combat the pagan separatists alongside the King. The smaller one is headed by Prince Alphonso and is sent to trek into the Lunda Empire to assist in the conquest.

*Roughly ‘Expeditionary’, whose roles include that of an explorer and conquistador.

[Tom Veil]

1503: Bharata diplomats learn about the printing press from their travels abroad. Raimal, excited as usual about anything that can help refine the administration of government, commissions several craftsmen and scribes to travel abroad and learn the art.
1504 Summer: A local outbreak of an unknown disease decimates the population of Sasaram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasaram). By the end of August, 30% of the town is dead.
[B]1505 December: Raimal launches a sudden invasion of the Sultanate of Gujarat. His armies move all the way to the capital, Ahmedabad, almost unopposed.
1506: The first four printing presses in Bharata open: At the royal palace in Chittor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittorgarh), the princely palaces in Delhi and Dhaka, and at a new theological school in Mathura.
1506 January-June: The Bharata forces launch a siege on Ahmedabad. They make little progress after 6 months. Learning from the disaster at Mathura, though, they divide and retreat into various captured Gujarati towns when the monsoons hit.
1506 June-September: Gujarat attempts several raids on the occupied towns. They are able to push Bharata forces out of the east and south, but only at tremendous loss of life on both sides. Since Bharata's forces are more numerous and healthy, Raimal is willing to take the loss.
1506 October: Raimal again attacks Ahmedabad, and this time overwhelms the Gujarati forces and takes the city. The Sultan and his family are all executed, and Rajputs installed as governors. Raimal is injured in the final raid.
1506 November: Expressing fears of mortality, Raimal finally begins to act on his proposals for an oligarchic government. Bharata territory is rationalized into distinct plots. Localities can act autonomously (except on defense) if all the local leaders are in agreement, but otherwise loyalty flows upward to the Rajamaharana. Trade groups, castes, and non-Hindu minorities each have the right to appoint representatives to a (toothless) Imperial Advisory Chamber. These groups can also buy a certain amount of autonomy by paying more in taxes.

[Glen]

England:

1500: Prince João-Baptista visits England. Most of the English find him and his African entourage exotic, but keep their distance. An exception is young Prince Arthur, who still convalescing from his prolonged illness, spends much time with the visiting prince and is entranced by his tales of the Jungle lands of Africa.

OOC: What do you think, Aussey?

[Glen]

Below is a rough draft for John Cabot's last big journey. I'd like a rough idea how long people think this round trip would take. Also, many of you have people along this route (basically from Canada to the Spanish Main and back), so if you'd like to write of your encounters with the strange white fleet, I would love to hear your ideas.


New World:

1500-1502:

John Cabot, accompanied by his son, Sebastian, sets out for his most ambitious journey with a small fleet. Cabot intends to sail south until he finds China.

The early part of the journey goes smoothly as the fleet retraces the route of previous journeys down the coast of Norasia. They discover a major bay to the South, making note and heading further south. Eventually, they find that their journey South is ended without hitting China. Determined, John Cabot continues hugging the coast and finds that they have rounded a peninsula. Heading west now along the continental coast, they find a large river rivaling the Meryk, but still no clear sign of the wonders of China. Eventually the coast curves to the south once more. Finally, they begin to encounter a complex civilization that John Cabot believes could be China. However, they possess no silk nor porcelain, and use sharp obsidian glass rather than steel. Eventually, they reluctantly decide that this can not be China. Obsessed, Cabot pushes the crews further South until they need to make repairs after a tropical storm. Some of the crew, including young Sebastian, take the opportunity to explore inland. To their surprise, they discover another ocean, which Sebastian Cabot names after the Prince of Wales, the Arthurian Ocean. John Cabot comes to believe that they are on another peninsula, and they attempt to round it, but the land curves away to the East. After several hundreds of miles, John Cabot reluctantly admits that they are not in Asia, and that China must still lie beyond yet another continent and possibly even another ocean. Reluctantly, the ships turn back. John Cabot dies of fever on the long journey back, and his son takes command, leading them back. Eventually, they return to England, with incredible tales and exotic trade goods and much more complete charts of the New World, but still no route to China.

New World:

1504-1505: Sebastian Cabot is outfitted with a new flotilla, determined to complete his late father's great work. This time, he makes a bold move to find a new route to the South, going first down the Atlantic Coast of Western Europe and Africa, paying a visit in the Kongo in the name of the English Crown, then sets off across the Atlantic, hitting the Southern Continent of the New World, and begins his trip downward, mapping new coastline as he goes.

Sebastian Cabot's ships encounter fierce storms to the far South as they round a cold, wind blasted land. Several ships are lost and most are damaged. They strike Northward far enough to convince themselves they had definitely found the other side of the continent, but are forced reluctantly to turn back for civilization.

[VulcanTrekkie45]

Norasia
1500: A manisses lookout spots a strange cloud formation on the horizon, moving seemingly against the wind straight for his island. As it comes closer, he can see it appears to be more of a moving mountain than a cloud formation. He runs and alerts the chief, who meets a smaller boat that comes ashore on the crescent beach. (Glen, you can take it from here.)

Europe
1501: Moldavia, Wallachia, Russia, and Austria band together and pledge aid to the Ottomans in their war against the Malmuks on the condition that they surrender all their holdings in Europe. Side note: The Russians enter only if Moldavia/Wallachia recognize Vasili's claim to Constantinople. The Ottomans agree to surrender an equal amount of land in Europe, but only if they are recognized as the successor to Caesar.

[VulcanTrekkie45]

Norasia
1500: A manisses lookout spots a strange cloud formation on the horizon, moving seemingly against the wind straight for his island. As it comes closer, he can see it appears to be more of a moving mountain than a cloud formation. He runs and alerts the chief, who meets a smaller boat that comes ashore on the crescent beach. (Glen, you can take it from here.)

Europe
1501: Moldavia, Wallachia, Russia, and Austria band together and pledge aid to the Ottomans in their war against the Malmuks on the condition that they surrender all their holdings in Europe. Side note: The Russians enter only if Moldavia/Wallachia recognize Vasili's claim to Constantinople. The Ottomans agree to surrender an equal amount of land in Europe, but only if they are recognized as the successor to Caesar.

[Glen]

1509 September 19: Henry VII Tudor, King of England, dies on this day. He is succeeded by his son, Arthur Prince of Wales.

1509 December 25: Arthur Tudor is formally crowned on Christmas Day, taking the regnal name King Arthur II. Historians formally mark this date as the beginning of the "Second" Arthurian Age.

[pompejus]

ok, next updates:

1500:
In Gent the first son of Philip of Burgundy is born, he is named Charles named after his greatgrandfather Charles the Bold


In light of the events in Liege Charles of Egmond (duke of Guelders), Jan of Cleve (Duke of Cleves/Mark) and Wilhelm of Julich-Berg meet in Arnhem to create an alliance as a counterbalance against Burgundy. At this meeting are also representatives of Frisia and of Oversticht. The bishop of Utrecht (Frederick of Baden), who is a strong supporter of Burgundy, was not amused the representation of oversticht, which belongs to his Bishopric.
Charles of Egmond had tried to add Rene, the Duke of Lorraine, who was married to his sister, to this alliance, but even though he was sympathetic, he was not interested in joining.

1501:
The cities in Oversticht start to resist the rule of Frederick of Baden (Bisshop of Utrecht) more and more. The bishop sends a small armed force to Oversticht to enforce his rule.

1502:
The battle of Kampen. Near the city of Kampen the troops of the Bishop of Utrecht are destroyed by troops from various cities of Oversticht, who are secretly armed and trained by Guelders. The bishop decides to send more troops. For the next 5 years a civil war . The bishop is supported by Burgundy, while Oversticht is supported by Guelders, Cleves/Mark and Julich/Berg. Most of the battles are being fought in Oversticht, but also in Guelders and Nedersticht skirmishes take place.

1507:
The Civil war in Utrecht comes to an end. The Bishop of Utrecht has spend all his money in the war and is broke. He has not managed to regain control over Oversticht. He decides to sell his territories to Burgundy. Philip of Burgundy accepts even though part of the country is not under his control.

[AJNolte]

1505 (discussed with Pompages): Active resistance to Albertine rule in Gruningen intensifies into outright rebellion. Albert is forced to start campaigning there on a regular basis. Albertine Saxony officially goes broke.
1506-7. The war goes badly for the Albertines, as Gruningen's partisans know the country. Calls for help from Burgundy and the Empire fall on deaf ears.
1507. Duke Albert is killed in a skurmish with partisans from Gruningen. His duchy now passes to his fourth son Frederick, grand-master of the Teutonic order. In Saxony, resentment of the Hapsburgs begins to grow, even in Ernestine Saxony where Frederick begins to think that the Emperor has treated his brother shabbily.
1508. (discussed previously with John). Albertine Saxony is deeply in debt, and attempting to remedy the situation would harm both Frederick and the Hansa. Therefore, Grand-master Frederick sells his claim to the duchy to his cousin, Frederick the Elector of Ernestine Saxony. Grand-master Frederick and the Teutonic Knights and Hansa benefit richly from the sale, balancing their books and pouring more money into their richly outfitted expedition to the new world. Duke of a now reunited Saxony, Frederick offers Gruningen for sail, to the highest bidder (Burgundy and Anti-Burgundians, feel free to make offers).

1509. Duke Frederick of Saxony begins looking for a means of ensuring a smooth succession from this point forward. He turns to the estates, a combination of higher clergy, town burgers and nobles, and considers leaving the succession, partially at least, in their hands.

[AJNolte]

1500: Jacob of Baden is appointed to the bishopric held by his uncle. His tenure is unremarkable and brief, clouded with accusations of nepotism.
1505. Jacob dies of a passing illness. Bertholt of Mainz appoints Henry Wettin elector Archbishop of Trier. Henry recommends young Martin Luther as a private secretary to his cousin Frederick the Wise of Ernestine Saxony.
1508. Henry, upon hearing of his father's death, goes briefly into mourning, and becomes deeply introspective. After half a year, he emerges from his solitude a changed man, believing firmly that Albert's loyalty to an empire given to decadents and corruption helped cause his death. Henry, like Frederick othe Wise and Bertholt of Mainz, becomes an advocate of widespread reforms. He begins aggressively with these reforms in Trier, stamping out the practice of indulgences and begins supporting more radical causes, such as the translation of the Bible into German and broader ecclesiastical reforms. Bertholt of Mainz largely goes along with Henry's reforms.

[pompejus]

ok, next updates:

1500:
In Gent the first son of Philip of Burgundy is born, he is named Charles named after his greatgrandfather Charles the Bold


In light of the events in Liege Charles of Egmond (duke of Guelders), Jan of Cleve (Duke of Cleves/Mark) and Wilhelm of Julich-Berg meet in Arnhem to create an alliance as a counterbalance against Burgundy. At this meeting are also representatives of Frisia and of Oversticht. The bishop of Utrecht (Frederick of Baden), who is a strong supporter of Burgundy, was not amused the representation of oversticht, which belongs to his Bishopric.
Charles of Egmond had tried to add Rene, the Duke of Lorraine, who was married to his sister, to this alliance, but even though he was sympathetic, he was not interested in joining.

1501:
The cities in Oversticht start to resist the rule of Frederick of Baden (Bisshop of Utrecht) more and more. The bishop sends a small armed force to Oversticht to enforce his rule.

1502:
The battle of Kampen. Near the city of Kampen the troops of the Bishop of Utrecht are destroyed by troops from various cities of Oversticht, who are secretly armed and trained by Guelders. The bishop decides to send more troops. For the next 5 years a civil war . The bishop is supported by Burgundy, while Oversticht is supported by Guelders, Cleves/Mark and Julich/Berg. Most of the battles are being fought in Oversticht, but also in Guelders and Nedersticht skirmishes take place.

1507:
The Civil war in Utrecht comes to an end. The Bishop of Utrecht has spend all his money in the war and is broke. He has not managed to regain control over Oversticht. He decides to sell his territories to Burgundy. Philip of Burgundy accepts even though part of the country is not under his control.

I would like to add this event:

1508:
Edzard I, Count of East Frisia, joins the anti-Burgundian alliance of Guelders, Cleves/Mark and Julich-Berg

[Keenir]

1508. (discussed previously with John). Albertine Saxony is deeply in debt, and attempting to remedy the situation would harm both Frederick and the Hansa. Therefore, Grand-master Frederick sells his claim to the duchy to his cousin, Frederick the Elector of Ernestine Saxony. Grand-master Frederick and the Teutonic Knights and Hansa benefit richly from the sale, balancing their books and pouring more money into their richly outfitted expedition to the new world. Duke of a now reunited Saxony, Frederick offers Gruningen for sail, to the highest bidder (Burgundy and Anti-Burgundians, feel free to make offers).


1508 - the Elector of Upper Palatinate throws his hat in the ring, relying on the rich iron mines of his realm to finance his bid for the purchase of Gruningen and other lands purchaseable.

[AJNolte]

1509. Upon the recommendation of his cousin the Archbishop of Trier, Frederick of Saxony appoints Martin Luther one of his personal secretaries, and a tutor to his ten-year-old son, the procotious ErnstFrederick.

[DuQuense]

Thailand [Kingdom of Ayuthaya
1504
with the collapse of Burma, the Thia's had taken back the coastline they had lost, but attempts to move north had lead to a major defeat at the hands of the Rajputs in 1503.
As such they had returned to Nibbling their way south in Maylaysia and Khmer.

Basically it acknowledges what happened in Burma, and is saying that Thailand is simply continuing with it's OTL practice despite what had happened.

I want to post this so the rest of the board can see what is happening here. and It will impact Vietnam and Khmer in the 20's/30's

Not so well known NPC areas, need posts to keep the board informed.

[Glen]

OOC: Glen, taking your advice...

IC:

In 1500, Maximilian I finds his newly acquired Emperorship already slipping away as the southern parts of the Empire, Switzerland and Tyrol, begin to seem out of hand. Frustrated, he orders one of his generals to take 4,500 men to the border of the Swiss Confederacy, while he himself takes a larger army into Tyrol.
In Tyrol, he allows his troops to do as they please, something which alienates the locals - soon what little support he had in that region is evaporating, and the Tyrolians are calling for Switzerland to come to their aid.
At the same time, Heinrich Schneider is getting out of hand, acquiring more and more support, while at the same time becoming more and more extreme in his views. When he issues a sermon that seems highly critical of the local bishop, and that sermon is greeted by cheers from a huge crowd, the bishop and the conventional clergy begin to become nervous. As some low ranking priests begin to join Heinrich Schneider in his views, his support within the local nobility begins to weaken. However, by that point he no longer needs that support - on November 14th 1500, soldiers are sent to arrest him under the orders of the city government. The soldiers arrive at the church he was in, and are met by a huge crowd. They say that they were sent to get Father Schneider and bring him to speak to the city government, but the crowd does not believe them. As they nervously hesitate, the inspiration of the crowd speaks - he calls for the Restoration of the Church to the position of moral purity that it had once had.
The crowd listens, and rapidly becomes a mob - it attacks the soldiers, killing many of them, and in moments the survivors are in flight.

While the revolt in Wien is by no means widespread, it does take control of the city - when the followers of Father Schneider seem certain to triumph over the garrison, a large portion of the garrison switches sides.

Hearing of the situation in Wien, Maximilian I is caught indecisive - he hesitates for a week, then orders most of his army in the Tyrol back to the north, to besiege Wien. He himself joins that force, and ensures that it consists of most of his best troops...

Holy Roman Empire:

1501: With the threatened loss of Wien, Maximillian is interested in settling the matters to the South at any cost. However, the news becomes worse as many parts of the County of Tyrol join in the revolt that has spread from Brixen. The Swiss forces in the area are by and large greeted warmly by the peasantry. When the forces left behind by Emperor Maximillian faced the Swiss in open battle, it would prove a disaster for this part of the Empire. Though initially the small contingent of artillery and guns with the Imperial forces slowed the Swiss onslaught, a poorly guarded flank were their undoing as the Swiss were able to get into the Imperial lines and throw them into disarray, leading to the capture of the artillery and the utter destruction of Maximillian's forces. Left with the choice of widening the war or cutting his losses, Maximillian decides narrowly on negotiating.

1501 June 3:

The Treaty of Basal is signed by the Holy Roman Empire and the Swiss Confederacy. Swiss de facto independence is now recognized de jure. It allows for the new Tyrolean League (including the City of Brixen and the alpine section of Gorizia) to enter association with the Swiss Confederation as well as the host city of Basal, that had been agitating for such an association over the past several years. The remains of the Archbishopric of Brixen and Gorizia are confirmed as direct possessions of Habsburg, and the Swiss and its associated Tyrolean League foreswear any future claims to them. Though the Swiss gain their political independence, they are required by the treaty to side with the Holy Roman Empire and Habsburg in any conflict with France. In addition, the Swiss are pledged to provide captains and training cadre for a new Habsburg army being built, in an attempt to address the deficiencies so recently demonstrated in the war, that would be known to Swiss history as the War of Swiss Independence, or the Tyrolean Campaign in the Holy Roman Empire.

[BlackMage]

OK. I've retconned my Yolgnu events, and thus by extension my Gowan events, too. The full TL can be seen in my 1493 Yolgnu thread.

So now the events for 1500-1509 are:

1500:

The fifth year since the discovery of Marege sees the largest fleet of praus exploring Marege's waters yet. Amongst these is a pearling fleet, which explores the coast of Kai Djawa, setting up temporary pearling camps along the coast. The local Aboriginal people are cautious, but avoid conflict.

In Marege, more Aboriginal tribes sign treaties with the Macassan invaders, allowing for the construction of trepanging camps on their land for up to six months at a time. The people of Marege not only provide labour for the Macassans but also supply tortoise-shell, pearls and pearl-shell. Tribute payments are made as well to local Aboriginal groups for the right to fish in their waters. In exchange, the people of Marege obtain dugout canoes with sails and stone anchors, bronze fish hooks, harpoons with detachable heads, iron, iron knives and axes, glass, pipes, tobacco, cloth in the form of calico and wool, belts, beads, string, alcohol and some foods. In some cases, local leaders are taken back to Makassar, where they are paraded before the karaeng.

1501:

The Yolgnu begin to form an anti-Macassan alliance. Their stolen ships prove useful as a bargaining tool, as technology can be used as a means for securing allies. They begin to engage in acts of piracy off the coast of Marege, attacking Macassan sailors, taking their ships, and killing their crews.

1502:

The fifth year of trepang fishing in Marege brings closer links between many Aboriginal tribes and the Macassans. Some tribes have become nearly sedentary, using Macassan fishing technology to feed villages. Needless to say, these tribes form close links with the Macassans, to the extent of economic dependence upon Macassan trade. In particular, western Marege is dominated by Macassan 'treaty tribes', bands linked by economic exchanges with Makassar.

1503:

A brief war between the Dangbon and Yolgnu effectively consolidates Yolgnu domination over eastern Marege. As the largest tribe in pure numbers, and the only united nation (the rest of the tribes are divided up into 'bands', who function independently), they are able to function as an effective fighting force against the Macassans, and to intimidate other bands into joining their cause. They begin to openly attack Macassans in the territory of other nations, and attack praus all along the coast. In retaliation, pro-Macassan tribes carry out attacks on the Yolgnu.

The exploitation of pearls continues in Kai Djawa, where some pearling stations have come to operate as semi-permanent settlements. The scarce food and water in the region leaves the tribes there open to advanced Macassan technology for fishing, leading to very good relations.

1504:

The first 'proxy war' between the Yolgnu and the Macassans begins, when the Burarra, a tribe on the Yolgnu border, decide to sign a treaty with Gowa. The Yolgnu subsequently carry out raids on Burarra bands, hoping to intimidate them into the anti-Macassan alliance.

A Macassan prau enters into Yolgnu waters, blown off course in a storm. Its crew are massacred and its technology is stolen. In response, the karaeng of Gowa nearly declares war, only being dissuaded by the advice of the Bate Salapang.

1505:

The Burarra, on the verge of surrender to the Yolgnu, are instead provided with weapons by the Macassans. This allows them to launch counter-raids into Yolgnu territory, nearly leading to the breakdown of the anti-Macassan alliance. The war becomes bloodier, with massacres on both sides. A Yolgnu-commandeered prau intercepts a Macassan weapons shipment, but a lack of ammunition renders it useless.

1506:

Cowed by superior numbers, the Burarra finally surrender, acceeding into the anti-Macassan alliance. Their weaponry and technology are granted to the Yolgnu. It is a severe setback for Gowa.

1507:

Resistance to war in the Bate Salapang, after a year of prevaricating, finally collapses. The karaeng decides, for the protection of Macassan fishermen, to declare war on the Yolgnu. The First Yolgnu War begins.

Gowan soldiers are dispatched south on warships. The small Yolgnu fleet is destroyed quickly by far superior firepower. The Gowan army land in the territory of the pro-Macassan Gunbalang, and advance east. Pro-Yolgnu tribes are massacred.

However, the Gowans quickly become stalemated in a guerrilla war against the Yolgnu. As there are no permanent settlements to occupy, the Yolgnu can rapidly vanish into the bush; dozens of soldiers are killed in raids. In retaliation, any person believed to be of Yolgnu culture is killed on sight.

1508:

A permanent military base, Tunijallo, is set up in occupied Yolgnu territory. It becomes the first permanent Gowan settlement in Marege. The karaeng declares the annexation of all Yolgnu and anti-Macassan tribal territory.

Smallpox is introduced into Marege, for the first time. The effects are, predictably, catastrophic.

1509:

The war continues to go badly for both sides; the Yolgnu cannot score a decisive victory to drive away the Gowans, yet the difficulties of sustained guerrilla warfare cost the kingdom heavily.

In desperation, the Gowans turn to the use of proxies. Pro-Macassan tribes are used for the bulk of the fighting, and commit some of the war's most notable atrocities, including the massacre of Yolgnu women and children.

Djerrkura, a Yolgnu resistance fighter, becomes unofficial leader of the Yolgnu through his efforts as a general and a warlord. The demands of the war make his rule increasingly authoritarian.

[Tom Veil]

Below is a rough draft for John Cabot's last big journey. I'd like a rough idea how long people think this round trip would take. Also, many of you have people along this route (basically from Canada to the Spanish Main and back), so if you'd like to write of your encounters with the strange white fleet, I would love to hear your ideas.


New World:

1500-1502:

John Cabot, accompanied by his son, Sebastian, sets out for his most ambitious journey with a small fleet. Cabot intends to sail south until he finds China.

The early part of the journey goes smoothly as the fleet retraces the route of previous journeys down the coast of Norasia. They discover a major bay to the South, making note and heading further south. Eventually, they find that their journey South is ended without hitting China. Determined, John Cabot continues hugging the coast and finds that they have rounded a peninsula. Heading west now along the continental coast, they find a large river rivaling the Meryk, but still no clear sign of the wonders of China. Eventually the coast curves to the south once more. Finally, they begin to encounter a complex civilization that John Cabot believes could be China. However, they possess no silk nor porcelain, and use sharp obsidian glass rather than steel. Eventually, they reluctantly decide that this can not be China. Obsessed, Cabot pushes the crews further South until they need to make repairs after a tropical storm. Some of the crew, including young Sebastian, take the opportunity to explore inland. To their surprise, they discover another ocean, which Sebastian Cabot names after the Prince of Wales, the Arthurian Ocean. John Cabot comes to believe that they are on another peninsula, and they attempt to round it, but the land curves away to the East. After several hundreds of miles, John Cabot reluctantly admits that they are not in Asia, and that China must still lie beyond yet another continent and possibly even another ocean. Reluctantly, the ships turn back. John Cabot dies of fever on the long journey back, and his son takes command, leading them back. Eventually, they return to England, with incredible tales and exotic trade goods and much more complete charts of the New World, but still no route to China.

2 questions:
1. Will Cabot reach the St. Lawrence before or after August 1501? By that point the Haudenosaunee and Waponahkiyik are in alliance.
2. Is Cabot sailing up the Chesapeake, Hudson, or Connecticut?
3. Since you control the Mohicans, I control the Mohawks, BBJ1580 controls the Wampanoag, and there are dozens on NPC tribes in between (including the Mohegans, who have already interacted with Cabot), the three of us should work out some sort of agreement on how fast this road is being built, and what its route is. The route has to start by following the OTL Mohawk Trail (http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/byway/ma_mohaw.htm) (Mass. Rt. 2) and then head south to Cape Cod. Construction should take longer than the Iroquois roads because of the lack of unified government. Otherwise, I'm flexible. Of course, since we're about to get hit by a region-wide epidemic, new roads might not be the best use of resources. ;)

[Glen]

2 questions:
1. Will Cabot reach the St. Lawrence before or after August 1501? By that point the Haudenosaunee and Waponahkiyik are in alliance.

Before. He sends ships up the St. Laurence in 1497. There will be more contacts in the years thereafter as well.

Where shall we place the trading posts?


2. Is Cabot sailing up the Chesapeake, Hudson, or Connecticut?

He sailed up the Hudson a bit, met the Mohicans. Again, there will be follow up encounters. That's one of the reasons for Fort Henry.


3. Since you control the Mohicans, I control the Mohawks, BBJ1580 controls the Wampanoag, and there are dozens on NPC tribes in between (including the Mohegans, who have already interacted with Cabot), the three of us should work out some sort of agreement on how fast this road is being built, and what its route is. The route has to start by following the OTL Mohawk Trail (http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/byway/ma_mohaw.htm) (Mass. Rt. 2) and then head south to Cape Cod. Construction should take longer than the Iroquois roads because of the lack of unified government. Otherwise, I'm flexible. Of course, since we're about to get hit by a region-wide epidemic, new roads might not be the best use of resources. ;)

I'm amenable to whatever rate the group finds plausible.

[marl_d]

the first two are revised entries:

1500: Upon hearing of the letter the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire sent to the Pope, Spain and Naples proposing being crowned Caesar as a successor to Rome, Ivan writes the Following to the Sultan:

To Ahmed Ibn-Bayezid Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,

I must object to your claim as the successor to Rome, and appeal to the Pope, King and Queen of Spain, and King of Naples that this coronation does not go through as I, Tsar Ivan III claim this title based on my marriage to Zoe Palaiologina (Sophia Paleologue) nice of Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos. I demand that I am recognized as such, my son Vasili be placed as Co-Regent of Constantinople, and you impose strict restrictions on your vessel the Meñli I Giray, Khan of Crimea in his raids for slaves. In return, I will support your Title as Caesar of the Mohammedans as long as my Son Vasili (and his descendants) remains as Co-Regent. If these conditions are meet I will also support your actions against the Malmuks, as is required by the purposed alliance with Austria, Moldavia/Wallachia.

Tsar Ivan III


Oct 28, 1505: Dmitriy formally places the Sect of Skhariya the Jew, which he and his mother are members of, under direct protection of the Grand Prince. He also orders that groups of wood working tradesman are sent to various European countries to learn shipbuilding. What is left of the Livonian and hired Dutch Shipbuilders are set to work building the first Russian Merchant ships and naval vessels.

(new entries)

1506: Dmitriy, having been a supporter of secularization, starts moving the government and church apart. While Dmitriy still supports the Church and in particular the Knights of St. Andrews, he feels that the teachings of the heretical group the Sect of Skhariya the Jew and the teachings of Nil Sorsky are right. Though he knows that he can’t force the ideology on the people let alone the Church. The Support of Nil Sorsky, his teachings, and the losses of church monastic holdings leads to more of a “liberalization” of the church where self rule is taught but the Sect’s ideas of Jesus and the Trinity are dropped as this is far and above anything that the Church can except. These teaching will lead to a Synod in 1508

November 1506: The Church starts to split between those in favor of new ideas being presented by Nil Sorsky and Joseph Volotsky with his outspoken support for the status qua. The two men, bitter rivals for nearly 20 years have many heated debates, many of them public during services.

Vasili in the mean time, while no supporter of Dmitriy’s plans and actions, does not say or do anything. Even with widespread calls from conservative Clergy and Boyars. Instead he has been preparing for his eventual trip to Constantinople where he will take his Great Uncles Crown. He does however, at his nephew’s request, start sending out invitations to the more conservative members of the Church hierarchy and Boyars, offering them places in his court.
(OOC Note: liberal/conservative is more of a RL way of referring to what is happening in the Russian Orthodox Church and not by any means any actual political leaning)

September 13, 1506: Dmitriy’s first son Ivan Daniil Dmitriyevich, Ivan is confirmed as heir to Dmitriy’s entire domain.


May 1507: The first of 2-dozen new Russian Merchant vessels are finished and launched. The first of 10 new Russian galley’s are also launched, they are built mostly for coastal defense and training.

(ooc: there is more coming, but i would like some input on the "quite revolution" that is happening in the church and Russia in general, hopefully I made it sound like it could have happened)

[Psychomeltdown]

1506 Spring
The Royal Shipyard launches It's first Indian style Dhow, followed a week later by a Maldives Dhoni.
By the end of the year, the first warships will be complete, enlarged [3~4 times the size of traditionally] Dhows with internal bracing needed to mount small cannons [Culivens & Demi-Culivens] except they don't have any cannons yet.
Between the various Indian, Mediterrian, and the three north European Shipwrights , they were able to Hire* They look like a lot like a Caravel, with a different bow.

The question is how does the Ethiopians, whom haven't have a royal navy since basically the Axum empire are suddenly so readily to be able to create large enough vessels in about 4 years?

I'd add another five to that number, they may have gotten a couple of hundred shipwrights from India, but we're still looking at a lot of learning and a lot of infrastructure building to even begin constructing a large enough fleet. And the money, where's all the money coming from?

and ships similar to carvels? I'd add another 10 to the previous five. The Carvel is nothing like the Dhows and galley like ships used by the Indians and Arabians or Venetians. You're looking at a whole different class of building a whole different skill set that's needed.

[AJNolte]

Might I assume that there's no problem with DAubusson being appointed Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem?

In which case:

1509, July: Pierre DAubusson, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Prince of the Church and Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaler, dies.
1509, September: The Hospitalers elect Sir Thomas Docwra, an englishman, as their new grand master. Docwra becomes the first ever English grand master of the order (note Glen: I'm imagining there will be some sort of reaction from the English court to this, as it's a first for England).

[AJNolte]

Err, this conflicts with Aussie's posted events for Kongo.
How about:
1504: Not to be outdone by his friendly rivals in Ndongo, King Joao sends his son Aphonso to Europe, where Aphonso follows a route similar to that of the Ndongolese, with particular attention paid to Spain. Aphonso sends his son Henriqe to study at the University of Salamanca, thereby beginning a tradition among Kongolese royalty. Aphonso also begins negotiations for a Spanish-Kongolese alliance, and brings Spanish soldiers back with him to Kongo. He is well-received in Jerusalem as well, and his talks with DAubusson lead to the establishment of a small Hospitaler commandry in Mbanza-Kongo, the Kongolese capital.
1506. Aphonso returns to Kongo just in time; King Joao has become sick and will soon die. Aphonso is named successor to his father. Flush with his European tour, he begins Europeanizing his court, taking on European titles for himself and his court.
1507 (marriages as described by Aussie).

If Aussie is agreeable, this should smooth out the inconsistencies.

(Note: may I assume that responses will be similar from the Ottomans, Itallians, Pope, etc?
1504/5. Not to be outdone by his friendly rivals in Ndongo, King Joao I of Kongo sends his son Crown Prince Aphonso on a European grand tour of his own, paying close attention to their Catholic Majesties of Spain, and seeking an alliance with them so as to counter-balance the lass-than-active Portugese. Having had their interest peaked by the Ndongolese, their Catholic Majesties readily consent to an alliance with Kongo. On his visit to Spain, Aphonso visits the University of Salamanca and is greatly impressed, determining to send his son Henriqe there for priestly education. Aphonso, a very theologically literate man, would also do much to keep himself up-to-date on the happenings at Salamanca. Aphonso was also well-received in the Hansa cities and the Holy Land. Upon his return to Kongo, Aphonso sent letters to the king of Ndongo suggesting a broader pact between their two nations, so as to prevent a united front before the potentially dangerous Europeans and prevent them from ever playing one African Christian nation off against another, while at the same time maintaining good relations with as many of them as possible.

[AJNolte]

Woe, totally missed this: sorry.

1508: King Aphonso warmly receives the embassy from the Oyo, and sends a diplomatic mission, including several priests, back to the Oyo court.

1507. Oroduwa, the king of the Oyo, receives word of fabulous tales of pale skinned peoples from the North, who tell tails of eternal life for a those who believe in a man who was nailed to a tree. These people have amazing technology, and ride the sea in massive canoes. The people to the South are benefiting from thier patronage. He send an Embassy to the Kongo, wishing to receive an ambassador of these people. He promises safe passage in his lands, and a very healthy gift to both the King of Kongo, and the White Skinned people who follow the Man Who was Nailed to a Tree.

[General_Paul]

1501: Rather than continuing his long running practice of following one conquest up with another, Babur made a conscious decision to take a year off from campaigning to shore up some loose ends in his newly created empire before moving onto his next goal, the conquests of Heart and Kabol (Kabul). During his year off, so to speak, Babur and his closest advisors set forth a series of auspicious goals for his newly created empire to fulfill in order to prepare themselves for an extended period of conquests and additions to the empire. The existing infrastructure was, to say the least, crude and ineffective and unsuited for the movement of large armies in any of the four compass directions. Thus, gold extracted from local community leaders and tribal elders in taxes was to go to the development of roads, water wells, and granaries to store and feed both the local population, as well as campaigning armies. The roads that ran through the high mountain passes between Farghana and Samarkand were to be improved, especially in the passes of the Zervshan mountain range between Farghana and the coveted Afghan lands. In between Farghana and Kabol lay the lands of the Tajik people, peoples who were not known for their respect of the authority of regional leaders. Thus, Babur and his advisors devised a series of goals for campaigning in the coming years.

For the coming 1502 campaigning season, Babur and his generals devised a series of four benchmarks to prepare for either a late Summer 1502, or early Spring 1503 campaign south to seize control of Kabol. In the south, the lands of the Tajik people, especially the cities of Dushanbe, Panjakent, and Denow were to be besieged and captured. With those three cities captured, the roads from Farghana into the lands of the Afghan tribes would be easier to cross.

In the north, the flanks of Farghana were to be strengthened by the capture of the city of Toshkent (Tashkent) by one of his generals. Due to Babur’s rising paranoia, the capture of Toshkent was to take place after the Tajik campaign, for Babur to ensure that his generals did not try to take advantage of his previous engagements in the south and march into Farghana to claim legitimacy.

To the west, the city of Bukhoro (Bukhara) was to be captured to ensure that none who remained loyal to Muhammad Shaybani would attempt to take advantage of Babur’s distance to make a bid at regaining Samarkand. With the capture of Bukhara and the surrounding regions, the campaign routes through the Garagum Desert and the Garabil Plateau would be secured, due to the lack of any significant resistance in the area, allowing Babur a free hand in either the Afghan campaign that would follow, or in some future Persian expedition should fate deem Babur worthy of such a task.

By the end of 1501, Babur’s infrastructure development plans for the roads, water wells, and granaries were beginning to take shape. With local tribute and taxes flowing in, Babur began to use local labor sources to start building his new roads and gave some villages, namely those who proved their loyalty by sending additional tribute to him or who sent additional soldiers to him, were granted more leeway in their development, but not that much.

April-September 1502: Babur’s campaigns in the Tajik lands and in Bukhara went entirely according to plan, with Dushanbe, Panjakent and Denow falling to his forces before the end of July 1502, and Bukhara falling by the end of August. Issues arose, however, with the planned capture of Tashkent. Tashkent was supposed to fall, according to plans, no later than August. Local resistance was stronger than initially perceived, leading to an extended siege by Babur’s generals dispatched to the region. With the campaigning season coming to an end and the siege of Tashkent continuing on with no sight in end, Babur had a difficult decision to make. To break off the siege of Tashkent was to admit defeat, something which could, possibly embolden his enemies in the north and allow them a free hand in raiding his northern border. To continue the siege as it was proceeding, meant supplying an army of thousands during the bitter cold of the winter months, something that was equally unsettling to Babur. On September 3, Babur left Farghana with a contingent of his most loyal soldiers as bodyguards, and rode north to Tashkent to take personal command of the armies there.

September 15, 1502: After arriving in Tashkent a few days prior, Babur was stunned to see the lack of progress by his generals in securing the city. The local population had been allowed to go out at night and secure food from their fields, local dispatch services between Tashkent and outlying regions was allowed to continue unhindered and worst of all, some of his generals were seen fraternizing with local women. This was too much for Babur to bear. In short order, he dismissed several generals, and even put one man to death for, according to the scant records, “Taking tribute in [Babur’s] name and using it to pay for lavish social gatherings as well as importing copious amounts of liquor and other luxury items.”

By September 15, all connections between Tashkent and the outside world were cut off. Dispatch riders were shot on sight by archers on horseback patrolling the countryside; local farms were raided and burned by Babur’s men, and citizens of Tashkent found outside the city walls were disposed of post haste. The city had been completely cut off, and Babur had taken to brutal tactics to attempt to bring the siege to a speedy end. Under orders from Babur himself, the bodies of the dead were flung over the city walls and into Tashkent. The bodies of both locals and his own men who died of illness were also flung over the city walls to encourage the spread of communicable diseases. Finally, the use of fire and gunpowder was endorsed to terrorize the population into coming to their senses. None of it had worked to bring the population to their senses, leading Babur to take bold action.

On September 15, the gates of the city of Tashkent were subjected to an all out assault by Babur’s men, using everything from swords and axes, to gunpowder and flame, in an attempt to break into the city and bring the siege to an end. In the afternoon, Babur’s efforts paid off. The gates into Tashkent finally collapsed after hours of intense attacks by Babur and his men. Babur’s army of well over 10,000 men entered the city of Tashkent and slaughtered the garrison who resisted the siege for so long. The worst was yet to come.

When city leaders refused to give into Babur’s demands to pledge oaths of fealty and allegiance to Babur, he became so enraged that he killed all 30 local officials who refused his order. Keeping this news to himself, the remaining 40 leaders who did swear their oaths were invited to a banquet in Babur’s tent later on that night, where they too were dispatche