1493 timeline review

[Glen]

For reviewing the years 1493-1520 for plausibility.

[Glen]

1493:

England:

Thomas Wittingham of Middlewich, Cheshire, England invents the toothbrush. Wittingham family tradition claims he was inspired by a dream.

Holy Roman Empire:

1493 August 19: The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III dies.

1943 September: In Wien, an obscure, but well spoken, priest from a middling background begins preaching about the need to reform the Catholic church. His message is clear and he is charismatic - he soon begins to attract a following.

Saxony:

Henry, second son of duke Albert of Saxony, is attacked by bandits while riding to Leipzig. After reportedly praying to God for deliverance, Henry is rescued by a party of armsmen in service to his father. Henry thanks God for his deliverance, and promptly announces his intention to enter the priesthood. His father and brother are shocked, but they will not go against a calling from God. So Henry enters the priesthood, thus taking him out of the Albertine succession.

Northern Italy:

1493 March 20: William Palaeologus, the six year old eldest son of Margrave Boniface of Montferrat, dies from a fall. His young brother Boniface is now the defacto heir to Montferrat.

Italian Peninsula:

Milan:

An attempt is made on Duke Gain Galeazzan Sforza. The assassin is killed. He is linked to the Duke's uncle Ludovico Sforza. This kind of familial 'tension' is common in Renaissance Italy. Ludovico still looses his head.

Florence:

1493 April 1: Piero de' Medici dies in a drunken fall down the stairs of his palace. Some believe he did not fall but instead was pushed, but there is no proof. His brother, Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, is now the head of the family.
The Cardinal immediately sets to work expanding his families' interests. He first turns his eyes to the small independent Republic of Lucca...

The small Republic of Lucca lives in peace while warily watching surrounding lands. Especially of concern is Florence, again growing in power and influence. Florence has long sought bring Lucca under its sway. The ascension of the powerful and cunning Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici in place of his dead fool brother Piero was especially alarming. The commune decided late in 1493 that the defenses of the Republic had to be improved, and the hiring of mercenaries was authorized. Lucca would also need allies, and many options considered.

Meanwhile, Savonarola, a fiery orator who had often blasted the Medicis in his sermons for their wickedness and impiety from his pulpit at San Marco, gained a large following after the death of Piero, who was often a target for his extravagance. Savonarola's preaching of the end of days and of the judgment of God upon all men scared the normally free wheeling Florentines into contrition. He also made attacks on the immorality of the Church, which many saw as veiled attacks on the Cardinal de' Medici. There was also the prospect of invasion from France on the horizon, which just served to increase the tension

Naples:
Renaissance sculptor Francesco Laurana returns to Naples from France. He is commissioned to build a statue of King Ferrante (Ferdinand I).

A medical school is built in Salerno to attract physicians and natural philosophers from across Europe.

Papal States:

1493 May 5: Inter Caetera of Pope Alexander VI issued:

We (the Papacy) command you (Spain) to instruct the aforesaid inhabitants and residents and dwellers therein in the Catholic faith, and train them in good morals. Further, grants of land are to be given unto the Holy Catholic Church, in so that churches and missions may be established, to bring them more fully into Grace.

1493-98: Pope tries to bring under control the territories of the Papal States, in an effort to create a new Duchy of Romagna for his son Giuffre. By 1498 he has largely succeeded, and the creation of the Duchy is pronounced.

England

John Cabot, after failed attempts to interest the Portuguese and Spanish in his services, moves his family to England in hopes of being engaged as an explorer.

Scandinavia/Baltic:

King Hans (John) of Sweden enters an alliance with Russian ruler Ivan III.

King Hans has the Sjaelland Thing recognize his claim to Copenhagen effectively removing the city from the Bishop of Roskilde. His sole claim to Copenhagen makes him able to better support English merchants traveling to the Scania herring market.

King Hans encourages merchants to take up state responsibilities by working for the King and offers the possibility of being created nobility.

A letter is sent to the Friedrich von Sachsen, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights from the Hansa:

At present our trade is being severely curtailed by the Dutch and Scandinavians. I propose that we work toward a cooperative understanding with one or the other, and work to undermine our remaining competitor in whatever way possible. We are also interested in possibly capitalizing on the discovery of the new world by establishing a trading colony there.
Finally, I will be moving the Baltic cities toward a more official federation of free cities, and hope to invite both the Rhenish and Prussian cities to join. Should this not be possible, the Wendish Federation would simply act as a unified entity within the league.

This letter is the answer the Grand Master had been looking for. As far as he was concerned, the writing was on the wall. Prussia would sooner or later have to be abandoned. There were simply not enough knights to control and defend the land. A letter was sent in response, and a partnership begun.

1493-99: The Teutonic Order begins working with the Hanseatic League. Knights begin to be stationed in Hansa Cities for defense, and the island of Gota and Teutonic possessions in Prussia are open for Hansa trade and settlement. Shipyards are built in Konigsberg, and a new Teutonic fleet is built, financed and manned partly by the Hansa. Finances began to improve, and more knights were recruited. The local economy also improved and the people were mostly left alone, so they were content.

There was involvement in Sweden, with the League and Knights supporting Sten Sture in return for trade concessions.

There was also talk within the League of possibilities in the new western route to the Indies. Perhaps exploration and profit could be made there. But that would cost a lot of money, and even with the increase in wealth, more was needed.

Eastern Europe:

Moldavia, Wallachia, and Austria form the Anti-Ottoman League to drive the Muslims out of Europe.

Poland:

John Albert, newly elected King of Poland, is not pleased by the abrupt formation of the Anti-Ottoman League. Not only does he think he should be at least informed of this by his Moldavian vassals, he also dreams of his own victories against the unholy Turk; yet he is hamstrung in his ambition by the need to pacify his unruly Polish nobility and wheedle money for his military enterprises from the Seim. So he swallows his pride (or, at least, the most prickly parts of it), and by the next year at Leutschau, the Polish king met not only with his brother Wladislaw of Hungary, Elector John Hohenzollern of Brandenburg and Moldavian gospodar Stephen, but also - with great reluctance - with representatives of Maximilian, whom he would rather see as an open enemy. Hopes that any kind of united Christian front against Ottomans would be established were small...

Russia/Muscovy:

1493 July: after the Great Fire Ivan declares that no new building is to be built out of wood or other burnable materials in any part of the city which left a large part of the old portion of the city destroyed. A Large area around the Kremlin are left open for the market area (roughly equivalent to 240 meters in OTL), but the shops must not be permanent and easy for transport

Ottoman Empire: Prince Selim enters into secret negotiations with the Mamelukes.

Magreb:

Muhammad XII , has a major argument with his Mother and her advisors, and moves to the City of Zarzis (in SE Tunisia).

Yemen:

The Tahirid Sultan, having examined the shape of the world around him, with the Mamelukes to the north and the Europeans beginning to move forcefully into the traditionally Arab trade routes of the Indian Ocean, decided to embark upon a series of policy initiatives in order to buttress Yemeni economic and military strength against potential outside threats.

The main portions of this initiative were threefold. First, a proclamation was made of the willingness of Yemen to accept the expelled Jews and Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula, along with other such unwanted (and productive) minority religions that other states might wish to dispose of. This proclamation was disseminated throughout the Indian Ocean by Arab traders, reaching throughout the known world by spring of 1494.

Second, the Yemeni Sultan, after consultation with learned scholars as to the legality of such a move, proclaimed himself the Defender of the Hajj, in so far as that the Tahirid Sultanate would escort shipbound hajjis from Socotra to Jiddah, protecting them from pirates (and other potential marauders) along the way. Furthermore, it was announced that any attempt by merchants to take advantage of the hajj with exorbitant price increases would not be tolerated by the Sultanate.

Third, in order to fulfill the above duty, and incidentally to safeguard the Indian Ocean trade network that was Yemen's lifeblood, a major increase in naval construction was to occur. Realizing that Yemen itself did not possess an abundance of forests from which to harvest wood for shipbuilding, the decision was made to look southward, toward the heavily forested island of Madagascar. With longstanding trade contacts already present there, particularly with the Sakalava tribe along the island's western coast, the Sultanate would use Madagascar as its primary source of raw material for new naval construction.

Contacts would also be strengthened with the Swahili city-states along the East African coast, as certain other materials (hemp, for example) would be needed for the naval expansion. Over the next two years, a series of marriages would be arranged between the Yemeni throne and the ruling families of those city-states. In particular, a series of emissaries were sent to Sofala, offering the local ruler Tahirid protection in the event that ill-intentioned European visitors came to call. While the Sofalan emir declined the full Yemeni offer, he did agree to allow a small Yemeni garrison to remain in the area in order to safeguard the expanded degree of trade visiting the port.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

The king of Benin, marries one of his daughters to a high chief of the Oyo. He also builds up his contacts with the surrounding area, with a mind to marrying into, or outright taking the lands to the North West he thinks are in need of better leadership.

Delhi and Mewar:

1493 April: Sultan Sikandar Lodhi orders a massive Survey of All the Sultan’s Lands & Peoples in the Delhi Sultanate. The Sultan had been looking for a way to solidify his rule, and appears to have chosen to emphasize his knack for administration.

Barbak Shah Lodhi interprets his brother’s survey not as a show of strength but as an opportunity for his own advancement. He begins audaciously building and training his army. Sikandar decides to revoke Barbak’s title as Shah of Jaunpur and instead make him Grand General of the Armies. Barbak accepts. Both seem convinced that the other is the fool.

1493 May: Rawat Surjamal, cousin of the Rana of Mewar Raimal, strikes and spits on the Rana’s son Jaimal after an argument. All Mewar is aghast at his rudeness.

1493 June: Rana Raimal has had enough of his sons’ and cousins’ feuding. He sends them all off on “humility quests.” His sons are all sent to religious schools – Prithviraj to a Jain colony, Jaimal to a Buddhist monastery, and Sangramsingh to apprentice to the young Hindu theologian Nanak Dev (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Nanak_Dev). His cousins are given much more humiliating assignments – Rawat Surjamal is to manage a farm, and Rawat Sarangdeo is to manage a construction company. The cousins are furious that they are to be treated so far below their caste, but they know that the alternative is death.

1493 July: Rana Raimal sets about creating a detailed Oligarchic system, based on what scholars have told him of the great administrations of the past. His guiding principle is to make no one man have so much power over anything that he could abuse it for corrupt purposes. For now, this system is just a way to improve Mewar’s government, but it is clear that Raimal has designs on converting it into a far grander system.

Gowan Domestic Affairs: 1492-1500

The new Karaeng of Gowa, I-Pakere'tau Karaeng Tunijallo'-ri Pasukki' Somba-ri Gowa (henceforth referred to as I'Pakere'tau I, or just 'the king'), was crowned in 1492, as in OTL. Subsequently, Gowan politics split into two predominant factions, or 'parties', each trying to gain influence over the young and inexperienced king:

The 'imperial court' faction, centered on those ministers directly responsible to the Karaeng, who sought an isolationist foreign policy and conservatism. The predominant figure in this movement was the Tuma'bicara-butta ('spokesman of the land', or prime minister) until 1493; after his death, the movement splintered into competing factions. The movement's prime goal was protectionism; they felt that Macassar, the capital of Gowa (and often identified with it), needed to be protected from foreign influences. They can be considered the 'Tories' of Makassar.

The 'noble' or 'parliamentary' faction, centered on the Bate Salapang (the supreme council of nobles, akin to a Parliament). These nobles, eager to increase their own wealth and power, aimed for a program of rapid economic and military expansion. This faction was largely responsible for the Yolgnu Wars, the conquest of Garassik, and the establishment of trading stations on Marege. They also urged the expansion of foreign trade and the liberalizing of trade barriers. They can be considered the 'Whigs' of Makassar.

{In OTL, the conservatives triumphed; delaying Makassar's rise for centuries. By then, the Dutch had gained a strong enough foothold to conquer the region. In TTL, however, the economic opportunities provided by Marege prove sufficient inducement for the triumph of the nobles, who dominated the decade and the rest of I'Pakere'tau I's reign.}

A virus mutates randomly in Indonesia some time in 1493. The virus, although harmless to humans, proves virulent when introduced into trepang (sea cucumber) stocks. This results in a 50% reduction of trepang stocks around the Indonesian archipelago by 1500, and with the almost complete extinction of trepang in the waters surrounding Makassar.

Thus deprived of their prize catch, the trepangers of Gowa, a small kingdom centered on the port city of Makassar, are forced to look further afield...

Majahapit:

King Girindrawarddhana is informed by his ministers that the price of trepang has more than tripled recently due to local stocks dying off. The King decides that trepang is too important to the economy, and sends ships to scout out and secure new island sources.

Excerpt from The Birth of the Yolgnu Nation: 1492-1501

In 1493, the Yolgnu existed primarily as a concept; a series of traditions, religious practices, and linguistic dialects, with all those identifying themselves as 'Yolgnu' linking themselves to a particular territory: specifically, eastern Marege (OTL's eastern Top End)

Beyond that, however, there was very little in the way of unity. The Yolgnu were divided into clan groups and bands, which functioned largely autonomously. Without any significant foreign threats, there was no reason for unity-or, indeed, technological developments. So the Yolgnu survived, for tens of thousands of years, largely as they always had.

However, Yolgnu history can be said to have truly begun, from the day the Invaders arrived. The first contact with the traders dubbed generally the 'Macassans' could not have begun more inauspiciously. The exhausted and lonely traders attempted to abduct a party of Yolgnu women; the Yolgnu reacted violently, spearing several Macassans and nearly sinking their boat. Unlike the other Aboriginal tribes of Marege, who generally experienced positive first contacts, the Yolgnu recognized, from the beginning, the threat which Macassan influence posed to traditional tribal culture.

To this end, the Yolgnu began to unify politically, through a series of corroborees and tribal meetings. It was decided to oppose the Macassans, and hopefully to drive them back where they came from. A previously insignificant band 'headman', Djerrkura (note: obviously there are no records of his existence in OTL, but I needed a name and it's a Yolgnu family name, so there's no reason why he couldn't have existed), rose to prominence for his vitriolic anti-Macassan stance. According to legend, one of his sisters was one of those women attacked by the Macassans.

The Macassans had no understanding of tribal borders. As such, trepangers frequently strayed into Yolgnu territory, where they were immediately set upon by warriors. Djerrkura, acting in defiance of tradition, recognized the need to compensate for the vast technology gap. Macassan technologies were adapted for Yolgnu use, and many Macassan ships were commandeered with the help of bribed or intimidated crews. This served as a means for piracy against Macassan traders.

Due to their comparative size the Yolgnu came to dominate the burgeoning anti-Macassan movements (unlike many other tribes in the region, who comprised only hundreds of individuals, there were over two thousand Yolgnu). Through both ideological sympathy and intimidation, a loose confederacy of tribes began to form, devoted to opposing the Macassans.

The First Yolgnu War of 1499-1501 proved disastrous for both sides. The Macassan invasion force floundered, unable to strike at the Yolgnu, and proved a heavy drain on the Gowan treasury. The Yolgnu, however, faced even harsher conditions. The Macassans' tribal allies, eager to gain favor, committed atrocities against Yolgnu civilian populations, most notably in the Gagadju Massacre. Far more deadly, however, was a virus brought by the soldiers: smallpox. The disease wreaked havoc on the Yolgnu population, killing over half the population, most notably the previously dominant elders. This allowed Djerrkura, already a hero for his guerrilla activities, to gain effective political control over the Yolgnu.

But even he realized that the Macassans could not be driven out. Instead, he decided that to preserve Yolgnu independence, an accommodation must be made. In the Makaratta (treaty) that ended the war in 1501, predictably harsh terms were imposed: the Yolgnu allies were annexed, and they were forced to swear friendship to Gowa. Yet they were granted their independence, and Djerrkura was recognized as bate (prince) of Yolgnu. He quickly set about creating the foundations for an independent Yolgnu state along Gowan lines. A council of elders was convened, to serve a similar role to the Bate Salapang, and the rudiments of a ministry were formed.

However, the Yolgnu still faced formidable difficulties. Their population had been ravaged, the war had led to the burning and destruction of much of their territories, and their population was inevitably beginning to gravitate toward settlements on the coast. However, such challenges remained for another decade to resolve.

Japan:

In 1493, Hojo Soun set the precedent for aspiring samurai after he acquired Kokukuji castle in Izu. Following his lead in the next decades many other men will rise from obscurity to greatness at the expense of their former masters, rivals, or even family members.

Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane attacks Hosokawa Masamoto over a dispute regarding the accession of a new Shogun following the death of Ashikaga Yoshihisa in 1489. Yoshitane is defeated and exiled; Ashikaga Yoshizumi becomes puppet Shogun. However, the authority of both the Imperial court and the Shogunate is is sharp decline, and the country is plagued by civil war, insurrection, and rife political instability. There is little faith in either the court or the Shogunate and many Samurai are showing aspirations of grandeur. Hojo Soun acquires Kokukuji castle in Izu (Shizuoka prefecture), becoming the first 'sengoku daimyo'.

On the occasion of the birth of an heir to the Ming throne, the Ashikaga shogunate commissions an embassy to the Chinese court, presenting gifts to the Imperial family, especially the Emperor, the new heir, and the child's mother. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane is looking to foster better relations with Ming China (although relations between the two countries are not bad).

Ryukyku likewise sends an embassy. Although humble, it is still lavish. Ryukyu is of course a Chinese quasi-vassal, so the Ryukyuan embassy is not as surprising as the Japanese one.

New World:

Word of the arrival of people from the sea, has trickled throughout the Caribbean. They seem to have a lust for Yellow metal, spreading over-all distrust of these foreign wizards.

The Narragansett, claiming to be responding to an insult (the story, of course, varies widely depending on who it telling it), stage a major, successful raid on the Poccaset, a Wampanoag tribe that lives near the border between the two groups. An overly quick counter attack fails to do much, leaving many young Wampanoags angry. The older chiefs start looking for allies.

[B]April 1493: The Seneca send out scouting parties to found new villages in the fertile lands to the south that have been abandoned after the recent wars. They set up a string of tiny farming communities at Kinzua Rapids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinzua_Dam).

June 1493: The Susquehanna get word of the Seneca’s expansion and send out their own scouts. They will eventually set up several small fishing and trading posts along the Juniata River (http://www.rootsweb.com/~paperry/perry_indians.htm), pushing the crippled remnants of the Onojutta onto even more marginal land.

December 1493: A bitter winter forces some Cayuga and Onondaga villages to head further south than usual in their search for game, into the lands of the weak Wyoming Tribe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming_Valley). The Onondaga Eldest – oral tradition holds that it was the legendary Hiawatha – states his opposition, not only because this abuses the last peace treaty with the Wyomings, but also because it may provoke the Susquehanna, whom he calls the “warm blood brothers” of the Haudenosaunee.

1493-1495: The princess Porâsaia, only child of a major Guaraní community-Chief Abaangui, dies, leaving Chief Abaangui heirless. The old man wanders off in mourning, and is never heard from again. In an unheard-of move, a young man named Kurepi, declares himself a living god, and preforms several "miracles," in various Guaraní communities. Guaraní priests throughout all the communities reaffirm his claims. By the fall of 1494, he has formed a large army, and (I use this term vaguely,) united the Guaraní people. He orders a city of "permanent structures," to be built on the coast of the Endless Water, in the coming spring.

[Glen]

1494:

Holy Roman Empire:

Brunswick:

Henry IV of Brunswick and Eric I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel divide the territory between them; Eric becomes duke of Brunswick-Kalenburg

Burgundy:

Philip of Burgundy turns 16 and takes over the rule of Burgundy from his father who had been regent.

Naples:

King Errant dies. His son Alfonso II is crowned. He manages to diffuse tensions with Milan. Royal marriages are established between the two nations.

In a departure from his Spanish brethren, the Neapolitan King Alphonso II welcomed Jews (esp. merchants, scholars and other people concerned with economic) into his Kingdom, as it was in dire need of economic reform.

Scandinavia:

During Easter, the Royal Steward Poul Laxmand meets representatives of the Swedish nobility who make the Swedish Council of the Realm agree to Sweden’s re-joining the Kalmar Union.

A commoner member of the chancellery, Anders Nielsen is hanged accused of embezzlement - a reaction from the nobility to the King’s encouragement of the previous year. The King, however, decides to continue getting merchants to work for him, if only to get access to their wealth.

Ottoman Empire

Led by Prince Selim, the army of the Ottoman Empire marches toward their southeast border, intent on removing the Mamelukes from the area. The majority of those Janissary's who aren't in the Rumeli of the Empire are accompanying the army.

The Ottoman navy takes anchor outside of cannon range for now, off the coast of the Mamluk encampment...with a splinter of the navy sailing down to the coast of Jerusalem.

Eastern Mediterranean:

Cem the Pretender, claimant to the Ottoman throne, flees his confinement in Paris and returns to Rhodes, calling on Pierre DAubusson, the grand-master of the order, to lead a crusade on Cem's behalf. Cem makes vague half-formed promises about converting to Christianity. Debate rages across Rhodes as to what should be done. DAubusson knows that the order is in far too vulnerable a position for a crusade at this point. Yet can he pass up the possibility of a Christian Ottoman emperor? As time passes however, it becomes clear that Cem's promised conversion to Christianity is less than genuine. Cem still promises the Rhodeans rich gifts of territory and possible restoration to Jerusalem (on which promise he's in little position to make good). Ultimately, DAubusson rejects this call for a crusade, claiming that "as the last Christian presence in Ionia it is paramount upon me, as grand-master, to look first to the order and it's preservation." Later historians have claimed that DAubusson truly was the first grand master to turn away from the crusader ideal, but this is far from the truth. In reality, DAubusson did not want a crusade which he could not win. Not all in the order agree with DAubusson however. About a hundred knights, and a strong company of men-at-arms, leave Rhodes, claiming that DAubusson has "betrayed the principles of the Order of Saint John." They take up residence at the freshly built Bodrum castle in Helecarnassus, and immediately write to the Pope calling for recognition as "the true order of Saint John". They also immediately begin raiding the Ottoman coastline in a determined fashion. Meanwhile Cem, eager to pursue the dream of empire, flees Rhodes for Spain, landing in southern Andalusia and seeking to gather an army of the disaffected Moors there.

"Though many will question my decision to ally with the Turk, I would remind them that it was once a heathen Prince, Cyrus the Great, who restored Jerusalem to the Israelites, and in such like manner we might benefit from the actions of another heathen prince. "--Pierre DAubusson, in a letter to the Pope concerning his intent to support Bayizid against his son, and grab Jerusalem along the way.

Rhodean galleys, in conjunction with a large fleet on loan from their Catholic Majesties of Spain (who are eager to buff their already shiny crusader bonefides) launch a surprise attack on Jaffa, and after seizing the city, march directly for Jerusalem, laying siege to the city and calling for it's surrender. While the army encamps and part of the navy begins ferrying supplies inland, a large portion of the Rhodean and Spanish galley fleet begin harrying the Egyptian coast, feinting toward Alexandria. DAubusson also calls on the Maronite Christians of Lebanon to aid his army, as well as the Lebanese Druze.

Egypt:

The Mameluke Sultan, az-Zahir Sayf-ad-Din Jaqmaq, ordered the mobilization of all troops in Eastern Egypt and Sinai to confront the advancing Ottoman troops. Upon reaching an agreement concerning Prince Selim's claim to the Ottoman throne, the Mameluke troops of Eastern Egypt and Sinai were deployed to assist Prince Selim in his quest.

Maghreb:

Muhammahad XII has a fight with his Mother, and moves along with most of the Army of Granada [and the Treasury] to Zarzis in southern Tunisa. Most of Moorish Granadians fleeing from Spain go either to Tielsim [small kingdom now part of Morocco] if followers of Muhammad XII’s Mother, or to Zarzis if a followers of Muhammad XII.

Ethiopia:

Pero da Covilhã - An envoy from the King of Portugal to the Kingdom of Prester John, discovers a plot against the 22 year old King Aslander by the family of the deposed Bitwooden [Prime Minister] and several of the provincial strongmen. King Aslander moves against the Plotters.

Timurid Empire:

Since the establishment of the Timurid Empire under Tīmūr bin Taraghay Barlas in 1369 with its capital at Samarkand, the Timurids have been in a position that granted them access to both great opportunities for wealth, as well as a position that placed them between two settled civilizations: Islamic society to the west, and Indian and Chinese society to the east. However, in 1494, the Timurid Empire, and the dynasty itself has been in a state of flux with dynastic rulers claiming legitimacy in Herat and Samarkand. Along with the two heirs in Herat and Samarkand, Abu'l-Khayr Khan (1428-68) and his two grandsons have been moving to organize the Uzbek tribes since Abu'l-Khayr Khan took the throne in 1428. With the confusing and ever shifting alliances of the successor states of Genghis Khan, there is little stability in the region.

In the Timurid Dynasty in Herat, Husayn Bayqarah has been trying to hold the empire together amidst a series of attacks by Uzbek and Kazakh tribal attacks, and failed attacks against successor states in the steppe.

In the Timurid Dynasty in Farghana, a tributary of the Samarkand Timur Dynasty, Umar Sheikh Mirza has been attempting to ready his 11 year old son, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, to lead the kingdom.

China:

February 18, 1494: Perhaps a sign from the elders, or perhaps not, the empress gave birth to Zhu Houcong on New Years Day, ensuring that his birth would fall under the year of the tiger, under the alchemist mark of wood, his full sign was the Yang Wood Tiger: Strong, yet flexible, good fortune, and generosity, royalty, and cooperation all rolled into one. This was a very good sign for the young prince to be born under, and has been seen by some eunuchs in the court to be a sign from heaven that perhaps he should inherit the throne after his father's death, and not his brother.

Japan:

Hojo Soun extends his influence into Sagami province (Kanagawa prefecture) after taking Odawara castle from the Omori.

Majahapit:

The King's ships return, only to report the same thing; the trepang is in serious decline all over the archipelago. Reports from the north indicate that the Macassans are equally troubled, and that their king is considering sending ships further afield. King Girindrawarddhana decides to do the same.

Gowa:

The newly crowned Karaeng of Gowa, I-Pakere'tau Karaeng Tunijallo'-ri Pasukki' Somba-ri Gowa (henceforth referred to as I'Pakere'tau I) is informed by his Shahbandar (Foreign Affairs Minister) of the decline in trepang stocks across Indonesia. The young king is advised by the Bate Salapang (the supreme council of nobles, akin to a Parliament) to send ships to discover new trepang stocks.

Meanwhile, however, war clouds are brewing between Garassik, another small port kingdom in South Sulawesi, and an alliance of Gowa and Tallok. The current Tuma'bicara-butta ('spokesman of the land', prime minister) manages to advise I'Pakere'tau to avoid war, but his rivals in the court, particularly in the Bate Salapang, resent his autocratic ways and his control over the king.

Australia

A charismatic and rather uncharacteristic leader takes over the Arrente, conquering nearby Aborigine tribes.

North America:

The Powhatan begin to strengthen ties with surrounding tribes in hopes of building a larger confederacy of natives in the region.

February 1494: The Onondaga Eldest calls a Grand Council of All Iroquois Peoples. Stunned by this unprecedented request from the aging spiritual giant, virtually all of the tribes pledge to show up, including such far-flung bands as the Nottoway, Meherrin, Erie, Attawandaron, Susquehanna, and the various Laurentian tribes. The faraway peoples of the south, who speak the languages of Tuscarawas and Cherokee, plead that the distance is too great, but most villages send gifts of amulets.

October 1494: The Grand Council of All Iroquois Peoples meets at the Onondaga Council Fire. The Onondaga announce their intention that all Iroquoians should band together into once colossal council. The more distant Iroquoians find this concept preposterous, and it is voted down. According to the oral traditions, Hiawatha then smiles and says, “it is you who have voted.” The legends say that few understood the remark at the time. Later generations know that those who voted against the union had in fact given the union credence by submitting to the voting procedures of the Grand Council.

December 1494: The tiny Stadacona and Hochelega join the Haudenosaunee, the only ones to answer the boldest call of the Grand Council. The Susquehanna, however, agree to sit a diplomat at the Haudenosaunee Council Fire. This is enough that the Councilors who doubted such a grand scheme acknowledge that the Grand Council was a huge success.

October 1494: The Wampanoag are allowed to observe the Grand Council of All Iroquois Peoples. The Council agrees that the Wampanoags are "strange-tongued friends."

[Glen]

1495:

Holy Roman Empire:

Eric I of Brunswick-Kalenburg gains the Principality of Göttingen.

Saxony:

Frederick of Saxony and Berthold of Mainz begin discussions about needed reforms within the empire. This partnership is to last until Berthold's death, and forms a longer-term 'special relationship' between Mainz and Saxony.
1498: Duke Frederick marries Elizabeth, daughter of Philip the Count Palatine.

Hanseatic League:

1495 January 5: King Hans' naval build-up serves to unite the Wendish cities even further and make their unification into a federation all the more paramount. With the consent of the Holy Roman Emperor, the Wendish Federation is signed into law on this date, and immediately begins work on an extensive naval build-up at Luebeck, Hamburg, Bremen and Wismer. Messages are sent to the Teutonic order and the Rhenish cities calling on them for aid, and negotiations are opened with Sweden. Emissaries are also sent to the Dithmarscher Republic with promises of possible aid against any Danish aggression.

PORTUGAL

John II dies and is succeeded by Manoel I as king of Portugal.

Northern Italy:

1495 March 15: Michelle Antonia of Saluzzo born; daughter of Margrave Ludovico II of Saluzzo.

Naples:

The first dry-dock in medieval continental Europe is built in Naples, in part with monetary backing from the Abravanel family.

England:

1495: One of the first dry-docks in Medieval Europe is built in Portsmouth. Historians will argue for centuries to come whether this or the dry-dock in Naples was the first completed.

1495 July 4: Perkin Warbeck attempt to raise rebellion in England fails, and he is killed during the attempt to return to his ships.

Backed by Bristol Merchants, John Cabot obtains an audience with King Henry VIIth of England. King Henry VIIth is impressed with Cabot's plans and grants him letters of patent authorizing his mission in the name of the English Crown.

Scandinavia/Baltic Region:

A Russian army enters Karelia laying siege to Viborg but the fortress commander Knud Posse repel the invasion. The Council of the Realm convince King Hans that the Russian alliance is going to lose Sweden for ever.

Wolter von Plettenberg gets word from the Teutonic Knights about the call for arms and pledges a force of 7,000 knight and heavy Calvary at their disposal.

Ottoman Empire:

Hearing of unprovoked attacks conducted by the sect he had so recently granted amnesty to, Bayezid sends a hundred janissaries to sort out those who were made gazis. Two dozen of the sect are hung for heresy. The remainder takes this as the warning it is. The Ottoman border quiets down.

The Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid, Caliph to the Faithful, Shadow of God on Earth, heir of the Prophet, accompanied by Prince Ahmed and every other good son of the Caliph (all the sons but Selim) join the army in readiness for the impending battle. All the Princes know that when their brother Selim is captured, he will be killed for treason.

The Ottoman navy takes anchor outside of cannon range for now, off the coast of the Mameluke encampment...with a splinter of the navy sailing down to the coast of Jerusalem.

The Holy Land:
Rhodean galleys, in conjunction with a large fleet on loan from their Catholic Majesties of Spain (who are eager to buff their already shiny crusader bone fides) launch a surprise attack on Jaffa, and after seizing the city march directly for Jerusalem, laying siege to the city and calling for it's surrender. While the army encamps and part of the navy begins ferrying supplies inland, a large portion of the Rhodean and Spanish galley fleet begin harrying the Egyptian coast, feinting toward Alexandria. DAubusson also calls on the Maronite Christians of Lebanon to aid his army, as well as the Lebanese Druze.

Jerusalem falls, and DAubusson enters it in triumph (I'm extrapolating this development from the extra troubles of expansion and rebellion). DAubusson leaves a substantial Spanish/Rhodean garrison in Jerusalem, bolstered by Maronite warlords from the Lebanon who have come to aid their Catholic brethren.

Egypt:

The Mamelukes begin their westward expansion toward the Barbary Coast. The Sultan, looking more to the battles in the Levant sends a small but powerful army, he believes will be able to conquer Tripolitania, and Tunisia, as both are suffering from warlordism. He also sends some troops with supplies for the Arab/Berber Kingdoms Fighting Alodi.

Makuria, & Nobatia, begin winning some battle pushing Alodi away from the Coast.
The king of Alodi, send envoys to Ethiopia and to Europe requesting aid.

DAubusson turns his eyes to Alodi, asking for aid from his Spanish, Neapolitan and Milanese allies to "free this Christian kingdom from the savage and heathen Mamelukes." A large naval squadron begins sailing for Alexandria, preparing to capture this city then send forces down the Nile, thereby cutting the Mamelukes in half, trapping Selim's forces between the Christians and Ottomans and freeing Alodi. DAubusson also sends a letter to the Nagas of Ethiopia asking him to come to the aid of his Christian brothers in Alodi.

Ethiopia:

The small civil war in Ethiopia is over and the power of the provinces is broken for now. King Aslander has a daughter by his wife.

Maghreb:

The Mamelukes recapture all of Libya east of Tripolitania.

Camel traders from the Kel Ahaggar tribe and Kel Aijer tribes find gold along their camel trade routes near to where both are based in the Sahara.

Timurid Empire:
Umar Sheikh Mirza dies of an infection caused after a hunting trip gone wrong left him with a shattered leg that was a result of loosing control of his horse and being thrown to the ground with such force that it shattered his femur. The 12 year old son of Mizra, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, is too young to be an effective leader, yet under the inheritance laws, he must take the throne. (In OTL, Mizra would die in 1498 when Babur was 14 years old.)

With Babur's inheritance, a cabal of his father's best generals and high ranking community leaders, rather than shoving the 12 year old Babur off the throne and out of the kingdom, decided that the best alternative was to kill Babur on the eve of his 13th birthday in February and claim legitimacy on their own, rather than risk his gaining support from the rest of the kingdom.

Indian Subcontinent:

November 1495: The Delhi Sultanate completes its Survey of All the Sultan’s Lands & Peoples. The Sultan orders his advisors to each report to him on what the study means for their areas of rule. The survey is quickly becoming one of the greatest bureaucratic projects in the Sultanate in almost 200 years.

China:

Following the birth of his third child, the second to live past birth and early infancy, the Hongzhi Emperor began a series of auspicious tax and bureaucratic reforms. In order to make the flow of revenue much easier into the capital, and to ensure that corruption and bribery were less prevalent, the emperor began to cut out branches of the bureaucracy which he felt were less than worthy of remaining a part of the functioning bureaucratic arm of the Ming Dynasty.

Along with that, increased communication between the bureaucratic departments was encouraged, along with the sharing of records and transactions to allow for greater bureaucratic and imperial oversight into government business.

In a year's time, over 700 bureaucrats operating in the Ming heartland had their positions cut in efforts by the imperial government to smooth out the rough edges in the bureaucracy. The emperor was gracious enough to allow these bureaucrats a choice: Stay in the heavily populated areas, or migrate to the periphery of Ming society. Most decided to stay in the heavily populated areas.

Majahapit:

A small group of Macassan ships is intercepted near Bali. The crews are brought before the King, and explain they were sent from their Karaeng to seek out new trepang stocks. They had skirted a large island to the south, whose waters were abundant with trepang, but were chased away by hostile natives. They were on their way home to report when they were intercepted.

The King decides this new land is worth exploring, and decides to send his own ships south with the captured crewmen as guides. Several ships are built, and the expedition leaves Majahapit in early 1496.

Gowa:

The first voyages of exploration, sponsored by the king, set out. The first three disappear without trace. The fourth, however, encounters a large, tropical land to the south. First contact between the Macassans and Yolgnu occurs-the Yolgnu spear the ship's captain, and drive their crew back into the sea. It is not an auspicious start. The ship's remaining crew returns to Makassar with news of fantastic riches and abundant stocks of trepang. The new land is dubbed 'Marege' by the king.

The Tuma'bicara-butta dies of malaria. The warhawk Tuma'ilalang Toa, president of the Bate Salapang, is appointed as the new prime minister by the king, who is still young and inexperienced. The new Tuma'bicara-butta's reign will be marked by an increase in the powers of the Bate Salapang, but of growing conflict between the monarchical and noble factions in the council. War breaks out between Garassik and the Gowa-Tallok alliance.

North America:

January 1495: The Grand Council having highlighted the great distances that separate the various tribes, the Haudenosaunee vote to construct new roads connecting the Seven Nations and their neighbors.

April 1495: Construction begins on Great Peacemaker Road. It will run a north-south from Stadacona to southern Mohawk lands, and then broaden and improve the existing east-west route connecting the Five Nations.

June 1495: The Erie begin growing sumpweed and using fish-farming techniques that they learned from tribes to the west. With so many Haudenosaunee devoted to construction, the Erie see profit in trading food to the Seneca for furs.

South America:

1495-1496: The city Sypatupry is built of modest wooden and clay buildings on the Endless Water. Chief Kurepi marries a niece of the former chief, and a son is born. He is named Tupã. The Chief sets a precedence of naming Guaranís after their gods.

[Glen]

1496:

Benelux:

Jan of Cleve (duke of Cleve and count of Mark) and Wilhelm of Julich-Berg (duke of Julich and Berg and count of Ravensburg) make a deal to join their duchies to try to form a counterbalance against Burgundy. It was decided that Jan’s son Johan (who was born in 1490) will marry Wilhelm’s daughter Maria (who was born in 1491) in 1509 and will inherit the Duchies of Cleve, Julich and Berg and the counties of Mark and Ravensberg.

Holy Roman Empire:

Burgundy:

Philip of Burgundy marries Joanna, the daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, in Lier.

Piedmont Region:

As most of Europe's attention is drawn to the Holy Land, three nations seize the opportunity and seek to band together into a Northern Italian Pact. Negotiations begin in 1496.

Duchy of Savoy:

{1496 April 16: Charles II, Duke of Savoy, does not die.}

Spain:

Juan of Asturias marries Margaret of Austria, but on a trip through Salamanca he becomes ill. Fortunately for Juan, he is saved by a doctor who recently converted from Judaism. This leads their grateful Catholic majesties to make a rich gift to the University of Salamanca, which will enjoy heightened royal patronage, and in the life of which Juan will be heavily involved. Privately, it also makes Juan question the policy of his parents toward the Jews, and begins a long process of liberalization in Juan's thinking.

PORTUGAL

Manoel I marries Isabella of Asturias.

England:

{1496 September: Perkin Warbeck dies in 1495, and thus he does not stir trouble between Scotland and England; while tension remains on the border, the peace holds.}

1496 April 20: John Cabot departs from England heading West in search of 'Asia'.

1496 July 25: John Cabot returns to England after a successful journey to "Nor'Asia."

1496 August 1: John Cabot tells King Henry VII of his trip to "Nor'Asia." He proposes to the King that China must lie to the South along the coast. Henry VIIth gives support to an expanded second journey.

Scandinavia:

King Hans raises a large army and the navy is commandeered to sea. All Hansa ships found in Danish waters are obliged to supply the Kings ships with two able seamen. Among the troops raised are the Saxon Guards commanded by Junker Schlentz.

Eastern Europe:

Due to ongoing tensions and the weakening forces of the two nations, Vlad the Monk of Wallachia and Stephen of Moldavia call a conference between the two kingdoms. What results is a mutual defense pact and a blockade of the Ottoman border.

Ottoman Empire:

Spring 1496: Half of the janissaries who were in the Ottoman army fighting the Mamelukes, joined with Selim (their favorite to inherit the Ottoman throne). The other half of the janissaries, fearing loss of privilege and status - not to mention the very existence of their Order - met them in open and pitched battle on the plains north of Jerusalem. The Bayezid-loyal ones won the day. The disloyal ones fled to Egypt and Persia, while the loyal ones were given residences in Rumeli. Poets in the ensuing weeks and months would call this the Janissary Civil War.

Summer 1496: Selim is captured by soldiers loyal to his brothers Ahmed and Korkud. Invited to dine with his brothers, Selim is poisoned during the dinner.

Holy Land:

Naples reasserts her claim to the defunct Kingdom of Jerusalem. They send troops to Jerusalem to back up the Crusaders.

Egypt:

The Rhodeans and Alodi dealt the Mamelukes a mighty blow. As a result of being sandwiched between two bloodthirsty, Christian forces, the Mameluke army was too widespread to react quickly. Although the campaign in the west was successful in securing the Barbary Coast (northern Libya), all of Upper Egypt was ceded to the Alodi up to the ancient Nubian cities of Aswan and Luxor on the River Nile.

Maghreb:

The remains of the Granadian army have settled in Zarzis or in Tripoli; they prevent the Mameluke from conquering Tripoli when they take the rest of Libya.

Ethiopia:

The mini civil war over in Ethiopia, King Aslander sends an Army north to help his Christian Brother in Alodi. Most of the troops sent are followers of the provincial strongmen, farther weakening them.

King Aslander has a son by his concubine; the son is named "Eon" after the great king from the 6th Century.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

The Ndongo-Matamba alliance is sealed with the only daughter of the Matamban king (and thus heir) to the eldest son of the Ndongolese king. Expansion into Ngoyo continues.

Timurid Empire:

February 14, 1496: An assassin, under the orders of the cabal, attempts to poison Babur in his sleep. What the assassin failed to notice was the dagger Babur had taken to sleeping with since his Ascension to the throne the year before, and the fact that Babur was a notoriously light sleeper. Once he entered the chambers of Babur, he awoke to see the assassin opening a bottle of poison. Babur immediately drew the dagger from under his pillow and in one swift motion, drove it directly through the heart of the assassin. It is with this gesture of self-defense that Babur uncovered his own strength as a leader. (Babur would not truly become a respected leader until he was driven out of his father's kingdom in 1500 and became ruler of Kabul in 1504).

After the killing of the would be assassin, Babur took it upon himself to uncover who had sent the assassin. After several of the members of the cabal were too careless and mentioned in passing their relationship to the assassin during court conversations, Babur began to systematically hunt down and kill those who attempted to kill him. Their deaths were not a public spectacle. Instead, Babur would enter their sleeping chambers by himself, and kill them in the way that they tried to kill him, with a bottle of poison in their sleep. With some of the married men with families, Babur would not only kill the male, but his wife and children as well, sometimes in gruesome manners used to frighten other members of the cabal out of hiding. By the end of the year, the 13 year old Babur had gone from being a frightened, naive leader who only ruled because of his father's death, to becoming a ruthless style of leader who used cruelty and violence to enforce his rule.

Indian Subcontinent:

March 1496: The Delhi Sultanate’s advisors report on several obvious ways to improve the civil service, tax collection, and the living standards of the common people. The Sultan accepts most of the proposals and takes an active role in carrying them out. This attention to the common people has made the Sultan enormously popular, so he continues to work on domestic affairs and not worry about the extensive resources that his brother Barbak is putting into the military, now the world’s largest south of the Himalayas.

Majahapit:

The fleet heads south, and eventually reaches a large island. The waters are indeed rich with trepang. Going ashore, the sailors discover signs of recent activity. In fact, it seems as if the place was recently abandoned. The Macassan crewmen identify the remnants as being from Gowa. The crew explores along the coast, and meets up with some locals, who speak words in Macassan. They want to trade, which the crew gladly does. The crewmen also learn of the Yolgnu, and their fight against the newcomers. The ships are restocked, and head back to Majahapit to report.

The king is delighted by the tortoise shells, pearls and especially the trepang brought back. When he learns that the Macassans have been active in this new land, he can't sit idly by; A new bigger, stronger fleet begins construction. The King sees a possible friend and ally in the Yolgnu, and plans are made to seek them out....

Gowa:

At the start of the next trepang season, the first Macassan praus begin to arrive, cautiously, in Marege. Those which land in Yolgnu territory are attacked. Some other tribes, however, react in a friendly fashion. The first stocks of trepang are harvested and returned to Makassar, from where they are traded on to China. However, the land to the south does not yet gain much interest; there are still trepang stocks in Gowan waters, albeit diminishing rapidly, and Marege is too far away and too hostile to yet risk a business venture. The Garassik-Gowa war ends, with the burning of Garassik. The humiliated royals of Garassik return to their ruined city, and agree to accept vassal status to Gowa. The successful war solidifies the alliance between Gowa and Tallok, and grants the Bate Salapang much-needed influence over the king.

China:

Of the 700 bureaucrats who lost their jobs in the imperial bureaucracy a year before, 200 made their way to port cities and began to set themselves up as business owners, mainly sea trade and the buying of commodities making their way into the cities via the inland river routes. Thanks to their intimate knowledge of the bureaucratic system of business taxation, many of the former bureaucrats turned businessmen were able to hide a large portion of their yearly revenue from the tax collectors.

The tax reforms imposed the year before by the Hongzhi Emperor were beginning to take shape. Land taxes on the middle class were lowered 15%, while taxation of the upper crust gentry was increased 20% to balance out the revenue imbalance, and bring in extra revenue for the imperial government. Along with that, a more uniform system of business taxation was imposed, taxing the yearly revenue of the businesses that was liquid capital, while failing to mention the static capital (commodities) gained during the year.

Japan:

Political authority in the peripheral provinces is in the brink of collapse. In southern Shikoku and western Kyushu, many lords are seriously struggling to maintain their hegemony. However the situation is most volatile in the frontier provinces of northern Honshu, where regional lords have to contend with not only insurrection and rebellion, but the restless Ainu (indigenous people of Japan), who they have been slowly displacing and pushing northward.

Shogun Ashikaga Yoshizumi and his puppet-master Hosokawa Masamoto become increasingly distressed as more and more regions succumb to instabilities.

North America:

March 1496: The race to settle the empty lands heats up as the Erie begin an ambitious new settlement, Mahonik. With 1,000 adults, it is the largest of the new settlements.

December 1496: As the builders head to their hunting camps for the winter, the Stadacona and Mohawk are proud to have a crude path blazed all the way to each other’s border villages.

1496 June 12: John Cabot and his crew find land, which at the time they believe to be Northern Asia. John Cabot claims the land in the name of Henry VIIth. An abundance of fish in the area is noted.

South America:

A khipumaynac (khipu scribe/reader) begins using the khipu to record not only numbers, or act as a mnemonic aids, but also as a word. There are a series of binary choices (6 of them) plus 24 possible colors that together make up a word. Living in Cuzco he quickly influences the other scribes there and they also adopt this system. By 1500 over a hundred words are in use, most being important goods (potatoes, llamas, and quinoa) and people to owe it to.

1496 Summer: Chief Kurepi begins attacking Tupi villages in the hinterlands of the Great Forest, starting the conquering of the Tupi people and lands.

[Glen]

1497:

England:

1497 January: John Cabot's map of his first voyage is printed in Bristol, showing the northern coastline as 'Norasia'. Scholars to this day debate whether the spelling was intentional or a printing error.

1497 April 30: Cabot and a small fleet head out for his second journey to the west.

1497 August 30: Cabot's re-united fleet returns to England with word of a large waterway, which many begin to refer to as the Cabot, and the beaver pelts, which are viewed with great interest by Henry VIIth and Cabot's Bristol backers.

Portugal:

The decree to expel all Jews from Portugal is signed by King Manoel I.

Isabella of Asturias dies in childbirth; the baby is stillborn.

Upon the death of Isabella of Asturias, the decree is practically ignored and only a token effort to enforce it was made by the King. However, the existence of the decree allows for the church to begin making moves against Jews in Portugal. The church was willing to force baptism and conversion upon the Jews, but Manoel I tended to look the other way. The Portuguese still needed the Jews, as they filled a vital role in the running of the economy and without them havoc might ensue.

Mecklenburg:

Duke Magnus II von Mecklenburg sat in his castle and waited. Events were unfolding around him, and if he played his cards right, perhaps a Kingdom could be gained. His family had long claimed the throne of Norway, but could not take it. With the trouble between Denmark and Sweden, and the interference of the Hansa and Teutonic Knights, Magnus plotted how he might benefit. Letters were sent to the Hansa, The Swede Sten Sture, and the Grand Master of the Order, making overtures of alliance to each. He would gladly give up a Duchy to gain a Kingdom. So he waited for a response and plotted his future, raising what funds, men and ships he could.

Benelux:

Everhard van der Marck, the son of Robrecht I van der Mark, restarts the civil war in Liege and tries to succeed where his father and uncles have failed, become the bishop of Liege. The current bishop of Liege, Johan IX van Horn, is supported by Burgundy. The Duke of Guelders supports Everhard trying to limit the power of Burgundy in the region.

Milan:

Milan answers the call to redeem Jerusalem as well, though they send mostly money rather than soldiers.

Scandinavia:

The Danish army is transported to Scania.

After having been recognized King of Sweden in 1483, but not yet crowned, Hans finally looses patience in 1497 and enters Sweden with a strong army under command of the skilled Junker Thomas Schlentz and incl. several German mercenaries.

Sten Sture's army is decisively defeated at Rotebro on 28. September 1497 and flees into Stockholm castle. Siege is laid on Stockholm which surrenders on 6th of October 1497. Sture now now has to recognize Hans as King of Sweden (incl. Finland) and Hans is crowned.

Svante Nilsson attacks the Russian fortress of Ivangorod on the Nava. The fortress is destroyed. A truce is made with Russia. Svante Nilsson joins the nobility against Sten Sture and on March 7. the Swedish Council of the Realm depose Sten Sture as Regent.

Muscovy:

Sudebnik of 1497 is slightly changed from article 57, (which requires a peasant to pay his lord a certain fee in the week before or the week after St. George's day if he is to have the right to move elsewhere) to removing the fee but stipulating that peasants could ONLY move during the week before and after the Fall St. George's day, and with permission of both Landowners. While the Law doesn't require the fee, many Landlords demand it in order for the Peasant to move. This allows more movement of peasants and increases settlement in the annex territories Ivan has claimed during his reign.

Eastern Europe:

As a show of a renewed effort of friendship, Radu and Bogdan, the heirs to the Wallachian and Moldavian thrones respectively take two daughters, Maria and Anne, of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid as their wives. The Ottoman blockade relaxes and Vlad allows free trade across Wallachian borders. Moldavia follows suit two months later.

Ottoman Empire:

Selim is captured by soldiers loyal to his brothers Ahmed and Korkud. Invited to dine with his brothers, Selim is poisoned during the dinner.

Holy Land:

Naples reasserts her claim to the defunct Kingdom of Jerusalem. They send troops to Jerusalem to back up the Crusaders.

Egypt:

Next, DAubusson turns his eyes to Alodi, asking for aid from his Spanish, Neopolitan and Milanese allies to, "Free this Christian kingdom from the savage and heathen Mamelukes." A large naval squadron begins sailing for Alexandria, preparing to capture this city then send forces down the Nile, thereby cutting the Mamelukes in half, trapping Selim's forces between the Christians and Ottomans and freeing Alodi.
DAubusson also sends a letter to the Nagas of Ethiopia asking him to come to the aid of his Christian brothers in Alodi.

The Mamelukes ask for terms, and the war ends. The Ottomans receive Syria, and the Levant outside of Jerusalem. Tunisia receives Tripolitania. Alodi receives all of Nubia south of the old pre-Mameluke border. That there are two Muslim Kingdoms in the area, is ignored in the peace settlement. The Crusaders [except they do not call themselves that] receive Jerusalem and Alexandria.

Maghreb

Death of Muhammad Al-Maghili, a renowned theologian from Tlemcen. There are accusations of assassination, though nothing is ever proved.

Enough Moors have immigrated to the region south of Zarzis that is being called New Granada by Europeans. Due the increasing persecution of Jews in Europe, Boabdil has also begun attracting a lot of the Spanish Jews from Granada. The presence of significant numbers of the Granadian army allowed the Kingdom of Tiesliem [NW border coast] to hold off annexation by Morocco.

A small war of supremacy breaks out between two tribes, the Kel Ahaggar and Kel Aijer.

Ethiopia:

King Aslander's warriors begin reporting about the hundreds of books and pieces of art in the old Byzantine churches being ""Liberated"" from the Berber/Arab Muslims.
Remembering the tales of Axum having had a copy of the famed Library of Alexandria, King Aslander orders as many as possible of these liberated books and art to be sent south to Ethiopia. This will be a ongoing project of the King for the rest of his Life. The King also begins hearing about the musketeers attached with the European forces. King Aslander sends a Letter to the King of Portugal requesting some Gunsmiths, to teach how to make these new weapons. He also requests some Soldiers to teach the use of these Muskets.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

Though fighting a losing battle, the Ngoyolese offer to ally themselves with the Kakongolese. The Kakongolese, under a vassal to the King of Kongo (also overlord of Ndongo,) refuse.

The Ndongolese king, crown-prince, and nobles throughout Ndongo are baptized by Catholic missionaries from Kongo. The king is christened Emmanuel I, and his son Diego. The Matamban king refuses to be baptized, however, he reluctantly allows his daughter too. Various Matamban nobles are baptized as well. She is christened Isabella.

King Emmanuel orders the construction of a seminary to train Ndongolese men to be priests in the Ndongolese capital of Kabassa. Mass baptisms are beginning to be held daily in the rivers. Meanwhile, Catholicism is spread in Matamba, but is not as readily received. Portuguese priests meet severe resistance in many desolate Matamban villages.

Timurid Empire:

With the events of the last year still fresh in his mind, Babur began the long, difficult process of solidifying his power base. Rather than attempting to draw support from the generals and high civilian leaders as his father had, Babur found that going to the leaders of the individual clans and tribes himself and working out deals face to face got him farther with them than going through middle men as his father and predecessors had. The concept of a council of elders, where the elders/leaders of the different tribes would come to Ferghana and meet with Babur to discuss important domestic issues, sprung forth in the next decade due to Babur's growing connections with the tribal leaders rather than the old gentry of generals, ministers, and imam's.

Also, Babur found out by the end of the year that many of his uncles were in the planning stages of a coup to remove him from his father's throne in a power grab. With these reports, Babur's paranoia, left over from the events of the last year of dealing with the cabal, grew larger and more prevalent in his decision making.

China:

In the two years since the firing of the 700 bureaucrats and the tax and bureaucratic reforms, government revenue was up nearly 30% compared to the 1493-94 fiscal year. The extra 30% revenue was poured into new infrastructure development, namely the renovation of the great wall, but also the creation of new trade networks into Korea, and the renovation and expansion of the imperial navy. The imperial army was kept at its current levels, considering that no real nomadic invasions had occurred in almost a decade. However, the Hongzhi Emperor was not one to sit around and wait forever for an attack to take place, but now was not the time to strike.

For the 1497-98 fiscal year, the 200 former bureaucrats turned businessmen found their profits skyrocketing, up almost 45% from the 1496-97 fiscal year. With the new profits, many of those who owned shipping firms began to funnel their revenue into the construction of newer, faster, and more heavily armed merchant vessels to expand their trade network beyond just the Indian Ocean. Many of the business owners began to use their funds, along with investing in their own businesses, to invest in businesses owned by their friends and partners who had opened up businesses as well since their departure from the imperial bureaucracy.

From these small business ventures, with two or three friends all putting equal funds into the same business in hopes of turning a profit, the concept of a "Joint Stock Corporation" would take shape. While the practice would not become widespread for nearly a half century, its roots have taken hold.

Indian Subcontinent:

January 1497: Barbak Shah Lodhi makes his quest for glory by launching a mission to re-conquer the ancient Lodhi homeland in Afghanistan. His army is massive – surely not the “Seven Lakh Army” that history will record, but at least 150,000 men and 1200 elephants.

January 9, 1497: Barbak gets off to a strong start by steamrolling the unsuspecting, tiny principality of Thanesar.

February 7-20, 1497: The Battle of Lahore sets the tone for Barbak’s War – bloody. At least 20,000 die, and Barbak celebrates his “victory” by burning Lahore. This inhuman tactic works: minor tribes from all around the Panjab pledge their entire armies to Barbak, fearing that any lesser show of loyalty will lead to their own destruction.

March-April 1497: The First Battle of Peshawar. Barbak meets his first real resistance here, and the battle ends in a stalemate. 25,000 die, and Peshawar earns its nickname, “KhunsnaCity”, or The Spiteful City.

May 4, 1497: Aladdin Husain, Sultan of Bengal, marches across the undefended eastern Lodhi border.His troops move quickly and loot indiscriminately.

May 19, 1497: Barbak circles back and conquers Multan, hoping to march back toward the new Bengali threat. His army soars to its apex, an unwieldy 250,000 men – but his enemies are growing, too.

May 24, 1497: Gondwana and Berar, fearing that Bengal will emerge as the new dominant power, send troops to defend the eastern Lodhi border. Local nobles take up arms as well, and some of the fighting moves into the cities – a rarity in Indian warfare. Aladdin Husain fumes that he will kill every nobleman who had sworn allegiance to the Lodhis.

June 1497: Several Pashtun armies in India commit to the “Lahore Vengeance”, as do many small tribes to the north.

June 1497: Rana Raimal calls his sons and cousins back from their semi-exiles. The Rana rewards them by giving them ministerial control over various domestic affairs – but in following with his advisor Ajja’s counsel, none has power independent of the others. He then sets out to win support among the other Rajput principalities for a “Grand Rajputana Army” under his command.

June 9 - July 23, 1497: The Massacre at Mathura. An ordinary battle turns into a total nightmare as several armies switch sides, and finally, the Monsoon and the ensuing disease kills off most of the remaining soldiers. At least 250,000 die, but rumors spread of 700,000 dead, perhaps in reference to the “Seven Lakh Army.” Among the dead are the Sultan of Berar Fath-Allah, the Sultan of Gujarat, and Sultan of Bengal Aladdin Husain. The Bengali and Berar armies are broken from death and desertions, but the Delhi Sultanate fares even worse. Barbak Shah Lodhi is forced to flee to the north.

July 4, 1497: Rana Raimal recruits soldiers from the last holdout Rajput principality. Most nations are represented only by token forces who fight without the approval of their leader, but Raimal is still fairly justified in his boast that he was done the impossible and united the Rajputs in one month.

July 23, 1497 – January 23, 1498: Guru Nanak Dev, saddened by the suffering at Mathura, spends 6 months meditating on the battlefield, almost motionless even as clergy and workers bury bodies all around him and turn the battlefield into a graveyard.

July 25, 1497: Rana Raimal’s Grand Rajputana Army, which had been quietly watching from a nearby town while the Massacre at Mathura unfolded, finally declare war on the Delhi Sultanate and capture Mathura. The contrast of the repugnant fields of death and decay with the joy of the Mathura people, whose food and water supplies had been running low, will become the subject of art and literature for countless generations.

August 5-15, 1497: The Second Battle of Peshawar spells the end of the Lodhi Dynasty. Barbak dies on the 14th in a blaze of glory, with a desperate final charge in which 80,000 soldiers die.

August 11, 1497: Rana Raimal and marches on Delhi, collecting Rajput and other Hindu vassals along the way. Sultan Sikandar is helpless to defend himself, and Delhi is a Hindi city for the first time in 300 years. In a gesture that no educated Indian could mistake, his son Prithviraj actually leads the troops back into Delhi.

September 1497: Rana Raimal invites all of his sons’ religious teachers to Delhi, and has them jointly coronate him as the Rajamaharana Raimal I of Rajputana and Bhārata. His son Prithviraj is named Raj Prithviraj IV of Delhi.

September 1497: Acting quickly before they can rebuild their troops, Sangramsingh leads a small contingent to conquer the chaotic Bengali Sultanate, while Rawat Sarangdeo leads another contingent of troops into Berar. Otherwise, the armies are sent home to recuperate.

China:

April 1497: The Hongzhi Emperor dispatches invitations to the leaders of several regional kingdoms, and much larger kingdoms, all over Eastern and Central Asia, to come to the imperial palace to celebrate the birth of his second son, Zhu Houcong, and give tribute to the emperor in return for the emperor graciously opening up the imperial palace in two year's time.

Southeast Asia:

Le Thanh Tong leads an attack on Champa and conquers it. {Le Thanh Tong doesn't die.}

Australia:

The leader of the Arrente dies and a new one takes over this time urging consolation with the other tribes as they are part one big family effectively - of the Arrente “Federation”.

The Yolgnu convene a meeting, or corroborree, to discuss the issue of 'the invaders'. In their first contact, the Macassans attempted to kidnap three Yolgnu women, sparking a skirmish. The various headmen of the Yolgnu bands agree to a policy of 'total resistance'. They will attempt to drive off the Macassans with a policy of military force.

However, this year sees a massive rise in the number of Macassan ships arriving off the coast of Marege. The Gunbalang nation, willing to cooperate with the newcomers, sign a treaty with Macassan fishermen: in exchange for technology, they will provide labor for the Macassans and allow the construction of temporary camps on their land. Some other Aboriginal tribes follow suit; most others, however, remain cautiously indifferent.

Three praus (Macassan fishing ships) attempt to fish in Yolgnu waters. They are attacked by Yolgnu fishermen. Over two dozen Macassans are killed, and their boats are commandeered. The remaining crew agree to aid the Yolgnu in exchange for their lives.

An exploring prau sails down the coast of OTL's Kimberleys. It discovers copious oyster beds, including valuable pearls. It creates a sensation when it returns to Makassar. The crew is unsure if the land they have discovered is part of Marege; instead, they name it 'Kai Djawa'.

However, far more serious is the continuing problem of the Yolgnu. The Bate Salapang urge war, and the annexation of Marege; the pro-peace court faction, however, still retain enough sway to prevent war.

Oceania:

Nan Madol:

Relaying a message from the nahnmwarki to the people, the Nahnken ordered construction to begin on another of the pyramid-like volcanic structures.

North America:

The Nipmucs to the west, theoretically allies to both sides in the Narragansett-Wampanoag conflict, hold back the Narragansett from launching a second great raid. As rumors spread, a couple Massacusett tribes pledge to support the Wampanoag if they are attacked again.

February 1497: Although it taxes their economy, the Susquehanna begin to make a show of strength and expand the trails along the Susquehanna River and up into Haudenosaunee and Wyoming lands. Only a few years ago, the Haudenosaunee Council would have interpreted this as a threat, but in light of recent events, they see that the Susquehanna are silently signaling that they are ready to go in for the kill and split the lands between their two nations.

April 1497: Workers on Great Peacemaker Road begin laying down logs and gravel.

1497 June 21: John Cabot and his fleet find a promising waterway near their original landfall, and split a small group off to explore it while the main fleet follow the coast south.

1497 July 10: Cabot makes contact with the Lenape near the head of a large river he names the Meryk river, after one of his major sponsors. Cabot trades for samples of beaver pelt.

November 1497 – The Mohawk approach the Mohican about broadening the Mohawk Trail so that the Mohicans and Wampanoag can trade more easily with the Haudenosaunee (and, in the lands beyond, the Erie).

An Alibamu chief named in later legends Hassi Locha (Black Grass) convenes a meeting with the Kosaatiha and hammers out what could be described as a defense pact/military alliance. The Albaamaaha and Kosaatiha call up quite a few younger men and launch what comes to be called the Pasaaya (A Loud Noise) on the nearby towns and territories that are not allied to them, often these are just simple enough raids.

[Glen]

1498:

England:

1498 May 10: John Cabot's third journey to Norasia gets a later start compared to his previous journeys.

1498 September 10: Cabot and his ships finally reach England after a rough journey home in which two ships were lost to storms.

Benelux:

Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian makes Albrecht (the Elector of Saxony) governor of Friesland. The population of Friesland resists this appointment (as they never had a lord because of the traditional Frisian freedom) and are supported by Edzard, the count of East-Frisia, who hopes to add the area around the city of Groningen to his County.

Everhard van der Marck’s troops manage to capture the city of Liege and Johan van Horn. Worried by the prospect of an unfriendly neighbor and encouraged by the prospect of enlargement of his territories, Philip of Burgundy enters Liege with a large force and manages to defeat the troops of Everhard. Everhard is captured in the process. Johan van Horn was restored as bishop, but the county of Loon, which was part of Liege since 1366, would be annexed by Burgundy. Philip was now the count of Loon.

Holy Roman Empire:

Philip, elector count Palatine, gives his daughter Elizabeth in marriage to Frederick III, elector of Saxony. Duke Frederick marries Elizabeth, daughter of Philip the Count Palatine.

Johann of Baden succumbs to an illness.

Oldenburg:

Count Adolph of Oldenburg dies. He is succeeded by John XIV.

Piedmont Region:

1498 Spring:A treaty forming the North Italy Pact is signed.

Milan:

Leonardo da Vinci publishes several treatises on various subjects, including anatomy, mechanical engineering and the mechanics of flight.

Naples:

The King of Naples offers a large sum of gold to Spain in return for the island of Sicily.

Papal States:

A new Duchy of Romagna led by the Pope’s son, Giuffre is pronounced.

Scandinavia:

King Hans issues a declaration which says that every Danish student must commence studies at Copenhagen University for three years before going to study at any foreign University. The Copenhagen University has an excellent staff of professors and has no lack of students.

Ottoman Empire:

1498 Fall: Having been injured in battle against the Mamelukes, Bayezid finds his wounds are still a pain to him. First making certain that Prince Ahmed is in Constantinople, Bayezid embarks on the hajj, dining with regional nobles and notables on the road to Mecca.

Bayezid dies as he is making his return from completing the hajj. Ahmed, closest to Constantinople, grabs the throne; most of his brothers are already dead from battle and disease, but Ahmed orders the death of every surviving brother, save for Korkud, whose loyalty Ahmed considers to be beyond question.

To mark the coronation, a sailor brings to Constantinople something he has found and wrapped with the greatest of care: the hand of John the Baptist, found abandoned in a cave.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

The Matamban and Ndongolese kings begin to plan to offer to ally the soon-to-be-united land of Ndongo-Matamba with Kongo and a Ndongolese princess, in return for releasing Ndongo from vassalage.

The Matamban king is killed by a royal guardsman. It is widely thought this is the work of the Princess Isabella and the Catholic Matamban nobility. Regardless, she is crowned "Isabella Ngala," as Queen of the Matambans. She renews the alliance with her father-in-law, now-Emmanuel I of Ndongo.

Shortly after her ascension, the Matambans attempt to rebel, demanding the expulsion of the white priests, in favor of Kongolese ones. At the request of the Queen, King João I of Kongo sends several Kongolese priests to the capital city of Matamba. The expelled Portuguese are welcomed by in Ndongo.

Indian Ocean Region:

Vasco Da Gama stops in Mobassa, when he begins to demand trade concessions, the Sultan has him, and his ship thrown out. He then proceeds to Melina where he hires a Pilot for the trip to south India.

Timurid Empire:

January-May, 1498: In a five month orgy of bloodshed and inter-familial violence, Babur dispatches four of his uncles who were involved in the plot to overthrow him to take power for themselves, as well as laying siege to, sacking, and burning many cities, towns, and villages where his uncles held sway among the population. It is said that in several villages high in the mountains, none were left alive to tell the gruesome tale of slaughter to relief expeditions mounted by Babur's uncles, leaving only empty villages filled with frozen corpses in the winter to mark the trail of death and destruction Babur blazed to secure his legitimacy. By the end of May 1498, Babur had killed three of the four uncles involved in the plot, and had driven the last uncle and his pitiful, starving band out of Ferghana and into the Taklamakan Desert in western Turkestan.

June-December 1498: In the wake of his successful quelling of civil insurrection lead by close family members, Babur began to solidify his power base in Farghana in preparation for possible expansion west and south into the areas under the control of Samarkand, as well as Husayn Bayqarah in Herat. However, while Babur's plans for expansion and conquest in line with Timur's founding of the Timurid Empire are realistic and possible, the long term emotional and psychological effects of his struggles to survive on the throne have yet to fully manifest in his outward actions. Within his personal thoughts, however, Babur is beginning to show signs of increasing paranoia and delusions that members of his court are plotting behind his back. These ideas are made apparent in his journal entries of the time, with his repeated paranoid rants that include, "...should my father have been alive, I am sure he would have enjoyed the slaughter of his unfaithful brothers and uncles...there are those within the court who I believe would follow in their footsteps, I will be sure to guard my flanks against any threats to my legitimacy...I will not make the same mistake twice." These paranoid rants will become more and more frequent as the years go by and will seize control over his every waking moment, turning into an obsession that controlled his actions in the decade leading up to his death.

China:

April 1498:The Hongzhi Emperor signed into effect an imperial declaration which legitimized businesses and business ownership (The Imperial Business and Venture Compact Declaration of 1498). Businesses were to be granted "Imperial Business Compacts," agreements between the business and the imperial government to have the private business disclose all liquid and static assets for tax purposes, and in return the businesses would no longer have to pay off local imperial bureaucrats or fear the closure of their businesses by enraged local officials, they would have the full protection and support of the imperial government in Beijing as long as they fulfilled their end of the bargain.

In the wake of the successful sailing and news of the successes of the imperial trading fleets in making port in several ports in South-East Asia, the Indian sub-continent, and the Middle East, several private business owners at the heads of successful commercial shipping businesses began to dispatch trading fleets of their own, laden with grain, porcelain, silver, gold, and other trading goods to ports along the Indian Ocean. These fleets do not sail unarmed with many vessels within the fleet carrying weaponry to defend themselves from any pirates or hostile power that may threaten the safety and security of the private business ventures.

The emperor, upon hearing news of the restless natives of Formosa (Taiwan), sent his regards to the Ryukyuans and expressed great sorrow at their loss. He also heard their request to bring the restless natives to justice, and agreed that restless natives on Formosa would, perhaps, mean bad business for business owners who were beginning to apply for Imperial Business Compacts.

The emperor agreed to the Ryukyuan request, and declared that he would dispatch several ships laden with men and supplies in two years time, 1500, to bring the restless natives to justice who had so violently wronged his honorable neighbors in Ryuku. The two years gave him a cushion to prepare for conflict, something that he had not had to deal with for quite some time, as well as preparing the army for a period of perhaps extended conflict.

Indian Sub-Continent:

January 1498: Rajamaharana Raimal I launches two major policy initiatives. One is to follow all of the recommendation of Sultan Sikandar’s survey. The other is a tax on all Muslims, akin to the tax that the Sultanate once placed on all non-Muslims.

Heartbroken by the stunning reversal of fortunes, many first-generation Muslims living under Rajamaharana Raimal I move back home. For those who have lived in India for generations, though, relocation hardly seems a viable prospect. These Muslims find consolation in an unlikely source: Royal Guru Nanak Dev. The Great Guru has developed a new form of Hinduism that recognizes many of the most sacred tenets of Islam. From a Guru who was less wise than Nanak Dev, or who had less Royal favor, this might be considered double heresy. Instead, the practice of “Vāhigurū Sikh” spreads rapidly.

Australia:

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 labor 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.

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.

North America:

English fishing fleets begin traveling to the fishing grounds in Norasia discovered by Cabot.

1498 March: Sunflowers begin growing alongside the Great Peacemaker Road. The workers had been eating sunflower seeds in large quantities while working, hence the sprouting flowers. The Haudenosaunee decide to cultivate the roadside plants, so that travelers on the Road will always have an emergency food source.

March, 1498: In response to the threat of the Mohawk, the L'nuk (Micmac) push westward along the Gespedeg ("last acquired") Peninsula and begin intensively scouting and fortifying the borderlands. The Grand Chief of the L'nu has been paying close attention to developments among the Haudenosaunee and gathers with the sakmowk of all seven L'nu districts to decide what to do. They decide to call for a large-scale conference of all five allied nations of the Waponahkiyik Confederacy at their meeting place of Mniku at Pitu'pok.

April, 1498: The Waponahkiyik Confederacy gathers at Mniku to form a stronger alliance, which they all agree upon. It is then that the leaders of the other four nations also take a strong interest in the logographic mnemonic device used by the L'nuk in their learning, and see a potential in it. For the next few months, work will be done developing a crude writing system based on Lnuísimk "hieroglyphics".

During an extended fishing trip, a Manisses party discovers land approximately 12 miles east-southeast of their island, and see it is inhabited by a strange tribe they have never met.

1498 June: John Cabot negotiates with the Lenape to set up a trading post on the island he visited his last trip there. It is named Fort Henry, in honor of the King. Meanwhile, his ships explore up the waterway at the head of the island, encountering another tribe willing to trade, the Mohegans.

[Glen]

1499:

England:

1499 February: A revised version of Cabot's map showing more extensive cartography is printed, though the name 'Norasia' remains.

Saxony:

Elizabeth bears her first son, christened Ernest Frederick. Frederick of Saxony dotes on his young wife, and his son. Meanwhile his brother John is considering joining the Teutonic order.

Naples:

King Alphonso of Naples commissions a fleet of ten carracks and five caravels.

King Alphonso agrees to open ports and enter a exclusive trade agreement with the Hanseatic league.

Scandinavia:

1499 May 29: Hans' son Christian is recognized as heir to the throne of Sweden (and the Union).

The Ditmarschen support the Archbishop of Bremen in conflict with King Hans and plunder Ejdersted. In reparations King Hans demand 15000 marks and right to build three castles in Ditmarschen.

Eastern Europe:

Russia and Livonia go to war over demands for back taxes and the closing of the Hansa office in Novgorod.

Ivan’s daughter Helena, Alexander of Poland/Lithuania comes to visit him and try and talk him out of attacking her Husband. Instead offering to sell a portion of the lands that Ivan claimed where Russian and also promising not to intervene in any war with Livonia and in exchange they would get Courland and Semigallia.

Russia contacts the Kalmar Union about a partition of Livonia. It is decided that the Union will take Estonia, but Estonia will be added onto the Duchy of Finland, ruled by Duke Sten Sture, under the sovereignty of the Kalmar Union.

Maghreb:

The Kel Ahaggar and Kel Aijer tribes end the fighting against each other and instead agree to work together to take advantage of the gold reserves; a very small tax of 0.5% was put on the gold.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

Mbanza Ngoyo, the Ngoyolese capital, is captured, along with its king. The victorious Ndongolese and Matamban forces present the king and captured treasures to King Emmanuel of Ndongo, Crown Prince Diego of Ndongo, and Queen Isabella of Matamba at the Ndongolese capital of Kabasa. Diego and Isabella are proclaimed "Their Highnesses Prince Diego and Queen Isabella, Princes of Ndongo and Matamba, Lords of the Ngoyolese," the beginning of extravagant European-style titles in Ndongo and Matamba.

Prince João-Baptista of Ndongo, Son of King Emmanuel, sets off for Europe aboard Portuguese ships, along with the entire Royal Ndongolese Diplomatic team, and Queen Isabella of Matamba's uncle, Prince Fernando-Kiluanje of Matamba. A few Ndongolese princesses and ladies are on board, in case of treaties.

Timurid Empire:

Plans are finalized by Babur and his trusted generals to march on Samarkand and kill off his greatest perceived rival, Muhammad Shaybani, khan of the Uzbeks. These plans are part of a greater strategy put together by Babur and his generals to first regain control of Samarkand, then to march on Herat and Kabul, seizing control over the largest cities of the Afghan area, and setting Babur up for an eventual march on Baluchistan or Persia, depending on what he feels would be the better option.

China:

The imperial renovation of the Badaling section of the Great Wall, just north of the capital city of Beijing, has become an effort of love for many of the imperial workers. It is said that when the final stone was laid down atop the guard tower to the far eastern zone of the Badaling section in early January, a single cherry blossom landed atop the tower on the last stone placed. This symbolic event, while most probably just a myth, shows the great promise of prosperity and hope that the Hongzhi Emperor brought to the Chinese people.

By the end of the year, the imperial coffers were overflowing with tax revenue brought in under the imperial business compact, and the imperial government found itself funding new expansions of trade networks, increasing the funding of the imperial navy, and, most importantly of all, the funding of two new Confucian scholar schools in Beijing and Guangzhou to increase the number of diploma-holding scholars within the nation. This has been called the so-called "Confucian knowledge trust," with the emperor personally going to the opening of these new schools and handing out the diplomas to the top 10% of the classes

Japan:

The Ainu, recognizing the increasing inability of the Shogunate to maintain control, launch offensives into Mutsu and Dewa provinces. Towns are raided and prisoners are taken. The Shogunate responds with a plan for a campaign to drive the Ainu out. However, regional lords in Mutsu and Dewa are the ones who show the initiative, recognizing the ineffectiveness of the Shogunate.

The Akita clan of northern Dewa and the Nambu clan of northern Mutsu each gather an army to repel the Ainu warriors and 'drive them north into the sea'. Forming an alliance, they move swiftly and aggressively to rebuff the threat. By the end of the year, the combined armies have forced the Ainu back as far as the Oga peninsula.

A Ryukyuan merchant fleet is forced ashore on Taiwan by bad weather, where they are forced to stay for several days after many of their ships are wrecked in the storm. The merchants attempt to trade with the local aborigines for the resources they need to repair their ships, but after apparently violating a local law some of the sailors are attacked by the locals and a violent skirmish ensues, ending with the slaughter of many of the sailors. Survivors flee in what ships can be salvaged and return to Ryukyu. Upon hearing of the news, Ryukyuan king Sho shin vows revenge.
He commissions an embassy to China requesting that Ming authorities bring the restless natives to justice.

Southeast Asia/Australasia:

Vietnam begins a period of settlement in the new Champas region.

Following a particularly good trading year (perhaps sparked by what is happening in Brunei), the ruler of Sulu proposes to the ruler of Maguindanao that the two groups should cooperate in trading with the Chinese who come to the north islands, the better to profit from them. The offer is turned down, at least for the moment.

The fourth 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.

However, the Yolgnu continue to dominate 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.

Finally, by mid-year the Yolgnu threat becomes intolerable. 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.

A permanent fort, 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.

The North of Australia is dominated by two powers in rivalry: the Macassans, with their assortment of local allies, and the Yolgnu, with their anti-Gowan treaties. The stage is set for war.

North America:

Over a year after the original gathering, the Waponahkiyik Confederacy meets at the largest settlement of the Abenaki, Norrigewock, to sign their first written constitution, outlining a stronger political alliance between the five nations that elects a representative government similar to the Haudenosaunee.

August 1499: Great Peacemaker Road is complete.

December 1499: Border skirmishes break out along the Wyoming Valley.

[Tom Veil]

March 1498: Sunflowers begin growing alongside the Great Peacemaker Road. Because they are a handy source of protein, the workers begin eating them in large quantities.

I was sloppy when I wrote this one originally. This should read:

1498 March: Sunflowers begin growing alongside the Great Peacemaker Road. The workers had been eating sunflower seeds in large quantities while working, hence the sprouting flowers. The Haudenosaunee decide to cultivate the roadside plants, so that travellers on the Road will always have an emergency food source.

EDIT: Fixed in timeline

[Glen]

1500:

England:

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 Morte D'Arthur.

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.

Holy Roman Empire:

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.

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

Burgundy:

In Ghent 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.

Trier:

1500: Jacob of Baden is appointed to the bishopric held by his uncle. His tenure is unremarkable and brief, clouded with accusations of nepotism.

Saxony:

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.

Italian Peninsula:

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.

Spain:

Juan and Margaret's first son, Ferdinand, is born.

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.

Portugal:

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

Scandinavia/Baltic:

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

Muscovy:

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

Ottoman Empire:

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.

Egypt:

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.

Subsaharan Africa:

Ndongo:

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.

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.

Akkoyunlu (Mesopotamia/Persia):

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.

Timurid Empire:

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.

Indian Subcontinent:

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.

Australia:

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.

East Asia:

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.

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.

North America:

Norasia:

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. He has met the Cabot-led English Fleet.

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.

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.

[BlackMage]

Not that fast, nation states can rise very quickly, its not as if the Yolgnus are Mongols, however through trade, they have gain useful technology and foreign ideas, its not totally impossible for a small geo-political power to arise in that region.

Now for something that is implausible, I challenge BlackMage to write a Nyoongar-Wank TL.:D:D:D

Oh, that's my next TL, definitely...

But, in the interests of plausibility, I've decided to retcon all my first decade of Yolgnu events into two decades. The new TL looks like this:

The Birth of the Yolgnu Nation: 1492-1511

In 1493, the Yolgnu existed primarily as a concept; a series of traditions, religious practices, and linguistic dialects, with all those identifying themselves as 'Yolgnu' linking themselves to a particular territory: specifically, eastern Marege (OTL's eastern Top End)

Beyond that, however, there was very little in the way of unity. The Yolgnu were divided into clan groups and bands, who functioned largely autonomously. Without any significant foreign threats, there was no reason for unity-or, indeed, technological developments. So the Yolgnu survived, for tens of thousands of years, largely as they always had.

However, Yolgnu history can be said to have truly begun, from the day the Invaders arrived. The first contact with the traders dubbed generally the 'Macassans' could not have begun more inauspiciously. The exhausted and lonely traders attempted to abduct a party of Yolgnu women; the Yolgnu reacted violently, spearing several Macassans and nearly sinking their boat. Unlike the other Aboriginal tribes of Marege, who generally experienced positive first contacts, the Yolgnu recognised, from the beginning, the threat which Macassan influence posed to traditional tribal culture.

To this end, the Yolgnu began to unify politically, through a series of corroborees and tribal meetings. It was decided to oppose the Macassans, and hopefully to drive them back where they came from. A previously insignificant band 'headman', Djerrkura (note: obviously there are no records of his existence in OTL, but I needed a name and it's a Yolgnu family name, so there's no reason why he couldn't have existed), rose to prominence for his vitriolically anti-Macassan stance. According to legend, one of his sisters was one of those women attacked by the Macassans.

The Macassans had no understanding of tribal borders. As such, trepangers frequently strayed into Yolgnu territory, where they were immediately set upon by warriors. Djerrkura, acting in defiance of tradition, recognised the need to compensate for the vast technology gap. Macassan technologies were adapted for Yolgnu use, and many Macassan ships were commandeered with the help of bribed or intimidated crews. This served as a means for piracy against Macassan traders.

Due to their comparative size (unlike many other tribes in the region, who comprised only hundreds of individuals, there were over two thousand Yolgnu), the Yolgnu came to dominate the burgeoning anti-Macassan movements. Through both ideological sympathy and intimidation, a loose confederacy of tribes began to form, devoted to opposing the Macassans. Over the next decade, a 'cold war', of sorts, would develop between the two nations, as both sides sought allies and prestige in the region.

The First Yolgnu War of 1507-1511 proved disastrous for both sides. The Macassan invasion force floundered, unable to strike at the Yolgnu, and proved a heavy drain on the Gowan treasury. The Yolgnu, however, faced even harsher conditions. The Macassans' tribal allies, eager to gain favour, committed atrocities against Yolgnu civilian populations, most notably in the Gagadju Massacre. Far more deadly, however, was a virus brought by the soldiers: smallpox. The disease wreaked havoc on the Yolgnu population, killing over half the population, most notably the previously dominant elders. This allowed Djerrkura, already a hero for his guerrilla activities, to gain effective political control over the Yolgnu.

But even he realised that the Macassans could not be driven out. Instead, he decided that to preserve Yolgnu independence, an accomodation must be made. In the Makaratta (treaty) that ended the war in 1511, predictably harsh terms were imposed: the Yolgnu allies were annexed, and they were forced to swear friendship to Gowa. Yet they were granted their independence, and Djerrkura was recognised as bate (prince) of Yolgnu. He quickly set about creating the foundations for an independent Yolgnu state along Gowan lines. A council of elders was convened, to serve a similar role to the Bate Salapang, and the rudiments of a ministry were formed.

However, the Yolgnu still faced formidable difficulties. Their population had been ravaged, the war had led to the burning and destruction of much of their territories, and their population were inevitably beginning to gravitate towards settlements on the coast. However, such challenges remained for another decade to resolve.

1494:

The newly crowned Karaeng of Gowa, I-Pakere'tau Karaeng Tunijallo'-ri Pasukki' Somba-ri Gowa (henceforth referred to as I'Pakere'tau I) is informed by his Shahbandar (Foreign Affairs Minister) of the decline in trepang stocks across Indonesia. The young king is advised by the Bate Salapang (the supreme council of nobles, akin to a Parliament) to send ships to discover new trepang stocks.

1495:

The first Macassan voyages of exploration, sponsored by the king, set out. The first three disappear without trace. The fourth, however, encounters a large, tropical land to the south. First contact between the Macassans and Yolgnu occurs-the Yolgnu spear the ship's captain, and drive their crew back into the sea. It is not an auspicious start. The ship's remaining crew return to Makassar with news of fantastic riches and abundant stocks of trepang. The new land is dubbed 'Marege' by the king.

1496:

News of the new land takes time to disseminate; as such, no fleets are sent to Marege. The Yolgnu presume, falsely, that the invaders have been scared off.

1497:

At the start of the next trepang season, the first Macassan praus begin to arrive, cautiously, in Marege. Those which land in Yolgnu territory are attacked. Some other tribes, however, react in a friendly fashion. The first stocks of trepang are harvested and returned to Makassar, from where they are traded on to China. However, the land to the south does not yet gain much interest; there are still trepang stocks in Gowan waters, albeit diminishing rapidly, and Marege is too far away and too hostile to yet risk a business venture.

1498:

The Yolgnu convene a meeting, or corroborree, to discuss the issue of 'the invaders'. In their first contact, the Macassans attempted to kidnap three Yolgnu women, sparking a skirmish. The various headmen of the Yolgnu bands agree to a policy of 'total resistance'. They will attempt to drive off the Macassans with a policy of military force.

A small number of Macassan ships arrive in Marege, but steer clear of the Yolgnu. However, the large profits from their ventures bring the nation to the full attention of merchants in Makassar.

1499:

This year sees a massive rise in the number of Macassan ships arriving off the coast of Marege. The Gunbalang nation, willing to cooperate with the newcomers, sign a treaty with Macassan fishermen: in exchange for technology, they will provide labour for the Macassans and allow the construction of temporary camps on their land. Some other Aboriginal tribes follow suit; most others, however, remain cautiously indifferent.

Three praus (Macassan fishing ships) attempt to fish in Yolgnu waters. They are attacked by Yolgnu fishermen. Over two dozen Macassans are killed, and their boats are commandeered. The remaining crew agree to aid the Yolgnu in exchange for their lives.

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.

1510:

In Kai Djawa, the first permanent Yolgnu trading station, for pearls and trepang, is established. Similar settlements are set up in Marege.

Macassan economic influence begins to spread inland through the use of proxies. The first treaty with an inland tribe is concluded, by which they will supply labour for technology and food.

1511:

The war enters its third year, with no signs of abating. In desperation, the Shahbandur (Gowan foreign minister) decides to enter into negotiations with the Yolgnu. The Yolgnu, heavily weakened by smallpox, agree.

In the First Makaratta (treaty), Djerrkura is recognised as bate (prince) of the Yolgnu, independent of Makassar but in a pact of permanent friendship. His allies are not so fortunate, with Gowa annexing the territory of any tribe to ally with the Yolgnu.

The ravages of smallpox force the tribes of Marege to gravitate towards the Gowan settlements along the coast, where they are given food for labour. They remain nominally independent, but the collapse of Yolgnu's alliances effectively grants the Gowans regional hegemony. Similar processes take place in Kai Djawa.

Meanwhile, Gowan praus continue to explore Marege, reaching the eastern side of OTL's Gulf of Carpentaria. Several trading stations are established, but many tribes, newly contacted, react badly to the intruders.

In Yolgnu, the population begin to gravitate to fishing settlements along the coast, established by Djerrkura.

There. That seems more plausible.

[Glen]

Aussey, suggest that you make obscure 'who' made him Bishop. He can act as 'South Africa' bishop, but perhaps not an official title?

Also, that Maria-Christina of Naples, is she an OTL historical figure? Otherwise, just state 'a lady of the court' or some such. Might also want to mention specifically that she's been 'raised up' to fill this role. In any event, I'd prefer you used no name or a different name than Maria-Christina to avoid confusion.

Yes, it is a common name.

BTW, you're getting away with a lot of name dropping since you are having so many rename themselves, obscuring their OTL identities.

Please address and repost here.

If that's the case, I may send a more minor Prince to Spain, and the current ambassador to the Holy Roman Emperor. We will, of course, value our alliance with Kongo before all other.

I didn't. He was made a BISHOP. Not primate. Besides, Ndongo is south of Kongo, we made him Bishop of Ndongo, and Africa Australi, or south Africa, refers to the fact that we wish to expand southward. Not northward (except for Lunda- which is northeastward.) Of course, again, we wish to cooperate with Kongo.

Yes. Of course.

It's a common name. She's a minor lady from the Neapolitan king's court. Only made a Donna to marry the Prince.

We are. Just a few things, like supplies for the altar, and silver and stuff. If you didn't know, from the Congo south, is full of diamonds. Diamonds. And ivory.

Great! Because the heathen kingdom of Luango is to YOUR north, and the Kongolese claimed to be overlords- but you just physically bring it under your yoke. Help us conquer Lunda, we'll help you conquer Luango :)

Of course. That's why I said a few. Just throwing it in their, so it doesn't seem like we're not using them.

Thanks!
Catholic Africa Will Rule The Continent.

Few points:
1. Spain will probably be supporting Kongo considerably more than Ndongo, as Ndongo is in the Neapolitan sphere of influence.
2. I don't really think you can get your bishop made primate of all Southern Africa. OTL Henriqe of Kongo was given the defunct bishopric of Eutica, and that was about as far as it was going to go. Plus there is another Christian kingdom in the nearby area with close ties to the church--particularly in Spain (by which, of course, I mean Kongo). Speaking of which, are you responding to the Kongolese offer of alliance?
3. Isn't Maria-Christina of Naples already married to Alphonso's youngest son?
4. Where are you getting the money for all this? Cathedrals are expensive, and importing materials from Northern Germany even more so. Wouldn't building it out of local materials be more feasible?
5. I think the Kongolese would be willing to send troops on your crusade.
6. Keep in mind that there aren't a whole lot of Rhodeans in Ndongo as of this moment.

In general though, I like what you're doing, and have similar plans for Kongo actually.

1505 March: After delayed visits and tours, Prince João-Baptista arrives back in Ndongo, with an even grander entourage of Franciscan monks, Neapolitan men to mine the interior, Spaniard artisans, and such; Rhodean knights, and treasures beyond compare. King Diego and his Queen throw a large parade in honor of what the Ndongolese consider to be "model Catholics."

The Neapolitans, along with a few Rhodean knights, and a conquistador, are granted a charter by King Diego to colonize and conquer the unconquered lands of the powerful, heathen kingdom of Lunda in the north in the name of the King. King Diego declares his kingdom to be "a mari usque ad mare," after learning of the Indian Ocean and Muslim Africans from Prince João-Baptista.

1505 April: Prince João-Baptista is created "Duke of Angoy," and made Royal Ambassador to Their Catholic Majesties of Spain, and Prince Fernando of Matamba is made Royal Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples-Sicily-Jerusalem. Their re-depart is scheduled for the fall.

1505 May: Prince João-Baptista and his betrothed, Donna Anna Christina de Lannoy of Naples, are married at small Franciscan parish Church of Santa Chiarra in the capital. Queen Betânia gives birth to a daughter, who is named "Maria Anna-Clara," and is given to the now-Princess Anna Christina of Naples to raise, whom the infant princess is named after. King Diego replaces Portugese with Italian as lingua franca of southern Africa.

1505 Summer: Construction on a cathedral in São Rafael begin. Prince Sebastião returns, having victoriously conquered the Jaga Cassangi. He is created "Principe-Conquistatore del Regno," and marries an Ndongolese noble woman, the Lady Anastasia-Cristina. He is made Royal Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and plans to leave with the other ambassadors in the fall.

1505 August: TRH Prince João-Baptista, Princess Anna Christina of Naples, and the infant Infanta Maria Anna-Clara, depart for Spain; Prince Fernando departs for Naples; and TRH Prince Sebastião and Princess Anastasia-Cristina depart for Istambul. Instead of purely European dress, they are now all suited in European-cut clothing, with African materials, jewlry, and patterns. They truly look exotic, and representative of the Kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba.

1505 September 17: Under influence from his Franciscan tendala, or Chief Advisor, King Diego signs the Act of Unification, unifying the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba as "Regno di Ndongo-Matamba-" the Kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba. It becomes known as Giorno di regnoSan , or "Kingdom Day," and in honor of this, King Diego declares Saint Lamberto di Maastricht, Co-Patron Saint of Ndongo-Matamba.

1505 November: TRH Prince João-Baptista, Princess Anna Christina of Naples, and the infant Infanta Maria Anna-Clara arrive in Madrid, Spain. More troops Ndongolese-Matamban troops are sent to help fight in Lunda.

1505 Christmas Day: The first Ndongolese bishop, Saint Lorenzo, is consecrated as "Bishop of All Africa-Austalis," by the Franciscan bishops.

1506 Winter/1507 Early Winter: The Spanish ship is sent to the Hansa, headed by a Matamban noble by the name of Count Marco-Felipe Mbandi, to purchase more materials for the Cathedral in São Rafael.

[The Sicilian]

Naples
1503: Giuffre Borgia agrees to give the title Duke of Romagna to Alphonso's eldest, Ferdinand. In return Giuffre marries one of Alphonso's relatives.

Me and John worked this out.

[Glen]

1501:

England:

1501 August: Arthur Prince of Wales marries Catherine of Aragon.

Holy Roman Empire:

With the threatened loss of Wien, Maximilian 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 Maximilian 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 Maximilian's forces. Left with the choice of widening the war or cutting his losses, Maximilian 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.

Baden:

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

Saxony:

Henry Wettin, second son of duke Albert of Saxony, makes pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. Though he is impressed with the Holy City and the Rhodean knights, Rome is another matter.

Italian Peninsula:

King 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.

Iberian Peninsula:

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

Eastern Europe:

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.

Ottoman Empire:

1501 March: 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.

1501 Late April: 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.

1501 Late: 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.

Holy Land:

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.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

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.

Indian Subcontinent:

Several dozen Ethiopians arrive in South India and begin hiring ship builders.

East Asia:

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

Australia:

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.

Norasia (North America):

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

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.

1501 Spring: 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.

[KineticBots]

I was about to post these in the other thread but Glen locked it (although it isn't really going to matter because they won't affect anyone else).

Japan: Domestic events 1500-1509

1500: Death of Emperor Go-tsuchimikado. He is succeeded by Emperor Go-kashiwabara. By now the imperial court is in such financial ruin that they can't even afford a burial for the late Emperor befitting his divine status.


1502: The allied armies of the Akita clan of Dewa province and Nambu clan of Mutsu province reach the northern shores of Honshu. The Ainu have by now been almost completely pushed out of Honshu and have been forced to flee to Ezo (OTL now Hokkaido). To guarantee that the Ainu will pose no threat in the future, the Akita clan decide to establish outposts on the OTL Shimokita and Tsugaru peninsulars. They are simply named Shimokita and Tsugaru.

1503: The Nambu clan establish a small outpost on the southern tip of the Oshima peninsular of Ezo, and explore northwards, encountering many far less hostile tribes of Ainu. Later that year, the Nambu clan complete a coastal survey of Ezo. They also encounter but do not explore the Chishima islands, and another island, Kitaezo (now OTL Sakhalin), previously thought to be a peninsular.

1504: Nambu ships complete a coastal survey of the Chishima islands and Kitaezo.

Mutsu province, home to the Wakamatsu clan in the south and the Nambu clan in the north, is divided between those two clans into two provinces - Muzen in the south (Wakamatsu) and Mugo in the north (Nambu). The Akita then cede Shimokita and Tsugaru and return to their home province.

1505: Fishing operations begin in waters off Ezo.

The Nambu begin trading with the Ainu of Ezo.

1506: Whaling operations begin in waters off the Chishima islands.

1508: Ashikaga Yoshizumi is replaced as Shogun by Ashikaga Yoshitane (who was Shogun from 1490-1493), who had secured the support of a powerful daimyo from Yamaguchi, Ouchi Yoshioki. Yoshizumi's puppeteer Hosokawa Masamoto was killed a year earlier

Pirates ransack Tsushima city, while bakufu trade ships bound for Korea are in port. They manage to escape to the Asian mainland with a huge bounty of precious goods. Newly restored Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane, intent on preserving his seat of power and being seen as a powerful ruler, declares a 'war on piracy and pirates'. Unfortunately the bakufu has basically no navy. Fortunately, the clans of Kyushu and Chugoku have ships that they can commit to the campaign.

1509: The 'war on piracy' begins.


That's all for now.

Regards,
KineticBots

[Atom]

1493: Thupa inca dies. Wayna Qapac accedes to the throne. He begins consolidation which will last until about 1520.

1496: A khipumaynac (khipu scribe/reader) begins using the khipu to record not only numbers, or act as a mnemoic aids, but also as a word. There are a series of binary choices (6 of them) plus 24 possible colors, that together make up a word. Living in cuzco he quickly influnces the other scribes there and they also adopt this system. By 1500 over a hundred words are in use, most being important goods (potatoes, llamas, quinoa) and people to owe it to.

1509: The number of words in use has doubledd to two hundred , and the Inca is taking a very serious interest in this. One of his (many) sons, Washkar (I can't find his OTL pre-Inca name, so I will use his Inca name), who is a favorite of the inca, after Atawallpa and a few others, takes a serious interest in this and learns the khipu. He then begs the Inca to allow him to build a "library" and academy for khipumaynacs. The Inca agrees and construction begins.

[Atom]

1493: Thupa inca dies. Wayna Qapac accedes to the throne. He begins consolidation which will last until about 1520.

1496: A khipumaynac (khipu scribe/reader) begins using the khipu to record not only numbers, or act as a mnemoic aids, but also as a word. There are a series of binary choices (6 of them) plus 24 possible colors, that together make up a word. Living in cuzco he quickly influnces the other scribes there and they also adopt this system. By 1500 over a hundred words are in use, most being important goods (potatoes, llamas, quinoa) and people to owe it to.

1509: The number of words in use has doubledd to two hundred , and the Inca is taking a very serious interest in this. One of his (many) sons, Washkar (I can't find his OTL pre-Inca name, so I will use his Inca name), who is a favorite of the inca, after Atawallpa and a few others, takes a serious interest in this and learns the khipu. He then begs the Inca to allow him to build a "library" and academy for khipumaynacs. The Inca agrees and construction begins.

[Psychomeltdown]

I seem to e a couple of days behind, but I'm catching up. :D
Anyway, this is the revised timeline i wrote up, it involves some discussion with DQ as to the going ons in India.

...



1495 John II dies and is succeeded by Manoel I as kind of Portugal.

1496 Manoel I marries Isabella of Asturias.

1497 Isabella of Asturias dies of due to miscarriage.

Decree to expel all Jews from Portugal is signed by King Manoel I. Upon the death of isabella of Asturias, the decree is pretty much forgotten. Though the signing of the decree in the first place allows for the church to begin making moves against the Jews in Portugal.

1500

Pedro Alvares Cabral sets sail for India, there are no problems in the voyage.

Bartholomeu Dias’ ship is not wrecked off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope.

Pedro Alvares Cabral, using his superior weapons and soldiers, manages to get a trading concessions out of the rulers of Sofala (Mozambique), Kilwa (Tanzania), and Melinde (Kenya).

Pedro Alvares Cabral arrives in India. The larger amount of ships allows for him to make demands upon the ports he arrives to. Calicut and Cochin accept trading agreements, but Calicut is displeased with the actions of the Portuguese while Cochin warmly welcomes the Portuguese.

Negotiations with England on the issue of a new wife for Manoel I come to a close as they agree that Manoel I will marry Margaret Tudor in 1502.

1501

Cabral returns to Portugal with 11 of his 13 ships. Richly laden and richly rewarded by King Manoel.

Calicut kills off or chases off the Portuguese left behind in Calicut to oversee Portuguese interests.

1502

Vasco De Gama sails with 25 warships to India, to keep control of the trading ports that Cabral has opened for the Portuguese.

De Gama sets up a fort at the harbor of Sofala, Kilwa, Mozambique, Melinde, and in Mogadishu. De Gama sacks the coastal city of Mombasa and builds a fort there. He also takes Zanzibar Island and claims it for Portugal.

Vasco De Gama forces Calicut to agree to renewed trading concessions, after smashing their fleet and bombarding their city. The ruler is forced to allow them to set up a factory and gives them land upon which they can set up a trading enclave. In time it becomes a heavily armed fortress.

King Manoel I begins expanding the shipyards and the size of Portugal’s trading fleet and navy.

King Manoel I marries Margaret Tudor of England.

Bartholomeu Diaz is sent to scout out the territories of the Spanish. He instead discovers Brazil and claims it for the Portuguese. He also reaches the Strait of Magellan before turning back. He is proclaimed the greatest explorer in Portugal.

1503

Anti Jewish riots rage in Lisbon, at the behest of Catholic priests, killing 3000 Jews. Manoel I stamps out the riots and executes the leaders. This definitely does not sit well with the Catholic Church.

Cochin is also added to the ports that the Portuguese now trade at. They are once again warmly received by the local ruler and they manage to buy some land upon which they set up a small fortress and warehouses. This will be the main area from which they will work for some years to come.

Vasco De Gama continues to reinforce and expand Portuguese trading ports in East Africa and India. He sets up a fortifications on the island of Angediva, he crushes Arab shipping and pirates among the trade ships sent from the Muslim kingdoms.

Vasco De Gama returns to Portugal. Due to his great success in India and his expanding of Portuguese interests, Manoel I entitles Vasco De Gama to be the first viceroy in India. He accepts.

1504

More anti-Jewish Riots pop up in and around Lisbon and other cities, most encouraged by Catholic priests. The Church is putting heavy pressure on Manoel to expel the Jews, but it’s more becoming a fight for who has the most power, the King or the Church than the issue over Jews continuing to live in Portugal.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to a healthy baby boy, named Manoel II.

Vasco De Gama and 30 ships leave for India, with orders to solidify Portuguese claims and to create a monopoly. He also takes a long a young squadron captain named. Alfonso De Albuquerque, later to be known as the De Gama’s Mastiff for his willingness to go and fight where De Gama points.

Vasco De Gama solidifies and strengthens forts and harbors along Eastern Africa.

1505

Manoel I and the Church leaders disagreements finally come to a head. Maneol, although a pious Catholic, cannot tolerate the continued interference by the priests and their continual rousing up riots and causing damage. He cuts funding to the church and exiles the leaders of those that oppose him, others he executes. The executed and exiled people’s lands are confiscated.

Vasco De Gama continues to fortify his positions in India, Calicut and Cochin. Explorations are made along the India Coast. Sri Lanka is discovered and trade is set up with the local rulers.

De Albuquerque is charged with putting down rebellions in East Africa. He does so brutally and efficiently. He also is charged with pirating Arab/Muslim trading vessels, which he also does efficiently.

1506

Manoel I enacts strict laws that are designed to curb the Church’s power in Portugal. The lack of funding has already dried up a lot of the political activeness of the priests, but it’s not enough for Manoel who’s whispered to be becoming more like his predecessor John II, which terrifies the Nobility into siding with him.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her second child, a son named Henrique.

De Albuquerque is sent back to Portugal with treasure laden ships.

Trade is opened between Portugal and the Bharata Empire, mainly taking place out of Diu in Gujarat.

1507

Manoel begins great works, building roads, canals, and shipyards using the incoming wealth from the Far East. He increases the size of the army and the size of the navy, he also begins sending out more nobles into Africa to oversee the construction of forts and harbors and extract tribute from the conquered tribes and cities in Africa.

De Albuquerque returns from India. He is immediately sent back with orders for De Gama to start taking control of Muslim ports and cities. De Albuquerque returns with 30 ships and hundreds of troops.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her third child, a girl named Beatrice.

1508

De Albuquerque is sent to conqueror the Island of Hormuz, with 20 ships and 1000 troops. There’s a fierce battle, but in the end the Portuguese manage to take the island. They begin setting up a fort there. De Albuquerque is there for most of the year, fighting back counterattacks by the local rulers.

Lorenco de Almeida is sent to explore up and down the eastern coast of India, they come across Sri Lanka and set up trading relations with the Kingdom of Kotte and attack the Kingdom of Jaffna, looting it’s port cities. Portuguese ships manage to reach Bengal later that year.

Manoel I sends settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, the increasing travel and the growing power of the Western African Nations are becoming something of a threat. The city of Porto Manoel is established.

1509

Manoel I sends out ships to explore the lands discovered by Diaz in 1502.

De Gama sends out ships to a place called Malacca. The Portuguese under Lorenco De Almeida discover Malacca and tell tales of the major trading going on there. A captain named Ferdinand Magellan dies in Malacca after taking ill. Lorenco De Almeida explores in and around Malacca for the next year.

20 ships under Francisco De Almeida arrive to reinforce De Gama.

De Albuquerque successfully returns from fortifying and laying claim to Hormuz.

De Gama strikes a deal with the Vijayanagara Empire as one of it’s provinces rises up in rebellion. They’ll provide horses and artillery for the Vijayanagara in return for Goa. De Gama sends De Albuquerque and De Almeida to Yemen to raid it for what’s needed and pirate among the Arab ships.

De Albuquerque launches an attack upon Aden, in Yemen. After brutal fighting the city is taken, but not for long as reinforcements manage to drive the Portuguese out, but not after taking what they came for.

De Almeida ravages the Arab shipping along the Yemen and Oman coasts.

1510

Manoel I makes a pilgrimage to see the Pope, to make sure the Pope knows his piety and that the occurrences with the Church of Portugal are matters that only relate to Portugal.

Margaret Portugal gives birth to her fourth child, a boy named Francisco.

Margaret of Portugal also begins actively pushing for more hospitals and universities in Portugal.

De Gama takes possession of Goa, from the Vijayanagara Empire. He makes it the capitol of the State of India.

Lorenco De Almeida returns from Malacca and the surrounding areas, he tells the tales of the rich trade and the wealth that flows through there.

De Gama sends de Albuquerque and Lorenco de Almeida back to Malacca, to take the city. He leaves with a hefty 26 ships and 1600 troops.

Francisco De Almeida is sent back to ravage the Yemen and Oman coasts.

Trade is opened with the Bengal.

[Psychomeltdown]

I seem to e a couple of days behind, but I'm catching up. :D
Anyway, this is the revised timeline i wrote up, it involves some discussion with DQ as to the going ons in India.

...



1495 John II dies and is succeeded by Manoel I as kind of Portugal.

1496 Manoel I marries Isabella of Asturias.

1497 Isabella of Asturias dies of due to miscarriage.

Decree to expel all Jews from Portugal is signed by King Manoel I. Upon the death of isabella of Asturias, the decree is pretty much forgotten. Though the signing of the decree in the first place allows for the church to begin making moves against the Jews in Portugal.

1500

Pedro Alvares Cabral sets sail for India, there are no problems in the voyage.

Bartholomeu Dias’ ship is not wrecked off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope.

Pedro Alvares Cabral, using his superior weapons and soldiers, manages to get a trading concessions out of the rulers of Sofala (Mozambique), Kilwa (Tanzania), and Melinde (Kenya).

Pedro Alvares Cabral arrives in India. The larger amount of ships allows for him to make demands upon the ports he arrives to. Calicut and Cochin accept trading agreements, but Calicut is displeased with the actions of the Portuguese while Cochin warmly welcomes the Portuguese.

Negotiations with England on the issue of a new wife for Manoel I come to a close as they agree that Manoel I will marry Margaret Tudor in 1502.

1501

Cabral returns to Portugal with 11 of his 13 ships. Richly laden and richly rewarded by King Manoel.

Calicut kills off or chases off the Portuguese left behind in Calicut to oversee Portuguese interests.

1502

Vasco De Gama sails with 25 warships to India, to keep control of the trading ports that Cabral has opened for the Portuguese.

De Gama sets up a fort at the harbor of Sofala, Kilwa, Mozambique, Melinde, and in Mogadishu. De Gama sacks the coastal city of Mombasa and builds a fort there. He also takes Zanzibar Island and claims it for Portugal.

Vasco De Gama forces Calicut to agree to renewed trading concessions, after smashing their fleet and bombarding their city. The ruler is forced to allow them to set up a factory and gives them land upon which they can set up a trading enclave. In time it becomes a heavily armed fortress.

King Manoel I begins expanding the shipyards and the size of Portugal’s trading fleet and navy.

King Manoel I marries Margaret Tudor of England.

Bartholomeu Diaz is sent to scout out the territories of the Spanish. He instead discovers Brazil and claims it for the Portuguese. He also reaches the Strait of Magellan before turning back. He is proclaimed the greatest explorer in Portugal.

1503

Anti Jewish riots rage in Lisbon, at the behest of Catholic priests, killing 3000 Jews. Manoel I stamps out the riots and executes the leaders. This definitely does not sit well with the Catholic Church.

Cochin is also added to the ports that the Portuguese now trade at. They are once again warmly received by the local ruler and they manage to buy some land upon which they set up a small fortress and warehouses. This will be the main area from which they will work for some years to come.

Vasco De Gama continues to reinforce and expand Portuguese trading ports in East Africa and India. He sets up a fortifications on the island of Angediva, he crushes Arab shipping and pirates among the trade ships sent from the Muslim kingdoms.

Vasco De Gama returns to Portugal. Due to his great success in India and his expanding of Portuguese interests, Manoel I entitles Vasco De Gama to be the first viceroy in India. He accepts.

1504

More anti-Jewish Riots pop up in and around Lisbon and other cities, most encouraged by Catholic priests. The Church is putting heavy pressure on Manoel to expel the Jews, but it’s more becoming a fight for who has the most power, the King or the Church than the issue over Jews continuing to live in Portugal.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to a healthy baby boy, named Manoel II.

Vasco De Gama and 30 ships leave for India, with orders to solidify Portuguese claims and to create a monopoly. He also takes a long a young squadron captain named. Alfonso De Albuquerque, later to be known as the De Gama’s Mastiff for his willingness to go and fight where De Gama points.

Vasco De Gama solidifies and strengthens forts and harbors along Eastern Africa.

1505

Manoel I and the Church leaders disagreements finally come to a head. Maneol, although a pious Catholic, cannot tolerate the continued interference by the priests and their continual rousing up riots and causing damage. He cuts funding to the church and exiles the leaders of those that oppose him, others he executes. The executed and exiled people’s lands are confiscated.

Vasco De Gama continues to fortify his positions in India, Calicut and Cochin. Explorations are made along the India Coast. Sri Lanka is discovered and trade is set up with the local rulers.

De Albuquerque is charged with putting down rebellions in East Africa. He does so brutally and efficiently. He also is charged with pirating Arab/Muslim trading vessels, which he also does efficiently.

1506

Manoel I enacts strict laws that are designed to curb the Church’s power in Portugal. The lack of funding has already dried up a lot of the political activeness of the priests, but it’s not enough for Manoel who’s whispered to be becoming more like his predecessor John II, which terrifies the Nobility into siding with him.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her second child, a son named Henrique.

De Albuquerque is sent back to Portugal with treasure laden ships.

Trade is opened between Portugal and the Bharata Empire, mainly taking place out of Diu in Gujarat.

1507

Manoel begins great works, building roads, canals, and shipyards using the incoming wealth from the Far East. He increases the size of the army and the size of the navy, he also begins sending out more nobles into Africa to oversee the construction of forts and harbors and extract tribute from the conquered tribes and cities in Africa.

De Albuquerque returns from India. He is immediately sent back with orders for De Gama to start taking control of Muslim ports and cities. De Albuquerque returns with 30 ships and hundreds of troops.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her third child, a girl named Beatrice.

1508

De Albuquerque is sent to conqueror the Island of Hormuz, with 20 ships and 1000 troops. There’s a fierce battle, but in the end the Portuguese manage to take the island. They begin setting up a fort there. De Albuquerque is there for most of the year, fighting back counterattacks by the local rulers.

Lorenco de Almeida is sent to explore up and down the eastern coast of India, they come across Sri Lanka and set up trading relations with the Kingdom of Kotte and attack the Kingdom of Jaffna, looting it’s port cities. Portuguese ships manage to reach Bengal later that year.

Manoel I sends settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, the increasing travel and the growing power of the Western African Nations are becoming something of a threat. The city of Porto Manoel is established.

1509

Manoel I sends out ships to explore the lands discovered by Diaz in 1502.

De Gama sends out ships to a place called Malacca. The Portuguese under Lorenco De Almeida discover Malacca and tell tales of the major trading going on there. A captain named Ferdinand Magellan dies in Malacca after taking ill. Lorenco De Almeida explores in and around Malacca for the next year.

20 ships under Francisco De Almeida arrive to reinforce De Gama.

De Albuquerque successfully returns from fortifying and laying claim to Hormuz.

De Gama strikes a deal with the Vijayanagara Empire as one of it’s provinces rises up in rebellion. They’ll provide horses and artillery for the Vijayanagara in return for Goa. De Gama sends De Albuquerque and De Almeida to Yemen to raid it for what’s needed and pirate among the Arab ships.

De Albuquerque launches an attack upon Aden, in Yemen. After brutal fighting the city is taken, but not for long as reinforcements manage to drive the Portuguese out, but not after taking what they came for.

De Almeida ravages the Arab shipping along the Yemen and Oman coasts.

1510

Manoel I makes a pilgrimage to see the Pope, to make sure the Pope knows his piety and that the occurrences with the Church of Portugal are matters that only relate to Portugal.

Margaret Portugal gives birth to her fourth child, a boy named Francisco.

Margaret of Portugal also begins actively pushing for more hospitals and universities in Portugal.

De Gama takes possession of Goa, from the Vijayanagara Empire. He makes it the capitol of the State of India.

Lorenco De Almeida returns from Malacca and the surrounding areas, he tells the tales of the rich trade and the wealth that flows through there.

De Gama sends de Albuquerque and Lorenco de Almeida back to Malacca, to take the city. He leaves with a hefty 26 ships and 1600 troops.

Francisco De Almeida is sent back to ravage the Yemen and Oman coasts.

Trade is opened with the Bengal.

[Glen]

1502:

Saxony:

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.

Frederick and Elizabeth's second child, a son (Philip Albert) is born.

Utrecht:

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.

Spain:

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.

Italian Peninsula:

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

Rhodes:

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.

Hanseatic League:

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

Muscovy:

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.

1502 September 13: 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.

Timurid Empire:

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 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 dispatched by Babur and several of his guards. This was not all. After the end of the battle, many of Babur’s men, tired and hungry from the long siege, began looting the city for everything of value and nutritional value. When shop owners and homeowners refused, many were outright killed rather than attempting to barter with them. This lead to Babur’s standing orders that would be applied to all conquests afterwards, excluding conquests in Afghanistan which he would personally oversee. The men were to slaughter any who refused to give into Babur’s demands and burn their shops or homes to the ground without regard for those who lived or worked there.

[B]Eastern Europe:

1502 Fall: Prince João-Baptista tours Eastern Europe.

Egypt:

The Ethiopians arrive in Eygpt. They present the Sultan with 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.

Maghreb:

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

Ottoman Empire:

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.

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. Many books, statues, relics, crucifixes, and the like are purchased for his return to Ndongo.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

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 helps with the missionaries conversion efforts, as she herself converted. Italian engineers, scholars and architects are sent to help modernize Ndongo.

1502 Winter: Ninety-percent of the Ndongolese now profess to be Catholic; only about a quarter of the Matambans are.

Ethiopia:

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

A large diplomatic expedition leaves Ethiopia, headed for Europe. It includes many of the equivalent of journeymen carpeters, instrusted to get jobs in shipyards around europe.

Indian Subcontinent:

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.

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.

Australasia:

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.

East Asia:

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.

[Glen]

1503:

Northern Europe:

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

While all shipwrights in England are engaged by King Henry VIIth, he does condone the taking on of Ethiopian apprentices in English shipyards.

Saxony:

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.

Italian Peninsula:

King Alphonso II of Naples meets Duke Giuffre of Romagna for peace negotiations.

King 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.

Spain:

Juan's second son, Juan-Philipe, is born.

Baltic Region:

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 Kalmar Union, who rejects the Livonian request, and the Hansa/Teutonic Knights.

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 captain, 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.

Ottoman Empire:

Emperor Ahmed, taken aback by the rumors 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.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

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.

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

Ethiopia:

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.

Indian Subcontinent:

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.

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 coronate 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.”

Australasia:

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.

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 labor.

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 characterized 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.

Norasia (North America):

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.

[The Sicilian]

1499: A school for engineering, history, philosphy, law and natural philosphy is established in Messina.

1500: Prince Alphonso of Naples has a boy with his wife Maria Christina. He is named Philip.

1507: Prince Ferdinand of Naples and Prince Piero of Rossano are killed by assassination. It remains undiscovered whom had ordered it. Prince Alphonso, the ambassador to Ndongo, is first in line to the throne. Alphonso inherits his borthers title as Duke of Romagna

The Sicilian expedition encounters several groups that are hostile to the Mexica.

1508: The Neapolitan expedition is forced to return to their base at Messina (Havana). They leave behind several dozen soldiers and priests at Forte Altavilla.

1509: Ships from Messina land on the Ferrantean (Mississippi) river delta.

Note: I use Sicilian and Neapolitan interchangably.

[Glen]

England:

1503 March: Sebastian Cabot departs for the first time as commander of the English Expedition, determined to complete the mission of his dead father. This time he intends to head south along the European and African coast before crossing the sea.

Ndongo:

1503 May: Sebastian Cabot's fleet pays a visit to top off supplies in Ndongo, delivering letters from King Henry VIIth and Prince Arthur to the Royal family of Ndongo.

South America:

1503 October: Sebastian Cabot's expedition sight land, begin heading south down the coast.

1503 November: Sebastian Cabot rounds straits of the Southern Continent and strikes out into the Arthurian Ocean.

Arthurian Ocean (Pacific):

1503 December: Sebastian Cabot lands on an island filled with massive Statues. He names it Giant Island.

1504 February: Sebastian Cabot's fleet lands in Tahiti. Near mutiny occurs when Cabot wants to press on from this hospitable land.

East Asia:

1504 April: Sebastian Cabot arrives in the Philippines, confirmed by an interpreter on board. A Cabot has finally reached Asia. He obtains directions to China.

China:

1504 May: Sebastian Cabot arrives in Southern China. His father's dream is fulfilled.

England:

1504 November: Sebastian Cabot returns to England to a hero's welcome. Though several ships have been lost to storms, the bulk of his ships remain intact and are laden with treasures of the Orient.

[Glen]

England:

1503 March: Sebastian Cabot departs for the first time as commander of the English Expedition, determined to complete the mission of his dead father. This time he intends to head south along the European and African coast before crossing the sea.

Ndongo:

1503 May: Sebastian Cabot's fleet pays a visit to top off supplies in Ndongo, delivering letters from King Henry VIIth and Prince Arthur to the Royal family of Ndongo.

South America:

1503 October: Sebastian Cabot's expedition sight land, begin heading south down the coast.

1503 November: Sebastian Cabot rounds straits of the Southern Continent and strikes out into the Arthurian Ocean.

Arthurian Ocean (Pacific):

1503 December: Sebastian Cabot lands on an island filled with massive Statues. He names it Giant Island.

1504 February: Sebastian Cabot's fleet lands in Tahiti. Near mutiny occurs when Cabot wants to press on from this hospitable land.

East Asia:

1504 April: Sebastian Cabot arrives in the Philippines, confirmed by an interpreter on board. A Cabot has finally reached Asia. He obtains directions to China.

China:

1504 May: Sebastian Cabot arrives in Southern China. His father's dream is fulfilled.

England:

1504 November: Sebastian Cabot returns to England to a hero's welcome. Though several ships have been lost to storms, the bulk of his ships remain intact and are laden with treasures of the Orient.

[AJNolte]

Post more specifics, please. Quote specific entries to be changed and how.

1. Eliminate the part of the entry re: Cem the Pretender and his escape which reads:
"Though many have questioned my decision to ally with the Turk..."
All the stuff about the Rhodean fleet sailing in 1494 for Jerusalem should go; they probably wouldn't have done this until 1495, and you already have a post saying that they did.

2. Add as follows:
1494: A joint Rhodean expedition is dispatched to defeat a band of rogue Rhodeans andMuslim fanatics conducting piratical attacks from Helecarnassus. This joint expedition creates the opportunity for future Ottoman-Rhodean cooperation.

3. An additional note with Cem:
1494: Cem gathers an army of Moors in southern Spain with the avowed intent of roling back the reconquista. The Spanish meet him in open battle and defeat him, sending him in chains back to Rhodes. As a result of this Moorish uprising, all Moors who do not convert are expelled from Spain, and stricter standards of conversion are applied. Since those converso Jews remaining in Spain did not take part in the uprising, attitudes toward them soften, if only slightly.

[General_Paul]

No Man's Land: Ming China and the Burden of Manchuria

1500: The year 1500 marks a watershed year in Chinese history. Two years after the signing of the Imperial Business Compact Declaration, the Hongzhi Emperor took China's first real steps onto the international stage in the nearly seven decades since the end of Zheng He's expeditions into the Indian Ocean. On March 20, 1500, the Hongzhi Emperor ordered the Ming Navy to set sail for Taiwan, fulfilling their obligations to the Ryukyuans by launching a punitive expedition against the natives on the island. By the first week of April, almost 3,000 men had been ferried over to the island, with an additional 6,000 earmarked for deployment before the end of June. During the month of July the 9,000 man army, in conjunction with the manpower deployed by the Ryukyuans, was able to put the rebellious native Taiwanese citizenry in their respective places and began extracting the tribute promised the Ryukyuan government by the Hongzhi Emperor.

With these actions, Ming China dealt with one of its neighbors, a cultural satellite of the Chinese, on equal terms rather then as, "barbarians." This equal treatment of the Ryukyuans by the Hongzhi Emperor, who was attempting to placate the Ryukyuan emperor and the newly legitimate merchant class, is the watershed event that set the stage for further developments in Chinese policy for the rest of the 17th Century. By treating a cultural satellite, such as Ryukyu, as having equal legitimacy to China, rather than as pseudo-barbarians living on the fringe of the Middle Kingdom, the Hongzhi Emperor set a standing precident in imperial relations that could be extended much later to non-Asiatic peoples, such as the European traders and diplomats who would arrive later on to negotiate trade deals with the Ming government.

However, by the end of the decade, the Taiwanese expedition would seem a welcome distraction in comparison to the troubles that would plague the Ming frontier and draw China into conflict with its oldest adversaries, nomadic tribesmen.

1501: With the improvements of the Great Wall continuing unhindered and the situation on Taiwan resolved, the Hongzhi Emperor took it upon himself to begin dealing with something which had plagued his father and grandfather before him for nearly a century, the Manchu peoples. While the Manchu peoples were considered a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty and supplied the Ming armies with a good percentage of their war horses via trading posts, the increasing sinification of the Jurchen people, the native Manchu population, was causing issues for some of the local tribal leaders. The growing political and economic clout of the Ming was beginning to disturb Sibeoci Fiyanggū, the chieftain of the Jurchen people. Sibeoci Fiyanggū was of the Odoli Clan, a people located on the banks of the Hun River, who were known for their horsemanship and skill with a bow and arrow. Fiyanggū could claim lineage from Genghis Khan, giving him legitimacy among many of the tribes of Jurchen who practiced their nomadic lifestyles unchanged for many centuries.

By 1501, Fiyanggū's people were becoming a minority. Migrations into Manchu lands by non-Jurchen peoples, specifically ethnic Han Chinese, were becoming much more frequent and were forcing many clans off ancient tribal claims to pasturage that were the only source of food for their animals. Many of the pastures taken over by Han Chinese migrating into Manchuria were turned into farms to feed families, and to send food to markets in the south, leaving the native Manchus with a shrinking area of untilled land in which to practice their ages old lifestyle of moving from field to field with their livestock, stopping only to sleep.

Another troubling trend among younger Jurchens was a trend to give up their nomadic lifestyles and take up sedentary lives as farmers, or worse, move into North China and set up trading posts to make a profit. It was with this trend, began only three years prior in the lands of the Ming, that Sibeoci Fiyanggū came to the conclusion that this was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Before the end of the year, Sibeoci Fiyanggū would draw many neighboring Jurchen tribes, as well as other Manchu tribes, into an alliance to drive the Han Chinese out of their lands, and reclaim their lands rather than letting them fall into the hands of the settled Chinese.

1502-04: Sibeoci Fiyanggū spent two years building up his alliance of Jurchen and Manchu tribes to prepare for the struggle against the Ming. Fiyanggū was not a fool, he knew that the Hongzhi Emperor could bring many thousands of men to bear against the much smaller number of Manchu warriors. However, he had no choice in the matter and he believed that he no longer had the time that was needed to prepare his people for the war with the Ming.

In China, the Hongzhi Emperor spent these two years in an exactly opposite fashion than his future Manchu adversary. From 1502 to 1504, the Hongzhi Emperor was attempting to begin assimilating the Taiwanese tribes into the Chinese system of tribute, a process which would span well into the reign of his grandson. Along with this, he was also overseeing a period of unrivaled economic prosperity in China. In the four years following the Imperial Business Compact Declaration, thousands of business owners had registered for Imperial Business Compacts with the government, forcing the emperor to create a new government office: The Office of Imperial Business Affairs. In keeping with his trend of cutting down the excess fat, so to speak, of the bureaucracy, the emperor transferred bureaucrats, whose positions were to be eliminated, over to the newly created Office of Business Affairs (OOC: shortened title), and cut their old positions as originally planned.

Along with the creation of the Office of Business Affairs, the emperor also began to look into his trading situation on the periphery of the empire. Trade with the nomadic Mongols in the north, and Jurchens in the north-east was paying off for the empire. However, they could not continue the tea-horse trade as it stood and reports of inept commanders along the border began to trouble him more frequently. In 1503, the emperor summoned 30 regional commanders who he was informed were the most inept to the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, and proceeded to verbally tear them apart, calling them lazy and incompetent. By the end, he informed army generals that they were to fire all 30, "with extreme hostility, something they lacked against the enemies of the state," according to some eye witness reports. The army was also informed that it would be forced to take offensive measures should the Mongol tribes be found to be uncontrolable.

The process of installing competent leadership in the border areas would not be completed in 1505 when the first Jurchen lead attacks into Ming claimed lands would take place.

1505: On February 10, in the dead of winter, Manchu warriors attacked a border outpost in Duoyan serving as the defense of the local settlers. The garrison of 500 men was slaughtered down to the last man as a message to the locals, leave or end up like them. By early Spring, Manchu tribes were leading multiple raids into villages of settlers up and down the border in Duoyan, Jianzhou, and Chahar. The Hongzhi Emperor had little choice but to dispatch 45,000 men under the command of several generals. Unlike expeditions mounted under the Song Dynasty or earlier in the Ming Dynasty, the Hongzhi Emperor was unwilling to take command of armies in the field, preferring instead to let his generals do their job and he would do his.

This 45,000 man expedition would not reach the border until late July, owing to the army's access to experienced combat officer's, many of who were still leading troops in the subjugation of Taiwanese locals. When offensive operations were undertaken in early August, they were an unmitigated disaster. Nearly 10,000 men were killed or wounded in two months of campaigning from August to late September, with the slaughter ending only with the onslaught of the Manchurian winter. No progress had been made, and worse still, settlers were reporting many neighboring villages simply disappearing overnight, leaving ashes and blood where once thriving settlements existed hours before.

1506: In two years of open combat against the Manchu tribes under the command of Sibeoci Fiyanggū, the Ming Dynasty suffered almost 80,000 casualties, 3/4 of who were reported killed or wounded with the last 1/4 reported as missing in action or deserters. Incompetent leadership was labeled as the leading cause of such casualties, with general after general leading failed assaults on Manchu tribes who would simply negotiate around the large, unwieldy formations of foot soldiers and archers and strike them from behind.

On the home front, the economy began to slow a bit due to a 9% drop in business compact registrations, likely due to the fact that those who wanted compacts during the first decade of the Imperial Business Compact, were able to get their compacts without much trouble. However, as the economic growth began to stabilize, private shipping firms were taking up the slack in the trading sector by investing in the construction of merchant junks to expand trade routes many thousands of miles further than they had originally been mapped out as being.

Private firms even went so far as to dispatch trade junks to as far south as the Cape of Good Hope in an attempt to make contact with European merchants, who would buy their cargoes of tea, spice, and silk for a tidy profit. Not many of these trade junks were able to offload their merchandise onto Europeans, and most of those who were able to do so, did so in ports in the Indian Ocean, most important of which was Hormuz, where merchants were raking in profits from Portuguese traders who would gladly offer even their own wives, jokingly of course, for merchant junk cargoes.

While the Hongzhi Emperor did note that such expeditions by private business owners were highly profitable, he could not take time to capitalize on such information with the Manchu conflict going so poorly. (OOC: In OTL, the Hongzhi Emperor died in this year at the age of 35.)

1507-08: After three years of mass slaughter, the Ming armies finally had several strong victories that they could write home about. In late May 1506, five Jurchen tribes launching raids on Ming settlements in Duoyan were defeated by Ming generals who were finally beginning to adapt their tactics to Manchu fighting styles. By the time winter rolled in, Ming armies had marched well north of their military encampments in southern Duoyan and hot on the heels of retreating Manchu clans who now found themselves on the recieving end of punitive raids. In 1507 and 1508, these victories were followed up on by additional Ming armies dispatched to the region, driving the Manchu tribes further north into the cold lands of the Siberian tundra, referred to in official court documents as Seber, a reference to the local Tartar tribes name for this area.

1509-10: Two additional years of warfare lead the armies of the Hongzhi Emperor to a status quo victory over the Manchu tribes who now found themselves subjugated under the rule of the Ming Dynasty. Sibeoci Fiyanggū and his Odoli Clan were driven north, beyond their native Manchurian fields, into the frozen tundra and forests of Eastern Siberia (Seber). After their defeat at the hands of the Hongzhi Emperor's armies and the splintering of the Manchu clans, it would take several decades for any semblance of order to be restored to the now entirely nomadic Manchu tribes, who found themselves without a home, and without much grazing land available to them. Only at the turn of the 17th Century would the Jurchen clans again find themselves to be in an advantageous position to threatten to the northern Ming flanks.

In China, while the loss of many tens of thousands of lives in the Manchu conflict was regrettable and caused the emperor much anguish, the victory over the Manchu tribes and the opening of all of Manchuria to Han settlement opened a doorway to the Ming not opened since the days of the Han emperor. The Ming now had access to all of the horses, grazing land, and fertile farm land necessary to quench the thirst of the peasant class for generations to come. Along with that, it was no longer necessary for the Ming armies in the west to continue treating the other nomadic peoples, the Mongols, as unequal trading partners.

By the end of 1510, the Ming armies would begin the process of becoming entirely self-sufficient in horses needed by their cavalry. Within a few decades, the hearty horses of the steppe would be bred by the thousands in Manchuria and interior China, leaving the Mongol tribes increasingly on the loosing end of Ming trading policy.

[KineticBots]

No Man's Land: Ming China and the Burden of Manchuria

1500: The year 1500 marks a watershed year in Chinese history. Two years after the signing of the Imperial Business Compact Declaration, the Hongzhi Emperor took China's first real steps onto the international stage in the nearly seven decades since the end of Zheng He's expeditions into the Indian Ocean. On March 20, 1500, the Hongzhi Emperor ordered the Ming Navy to set sail for Taiwan, fulfilling their obligations to the Ryukyuans by launching a punitive expedition against the natives on the island. By the first week of April, almost 3,000 men had been ferried over to the island, with an additional 6,000 earmarked for deployment before the end of June. During the month of July the 9,000 man army, in conjunction with the manpower deployed by the Ryukyuans, was able to put the rebellious native Taiwanese citizenry in their respective places and began extracting the tribute promised the Ryukyuan government by the Hongzhi Emperor.

With these actions, Ming China dealt with one of its neighbors, a cultural satellite of the Chinese, on equal terms rather then as, "barbarians." This equal treatment of the Ryukyuans by the Hongzhi Emperor, who was attempting to placate the Ryukyuan emperor and the newly legitimate merchant class, is the watershed event that set the stage for further developments in Chinese policy for the rest of the 17th Century. By treating a cultural satellite, such as Ryukyu, as having equal legitimacy to China, rather than as pseudo-barbarians living on the fringe of the Middle Kingdom, the Hongzhi Emperor set a standing precident in imperial relations that could be extended much later to non-Asiatic peoples, such as the European traders and diplomats who would arrive later on to negotiate trade deals with the Ming government.

However, by the end of the decade, the Taiwanese expedition would seem a welcome distraction in comparison to the troubles that would plague the Ming frontier and draw China into conflict with its oldest adversaries, nomadic tribesmen.



Very, VERY impressed with the Chinese response.

The Ryukyuans are more than a bit esteemed with the shift in Chinese attitudes (and so am I!). Looks like international relations in East Asia ITTL will take a very different course to OTL.

Just a couple of quick questions:

1. I take it the Chinese forces stayed in Taiwan?

2. Could you give specific borders for how far the Ming armies pushed the Manchus?

Keep up the good work General.


Regards,
KineticBots

[RCTFI]

OOC: Since I got a few questions of who Heinrich Schneider is, I'll explain:

Heinrich Schneider is a priest in Wien who preaches a doctrine fairly similar to Savanarola's. In 1500, he gets the city of Wien to rebel at just the right moment to doom Maximilian I's campaign in Switzerland.
In 1502, with the matter of Switzerland settled, Maximilian I besieges Wien...

IC: When Maximilian I besieged Wien, he intended merely to restore some measure of order to the south of the Empire. He failed - three days into the siege, he was forced to abandon it to put down another revolt, this one along the eastern fronteir of Austria. While he crushed that revolt personally, his main force was too slow to act properly, and the Imperial artillery train is struck during a brave sallying effort on the part of the defenders of Wien - they capture many guns, slaughter many gunners and humiliate Maximilian I who begins looking into ways to improve the speed and versatility of his infantry.
After the defeat of the Imperial artillery train, Maximilian I loses heart where Wien is concerned - he breaks off the siege until spring of 1503, when he returns with a smaller force and tries to besiege the city, but once again fails - the defenders are ready, and have many Imperial guns that they captured last year, which they use to good effect.
What follows is a series of small-scale campaigns as the Imperial forces try to regain control - in 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506 and 1507 they try and each time they fail.
Finally, in 1508, Maximilian I is wounded during the largely indecisive battle that ensues as the Imperial army comes under attack. Dispirited and miserable, Maximilian I and his army camp out near the city, at which point Maximilian I decides to request to speak with Heinrich Schneider. His request is granted, and they meet between the city of Wien and the main Imperial camp. The Emperor, still suffering from his wound, speaks with Father Schneider for a long time. When he is done, he returns to his army, and the next morning proclaims that he is now convinced that the views expressed by Father Schneider have some legitimacy - he goes on to make clear that the anti-noble elements are in no way part ofwhat he is considering - and he then announces that Father Schneider will be the new Imperial Chaplain. This comes as a suprise to many of the corrupt bishops and senior priests who were denounced by Father Schneider and his followers...

While he does coopt Father Schneider, Maximilian I makes it clear that this is not some heresy - he sees this as a purification of the Church, something that will restore things to the way they should be.

[Glen]

England:

1502:

Vanilla is an instant hit in England when the Cabot Expedition returns with samples from a place called Cempoala. More missions are planned in future.

[Glen]

England:

1495: King Henry VII proclaims that no weapon may be given, traded, or sold in Norasia without the recipient swearing loyalty to the English Crown.

[Glen]

Norasia:

1503:

English traders of the Society of Venture Merchants retrace the route of John Cabot to the lands of the Haustecs and the Totonac. The contrast between the two neighboring states is amusing, given the Haustec perchant for nudity and the Totonan for fine vestments. Trade relations are established, but both groups as for aid against a dominating group inland that requires taxes in human sacrifices, the Azteca.

The English provide some arms, but by law can only offer them to those who swear loyalty to the English Crown.

[Tom Veil]

Based on conversations with Glen, but Glen and pa_dutch, please comment/edit:

June 1498: After tense negotiations, Stadacona agrees to let the English set up a trading post. They choose a location just upriver from the island on which the major Stadacona settlement lies. It is called Fort Venture, and the mixed English-Iroquoian settlement that develops around it is called "Red Slope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap-Rouge%2C_Quebec)."

March 1500: Encouraged by the Stadacona's excellent relationship with the English, the Hochelega eagerly allow a trading post near their settlement. The crew quickly settles on a magnificent natural harbor (http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/plaque/horizon/eng/ruptura.htm). It is originally known as Fall Line, for being located as far inland as any oceangoing ship can reach. Later, when word of John Cabot's death reaches the crew, they change the name to Cabot Harbor.

April 1501: The first Native-European marriage takes place in Red Slope. The ceremony is mostly Catholic, but the priest accords great respect to "the curious customs of these Eden-like people." The Stadacona woman takes on the name Rebecca Smith, while the Englishman takes on the name Karaken ('white one').

[AJNolte]

I meant to post this earlier but forgot to do so:
1500: Building on the cores of veterans from the reconquista and crusade, Spain begins expanding it's army and navy. Though they will have great success in both these areas, Spain's financial situation will worsen greatly as a result.

[Psychomeltdown]

I meant to post this earlier but forgot to do so:
1500: Building on the cores of veterans from the reconquista and crusade, Spain begins expanding it's army and navy. Though they will have great success in both these areas, Spain's financial situation will worsen greatly as a result.

Um... how long can Spain be teetering upon the edge of near financial ruin?

[AJNolte]

1503: Frederick and Elizabeth's first daughter, named Clara Helena, is born.

[pa_dutch]

Based on conversations with Glen, but Glen and pa_dutch, please comment/edit:

June 1498: After tense negotiations, Stadacona agrees to let the English set up a trading post. They choose a location just upriver from the island on which the major Stadacona settlement lies. It is called Fort Venture, and the mixed English-Iroquoian settlement that develops around it is called "Red Slope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap-Rouge%2C_Quebec)."

March 1500: Encouraged by the Stadacona's excellent relationship with the English, the Hochelega eagerly allow a trading post near their settlement. The crew quickly settles on a magnificent natural harbor (http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/plaque/horizon/eng/ruptura.htm). It is originally known as Fall Line, for being located as far inland as any oceangoing ship can reach. Later, when word of John Cabot's death reaches the crew, they change the name to Cabot Harbor.

April 1501: The first Native-European marriage takes place in Red Slope. The ceremony is mostly Catholic, but the priest accords great respect to "the curious customs of these Eden-like people." The Stadacona woman takes on the name Rebecca Smith, while the Englishman takes on the name Karaken ('white one').

If we want the development of a fully-Native American developed script, it might be better to have the Iroquois establish English contact later on, like the Wabanaki do, right? Perhaps move these events forward by at eight years?

[The Sicilian]

Naples

1500: Leonardo Da Vinci moves to Messina to become a professor at the Messina Academy. He teaches a wide variety of subjects including engineering, anatomy and natural philosophy.

[Keenir]

Domestic:
With all of his borders quiet, Emperor Bayezid and Emperor Ahmed did not meddle with what clearly worked just fine.

Fall 1496 – 1519: In the Ottoman Empire, the recruiting and training of janissaries was not interrupted by the Janissary Civil War (ref: the War against the Mamluk). However, the Janissary Civil War *did* disrupt the flow of new janissaries; it had always been traditional for a young janissary, upon the completion of his training and education, to be an apprentice in another part of the Empire…ie, apprenticed to carpenters, shipbuilders, etc. What the Janissary Civil War did was leave a lot of apprentices in the field they were apprenticed to; over the next two decades, through a policy of what one might consider benign neglect, very few janissary apprentices were brought into the military after the end of their apprenticeship….and those few (anywhere from 1-10% depending on the year) were mostly to the border with the Kingdom of Jerusalem (see 1504)

1501: Emperor Ahmed orders that Bulgaria begin shipping large quantities of nails and hemp (for rope) to the shipyards in Galata and Gallipoli. In addition, he demands a large number of Roman-style shortswords be delivered to Constantinople. In the shipyards of the Empire, construction begins on more ships to supplement the ones presently at port and those on patrol.

Late 1501: Emperor Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire sends missives to the governors (ooc: and whomever else is in charge) of the Crimean, instructing them to grant freedom *of passage _through_ Crimea* to the Tsar of Russia and the Tsar’s army and navy…but also instructing the Crimeans to strike back at any Russian who lashes out at the Crimeans, particularly the honor of Crimean women. Encouragement is given to those Crimeans who volunteer to serve in the navies of the Russians (but only for the upcoming offensive) or the Ottomans.

1504: In the Ottoman Empire, al scaloccio (a technique wherein all the oarsmen on a single bench share a single oar) and galleasses are adopted from the Venetians and other Italian expatriots who’ve taken residence and service under the Sultan’s banner.

Construction begins in Galata and Gallipoli (in the Ottoman Empire) on galleons suitable for warfare. At the same time, janissaries are sent to lead local troops in preparation for battle – and they are sent to the border shared with the Kingdom of Jerusalem, every tent facing east.

1509: Emperor Ahmed calls for volunteers from every sanjak in the Empire; these men will form the nucleus of a series of settlements (and bases) along the Red Sea coast of Arabia. There will be no settlements in the Holy City, of course. Most of the settlers are Footmen and Exemptees.

[pompejus]

I would like to post these events that happen before 1510. They are mainly some births.

1502:
The second son of Philip of Burgundy is born. He is named Ferdinand.

1503:
The first daughter of Philip of Burgundy is born. She is named Eleanor.

1504:
The second daughter of Philip of Burgundy is born. She is named Isabella.

1506:
The third son of Philip of Burgundy is born. He is named Maximillian.

[Glen]

Based on conversations with Glen, but Glen and pa_dutch, please comment/edit:

June 1498: After tense negotiations, Stadacona agrees to let the English set up a trading post. They choose a location just upriver from the island on which the major Stadacona settlement lies. It is called Fort Venture, and the mixed English-Iroquoian settlement that develops around it is called "Red Slope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap-Rouge%2C_Quebec)."

March 1500: Encouraged by the Stadacona's excellent relationship with the English, the Hochelega eagerly allow a trading post near their settlement. The crew quickly settles on a magnificent natural harbor (http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/plaque/horizon/eng/ruptura.htm). It is originally known as Fall Line, for being located as far inland as any oceangoing ship can reach. Later, when word of John Cabot's death reaches the crew, they change the name to Cabot Harbor.

April 1501: The first Native-European marriage takes place in Red Slope. The ceremony is mostly Catholic, but the priest accords great respect to "the curious customs of these Eden-like people." The Stadacona woman takes on the name Rebecca Smith, while the Englishman takes on the name Karaken ('white one').

The first two are great. My biggest concerns with the second are the presence of priests so early, and his 'great respect'.

On the other hand, you may say there is a monk who goes by the name "Brother John" who does basically the same....and yes, I know a marriage by a monk might be questionable....:rolleyes:

[Glen]

Let us review the year 1493 for plausibility. Retro events coming up shortly.

[Glen]

1493: Thupa inca dies. Wayna Qapac accedes to the throne. He begins consolidation which will last until about 1520. (OTL)

[Glen]

Okay, I really was drowning in work when this stuff was first posted. Here is probably the most problematic event for the 1490s:

In 1493, the Yolgnu existed primarily as a concept; a series of traditions, religious practices, and linguistic dialects, with all those identifying themselves as 'Yolgnu' linking themselves to a particular territory: specifically, eastern Marege (OTL's eastern Top End)

Beyond that, however, there was very little in the way of unity. The Yolgnu were divided into clan groups and bands, which functioned largely autonomously. Without any significant foreign threats, there was no reason for unity-or, indeed, technological developments. So the Yolgnu survived, for tens of thousands of years, largely as they always had.

Nice backstory here, nothing wrong.


However, Yolgnu history can be said to have truly begun, from the day the Invaders arrived. The first contact with the traders dubbed generally the 'Macassans' could not have begun more inauspiciously. The exhausted and lonely traders attempted to abduct a party of Yolgnu women; the Yolgnu reacted violently, spearing several Macassans

Okay, this bit is possible, but we need to know what year it occurred in, and I'd suggest no earlier than 1494 in retrospect.

and nearly sinking their boat.

Okay, this bit is ASB. How are they doing this? IIRC, the Australian Aborigines have no real knowledge of boats and the sea. Sorry, but I think this part should be cut. On land you could take a small party of fishermen, but the boat part is out IMO. Would hear others.

Unlike the other Aboriginal tribes of Marege, who generally experienced positive first contacts, the Yolgnu recognized, from the beginning, the threat which Macassan influence posed to traditional tribal culture.

Given that this is written in the past tense, as nostalgia, I'm tempted to let the attribution of foreknowledge stand.


To this end, the Yolgnu began to unify politically, through a series of corroborees and tribal meetings. It was decided to oppose the Macassans, and hopefully to drive them back where they came from. A previously insignificant band 'headman',

This would be okay for a 1495ish event.

Djerrkura (note: obviously there are no records of his existence in OTL, but I needed a name and it's a Yolgnu family name, so there's no reason why he couldn't have existed),

Lose the name, or make it a later appelation, or a title, or something.

rose to prominence for his vitriolic anti-Macassan stance. According to legend, one of his sisters was one of those women attacked by the Macassans.

The Macassans had no understanding of tribal borders. As such, trepangers frequently strayed into Yolgnu territory, where they were immediately set upon by warriors.

Rest of this is probably okay, though I'd adjust warriors to 'hunting parties'.

Djerrkura, acting in defiance of tradition, recognized the need to compensate for the vast technology gap. Macassan technologies were adapted for Yolgnu use, and many Macassan ships were commandeered with the help of bribed or intimidated crews. This served as a means for piracy against Macassan traders.

This bit is ASB and has to be removed, in my opinion. This is just a huge leap and stretch. Afraid the Yolgnu for this time period are outmatched and will remain so unless they can find support from another technologically advanced civilization. You can have them catch out small parties in ambushes, and take some of their personal belongings and use them, but that's it. Unless someone starts trading you weapons and ammo, you're not likely to compensate that well.

BTW, anyone aware of the tech level of the Macassans?


Due to their comparative size the Yolgnu came to dominate the burgeoning anti-Macassan movements (unlike many other tribes in the region, who comprised only hundreds of individuals, there were over two thousand Yolgnu). Through both ideological sympathy and intimidation, a loose confederacy of tribes began to form, devoted to opposing the Macassans.

Okay, I'll grant this one. It's a stretch, but plausible.


The First Yolgnu War of 1499-1501 proved disastrous for both sides. The Macassan invasion force floundered, unable to strike at the Yolgnu, and proved a heavy drain on the Gowan treasury.

Why?

The Yolgnu, however, faced even harsher conditions. The Macassans' tribal allies, eager to gain favor, committed atrocities against Yolgnu civilian populations, most notably in the Gagadju Massacre. Far more deadly, however, was a virus brought by the soldiers: smallpox. The disease wreaked havoc on the Yolgnu population, killing over half the population, most notably the previously dominant elders. This allowed Djerrkura, already a hero for his guerrilla activities, to gain effective political control over the Yolgnu.

This bit's not too bad, but the death rate is going to go even higher, and I'm afraid it means that the war is going to get called on account of plague, at least for the Aboriginals. Unfortunately, there are plenty of pox-scarred Macassans left out there.

But even he realized that the Macassans could not be driven out. Instead, he decided that to preserve Yolgnu independence, an accommodation must be made. In the Makaratta (treaty) that ended the war in 1501, predictably harsh terms were imposed: the Yolgnu allies were annexed, and they were forced to swear friendship to Gowa. Yet they were granted their independence, and Djerrkura was recognized as bate (prince) of Yolgnu.

I'd grant this one, though the section really is probably viewing the Yolgnu leader through rose colored glasses. I assume the Gowans decide its cheaper to leave the Yolgnu alone than to fight them. However, that's weak given that your people are likely ravaged by disease right now.

More likely, the Yolgnu capitulate and agree to pay tribute (maybe in maintaining and victualing posts on the shore for their traders) and leave the Gowans alone.

He quickly set about creating the foundations for an independent Yolgnu state along Gowan lines. A council of elders was convened, to serve a similar role to the Bate Salapang, and the rudiments of a ministry were formed.

However, the Yolgnu still faced formidable difficulties. Their population had been ravaged, the war had led to the burning and destruction of much of their territories, and their population was inevitably beginning to gravitate toward settlements on the coast. However, such challenges remained for another decade to resolve.

This part is way too quick. I suggest stretching out by a generation or two. Send hostages to the Gowans, who can then see what a Gowan state is like. Leave it to the next generation (who btw you can name what you like) to start to modernize (though with what, I'm not clear....you've a long way to go to shift your economy from hunter-gatherer).

Okay...overall, I think we just need to edit this stuff to make the Yolgnu not appear to be so incredible. Surviving will be quite incredible for this time period.

[Glen]

1493-1495: The princess Porâsaia, only child of a major Guaraní community-Chief Abaangui, dies, leaving Chief Abaangui heirless. The old man wanders off in mourning, and is never heard from again. In an unheard-of move, a young man named Kurepi, declares himself a living god, and preforms several "miracles," in various Guaraní communities. Guaraní priests throughout all the communities reaffirm his claims. By the fall of 1494, he has formed a large army, and (I use this term vaguely,) united the Guaraní people. He orders a city of "permanent structures," to be built on the coast of the Endless Water, in the coming spring.

Well, I'd drop the overt reference to a 'large army'. Otherwise....maybe I'd leave this one as is.

PS - Aussey claims these names are from OTL.

[Glen]

I think there is a stutter in some of the events still from when we moved them to be more realistic in terms of pacing.

However, upon review, this one seems to jump out with little clarity.

Rhodean galleys, in conjunction with a large fleet on loan from their Catholic Majesties of Spain (who are eager to buff their already shiny crusader bone fides) launch a surprise attack on Jaffa, and after seizing the city march directly for Jerusalem, laying siege to the city and calling for it's surrender. While the army encamps and part of the navy begins ferrying supplies inland, a large portion of the Rhodean and Spanish galley fleet begin harrying the Egyptian coast, feinting toward Alexandria. DAubusson also calls on the Maronite Christians of Lebanon to aid his army, as well as the Lebanese Druze.

Why are the Spanish loaning these? 'Buffing' their image won't be enough. What's in it for the Spanish? I think they could be induced, but it needs to be better spelled out, either earlier in this event (1495? Seems to occur in both 1494 and 1495) or in the year preceding it.

[Glen]

1495-1496: The city Sypatupry is built of modest wooden and clay buildings on the Endless Water. Chief Kurepi marries a niece of the former chief, and a son is born. He is named Tupã. The Chief sets a precedence of naming Guaranís after their gods.

Would alter this just slightly to call it a 'small settlement' rather than a city.

[Glen]

Couple general comments for 1494-5. The sudden alliance between the Teutonic Order and the Hansa seems just that, sudden. Was there any connection between the two OTL? Why would such a thing occur? I'd just like to insert some more backing into the timeline, even if that means shifting the event forward a bit.

Also, why are the Milanese doing anything with the Jerusalem events? What is its interest? It seems rather out of place.

I'd recommend removing the comments about Milan. Build up better the alliance between Naples and Rhodes in taking Jerusalem. While Ferdinand has little reason to support Rhodes, he has some to support Naples.

You know, a lot of this would go smoother if we killed off Isabella earlier....:rolleyes:

[Glen]

I'm still a bit concerned about a dry-dock in Naples in 1495. It just seems to come out of left field without much rationale.

Now, I'm not unbiased since it then rivals England's own OTL building of a dry-dock.

However, it seems to me like it would be a more plausible event after the Jerusalem adventure, and after Henry VII has started the trend.

What do others think?

It's not the worst of our events, though, so maybe we should just leave it be.

[Tom Veil]

1493:
Russia/Muscovy:

1493 July: after the Great Fire Ivan declares that no new building is to be built out of wood or other burnable materials in any part of the city which left a large part of the old portion of the city destroyed. A Large area around the Kremlin are left open for the market area (roughly equivalent to 240 meters in OTL), but the shops must not be permanent and easy for transport


Grammar and style problems. I recommend:
1493 July: The Great Fire destroys a large part of the old portion of Moscow. Ivan declares that no new building anywhere in Moscow is to be built out of wood or other flammable materials. A large area around the Kremlin is left open for the market (roughly equivalent to 240 meters in OTL), but the shops must be temporary and portable.

[Glen]

I seem to e a couple of days behind, but I'm catching up. :D
Anyway, this is the revised timeline i wrote up, it involves some discussion with DQ as to the going ons in India.

...



1495 John II dies and is succeeded by Manoel I as King of Portugal.

1496 Manoel I marries Isabella of Asturias.

1497

Decree to expel all Jews from Portugal is signed by King Manoel I.

Isabella of Asturias dies during a miscarriage.

Upon the death of Isabella of Asturias, the decree expelling the Jews is pretty much forgotten, though the signing of the decree in the first place allows for the church to begin making moves against the Jews in Portugal.

1500

Pedro Alvares Cabral sets sail for India, there are no problems in the voyage.

{Bartholomeu Dias’ ship is not wrecked off the coast of the Cape of Good Hope.}

Pedro Alvares Cabral, using his superior weapons and soldiers, manages to get a trading concessions out of the rulers of Sofala (Mozambique), Kilwa (Tanzania), and Melinde (Kenya).

Pedro Alvares Cabral arrives in India. The larger amount of ships allows for him to make demands upon the ports he arrives to. Calicut and Cochin accept trading agreements, but Calicut is displeased with the actions of the Portuguese while Cochin warmly welcomes the Portuguese.

Negotiations with England on the issue of a new wife for Manoel I come to a close as they agree that Manoel I will marry Margaret Tudor in 1502.

1501

Cabral returns to Portugal with 11 of his 13 ships. Richly laden and richly rewarded by King Manoel.

Calicut kills off or chases off the Portuguese left behind in Calicut to oversee Portuguese interests.

1502

Vasco De Gama sails with 25 warships to India, to keep control of the trading ports that Cabral has opened for the Portuguese.

De Gama sets up a fort at the harbor of Sofala, Kilwa, Mozambique, Melinde, and in Mogadishu. De Gama sacks the coastal city of Mombasa and builds a fort there. He also takes Zanzibar Island and claims it for Portugal.

Vasco De Gama forces Calicut to agree to renewed trading concessions, after smashing their fleet and bombarding their city. The ruler is forced to allow them to set up a factory and gives them land upon which they can set up a trading enclave.

I've edited the above for style and clarity, but so far, so good.

In time it becomes a heavily armed fortress.

That remains to be seen. Would not include it in this event.


King Manoel I begins expanding the shipyards and the size of Portugal’s trading fleet and navy.

King Manoel I marries Margaret Tudor of England.

Bartholomeu Diaz is sent to scout out the territories of the Spanish. He instead discovers Brazil and claims it for the Portuguese. He also reaches the Strait of Magellan before turning back. He is proclaimed the greatest explorer in Portugal.

Very reasonable overall. Don't call the Straits 'Magellan', though. Are you going to name them? Otherwise Cabot will when he comes through them next year.


1503

Anti Jewish riots rage in Lisbon, at the behest of Catholic priests, killing 3000 Jews. Manoel I stamps out the riots and executes the leaders. This definitely does not sit well with the Catholic Church.

Very similar to OTL....ah, were some of the leaders of the riots priests? That would tend to cause trouble between the Manuel, an otherwise pius king, and the pope.


Cochin is also added to the ports that the Portuguese now trade at. They are once again warmly received by the local ruler and they manage to buy some land upon which they set up a small fortress and warehouses. This will be the main area from which they will work for some years to come.

Vasco De Gama continues to reinforce and expand Portuguese trading ports in East Africa and India. He sets up a fortifications on the island of Angediva, he crushes Arab shipping and pirates among the trade ships sent from the Muslim kingdoms.

Vasco De Gama returns to Portugal. Due to his great success in India and his expanding of Portuguese interests, Manoel I entitles Vasco De Gama to be the first viceroy in India. He accepts.

All okay by me so far. Does Yemen have anything to say about this, though, I wonder....

1504

More anti-Jewish Riots pop up in and around Lisbon and other cities, most encouraged by Catholic priests. The Church is putting heavy pressure on Manoel to expel the Jews, but it’s more becoming a fight for who has the most power, the King or the Church than the issue over Jews continuing to live in Portugal. [/QUOTE]

This seems like a stretch. I think burgeoning conflict between the king and the church would take more subtle form. Why would priests encourage riots again, knowing what happened last time?

Also, sadly, though Manuel is not an anti-semite by this era's standards, is he really going to get into this much of a fight with the church over Jews? IOTL he was willing to expel them for his in-laws, after all.


Margaret of Portugal gives birth to a healthy baby boy, named Manoel II.

Vasco De Gama and 30 ships leave for India, with orders to solidify Portuguese claims and to create a monopoly. He also takes a long a young squadron captain named. Alfonso De Albuquerque, later to be known as the De Gama’s Mastiff for his willingness to go and fight where De Gama points.

Vasco De Gama solidifies and strengthens forts and harbors along Eastern Africa.

These seem fine.


1505

Manoel I and the Church leaders disagreements finally come to a head. Maneol, although a pious Catholic, cannot tolerate the continued interference by the priests and their continual rousing up riots and causing damage. He cuts funding to the church and exiles the leaders of those that oppose him, others he executes. The executed and exiled people’s lands are confiscated.

Wow....while this overall might be plausible, it seems improbable, at least in present form. What do others think?

But wouldn't it be cool to see a Protestant Portugal....:D


Vasco De Gama continues to fortify his positions in India, Calicut and Cochin. Explorations are made along the India Coast. Sri Lanka is discovered and trade is set up with the local rulers.

De Albuquerque is charged with putting down rebellions in East Africa. He does so brutally and efficiently. He also is charged with pirating Arab/Muslim trading vessels, which he also does efficiently.

1506

Manoel I enacts strict laws that are designed to curb the Church’s power in Portugal. The lack of funding has already dried up a lot of the political activeness of the priests, but it’s not enough for Manoel who’s whispered to be becoming more like his predecessor John II, which terrifies the Nobility into siding with him.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her second child, a son named Henrique.

De Albuquerque is sent back to Portugal with treasure laden ships.

Trade is opened between Portugal and the Bharata Empire, mainly taking place out of Diu in Gujarat.

1507

Manoel begins great works, building roads, canals, and shipyards using the incoming wealth from the Far East. He increases the size of the army and the size of the navy, he also begins sending out more nobles into Africa to oversee the construction of forts and harbors and extract tribute from the conquered tribes and cities in Africa.

De Albuquerque returns from India. He is immediately sent back with orders for De Gama to start taking control of Muslim ports and cities. De Albuquerque returns with 30 ships and hundreds of troops.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her third child, a girl named Beatrice.

1508

De Albuquerque is sent to conqueror the Island of Hormuz, with 20 ships and 1000 troops. There’s a fierce battle, but in the end the Portuguese manage to take the island. They begin setting up a fort there. De Albuquerque is there for most of the year, fighting back counterattacks by the local rulers.

Lorenco de Almeida is sent to explore up and down the eastern coast of India, they come across Sri Lanka and set up trading relations with the Kingdom of Kotte and attack the Kingdom of Jaffna, looting it’s port cities. Portuguese ships manage to reach Bengal later that year.

Manoel I sends settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, the increasing travel and the growing power of the Western African Nations are becoming something of a threat. The city of Porto Manoel is established.

1509

Manoel I sends out ships to explore the lands discovered by Diaz in 1502.

De Gama sends out ships to a place called Malacca. The Portuguese under Lorenco De Almeida discover Malacca and tell tales of the major trading going on there. A captain named Ferdinand Magellan dies in Malacca after taking ill. Lorenco De Almeida explores in and around Malacca for the next year.

20 ships under Francisco De Almeida arrive to reinforce De Gama.

De Albuquerque successfully returns from fortifying and laying claim to Hormuz.

De Gama strikes a deal with the Vijayanagara Empire as one of it’s provinces rises up in rebellion. They’ll provide horses and artillery for the Vijayanagara in return for Goa. De Gama sends De Albuquerque and De Almeida to Yemen to raid it for what’s needed and pirate among the Arab ships.

De Albuquerque launches an attack upon Aden, in Yemen. After brutal fighting the city is taken, but not for long as reinforcements manage to drive the Portuguese out, but not after taking what they came for.

De Almeida ravages the Arab shipping along the Yemen and Oman coasts.

Overall okay here, but I'd recommend not giving precise numbers for the expedition above.


1510

Manoel I makes a pilgrimage to see the Pope, to make sure the Pope knows his piety and that the occurrences with the Church of Portugal are matters that only relate to Portugal.

Not likely. Either you need to tone down the events with the church in Portugal and keep this one, or you need to dump this event. I find them mutually exclusive.


Margaret Portugal gives birth to her fourth child, a boy named Francisco.

Margaret of Portugal also begins actively pushing for more hospitals and universities in Portugal.

Did she have a perchant for doing this? Remember that there is no such thing as a modern hospital, and universities are somewhat spotty at this time.

I'd be inclined to dump this one, personally, though will accept counterargument.


De Gama takes possession of Goa, from the Vijayanagara Empire. He makes it the capitol of the State of India.

Why are you calling it the capitol of anything, and why the name India at that?


Lorenco De Almeida returns from Malacca and the surrounding areas, he tells the tales of the rich trade and the wealth that flows through there.

De Gama sends de Albuquerque and Lorenco de Almeida back to Malacca, to take the city. He leaves with a hefty 26 ships and 1600 troops.

That's a lot of ships and troops, from whence are they coming?

Also, you should run this past our Gowa participant.


Francisco De Almeida is sent back to ravage the Yemen and Oman coasts.

Trade is opened with the Bengal.

Okay.

[Glen]

Grammar and style problems. I recommend:
1493 July: The Great Fire destroys a large part of the old portion of Moscow. Ivan declares that no new building anywhere in Moscow is to be built out of wood or other flammable materials. A large area around the Kremlin is left open for the market (roughly equivalent to 240 meters in OTL), but the shops must be temporary and portable.

Agree. mindless filler

[Glen]

England:

1495: King Henry VII proclaims that no weapon may be given, traded, or sold in Norasia without the recipient swearing loyalty to the English Crown.

An interesting butterfly of an idea, and given Henry's history of having to fight for his legitimacy, some paranoia about people swearing loyalty, even across the ocean, seemed appropriate.

[The Sicilian]

Yeah, I just put that in there because those were the only two nations that I controled. You can take the Milan events out.

Couple general comments for 1494-5. The sudden alliance between the Teutonic Order and the Hansa seems just that, sudden. Was there any connection between the two OTL? Why would such a thing occur? I'd just like to insert some more backing into the timeline, even if that means shifting the event forward a bit.

Also, why are the Milanese doing anything with the Jerusalem events? What is its interest? It seems rather out of place.

I'd recommend removing the comments about Milan. Build up better the alliance between Naples and Rhodes in taking Jerusalem. While Ferdinand has little reason to support Rhodes, he has some to support Naples.

You know, a lot of this would go smoother if we killed off Isabella earlier....:rolleyes:

[The Sicilian]

Well, Naples had just inherited a large source of cash (Abrabanels), and building a drydick is a kind of home improvement. Roads, fortifications and other things were improved as well.

I'm still a bit concerned about a dry-dock in Naples in 1495. It just seems to come out of left field without much rationale.

Now, I'm not unbiased since it then rivals England's own OTL building of a dry-dock.

However, it seems to me like it would be a more plausible event after the Jerusalem adventure, and after Henry VII has started the trend.

What do others think?

It's not the worst of our events, though, so maybe we should just leave it be.

[Keenir]

okay....I said what I said because you're presently France for the war. I am? Well.....

that's what I was told - that since France's player isn't at hand, you're running France, at least for the duration of the war.

and why is it that the war thread gets locked as soon as we finish hammering out which navies can do what? shouldn't we finish the war first?

[Tom Veil]

1505

Manoel I and the Church leaders disagreements finally come to a head. Maneol, although a pious Catholic, cannot tolerate the continued interference by the priests and their continual rousing up riots and causing damage. He cuts funding to the church and exiles the leaders of those that oppose him, others he executes. The executed and exiled people’s lands are confiscated.

I also missed this the first time around. I think this is an either-or moment for the Portugese TL -- either this event doesn't happen, or else the events following it don't happen. If Manoel evicts all clergy loyal to the Pope, he will plunge Portugal into rebellion. Not only would the decision be literally heretical, it would be deeply unpopular with the peasantry and provide the nobles with a causus belli for deposing him.

[Glen]

Yeah, I just put that in there because those were the only two nations that I controled. You can take the Milan events out.

Fair enough. Thanks for commenting.

[Glen]

Well, Naples had just inherited a large source of cash (Abrabanels),

Well, credit really, not cash per se. The Abramanels are your bankers and accountants, not your rich uncle.:D

and building a drydick is a king of home improvement. Roads, fortifications and other things were improved as well.

Which are good as well.

I guess just leave it. It's a bit of a leap, but its not ASB, just low probability so soon after the initial divergences. You do get a lot of leeway though out of no Italian Wars.

[Glen]

that's what I was told - that since France's player isn't at hand, you're running France, at least for the duration of the war.

and why is it that the war thread gets locked as soon as we finish hammering out which navies can do what? shouldn't we finish the war first?

It was locked because we need to review the events that set the stage for the war. What we're doing here may impact what is decided there. Give us as much of your time and energy reviewing these events as you've been putting into the war and other stuff, and those threads will be unlocked in no time.

[Keenir]

Give us as much of your time and energy reviewing these events as you've been putting into the war and other stuff,

I did.

I had the entire week I was kicked -- and I put my comments in the retro thread.

[marl_d]

Couple general comments for 1494-5. The sudden alliance between the Teutonic Order and the Hansa seems just that, sudden. Was there any connection between the two OTL? Why would such a thing occur? I'd just like to insert some more backing into the timeline, even if that means shifting the event forward a bit.

The Hansa cities in the east were mainly Teutonic, which also included Livonian confederation....

[The Sicilian]

Well, credit really, not cash per se. The Abramanels are your bankers and accountants, not your rich uncle.:D
Very true. However, since they are doing those two things for me (banking and accounting) the Kingdom is not as financially decreped. Therefor we get more cash, albeit indirectly, from the Abrabanels.


Which are good as well.

I guess just leave it. It's a bit of a leap, but its not ASB, just low probability so soon after the initial divergences.
True. As I said before, I consider this to be ultimatly your timeline. If you feel that a particular event is too unreasonable then cut it out.

You do get a lot of leeway though out of no Italian Wars.
That certainly give me a lot of opptions to develop N,S +J in a direction that I want.

[Psychomeltdown]

That remains to be seen. Would not include it in this event.
Okay.

Very reasonable overall. Don't call the Straits 'Magellan', though. Are you going to name them? Otherwise Cabot will when he comes through them next year.
Diaz Strait

Very similar to OTL....ah, were some of the leaders of the riots priests? That would tend to cause trouble between the Manuel, an otherwise pius king, and the pope. Some were, but it's along the line heading toward the eventual split between the Portugal and the Church, not in religion, they'll still be catholics, but in where the church can meddle in the affairs of the state.

All okay by me so far. Does Yemen have anything to say about this, though, I wonder.... I think i PM'd them a while back, but no response. The same with the East African cities that were claimed. No response from them either. So I went pretty OTL on those.

This seems like a stretch. I think burgeoning conflict between the king and the church would take more subtle form. Why would priests encourage riots again, knowing what happened last time? True, but this was apart of the small plot I had planned out of the Church and the State attempting to mark off the boundaries of their powers. I think i should have added more to that and possibly strung out the event throughout 1500-1510, but at the time I was a little pressed for time.

Also, sadly, though Manuel is not an anti-semite by this era's standards, is he really going to get into this much of a fight with the church over Jews? IOTL he was willing to expel them for his in-laws, after all.
Again it was supposed to be about who controls what and who has the most power. the Church or the State. The jews were mainly a bone to be fought over, the only reason he fought for them at all was to gather power around himself. in OTL he signed their expulsion in hopes of a union between Portugal and Spain and Spain was uber-catholic. But with that dream shot and his new marriage to Margaret and the more distancing that's occurred since that marriage, he's following in John II's footsteps in dealing with pesky political problems. Strike fear into their hearts and show them who is in charge.

He's pretty much eliminating all rivals for power in Portugal, nobles and church folk alike. the only reason he's embracing the merchant class and middle class is that they're a counterbalance to the power fo the Nobles and Church. John II already showed the Nobles who's the boss, now it's the church's time.

Wow....while this overall might be plausible, it seems improbable, at least in present form. What do others think?

But wouldn't it be cool to see a Protestant Portugal....:D
True, that would probably have to happen a bit later, say about 1512 or so. I would think there would be a semi quiet war between the king and the church, backed by the Pope in some areas.

I should have clarified more on some areas, saying that the ones that were executed were those that were clearly and actively encouraging people to riot against the King's wishes and were unrepentant about it.

The cutting funding I think he could do, in OTL Manoel was shoving a lot of money into the Church and missionaries. Cut that an a lot of their power

how about:

1505 - several Bishops and Priests are caught plotting a series of riots against Manoel I, using his non expelling of Jews as a sign of his lack of devotion. He exiles them.

1507 - The Catholic Church in Portugal has been rabble rousing through the kingdom, trying to turn the people against Manoel and occasionally trying to get them to attack the Jews.

Summer- archbishops and cardinals meet with Manoel I for three day long meeting to determine the course of Portugal's religious matters. After heated debates and barely veiled threats, Manoel I cuts most funding to the Catholic Church. Church rabble rousing begins in earnest again.

1512 - Tensions between the Church and the State come to a head as priests and clergy rouse the people in Porto to attack the administration centers of the city. They are demanding that Manoel I abdicate and allow a clergy member to become regent until his son is old enough to take the throne. They are also demanding their share of the wealth coming into Portugal.


Not likely. Either you need to tone down the events with the church in Portugal and keep this one, or you need to dump this event. I find them mutually exclusive.
I'll toss it.

Did she have a perchant for doing this? Remember that there is no such thing as a modern hospital, and universities are somewhat spotty at this time.

I'd be inclined to dump this one, personally, though will accept counterargument.
She may have been, but who knows. In OTL she spent most of her time trying to keep her boys alive by playing the deadly political game. Here it's a fairly stable kingdom and Manoel hasn't died yet, therefore her attentions could be diverted elsewhere. in this case setting up centers to help the sick and poor and also establishing places to become depositories of knowledge.


Why are you calling it the capitol of anything, and why the name India at that?
Grandiose Portuguese thinking. They own the city, it's Portugal territory and its' the capitol of their Eastern Territories, including Africa and S. Africa. The name State of India is just a name.



That's a lot of ships and troops, from whence are they coming?

Also, you should run this past our Gowa participant.
A build up of forces over the years. De Almeida arrived with 20 ships the previous year, De Gama and De Albuquerque had equal or more the same amount of ships operating in India, plus whatever trade ships tagged along. Plus in 1507 De Alburquerque arrived with 30 ships, most stuck around to pillage the Arab shipping and help i the attack upon Hormuz.

Ships are coming and going all the time, I was more calculating the ships that are used to fight and attack the enemies of Portugal in India.

[Glen]

I also missed this the first time around. I think this is an either-or moment for the Portugese TL -- either this event doesn't happen, or else the events following it don't happen. If Manoel evicts all clergy loyal to the Pope, he will plunge Portugal into rebellion. Not only would the decision be literally heretical, it would be deeply unpopular with the peasantry and provide the nobles with a causus belli for deposing him.

Well, yes and no. It would definitely cause problems, but Manuel might be able to hold the nobles and peasantry under his thumb with a bit of luck.

But yeah, its definitely a serious thing. May impact the 1517 war if something isn't figured out for this differently.

[Glen]

Most of my comments for 1496-7 are just continuations of those concerns raised earlier.

The Alodi linking up with the Rhodeans is a bit much (as is the Rhodeans making a point of helping them). At best, I'd expect them to attack roughly at the same time, but not really coordinating much. The Mameluke lie across their lines of communication.

The Yulgnu events should be fine tuned to have them get support from the Majaharit in their fight against the Gowa. If they do that it becomes a heck of a lot more plausible. Still think capturing Gowan ships is too much, but at least this would give them a fighting chance....until the plagues hit.

[Glen]

Shortly after her ascension, the Matambans attempt to rebel, demanding the expulsion of the white priests, in favor of Kongolese ones. At the request of the Queen, King João I of Kongo sends several Kongolese priests to the capital city of Matamba. The expelled Portuguese are welcomed by in Ndongo.

I think this one's okay, but not clear on who these 'Kongolese ones' are; do you mean priests of the indigenous religions? I doubt there are many if any native Catholic priests yet.

The Matambans expel the Portuguese priests? Who then go to Ndongo? Just trying to understand here.

[Glen]

1499:
Naples:

King Alphonso of Naples commissions a fleet of ten carracks and five caravels.

King Alphonso agrees to open ports and enter a exclusive trade agreement with the Hanseatic league.

I'd remove the specifics about the numbers of ships being commissioned, unless we have some historical precedent to account for how many would be reasonable. But a general statement about 'commissions construction of new carracks and caravals' should do it.

What is the impetus behind a deal with the Hansa? What is the connection even? It seems a bit out of the blue here. Can we bolster with supporting events?


with the emperor personally going to the opening of these new schools and handing out the diplomas to the top 10% of the classes

Missed this one I guess. No way this early in the timeline that a sitting Emperor of China (an OTL Emperor at that) would deign to do such a thing.


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.

I'd just shade it by saying 'other bands' instead of 'other nations'. Also, the praus just aren't likely to be viable targets for the Yolgnu.


Gowan soldiers are dispatched south on warships. The small Yolgnu fleet is destroyed quickly by far superior firepower.

Remove the Yolgnu fleet. I doubt the Yolgnu have a single ship. Their strength will be their ability to retreat inland, sucking in the Gowans to a territory they are ill prepared for.

[The Sicilian]

I'd remove the specifics about the numbers of ships being commissioned, unless we have some historical precedent to account for how many would be reasonable. But a general statement about 'commissions construction of new carracks and caravals' should do it.
Yup. Agreed.

What is the impetus behind a deal with the Hansa? What is the connection even? It seems a bit out of the blue here. Can we bolster with supporting events?
It was just something that me an AJ worked out in PM. It had economic benefits to both of our nation/trading bloc. IIRC the Hansa were expanding into the Mediterranean and would be working out deals with the major Italian powers.

[Glen]

Yup. Agreed.

It was just something that me an AJ worked out in PM. It had economic benefits to both of our nation/trading bloc. IIRC the Hansa were expanding into the Mediterranean and would be working out deals with the major Italian powers.

I don't have a particular problem with this happening, just think we need to show why the Hansa and the Neapolitans are hooking up at this time in this way, that's all.

[Glen]

1500:

England:
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.

I personally like this bit, but what do people think about this African Prince traipsing around Europe?

I think its plausible, the only thing is that he's likely to be seen more as an exotic oddity rather than a visit from another 'real' nation. Those silly Europeans!:rolleyes:


Holy Roman Empire:

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.

Two things about this one.

First, we need to rename Heinrich Schneider something that has 'historical deniability'.

Second, while this event benefits me, I'm interested to hear opinions on its implementation. Too fast or okay? Also, is there enough divergence to plausibly have this happen without devolving into a parallel Swabian War?


I now strengthen the millet of the Druze,

I just love this line. Just had to share.:D

As for the whole Ottoman thing, it sounds cool at first glance. However, I think that this should have repercussions for the Ottoman later. He's giving Christians a lot of power in his Empire, and other Islamicists are going to have trouble with that.

[Glen]

Late 1501: Emperor Ahmed of the Ottoman Empire sends missives to the governors (ooc: and whomever else is in charge) of the Crimean, instructing them to grant freedom *of passage _through_ Crimea* to the Tsar of Russia and the Tsar’s army and navy…but also instructing the Crimeans to strike back at any Russian who lashes out at the Crimeans, particularly the honor of Crimean women. Encouragement is given to those Crimeans who volunteer to serve in the navies of the Russians (but only for the upcoming offensive) or the Ottomans.


What does this one refer to? What offensive against whom? And why on earth would they let Rus in there?


Construction begins in Galata and Gallipoli (in the Ottoman Empire) on galleons suitable for warfare. At the same time, janissaries are sent to lead local troops in preparation for battle – and they are sent to the border shared with the Kingdom of Jerusalem, every tent facing east.

An attack on the Kingdom of Jerusalem?


1509: Emperor Ahmed calls for volunteers from every sanjak in the Empire; these men will form the nucleus of a series of settlements (and bases) along the Red Sea coast of Arabia. There will be no settlements in the Holy City, of course. Most of the settlers are Footmen and Exemptees.

You're going to settle the Red Sea coast of Arabia? For what purpose? I don't think it can support much of a population.

[Glen]

1507:
The Sicilian expedition encounters several groups that are hostile to the Mexica.

1508: The Neapolitan expedition is forced to return to their base at Messina (Havana). They leave behind several dozen soldiers and priests at Forte Altavilla.

1509: Ships from Messina land on the Ferrantean (Mississippi) river delta.

Note: I use Sicilian and Neapolitan interchangably.

Based on PMs Messiniano and I have had, these events will likely be removed. That should help with the concerns about Neapolitan overextension in the New World.

While it was a bit of a stretch, I do feel that it is interesting and within the realm of plausibility for them to have a piece of Cuba with permission from the Spanish.

[Glen]

1502:

Sub-Saharan Africa:

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 helps with the missionaries conversion efforts, as she herself converted. Italian engineers, scholars and architects are sent to help modernize Ndongo.

This one is too much. We need to rachet it way down or cut it entirely. First, I don't think that many people would be sent, and I don't think they'd be taking wives along. I could be wrong on that, but please let me know.


1502 Winter: Ninety-percent of the Ndongolese now profess to be Catholic; only about a quarter of the Matambans are.

Maybe simplify to 'A majority' and 'few' here.


Ethiopia:

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

A large diplomatic expedition leaves Ethiopia, headed for Europe. It includes many of the equivalent of journeymen carpeters, instrusted to get jobs in shipyards around europe.

Still concerned about these Ethiopian events. The problem is that most of their contact with India and with Europe were through the Portuguese in OTL, who are not likely to take kindly to all this.

How is this changed, especially this early? Why are the Ethiopians not working with the Portuguese. I know something was made of a subtle different reading of the actions of the Portuguese, but its still one of the weaker plausibility points in the timeline.

Maybe if we fleshed it out a bit, and toned down the 'mass wave of shipbuilders' sort of thing.

[Keenir]

What does this one refer to? What offensive against whom? And why on earth would they let Rus in there?

Marl_d and I arranged a royal marriage. and, at the time, there was the possibility I would need additional troops for the war against Portugal - and Russia volunteered.

An attack on the Kingdom of Jerusalem?

while that was an impression I was hoping to give Portugal (which asked for a distraction in the area of Naples-Jerusalem), the main reason concerns something in the Treaty which outlines the defense of Jerusalem: look at who's west of them.

You're going to settle the Red Sea coast of Arabia? For what purpose? I don't think it can support much of a population.

have to have somewhere to put my Red Sea docks.

[Keenir]

I just love this line. Just had to share.:D

as long as they pay their taxes, they're fine.

As for the whole Ottoman thing, it sounds cool at first glance. However, I think that this should have repercussions for the Ottoman later. He's giving Christians a lot of power in his Empire, and other Islamicists are going to have trouble with that.


There aren't really any Islamicists in the area (that) I need to worry about -- I'd just trounced the Mamluks....and the Persians got their arses handed to them by a tribe of Sheep Turks (which one, I can't recall offhand, sorry)

[Glen]

1503:

Northern Europe:

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

While all shipwrights in England are engaged by King Henry VIIth, he does condone the taking on of Ethiopian apprentices in English shipyards.

Same comment as before here. I do like the idea of Ethiopians making more interaction with Europe, just uncertain about the plausibility factor. Need more commentary.


King 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.

Personally, I think things would be more plausible if this whole bit were out. Why is Hansa buying Malta, why is Naples selling, and why are they going on this wild trip?

I would see more likely Hansa getting more concessions for enclaves in important trade cities.

But again, I want to hear opinions other than my own here. The sale is odd but not impossible. The joint expedition though....

However a small band of about 175 Knights and 200 apprentices and squire’s stay, lead by a young, charismatic captain, 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.

Missed this last time through. Why are what are essentially religious fanatics with swords converting to some quasi-heretical sect (from their perspective). I understand that a charismatic person can do a lot, but this seems jarring here.

It's a cool idea, just doesn't make a lot of sense to me as is.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

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,

The births are fine, but the extra titles seem excessive. They're not going to go into this sort of detail this early on after being exposed to European ways.

and names him Ngolambole, or "military leader,";

Is that word real? I like this bit if so.

The King announces his plan to eventually construct a European-style building to house the Macota.

Okay here, IMO.


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

I understand that you're using some hyperbole here, but it may be just too much.


Ethiopia:

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.

What is their route of travel, the Red Sea?


Indian Subcontinent:

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.

Seems odd. Who are they learning this from, the Europeans, or the Chinese? The Chinese would be more plausible, IMO.

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 labor.

I would think smallpox would do the opposite. This is going to put a huge crimp on trade between the Macassans and the Aborigines for a generation at least.

On the otherhand, the Maccassans may have reason then to send more of their own people.


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 characterized as 'Alcheringa Hinduism', a reference to the Aboriginal concept of 'the Dreamtime'.

Perhaps a bit fast, but I think its reasonable. Do others disagree?


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.

Anyone more knowledgable about Australia able to judge the plausibility on this bit?

[Glen]

Marl_d and I arranged a royal marriage. and, at the time, there was the possibility I would need additional troops for the war against Portugal - and Russia volunteered.

A royal marriage is nice, but not likely to be enough for this sort of action. What's in it for the Russians? And how are the Ottomans going to deal with Russian ships in the Black Sea afterward? This is basically begging the Russians to make a grab at Krimea (which given Marl now owns it, seems inevitable anyway.;)).

As you said, at the time. I'd suggest getting rid of that particular part.


while that was an impression I was hoping to give Portugal (which asked for a distraction in the area of Naples-Jerusalem), the main reason concerns something in the Treaty which outlines the defense of Jerusalem: look at who's west of them.

Fair enough. Comment withdrawn.


have to have somewhere to put my Red Sea docks.

Aquaba, my friend, Aquaba....

There's also one other spot...name escapes me at the moment. Anyway, instead of settlers along the Red Sea coast (which is NOT friendly for that to the best of my knowledge), I suggest you just outright send someone to build some naval ports. Your the Turk, you can do some of that sort of thing.

[Glen]

There aren't really any Islamicists in the area (that) I need to worry about -- I'd just trounced the Mamluks....and the Persians got their arses handed to them by a tribe of Sheep Turks (which one, I can't recall offhand, sorry)

The White Sheep.:D The Shia you're kicking out won't find much in the way of hospitality.

However, I'm not referring to fanatics here. Even your Joe Islam on the street is going to be a bit put out by this. Maybe enough to listen to whispers urging rebellion....

[Glen]

Okay, I think I've gotten everything up to and including 1503 here now in copy, and have rapidly read through it all and made comments, some more querries, some more serious.

Please, comment on the events here with regard to plausibility, both in isolation and in combination with the surrounding events.

I think I will rest at this point. This should give you all stuff to read over.

Ask people you know and respect in the discussion threads to look over this stuff as well.

I will try and put together the 1503-1510 stuff in the next day or so for review.

When will we ever get to the maps, I wonder....

[Smaug]

This is not a game to be won or lost, but a timeline to be created. Therefore we need to try and collaborate more than compete (though some of that of course will happen naturally).

This was very well spoken. At first I wanted to wank my areas, but this all has to be somewhat seamless, in away. I'd like to see newbs be given links to this or that, to help them on new timelines they propose.

I'd also like to note that many of my posts have disappeared for some reason, but I'm hoping that it was because I wanked a little early on, or that I'm kindofa backwater. I've regularly read the threads, but don't seem to find much of my Muisca posts, in particlular.

Mind you, if what I've proposed is too outrageous, let me know, but for the most part, all I'm finding is my quaint little message about Spaniards wanting gold.

I do realise that your busy, so I'll be patient, until you can get caught up:)

[Keenir]

A royal marriage is nice, but not likely to be enough for this sort of action. What's in it for the Russians? And how are the Ottomans going to deal with Russian ships in the Black Sea afterward? This is basically begging the Russians to make a grab at Krimea

good point.

As you said, at the time. I'd suggest getting rid of that particular part.

*removing*

*deletes every reference to royal marriage*

Aquaba, my friend, Aquaba....

wasn't that in Yemeni territory? if so, I can't grab it yet.

[Keenir]

The White Sheep.:D The Shia you're kicking out won't find much in the way of hospitality.

I never kicked anyone out. should've mentioned I was raising the taxes on non-Sunni Muslims. (next time)

Even your Joe Islam on the street is going to be a bit put out by this. Maybe enough to listen to whispers urging rebellion....

almost forgot to mention - I also dealt with several rebellions. (not as many as arose in OTL, but enough)

[Keenir]

Fall 1496 – 1519: In the Ottoman Empire, the recruiting and training of janissaries was not interrupted by the Janissary Civil War (ref: the War against the Mamluk). However, the Janissary Civil War *did* disrupt the flow of new janissaries; it had always been traditional for a young janissary, upon the completion of his training and education, to be an apprentice in another part of the Empire…ie, apprenticed to carpenters, shipbuilders, etc. What the Janissary Civil War did was leave a lot of apprentices in the field they were apprenticed to; over the next two decades, through a policy of what one might consider benign neglect, very few janissary apprentices were brought into the military after the end of their apprenticeship….and those few (anywhere from 1-10% depending on the year) were mostly to the border with the Kingdom of Jerusalem (see 1504)

1501: Emperor Ahmed orders that Bulgaria begin shipping large quantities of nails and hemp (for rope) to the shipyards in Galata and Gallipoli. In addition, he demands a large number of Roman-style shortswords be delivered to Constantinople. In the shipyards of the Empire, construction begins on more ships to supplement the ones presently at port and those on patrol.

1504: In the Ottoman Empire, al scaloccio (a technique wherein all the oarsmen on a single bench share a single oar) and galleasses are adopted from the Venetians and other Italian expatriots who’ve taken residence and service under the Sultan’s banner.

Construction begins in Galata and Gallipoli (in the Ottoman Empire) on galleons suitable for warfare. At the same time, janissaries are sent to lead local troops in preparation for battle – and they are sent to the border shared with the Kingdom of Jerusalem, every tent facing east.

1509: Emperor Ahmed calls for volunteers from every sanjak in the Empire; these men will form the nucleus of a series of settlements (and bases) along the best coastal spots of the Red Sea coast of Arabia. There will be no settlements in the Holy City, of course. Most of the settlers are Footmen and Exemptees.

[Keenir]

Domestic:
1517: May: Although welcoming the promise of friendship from Constantine son of Cem, Emperor Ahmed still insists on Constantine coming to the court of Constantinople – as the boy never did come as summoned upon Ahmed learning of Constantine’s existence (it’s the one request D’Aubusson never fulfilled).

International:
December 1513: Emperor Ahmed signs his name alongside the Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs of Constantinople, who have penned a letter of question to the originator of the Fredericksburg Decree; their question: what status do Eastern Christians have in this Fredericksburg, and are they as well invited to settle?

[Tom Veil]

Indian Subcontinent:

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.

Seems odd. Who are they learning this from, the Europeans, or the Chinese? The Chinese would be more plausible, IMO.


With permission from those nation's handlers, I could amend my post to specify Portugal and China as the two nations that the Bharatans visit.

We are in contact with Portugal by 1503, although the Portugese don't open their trading posts until 1506. If you think that means moving this event to 1506 (and moving the opening of the printing press from 1506 to 1509), that's fine with me.

[Tom Veil]

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 characterized as 'Alcheringa Hinduism', a reference to the Aboriginal concept of 'the Dreamtime'

Perhaps a bit fast, but I think its reasonable. Do others disagree?

I also think it's reasonable. But how about:

Elements of Hinduism begin to become common amongst ....

That would emphasize that these sorts of things are gradual.

[Tom Veil]

I'd also like to note that many of my posts have disappeared for some reason, but I'm hoping that it was because I wanked a little early on, or that I'm kindofa backwater. I've regularly read the threads, but don't seem to find much of my Muisca posts, in particlular.

Glen is a bit of a neat freak, ;) so your posts probably got archived.

[marl_d]

A royal marriage is nice, but not likely to be enough for this sort of action. What's in it for the Russians? And how are the Ottomans going to deal with Russian ships in the Black Sea afterward? This is basically begging the Russians to make a grab at Krimea (which given Marl now owns it, seems inevitable anyway.;)).

I don't remember anything about Russians going to Portugal, for them to stay neutral is better for them anyway, but helping with the Malmuks and/or possibly against the Persians. the only thing that they would get out of it is fewer raids by the Crimeans for slaves, but the Ottomans can't really control them, and taking them out at this point might make things bad for Vasili and his bunch in Consantinople.

How did you guess :D but it'll take time....my Knights of St Andrew need to cut their teeth on something a little less powerful than the Cirmean's....probably Siber or Kazan Khanates.

[Glen]

This is not a game to be won or lost, but a timeline to be created. Therefore we need to try and collaborate more than compete (though some of that of course will happen naturally).

This was very well spoken. At first I wanted to wank my areas, but this all has to be somewhat seamless, in a way. I'd like to see newbs be given links to this or that, to help them on new timelines they propose.

Agreed. Quite frankly, I do most of my initial checking through google and wikipedia. You'd be surprised how much you can pick up just doing that.


I'd also like to note that many of my posts have disappeared for some reason, but I'm hoping that it was because I wanked a little early on, or that I'm kind of a backwater. I've regularly read the threads, but don't seem to find much of my Muisca posts, in particlular.

Either 1) I've screwed up or 2) they were posted with dates after 1503 and I just haven't gotten there yet.


Mind you, if what I've proposed is too outrageous, let me know, but for the most part, all I'm finding is my quaint little message about Spaniards wanting gold.

I do realise that your busy, so I'll be patient, until you can get caught up:)

Thanks. In the meantime, feel free to go through our other events and see how they're doing.

[Glen]

good point.

*removing*

*deletes every reference to royal marriage*

Noted. Keep an eye out with me and make certain I make the correction correctly.

wasn't that in Yemeni territory? if so, I can't grab it yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqaba

[BlackMage]

I've significantly revised my Gowan and Yolgnu timelines. The updated Yolgnu stuff is in the 1493 Yolgnu thread, in posts #5 and #7. The Gowan TL has been significantly stretched out as well, with the events of 1493-1501 in the first draft now taking from 1493 to 1510. (They're also included, pretty much, in the Yolgnu TL. Any events not included there take place in their first-posted year). And the events of 1510-1520, which I posted last week, remain consistent.

[Glen]

1504:

Europe:

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.

Burgundy:

The second daughter of Philip of Burgundy is born. She is named Isabella.

Portugal:

More anti-Jewish Riots pop up in and around Lisbon and other cities, most encouraged by Catholic priests. The Church is putting heavy pressure on Manoel to expel the Jews, but it’s more becoming a fight for who has the most power, the King or the Church than the issue over Jews continuing to live in Portugal.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to a healthy baby boy, named Manoel II.

Vasco De Gama and 30 ships leave for India, with orders to solidify Portuguese claims and to create a monopoly. He also takes a long a young squadron captain named. Alfonso De Albuquerque, later to be known as the De Gama’s Mastiff for his willingness to go and fight where De Gama points.

Malta:

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

Rhodes:

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.

Muscovy/Baltic:

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.

Ndongo & Matamba:

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.

Africa:

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.

Vasco De Gama solidifies and strengthens forts and harbors along Eastern Africa.

Indian Sub-Continent:

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.

Thailand [Kingdom of Ayuthaya]:

With the collapse of Burma, the Thais 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.

Gowa:

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.

Australia:

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.

Gowa are defeated in the Four Months War, thus opening up Marege markets to ambitious powers from across Indonesia. This also frees the Yolgnu from their treaty obligations dating from the First Yolgnu War.

The Yolgnu begin a military buildup, purchasing military equipment from the new traders.

A bad fishing season, however, proves disastrous, with several of the new 'villages' failing in their first year. The Yolgnu are forced to face the very real prospect of starvation.

As a result, Yolgnu fleets are forced to trawl further and further out into the Royal Gulf (OTL's Gulf of Carpentaria)

Japan:

Nambu ships complete a coastal survey of the Chishima islands and Kitaezo.

Mutsu province, home to the Wakamatsu clan in the south and the Nambu clan in the north, is divided between those two clans into two provinces - Muzen in the south (Wakamatsu) and Mugo in the north (Nambu). The Akita then cede Shimokita and Tsugaru and return to their home province.

Ryukyu:

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.

Norasia:


1504 November: The man whom the legends call Hiawatha dies. A Clan Mother takes on the new name Chiefess Orenda and becomes Chiefess of the Onondaga. Hurit immediately returns to the Onondaga Council, where she begins writing “The Funeral”, a 1000-word poem that, while written in Waponahkiyik characters, is written in Iroquoian grammar and is therefore considered the first Iroquois writing. In addition to describing the funeral, it predicts a horrible holocaust, a revelation, and a golden age to come. It opens with the line, “If the snow buries my neighborhood, and if my parents are crying, then I'll dig a tunnel from my window to yours.”
[B]1504 December: A month after Hiawatha’s death, Grand Council Iroquoians and other well-wishers from the farthest corners of TurtleIsland are still pouring into the city of Onondaga. Those who visited 10 years ago for the Grand Council are stunned by the prosperity that strong government, good harvests, and wide roads and brought the Haudenosaunee. Many of the southern tribes resolve to bring this prosperity to their own lands, and they stay for months afterward learning all they can from each other. Many return home with painstakingly copied engravings of “The Funeral”. Although almost none of them have learned how to read it (they simply memorized the story, as they always do), the fact that a common document is spread among dozens of locations, some a million paces from each other, provides the travelers with great spiritual satisfaction.
1505 January: Hurit marries a Waponahkiyik man. The Haudenosaunee pronounce it proof that the two nations are now forever linked in peace.

South America:

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.

Arthurian Ocean (Pacific):

1504 February: Sebastian Cabot's fleet lands in Tahiti. Near mutiny occurs when Cabot wants to press on from this hospitable land.

East Asia:

1504 April: Sebastian Cabot arrives in the Philippines, confirmed by an interpreter on board. A Cabot has finally reached Asia. He obtains directions to China.

China:

1504 May: Sebastian Cabot arrives in Southern China. His father's dream is fulfilled.

England:

1504 November: Sebastian Cabot returns to England to a hero's welcome. Though several ships have been lost to storms, the bulk of his ships remain intact and are laden with treasures of the Orient.

[Glen]

I've significantly revised my Gowan and Yolgnu timelines. The updated Yolgnu stuff is in the 1493 Yolgnu thread, in posts #5 and #7. The Gowan TL has been significantly stretched out as well, with the events of 1493-1501 in the first draft now taking from 1493 to 1510. (They're also included, pretty much, in the Yolgnu TL. Any events not included there take place in their first-posted year). And the events of 1510-1520, which I posted last week, remain consistent.

Okay. I will go check those out. Once we get through to the 1510 period we'll address those.

[Glen]

1504:

Europe:

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.

Not to be undone indeed. Sending adults from the Kongo to University seems a bit precipitous. I'd start with European tutors to teach them the basics of Latin and other items first. Also recall that most nobles were not doing this for their own heirs at this time, so its particularly odd.

Really, for this entire generation we should be talking about tutors for the Royalty of Kongo. In the meantime, we need to develop the idea of universities to make them places royalty would send children to.

Portugal:

More anti-Jewish Riots pop up in and around Lisbon and other cities, most encouraged by Catholic priests. The Church is putting heavy pressure on Manoel to expel the Jews, but it’s more becoming a fight for who has the most power, the King or the Church than the issue over Jews continuing to live in Portugal.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to a healthy baby boy, named Manoel II.

Vasco De Gama and 30 ships leave for India, with orders to solidify Portuguese claims and to create a monopoly. He also takes a long a young squadron captain named. Alfonso De Albuquerque, later to be known as the De Gama’s Mastiff for his willingness to go and fight where De Gama points.

Already discussed by me. Put here for consistency.


Malta:

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

I've already mentioned concern about the sale of Malta. But in addition, why would the Hansa be interested in a 'Christian Republic'?


Rhodes:

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.

What are you playing at with Constantine? D'Aubusson seems to be positioning him to be a pretender to the Byzantines or some such. It seems incredible that a Catholic Knight (and Patriarch, right) would command the illegitimate son of a Turkish pretender to the Ottoman Empire as an Orthodox Christian.


Muscovy/Baltic:

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.

See previous comments. We need to place the Knights of St Andrew on a firmer base. Also, try not to project too much into the future. When the first Russian prince actually is sent to train we can start intimating such.


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.

Yes, they must, mustn't they.

This reminds me to question....when did the tradition of sending princes to travel through the courts of Europe begin? It seems like all of this travelling might be a bit premature. Travel in this time period is still hard. Then again, we have seen a few international figures, so maybe its okay. Anyone have any knowledge about this querry?


.... He is sent to the Seminário real de Ndongo de Emmanuel de Rei in Kabasa....

There is a seminary in Ndongo? Too fast. I don't recall seeing an event establishing one....


....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..." ....

A Christian religious argument posited by Catholic Africans? This early?? Both unlikely and unnecessary. They could just decide to set up a relative as a figurehead to overthrow her for pure power politics.


Africa:

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.

I think we agreed to remove this one.


....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....

First, what are the benefits of Gowan citizenship? Second, wouldn't they just buy off the tribes? This seems very 21st century liberalish to me. I'm not saying you can't be nicer to the Aboriginals than OTL (heck, kinda hard to not be) but this seems a bit too much as currently written

Oh, wait. You already told me you've reworked most of this stuff. Sorry, will go check....

Japan:

Nambu ships complete a coastal survey of the Chishima islands and Kitaezo.

Mutsu province, home to the Wakamatsu clan in the south and the Nambu clan in the north, is divided between those two clans into two provinces - Muzen in the south (Wakamatsu) and Mugo in the north (Nambu). The Akita then cede Shimokita and Tsugaru and return to their home province.

Ryukyu:

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.

Overall, I've not seen anything amiss with any of the Ryukyan or Japanese events so far. But I think other people need to scrutinize them too.

....where she begins writing “The Funeral”, a 1000-word poem that, while written in Waponahkiyik characters, is written in Iroquoian grammar and is therefore considered the first Iroquois writing....


Seems way too early for this infant writing system to suddenly be put into use writing poetry. I could be wrong, of course.

....Those who visited 10 years ago for the Grand Council are stunned by the prosperity that strong government, good harvests, and wide roads and brought the Haudenosaunee. Many of the southern tribes resolve to bring this prosperity to their own lands, and they stay for months afterward learning all they can from each other. Many return home with painstakingly copied engravings of “The Funeral”. Although almost none of them have learned how to read it (they simply memorized the story, as they always do), the fact that a common document is spread among dozens of locations, some a million paces from each other, provides the travelers with great spiritual satisfaction.....

This all makes for a very cool story, but seems a bit too fast and a bit too utopian. I wouldn't imagine any of them staying months. If they are really interested, they'll send some of their tribe members to stay with the Haudenosaunee.

The Funeral....I love the idea, but I just don't see how it could come about so quickly.

I would love to be over-ruled on this. Can anyone defend this, please?


South America:

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.

Here's a muisca event! I don't have much problem with them reaching the sea at this point. It does seem a bit jarring to have them build up due to Carib raids, and to trade with sea-going people (who I assume are the Carib).

Arthurian Ocean (Pacific):

1504 February: Sebastian Cabot's fleet lands in Tahiti. Near mutiny occurs when Cabot wants to press on from this hospitable land.

East Asia:

1504 April: Sebastian Cabot arrives in the Philippines, confirmed by an interpreter on board. A Cabot has finally reached Asia. He obtains directions to China.

China:

1504 May: Sebastian Cabot arrives in Southern China. His father's dream is fulfilled.

England:

1504 November: Sebastian Cabot returns to England to a hero's welcome. Though several ships have been lost to storms, the bulk of his ships remain intact and are laden with treasures of the Orient.

Since Sebastian Cabot's circumnavigation of the globe is closely patterned on that of Magellan OTL, I think it pretty solid myself.

[Keenir]

What are you playing at with Constantine? D'Aubusson seems to be positioning him to be a pretender to the Byzantines or some such. It seems incredible that a Catholic Knight (and Patriarch, right) would command the illegitimate son of a Turkish pretender to the Ottoman Empire as an Orthodox Christian.

just don't forget this:
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)

sadly, I D'Aubusson never sent a reply....I was tempted to have an invasion of Rhodes just to pre-empt any future claims by young Constantine.

JAPAN:
Overall, I've not seen anything amiss with any of the Ryukyan or Japanese events so far. But I think other people need to scrutinize them too.

I already sent (and was replied-to about) my concern on the matter.

NORASIA:
Seems way too early for this infant writing system to suddenly be put into use writing poetry. I could be wrong, of course.

what better first use?

[Glen]

just don't forget this:
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)

sadly, I D'Aubusson never sent a reply....I was tempted to have an invasion of Rhodes just to pre-empt any future claims by young Constantine.

I won't forget.


JAPAN:


I already sent (and was replied-to about) my concern on the matter.

Okay. What was it, btw?


NORASIA:

what better first use?

None better, but some more likely. Most of the first uses of writing in history were for mundane things like identification of goods and people.

[Smaug]

Agreed. Quite frankly, I do most of my initial checking through google and wikipedia. You'd be surprised how much you can pick up just doing that.



Either 1) I've screwed up or 2) they were posted with dates after 1503 and I just haven't gotten there yet.



Thanks. In the meantime, feel free to go through our other events and see how they're doing.

I didn't mean to sound like a whiner or anything, I just intentionally started slow, since it didn't make any sense for me to make changes without any outside stimuli.

I've read about every post though, unfortunately my main strengths historically speaking are in the BC era.

[Keenir]

Okay. What was it, btw?

I had been concerned that the Chinese were treating another nation as an equal, rather than at least going through the act of "tithe" and "gifts" between the two nations.

None better, but some more likely. Most of the first uses of writing in history were for mundane things like identification of goods and people.

another good reason to be aware of English writing systems.....that way, they know a system is possible & not just a pipe dream -- and then they can reform the (written) language in 3 months.

[Glen]

The new TL looks like this:

The Birth of the Yolgnu Nation: 1492-1511

In 1493, the Yolgnu existed primarily as a concept; a series of traditions, religious practices, and linguistic dialects, with all those identifying themselves as 'Yolgnu' linking themselves to a particular territory: specifically, eastern Marege (OTL's eastern Top End)

Beyond that, however, there was very little in the way of unity. The Yolgnu were divided into clan groups and bands, who functioned largely autonomously. Without any significant foreign threats, there was no reason for unity-or, indeed, technological developments. So the Yolgnu survived, for tens of thousands of years, largely as they always had.

However, Yolgnu history can be said to have truly begun, from the day the Invaders arrived. The first contact with the traders dubbed generally the 'Macassans' could not have begun more inauspiciously. The exhausted and lonely traders attempted to abduct a party of Yolgnu women; the Yolgnu reacted violently, spearing several Macassans and nearly sinking their boat.

Remove the bit about sinking the boat, I recommend.

Unlike the other Aboriginal tribes of Marege, who generally experienced positive first contacts, the Yolgnu recognised, from the beginning, the threat which Macassan influence posed to traditional tribal culture.

To this end, the Yolgnu began to unify politically, through a series of corroborees and tribal meetings. It was decided to oppose the Macassans, and hopefully to drive them back where they came from. A previously insignificant band 'headman',

Okay.

Djerrkura (note: obviously there are no records of his existence in OTL, but I needed a name and it's a Yolgnu family name, so there's no reason why he couldn't have existed),

Leave him unnamed, then. Or give him a nom de guerre, some name taken, rather than one given at birth. Then it won't be a problem.

rose to prominence for his vitriolically anti-Macassan stance. According to legend, one of his sisters was one of those women attacked by the Macassans.

The Macassans had no understanding of tribal borders. As such, trepangers frequently strayed into Yolgnu territory, where they were immediately set upon by

Okay above.

warriors. Djerrkura, acting in defiance of tradition, recognised the need to compensate for the vast technology gap. Macassan technologies were adapted for Yolgnu use, and many Macassan ships were commandeered with the help of bribed or intimidated crews. This served as a means for piracy against Macassan traders.

I'd still change this to hunters. Again with the name. 'Recognised the....technology gap' is very mod talk. The Aborigines' are not going to be able to adapt this quickly. There is nothing in their history to indicate such a capacity. Forget the ships outright. You have no way of even knowing what to do with them. You are basically having a stone age culture adapt to invasion of a medieval culture in a matter of a few years. Its just not likely or plausible.


Due to their comparative size (unlike many other tribes in the region, who comprised only hundreds of individuals, there were over two thousand Yolgnu), the Yolgnu came to dominate the burgeoning anti-Macassan movements. Through both ideological sympathy and intimidation, a loose confederacy of tribes began to form, devoted to opposing the Macassans.

Okay here.

Over the next decade, a 'cold war', of sorts, would develop between the two nations, as both sides sought allies and prestige in the region.

A cold war implies equality. There is none here.


The First Yolgnu War of 1507-1511 proved disastrous for both sides. The Macassan invasion force floundered, unable to strike at the Yolgnu, and proved a heavy drain on the Gowan treasury. The Yolgnu, however, faced even harsher conditions. The Macassans' tribal allies, eager to gain favour, committed atrocities against Yolgnu civilian populations, most notably in the Gagadju Massacre. Far more deadly, however, was a virus brought by the soldiers: smallpox. The disease wreaked havoc on the Yolgnu population, killing over half the population, most notably the previously dominant elders. This allowed Djerrkura, already a hero for his guerrilla activities, to gain effective political control over the Yolgnu.

Its going to do worse than kill half. I think while the Gowans won't have it easy, I doubt it will be a major drain on them or a major theater this far out.


1494:

The newly crowned Karaeng of Gowa, I-Pakere'tau Karaeng Tunijallo'-ri Pasukki' Somba-ri Gowa (henceforth referred to as I'Pakere'tau I) is informed by his Shahbandar (Foreign Affairs Minister) of the decline in trepang stocks across Indonesia. The young king is advised by the Bate Salapang (the supreme council of nobles, akin to a Parliament) to send ships to discover new trepang stocks.

1495:

The first Macassan voyages of exploration, sponsored by the king, set out. The first three disappear without trace. The fourth, however, encounters a large, tropical land to the south. First contact between the Macassans and Yolgnu occurs-the Yolgnu spear the ship's captain, and drive their crew back into the sea. It is not an auspicious start. The ship's remaining crew return to Makassar with news of fantastic riches and abundant stocks of trepang. The new land is dubbed 'Marege' by the king.

1496:

News of the new land takes time to disseminate; as such, no fleets are sent to Marege. The Yolgnu presume, falsely, that the invaders have been scared off.

1497:

At the start of the next trepang season, the first Macassan praus begin to arrive, cautiously, in Marege. Those which land in Yolgnu territory are attacked. Some other tribes, however, react in a friendly fashion. The first stocks of trepang are harvested and returned to Makassar, from where they are traded on to China. However, the land to the south does not yet gain much interest; there are still trepang stocks in Gowan waters, albeit diminishing rapidly, and Marege is too far away and too hostile to yet risk a business venture.

1498:

The Yolgnu convene a meeting, or corroborree, to discuss the issue of 'the invaders'. In their first contact, the Macassans attempted to kidnap three Yolgnu women, sparking a skirmish. The various headmen of the Yolgnu bands agree to a policy of 'total resistance'. They will attempt to drive off the Macassans with a policy of military force.

A small number of Macassan ships arrive in Marege, but steer clear of the Yolgnu. However, the large profits from their ventures bring the nation to the full attention of merchants in Makassar.

1499:

This year sees a massive rise in the number of Macassan ships arriving off the coast of Marege. The Gunbalang nation, willing to cooperate with the newcomers, sign a treaty with Macassan fishermen: in exchange for

This bit above is good I think.

technology,

Maybe I'm being a style nerd here, but I wouldn't use technology. I'd instead just specify trade goods.

they will provide labour for the Macassans and allow the construction of temporary camps on their land. Some other Aboriginal tribes follow suit; most others, however, remain cautiously indifferent.

Fine.


Three praus (Macassan fishing ships) attempt to fish in Yolgnu waters. They are attacked by Yolgnu fishermen. Over two dozen Macassans are killed, and their boats are commandeered. The remaining crew agree to aid the Yolgnu in exchange for their lives.

It's just unlikely. Its going to be very hard for the Yolgnu to figure out how to control the crews once out to sea.

So the praus are small fishing boats, yeah? If so, that makes it a little more plausible to be captured at least, though I still doubt the 'Yolgnu piracy' subplot overall.


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,

Okay above.

tobacco,

Tobacco from where?:confused:

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.

Fine.

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.

I say no to this part.


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.

Overall okay.


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.

How technologically advanced are the Macassans? Perhaps I've been assuming too much of a difference between them and the Aborigines. But still, the Yolgnu theft of sailing technology seems odd.


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.

Basically more of the same.


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.

1510:

In Kai Djawa, the first permanent Yolgnu trading station, for pearls and trepang, is established. Similar settlements are set up in Marege.

Macassan economic influence begins to spread inland through the use of proxies. The first treaty with an inland tribe is concluded, by which they will supply labour for technology and food.

1511:

The war enters its third year, with no signs of abating. In desperation, the Shahbandur (Gowan foreign minister) decides to enter into negotiations with the Yolgnu. The Yolgnu, heavily weakened by smallpox, agree.

In the First Makaratta (treaty), Djerrkura is recognised as bate (prince) of the Yolgnu, independent of Makassar but in a pact of permanent friendship. His allies are not so fortunate, with Gowa annexing the territory of any tribe to ally with the Yolgnu.

The ravages of smallpox force the tribes of Marege to gravitate towards the Gowan settlements along the coast, where they are given food for labour. They remain nominally independent, but the collapse of Yolgnu's alliances effectively grants the Gowans regional hegemony. Similar processes take place in Kai Djawa.

Meanwhile, Gowan praus continue to explore Marege, reaching the eastern side of OTL's Gulf of Carpentaria. Several trading stations are established, but many tribes, newly contacted, react badly to the intruders.

In Yolgnu, the population begin to gravitate to fishing settlements along the coast, established by Djerrkura.

There. That seems more plausible.

See above. The introduction of Smallpox should in the short term basically end the war on the part of the Aborigines.

[marl_d]

See previous comments. We need to place the Knights of St Andrew on a firmer base. Also, try not to project too much into the future. When the first Russian prince actually is sent to train we can start intimating such.



Yes, they must, mustn't they.

This reminds me to question....when did the tradition of sending princes to travel through the courts of Europe begin? It seems like all of this travelling might be a bit premature. Travel in this time period is still hard. Then again, we have seen a few international figures, so maybe its okay. Anyone have any knowledge about this querry?


the Knights of St Andrew are the remnats of the Livonian Knights that we're rescued when the Hansa and Teunonic Knights tried to save them and they converted to the Orthodoxy....

maybe change it to

1504: Ivan commishes the building of a Training Facitlity and Monastary/Cathedral in Tver, his intention is to establish the Knights as the leaders of the Russian Army.


as far as sending Dmitriy abroad...it was part of my intention to start building the Russian Navy a LOT earlier....though i can see it changing to Ivan just sending out Diplomats to get trade routes established and they bring back tales of the New World and this entices Dmitriy.

[Glen]

another good reason to be aware of English writing systems.....that way, they know a system is possible & not just a pipe dream -- and then they can reform the (written) language in 3 months.

I've been thinking about the Funeral Poem....maybe we need to just expand on the event, make it clear that his death is considered so momentous, that they have basically created whole new logographs just to record it.

And yes, I would add that they get some impetus from knowing that the English can write down things...in fact, you should put in an event where it is specifically told that they can write down poetry. Maybe Brother John likes to read Homer to the natives....;)

[Glen]

A general comment.

I was unable to get to some further events for the English activities in Norasia in the first decade of 1500 due to everything else (editing, sick, work, etc).

I'll write them out more formally, but to summarize.

The Society for Venturer Merchants will be focusing on establishing trade outposts and weystations along the eastern coast of Norasia (which I'm leaning towards being the English word for North America). The main impetus for this is of course the trade items discovered by John and Sebastian Cabot. The Fur industry will mostly focus around areas of Quebec and the Maritimes, New England, and into the Mid Atlantic States. There are already outposts on Newfoundland that are seasonal for fishing, trade posts in the region of Quebec City and Montreal, Halifax, Manhattan.

What I haven't been able to get out yet is that shortly thereafter, another would be founded at the mouth of the Chesapeake (Norfolk, Jamestown?), Weystations at either Charleston SC or Savannah, then Miami area, then New Orleans Region, all in furtherance of the trade route to the Vanilla and other good stuff from the Huasteca and Totonac in the region of the State of Veracruz. Will the coast mapped out, obviously the English chose the places likely to be good strategic points for future trade.

I talked with Mess about this to explain why I thought it more likely that the English would have gotten to the Mississippi first and he agreed with my rationale.

In addition, I have plans for the English to work (and have a lot of problems with) on developing a road through the Panamanian Isthmus. Given the initial impetus to develop trade with Asia, this is still a goal of the English, and they will be trying to establish a Panamanian overland transfer. The first group will die of diseases and hostile indians, of course. However, the English will try again, this time by purchasing slaves from Africa and offering them their freedom in return for settlement and service on building a road through Panama. The rationale for freedom (indenture really) is that they have little confidence that the English overseers would live long enough to keep them in slavery. Of course, there will have to be some training for several needs for the road and eventual docks they wish built on the other side, which will increase their time in England first and also give them some training in English.

Yes, Panama should be an interesting place. That stuff obviously will extend well into the 1510s and 1520s at least.

Thought I'd go ahead and put this summary out for review before getting the actual events up.

[Tom Veil]

Where are the English getting all this naval power? I learned my history in America, not Britain, but I always thought that the English could not project a sustained naval presence until after the buildup under Queen Elizabeth and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. It's one thing to have a couple trade stations in the north, but if they're creating sustained supply lines all over the Americas, and performing labor-intensive activity as well, they are extremely vulnerable to piracy or hostile nations.

[Glen]

Where are the English getting all this naval power? I learned my history in America, not Britain, but I always thought that the English could not project a sustained naval presence until after the buildup under Queen Elizabeth and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. It's one thing to have a couple trade stations in the north, but if they're creating sustained supply lines all over the Americas, and performing labor-intensive activity as well, they are extremely vulnerable to piracy or hostile nations.

Good question. The English and the French had some naval scuffles in both the 15th and 16th centuries, so there obviously was some naval ability there to begin with. Henry VII began an increase in naval building which Henry VIII continued.

England had a fairly good merchant marine at the time OTL as well.

Here, the English are taking a good base and expanding upon it. There is an impetus to increase ship-building and purchase due to the fur trade and then the spice trade with North America. That provides both the reason and the funding.

You are correct in believing that they are technically vulnerable to both piracy (though who precisely is the question, and where are those pirates getting their ships...recall that piracy in the New World grew out of conflict between nations, with the letters of marque giving people their appetite for it), and to hostile nations.

However, TTL's England in the 1497-1520 period is on fairly good terms with both nations that have a significant ability to project naval power into the New World; Portugal and Spain. King Arthur's wife is the eldest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, and Portugal's Queen is Arthur's sister. Given the increasing tensions between Portugal and Spain, neither are likely to wish to antagonize the English in that time.

The biggest question mark really for the first few decades really is France. That is the biggest player unaccounted for.

Anyhow, I freely admit that the English are somewhat sparse in the New World. This is just the first baby steps in this. Quite frankly, anyone dominating would be odd. The English got there first, but we'll see what happens over the fullness of time.

Does that answer your question on this?

[Tom Veil]

That does answer the question. Not all that much naval power is needed when you don't have enemies or civilian settlements -- just enough to fight Mother Nature.

[Glen]

That does answer the question. Not all that much naval power is needed when you don't have enemies or civilian settlements -- just enough to fight Mother Nature.

Pretty much. Its just a start, though a good one. What happens later will depend on a lot of things over time.

[Glen]

I'm reposting the stuff below again here. This all is terribly impausible as written, or at least gives the impression therein.

Another big comment to make; Europeans in the Congo are likely to suffer a pretty high rate of mortality. Keep that in mind.

Aussey, suggest that you make obscure 'who' made him Bishop. He can act as 'South Africa' bishop, but perhaps not an official title?

Also, that Maria-Christina of Naples, is she an OTL historical figure? Otherwise, just state 'a lady of the court' or some such. Might also want to mention specifically that she's been 'raised up' to fill this role. In any event, I'd prefer you used no name or a different name than Maria-Christina to avoid confusion.

Yes, it is a common name.

BTW, you're getting away with a lot of name dropping since you are having so many rename themselves, obscuring their OTL identities.

Please address and repost here.

If that's the case, I may send a more minor Prince to Spain, and the current ambassador to the Holy Roman Emperor. We will, of course, value our alliance with Kongo before all other.

I didn't. He was made a BISHOP. Not primate. Besides, Ndongo is south of Kongo, we made him Bishop of Ndongo, and Africa Australi, or south Africa, refers to the fact that we wish to expand southward. Not northward (except for Lunda- which is northeastward.) Of course, again, we wish to cooperate with Kongo.

Yes. Of course.

It's a common name. She's a minor lady from the Neapolitan king's court. Only made a Donna to marry the Prince.

We are. Just a few things, like supplies for the altar, and silver and stuff. If you didn't know, from the Congo south, is full of diamonds. Diamonds. And ivory.

Great! Because the heathen kingdom of Luango is to YOUR north, and the Kongolese claimed to be overlords- but you just physically bring it under your yoke. Help us conquer Lunda, we'll help you conquer Luango :)

Of course. That's why I said a few. Just throwing it in their, so it doesn't seem like we're not using them.

Thanks!
Catholic Africa Will Rule The Continent.

Few points:
1. Spain will probably be supporting Kongo considerably more than Ndongo, as Ndongo is in the Neapolitan sphere of influence.
2. I don't really think you can get your bishop made primate of all Southern Africa. OTL Henriqe of Kongo was given the defunct bishopric of Eutica, and that was about as far as it was going to go. Plus there is another Christian kingdom in the nearby area with close ties to the church--particularly in Spain (by which, of course, I mean Kongo). Speaking of which, are you responding to the Kongolese offer of alliance?
3. Isn't Maria-Christina of Naples already married to Alphonso's youngest son?
4. Where are you getting the money for all this? Cathedrals are expensive, and importing materials from Northern Germany even more so. Wouldn't building it out of local materials be more feasible?
5. I think the Kongolese would be willing to send troops on your crusade.
6. Keep in mind that there aren't a whole lot of Rhodeans in Ndongo as of this moment.

In general though, I like what you're doing, and have similar plans for Kongo actually.

1505 March: After delayed visits and tours, Prince João-Baptista arrives back in Ndongo, with an even grander entourage of Franciscan monks, Neapolitan men to mine the interior, Spaniard artisans, and such; Rhodean knights, and treasures beyond compare. King Diego and his Queen throw a large parade in honor of what the Ndongolese consider to be "model Catholics."

The Neapolitans, along with a few Rhodean knights, and a conquistador, are granted a charter by King Diego to colonize and conquer the unconquered lands of the powerful, heathen kingdom of Lunda in the north in the name of the King. King Diego declares his kingdom to be "a mari usque ad mare," after learning of the Indian Ocean and Muslim Africans from Prince João-Baptista.

1505 April: Prince João-Baptista is created "Duke of Angoy," and made Royal Ambassador to Their Catholic Majesties of Spain, and Prince Fernando of Matamba is made Royal Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples-Sicily-Jerusalem. Their re-depart is scheduled for the fall.

1505 May: Prince João-Baptista and his betrothed, Donna Anna Christina de Lannoy of Naples, are married at small Franciscan parish Church of Santa Chiarra in the capital. Queen Betânia gives birth to a daughter, who is named "Maria Anna-Clara," and is given to the now-Princess Anna Christina of Naples to raise, whom the infant princess is named after. King Diego replaces Portugese with Italian as lingua franca of southern Africa.

1505 Summer: Construction on a cathedral in São Rafael begin. Prince Sebastião returns, having victoriously conquered the Jaga Cassangi. He is created "Principe-Conquistatore del Regno," and marries an Ndongolese noble woman, the Lady Anastasia-Cristina. He is made Royal Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and plans to leave with the other ambassadors in the fall.

1505 August: TRH Prince João-Baptista, Princess Anna Christina of Naples, and the infant Infanta Maria Anna-Clara, depart for Spain; Prince Fernando departs for Naples; and TRH Prince Sebastião and Princess Anastasia-Cristina depart for Istambul. Instead of purely European dress, they are now all suited in European-cut clothing, with African materials, jewlry, and patterns. They truly look exotic, and representative of the Kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba.

1505 September 17: Under influence from his Franciscan tendala, or Chief Advisor, King Diego signs the Act of Unification, unifying the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba as "Regno di Ndongo-Matamba-" the Kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba. It becomes known as Giorno di regnoSan , or "Kingdom Day," and in honor of this, King Diego declares Saint Lamberto di Maastricht, Co-Patron Saint of Ndongo-Matamba.

1505 November: TRH Prince João-Baptista, Princess Anna Christina of Naples, and the infant Infanta Maria Anna-Clara arrive in Madrid, Spain. More troops Ndongolese-Matamban troops are sent to help fight in Lunda.

1505 Christmas Day: The first Ndongolese bishop, Saint Lorenzo, is consecrated as "Bishop of All Africa-Austalis," by the Franciscan bishops.

1506 Winter/1507 Early Winter: The Spanish ship is sent to the Hansa, headed by a Matamban noble by the name of Count Marco-Felipe Mbandi, to purchase more materials for the Cathedral in São Rafael.

[Glen]

1505:

Trier:

Jacob of Baden 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 the 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.

Wittenberg: Martin Luther enters Wittenberg University, studying cannon law and (to the consternation of his father), theology.

Albertine Saxony:

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.

Portugal:

Manoel I and the Church leaders disagreements finally come to a head. Maneol, although a pious Catholic, cannot tolerate the continued interference by the priests and their continual rousing up riots and causing damage. He cuts funding to the church and exiles the leaders of those that oppose him, others he executes. The executed and exiled people’s lands are confiscated.

De Albuquerque is charged with putting down rebellions in East Africa. He does so brutally and efficiently. He also is charged with pirating Arab/Muslim trading vessels, which he also does efficiently.

Kingdom of Naples:

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

Malta:

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.

Muscovy:

Grand Prince Dmitriy 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.

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.

Maghreb:

For the past 8 years, Tunisia, due to the urging 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.

Muhammad XII leads his army to Tunis where the Sultan agrees to appoint Boabdil as his Heir.

The Granadian Army begins to reassert control over the countryside, and bring the period of warlordism to a end.

Ethiopia:

De Albuquerque is charged with putting down rebellions in East Africa. He does so brutally and efficiently. He also is charged with pirating Arab/Muslim trading vessels, which he also does efficiently.

Indian Sub-Continent:

Vasco De Gama continues to fortify his positions in India, Calicut and Cochin. Explorations are made along the India Coast. Sri Lanka is discovered and trade is set up with the local rulers.

China:

1505 February 10: In the dead of winter, Manchu warriors attacked a border outpost in Duoyan serving as the defense of the local settlers. The garrison of 500 men was slaughtered down to the last man as a message to the locals, leave or end up like them.

By early Spring, Manchu tribes were leading multiple raids into villages of settlers up and down the border in Duoyan, Jianzhou, and Chahar. The Hongzhi Emperor had little choice but to dispatch 45,000 men under the command of several generals. Unlike expeditions mounted under the Song Dynasty or earlier in the Ming Dynasty, the Hongzhi Emperor was unwilling to take command of armies in the field, preferring instead to let his generals do their job and he would do his.

This 45,000 man expedition would not reach the border until late July, owing to the army's access to experienced combat officer's, many of who were still leading troops in the subjugation of Taiwanese locals.

When offensive operations were undertaken in early August, they were an unmitigated disaster. Nearly 10,000 men were killed or wounded in two months of campaigning from August to late September, with the slaughter ending only with the onslaught of the Manchurian winter. No progress had been made, and worse still, settlers were reporting many neighboring villages simply disappearing overnight, leaving ashes and blood where once thriving settlements existed hours before.

Japan:

Fishing operations begin in waters off Ezo.

The Nambu begin trading with the Ainu of Ezo.

Ryukyuan:

First colonists leave for Taiwan.

Taiwan:

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

Norasia:

1505 January: Hurit marries a Waponahkiyik man. The Haudenosaunee pronounce it proof that the two nations are now forever linked in peace.

Columbus sends expeditions to Florida and Central America.

Caribbean:

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'.

South America:

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).

[Glen]

Portugal:

Manoel I and the Church leaders disagreements finally come to a head. Maneol, although a pious Catholic, cannot tolerate the continued interference by the priests and their continual rousing up riots and causing damage. He cuts funding to the church and exiles the leaders of those that oppose him, others he executes. The executed and exiled people’s lands are confiscated.


See my previous comments on this part.


Kingdom of Naples:

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

Change armada to flotilla I'd say.


Malta:

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.

You have heard my previous concerns on this part. Aside from Malta's sale itself, I question the manner the Hansa and Teutonic Knights are setting up the government there. To the best of my knowledge, neither the Hansa nor the Teutonic Knights ever were or established republics. Why would they start now?


Muscovy:

Grand Prince Dmitriy 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.

Too many nations are just spontaneously developing an interest in ship-building without supporting events. I didn't need to do so for England, as they did increase shipworks (dry dock at Portsmouth) and send out explorers (Cabot) IOTL. Note that Savoy and the White Sheep Turkomen haven't even mentioned ships; that's not because I haven't gotten around to it, but because these nations just don't have reason to start doing so so early into the divergence.

This is not directed at you specifically marl, but most of those nations that have done so. We need people to build from what happened IOTL to do this. Otherwise, we need to wait a bit.

Also, not certain about the 'send massive waves of people to recruit/learn shipbuilding'.

There's gotta be a better way to do this. Suggestions, folks?


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.

Now this on the otherhand is an excellent example of taking something already existent in the timeline and making an incredible divergence start up! Strong work!!


Maghreb:

For the past 8 years, Tunisia, due to the urging 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.

This is plausible, though overall we've had way too many people make a grab for the Sephardim. Naples really was lucky in that they avoided the Italian Wars and thus get to build on the nascent relations that were starting with the Sephardim being expelled.


South America:

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).

I find this one implausible. What the heck would they be doing down there? Be patient, you'll be able to trade with the odd Black English in the Isthmus of Cabot (Panama) in a decade or so.

[Glen]

Reposting Meltdown's points here. Were these comments adopted?


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.

[BlackMage]

OK, to work then.

Remove the bit about sinking the boat, I recommend.

Certainly.

Leave him unnamed, then. Or give him a nom de guerre, some name taken, rather than one given at birth. Then it won't be a problem.

OK. A Gowan word for 'war leader', perhaps, given by his enemies?


I'd still change this to hunters. Again with the name. 'Recognised the....technology gap' is very mod talk. The Aborigines' are not going to be able to adapt this quickly. There is nothing in their history to indicate such a capacity. Forget the ships outright. You have no way of even knowing what to do with them. You are basically having a stone age culture adapt to invasion of a medieval culture in a matter of a few years. Its just not likely or plausible.

OK, I'll change it to make them more primitive.


A cold war implies equality. There is none here.

Not necessarily. It implies a struggle for influence and regional dominance. The Yolgnu have decisive advantages, like numbers in Marege, linguistics and family links throughout different tribes. I need a different word, yes, but the struggle for regional dominance remains.

Its going to do worse than kill half. I think while the Gowans won't have it easy, I doubt it will be a major drain on them or a major theater this far out.

OK. I'll substantially reduce their numbers, and have it be the cause of the end of the war. But why shouldn't it be a major theatre? They have a limited land force against a society of trained hunters. Kakudu is some of the harshest terrain on Earth, which these people have known for 40 000 years; without smallpox, it would be an almost impossible war to win.

Maybe I'm being a style nerd here, but I wouldn't use technology. I'd instead just specify trade goods.

OK. That's just a linguistic issue.

It's just unlikely. Its going to be very hard for the Yolgnu to figure out how to control the crews once out to sea.

So the praus are small fishing boats, yeah? If so, that makes it a little more plausible to be captured at least, though I still doubt the 'Yolgnu piracy' subplot overall.

Praus are small fishing boats, yes. But I'll cut that element, which was mostly in there to add an element of parity.

Tobacco from where?:confused:

Oops. That bit's a direct quote from a source on later Yolgnu contacts from the eighteenth century. An oversight on my part.

I say no to this part.

OK, you're the boss.

How technologically advanced are the Macassans? Perhaps I've been assuming too much of a difference between them and the Aborigines. But still, the Yolgnu theft of sailing technology seems odd.

The Macassans are not an advanced civilisation by the standards of the time. It's a small village-state in Sulawesi which has remained functionally unchanged for hundreds of years. They're more advanced than the Yolgnu, yes, but they're not that much more advanced. No guns, for starters, which is something I've just discovered (and have to retcon out), and not that much in the way of technology. They're just a 'small town made good', basically, chosen because of their historical links with the Yolgnu anyway, and because they have the best shot of lasting contact of the powers in the region. It's enough technology to gain dominance in Marege, but not that much. While the piracy is certainly a bit implausible, it's not drastically so, considering that this is the equivalent of a small fishing town.

See above. The introduction of Smallpox should in the short term basically end the war on the part of the Aborigines.

OK. I'll adjust this.

[Glen]

OK, to work then.

Certainly.

OK. A Gowan word for 'war leader', perhaps, given by his enemies?

Actually, I think that would be really, really cool! Very 'Geronimo'.

OK, I'll change it to make them more primitive.

Not necessarily. It implies a struggle for influence and regional dominance. The Yolgnu have decisive advantages, like numbers in Marege, linguistics and family links throughout different tribes. I need a different word, yes, but the struggle for regional dominance remains.

Point taken, but yeah, let's phrase it a bit differently. I agree the Yolgnu have advantages on the land, which is why I think they can put on a fight.

OK. I'll substantially reduce their numbers, and have it be the cause of the end of the war.

Thanks.

But why shouldn't it be a major theatre? They have a limited land force against a society of trained hunters. Kakudu is some of the harshest terrain on Earth, which these people have known for 40 000 years; without smallpox, it would be an almost impossible war to win.

Points taken. Again, I think the use of terms typically used to describe conflicts between European/Western nations of the 20th century gives an impression that is not necessarily meant. Thanks for taking more account of the smallpox outbreak.

OK. That's just a linguistic issue.

True, but if that's all it takes to give the proper nuance to the events, I think it worthwhile.


Praus are small fishing boats, yes. But I'll cut that element, which was mostly in there to add an element of parity.

Exactly. Its that element of parity that needs to be toned down. The Yolgnu are going to use their strengths to good advantage, but this is asymmetric warfare.

Oops. That bit's a direct quote from a source on later Yolgnu contacts from the eighteenth century. An oversight on my part.

Happens to us all.

OK, you're the boss.

Feel more like the timeline's peon with all the work I have to do to get this squared away, but sure....:rolleyes:

The Macassans are not an advanced civilisation by the standards of the time. It's a small village-state in Sulawesi which has remained functionally unchanged for hundreds of years. They're more advanced than the Yolgnu, yes, but they're not that much more advanced. No guns, for starters, which is something I've just discovered (and have to retcon out), and not that much in the way of technology. They're just a 'small town made good', basically, chosen because of their historical links with the Yolgnu anyway, and because they have the best shot of lasting contact of the powers in the region. It's enough technology to gain dominance in Marege, but not that much. While the piracy is certainly a bit implausible, it's not drastically so, considering that this is the equivalent of a small fishing town.

That's what I was wondering. Really sounds like neither of them are up to much in terms of naval combat. Suggest that the boats just be a way for the Macassans to get there, with all the fighting pretty much on land.

OK. I'll adjust this.

I want to thank you for being such a good sport about all this. You've obviously put a lot of hard work into these events, and I really like what you're trying to do, we just need to make it more primitive and over a longer timeframe.

Don't worry, the English won't be around for quite a while.;)

[Glen]

1506:

Portugal:

Manoel I enacts strict laws that are designed to curb the Church’s power in Portugal. The lack of funding has already dried up a lot of the political activeness of the priests, but it’s not enough for Manoel who’s whispered to be becoming more like his predecessor John II, which terrifies the Nobility into siding with him.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her second child, a son named Henrique.

De Albuquerque is sent back to Portugal with treasure laden ships.

Burgundy:

The third son of Philip of Burgundy is born. He is named Maximillian.

Holy Roman Empire:

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.

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.

Muscovy:

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

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

1506 November: 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 meantime, 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.

Rhodes:

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.

Kongo:

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.

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 credentials to His Imperial Majesty the Holy Roman Emperor, as Royal Ambassador of the Kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba.

Ethiopia:

The Royal Shipyard launches it's first Indian-style dhow, followed a week later by a Maldives dhoni. These are basically enlarged rowboats. With a maximum cargo of 10-15 tons in the larger dhows, and 2-5 in the dhoni. By the end of the year, they will be carrying small cargoes around the Red Sea and north to Egypt. Between the various Indian, Mediterranean, and three north European shipwrights they were able to hire*, Ethiopia continues development of galleys and other larger ships.

*[England forbid it's shipwrights from leaving by Royal degree].

Indian Sub-Continent:

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 October: Trade is opened between Portugal and the Bharata Empire, mainly taking place out of Diu in Gujarat.

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.

China:

In two years of open combat against the Manchu tribes under the command of Sibeoci Fiyanggū, the Ming Dynasty suffered almost 80,000 casualties, 3/4 of who were reported killed or wounded with the last 1/4 reported as missing in action or deserters. Incompetent leadership was labeled as the leading cause of such casualties, with general after general leading failed assaults on Manchu tribes who would simply negotiate around the large, unwieldy formations of foot soldiers and archers and strike them from behind.

On the home front, the economy began to slow a bit due to a 9% drop in business compact registrations, likely due to the fact that those who wanted compacts during the first decade of the Imperial Business Compact, were able to get their compacts without much trouble. However, as the economic growth began to stabilize, private shipping firms were taking up the slack in the trading sector by investing in the construction of merchant junks to expand trade routes many thousands of miles further than they had originally been mapped out as being.

Private firms even went so far as to dispatch trade junks to as far south as the Cape of Good Hope in an attempt to make contact with European merchants, who would buy their cargoes of tea, spice, and silk for a tidy profit. Not many of these trade junks were able to offload their merchandise onto Europeans, and most of those who were able to do so, did so in ports in the Indian Ocean, most important of which was Hormuz, where merchants were raking in profits from Portuguese traders who would gladly offer even their own wives, jokingly of course, for merchant junk cargoes.

While the Hongzhi Emperor did note that such expeditions by private business owners were highly profitable, he could not take time to capitalize on such information with the Manchu conflict going so poorly.

Japan: Whaling operations begin in waters off the Chishima islands.

Ryukyu:

Ryukyuan ships return to Okinawa with supplies from the colony.

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.

Norasia:

August 1506: The largest Wabanakiyik settlements of Norridgewock, Jipugtug, Nashwaak, Abegweit, Sebayik, Oromocto, and Mniku all grow and prosper due to trade with the Haudensausee and the southern tribes. The Wabanakiyik also begin to move into the island of Newfoundland.

September 1506: The Wabanakiyik encounter English fishing camps on the shores of Newfoundland, as the English have taken to referring to this first land of Norasia discovered by John Cabot.

November 1506: English mariners establish contact with the Lnu'k (Micmac) heartland. The Waponahkiyik grant the English permission to trade from the burgeoning port of the Segepenegatig Lnu'k, Jipugtug. The English take to calling the town "Chiptoc".

1506 November: The Haudenosaunee Council approves Hurit’s written version of the Gayanashagowa (http://www.indigenouspeople.net/iroqcon.htm), or Constitution. Each clan in each of the 7 nations now has at least one person who can read and write Waponahkiyik-form Iroquois.

[Glen]

1506:

Portugal:

Manoel I enacts strict laws that are designed to curb the Church’s power in Portugal. The lack of funding has already dried up a lot of the political activeness of the priests, but it’s not enough for Manoel who’s whispered to be becoming more like his predecessor John II, which terrifies the Nobility into siding with him.

Previous comments still apply.
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.

This part has lost me. Constantinople for a crown???


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 credentials to His Imperial Majesty the Holy Roman Emperor, as Royal Ambassador of the Kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba.

Again, style is part of the concern here, but so is plausibility. Sorry, Aussey, I know you like putting women out front, but this is getting to be forced. There is no reason a princess would be put in the role of 'co-ambassador'.

Also, how formal was the idea of ambassadors and credentials at this point in history?


Ethiopia:

The Royal Shipyard launches it's first Indian-style dhow, followed a week later by a Maldives dhoni. These are basically enlarged rowboats. With a maximum cargo of 10-15 tons in the larger dhows, and 2-5 in the dhoni. By the end of the year, they will be carrying small cargoes around the Red Sea and north to Egypt. Between the various Indian, Mediterranean, and three north European shipwrights they were able to hire*, Ethiopia continues development of galleys and other larger ships.

*[England forbid it's shipwrights from leaving by Royal degree].

First, did Ethiopia have an active royal shipyard before 1493? If so, this all becomes a bit more plausible. The Indians aren't too bad; after all, you're off the Indian Ocean. However, the Mediterranean and Northern Europeans are implausible. First, the trip to there would be incredibly long and arduous. Second, if they come by sea its through the Portuguese, who aren't likely to be this accomodating, and if by land its again a very difficult route.

If I were you, I'd drop the Europeans and work with the Indians.


Private firms even went so far as to dispatch trade junks to as far south as the Cape of Good Hope in an attempt to make contact with European merchants, who would buy their cargoes of tea, spice, and silk for a tidy profit. Not many of these trade junks were able to offload their merchandise onto Europeans, and most of those who were able to do so, did so in ports in the Indian Ocean, most important of which was Hormuz, where merchants were raking in profits from Portuguese traders who would gladly offer even their own wives, jokingly of course, for merchant junk cargoes.

Okay....why wouldn't the Chinese be able to offload merchandise onto any Europeans they can reach? Europe was starving for Chinese goods. The Indian Ocean stuff is good, though.


1506 November: The Haudenosaunee Council approves Hurit’s written version of the Gayanashagowa (http://www.indigenouspeople.net/iroqcon.htm), or Constitution. Each clan in each of the 7 nations now has at least one person who can read and write Waponahkiyik-form Iroquois.

Big problem here is the infancy of the writing. It boggles the mind to think of such a young writing system being used to record such a complex document.

I can see someone creating half a vocabulary for a single poem, but this seems to be too far ahead of its time.

Feel free to counter here; I could be wrong....

[Glen]

1507:

Portugal:

Manoel begins great works, building roads, canals, and shipyards using the incoming wealth from the Far East. He increases the size of the army and the size of the navy, he also begins sending out more nobles into Africa to oversee the construction of forts and harbors and extract tribute from the conquered tribes and cities in Africa.

De Albuquerque returns from India. He is immediately sent back with orders for De Gama to start taking control of Muslim ports and cities. De Albuquerque returns with 30 ships and hundreds of troops.

Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her third child, a girl named Beatrice.

Burgundy:

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.

Saxony:

Duke Albert is killed in a skirmish with partisans from Groningen. 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.

Papal States:

Alexander shuffles off the mortal coil. He is replaced by Archbishop of Naples Vincenzo Carafa. He takes the name Innocent IX.

Naples:

Prince Ferdinand of Naples and Prince Piero of Rossano are killed by assassination. It remains undiscovered whom had ordered it. Prince Alphonso, the ambassador to Ndongo, is first in line to the throne. Alphonso inherits his borthers title as Duke of Romagna.

Muscovy:

1507 May: 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.

Muscovy:

1507-1509: Nil Sorsky decides to start evangelizing to the peasants. He tells his “Sorskivtes” that he will be leaving for the Russian countryside teaching, preaching, living off what the Lord provides. He does not ask any of them to follow him, but would not reject any company. A small band of 20 set out to preach the about reforming and going back to a simpler, apostleistic approach to God.

This move is at first seen as a bit of a joke by the Hierarchy, particularly Joseph Volotsky, until Sorskivites gain strength through the peasant population and lower clergy. Hoping to crush the heresy, the Josephineians start a smear campaign against Sorsky and his followers.

During this time, the Sorskivtes develop the reformations basic doctrines, while most don’t differ from the Orthodox, such as the Trinity, Iconography, the Resurrection, the infallibility of the Bible and the Orthodoxy’s idea’s on “Sola scriptura”. However the reformers believe that the Individual only way to God is through ones own inner world and personal emotional experiences of faith, Monks should use their time for productive labor, a modest lifestyle as well as going about seeing to the peasants and those that are sick and unable to care for themselves.

A group of Sorskivites takes it upon themselves to start learning what they can to treat the sick and heal using Christ as an example. They also glean what they can from Local healers and star experimenting with different cures for various ailments.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

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.

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..."

Indian Sub-Continent:

1507 January: Work begins on the Imperial Road, a wide, tree- and canal-lined, brick-laid road from Diu via Chittor to Chittagong. It is for Raimal what the temples were for more architecturally-minded emperors – audacious and labor-intensive proof of his greatness.

China:

1507-1508: After three years of mass slaughter, the Ming armies finally had several strong victories that they could write home about.

1507 May Late: Five Jurchen tribes launching raids on Ming settlements in Duoyan were defeated by Ming generals who were finally beginning to adapt their tactics to Manchu fighting styles.

1507 Winter: By the time winter rolled in, Ming armies had marched well north of their military encampments in southern Duoyan and hot on the heels of retreating Manchu clans who now found themselves on the recieving end of punitive raids.

In 1507 and 1508, these victories were followed up on by additional Ming armies dispatched to the region, driving the Manchu tribes further north into the cold lands of the Siberian tundra, referred to in official court documents as Seber, a reference to the local Tartar tribes name for this area.

Ryukyu:

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.

New World:

As per the treaty with their Catholic Majesties and the Pope, The island of Puerto Rico is granted as a papal fief.

The first colony in Florida is established at Saint Augustine (same location as OTL).

[BlackMage]

OK. I've fixed the TL in line with your comments, and it's in the 1493-Yolgnu thread.

[Smaug]

See my previous comments on this part.



Change armada to flotilla I'd say.



You have heard my previous concerns on this part. Aside from Malta's sale itself, I question the manner the Hansa and Teutonic Knights are setting up the government there. To the best of my knowledge, neither the Hansa nor the Teutonic Knights ever were or established republics. Why would they start now?



Too many nations are just spontaneously developing an interest in ship-building without supporting events. I didn't need to do so for England, as they did increase shipworks (dry dock at Portsmouth) and send out explorers (Cabot) IOTL. Note that Savoy and the White Sheep Turkomen haven't even mentioned ships; that's not because I haven't gotten around to it, but because these nations just don't have reason to start doing so so early into the divergence.

This is not directed at you specifically marl, but most of those nations that have done so. We need people to build from what happened IOTL to do this. Otherwise, we need to wait a bit.

Also, not certain about the 'send massive waves of people to recruit/learn shipbuilding'.

There's gotta be a better way to do this. Suggestions, folks?



Now this on the otherhand is an excellent example of taking something already existent in the timeline and making an incredible divergence start up! Strong work!!



This is plausible, though overall we've had way too many people make a grab for the Sephardim. Naples really was lucky in that they avoided the Italian Wars and thus get to build on the nascent relations that were starting with the Sephardim being expelled.



I find this one implausible. What the heck would they be doing down there? Be patient, you'll be able to trade with the odd Black English in the Isthmus of Cabot (Panama) in a decade or so.
a priest...

"I find this one implausible. What the heck would they be doing down there?"

There is no them. Only a priest. He's down there. Not a population movement.

If thats wanky, OK. I didn't see a problem with a wandering priest.

[marl_d]

ok, to clarify a couple things.....Ivan III made a deal with the Ottomans (which is in the Muscovy thread under the revised letter sent to the Ottomans) that they could use the Title Caesar only if Vasili was on the throne of Constantinople (the city only), which Vasili agrees to, thus getting him out of Russia. This also keeps a civil war from happening when the "reformation" starts and Volsosky and the more conservative boyars start calling for Vasili to do something.

for the shipbuilding...i guess its a bit of a stretch for Russia to send out wood workers to be trained in Shipbuilding, but hiring Dutch shipbuilders was something that happened in OTL (albeit was 200 years later under Peter the Great) Though i'm not going all out in building a huge Navy, most of the Ships are manned by foreign crews, while training any Russian thats wants to be in the New Navy (both Merchant and Military) which was a common practice at the time, this also helps open Russia to trading with other parts of Europe.
so, you can take the part out about Sending the woodworks to Europe, but i'd like to keep the rest of it and slowly start building my fleet.

[Tom Veil]

1506 November: The Haudenosaunee Council approves Hurit’s written version of the Gayanashagowa (http://www.indigenouspeople.net/iroqcon.htm), or Constitution. Each clan in each of the 7 nations now has at least one person who can read and write Waponahkiyik-form Iroquois.

Big problem here is the infancy of the writing. It boggles the mind to think of such a young writing system being used to record such a complex document.

I can see someone creating half a vocabulary for a single poem, but this seems to be too far ahead of its time.

Feel free to counter here; I could be wrong....

Sorry for my disappearance lately; I have to work this weekend, so I don't have much time. My defense of both the writing of the constitution and the writing of "The Funeral" is that this is not an infant language. Mi'kmaq logography pre-dates 1492, and all that Hurit is doing is writing in Mi'kmaq but reordering the words so that it sounds right gramatically when read aloud in an Iroquoian language. It's like if a foreigner learned Chinese by learning the vocabulary but not the syntax. That's why I refer to it as "Waponahkiyik-form Iroquois." Most surviving early Mi'kmaq texts are religious texts (native and Christian) so the vocabulary has enough abstract terms to handle the Funeral of Hiawatha and the Constitution (which are basically religious texts, too).

[Glen]

Sorry for my disappearance lately; I have to work this weekend, so I don't have much time.

Happens.

My defense of both the writing of the constitution and the writing of "The Funeral" is that this is not an infant language. Mi'kmaq logography pre-dates 1492, and all that Hurit is doing is writing in Mi'kmaq but reordering the words so that it sounds right gramatically when read aloud in an Iroquoian language. It's like if a foreigner learned Chinese by learning the vocabulary but not the syntax. That's why I refer to it as "Waponahkiyik-form Iroquois." Most surviving early Mi'kmaq texts are religious texts (native and Christian) so the vocabulary has enough abstract terms to handle the Funeral of Hiawatha and the Constitution (which are basically religious texts, too).

This is what wikipedia has on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi'kmaq_hieroglyphic_writing.

The problem here is that you are extrapolating a level of sophistication around 1500 for which there is no clear evidence for. That there could have been some logographic writing then is possible, but by no means assured.

Even after it was recognized in the 1600s, there were arguments about whether it was purely mnemonic or able to express new ideas (like a poem or a constitution). If it were able to unambiguously be recognized as a fully formed writing system a few hundred years from our POD, I'd be more reassured.

Granted, that's just wikipedia. Are there some better documentation for its nature and antiquity?

[Glen]

ok, to clarify a couple things.....Ivan III made a deal with the Ottomans (which is in the Muscovy thread under the revised letter sent to the Ottomans) that they could use the Title Caesar only if Vasili was on the throne of Constantinople (the city only), which Vasili agrees to, thus getting him out of Russia. This also keeps a civil war from happening when the "reformation" starts and Volsosky and the more conservative boyars start calling for Vasili to do something.

So, what, the Ottomans have given you Constantinople? Is this symbolic or real?

If the Ottoman are giving the Russians Constantinople and the Neapolitans Jerusalem....there will be uprisings!

Can't imagine Constantinople being given away, and highly doubt a symbolic coronation even. Its the jewel in the Ottoman Empire's crown, and they won't let anyone have a claim on it.

for the shipbuilding...i guess its a bit of a stretch for Russia to send out wood workers to be trained in Shipbuilding, but hiring Dutch shipbuilders was something that happened in OTL (albeit was 200 years later under Peter the Great) Though i'm not going all out in building a huge Navy, most of the Ships are manned by foreign crews, while training any Russian thats wants to be in the New Navy (both Merchant and Military) which was a common practice at the time, this also helps open Russia to trading with other parts of Europe.
so, you can take the part out about Sending the woodworks to Europe, but i'd like to keep the rest of it and slowly start building my fleet.

Give your new leader a few years to consolidate his power before working on building up shipping would be my advice. Can you post a timeline of how Peter the Great did it? That would be a possible model for you.

[Glen]

a priest...

"I find this one implausible. What the heck would they be doing down there?"

There is no them. Only a priest. He's down there. Not a population movement.

If thats wanky, OK. I didn't see a problem with a wandering priest.

Those aren't parts that are easily wanderable. It is also not clear to me that such priests would even travel, much less wander.

I suggest removal.

[Glen]

OK. I've fixed the TL in line with your comments, and it's in the 1493-Yolgnu thread.

I'll review it first chance.

[Keenir]

So, what, the Ottomans have given you Constantinople? Is this symbolic or real?

Ahmed threw them a crumb that sounds more impressive than it actually is.

Vasili might think the City is his...but when he sees that his wife isn't even giving him daughters....(and the treaty said Vasili and his descendants)

of course, if Vasili were to convert to Islam, he might have a better chance of having an heir...but how much of his Russian followers would remain loyal to him?

If the Ottoman are giving the Russians Constantinople and the Neapolitans Jerusalem....there will be uprisings!

you're misunderstanding Ottoman law. (easy thing to do, granted)

after the Mamluk War, the Ottomans control Jerusalem...its a millet governed by the King of Naples, with the King answering to the Sublime Porte.

as for Constantinople, there's a district just outside the City itself, which goes by the same name...nowadays, its called Istanbul-Istanbul. its basically a sanjak. that is what Vasili has married into.

Can't imagine Constantinople being given away, and highly doubt a symbolic coronation even. Its the jewel in the Ottoman Empire's crown, and they won't let anyone have a claim on it.

the Russians don't have a claim to it. under Ottoman law, a princess cannot inherit anything larger than a sanjak, which is basically a few small neighborhoods.

besides, Ottoman royalty didn't marry to have children, they married to cement diplomatic ties.

[Tom Veil]

This is what wikipedia has on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi'kmaq_hieroglyphic_writing.

The problem here is that you are extrapolating a level of sophistication around 1500 for which there is no clear evidence for. That there could have been some logographic writing then is possible, but by no means assured.

Even after it was recognized in the 1600s, there were arguments about whether it was purely mnemonic or able to express new ideas (like a poem or a constitution). If it were able to unambiguously be recognized as a fully formed writing system a few hundred years from our POD, I'd be more reassured.

Granted, that's just wikipedia. Are there some better documentation for its nature and antiquity?

I defer completely to pa dutch; he's done all the research on Mikmaqs. If he can provide some evidence that meets the TL's standard of proof, I'll keep the events; if he can't, I'll drop them.

[marl_d]

and on top of that Vasili didn't have any children until Ivan the Terrible when he was Old and almost dead....though he blamed it on his wife...very common even today to do, he still only had Ivan....Frankly Dmitriy wont care if his uncle is Ruler over Constantinople, or a bag of grain, he's out of Russia, and has no claim, and i give up claim on him and is descendants to Keenir


as for the shipbuilding, Peter the Great went to GREAT lengths to start his Navy, as they only had the White Sea port and had to take out the Cirmeans in order to do that, Capturing Azov in July 1698 and establishing the Russian Navy in September. Here i've already got a Baltic Port with Riga, plus other towns to the Kalamar Unions Estonia in the North. Plus Peter was implementing sweeping reforms and "westernizing" Russia.

In TTL, Russia is relatively clam, the only real strife is coming from the Church, there are no wars, plus Riga has been in Russian hands for 3 years with little strife. With Dmitriy's views on Religion, the former Livonian region is not forced into converting, so no riots and uprisings there. Plus hiring shipbuilders and men to man the fleet was very common at this time for every country...hell look at Columbus. Personally if anything, my way has been more practical and less ASBish than Peter in OTL


bty here is the link to Peter the Great http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great#Early_life

[The Sicilian]

after the Mamluk War, the Ottomans control Jerusalem...its a millet governed by the King of Naples, with the King answering to the Sublime Porte.


Actually me and AJ worked out something different:

A Neapolitan king, a grand council of nobles and an ecclesiastical court system, presided over by the Patriarch's court. All of whom are under the theoretical, but not practivcal, suzerinity of the Ottoman Emperor.

Just thought that I should clarify.

[Glen]

Putting a Christian King, even under the surzeinty of the Ottoman, in control of Jerusalem, third holiest city in Islam, will not be popular.

The Turk may be thinking himself clever putting Vasili on the throne of a Constantinople, but not the Constantinople, may be a bit too clever. Or else why is it even worth doing?

But if everyone else feels these two are plausible, I will acquiesce. But especially the Jerusalem events must have repercussions. I can not believe that what is going on there in the 1500s is going to go down smoothly at all in the Ottoman Empire.

[Glen]

The Russian bits are well argued, so I say those at least should go forward.

[Glen]

I defer completely to pa dutch; he's done all the research on Mikmaqs. If he can provide some evidence that meets the TL's standard of proof, I'll keep the events; if he can't, I'll drop them.

That seems very fair. Honestly, I LIKE the events, but am just trying to maintain plausibility....or at least plausible deniability....

[marl_d]

oh, was just looking over what you've reviewed, and you made a comment earlier about the Knights of St. Andrew and needing more on their establishment, it's in 1503 under the Livonian postings, but i'll repost them here

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 sends some reinforcements but mostly help evacuate the majority of the Livonian Order as well as the remaining leaders of the Livonian Confederation.
(As posted by AJNolte w/ John as part of the Hansa/Teutonic Knights: Receiving word of the peril of their Livonian allies, the Hanseatic and Teutonic navy, as well as some army forces, move to aid the Livonian’s. They help hold the city of Konigsberg successfully. Additionally, when its fall seems imminent, they help evacuate many of the Livonian Knights from Riga, thereby testing their new navy. Though unable to save the Livonian Confederation, they achieve their war aims--the preservation of much of the Livonian 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 Kalmarists 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.)
After the fall of the Livonian Confederation, the Territory is split between the four powers (see the map posted 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 and convert to the Orthodoxy. They are key in establishing the Knights of St. Andrew. These knights are sent to Moscow to start a school and training center. (Much like the Cossacks of OTL, they will become the core of Russia’s future military, )


oh, and thanks on approving the Russian Navy it'll help :cool::D

also in my posting in 1506, the Synod part needs to be removed, just the last sentence and should read:

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.

[Glen]

My editted version of Blackmage's Yolgnu events for consideration. I will put my comments in quotes to make them easier to remove.

The Birth of the Yolgnu Nation: 1492-1511

In 1493, the Yolgnu existed primarily as a concept; a series of traditions, religious practices, and linguistic dialects, with all those identifying themselves as 'Yolgnu' linking themselves to a particular territory: specifically, eastern Marege (OTL's eastern Top End)

Beyond that, however, there was very little in the way of unity. The Yolgnu were divided into clan groups and bands, who functioned largely autonomously. Without any significant foreign threats, there was no reason for unity-or, indeed, technological developments. So the Yolgnu survived, for tens of thousands of years, largely as they always had.

However, Yolgnu history can be said to have truly begun, from the day the Invaders arrived. The first contact with the traders dubbed generally the 'Macassans' could not have begun more inauspiciously. The exhausted and lonely traders attempted to abduct a party of Yolgnu women; the Yolgnu reacted violently, spearing several Macassans. Unlike the other Aboriginal tribes of Marege, who generally experienced positive first contacts, the Yolgnu recognised, from the beginning, the threat which Macassan influence posed to traditional tribal culture.

To this end, the Yolgnu began to unify politically, through a series of corroborees and tribal meetings. It was decided to oppose the Macassans, and hopefully to drive them back where they came from. A previously insignificant band 'headman' rose to prominence for his vitriolically anti-Macassan stance. According to legend, one of his sisters was one of those women attacked by the Macassans. His name has been lost to history, but Gowan records call him Gallarang-the leader.

The Macassans had no understanding of tribal borders. As such, trepangers frequently strayed into Yolgnu territory, where they were immediately set upon by hunters.

Due to their comparative size (unlike many other tribes in the region, who comprised only hundreds of individuals, there were over two thousand Yolgnu), the Yolgnu came to dominate the burgeoning anti-Macassan movements. Through both ideological sympathy and intimidation, a loose confederacy of tribes began to form, devoted to opposing the Macassans. Over the next decade, an undeclared war for influence would develop between the two nations, as both sides sought allies and prestige in the region.

The First Yolgnu War of 1507-1511 proved disastrous for both sides. The Macassan invasion force floundered, unable to strike at the Yolgnu, and proved a heavy drain on the Gowan treasury. The Yolgnu, however, faced even harsher conditions. The Macassans' tribal allies, eager to gain favour, committed atrocities against Yolgnu civilian populations, most notably in the Gagadju Massacre.

Far more deadly, however, was a virus brought by the soldiers: smallpox. The disease wreaked havoc on the Yolgnu population, killing over half the population, most notably the previously dominant elders. The Yolgnu were devastated, reduced to only a few hundred individuals from a height of thousands-all radicalised against the Macassan invasion. This allowed Gallarang, already a hero for his guerrilla activities, to gain effective political control over the Yolgnu.

But even he realised that the Macassans could not be driven out. Instead, he decided that to preserve Yolgnu independence, an accomodation must be made. In the Makaratta (treaty) that ended the war in 1511, predictably harsh terms were imposed: the Yolgnu allies were annexed, and they were forced to swear friendship to Gowa and send hostages to Makassar guarantee the peace. Yet they were granted their independence, and Djerrkura was recognised as bate (prince) of Yolgnu. He quickly set about creating the foundations for an independent Yolgnu state. Within a few years, hostages returning from Gowa told Gallarang of the ways of the Gowans. A council of elders was convened to serve a similar role to the Bate Salapang, .

Major changes of adding hostages to the peace treaty so someone can go see what the Gowans actually do and come back and tell Gallarang. Also a ministry is too much bureaucracy for such a small group, so removed it.
However, the Yolgnu still faced formidable difficulties. Their population had been ravaged, the war had led to the burning and destruction of much of their territories, and their population were inevitably beginning to gravitate towards settlements on the coast. However, such challenges remained for another decade to resolve.

1494:

The newly crowned Karaeng of Gowa, I-Pakere'tau Karaeng Tunijallo'-ri Pasukki' Somba-ri Gowa (henceforth referred to as I'Pakere'tau I) is informed by his Shahbandar (Foreign Affairs Minister) of the decline in trepang stocks across Indonesia. The young king is advised by the Bate Salapang (the supreme council of nobles, akin to a Parliament) to send ships to discover new trepang stocks.

1495:

The first Macassan voyages of exploration, sponsored by the king, set out. The first three disappear without trace. The fourth, however, encounters a large, tropical land to the south. First contact between the Macassans and Yolgnu occurs-the Yolgnu spear the ship's captain, and drive their crew back into the sea. It is not an auspicious start. The ship's remaining crew return to Makassar with news of fantastic riches and abundant stocks of trepang. The new land is dubbed 'Marege' by the king.

1496:

News of the new land takes time to disseminate; as such, no fleets are sent to Marege. The Yolgnu presume, falsely, that the invaders have been scared off.

1497:

At the start of the next trepang season, the first Macassan praus begin to arrive, cautiously, in Marege. Those which land in Yolgnu territory are attacked. Some other tribes, however, react in a friendly fashion. The first stocks of trepang are harvested and returned to Makassar, from where they are traded on to China. However, the land to the south does not yet gain much interest; there are still trepang stocks in Gowan waters, albeit diminishing rapidly, and Marege is too far away and too hostile to yet risk a business venture.

1498:

The Yolgnu convene a meeting, or corroborree, to discuss the issue of 'the invaders'. In their first contact, the Macassans attempted to kidnap three Yolgnu women, sparking a skirmish. The various headmen of the Yolgnu bands agree to a policy of 'total resistance'. They will attempt to drive off the Macassans with a policy of hostile force.

Changed military to hostile. They don't have anything resembling an army.
A small number of Macassan ships arrive in Marege, but steer clear of the Yolgnu. However, the large profits from their ventures bring the nation to the full attention of merchants in Makassar.

1499:

This year sees a massive rise in the number of Macassan ships arriving off the coast of Marege. The Gunbalang nation, willing to cooperate with the newcomers, sign a treaty with Macassan fishermen: in exchange for trade goods, they will provide labour for the Macassans and allow the construction of temporary camps on their land. Some other Aboriginal tribes follow suit; most others, however, remain cautiously indifferent.

Three praus (Macassan fishing ships) attempt to fish in Yolgnu waters. They are attacked by Yolgnu fishermen. Over two dozen Macassans are killed, and their boats are destroyed.

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, 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, using intimidation and bribery to persuade 'bands' from other tribes to carry out attacks on the Macassan traders.

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. In retaliation, pro-Macassan tribes carry out attacks on the Yolgnu.

Removed bit about attacking praus. This is a war that would be fought on land, not the sea.
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 the items onboard are 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-war party intercepts a Macassan weapons shipment, though these are only limited amounts.

Again, this just isn't likely to be a naval conflict. The Macassans have been going to sea a lot longer. If anything, they probably can outrun the Yolgnu. Thus removed the commandeered ship. Also made more vague the bit about ammo since they don't have firearms.
1506:

Cowed by superior numbers, the Burarra finally surrender, acceeding into the anti-Macassan alliance. The Yolgnu confiscate from the Burarra all Macassan weaponry and goods. It is a severe setback for Gowa.

Removed technology reference. They are getting the products of a higher tech, but not the knowledge nor the ability to reverse engineer it, at least not yet.
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 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.

Gallarang, 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.

1510:

In Kai Djawa, the first permanent Yolgnu trading station, for pearls and trepang, is established. Similar settlements are set up in Marege.

Macassan economic influence begins to spread inland through the use of proxies. The first treaty with an inland tribe is concluded, by which they will supply labour for technology and food.

1511:

The war enters its third year, with no signs of abating. In desperation, the Shahbandur (Gowan foreign minister) decides to enter into negotiations with the Yolgnu. The Yolgnu, heavily weakened by smallpox, agree. By this time, smallpox has devastated the Yolgnu, destroying entire bands, ravaging families and wiping out entire tribes of their allies.

In the First Makaratta (treaty), Gallarang is recognised as bate (prince) of the Yolgnu, independent of Makassar but in a pact of permanent friendship. His allies are not so fortunate, with Gowa annexing the territory of any tribe to ally with the Yolgnu.

The ravages of smallpox force the tribes of Marege to gravitate towards the Gowan settlements along the coast, where they are given food for labour. They remain nominally independent, but the collapse of Yolgnu's alliances effectively grants the Gowans regional hegemony. Similar processes take place in Kai Djawa.

Meanwhile, Gowan praus continue to explore Marege, reaching the eastern side of OTL's Gulf of Carpentaria. Several trading stations are established, but many tribes, newly contacted, react badly to the intruders.

In Yolgnu, the population begin to gravitate to fishing settlements along the coast, established by Gallarang.

Yolgnu: The Collapse, 1510-1530

By the end of the First Yolgnu War, Gallarang had been established as paramount leader of the Yolgnu. This status was confirmed in the First Makaratta, which established him as bate, or prince, of Yolgnu.

Gallarang was a warlord, and ruled his nation as such. Recognising the adaptability of the Gowan state system, he established a Yolgnu Bate Salapang, a parliament of respected elders and military leaders. The devastation of smallpox led to the realisation that, to prevent conquest by one of the ambitious military powers off the Australian coast, the traditional Yolgnu life was not, in the long term, viable.

Gallarang's 'land clearance' policies were brutal, harsh but ultimately effective. Coastal tribes were forced into fishing settlements along the coast; as no crops had yet been established in Marege due to the inclement climate, their survival was dependent upon fluctuating fish stocks. The already imperilled Yolgnu population was put at further risk by growing exploitation of their waters. Each village maintained, to a degree, traditional forms of government, with a strong emphasis on respect for elders and tribal consensus. However, Gallarang's authority was not seriously questioned at the time.

Slight alteration to make the lack of questioning less absolute, since he gets overthown in the next sentence.
Unfortunately, the power that Gallarang hoped to establish proved ultimately unstable. He was killed in a military coup in 1520, with subsequent warlords proving ineffective. The Yolgnu lacked the infrastructure, the numbers or the stability for a lasting state, at least at this point; lacking writing, metallurgy, or close allies, the state was ultimately doomed.

By 1530, the Yolgnu nation had broken down into a series of coastal fishing villages, without any central authority. Each was ruled by a council of local elders, who ruled by consensus; however, there was no serious attempt at the development of national forms. The first Yolgnu nation had collapsed, and their numbers had been reduced to mere hundreds.

Extended out the last bit here to give time for these political events. Also removed the maritime power reference....just too implausible for them to even dream of this so early.

1512:

Gallarang's land clearance practices begin. Although they are widely unpopular, they serve to transform the Yolgnu from a primarily hunter-gatherer society into a fishing-based economy.

An attempted coup by Gallarang's brother is put down harshly, but Gallarang is seriously weakened, physically and politically.

1516:

The first hostages sent to Gowa return, bearing word to Gallarang of the ways of the Macassa. Gallarang convenes a council of elders to serve a similar role to the Bate Salapang, .

1517:

A second outbreak of smallpox devastates the largest Yolgnu village, at Nhulumbuy. The Yolgnu's numbers are rapidly dwindling, making any state organisation ineffective.

1519:

The increasingly paranoid Gallarang orders that all remaining nomadic Yolgnu be rounded up, on pain of death, and placed into the villages. By this point, his wounds and recurring foreign infections have made him into a tyrant.

The Yolgnu council of elders, set up by Gallarang to give some legitimacy to his rule, is dissolved, and its members massacred, for opposing Gallarang.

1520:

Gallarang is killed in a military coup. No effective organisation comes to replace him.

After this, recorded history for the Yolgnu as a united nation ceases, as they become a series of autonomous villages for some time. They continue to retain their technology through trade with the outside world, but any independent cultural development stagnates.

[QUOTE]Same comments as above. Blackmage, are these alterations acceptable?

[Glen]

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..."

Too many women, too quickly Europeanized. Also doubt they'd put it as 'slaves of the white men', sounds like some sort of sixties slogan.

Otherwise, the 1507 events look reasonable to me.

[Glen]

oh, was just looking over what you've reviewed, and you made a comment earlier about the Knights of St. Andrew and needing more on their establishment, it's in 1503 under the Livonian postings, but i'll repost them here....However a small band of about 175 Knights and 200 apprentices and squire’s stay and convert to the Orthodoxy. They are key in establishing the Knights of St. Andrew. These knights are sent to Moscow to start a school and training center. (Much like the Cossacks of OTL, they will become the core of Russia’s future military, ).

Its the conversion of even this many that strikes an odd core. However, I just noticed a parallel event from OTL when the remnants of the order were secularized and the Master of the Order converted to Lutheranism, so I'm giving this one to you.


oh, and thanks on approving the Russian Navy it'll help :cool::D

also in my posting in 1506, the Synod part needs to be removed, just the last sentence and should read:

Noted and you're welcome.

[Glen]

1508:

Benelux:

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

Holy Roman Empire:

Henry Wettin, upon hearing of the death of his father, 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 decadence and corruption helped cause his death. Henry, like Frederick the 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.

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 sale to the highest bidder.

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 Groningen and other lands purchaseable.

Groningen is transferred to the count of East Frisia.

Marriage of Barbara, daughter of Philip the Upright, Elector of the Palatine.

Muscovy:

With the increase in trade between Moscow and Riga, Dmitriy annexes the autonomous reigns of Pskov and Volokolamsk.

Middle East:

De Albuquerque is sent to conqueror the Island of Hormuz, with 20 ships and 1000 troops. There’s a fierce battle, but in the end the Portuguese manage to take the island. They begin setting up a fort there. De Albuquerque is there for most of the year, fighting back counterattacks by the local rulers.

Subsaharan Africa:

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

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.

Manoel I sends settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, the increasing travel and the growing power of the Western African Nations are becoming something of a threat. The city of Porto Manoel is established.

Indian Ocean:

Lorenco de Almeida is sent to explore up and down the eastern coast of India, they come across Sri Lanka and set up trading relations with the Kingdom of Kotte and attack the Kingdom of Jaffna, looting it’s port cities. Portuguese ships manage to reach Bengal later that year.

East Asia:

Ashikaga Yoshizumi is replaced as Shogun by Ashikaga Yoshitane (who was Shogun from 1490-1493), who had secured the support of a powerful daimyo from Yamaguchi, Ouchi Yoshioki. Yoshizumi's puppeteer Hosokawa Masamoto was killed a year earlier

Pirates ransack Tsushima city, while bakufu trade ships bound for Korea are in port. They manage to escape to the Asian mainland with a huge bounty of precious goods. Newly restored Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane, intent on preserving his seat of power and being seen as a powerful ruler, declares a 'war on piracy and pirates'. Unfortunately the bakufu has basically no navy. Fortunately, the clans of Kyushu and Chugoku have ships that they can commit to the campaign.

South America:

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.

Caribbean:

Pope Innocent sends a contingent of priests to set up a Church on the Island of San Juan in the Carribean, and to educate and Christianize the natives. They are sent with a Spanish ship.

Having conflicting claims to the largest island in the Carribean, the kings of Spain and Naples sign a treaty to resolve the territorial issue. Naples would receive the western half (everything from OTL Ciego de Ávila Province west) while Spain would receive the eastern half. They two countries also agreed to send a joint expedition to the mainland south of the island (Central America). However, Columbus dies, briefly throwing the Spanish Caribbean into turmoil. Though his son is quickly able to reestablish authority over the fractious colonists, expeditions beyond the Caribbean are temporarily curtailed.

[Glen]

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.

I think this was left out of the timeline for 1507 due to the continuing plausibility problems with this part of the timeline. One comment briefly is that a European army is likely to suffer very heavy losses from disease in Congo.

[Keenir]

Actually me and AJ worked out something different:

A Neapolitan king, a grand council of nobles and an ecclesiastical court system, presided over by the Patriarch's court. All of whom are under the theoretical, but not practivcal, suzerinity of the Ottoman Emperor.

Just thought that I should clarify.

I respectfully suggest you re-read the Treaty again. if anything happens to anyone - Muslim or Christian - who claims the protection of the Sublime Porte, or if any harm comes to any of the sacred sites, the Ottoman Army rolls into Jerusalem and removes the King of Naples and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from their posts.

[BlackMage]

Absolutely perfect, Glen; thank you so much for your time and effort. Plus, we get the added advantage that this more or less clears up the Yolgnu for the next few decades, so I can focus on the Gowan Wars of the 1520s. I'll get to work on them soon.

[Keenir]

Putting a Christian King, even under the surzeinty of the Ottoman, in control of Jerusalem, third holiest city in Islam, will not be popular.

as I said, neither the Mamluks nor Persians (nor the White Sheep) have objected or threatened the Ottoman actions...and all the uprisings in the early 1500s Osmanli were because of false prophets and messiahs.

The Turk may be thinking himself clever putting Vasili on the throne of a Constantinople, but not the Constantinople, may be a bit too clever.

apologies...my explanation might have been a bit confusing: under Ottoman law, even if Ahmed suddenly keels over at the end of Fatima's wedding, Vasili and Fatima do not inherit the Empire.

I'll put it this way: Constantine of Rhodes presently has a better claim to the throne than any sons of Fatima and Vasili.

But especially the Jerusalem events must have repercussions. I can not believe that what is going on there in the 1500s is going to go down smoothly at all in the Ottoman Empire.

so far, its smoothly because the Ottomans haven't been defeated anywhere -- thus there's no cause for any "God is punishing us for our doing (insert action)".

[Keenir]

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.


given that part of royal authority comes from/is reinforced by the Orthodox Church, why is Dmitriy unopposed in separating Church and State? (Vasili runs to Osmanli rather than seize the theological high ground?)

[Glen]

Absolutely perfect, Glen; thank you so much for your time and effort. Plus, we get the added advantage that this more or less clears up the Yolgnu for the next few decades, so I can focus on the Gowan Wars of the 1520s. I'll get to work on them soon.

Same to you, BlackMage, same to you. I'll edit them into the next iterations of the timeline, but leave them out of the rough draft for now to prevent confusion, but do not fear, they will be in there.

[Glen]

Couple comments. Fine about your Constantinople event I think if we edit it to specify that it is the minor sanjak of Constantinople outside of the City.

I see that there is likely to be different interpretations of the Jerusalem relations between the two sides. I think that both realistic and a future point of contention between the powers.

White Sheep don't care. I was thinking more of the Muslim peoples within the Empire. They are of course in your control, but you also need to portray them realistically. How are you selling this to the masses?

I respectfully suggest you re-read the Treaty again. if anything happens to anyone - Muslim or Christian - who claims the protection of the Sublime Porte, or if any harm comes to any of the sacred sites, the Ottoman Army rolls into Jerusalem and removes the King of Naples and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from their posts.

as I said, neither the Mamluks nor Persians (nor the White Sheep) have objected or threatened the Ottoman actions...and all the uprisings in the early 1500s Osmanli were because of false prophets and messiahs.

apologies...my explanation might have been a bit confusing: under Ottoman law, even if Ahmed suddenly keels over at the end of Fatima's wedding, Vasili and Fatima do not inherit the Empire.

I'll put it this way: Constantine of Rhodes presently has a better claim to the throne than any sons of Fatima and Vasili.

so far, its smoothly because the Ottomans haven't been defeated anywhere -- thus there's no cause for any "God is punishing us for our doing (insert action)".

[Glen]

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 Groningen and other lands purchaseable.

Groningen is transferred to the count of East Frisia.

Groningen goes to East Frisia?

Subsaharan Africa:

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.

Portugal is really starting to get overextended. Also, the forces moving inland are going to have problems as previously mentioned vis a vie disease.

They two countries also agreed to send a joint expedition to the mainland south of the island (Central America). Naples and Spain agree to have a Spanish sphere of influence centered on Florida, and a Neapolitan sphere of influence centered on Central America.

I left this in for the moment to discuss. The Spanish sending an expedition to Central America makes sense.

The Spanish and Neapolitan do not, as previously discussed. I'm going to edit this part out as I believe that Messiano agreed to it, but wanted to double check. Keeping West Cuba should be quite a good start for our young Neapolitans.

[Glen]

Edited version for the Cuban/Caribbean event(s).

Having conflicting claims to the largest island in the Carribean, the kings of Spain and Naples sign a treaty to resolve the territorial issue. Naples would receive the western half (everything from OTL Ciego de Ávila Province west) while Spain would receive the eastern half. They two countries also agreed to send a joint expedition to the mainland south of the island (Central America). However, Columbus dies, briefly throwing the Spanish Caribbean into turmoil. Though his son is quickly able to reestablish authority over the fractious colonists, expeditions beyond the Caribbean are temporarily curtailed.

[Glen]

The below seemed to be missing previously from the 1507 timeline. I have now edited it back in.

Muscovy:

1507-1509: Nil Sorsky decides to start evangelizing to the peasants. He tells his “Sorskivtes” that he will be leaving for the Russian countryside teaching, preaching, living off what the Lord provides. He does not ask any of them to follow him, but would not reject any company. A small band of 20 set out to preach the about reforming and going back to a simpler, apostleistic approach to God.

This move is at first seen as a bit of a joke by the Hierarchy, particularly Joseph Volotsky, until Sorskivites gain strength through the peasant population and lower clergy. Hoping to crush the heresy, the Josephineians start a smear campaign against Sorsky and his followers.

During this time, the Sorskivtes develop the reformations basic doctrines, while most don’t differ from the Orthodox, such as the Trinity, Iconography, the Resurrection, the infallibility of the Bible and the Orthodoxy’s idea’s on “Sola scriptura”. However the reformers believe that the Individual only way to God is through ones own inner world and personal emotional experiences of faith, Monks should use their time for productive labor, a modest lifestyle as well as going about seeing to the peasants and those that are sick and unable to care for themselves.

A group of Sorskivites takes it upon themselves to start learning what they can to treat the sick and heal using Christ as an example. They also glean what they can from Local healers and star experimenting with different cures for various ailments.

[The Sicilian]

Portugal is really starting to get overextended. Also, the forces moving inland are going to have problems as previously mentioned vis a vie disease.

That would be Naples, not Portugal.

[The Sicilian]

Edited version for the Cuban/Caribbean event(s).

Having conflicting claims to the largest island in the Carribean, the kings of Spain and Naples sign a treaty to resolve the territorial issue. Naples would receive the western half (everything from OTL Ciego de Ávila Province west) while Spain would receive the eastern half. They two countries also agreed to send a joint expedition to the mainland south of the island (Central America). However, Columbus dies, briefly throwing the Spanish Caribbean into turmoil. Though his son is quickly able to reestablish authority over the fractious colonists, expeditions beyond the Caribbean are temporarily curtailed.
That is agreeable. AJ, what do you think?

We'll have to see how colonial claims play out in the next couple of decades. It should be intersting.

[marl_d]

given that part of royal authority comes from/is reinforced by the Orthodox Church, why is Dmitriy unopposed in separating Church and State? (Vasili runs to Osmanli rather than seize the theological high ground?)

he's not unopposed, it's just that due to the Treaty, Vasili (at lest he thinks) is going to a better position than being the Grand Prince, so he doesn't speak out...though he does get irritated by whats happening, which is why he leaves in 1510 instead of later. he also respects his Fathers wishes and wants to carry on his Mothers legacy more than anything by returning to Constantinople to wear the crown his Uncle did, or at lest thats what he'll think.

[Smaug]

Those aren't parts that are easily wanderable. It is also not clear to me that such priests would even travel, much less wander.

I suggest removal.

If you think so, thats fine.

I don't see a problem with it, due to the Mayan Civilization breaking up and receding into the Highlands. If I was a well school priest, I'd try to find somewhere my talents were appreciated. He appears in later posts, so I guess he should be referred to as the Zaque's Personal advisor.

[Glen]

1509 November:, Prince Osman, son of Emperor Ahmed, 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.

These events no longer make sense in the ATL. The White Sheep Turkomen are in charge, not the Persians. They are both Turkic and Sunni. Thus the call to Holy War as phrased would make utterly no sense.

I'll remove it. Let me know if you have something else to replace it with.

[Keenir]

Fine about your Constantinople event I think if we edit it to specify that it is the minor sanjak of Constantinople outside of the City.

no - I was saying that *that* is all that Vasili could ever hope to get.

I see that there is likely to be different interpretations of the Jerusalem relations between the two sides. I think that both realistic and a future point of contention between the powers.

White Sheep don't care.

they don't care about Jerusalem, thinking they can do it better?

I was thinking more of the Muslim peoples within the Empire. They are of course in your control, but you also need to portray them realistically. How are you selling this to the masses?

as thus:
1) Jerusalem was rescued from the heretic Mamluks.
2) Jerusalem was placed under the governance of a King who has been made subject to the Sublime Porte.

[Glen]

1509:

England:

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. The new King Arthur the Second has the title, ‘King of the Britons’ added to those of the coronation ceremony.

Holy Roman Empire:

Marriage of Helene, daughter of Philip the Upright, Elector of the Palatine.

Marrying two of his daughters to the biggest patriarchs of the Rhenish free cities helps, but just as big (if not a bigger) factor was the Elector’s ordering the construction (at his expense) of new and repaired churches for all those cities who wished one built or repaired. The end result is the free cities come under Philip’s umbrella of protective authority.

At the final meeting of the Thirds (the Wendish, Rhenish, Teutonic Knights) before the dawn of the 1510 decade, Philip assures the heads of the Hansa that these cities are still free cities. The churches and cathedrals built and repaired are staunchly pro-Papacy, pointedly denouncing the teachings of Wettin.

Saxony:

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 precocious Ernst Frederick.

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.

Portugal:

Manoel I sends out ships to explore the lands discovered by Diaz in 1502.

Muscovy:

A peasant brings his 7-year-old son, Alik, to the Knights of St Andrew. The Grand Master asks why he doesn’t send him to a Monastery instead, the father replies that he did but they threw him out because he kept escaping and was leading the other boys on “crusades” to route out the heathen Mongols. The boy is very intelligent and absorbs everything he’s learned, but is undisciplined and vivid imagination, and can’t be controlled. The Grand Master accepts the young Alik, and keeps an eye on the boy.

Ottoman Empire:

Emperor Ahmed calls for volunteers from every sanjak in the Empire; these men will form the nucleus of a series of settlements (and bases) along the Red Sea coast of Arabia. There will be no settlements in the Holy City, of course. Most of the settlers are Footmen and Exemptees.

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

Jerusalem:

1509 July: Pierre DAubusson, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Prince of the Church and Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaler, dies.

1509 September: The Hospitalers select Sir Thomas Docwra, an Englishman, as their new grand master. Docwra becomes the first ever English grand master of the order.

Middle East:

De Gama sends De Albuquerque and De Almeida to Yemen to raid it for what’s needed and pirate among the Arab ships.

De Albuquerque launches an attack upon Aden, in Yemen. After brutal fighting the city is taken, but not for long as reinforcements manage to drive the Portuguese out, but not after taking what they came for.

De Almeida ravages the Arab shipping along the Yemen and Oman coasts.

Indian Ocean:

De Gama sends out ships to a place called Malacca. The Portuguese under Lorenco De Almeida discover Malacca and tell tales of the major trading going on there. A captain named Ferdinand Magellan dies in Malacca after taking ill. Lorenco De Almeida explores in and around Malacca for the next year.

Twenty ships under Francisco De Almeida arrive to reinforce De Gama.

De Albuquerque successfully returns from fortifying and laying claim to Hormuz.

De Gama strikes a deal with the Vijayanagara Empire as one of it’s provinces rises up in rebellion. They’ll provide horses and artillery for the Vijayanagara in return for Goa.

Japan:

Ouchi Yoshioki rallies clans from around his home province of Suo who are loyal to Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane. Pro Ouchi/Ashikaga clan leaders talk of forming a league to protect the unstable Shogunate, and their own positions of power in western Japan.

East Asia:

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.

South America:

The Zaque spread East and completely surrounds the lake (Maracaibo) and even further along the coast. He avoids war where possible, and fight when necessary.

He therefore tries to marry into tribes when possible, and when war is the last option, to be forgiving when hostilities 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 tries to place these stations at strategic points that will benefit trade for the most part, but they are truly fortified.

The Muisca have made thier way to the Orinoco Delta. Many fortified trading posts are built in the area. After this they will fortify the coastal areas against the Caribs, and turn inwards in regards to extending their trading network.

[Keenir]

The White Sheep Turkomen are in charge, not the Persians. They are both Turkic and Sunni. Thus the call to Holy War as phrased would make utterly no sense.


(ooc: btw, the earthquake was in OTL too; as for the rest of it, I'd like to replace it with this)

IC:

-------------------
1509 November:, Prince Osman, son of Emperor Ahmed, 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!: Osman has been tasked by God to raise a war against Persia!

Osman is part of the reason why the Empire isn't so restive as it might have become -- people rally to him, and he while he could easily use them to usurp the throne, he doesn't. Rather, he throws his support behind his father.

Ahmed and his sons could use Bayezid as a precedent for leaving Persia alone, owing to Persia's role as a spiritual center. But with the fall of the Persians to the White Sheep Turkoman tribes, that precedent no longer applies.

All through 1510: Osman's followers reinforce the troops placed on the eastern border of the Jerusalem kingdom-millet; like the earlier troops, Osman's followers have their tents opening to the east.
---------------

[The Sicilian]

A comment specifically to Portugese events: I'm curious as to how the Portugese are able to completely devastate Muslim trade in the Indian Ocean. Unless they have homing devices, or a huge, ocean-spanning armada, how are they able to track down and destroy ships? It is a pretty big ocean after all.

[Psychomeltdown]

A comment specifically to Portugese events: I'm curious as to how the Portugese are able to completely devastate Muslim trade in the Indian Ocean. Unless they have homing devices, or a huge, ocean-spanning armada, how are they able to track down and destroy ships? It is a pretty big ocean after all.

1. Trade in the Indian Ocean tends to follow the monsoon, ships come east one season, they go west the next. Portuguese know it and wait for it, attacking ships coming east and going back west.

2. Bharata Ports in Gajurat. Major trading ports, the Arab traders head there or into Vijayanagara held ports. Portuguese attack them prior to coming to those ports, or upon them leaving.

3. Trade routes, there are only several major Arab ports operating out of Oman and Yemen, plus the Hormuz one. trade ships arrive from those locations, Portuguese wait until their heading eastward then strike.

[Keenir]

1. Trade in the Indian Ocean tends to follow the monsoon, ships come east one season, they go west the next. Portuguese know it and wait for it, attacking ships coming east and going back west.

2. Bharata Ports in Gajurat. Major trading ports, the Arab traders head there or into Vijayanagara held ports. Portuguese attack them prior to coming to those ports, or upon them leaving.

3. Trade routes, there are only several major Arab ports operating out of Oman and Yemen, plus the Hormuz one. trade ships arrive from those locations, Portuguese wait until their heading eastward then strike.

so...waiting until the ships are out in the open ocean?

in other words, you've crushed most, but can never crush all of the traders.

[The Sicilian]

so...waiting until the ships are out in the open ocean?

in other words, you've crushed most, but can never crush all of the traders.
How long can the Portugese sustain that? The ships are thousands of miles away from home, and I believe that eventually the Muslims will get pissed off enough that they will start arming. You cannot blockade/pirate huge swaths of ocean, conquer hostile and foreign territory far from home, and fight a land war in Europe against a large coalition of powerful nations at the same time. From my persepctive Portugal is overextended, and overextension is the bane of empires.

[Psychomeltdown]

How long can the Portugese sustain that? The ships are thousands of miles away from home, and I believe that eventually the Muslims will get pissed off enough that they will start arming. You cannot blockade/pirate huge swaths of ocean, conquer hostile and foreign territory far from home, and fight a land war in Europe against a large coalition of powerful nations at the same time. From my persepctive Portugal is overextended, and overextension is the bane of empires.

True the Arab traders will begin arming and defending themselves, but they have no support from the Bharata or Vijayanagara and those are their destinations.

They may travel in small convoys, sooner or later they will, but the Portuguese still have superior ships and superior firearms (cannons). Plus there are only two main seasons in the year in which the arab traders are moving.

the Ports go west attacking ships they find, once they get too close to the defensible parts of the Arabia Penn, they head to Africa to refit and unload supplies they've captured. then when the season turns, they prey upon the ships going East.

It's like migrating birds or herds of animals, they all head pretty much in the same direction and the ports know where they're going. so they attack when they're headed there.


As for being overextended, it is true that they're grasping for a lot of things, but then again things have been more or less peaceful in India. It's only the Arabs they've been fighting. They've also got more military ships and men in Africa and India, securing their fronts there.

The War in Europe will most likely force them to lessen their hold on AFrica and India as they have to pull forces, mostly ships, back home to fight. But unlike OTL, these places probably won't be taken over so readily by other nations. they have agreements with the Vijayanagara and the Bharata (the only real place they own in India is Goa and some ports in Kotte), they're not facing a series of squabbling nations ready to backstab them, but two large empires that are mainly busy making sure the places they've conquered aren't rebelling and making a little money off the trade brought in by the Ports.

[The Sicilian]

Allright, that is fair enough. I just don't wish for this to turn into a Portuwank :eek:.

[Psychomeltdown]

Allright, that is fair enough. I just don't wish for this to turn into a Portuwank :eek:.

What about Napleswank? ;):p

[The Sicilian]

What about Napleswank? ;):p
Damn, you caught me... trying to conquer Mexico! :D:rolleyes:

[Psychomeltdown]

Damn, you caught me... trying to conquer Mexico! :D:rolleyes:

well, it's where all the aztec gold is lying about, waiting to be picked up... :D

[marl_d]

Russia will claim that gold and Glory for herself! muahahahahha :cool::p:rolleyes:

[Keenir]

It's like migrating birds or herds of animals, they all head pretty much in the same direction and the ports know where they're going. so they attack when they're headed there.

and no matter how many antelope get eaten (by the crocodiles, lions, hyenas, etc), there's always plenty more that get past the predators.

only in Portugal's case, the longer it has to keep this up, the more it costs Portugal, and probably the lower the morale on said ships.

...so we may be about to see the dawn of Portugese pirates acting independently of the Portugese Crown.

[Keenir]

Russia will claim that gold and Glory for herself! muahahahahha :cool::p:rolleyes:

...and will pay hefty travel taxes in return for the use of all the Ottoman ships.
:D:p;)

[marl_d]

no...Russia has it's own fleet of ships out of Riga....no need for a Black Sea port :cool::D

[Psychomeltdown]

and no matter how many antelope get eaten (by the crocodiles, lions, hyenas, etc), there's always plenty more that get past the predators.

only in Portugal's case, the longer it has to keep this up, the more it costs Portugal, and probably the lower the morale on said ships.

...so we may be about to see the dawn of Portugese pirates acting independently of the Portugese Crown.

True, but all the big fat juicy ones are the prize. As in big game hunting, take enough of those out and you hurt the herd to a point where it might not recover...

It's not only destroying ships, its take the wealth they're bringing to India and the wealth they're taking back. It's pretty much win win, unless they get defeated... Morale would be okay, since the crew could possibly get a cut of the proceeds.

[Keenir]

True, but all the big fat juicy ones are the prize. As in big game hunting, take enough of those out and you hurt the herd to a point where it might not recover...

before big-game hunting, elephants were selected to have big tusks. now, after so much big-game hunting, those elephants with tiny tusks have a decided survival advantage, so its the small-tusk genes that get passed on.

though, one thing puzzles me: if Portugal hurts Yemeni trade to the point that the Yemenis stop trading, won't that hurt Portugal just as badly?
(this is why predators never try to exterminate their prey)

It's not only destroying ships, its take the wealth they're bringing to India and the wealth they're taking back. It's pretty much win win, unless they get defeated... Morale would be okay, since the crew could possibly get a cut of the proceeds.

though...what does Portugal do if the Yemenis decide to switch to an overland trade route?

[Psychomeltdown]

before big-game hunting, elephants were selected to have big tusks. now, after so much big-game hunting, those elephants with tiny tusks have a decided survival advantage, so its the small-tusk genes that get passed on.

though, one thing puzzles me: if Portugal hurts Yemeni trade to the point that the Yemenis stop trading, won't that hurt Portugal just as badly?
(this is why predators never try to exterminate their prey)
Well, humans were never one to think ahead... If there is no Arab trade, then it'll be the job of the Portuguese to pick up the slack. they may do a crappy job of it, but it'll make it their monopoly. unopposed, unchallenged, and get stinking rich off of it.



though...what does Portugal do if the Yemenis decide to switch to an overland trade route?
Nothing. there's a reason sea travel was far better, cheaper, faster, and more profitable. Portuguese will probably continue doing what they were doing, but with no sea borne competition.

[Glen]

(ooc: btw, the earthquake was in OTL too; as for the rest of it, I'd like to replace it with this)

IC:

-------------------
1509 November:, Prince Osman, son of Emperor Ahmed, 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!: Osman has been tasked by God to raise a war against Persia!

Osman is part of the reason why the Empire isn't so restive as it might have become -- people rally to him, and he while he could easily use them to usurp the throne, he doesn't. Rather, he throws his support behind his father.

Ahmed and his sons could use Bayezid as a precedent for leaving Persia alone, owing to Persia's role as a spiritual center. But with the fall of the Persians to the White Sheep Turkoman tribes, that precedent no longer applies.

All through 1510: Osman's followers reinforce the troops placed on the eastern border of the Jerusalem kingdom-millet; like the earlier troops, Osman's followers have their tents opening to the east.
---------------

Nice try, but this one is equally flawed in its facts (even accounting for propoganda).

1) Persia did not fall, but rather never resurrected as it did in OTL. He would make no reference to Persia here.

2) The only 'spiritual' centers in the regions controlled by the White Sheep Turkomen are Shia, not Sunni. So referencing taking control of Persia (even by another name) because of its spiritual value only applies to Shia, not Sunni.

In summation, while you politically might want to make war with the White Sheep Turkomen, trying to rally the populace for a religious war to distract them from the fact that your regime has put Christians in charge (yes, supposedly under your control) of the THIRD HOLIEST SITE IN ALL ISLAM is just not going to be thought of and won't work.

You're in a real plausibility bind here. You are making friends with Christians to the North and even raising them up in the West, but then trying to divert from the likely resulting religious friction by starting a religious war with a neighboring power that essentially has the IDENTICAL creed to your own.

You can try and whip up a war against the White Sheep, but it will be clearly a war of aggression for conquest and land, and may be seen as a bit of a distraction.

You've got Uppity Christians in Jerusalem, Christian millets openly siding with foreign powers in the Balkans, Muscovites starting to look stronger to your Northeast (not so bad there), and Portuguese pirating your Indian Trade routes, an action that led to a major Ottoman-Portuguese naval conflict OTL in the first decade of the 1500s.

Its your nation, of course, but you need to either have it run a bit more reasonably, or reflect that your leaders are running it into the ground by internal discord.

Now then, I am not a disinterested party since I run the White Sheep Turkomen, so I would like to ask one or more of our moderators, as well as our general community to review these criticisms and see if it makes sense.

[Glen]

A comment specifically to Portugese events: I'm curious as to how the Portugese are able to completely devastate Muslim trade in the Indian Ocean. Unless they have homing devices, or a huge, ocean-spanning armada, how are they able to track down and destroy ships? It is a pretty big ocean after all.

It's also virtually what they did OTL. I too find the Portuguese likely to be overextended, but Psychomeltdown's events so far actually are closely paralleling OTL in the Indian Ocean.

And so far everyone in the region is letting them....

[Glen]

The War in Europe will most likely force them to lessen their hold on AFrica and India as they have to pull forces, mostly ships, back home to fight. But unlike OTL, these places probably won't be taken over so readily by other nations. they have agreements with the Vijayanagara and the Bharata (the only real place they own in India is Goa and some ports in Kotte), they're not facing a series of squabbling nations ready to backstab them, but two large empires that are mainly busy making sure the places they've conquered aren't rebelling and making a little money off the trade brought in by the Ports.

So far everything Psychomeltdown has been doing in the Indian Ocean has been very close to OTL.

The War would definitely be a departure from OTL events, and thus could have profound ramifications. All depends how the various nations react.

Basically, Portugal is extended....the war may make them overextended. We'll see how the events are played out.

[Psychomeltdown]

It's also virtually what they did OTL. I too find the Portuguese likely to be overextended, but Psychomeltdown's events so far actually are closely paralleling OTL in the Indian Ocean.

And so far everyone in the region is letting them....

Well DQ seems to have vanished and the Sandman said he'd comment on the areas i attacked that he was controlling, but he never did...

Besides internal changes in Portugal, I'm trying to keep things as similar as they can be, mainly because beyond speeding up the conquest of India and Africa, there's really nothing more to do there. They're there to trade and that's what they're doing.

They're making a hell of a lot of money and that's going to cause more of an internal change first, especially with Manoel and the Church not getting along and the other mini sea powers coming into play.

By the time Henrique, Manoel's heir, comes to the throne, they'll be a different Portugal. Especially if the war turns out bad for them...

[Keenir]

Nice try, but this one is equally flawed in its facts (even accounting for propoganda).

1) Persia did not fall,

what happened to the Shia rulers of Persia? did the White Sheep exile them?

but rather never resurrected as it did in OTL. He would make no reference to Persia here.

2) The only 'spiritual' centers in the regions controlled by the White Sheep Turkomen are Shia, not Sunni. So referencing taking control of Persia (even by another name) because of its spiritual value only applies to Shia, not Sunni.

not so. several authors explicitly state that Bayezid (in OTL) was a spiritually-minded ruler who avoided war with Persia because of Persia's spiritual role.

are you saying Bayezid, Emperor of the Ottoman Empire, was a Shia in OTL?

:eek::eek:

In summation, while you politically might want to make war with the White Sheep Turkomen, trying to rally the populace for a religious war to distract them from the fact that your regime has put Christians in charge

when Ottomans historically conquered the Balkans, they didn't force the Christian rulers to convert -- they simply made the rulers governors of other areas in the empire....the rulers converted over the course of a century or two.
(ie, the Shishemids(sp) tsars, originally Bulgars, from the post where Vasili arrives in Constantinople, were governors in Anatolia)

Jerusalem is not Naples, nor is it all that close to Naples. the same pressures are, in principle, still at work. (granted, unless the King of Naples gets kicked out of Naples, he's still got a reason not to convert)

(yes, supposedly under your control) of the THIRD HOLIEST SITE IN ALL ISLAM is just not going to be thought of and won't work.

please read the Treaty!

You're in a real plausibility bind here. You are making friends with Christians to the North and even raising them up in the West,

in OTL, the Ottomans were often allies with France -- yet the Ottomans never suffered from riots as a result of that alliance.

I'm running the Ottomans, not the Taliban. :rolleyes:;)

but then trying to divert from the likely resulting religious friction by starting a religious war with a neighboring power that essentially has the IDENTICAL creed to your own.

do they have the same legal system? or do they follow a different legal tradition within Islam?

and even if the White Sheep do follow the same legal system and creed, the Sublime Porte can always say that the White Sheep, being nomads, aren't giving the proper reverence and care to the sites sacred to the Sunnis and Shia.

You can try and whip up a war against the White Sheep, but it will be clearly a war of aggression for conquest and land, and may be seen as a bit of a distraction.

You've got Uppity Christians in Jerusalem,

how are they uppity? they pay taxes to Constantinople, and dare not harm any Muslims in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, nor are they providing shelter to pirates in the Med. (unless you know something about the player that I don't)

Christian millets openly siding with foreign powers in the Balkans,

who?

I asked (in the 1493 threads) if Wallachia and Moldovia were under my domain, and were told no.

Muscovites starting to look stronger to your Northeast (not so bad there), and Portuguese pirating your Indian Trade routes, an action that led to a major Ottoman-Portuguese naval conflict OTL in the first decade of the 1500s.

you'll note that I haven't conquered Yemen yet. until I do, I have next to no Indian Ocean trade.

Its your nation, of course, but you need to either have it run a bit more reasonably, or reflect that your leaders are running it into the ground by internal discord.

what ran the Ottomans into the ground in OTL was $$$....which is why I'm siding with the Spanish against the Portugese.

Now then, I am not a disinterested party since I run the White Sheep Turkomen, so I would like to ask one or more of our moderators, as well as our general community to review these criticisms and see if it makes sense.

please, feel free to ask Leo and Abdul.

[Keenir]

It's also virtually what they did OTL. I too find the Portuguese likely to be overextended, but Psychomeltdown's events so far actually are closely paralleling OTL in the Indian Ocean.

And so far everyone in the region is letting them....

Yemen's been awful quiet. is the guy running them still around?

[Glen]

Yemen's been awful quiet. is the guy running them still around?

Good news! The Sandman is in. He'll need a little time to catch up, and I told him to start by reading through the timeline review thread.

The Sandman. He should be starting to review things so he can get back in. He did post some events early on that were eaten by the board glitch.

[Glen]

what happened to the Shia rulers of Persia? did the White Sheep exile them?

There are no Shia rulers of Persia, and haven't been for centuries. The Safavid Dynasty founded around 1501 would revive Persian culture and establish Shia Islam as the State Religion. I had my Turcomens arrange for the assassination of the future founder of the Safavid Dynasty and instigate a civil war between his remaining followers. They then crush the rest.

No Persia. No Shia Leaders. I'd copy the link, but my right clicker doesn't seem to be playing nice nice.:(


not so. several authors explicitly state that Bayezid (in OTL) was a spiritually-minded ruler who avoided war with Persia because of Persia's spiritual role.

are you saying Bayezid, Emperor of the Ottoman Empire, was a Shia in OTL?

:eek::eek:

I have no idea why they are saying that. Regardless, the Persia in question is still-born ITTL. Do you have a reference on that 'Persia's spiritual role' bit? That might help understand.


when Ottomans historically conquered the Balkans, they didn't force the Christian rulers to convert -- they simply made the rulers governors of other areas in the empire....the rulers converted over the course of a century or two.
(ie, the Shishemids(sp) tsars, originally Bulgars, from the post where Vasili arrives in Constantinople, were governors in Anatolia)

Jerusalem is not Naples, nor is it all that close to Naples. the same pressures are, in principle, still at work. (granted, unless the King of Naples gets kicked out of Naples, he's still got a reason not to convert)

No, but Jerusalem is under his direct control. I don't get your comments about conversion here.:confused:


please read the Treaty!

The treaty is not directly the issue. It is how it is perceived and how it is implemented that is.


in OTL, the Ottomans were often allies with France -- yet the Ottomans never suffered from riots as a result of that alliance.

They also didn't put the Dauphin in charge of Jerusalem.


I'm running the Ottomans, not the Taliban. :rolleyes:;)

I know, but that still doesn't make them insensitive to questions of religion when it comes to the third holiest city in Islam, plus all the other stuff. One or two of these things aside from the Jerusalem thing wouldn't be a problem. Its all together that is really getting bad.


do they have the same legal system? or do they follow a different legal tradition within Islam?

Now that's a good question. Not sure.


and even if the White Sheep do follow the same legal system and creed, the Sublime Porte can always say that the White Sheep, being nomads, aren't giving the proper reverence and care to the sites sacred to the Sunnis and Shia.

Weak argument, but you can try that. But if you do, name specific sites.

how are they uppity? they pay taxes to Constantinople, and dare not harm any Muslims in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, nor are they providing shelter to pirates in the Med. (unless you know something about the player that I don't)

I know they've been sounding like they have a different interpretation of the treaty than the Sublime Porte.


who?

I asked (in the 1493 threads) if Wallachia and Moldovia were under my domain, and were told no.

The Holy Roman Empire. Wallachia and Moldavia are not under your control as a participant, but are technically under the surzeignty of the Sublime Porte, though it is more often honored in the breech than the keeping.


you'll note that I haven't conquered Yemen yet. until I do, I have next to no Indian Ocean trade.

Odd, that, since a major Ottoman/Portuguese battle was fought in the Indian Ocean over just that in the early 1500s OTL....


what ran the Ottomans into the ground in OTL was $$$....which is why I'm siding with the Spanish against the Portugese.

That's fine.

please, feel free to ask Leo and Abdul.

I'd love their input. Can you PM them and ask them to look at the relevant materials?

[Keenir]

I have no idea why they are saying that. Regardless, the Persia in question is still-born ITTL. Do you have a reference on that 'Persia's spiritual role' bit? That might help understand.

the book _Osman's Dream_ by Caroline Finkel:
she says that Bayezid did not provoke Persia, because he (Bayezid) had mystical leanings. Persia at the time was under Shah Isma'il.

now, do the White Sheep have anything that might be considered mystical?

because I'd really rather not retcon everything from 1501 onwards. (although, if there's no other option, I will)

No, but Jerusalem is under his direct control.

and he - in Jerusalem - is under the Ottoman thumb.

(for that matter, none of the Holy Sites of Jerusalem have left the hands they were in before the Mamluk War, so the objection regarding them being in Christian hands, doesn't apply)

The treaty is not directly the issue. It is how it is perceived and how it is implemented that is.

Naples, Spain, and the Knights of Rhodes agreed to abide by the terms of the treaty. they might percieve it as a concession, but even a smart horse can be talked into wearing a yoke.
(okay, bad analogy)

They also didn't put the Dauphin in charge of Jerusalem.

True.

but wouldn't you expect the placing of Bulgarian tsars in governance of Anatolia to be riot-causing as well?

or Anatolian Muslim dynasties placed in command of Balkan Christian populations?

I know, but that still doesn't make them insensitive to questions of religion when it comes to the third holiest city in Islam, plus all the other stuff. One or two of these things aside from the Jerusalem thing wouldn't be a problem. Its all together that is really getting bad.

Everything in Jerusalem is still in the hands of Muslims....its only the governor who's changed. (from someone who tithes to the Mamluks, to someone who tithes to the Sublime Porte)

I know they've been sounding like they have a different interpretation of the treaty than the Sublime Porte.

they can talk all they want...but if they push the issue, it'll bear them as much fruit as an Ottoman marriage. :D;)

The Holy Roman Empire. Wallachia and Moldavia are not under your control as a participant, but are technically under the surzeignty of the Sublime Porte, though it is more often honored in the breech than the keeping.

thank you for pointing this out. *makes changes to Balkan policies for the 1520-50s*

if 1501-onwards is to be revised, I've got an idea.

Odd, that, since a major Ottoman/Portuguese battle was fought in the Indian Ocean over just that in the early 1500s OTL....

hm.

well, once Portugal's been properly weakened, I can deal with Yemen.

I'd love their input. Can you PM them and ask them to look at the relevant materials?

I did better - I posted a question in the Chat folder...that's the opening step.

[Keenir]

I'll write up a revised history for 1501-1519 tonight.

sorry.

[Smaug]

If Shia' needs a geographical face, wouldn't it be at Qom, in central OTL Iran? The Shia consider it probably #4, as far as Holy Places.

[Keenir]

1. Why does China have merchant companies? isn't that something you'd expect to find in England or such? (ie, Hudson Bay Company, East India Company)....and not in an Empire where everything is closely tied to the monarch.

2. Isn't the Reformation jumping awfully fast? In OTL, Luther didn't go "oh, we should reform the Church" even when he read the works of Jan Huss.

[Keenir]

First draft 1512
England:
1512: King Arthur the Second declares a new order, the Order of Merlin.

The Order of Merlin is awarded solely to Englishmen of Arts and Letters
such as Natural Philosophers, and allows for them to sit in Parliament,
to better advise the nation.

wasn't "natural philosophy" more of 18th and 19th centuries?


tom Veil...1512 March: Raimal dies. His obsession with government
administration pays off, as there is no succession crisis.

what does administration have to do with succession?


Russia 1512: In order to increase the Education of his People, 2 Universities are established, one in Moscow and one in Novgorod. Due his journeys, Nil Sorsky refuses the offer of being the first Headmaster at either School; instead Dmitriy offers the Headmastership of the Moscow Academy to his long time friend and confidant Vassian Patrikeyev, who accepts. A request for Teachers is sent though Europe offering teaching positions at the new Universities.

and in the early 1500s, what was a University?

[Keenir]

The below seemed to be missing previously from the 1507 timeline. I have now edited it back in.

Muscovy:

A group of Sorskivites takes it upon themselves to start learning what they can to treat the sick and heal using Christ as an example. They also glean what they can from Local healers

so....copying the folk medicine from people who probably aren't even Orthodox or Christian?

[marl_d]

well seeing as Oxford was a University from the at the very lest from the 13th. but if it's that big of a deal i can change them to Academy's

[Keenir]

well seeing as Oxford was a University from the at the very lest from the 13th. but if it's that big of a deal i can change them to Academy's

well, my concern is this: where are your Russians getting the ideas (and titles) for either Universities or Academies?

it appears to come from Left Field.

[General_Paul]

1. Why does China have merchant companies? isn't that something you'd expect to find in England or such? (ie, Hudson Bay Company, East India Company)....and not in an Empire where everything is closely tied to the monarch.

Hey Keenir,

Actually, the Hongzhi Emperor seriously loosened restrictions on businesses in 1498 with the "Imperial Business Compact Declaration," legitimizing businesses and allowing businesses to operate without bureaucratic hastling as long as businesses register for an Imperial Business Compact and disclose all static and liquid assets for tax purposes. Pretty much, the Emperor had to do this because after pearing down the bureaucracy in 1493 around 200 of the ex-bureaucrats went to the coast and opened up shop as businessmen.

It may not have been a problem if the guys fired were, say, military advisors or aids to the imperial court, but the bureaucrats knew their way around tax practices and were hiding assets from the imperial government. So, rather than screw around with having them hiding assets in, say, investing in large grain shipments at the last minute before the local bureaucrats showed up to take the yearly taxes, or in ship construction to hide their assets from tax assessors, the emperor just said, "Fine, you want businesses, you can have your bloody businesses, just give me your taxes and we're even."

By the time that the merchant companies were setting up shop on Taiwan in the early 1500's, the Ming Dynasty was already involved in hostilities in Manchuria with the Jurchens, allowing the merchant companies to expand their holdings and begin setting up private proto-mercenary corps without having to worry about imperial oversight, especially on Taiwan. Just like in Europe, everyone's got a price so if any of the local military officers asked any questions, just drop them a few bags of gold yuan and they'll do whatever the hell you tell them to do.

Don't worry, I'm going to have some conflict between the infant merchant companies and the next emperor during the 1530's and 40's but for now, while the Hongzhi Emperor is embroiled in the "Manchurian Question," the good days just keep on going for the merchant companies.

[Keenir]

Hey Keenir,

hi.

the emperor just said, "Fine, you want businesses, you can have your bloody businesses, just give me your taxes and we're even."

Don't worry, I'm going to have some conflict between the infant merchant companies and the next emperor during the 1530's and 40's but for now, while the Hongzhi Emperor is embroiled in the "Manchurian Question," the good days just keep on going for the merchant companies.

okay; thought to ask.

thanks for the answers.

of course, by the '30s, you'll have Uighur on your northern border.

(what's the word for someone who wants the "good old days" back? a revanchist?)

[Tom Veil]

tom Veil...1512 March: Raimal dies. His obsession with government
administration pays off, as there is no succession crisis.

what does administration have to do with succession?


One of the flaws that plagued many dynasties on the subcontinent was chronic succession crises: even simple cases where the Sultan had publicly named his firstborn son as successor often led to years-long battles. The problem was greatly exacerbated by the way that many states (especially Muslim ones) organized power: when the Sultan died, no one owed loyalty to anyone. By installing Rajput scholarly ideas of good administration (read: Hindu castes), Raimal set up an environment in which many soldiers and other power brokers had an interest in maintaining the status quo. So while the Rajput/Bharat empire will have succession crises, they will be less frequent than the 1300s Delhi Sultanate.

[marl_d]

well, my concern is this: where are your Russians getting the ideas (and titles) for either Universities or Academies?

it appears to come from Left Field.

well...there is this little thing called trade, and Russia is expanding it, a LOT of ideas get sent around that way. I can take it out, it's not a big deal, i can push the Academies/Universities back another decade or two.

[AJNolte]

1. Why does China have merchant companies? isn't that something you'd expect to find in England or such? (ie, Hudson Bay Company, East India Company)....and not in an Empire where everything is closely tied to the monarch.

2. Isn't the Reformation jumping awfully fast? In OTL, Luther didn't go "oh, we should reform the Church" even when he read the works of Jan Huss.

No, no it's not actually. Wettin's 'On Righteousness' was written at approximately the same time as Luther's 95 theesies. Luther's 'On Rome and Jerusalem' and the earlier biblical commentaries of Wettin also laid the groundwork for the Reformation. Then too, it's only just in it's infancy; the Council of Jerusalem (OTL's equivalent of the Diet of Worms) has not yet been held.

[AJNolte]

I've been out of the loop. If anyone has plausibility questions with any of my stuff please let me know.
Thanks.

[Keenir]

No, no it's not actually. Wettin's 'On Righteousness' was written at approximately the same time as Luther's 95 theesies. Luther's 'On Rome and Jerusalem' and the earlier biblical commentaries of Wettin also laid the groundwork for the Reformation. Then too, it's only just in it's infancy; the Council of Jerusalem (OTL's equivalent of the Diet of Worms) has not yet been held.

okay...then one question remains: how did Wettin's writings convince Luther in ATL, when Huss' writings didn't convince Luther* in OTL?


* = years later, yes, Luther realized Huss had had the right idea; but when first exposed to them, he'd written against Huss' works.

[General_Paul]

A comment specifically to Portugese events: I'm curious as to how the Portugese are able to completely devastate Muslim trade in the Indian Ocean. Unless they have homing devices, or a huge, ocean-spanning armada, how are they able to track down and destroy ships? It is a pretty big ocean after all.

Well, I for one applaud the Portuguese efforts at snuffing out Muslim trade in the Indian Ocean. All that means is that Ming merchant companies will become the principle carriers of raw goods and finished products in the Indian Ocean! :D Thanks Psycho! I'll be sure to give the Portuguese good deals on the spices and silks... right up until the Ming emperor declares the Portuguese to be uncivilized western barbarians and moves in for the kill...

[AJNolte]

okay...then one question remains: how did Wettin's writings convince Luther in ATL, when Huss' writings didn't convince Luther* in OTL?


* = years later, yes, Luther realized Huss had had the right idea; but when first exposed to them, he'd written against Huss' works.


Luther's not actually running the show; that distinction goes to Wettin in this ATL. Luther definitely OTL agreed with most of the points Wettin was raising by 1519. The main difference is that here he's a polemicist for the reformation, not it's spiritual head.
And keep in mind that Huss was substantially different than Luther on some elements of justification. The old "Wycliffe to Luther to Huss" description of the reformation isn't as accurate as latter historians and polemicists made it out to be.

Keep in mind also that at this point Luther is not trying to leave the Catholic church--neither is Wettin. They're trying to reform it.

[Tom Veil]

Keep in mind also that at this point Luther is not trying to leave the Catholic church--neither is Wettin. They're trying to reform it.

The Church is quite fine with the occasional person who excommunicates himself -- such a person is clearly insane to walk away from God, and will be ignored by most people. But someone who says that the Church is not always acting as God would wish? That's a threat that needs to be countered.

[marl_d]

ok i've been looking over everything that has been written so far and was thinking about the Vasili issue. i was thinking that i might just recon Vasili away by having him die from an accident or disease. this would probably make things a lot easier/probable then sending him off to the Ottomans. Or have his mother die earlier, which would lead to Dmitriy staying as the heir, it was because of her pushing Ivan that made Vasili the heir, and just have some civil strife happen in Russia between the Conservatives and Reformers in the church....but that would be a lot of work....killing him off would be easier :p

a couple more ideas i had is to leave everything up this point, except have him killed on his way to Istanbul. and there we get some different choices.

-the Crimean's acting on their own (Ottoman's tell them not to touch him as he passes through, otherwise they wont back them when Russia comes a callin')

-the Ottomans secretly telling them to take out Vasili

-or (and probably easiest) have a rouge group (cossacks, robbers, some Muslim extremist that doesn't want an infidel to sit on the Throne) kill him on the way.


what do you guys think be the best way to go about it...plausibility wise and interest wise?

[Glen]

1510:

England:

King Arthur the Second forms a new order of knighthood, the Order of the Round Table. Among the first to be inducted into the prestigious new order is his brother, Henry Tudor.

Saxony:

1510-1511: Frederick begins streamlining the administration of his reunited duchy, and promulgates a succession law by which the estates will choose from among the sons of Wettin "one duke for all of Saxony", by which decision all of the other sons will be bound, and all of the estates likewise. While the duke remains sole ruler over Saxony, this decision helps strengthen the power of the estates.

Hanseatic League:

The addition of Lucca and Ostia to the Hansa has forced a reorganization. The league meets in a grand council at Lubeck. The grand council agrees to the division of the Hansa into new thirds: Rhenish, Wendish and Italian. The former Prussian third, which had been suffering after the Levonian war, was absorbed into the Wendish Federation, though the grand-master of the Teutonic Order greatly feared that the Elector of Brandenburg and others would probably end up with most of the old Prussian lands. The grand council was confirmed as a biannual event, with the council of each third to meet once a year. The Rhenish and Italian thirds were tasked with expanding Hanseatic networks in their areas. Malta was given semi-autonomous status.

The Hanseatic League launches an expedition to the new world, supported by several German nobles including the count Palatine and Duke of Saxony. Their object is the tip of the southern continent, and a possible route into the Arthurian Ocean.

Spain:

The Spanish army and navy--which have been steadily building up since the Mameluke War--continue to build. This worsens the Spanish financial situation.

Muscovy:

The monk Philotheus of Pskov records the Legend of the White Cowl, which asserts the historical and religious inevitability of Russia's place as the heir to the Byzantine Empire's temporal and religious authority.


August 15, 1510: Vasili getting frustrated with his nephew’s rule and lax policies regarding the reformers and feeling that the third Rome is losing it’s prestige, finally sets out for Constantinople. When he leaves he offers Joseph Volotsky, Clergy and Boyars that are loyal to him as well as feed up with Dmitriy’s rule to join him. He promises to get land and positions in his court for the Boyars, and High Ranks in the Orthodox Hierarchy in Constantinople.

September 1510: Vasili arrives in Constantinople with an about 150 priest, monks, Boyars and the Boyars families. Emperor Ahmed and Princess Fatima receive him in the Throne room where a descendant of the Shishemid Tsars of Bulgaria is also present. Though irritated by the small jab, Vasili recognizes the significance, and says nothing.

Ottoman Empire:

1510: When the Russian Prince Vasili arrives in Constantinople, he is met in the throne room not just by Emperor Ahmed and Princess Fatima (who will marry the Russian), but also by a descendant of the Shishemid Tsars of Bulgaria – Ahmed is hoping that this gentle reminder is sufficient: unspoken is “my family and yours aren’t the only ones with a claim to this City.” To mark this day, the provinces of Albania and Bulgaria begin construction on their own shipyards, intended to supplement the docking locations elsewhere in the Empire. Also, work begins on a Russian Orthodox cathedral intended for the use of those who came with Prince Vasili…and Vasili is reminded that the Russian Orthodox in his party are his responsibility.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

1510 Spring: The "Decisione vittoriosa," is decided upon by King Diego and the Macota of the Kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba. In return for complete internal autonomy, and freedom to practice their own religions, over 4,000 Jaga Cassangi mercenaries are sent to finally destroy the Lunda empire, under to command of Prince Marcos, King Diego's brother.

1510 Summer: The King's eldest son, the Duke of Benguela, is betrothed to the daughter of the chief-king of the Lunda states, the king of Luba. She is christened Maria-Caterina, and upon marriage to the Prince, styled Duchess of Benguela. She brings with her a large dowry of iron ore, salt, and palm oil- main items of the Lunda state of Luba.

1510 Fall: A company of jungle-crusaders capture the Luba king, and revoke all treaties with him. With the other Lunda states captured, the Crusade has proven successfull. The king of Luba is executed in his capital immediatley after declaring his Catholic daughter, the Duchess of Benguela, "Empress of Lunda and Queen of Luba." The other Lunda states acknowledge her as their sovereign.

1510 Winter:
An extravagant three-week long celebration of victory in the Crusade and of Christmas is held in Ndongo. King Diego is crowned "Emperor of Lunda, King of Luba and Kazembe-Lunda," by the Bishop. Following the festivities, many missionaries and soldiers are sent into the Lunda states, forcing the peoples to either convert or die. Food supply is cut off to the quarantined states until the entire state is either converted or killed.

Indian Subcontinent:

Rajamaharana:

1510 June:Raimal takes a celebratory tour along the first stretch of the Imperial Road to be completed, from Chittor to Mathura.

China:

In the ten years since the imperial expedition to Taiwan, Ming businessmen located on the mainland had begun dispatching trade junks to Taiwan in hopes of raking in greater profits from the tribes of the area. Considering that, prior to the expedition in 1500, no privately owned Ming trading junks had made landfall in Taiwan for trading purposes, inroads to Taiwanese society were suprisingly easy to secure.

As the Hongzhi Emperor's attention was still focused on the situation in Manchuria with the Jurchens, many private business owners began to take advantage of the situation and started forming very small, privately funded armies of no more than 100-200 men to protect their trading interests on Taiwan and in other trading zones. These small 100-200 man armies in the future would morph into what would later be called mercenary armies, but for now they were just referred to as their, "little investments."

Japan:

This years marks the first major engagements in the pirate wars. Warships of the more seagoing clans of western Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku, Chugoku districts) are committed against pirates operating in Japanese waters. The policy of interception soon becomes more aggressive when ship captains are encouraged to pursue pirates into international waters. At first casualties among the Japanese are high, but they are soon reduced when they gain experience in naval warfare.

The Nambu clan establish more fishing villages and colonies on the east coast of Ezo (OTL Hokkaido).

Ryukyu:

The government officials and private businessmen who travelled to China to learn about the new economic/financial concept of the 'business compact' return to Okinawa and the other main islands. They immediately begin the process of restructuring the Ryukyuan commercial system. These new processes soon travel to the colonies in Taiwan.

Norasia:

1510 January: The Stadacona and Hochelega tribes officially expand from one clan to three. This reflects the fact that roughly a dozen villages of formerly independent Iroquois-speaking peoples along Kaniatarowanenneh River (http://www.wampumchronicles.com/kaniatarowanenneh.html) have fallen into the orbit of each tribe over the past few years. The whole river from Lake Ontario to the Waponahkiyik lands is now solidly Haudenosaunee territory.

Caribbean:

After arriving in San Juan, the priests from the Vatican find the island in a state of chaos as smallpox ravages the natives. They quickly establish a hospital and church and get to work healing and converting.

[Glen]

1511

England:

King Arthur II declares that Wales shall be known henceforth as Britain, in honor of its heritage. For years, Britons had complained of being known as ‘Weales’ or foreigners in old Anglo-Saxon.

1511 June 28: King Arthur the Second, on the occasion of his brother Henry’s twentieth birthday, declares him ‘Lord Champion of the Realm’.

Benelux:

William of Julich-Berg passes away. His son-in-law Johan (married to his daughter Maria) succeeds him as duke of Julich and Berg and count of Ravensberg.

Charles of Gueldres marries Anna, the second daughter of William of Julich-Berg.

Saxony:

Frederick of Saxony sells Groningen to Edward of East Frisia, and Frisia to Philip of the Palatinate.

Portugal:

1511 January 23: Margaret of Portugal gives birth to her final child, Anna.

Manoel I begins the renovation of Lisbon, creating new aqueducts, expanding its already massive harbor and shipyards, roads, and various other city infrastructures, creating a new Rome in the West.

New schools, universities, hospitals are built due to Margaret of Portugal’s encouraging. The music and arts are also heavily patronized.

Naples:

Prince Alphonso of Naples returns to Italy. He bring with him his family, consisting of his wife, Maria Christina, his sons, Filippo and Ferrante, and his daughters, Leonora, Diana and Giovanna. The Kings brother Frederick takes over his role as ambassador to Ndongo.



Russia:

The Russian Navy and Merchant Marine continue to grow. With the help of Dutch ship designers the first carrack. In honor of Dmitriy’s Grandfather, the ship is named Ivan the Great, this is also the first time that Ivan III is called such. The Russian Navy now consists of the Ivan, 30 galleys, and about 20 smaller ships. The Russian Merchant fleet has increased to 50 ships. Most of the sailors of the Russian Fleet, both naval and merchant, are still foreigners, though the number of former Livonian’s and Russians are increasing.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

When King Diego orders the extermination of the entire Lunda and non-Catholic Matamban people, he is officially deposed by the Macota of Ndongo-Matamba, and the Kingdom is placed under the Regency of the former king's sister and brother-in-law Prince Marcos and Princess Maria-Joséphine. The Duke of Benguela is crowned "King Emmanuel II."

Prince Marcos, always the thinker, sends a delegation to be lead by his warrior-wife to Rome, to ask the Holy Father how the Kingdom should deal with non-Catholic Ndongolese-Matambans, and non-Catholic conquered peoples. Meanwhile, he and his Franciscan advisors divide the Lunda states into two provinces- In the north, Luba, and in the south, Lunda. Meanwhile, in order to thank the Kongo, he gives them the Kongolese-speaking kingdom of Ngoyo, and promises to lend soldiers to help the Kongolese in the conquering of the heathen empire of Luanda.

Ethiopia:

Prince Eon accompanies his father, King Eslander, to visit the shipyard in Djibouti listens to the Imans calling the Faithful to prayer, and asks his father-
"But are not we Christians, also the Faithful of the Lord? Should we not also pray?" Maybe it was the odd light in the Prince's eyes but the King agreed.
Due to Prince Eon, Christian Priests in Ethiopia begin calling the Christian Faithful to Prayers at the same time the Muslim Imans do. This would be later considered Saint Eon's first saintly act.

China:

1511 - 1513: Chinese trading companies begin dispatching their, "little investments," to their growing trading posts on Taiwan and in the northern most Spratley Islands, still very much undeveloped and sparsley populated. While the islands themselves were of little value, their location allowed the larger trading junks to take on provisions before sailing south to Vietnam and the rest of South-East Asia. While the "little investments" made, ironically, little difference in the protection of business investments on Taiwan due to the 9,000 man Ming garrison permanently stationed on the island, the hired armies of 100-200 men made a large difference in securing trading posts and refurbishing stations in the Spratley Islands. With their successes in subduing what few natives existed in the area, some of the trading companies began devising the formation of larger armies to send to areas such as Indonesia, or perhaps to the Indian Sub-Continent, where Chinese trading goods were sold for top prices to both Arab and European merchants.

Japan:

The Nambu clan send a delegation of troops to explore the interior of Ezo and investigate ithe potential for trade, etc. The Nambu leaders are pleased with the reports but decide not to commit to any definite action.

Ryuku:

Trade with the Taiwanese people is strengthened by the new way in which the trade companies are organised and run. More colonies are established along the north-east and north-west coasts and further inland. Several hundred Ryukyuans have now permanantly relocated to Taiwan to participate in the flourishing trade markets.

King Sho shin recalls the Royal navy that was built for the 'invasion' of Taiwan. The amount of trade now passing between Japan, China, and the states of South-East Asia via Okinawa has convinced Sho shin that protection of the merchant fleets and port-cities is of supreme importance to the continued success of Ryukyu. All the navy was required to do was escort the larger fleets to and from port, and occasionally run patrols outside of the principle harbours. Many individuals later doubted that this was the real reason the navy was recalled, as it was noticed that a high percentage of the sailors appeared to be becoming restless during the period of inactivity.

Later that year however, the navy became occupied with a much more serious task. Two years before, Japanese Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane had declared a 'war on piracy'. In the years following the new-found Sino-Ryukyuan political and diplomatic equality, King Sho shin, whose reign has long since been considered synonymous with a Ryukyuan 'golden age', attempted to gain further recognition amongst the states of East and South-East Asia as a powerful and independent nation. It was a matter of international prestige, as well as national security, that drove Sho shin to commit the bulk of the Ryukyuan navy to the war on piracy.

[Glen]

1512:

England:

King Arthur the Second declares a new order, the Order of Merlin. The Order of Merlin is awarded solely to Englishmen of Arts and Letters such as Natural Philosophers, and allows for them to sit in Parliament, to better advise the nation.

Benelux:

Johan IX van Horn, the bishop of Liege passes away. Adolf of Cleve, uncle of the Jan the Duke of Cleve, is appointed as his successor. Philip of Burgundy fears that Liege would ally itself to the anti-burgundian Alliance and opposes this appointment.

Charles of Gueldres becomes the father of a daughter named Catharina.

Saxony:

Philip Melanchthon begins studying at the University of Wittenberg, under the patronage of Martin Luther.

Hanseatic League:

The Hanseatic League was able to confirm the fact that the decade of 1500-1510 had been the most profitable in a century.

Further Hansa ships and settlers set out for Fredericksberg, building it up to a population of 1,000. Many of these settlers are from poorer families from the Baltic coast, or even peasants from Saxony and the Palatinate who have been promised freedom from their feudal obligations. Others are Teutonic knights.

Papal States:

Innocent IX dies, and is replaced by his relative Alessandro Carafa. He takes the name Innocent X.

Knights Hospitaler: Thomas Docwra orders that a census of all the knights, sergeants and chaplains be taken, and an account made of all the order's property.

Portugal:

The Catholic Church in Portugal is only a shadow of what it once was. Manoel I is completing the work begun by John II in focusing all power upon the crown.

Spain:

Now desparately strapped for cash, the Spanish sell Jamaica to the Hanseatic League. Spain also permits some of her major cities--such as Toledo, Corduba, Barsalona and Madrid to join the Hansa, after confirming their free city charters. However Spain is still deeply in debt--with a large military and, at the moment, nothing to do with it...

Muscovy:

In order to increase the Education of his People, two Universities are established, one in Moscow and one in Novgorod. Due his journeys, Nil Sorsky refuses the offer of being the first Headmaster at either School; instead Dmitriy offers the Headmastership of the Moscow Academy to his long time friend and confidant Vassian Patrikeyev, who accepts. A request for Teachers is sent though Europe offering teaching positions at the new Universities.

Maghreb:

New Granada:

Juan Carlos Muhammad XIII --son of Boabdil Muhammad XII of Granada--marries the Daughter of Mohammad Hasfid IV.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

1512 - 1515: The Lunda province is established as the seat of the second diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ndongo- the Diocese of Inner Africa. The Bishop in Sao Rafael is re-titled Bishop of Sao Rafael, the Franciscans place on of their own as Bishop of Inner Africa. The missionaries work in Luba and Lunda proves more successful than in Matamba, and stories of monotheistic coastal landers on the other ocean are told of. Prince Marcos begins the Construction of Ndongo- that, is the beginning of building permanent structures and walled cities throughout the heartland of the kingdom- Ndongo. Co-Regent Princess Maria-Joséphine dies on the voyage home to Ndongo.

Indian Sub-Continent:

1512 March: Raimal dies. His obsession with government administration pays off, as there is no succession crisis. Prithviraj is crowned Rajamaharana, virtually all of the royal family and Imperial Advisory Chamber continue in their old posts.

Varajanas:

The trade disputes between Chola and Jaffna lead to Emperor Raya sending troops to conquer the Kingdom of Jaffna. He requests help in this from the Portuguese that are moving in from the south. In return He will grant some trade concessions in Pondicherry, allowing Portugal onto the east coast.

Gowa:

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.

Japan:

A Nambu flotilla explores the Chishima Islands and lands on Kitaezo (OTL now Sakhalin), meeting and trading with locals. Reports of the terrain, climate, and and environment are similar to those given of Ezo. Later that year a second expedition circumnavigates Kitaezo. While passing between the narrowest point between the island and the mainland, they are forced ashore on the island by bad weather.

Ryuku:

The somewhat nervous Ryukyuan navy begins its campaign against piracy. Operating in the waters between Ryukyu and mainland China, they see little action, involved in the occasional minor skirmish. What action they did see gave them the experience neccessary to handle the next opponents. With each battle, they show signs of improvement, slowly becoming a more coherent force.

Norasia:

Smallpox breaks out among the Lenape and Mohicans along the Meryk River. The contagion rages like wildfire, turning whole villages into ghostly places. The suffering is terrible, and spreads as fast as word of the plague, impacting all the tribes in the region.

Haudenosaunee:

A flesh-eating disease comes in from the east and rips through Haudenosaunee land, spreading as fast as a man can walk on the great roads, and into the Erie, Susequehanna, and Powhatan lands.
The old and the young are especially hard-hit; remote villages fare best. Medicine masks have some effect in slowing the disease, but not nearly enough. Generally, there are only two kinds of survivors -- those who never got sick at all and those who battled back from the absolute brink of death. It is widely agreed that this is the great holocaust predicted in the poem "The Funeral."

1512 September: The Chief of the Onondaga dies. The Clan Mothers elect an unknown man as Chief.

South America:

The Muisca begin to spread influence into OTL Trinidad, and the other Islands visible from its coasts. The Taino are instrumental in this work. Assistance from the Muisca against the Caribs, will hopefully draw the Arawak people to the Confederation. The Zaque of the Muisca has received word that the Inka are gearing up for conquest. He sends an emissary to the Inka in the hope of strengthening ties between thier peoples. He sends his own weight in Emeralds and a variety of other trade goods in the hope of receiving information on the Inkas new method of writing and accounting, and
stonemasons who can act as a cadre to his own growing engineering corp. He promises trade concessions, and to share knowledge of the newcomers, and their curious gadgets.

[Glen]

1513:

England:

Young Christopher Walker, on the recommendation of his captain, Sebastian Cabot, is given a captaincy with the Society of Merchant Venturers and a charter to search for a Northwest Passage to Asia.

Benelux:

After secret negotiations with Charles of Gueldres, Oversticht declares itself independent of Burgundy and appoints Charles of Gueldres as their new ruler. Charles’ troops enter Oversticht and remove the few Burgundian troops from Oversticht’s territory. The other members of the anti Burgundian alliance (Edzard of east Frisia, Gerard of Julich-Berg and Jan of Cleve-Mark) support these actions. Adolf, the bishop of Liege also voices his support. Philip of Burgundy prepares for war.

Portugal:

Spring – Manoel I enacts laws that further weaken the power of the Nobility, in it’s stead raising the position of the merchant class that has grown to power in the last decade.

Due to the long distances and far-flung ports in South America, Africa, India, and Asia, the Portuguese begin developing specialized warships. Fast, agile, maneuverable, and heavily armed, these are set apart from the generally large and slower ships that have been used for decades in trading and war.

Alfonso De Albuquerque is named the second Viceroy of the State of India. Vasgo De Gama returns home to a hero’s welcome.

Muscovy:

With the increase in demand for Flax, a group of 10 flax farmers in the former Livonian region get together in order to sell their flax at higher prices than what they are getting currently. Though they receive more than what they have in the past for their crop, the group doesn’t do as well as they hope to and disband after the first year. The idea catches the ear of a man who is in Riga from Moscow on business, and he starts to contemplate how make it a more effective business practice.

Eastern Mediterranean:

Prince Eon visits the Patriarchs in Alexandria & Constantinople, to his dismay He finds them more interested in Temporal matters, than in the problems of a Church 2~3,000 miles away.

Knights Hospitaler:

Realizing that the order is badly over-stretched, Docwra begins determinedly setting out to increase the order's men-at-arms, offering a payment of debts and a silver piece a month to any Christian who will take the cross. Sergeants and men-at-arms are also freed from all vows, save obedience to the order and mother church.

Indian Sub-Continent:

The Vāhigurū Sikh religion ends its period of mass conversions (Lord Prithviraj’s beloved Jainism takes a rare turn as the fastest-growning religion). Vāhigurū Sikh now enters a period of theological deepening and cultural cohesion, as the Great Guru devotes much of his time to encouraging his disciples to debate religious issues in order to discover which tenets were vital and which were merely custom. It is from this period that the Four Tenets – equal rights, meditation, work ethic, and communalism – emerge.

Vietnam:

Prince Tang, one of Le Thanh Tong’s 14 sons, succeeded his father as Le Hien Tong . He was 54 years old at the time of his father's death.
He was an affable, meek and mild-mannered person. Due to his short period of rule and the fact that he didn't pass many significant reforms, his reign is considered to be an extension of Le Thanh Tong's rule.

East Asia:

Champas traders land on the south end of Taiwan and establish a small trading post.

Haudenosaunee:

1513 January: Again, the Chief of the Onondaga dies. The Clan Mothers elect Hurit as Chiefess.

South America:

Incan Empire:

The library/academy called the churay jap'eqay khipu (place of khipu learning), with Washakr and his family being the main financiers. It is located just off the plaza of Awkaypata, and is quite large, being 200m by 150m in length. A hundred students are enrolled. Washkar finances a grand history of the Inca, and writing down of the religion. The history is notably pro-Washkar.

[Glen]

1514:

England:

King Arthur the Second creates a companion order to the Merlins, the Order of the Venerable Bede. This is an honorary order for foreign men of Arts and Letters. It does not confer any rights within the Empire. Leonardo da Vinci is among the first offered the award.

Burgundy:

Seeing the announcement of independence from Oversticht as the perfect opportunity to add Gueldres and Liege to his domains, Philip of Burgundy’s armies enter Liege from Luxembourg and quickly defeat all opposing armies as Liege was not expecting to be involved in this war and wasn’t prepared. From Limburg, Loon and Brabant Armies enter Gueldres Overkwartier, but find more opposition. They manage to conquer a couple of isolated pockets like Nieuwstadt and Roermond, but soon reinforces from Julich arrive. From Utrecht Burgundian troops enter the Veluwe and make battle with troops from Gueldres, who are reinforced with troops from Cleve. From Holland ships cross the Zuyderzee and enter Oversticht, where they already find troops from Gueldres and East-Frisia. The war both sides have been expected to occur for years has started and will last the for the next four years.

Hanseatic League:

Dietrich Segelmeister, a young ship captain (born 1493) from Lubeck, sets out with a fleet to sail into the Arthurian ocean. His voyage will last five years, and will lead to contact with many nations in the Arthurian Ocean (I'll need to talk to people in the Philippines if there are any). Segelmeister will return with rich treasures to a hero's welcome.

Holy Roman Empire:

Henry IV of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel dies. He is succeeded by his son, Henry V.

Portugal:

The Passover Plot occurs, when seven young noble men are caught plotting the overthrow of the Portuguese crown. Some call it overreacting, but by year’s end, the seven young noblemen’s families and associates are rounded up and executed, their lands confiscated, and their titles revoked.

Naples:

Prince Eon visits Naples,

Ethiopia is very interested in inproving ties with Naples, as the Kingdom of Jerusalem lies at the top of the Red Sea,
and Naple's, Semi control, of Alexandria [along with the Knights of Rhodes] gives it control of the Nile Delta. [portage from the Red Sea]

Sub-Saharan Africa:

Benin:

The King of Benin, sends an Emissary to the Ndongo, hoping to meet with these new peoples. He hopes to talk to these people who worship the ,"Man who was Nailed to a Tree", and hopes to learn more about the ways of these people. He sends 1,000 slave along with his emissary, and a plethora of goods in the hope that his request is well received.

He's knows that thier are factions among them, and requests that they send the Fransinkin (Franciscan) variety. Traders have spoken well of them, compared to some of the more ruthless Tree-man worshippers.

Kongo:

A Kongolese mission--including Franciscans--is sent North.

King Aphonso begins to question the morality of slavery. Though he is not deeply troubled by it at present, this is the first point at which the morality of the issue seems to cross his mind.

China:

The president of the "Xiao Trading Company," Xiao Li, died in March, leaving his son Xiao Lin to inherit control over the company. Lin decided to expand the company's warehouses in Guangzhou and neighboring Zhangzhou, as well as investing the large profits that the company had brought in via its Ryukyuan and Taiwanese trade routes into the construction of ship yards in Guangzhou on the Pearl River. The greatest of all changes initiated by Xiao Lin in his first year was the decision to dispatch Xiao trading junks, along with 150 men armed with the latest in musketry, crossbows, and cannons, to Pa-Outchow (Isle of Gems), the island of Sri Lanka to establish a trading post and secure a harbor.

Gowa:

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, increasing caught up in its own political problems.

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 1515 dawns, Marege has been divided up amongst rival Sulawesian principalities, proxy tribes, and independent tribes.

By now, the impact of Macassan technology has led to the creation of multiple semi-independent Aboriginal villages along the coast, dependent upon trade and fishing.

Hearing tales of a new land far to the south Champas traders arrive in Marege.

Japan:

Ouchi's league of clans formally declare for the Shoguante and form and alliance. the dominant members of the Union are the Ouchi, Mouri, Amako, and Hosokawa clans. Most of Chugoku region and Shikoku is under their control. Neither the Otomo or Shimazu of Kyushu formally declare for or against the Union.

South America:

Spring - Manoel I, to protect it’s interests and claims in the New World, sends 1000 political prisoners to start up a colony in Brazil called San Juan. By next year, only 200 will have survived.

[Keenir]

1514:
England:
King Arthur the Second creates a companion order to the Merlins, the Order of the Venerable Bede. This is an honorary order for foreign men of Arts and Letters. It does not confer any rights within the Empire. Leonardo da Vinci is among the first offered the award.

what is the point of the Order of Bede, if it confers no rights?

[Glen]

1515:

England:

Prince Eon visits France and England. He is accomplied by some of the English Adventurers King Henry had sent to Ethiopia back in 1503. As such he speaks perfect English. He is interested in the two new orders [Merlin & the Bede]. but as in most countries spends most of his time talking to the Religious Scholars.

Portugal:

Manoel I names Vasco De Gama Grand Admiral of the Oceans, in honor of his long service and dedication to the Kingdom.

Due to the vast amount of wealth that has been spent on building projects, expansion in the textile and manufacturing fields, in hospitals, universities, and it’s every growing army and navy, the Portuguese population has exploded in the last decade. Manoel I begins overhauling the farming practices in Portugal.

Jerusalem:

After a year as both grand master of the Hospitalers and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Docwra's health takes a slight turn for the worse due to the strain. He entreats the Pope to appoint a new patriarch. The Pope complies, appointing Cardinal Cajitan to the post.

Marghreb:

New Granada:

Boabdil leads the Army as it reconquers Tlemcen. There Boabdil reconciles with his mother on her deathbed.

Ethiopia:

Ethiopia expands it's small settlement in the north of Madagascar, and increases its timber harvesting.

Nineteen years after first trying to get gunsmiths, Ethiopia starts producing it's own muskets, mostly bronze, as steel is too expensive.

China:

Fifteen trade junks and the 150 man expeditionary force of the Xiao Trading Company land on Pa-Outchow south-west of the city of Gimhathiththa (Galle) at the southern most tip of the island of Pa-Outchow. The Ming trade junks anchor themselves just off shore, offloading the 150 man force and setting themselves up close enough to fire their cannons in support of the expeditionary force should they run into any trouble. While many of the natives were highly suspicious of the intent of the armed expedition, the Xiao expedition was able to buy off many of the local tribes with gold, porcelain, and silk in exchange for securing the rights to construct a trading post on the coast. By the end of the year, the trading post on Pa-Outchow called 平安的沿海 (Peaceful Coast) was a hub of Xiao trading activities in the Indian Ocean.

Gowa:

The karaeang of Gowa dies, of natural causes (as in OTL), and is succeeded by his brother. In the early hours of his reign, the Bate Salapang are called to a meeting in the palace, where they are hacked to death for their failure in the Sulawesian War.

The new karaeang is a bitter hawk, contemptuous of his brother's weakness and determined to restore Gowan greatness. The laissez faire policies of the previous administration are repealed, and a military buildup begins.

A proxy war breaks out between tribes on Marege controlled by Galesong and Siang. The war shatters the fragile anti-Gowan alliance.

Vietnam:

Le Hien Tong dies.

Le Tuc Tong (ruled 1504 - 1505)
Succeeding to Le Hien Tong was his third son who took the reign name as Le Tuc Tong. However, he fell gravely ill and died just two months after assuming the throne.
Given his older brother's subsequent history of ruthless abuse of power, there is suspicion that Le Tuc Tong was in fact murdered.

Le Uy Muc
His older brother succeeded Le Tuc Tong as Le Uy Muc. The first thing the new Emperor did was to take revenge against those who had barred him from the throne by having them killed. Among his victims were the former Emperor's mother - which was considered a shocking display of evil behavior. Le Uy Muc was described as a cruel, sadistic, and depraved person, who wasted the court’s money and finances to indulge his whims. Well aware of the fact he was detested by his subjects, Le Uy Muc protected himself by hiring a group of elite bodyguards to surround him at all times. Among them was Mac Dang Dung who became very close to the Emperor and eventually rose to the rank of General.
Despite his precautions, in 1517 a half-brother who Le Uy Muc had put in prison, escaped and plotted with court insiders to assassinate the Emperor.
The assassination succeeded and the killer proclaimed himself Emperor under the name Le Tuong Duc.

About all Mac Dang Dung did was continue His war with the Khmer along Vietnam's southern and western borders.

Japan:

Clans in the east of Japan, fearful of the combined powers of the Union, enter in to their own confederacy. Led by the Hojo and with support from the Nambu, Uesugi, and Takeda clans as well as the recently emerged Miyamoto of Musashi and Arima of Shimotsuke, they have control of most of Kanto and Tohoku. Their goal, while not overt, is apparently the overthrow of the Ashikaga Shogunate.

South America:

Incan Empire:

1515 Winter - Spring: Nina Cuyuchi convinces his father (the Inka) to give him an army to conquer the forest of Peru to the northeast of Cuzco. He heads off with a few thousand men and leaves in spring. Attawalpa (the Inka's favorite) begins considering sending an army to the north to conquer more in his fathers birthplace, to get back the favorite position of his father.

1515 Summer: Nina Cuyuchi suffers a defeat by the hands of the jungle tribes. He does have a small victory, and sends word of only the victory to Cuzco. Waynu Qapac is pleased, and Atawallpa gets very nervous.

[Glen]

1516:

Portugal:

Manoel I begins selling large estates in East Africa and South Africa to merchants and nobles alike, in order to encourage settling and to lessen the expenditure required to maintain the fortresses and harbors in those conquered regions. Hundreds of merchants and nobles begin buying up plots, in hopes of striking it rich. He does the same in Brazil and South America, but there are little takers.

Northern Europe:

Prince Eon visits Germany and Sweden. Where he meets Henry Wettin, and has several philosphical conversations with him, and some of his supportors.

Malta:

The great port city being constructed in Malta was named Saint Mary's, though locals soon took to calling it Sanmaria. It was officially designated Malta's new capital, and the Maltese senate and assembly held their first meeting in the half-completed capital building. Money from Germany and Italy poured into the construction of Sanmaria, which was intended to be an elegant but spartan fortress city and trade (and piracy) hub.

Knights Hospitaler:

Docwra, having made a full recovery, begins ambitious plans to reform the order's administration. As a result, the order's profits increase.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

1516 Spring: Queen Maria-Caterina gives birth to a son, who is named Giuseppe. He is made Duke of Benguela. Prince-Regent Marcos marries a Jaga princess, against the will of the Macota.

Ethiopia:

The Arch Bishop of Ethiopia dies.

Indian Sub-Continent:

1516 December: The Imperial Road is finally finished. Thanks to the unprecedented investment in irrigation, it is a record year for Bharata farmers, and thanks to the brick-laid path, the farmers quite easily get their bumper crop to cities throughout the empire.

Varajanas Empire:

The Empire has conquered the Kingdom of Jaffa.

China:

Xiao Lin orders the expansion of the 平安的沿海 (Peaceful Coast) trading post on Pa-Outchow (Ceylon) from a 150 man garrison inside of a wooden palisade, to a 300 man garrison held within a stone walled outpost with a wall running 75 additional feet south to the shoreline where a new dock, to be completed by 1519, would handle the incoming volumes of trading traffic from the Ming Dynasty as well as from local trading and fishing vessels.

Taiwan:

A small group of Buddhist monks arrive at the trading post in Taiwan.

Japan:

Given the recent series of events, the Nambu decide to formally annexe Ezo.

The political situation in the home islands begins to polarise. More clans in the west rally behind the Ouchi-led pro-Ashikaga union. Likewise, clans in the east join the Hojo-led confedaracy. The confederacy as yet has not formally declared that it is anti-Ashikaga.

Emperor Go-kashiwabara declares his distress at the political polarisation of the country. He urges both factions to seek unity, harmony, and peace, and to reconcile their differences.

South America:

Incan Empire:

1516 Spring: Attawalpa, convinces his father to go north with him, the best generals, and 10,000 troops. Washkar remains in Cuzco, and is there at the first graduating ceremony at the Churay'eqay. he begins pondering whether to open up other classes, such as engineering, math, religion, health, and the sciences. unfortunately he is running out of money, so he decides to go and see if he can convince some other investors in Cuzco to fund the Churay'eqay.

1516 Spring - Fall: Attawalpa has a brilliant success in the north in the jungles of Ecuador, before being defeated in the fall.

Waynu Qapac builds a pleasure palace in Cuenca. He drinks a lot of chincha, parties, and leaves administration and war to his son.

Washkar gathers a large group of “investors” (nobles, and some priests, but I will use the term investors for shorthand) that agree to fund the Cheray'eqay, with a couple of conditions. Every funding noble will receive a khipumaynac certified at academy. Any priest may receive training for free. Further demands can be made in the future, by investors. With the money gained the academy expands once again, beginning construction of an off “campus” (throwing around terms here again) library and secondary building. In the secondary building there are math/science classes (very, very basic stuff. Mixed with a fair amount of religious mumbo-jumbo), and a few religious classes (all aproved by the priests of course). The main building now houses a engineering/architecture, class too. There are now 200 students, all of them from a noble background, or priests.

Muisca:

The Zaque's advisor hears word of a mud pit that burns. A wild fire passed near OTL, Maracaibo. While the fire eventually burnt out, the black mud kept burning for weeks. The Maya has heard of people using it to waterproof boats, but didn't realize it could be used as a fuel. He begins to experiment with the substance, and to try to find more seeps.

[Smaug]

1516:

Portugal:

Manoel I begins selling large estates in East Africa and South Africa to merchants and nobles alike, in order to encourage settling and to lessen the expenditure required to maintain the fortresses and harbors in those conquered regions. Hundreds of merchants and nobles begin buying up plots, in hopes of striking it rich. He does the same in Brazil and South America, but there are little takers.

Northern Europe:

Prince Eon visits Germany and Sweden. Where he meets Henry Wettin, and has several philosphical conversations with him, and some of his supportors.

Malta:

The great port city being constructed in Malta was named Saint Mary's, though locals soon took to calling it Sanmaria. It was officially designated Malta's new capital, and the Maltese senate and assembly held their first meeting in the half-completed capital building. Money from Germany and Italy poured into the construction of Sanmaria, which was intended to be an elegant but spartan fortress city and trade (and piracy) hub.

Knights Hospitaler:

Docwra, having made a full recovery, begins ambitious plans to reform the order's administration. As a result, the order's profits increase.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

1516 Spring: Queen Maria-Caterina gives birth to a son, who is named Giuseppe. He is made Duke of Benguela. Prince-Regent Marcos marries a Jaga princess, against the will of the Macota.

Ethiopia:

The Arch Bishop of Ethiopia dies.

Indian Sub-Continent:

1516 December: The Imperial Road is finally finished. Thanks to the unprecedented investment in irrigation, it is a record year for Bharata farmers, and thanks to the brick-laid path, the farmers quite easily get their bumper crop to cities throughout the empire.

Varajanas Empire:

The Empire has conquered the Kingdom of Jaffa.

China:

Xiao Lin orders the expansion of the 平安的沿海 (Peaceful Coast) trading post on Pa-Outchow (Ceylon) from a 150 man garrison inside of a wooden palisade, to a 300 man garrison held within a stone walled outpost with a wall running 75 additional feet south to the shoreline where a new dock, to be completed by 1519, would handle the incoming volumes of trading traffic from the Ming Dynasty as well as from local trading and fishing vessels.

Taiwan:

A small group of Buddhist monks arrive at the trading post in Taiwan.

Japan:

Given the recent series of events, the Nambu decide to formally annexe Ezo.

The political situation in the home islands begins to polarise. More clans in the west rally behind the Ouchi-led pro-Ashikaga union. Likewise, clans in the east join the Hojo-led confedaracy. The confederacy as yet has not formally declared that it is anti-Ashikaga.

Emperor Go-kashiwabara declares his distress at the political polarisation of the country. He urges both factions to seek unity, harmony, and peace, and to reconcile their differences.

South America:

Incan Empire:

1516 Spring: Attawalpa, convinces his father to go north with him, the best generals, and 10,000 troops. Washkar remains in Cuzco, and is there at the first graduating ceremony at the Churay'eqay. he begins pondering whether to open up other classes, such as engineering, math, religion, health, and the sciences. unfortunately he is running out of money, so he decides to go and see if he can convince some other investors in Cuzco to fund the Churay'eqay.

1516 Spring - Fall: Attawalpa has a brilliant success in the north in the jungles of Ecuador, before being defeated in the fall.

Waynu Qapac builds a pleasure palace in Cuenca. He drinks a lot of chincha, parties, and leaves administration and war to his son.

Washkar gathers a large group of “investors” (nobles, and some priests, but I will use the term investors for shorthand) that agree to fund the Cheray'eqay, with a couple of conditions. Every funding noble will receive a khipumaynac certified at academy. Any priest may receive training for free. Further demands can be made in the future, by investors. With the money gained the academy expands once again, beginning construction of an off “campus” (throwing around terms here again) library and secondary building. In the secondary building there are math/science classes (very, very basic stuff. Mixed with a fair amount of religious mumbo-jumbo), and a few religious classes (all aproved by the priests of course). The main building now houses a engineering/architecture, class too. There are now 200 students, all of them from a noble background, or priests.

Muisca:

The Zaque's advisor hears word of a mud pit that burns. A wild fire passed near OTL, Maracaibo. While the fire eventually burnt out, the black mud kept burning for weeks. The Maya has heard of people using it to waterproof boats, but didn't realize it could be used as a fuel. He begins to experiment with the substance, and to try to find more seeps.

The Maya ... this needs to be changed to something else. Maybe the Zaques nephew. Its a bit of a reach for a Mayan to make it to Muisca territory.

[Glen]

1517:

Holy Roman Empire:e

Bertholt of Mainz dies, and is replaced by Henry Wettin, making him the highest authority in the German church. He is replaced in Trier by a friend of his, Johann von Staupitz.

Portugal:

The Portuguese ‘Inquisition’ begins; it’s not a religious inquisition, but a political one. Thousands of men and women are rounded up for suspicion of acting against the crown. Unsurprisingly most belong to either the church or nobility.

Alfonso De Albuquerque is called back to Portugal to face charges of possibly disloyalty of the Crown. But due to Vasco De Gama’s exquisite letter to the King proclaiming the virtues and loyalty of De Albuquerque, he is cleared of the charges.

1517 November 17: Manoel II, the heir to the Portuguese throne, dies of an illness. His death sends Margaret of Portugal into a state of deep mourning.

Naples:

Alphonso II, King of Naples, Sicily and Jerusalem, dies at the age of 68. He is suceeded by his son Alphonso III, Duke of Romagna. Prince Filippo 'Il Turcu' become heir apparent.

Muscovy:

Prince Eon arrives in Russia, Meeting the Tzar, but again spending most of his time with the Religious Scholars.

Rhodes:

1517 April: Constantine, son of Cem, reaches his majority and is duely crowned King of Rhodes by the Orthodox Archbishop of Rhodes. His first official act is to formally invite the Hospitalers to retain their grand commandry on the island, and ask for their help in forming an independent Rhodean navy. His second act is to send letters to both the Tsar of the Russ and the Ottoman Emperor promising his friendship.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

Hearing of Christian Africans across the Continent, the Kingdoms of the Kongo and Ndongo-Matamba send a joint-expedition to find them. Two-hundred men, four Europeans, with a few guns, and mainly African weaponry begin the voyage through the rivers of the Congo to the mountainous lands of the East- from there they will rely on their fellow Africans to guide them to this Christian kingdom.

1517 Summer: The Macota declare Prince Marcos unfit to be Regent. Captain Benedetto is declared "Regent of the Kingdom," and is made a Dicota (Privy Council member,) and declares himself his own Tendala, or chancellor, sending his Franciscan predecessor to convert the Luba. He dies on his way.

Indian Sub-Continent:

1517 January: Having completed his father’s great imperial project, Rajamaharana Prithviraj begins his own – a series of schools, one for every town with at least 50,000 people. Prithviraj declares that the schools are open to any citizen, regardless of age, creed, or gender (with proper decorum, of course), who can afford tuition. The Brahmin vow to avoid the schools, but the project is well-received by most other groups.

Varajanas Empire:

The Empire grants the Champas trading rights in a few East coast cities.

China:

The competitors of the Xiao Trading Company, the Zhong (中) Merchant Company begin sending out their own trading junks and "little investments" to the southern and eastern coast of Pa-Outchow in an effort to out-do the Xiao. What the Zhong are aware of, and the Xiao are not, are the large ammounts of European trading vessels now making their way to the Malacca Strait, as well as the growing Portuguese presence in Hormuz on the Persian Gulf.

During the spring months, the Zhong dispatch 12 trading junks, outfitted with extra cannons and a detachment of 200 "little investments" to the Malacca Strait (马六甲海峡) with orders to set up a trading outpost at the narrowest point of the straight and to attempt to re-occupy some of the former lands of the Cantonese pirate Liang Dao Ming (梁道明). However, the heads of the Zhong Merchant Company made sure to dictate in their terms to the ship captains that under no circumstances were they to enter the city of Palembang south of the Malacca Strait.

Vietnam:

Le Tuong Duc proved to be just as bad a ruler as Le Uy Muc. He reigned from 1517 to 1519, all the while spending down the royal treasury, and doing nothing to improve the country. He was heedless to the reaction that his taxes caused throughout the country. His rule ended in 1519 when a group of officials and generals stormed the palace and killed him.

Japan:

Major operations of the pirate wars in northern waters cease. They continue however, in the South China Sea, alongside the navy of Ryukyu. With major operations over, the warships return to ther home towns - most of these are in pro-union territory. This only leads to more confidence for the union and more concern for the confederacy.

After five years of active duty in foreign waters the Ryukyuan navy had been planning to return home. Piracy in the south China seas had been slowly decreasing, but then a sharp increase in the number of pirate vessels intercepted was noticed. It later became apparent that the Japanese navy had forced a large number of pirates operating off the northern Chinese coast south, who naturally encroached on the waters in which the Ryukyuan navy was operating. Over the next two years, the Ryukyuan navy, in association with elements of the navy of the dominant clans of eastern Japan, continued their struggle against the final rogue pirates.

South America:

Incan Empire:

Attawalpa suffers a humiliating defeat, but defeats the barbarian tribes over the summer. He is still publically berated by his father. A delegation is sent to the Muisca bearing stone masons, smiths, and khipumaynacs.

[Glen]

1518:

Benelux:

The Burgundian War in the Netherlands comes finally to an end. The anti-Burgundian alliance managed to stop the Burgundian growth of power in the Netherlands. In Arnhem peace is signed. Burgundy loses Oversticht, which is divided between Gueldres and East Frisia. East-Frisia gains the poor part of Drenthe, while the richer part of Overijssel is added to the Duchy of Gueldres. Burgundy is allowed to keep the Liege.

Portugal:

Margaret of Portugal dies. Manoel I begins building a massive church in honor of his wife, the Margaret Church will be a marvel of engineering and beauty for hundreds of years.

Maghreb:

Mohammad IV dies, and Muhammad XII becomes King of the Hasfids.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

Though a baptized Catholic, Captain Benedetto cares little for religion, and begins to focus on agriculture and mining. He grants more the Neapolitans exclusive trade over Ivory, and splits the products 60-40 with them. He also signs an alliance with the Bemba people, recognizing their sovereignty, and non-Catholic status as an African nation; ensuring peace on Ndongo-Matamba's southern border. He then marries another Lunda princess, who's Christian name is Elisabetta. He makes himself Marquis of Dominio-Meridionale. He also establishes the Jaga Cassangi country as it's own province.

Ethiopia:

King Eslander, begins attemping to increase Ethiopia's Iron and Steel prodution.

Prince Eon arrives Home, One of his first acts is to visit the just arrived new Arch-Bishop. No one knows what was said, or maybe it was the eyes again.
Two hours later the Bishop had resigned and left the country in Haste, the next day. Two days later King Eslander appointed Prince Eon -Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church.

China:

The Zhong outpost at the Malacca Strait comes under attack by trading junks of the Guǎngdōng Shěng (广东省) Trading Co-operative, with the Guangdong Sheng Co-Op declaring the Zhong efforts at controlling the shipping through the Malacca Strait to be an unfair business practice not allowed under the Imperial Business Compact Declaration because of the inability of the Zhong to report profits from the outpost to the imperial bureaucrats.

The Guangdong Sheng Co-Op attack on the Zhong outpost was an indecisive engagement at best, with the Guangdong trading junks disengaging the Zhong outpost after the loss of some 65 sailors and one smaller junk. Additional merchant companies begin openly demanding an end to the Zhong's outpost at the Malacca Strait, while in secret began putting together 100-200 man "little investments" to be dispatched to the Malacca Strait to construct their own "trading" outposts to balance out the Zhong presence.

In Beijing, the imperial bureaucracy and the imperial palace begin a three year long inquiry into the recent activities of the Xiao, Zhong, Guangdong Sheng, and other registered businesses dealing in the merchant shipping industry.

Australasia:

A large group of Buddhist Monks arrive in Marege from Vietnam.

Japan:

Fearful of being dragged in to either the pro- and anti- Ashikaga camps, a few minor clans living in and around Kyoto start promoting the idea of abolishing the Shogunate and reinstating the Emperor as supreme and absolute ruler of the country. These acts create a third party in the conflict.

South America:

Incan Empire:

Nina Cuyuchi is forced to pull back from the jungles, and begins heading back towards the foothills. His standings fall accordingly.

[Glen]

1519:

Anglo-British Empire:

1519 December 25: On the twentieth anniversary of King Arthur the Second’s investiture, Parliament declares the realm an empire, raising Britain to full kingdom status alongside England, raising Ireland to a principality, and confirming Cornwall’s status as a duchy. The heir designate continues to hold the title ‘Prince of Britain’. The Lord Champion, Henry Tudor, is named Prince of Ireland.

Holy Roman Empire:

Henry Wettin orders an immediate cesasion of the sale of indulgences within Germany. When asked to defend his actions by the Pope, Wettin writes his "Treatise on the Righteousness of God and Man", in which he claims that all righteousness which man possesses must come as a gift from God through Christ alone, and that, while it is the place of the church to uphold good doctrine and teaching and lead people to Christ, that salvation belongs to Christ Alone. Wettin quotes heavily from Augustine and other church fathers.

Spain:

After three years serving as an aid to Patriarch Cajitan in Jerusalem, Francisco DeVitoria leaves for the University of Salamanca, where he takes up a quite influential professorship.

Portugal:

The Seven Companies Compact is created. Seven trading companies are allowed by Manoel I to operate in the areas held by Portugal, including East Africa, India, and Asia.

Sub-Saharan Africa:

King Emmanuell II takes power in his own, and sends Marquis Benedetto to Jaga Cassangi to serve as Governor. The King appoints a Catholic Matamban Franciscan monk as his tendala. The Queen gives birth to a daughter, who is named Princess Maria-Iosephina.

Ethiopia:

Patriarch Eon, establishes a Semimary . He also sets up a Order of Priests, for the training of Priests, and Teachers, and requires all Religious orders in Ethiopia to send some members to help.

China:

The Xiao (蕭) Trading Company opens its first commercial trading dock at 平安的沿海 (Peaceful Coast) on Pa-Outchow. With the rise of hostilities between the other merchant trading companies, Xiao trading junks begin sailing south, away from the hostile Malacca Strait towards the Sunda Strait to avoid possible losses of ships, men, and materials. While the journey south to the Sunda Strait adds weeks, and possibly months, to the journey from Guangdong Province, it allows the Xiao trading junks to sail in relative safety.

By the end of the year, Xiao Trading Company owners will begin gathering men and ships at the 平安的沿海 (Peaceful Coast) outpost for an expedition as far south as any had ever planned before. Rumors from the junk captains sailing in and out of 平安的沿海 tell tales of Portuguese and other European and Islamic trading vessels sailing around the southern tip of the dark continent 非洲 (Africa) far south of the lands Zheng He explored. With these unsubstantiated rumors, Xiao Lin was willing to risk nearly a dozen trading junks and over 200 armed men on a hunch that far south, beyond the lands that any Chinese sailor had laid eyes on while sailing under the banner of a Chinese nation, profits unlike any ever seen awaited them.

Vietnam:

At barely 17 years old, Le Tuong Ducs son, prince Le Y, was enthroned as the new emperor Le Chieu Tong. As usual when a young Emperor came to the throne, factions within the court vied with one another for control of the government. One powerful and growing faction was led by Mac Dang Dung. His growing power was resented by the leaders of two noble families in Vietnam: the Nguyen, under Nguyen Hoang Du, and the Trinh, under Trinh Duy Dai and Trinh Duy San.

Japan:

With Japanese Shogun Ashikaga Yoshitane declaring and end to the ten year war on piracy, the ships committed by King Sho shin to that confrontation are recalled. The Ryukyuan navy had gained invaluabe experience throughout that struggle, and was now more powerful than it had ever been. It became a beacon of pride for Ryukyu contemporarily and in future generations. Indeed the pirate wars have been attributed as the event that turned Ryukyu from a seagoing people into a regional naval power.

However, rather than risking the sailors sitting idol again, King Sho shin decided to occupy them with a series of voages. The first of these involved a journey south. That year they circumnavigated Luzon and Mindanao, bringing back maps they had drawn, as well as various goods they had traded with the locals. This apparent success only drove not only Sho shin, but many in the navy, to higher aspirations. It was for this reason that they were sent in the direction that held the most unknown - east.

South America:

Incan Empire:

Attawalpa begins Consolidating his hold on Ecuador, and preparing to move north into the jungle. his previous small forays have ended in defeat. He is gathering more troops, more supplies, and more copper axes, and prepares to absolutely destroy the coastal peoples, and (hopefully meat the Muisca)(Hopefully he's not looking to turn us into food).

The Zaque makes arrangements to meet with Attawalpa or a minister of his choosing. He has high hopes of opening up new markets for his goods, and with ensuring that he and the Inka will be on friendly ground.

The disturbing tales he hears from the island peoples, being killed with fire sticks, horrible plaques, and massive canoes, that spit fire, goad him into insuring that he has powerful allies on the Mainland.

[Keenir]

1515:

England:

Prince Eon visits France and England. He is accomplied by some of the English Adventurers King Henry had sent to Ethiopia back in 1503. As such he speaks perfect English.

wouldn't it be more likely that - while understanding some English - he mostly relies on translators?

[Glen]

1520:

Holy Roman Empire:

Wettin's actions cause great controversy in the papacy, as theologians and cannon lawyers scramble to refute (and in a few cases confirm) his arguments. Stunningly forceful and popular polemics on Wettin's behalf are written, in German for mass consumption, by Martin Luther, and more scholarly stayed works are written by Melanchthon and Staupitz. Throughout Germany, the Wettinite ideas grow in popularity, and are combined with calls for a German liturgy, German Bibles and a violent reaction against hyper-scholasticism. Henry Wettin gets behind these reforms, quickly called the Evangelical Reform Concord officially and the Wettinite Manifesto unofficially. Duke Frederick of Saxony, Philip the Elector Palatine, the Duke of Mecklenburg and notables within the Wendish Federation also get behind the Wettinite movement, and many of the secular lords press for reforms within the Holy Roman Empire such as a universal diet, not unlike the estates in Saxony or the council in the Wendish Federation, which can both help better organize the empire and potentially check the power of the Emperor. (note: I need to know if Maximillian is still alive).

China:

With the coming of spring in late March, the 10 trading junks and 200 armed men of the Xiao Trading Company expedition to the south of the dark continent sail out of harbor at 平安的沿海 in order to avoid the summer monsoons. The Xiao trading junks sailed first north, up the coast of Pa-Outchow then farther north, hugging the Indian coast, trading porcelain and tea with the local merchants and with some Islamic and European merchants at port as well.

After some five weeks of northern sailing with occasional one to two day stops for trading, the trading junks enter the Arabian Sea (阿拉伯海) and sail due east towards the charted lands of the dark continent, reaching the trading city of Mogadishu and the Fakr ad-Din Mosque after three weeks hard sailing, recorded in Zheng He's private journal, a copy of which was carried by expedition leaders, during his 4th and 5th Voyages in 1413-15 and 1416-19 respectively.

From there, the expedition turned south, sailing down the coast and reaching the city of Malindi in early July after over three months sailing from Pa-Outchow. The expedition captains decided to drop anchor for two week's time to take on provisions and water before sailing on towards the rumored ports in the far south. The captains agreed upon the hiring of local guides who could guide the expedition to their destination in the shortest ammount of time.

In the third week of July, the Xiao junks departed Malindi, the last Chinese charted and explored region of East Africa on the Western Ocean (Indian Ocean), and allowed their locally hired guides to bring them to their destination, relying entirely on the skill of the guides, the will of the ocean currents and the good fortune of their ancestors.

In the fourth week of August, the Xiao trading junks reached what they called the "Great Inlet" (偉大的入口), ((OTL Durban Harbor)) and decided to set up their trading post here. Of the 10 trading junks that left Pa-Outchow, three were lost to storms and tides and one was lost to hostile actions between Malindi and the Great Inlet during an attack by native tribes. With 6 trading junks remaining, the leaders of the Xiao expedition decided to dispatch 2 junks back to Pa-Outchow to send for additional ships and men, while sending 2 junks farther down the coast to explore the region and report back to the trading outpost at the Great Inlet. Two junks were to remain at the Great Inlet in case the position was proven to be unattainable and the outpost had to be abandoned.

A palisade was constructed, and the remaining 120 armed men and their expedition leaders settled into their makeshift outpost for a fall and winter of waiting for news back from their expeditions...

Vietnam:

After a year of increasing tension, the Nguyen and the Trinh left the capital Hanoi and fled south, with the Emperor "under their protection".

[Atom]

Any questions/plausibility concerns about the Inca?

[Keenir]

Any questions/plausibility concerns about the Inca?

just one: what makes them abruptly switch from traditional quipu (which was the ultimate in codes, at least for that millenia), and go to quipu-as-standardized-alphabet ?

just wondering.
(and why do the nobility want to read quipu? I thought only priests read quipu in OTL)

[Glen]

Accidently found this tidbit in wikipedia. Suddenly, the Ethiopian stuff DQ has seems a lot more plausible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_V_of_Aragon#Connection_with_Ethiopia

[pompejus]

I would like to note that in the review the sale of Groningen to east Frisia is mentioned twice. Once in 1510 where i by accident put it:

Frisia:

Edzard I, Count of East Frisia offers to buy Groningen from the elector of Saxony.





and once in 1511 where AJNolte correctly placed it:

Saxony:

Frederick of Saxony sells Groningen to Edward of East Frisia, and Frisia to Philip of the Palatinate.

[Glen]

I went and fixed it. Just make sure.

I would like to note that in the review the sale of Groningen to east Frisia is mentioned twice. Once in 1510 where i by accident put it:

Frisia:

Edzard I, Count of East Frisia offers to buy Groningen from the elector of Saxony.





and once in 1511 where AJNolte correctly placed it:

Saxony:

Frederick of Saxony sells Groningen to Edward of East Frisia, and Frisia to Philip of the Palatinate.

[Smaug]

just one: what makes them abruptly switch from traditional quipu (which was the ultimate in codes, at least for that millenia), and go to quipu-as-standardized-alphabet ?

just wondering.
(and why do the nobility want to read quipu? I thought only priests read quipu in OTL)

That why I tried to snag a Mayan Priest. No John Calvins, and no Mayan Priests :D

[Keenir]

That why I tried to snag a Mayan Priest. No John Calvins, and no Mayan Priests :D

um...what do Mayans have to do with quipu?

*feels like I missed something here*

[Smaug]

um...what do Mayans have to do with quipu?

*feels like I missed something here*

I was just joking. Those are my only options at a written language right now. If I can't have Hieroglyphics, I'll try to buy the quipu:D

[Keenir]

I was just joking. Those are my only options at a written language right now. If I can't have Hieroglyphics, I'll try to buy the quipu:D

ah, okay.

sorry...sometimes I just get baffled.

[marl_d]

hey, is anyone going to comment on this? it kinda got buried when Glen started posting the rest of the TL, but i could really use a nudge in the right direction.


ok i've been looking over everything that has been written so far and was thinking about the Vasili issue. i was thinking that i might just recon Vasili away by having him die from an accident or disease. this would probably make things a lot easier/probable then sending him off to the Ottomans. Or have his mother die earlier, which would lead to Dmitriy staying as the heir, it was because of her pushing Ivan that made Vasili the heir, and just have some civil strife happen in Russia between the Conservatives and Reformers in the church....but that would be a lot of work....killing him off would be easier :p

a couple more ideas i had is to leave everything up this point, except have him killed on his way to Istanbul. and there we get some different choices.

-the Crimean's acting on their own (Ottoman's tell them not to touch him as he passes through, otherwise they wont back them when Russia comes a callin')

-the Ottomans secretly telling them to take out Vasili

-or (and probably easiest) have a rouge group (cossacks, robbers, some Muslim extremist that doesn't want an infidel to sit on the Throne) kill him on the way.


what do you guys think be the best way to go about it...plausibility wise and interest wise?

[Keenir]

hey, is anyone going to comment on this? it kinda got buried when Glen started posting the rest of the TL, but i could really use a nudge in the right direction.

well, you could do what the Byzantines (and the Engish, I think) did...throw Vasili in a monastary, and lock him up in there.

[Glen]

well, you could do what the Byzantines (and the Engish, I think) did...throw Vasili in a monastary, and lock him up in there.

Actually, the English tended to use the Tower.....:rolleyes:

[marl_d]

i could, but he would have to do something huge for that to happen, seeing as Sophia talked Ivan into putting her son on the throne over Dmitriy...and other than the promise of putting him on the throne of Constantinople, there is nothing else that could placate either of them and not cause a civil war. and even from a monastery Vasili could still plot to take back the throne.

maybe, he could lead a small expeditionary force of Russian troops with the Ottomans against the Malumkes during the little recon of that war....maybe 3-4k of battle harden troops. either he helps win a deceive battle, that would let the ppl execpt him as a co-ruler of Constantinople only, or is killed in battle. not sure how plausible it is, but it's another idea

[Glen]

hey, is anyone going to comment on this? it kinda got buried when Glen started posting the rest of the TL, but i could really use a nudge in the right direction.

Not certain what to advise. The tension is kinda nice, and its reasonable that Vasili might have ended up an exile somewhere, though Istanbul seems a slight stretch...but I'm getting tired of everyone having to rewrite everything, so if its not too big a stretch, its okay. The biggest problems related to the Vasili stuff was 1) the initial impression that he had some claim by marriage to Constantinople and 2) that the Ottoman Emperor would become some sort of 'protector' of the Russian Orthodox Church.

[Glen]

i could, but he would have to do something huge for that to happen, seeing as Sophia talked Ivan into putting her son on the throne over Dmitriy...and other than the promise of putting him on the throne of Constantinople, there is nothing else that could placate either of them and not cause a civil war. and even from a monastery Vasili could still plot to take back the throne.

maybe, he could lead a small expeditionary force of Russian troops with the Ottomans against the Malumkes during the little recon of that war....maybe 3-4k of battle harden troops. either he helps win a deceive battle, that would let the ppl execpt him as a co-ruler of Constantinople only, or is killed in battle. not sure how plausible it is, but it's another idea


No claim to Constantinople (and now you are sounding like you are talking THE CITY) is plausible IMO.

I think if he's that much of a problem, he has to die. Not like people didn't die all the time in this era.

PS - I wouldn't have the Russians at all involved in the Ottoman wars so far; no good reason they would yet.

[marl_d]

well he did have a claim through his mother, who was Constinatine the XI's neice, yeah, maybe a bit of a stretch, but there have been other thrones that have claimants that were further removed.

[marl_d]

No claim to Constantinople (and now you are sounding like you are talking THE CITY) is plausible IMO.

I think if he's that much of a problem, he has to die. Not like people didn't die all the time in this era.

PS - I wouldn't have the Russians at all involved in the Ottoman wars so far; no good reason they would yet.

well i did say it was a stretch, well from Vasili's POV, it is the City, if thats not the case in reality, well tough luck for him...

[Glen]

well he did have a claim through his mother, who was Constinatine the XI's neice, yeah, maybe a bit of a stretch, but there have been other thrones that have claimants that were further removed.

Hey, my Duke of Savoy has a claim to the Byzantine throne. That means little when its the Ottomans sitting on it. But to have a 'Serious' claim to it is implausible, especially one that comes true.

[marl_d]

Hey, my Duke of Savoy has a claim to the Byzantine throne. That means little when its the Ottomans sitting on it. But to have a 'Serious' claim to it is implausible, especially one that comes true.

true, true, but when your also claiming to be the "Third Rome" in both spiritual and real world terms, they hold a bit more weight, maybe not much


oh, and they are "protectors" of the clergy and boyar's that came with Vasili, NOT the Russian Orthodox Church

[Keenir]

and even from a monastery Vasili could still plot to take back the throne.

didn't stop the Byzantines from using that strategy on their sons and daughters.

[Keenir]

Not certain what to advise.
and 2) that the Ottoman Emperor would become some sort of 'protector' of the Russian Orthodox Church.

shhhh....I'm trying to legally take over Russia.


:D;):cool:

[Keenir]

Hey, my Duke of Savoy has a claim to the Byzantine throne.

hey, if you want to have Savoy send a daughter or sister or cousin to the Porte...

be our guest.

[Glen]

China:

1503 - 1505:

The emperor began to look into his trading situation on the periphery of the empire. Trade with the nomadic Mongols in the north, and Jurchens in the north-east was paying off for the empire. However, they could not continue the tea-horse trade as it stood and reports of inept commanders along the border began to trouble him more frequently. In 1503, the emperor summoned 30 regional commanders who he was informed were the most inept to the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, and proceeded to verbally tear them apart, calling them lazy and incompetent. By the end, he informed army generals that they were to fire all 30, "with extreme hostility, something they lacked against the enemies of the state," according to some eye witness reports. The army was also informed that it would be forced to take offensive measures should the Mongol tribes be found to be uncontrolable.

The process of installing competent leadership in the border areas would not be completed in 1505 when the first Jurchen lead attacks into Ming claimed lands would take place.

[Glen]

1512:

Portugal:

Tensions between the Church and the State come to a head as priests and clergy rouse the people in Porto to attack the administration centers of the city. They are demanding that Manoel I abdicate and allow a clergy member to become regent until his son is old enough to take the throne. They are also demanding their share of the wealth coming into Portugal.