1493 1532 Draft

[Glen]

1532:

Place Event Here.

[Aussey]

1532:

France:

King Charles IX begins the process of centralizing France. Opposition from the ancient nobles of Provence, Brittany, and Gascony prevents much in this generation however. Nonetheless, taxation within many provinces as well control of the Church, and other provincial powers are transferred to the Crown. Trade with the Incas in western Lower Norasia has profitted the French greatly, and much goes into the West African Adventure. King Charles IX appoints his lifelong friend and ally, Claude of Lorraine, as Duke of Guise, and Chancellor of France. This begins the rise of the future royal House of Guise. The Duke's daughter, nine-year-old Renée of Guise, is betrothed to the Dauphin.

West Africa:

Many more peasants arrive to settle the fertile lands along the coast and first few miles of the River. Askia Mohammad Benkan assumes the Songhai throne, and in an unexpected move, travels to France to meet with King Charles. The two monarchs meet at the infamous meeting at Digne-les-Bains, memorialized by many Renaissance painters, also known as the Meeting-at-the-Field-of-Lavenders. The two monarchs signed the "Covenant," in which the the African was recognized as "Emperor of Mali," and the Frenchman as "Emperor of Mauretania." Their border was set as French west of Timbuktu (which was to be French,) and Songhai east of Timbuktu. The Muslims of French West Africa were to be allowed safe passage to Songhai lands, and Christians and Christian converts in Songhai West Africa were to be allowed the same.

[Keenir]

1532:

France:

King Charles IX begins the process of centralizing France. Opposition from the ancient nobles of Provence, Brittany, and Gascony prevents much in this generation however. Nonetheless, taxation within many provinces as well control of the Church, and other provincial powers are transferred to the Crown.

and the religious officials in Rome and France are just letting this happen??

King Charles IX appoints his lifelong friend and ally, Claude of Lorraine, as Duke of Guise, and Chancellor of France.

any particular reason?


West Africa:
Many more peasants arrive to settle the fertile lands along the coast and first few miles of the River. Askia Mohammad Benkan assumes the Songhai throne, and in an unexpected move, travels to France to meet with King Charles.
The Muslims of French West Africa were to be allowed safe passage to Songhai lands, and Christians and Christian converts in Songhai West Africa were to be allowed the same.

that's an awful lot of toleration this early on. and what's Benkan doing in France?

[Aussey]

and the religious officials in Rome and France are just letting this happen??

No...it's just the powers the provinces had over their clergy is now with the Crown...itra-France things...


any particular reason?

uhhh...to rise his family to prominence because they are life-long friends and allies?


that's an awful lot of toleration this early on. and what's Benkan doing in France?

No...its banishing Muslims to Muslim lands, and vice-versa. Like Spain...besides...in OTL France had no problem allying with Muslims (a la Franco-Ottoman alliance of the 16th century)

[Keenir]

No...it's just the powers the provinces had over their clergy is now with the Crown

okay....thought it was the Crown trying to take the Pope's powers, rather than trying to take the provinces' powers. thanks for clarifying it.

uhhh...to rise his family to prominence because they are life-long friends and allies?

okay, but he doesn't have to elevate the guy's family just because he wants to sleep with the guy's daughter.


No...its banishing Muslims to Muslim lands, and vice-versa.

ah. I wasn't sure, because the terms as written, suggested a freedom for both religions to travel through the lands of the other - with no time limit involved.

Like Spain...besides...in OTL France had no problem allying with Muslims (a la Franco-Ottoman alliance of the 16th century)

yeah, I'm still waiting for that.
:cool:

[BlackMage]

1532

Gowa

The war between the Tallok-Gowa-Galesong Alliance and Polombangkeng enters its third year. In the early months of the year, a malarial outbreak devastates Galesong, forcing it to sue for peace and permanently diminishing it as a power.

The Battle of Garassik, held in the ruins of the destroyed city, decides the war. The Maregean allies of the Alliance prove decisive, destroying the army of Polombangkeng. Offshore, the Gowan navy routs their enemies.

The armies of Tallok and Gowa converge on Polombangkeng, and completely sack the city. Thousands are massacred. Tons of valuable trade goods are looted. The ground is salted and the foundations of the city are destroyed. It is a total end to the war, and the effective consolidation of Tallok-Gowa control over Sulawesi.

In the 'peace' terms, negotiated with the last living inhabitants of Polombangkeng, their territories are divided up between the two powers. Tallok and Gowa now hold effective control over the explored areas of Marege, New Polombangkeng (Papua New Guinea), and Sulawesi.

Marege

The newly annexed territories are eagerly exploited. Fishing, trading and mining outposts are established in the new territories. In some areas, the native people remain loyal to Polombangkeng; they are treated brutally.

An overview of Marege is necessary at this point. Although the entire continent has been circumnavigated, effective contact has only been established from Yimithirr, in the east (OTL Cooktown, and something of a frontier outpost) to Malkana, in the west (OTL Shark Bay). Gowa holds naval supremacy, and thus have a much wider range of seaside trading stations than Tallok.

Tallok's strengths lie in the exploration of the interior. They have established trading bases along rivers running into the continent, and have pierced, in places, over 500 kilometers into the continent. They still, however, have not made first-hand contact with the Wangkumara, legendary farmers of the pituri root.

Pituri is, however, becoming hugely prized as a narcotic. The minute quantities obtained through trade attract huge prices in the aristocracy of both states. Even though Gowa's trade covers a wider area along the coast, Tallok is much richer.

And, now that the war is over, they can focus their efforts back on exploration.