Sulu as a Naval Power

[kasumigenx]

I read before that Sulu had a huge potential as a naval power in South East Asia, if Sulu remained a power in South East Asia which means the Bolkiah Empire needs to be butterflied. If Sulu becomes a naval power would they expand in territory?

Would Sulu be interested to expand to Visayas because they now have Palawan..

[Chris Triangle]

Do you mean strong only compared to the other powers of the region or strong compared to European fleets as well?

[kasumigenx]

Originally Posted by Chris Triangle

Do you mean strong only compared to the other powers of the region or strong compared to European fleets as well?

Strong compared to the other powers in the region and strong enough to fight against the Europeans not just in defending themselves.

[Chris Triangle]

Well if Sulu does expand the way you say, I think Spain would find conquering such a strong people more than it could handle. They had enough trouble with the "Moros" as it was.

[caloysky]

It is funny that I'm currently writing a story about this topic. In OTL they did well resisting Spain and even the Dutch from colonizing their Islands. Now as a naval power within the South East Asia they must have more land, more manpower and more money for them to dominate their area of influence. Maybe if the other Sultanates in Mindanao fell under their direct control, they would have more power to challenge the Europeans at SEA.

[kasumigenx]

Originally Posted by caloysky

It is funny that I'm currently writing a story about this topic. In OTL they did well resisting Spain and even the Dutch from colonizing their Islands. Now as a naval power within the South East Asia they must have more land, more manpower and more money for them to dominate their area of influence. Maybe if the other Sultanates in Mindanao fell under their direct control, they would have more power to challenge the Europeans at SEA.

The Sultanate of Maguindanao was founded on 1520, roughly on the same time as Magellan's arrival, so a timeline that has a POD during the Magellan's arrival could butterfly the existence of Maguindanao Sultanate.

[caloysky]

Kabungsuwan established the sultanate of Magindanao circa 1520 while Magellan arrives in 1521. Provided that Magellan dies at Mactan, Miguel de Legaspi will arrive in 1565 to establish an outpost in Cebu.

Once Legaspi sends out his request for reinforcement to mexico it will be downhill for the kingdoms in Tundo. If Sulu or Magindanao destroys Legaspi's outpost in Cebu, before he sets out to Luzon they would have more opportunity to adapt and grow in strength.

http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=253449 - feel free to read my story its a Philippine TL, might be a little wanky.

[kasumigenx]

Originally Posted by caloysky

Kabungsuwan established the sultanate of Magindanao circa 1520 while Magellan arrives in 1521. Provided that Magellan dies at Mactan, Miguel de Legaspi will arrive in 1565 to establish an outpost in Cebu.

Once Legaspi sends out his request for reinforcement to mexico it will be downhill for the kingdoms in Tundo. If Sulu or Magindanao destroys Legaspi's outpost in Cebu, before he sets out to Luzon they would have more opportunity to adapt and grow in strength.

http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=253449 - feel free to read my story its a Philippine TL, might be a little wanky.

Tondo is not independent at that time, it was a part of the Bolkiah Empire, basically a fief and the rulers at that time were Bolkiahs. The Tondo dynasty had been gone when Magellan arrived because Ragam Bolkiah defeated Gambang...I think a surviving Tondo Dynasty will move their power base to the Cordilleras or near it if they encounter the Spanish because they are Pagan something that a muslim Bolkiah dynasty can't do when the Spanish came and also the Bolkiah dynasty made the people of Luzon make gold tributes to the Sultan of Brunei.

Before the Sultanate of Maguindanao was established, Sulu was a trading power, I think they could annex the OTL Maguindanao before they islamize in an earlier POD.