Henry the Great.

[DAv]

Thanks for the map. Does Britain have colonies on New Zealand there?

[David bar Elias]

Cool map; I'll be very interested to see what happens next.

[Quiet_Man]

Originally Posted by DAv

Thanks for the map. Does Britain have colonies on New Zealand there?

They have a few outposts, mostly for their long range naval patrols, settlers will turn up sooner or later though.

[Quiet_Man]

(1649) Brought to the negotiation table the Dutch were forced to make an indemnity to both Britain and Denmark and were told to cease their privateering on the British and Danish shipping. However, the commercial rivalry between the three nations was not resolved. Especially in the vast overseas empires hostilities continued between Dutch, British and Danish trading companies, which had their own policies and aims.
Britain negotiates with emissaries from the Shogunate to allow their warships base facilities on Deshima Island, this allows them to patrol between India and Japan along the Chinese coast dealing with commerce raiders.
The British Parliament debates changes to the army, particularly the equipping of colonial and company troops many of whom have little or no training and outdated arms. Parliament also puts out to tender a contract to supply the army with a better designed musket that could be loaded faster than the current one minute of an experienced trooper.
The rebuilding of London carries on apace, the new street plans are set and although many are in temporary housing the tent cities outside of London are gone. Henry is presented with plans for a new St Paul’s cathedral and approves them; the design is novel for Britain and somewhat resembles the Hagia Sofia in Constantinople.
Henry is approached by the Senior Rabbi of the British council of Jewry, with the terrible events of the Cossack Hetmanate with regard to its Jewish population, the Senior Rabbi requests that Britain transports refugees to the colonies. The British Jewry along with other Jews throughout Europe and the Ottoman Empire have raised funds to bribe Khmelnytsky to allow the Jews of the Ukraine to leave rather than be slaughtered, they are also willing to pay the British to transport them to any colony Henry will allow. Henry though willing, cannot see how the Jewish population can even make it to a place where ships from Britain’s colonial fleet can pick them up. The Rabbi has however received word through intermediaries in the courts of Poland, Sweden and Denmark to allow the Jews to pass through their lands providing they do not settle. Henry agrees to have colonial transports available in Bremen to start transporting the Jews to Britain and hence to Bristol where the full colonial fleet has its base. His next problem is where to send them.
Britain formally welcomes the Haudenosaunee confederation into the Commonwealth of British North America, the Tadodaho of that time called Hotrewati and though elected was to have the equivalent rank as a Duke for all dealings with the nation.
Britain starts to colonise the islands of New Zealand, though at first only as a fortified naval bases.
Two new fortresses were approved for the colony of Panama to cover the land approaches to the ports. The population of Panama has almost doubled in the last 2 years despite the health hazards. Massive draining of swampland by redirecting rivers and building dykes is slowly eliminating the mosquito problem though.

In the Netherlands various factions were now fighting to establish dominance in the Staten-Generaal and the Regents were very much on the back foot against the Orangist’s. The huge financial resources of the regents however were still being used to keep the common people down and more or less run the country as a business and this sufficed to keep any form of unanimity developing amongst the various opposition groups. The increased toll’s for the Danish Oeresund are also biting into Dutch Mercantile profits and many merchants are questioning the wisdom of antagonising close allies in the name of a few Guilders more profit.
The stadtholder William II, Prince of Orange is biding his time sooner or later the various merchants will make a mistake and allow the Staten-Generaal to come back under the control of the common people and the Orange party.
The Pernanbucana insurrection breaks out again in Dutch Brazil as Portuguese settler’s revolt against Dutch rule.

Denmark and Sweden now both watch with interest the war in Poland-Lithuania. Scandinavian military power and self belief had not been as high in centuries and the possible break up of Poland-Lithuania looked like the perfect opportunity to increase that power.
The Danes though now allowing transport to the Baltic by the Dutch have increased the Oeresund fees for their passage though not by a great amount, simply enough to cost profits not volume of the merchant traffic.
The northern European high road is started, to run from Calais to Bruxelles, Eindhoven, Arnhem, Bremen, Hamburg, Lubeck and Rostock. With side roads off to various other towns and cities it is believed it will greatly increases internal trade within the Northern Alliance.

In France the civil war in the south continued to be fought draining men and resources away from the rebuilding of French power on the continent.

In Spain resources and money were being diverted into increasing trade and strengthening the colonies already held. The revolt in Naples though easily quelled brought about a change in policies for the Two Sicilies with a lowering of taxes and an increase in the amount of land used for farming. Relations with the Papal States remained cold and formal, the homes and palaces of Spanish cardinals and priests often being attacked by mobs in the city of Rome.

Savoy continued to have problems holding down Florence, though violence was very rarely necessary the sullen attitude of the people kept the Savoyards on their guard.

Poland-Lithuania though surprised by the ferocity and strength of the Cossack rebellion starts to fight back the Hetmanate did not have enough strength to stabilize the situation or to inflict a defeat on the enemy. What followed was a period of intermittent warfare and several peace treaties, which neither side put much faith in or cared to abide by. From the spring of 1649 on, the situation turned for worse for the Cossacks, as the frequency of Polish attacks increased and they were becoming more and more successful. The resulting Treaty of Zboriv in August was unfavourable for Cossacks. Khmelnytsky realising he couldn’t win alone and not trusting his Tatar allies sent out emissaries to talk to the Russians and the Swedes.

[arctic warrior]

Originally Posted by Quiet_Man

(1649) The northern European high road is started, to run from Calais to Bruxelles, Eindhoven, Arnhem, Bremen, Hamburg, Lubeck and Rostock. With side roads off to various other towns and cities it is believed it will greatly increases internal trade within the Northern Alliance.

Quite interesting. This could lead to greater orientation by the Jutland nobility towards mainland Europa where they sell their livestock and other farmland produce.
Could have some interesting influence upon Denmark, the Jutes nobility might be reluctant to support the King in time of need if their orientation towards Germany is strengthened. Like the Dutch situation at the moment.

[Quiet_Man]

Originally Posted by arctic warrior

Quite interesting. This could lead to greater orientation by the Jutland nobility towards mainland Europa where they sell their livestock and other farmland produce.
Could have some interesting influence upon Denmark, the Jutes nobility might be reluctant to support the King in time of need if their orientation towards Germany is strengthened. Like the Dutch situation at the moment.

At the moment King Christian 5th is very popular with his German and Jute subjects mostly due to a sort of benign neglect whereby he has given them a great deal of autonomy as well as access to new markets abroad. As for future problems, yes there will be tensions although as long as Denmark treats them well and takes their interests into account, they will be manageable.

[arctic warrior]

Originally Posted by Quiet_Man

At the moment King Christian 5th is very popular with his German and Jute subjects mostly due to a sort of benign neglect whereby he has given them a great deal of autonomy as well as access to new markets abroad. As for future problems, yes there will be tensions although as long as Denmark treats them well and takes their interests into account, they will be manageable.

Both treat them well and take their interests into account as well as mark who's in charge. A revision of offices held by nobility was considered by Christian 4 but not carried out due to nobility resistance.

[Quiet_Man]

Originally Posted by arctic warrior

Both treat them well and take their interests into account as well as mark who's in charge. A revision of offices held by nobility was considered by Christian 4 but not carried out due to nobility resistance.

Thanks I'll bear that in mind, Christian 5th's popularity should enable him to force through needed reform to the political system.

[David bar Elias]

Interesting. Looks like North America may get a heavy Jewish presence soon.

[DAv]

A good update. You mentioned British interests in India, how's that faring in this TL?

[Valdemar II]

Originally Posted by David bar Elias

Interesting. Looks like North America may get a heavy Jewish presence soon.

Or maybe New Zeeland instead.

[Iñaki]

At the end it seems that Spain in TTL will follow politics more judicious, could be we have a Spanish resurging earlier, instead of having to wait until Ferdinand VI and Charles III, this could arrive at late XVII or early XVIII.

[Quiet_Man]

Originally Posted by DAv

A good update. You mentioned British interests in India, how's that faring in this TL?

Similar to OTL, however the British are on a lot better terms with the current Mughal Emperor Shahbuddin Mohammed Shah Jahan and have assisted his conquests in Bengal (ousting the Portuguese), capturing the Rajput kingdoms of Baglana and Bundelkhand to the west, and the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda in the Deccan and the northwest beyond the Khyber Pass. Jahan has exhausted his treasury doing this and now relies on Britain to support his regime financially through trade and training his troops.
Whilst there is no major British effort to control India, they are becoming the dominant trading nation there much to the discomfiture of their Dutch rivals.

[Grey Wolf]

Ah, Shah Jehan ? There's an Indian restaurant of that name in Peterborough...

Interesting about the Portuguese in Bengal, I once chatted to a guy whose family was descended from them, and they were very light-skinned for Indians and still showing their descent in their genes

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

[Quiet_Man]

(1650) Despite securing an agreement that privateering would stop between the Dutch and the other allies, piracy continued on apace in the Southeast Asian seas. The dispatch of British and Danish warships helped a little, but the area covered was vast and the pirates either well hidden or back under neutral colours before the British or Danes could catch them. Henry had a number of merchantmen converted to heavily armed pirate chasers and despatched to East Asia, this along with increased guards and a convoy system brought raiding down to manageable levels, though by no means eliminating it. Henry and Parliament also offered a bounty for anyone who was prepared to identify pirated goods, pirates, or pirate bases.
Despite the objections of some in Parliament, the British colonial fleet started transporting Jewish refugees to Florida, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, the principles were the same for transporting German refugees, where the colonists became British citizens and took an oath to uphold British laws.
This year also saw the retirement of Oliver Cromwell as Governor of Greater Normandy through ill health; he was replaced by Sir Philip Stapleton his friend and understudy, who carried on Cromwell’s task of securing the Duchy as a British stronghold. Cromwell’s sons Richard and Oliver were both at the British Military Academy in Edinburgh and expected to be fine officers of the crown.
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, Earl of Torrington, Baron Monck of Potheridge, Beauchamp And Teyes is appointed commander of the North American Militia’s, he and an experienced staff from the British Military Academy travel to the New World to train up the Militias as well as study the tactics of the colonists and their native allies.
Britain sends a delegation to the Ottoman’s to clear up recent misunderstandings, although initially hostile, dialogue on a number of outstanding issues is achieved.
The “News” reports that a Henry Robinson has opened his Office of Addresses and Encounters, the first historically documented dating service in Threadneedle Street, London.
Also becoming popular in London are the new Coffee Houses, where gentlemen can sit and discuss the events of the day without recourse to drunken boorish behaviour.
Otto von Guericke demonstrates a powered air pump to scientists and merchants in London. Its use in mining becomes essential for any deep excavations.

In the Netherlands a reorganisation is undertaken of the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie aka Dutch East India Company) practically making them a private army and navy abroad. This coupled with the Dutch merchant houses quest for ever greater profits lead to various ventures to attempt to oust British, Danish, Spanish and Portuguese merchants from present-day Indonesia and in the Malay Peninsula, Ceylon, the Malabar Coast of India, and Japan. Using mostly mercenaries, local rulers and adventurers the organisation which on the surface appeared respectable soon had stirred up a hornets nest in the East Indies. Having 150 merchantmen, 40 warships with another 30 being built and over 10,000 soldiers it rapidly expanded to take over any outposts abandoned by its rivals in the face of the violence it supported. Though there was no evidence or trail of paperwork back to Amsterdam, it soon became obvious to the four other mercantile powers just what was going on.
The Pernanbucana insurrection collapses as a Dutch army though very badly mauled by the Portuguese and their native help finally defeat the rebels.

The Danes though no strangers to rigorous competition themselves were wondering just who was in charge of the Netherlands, with Prince William saying one thing, the Staatholders another and the VOC doing something else consulted with their friendly rivals the British and Swedes to decide on a course of action.

The Swedes were in talks with the Cossack Hetmanate about the recognition of their regime. King Robert could see the advantages of bringing the Ukraine into Sweden’s sphere of interest especially as it would also keep the Russians out of the Ukraine. Although having little taste for the excesses of the Hetmanate regime it was decided that over all it would be in the best interests of Sweden to recognise Bohdan Khmelnytsky and his country.
This prompted Poland-Lithuania to declare war on Sweden.

In France continued efforts to gain control of the south of the country by the royalists are thwarted by De Melo and his allies. French attempts to get Spain to assist them in dealing with De Melo are coldly rebuffed.

In Spain there is talk of another war with the Dutch over their actions in the East Indies, the Spanish decide to act cautiously, speaking to Britain and Denmark first before getting involved in a struggle that might drag the British and Danes into a shooting war with Spain. The Spanish continue their quiet funding of De Melo, warning him only to stay out of Spain on pain of death, but allowing him to recruit mercenaries from Spanish towns.

King John Casimir of Poland angered at Swedish recognition of the Cossacks proceeds to send an army north into Estonia and another into Brandenburg. He also requests assistance from the HRE to support his attacks against the Protestant heretics. He receives support and aid from Austria and Bavaria with various “mercenary” units being sent to his armies.

Venice and the Ottoman’s re-establish peaceful relations; Venice also retains control of the Republic of Ragusa.
Venice warns that the Knights of St John are no longer welcome in Venetian territory.

[Jammy]

The Dutch are in real trouble, if they have the 4 other powers deciding to gang up on them to stop there merchants doing what they want.

[arctic warrior]

Originally Posted by Quiet_Man

(1650) Despite securing an agreement that privateering would stop between the Dutch and the other allies, piracy continued on apace in the Southeast Asian seas. The dispatch of British and Danish warships helped a little, but the area covered was vast and the pirates either well hidden or back under neutral colours before the British or Danes could catch them. Henry had a number of merchantmen converted to heavily armed pirate chasers and despatched to East Asia, this along with increased guards and a convoy system brought raiding down to manageable levels, though by no means eliminating it. Henry and Parliament also offered a bounty for anyone who was prepared to identify pirated goods, pirates, or pirate bases.
Despite the objections of some in Parliament, the British colonial fleet started transporting Jewish refugees to Florida, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, the principles were the same for transporting German refugees, where the colonists became British citizens and took an oath to uphold British laws.
This year also saw the retirement of Oliver Cromwell as Governor of Greater Normandy through ill health; he was replaced by Sir Philip Stapleton his friend and understudy, who carried on Cromwell’s task of securing the Duchy as a British stronghold. Cromwell’s sons Richard and Oliver were both at the British Military Academy in Edinburgh and expected to be fine officers of the crown.
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, Earl of Torrington, Baron Monck of Potheridge, Beauchamp And Teyes is appointed commander of the North American Militia’s, he and an experienced staff from the British Military Academy travel to the New World to train up the Militias as well as study the tactics of the colonists and their native allies.
Britain sends a delegation to the Ottoman’s to clear up recent misunderstandings, although initially hostile, dialogue on a number of outstanding issues is achieved.
The “News” reports that a Henry Robinson has opened his Office of Addresses and Encounters, the first historically documented dating service in Threadneedle Street, London.
Also becoming popular in London are the new Coffee Houses, where gentlemen can sit and discuss the events of the day without recourse to drunken boorish behaviour.
Otto von Guericke demonstrates a powered air pump to scientists and merchants in London. Its use in mining becomes essential for any deep excavations.

In the Netherlands a reorganisation is undertaken of the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie aka Dutch East India Company) practically making them a private army and navy abroad. This coupled with the Dutch merchant houses quest for ever greater profits lead to various ventures to attempt to oust British, Danish, Spanish and Portuguese merchants from present-day Indonesia and in the Malay Peninsula, Ceylon, the Malabar Coast of India, and Japan. Using mostly mercenaries, local rulers and adventurers the organisation which on the surface appeared respectable soon had stirred up a hornets nest in the East Indies. Having 150 merchantmen, 40 warships with another 30 being built and over 10,000 soldiers it rapidly expanded to take over any outposts abandoned by its rivals in the face of the violence it supported. Though there was no evidence or trail of paperwork back to Amsterdam, it soon became obvious to the four other mercantile powers just what was going on.
The Pernanbucana insurrection collapses as a Dutch army though very badly mauled by the Portuguese and their native help finally defeat the rebels.

The Danes though no strangers to rigorous competition themselves were wondering just who was in charge of the Netherlands, with Prince William saying one thing, the Staatholders another and the VOC doing something else consulted with their friendly rivals the British and Swedes to decide on a course of action.

The Swedes were in talks with the Cossack Hetmanate about the recognition of their regime. King Robert could see the advantages of bringing the Ukraine into Sweden’s sphere of interest especially as it would also keep the Russians out of the Ukraine. Although having little taste for the excesses of the Hetmanate regime it was decided that over all it would be in the best interests of Sweden to recognise Bohdan Khmelnytsky and his country.
This prompted Poland-Lithuania to declare war on Sweden.

In France continued efforts to gain control of the south of the country by the royalists are thwarted by De Melo and his allies. French attempts to get Spain to assist them in dealing with De Melo are coldly rebuffed.

In Spain there is talk of another war with the Dutch over their actions in the East Indies, the Spanish decide to act cautiously, speaking to Britain and Denmark first before getting involved in a struggle that might drag the British and Danes into a shooting war with Spain. The Spanish continue their quiet funding of De Melo, warning him only to stay out of Spain on pain of death, but allowing him to recruit mercenaries from Spanish towns.

King John Casimir of Poland angered at Swedish recognition of the Cossacks proceeds to send an army north into Estonia and another into Brandenburg. He also requests assistance from the HRE to support his attacks against the Protestant heretics. He receives support and aid from Austria and Bavaria with various “mercenary” units being sent to his armies.

Venice and the Ottoman’s re-establish peaceful relations; Venice also retains control of the Republic of Ragusa.
Venice warns that the Knights of St John are no longer welcome in Venetian territory.

Denmark cannot look on as Dutch supported pirates and privateers capture her merchantmen. OTL Denmark was rather active in the West Indies in pirate hunting and as you've already had established is also going to be so in TTL.
HRE support of King Casimir is not to the comfort of Denmark as it might pose a threat to her north German security zone. Looking forward to events unfolding.

[DAv]

Monck's in North America? Should be interesting, the man was one of Britain's more... interesting military figures it must be said.

[David bar Elias]

Jews of the Caribbean....

[Quiet_Man]

(1651) Tensions increase in the East Indies with privateering, raid and counter raid by the various nations’s involved. Dutch attempts to have the British removed from Japan backfire with the Dutch delegation being expelled by the Shogunate over a breach of etiquette and their trading rights revoked.
The British presence in India is also increased due to good relations with the Moghul Empire.
British warships continue to seek out pirate nests with the assistance of the Danes and occasionally the Spanish/Portuguese, ruthlessly wiping out any they find.
The British army is issued with a newer musket, lighter than the previous model it is 46 inches (116.8 cm) long, firing a .75 inch calibre ball. Using an iron ramrod instead of a wooden one it can after practice be reloaded 2 times in a minute with some experienced troops managing an amazing 3 times per minute. (Though this was unusual and rarely happened in combat) This process was drilled into troops until they could do it by instinct and feel. The main advantage of the British army was that unlike continental armies they trained at this procedure almost every day.
The British Parliament agrees to fund the full colonisation of New Zealand feeling that a larger British presence in the southern hemisphere is both necessary and desirable. Following on the example of colonising Henricia (OTL California) 3 large colonisation fleets are planned over the next 10 years, each carrying 5,000 colonists with all the necessary supplies needed to set up a thriving community, in addition to the regular colonial efforts.
Increasing colonisation of British North America brings increasing debate on colonial size and boundaries. Though most colonies are happy to be ruled by King Henry, they are concerned that the British Parliament despite having colonial advisors are too distant to properly meet the ongoing needs of the various colonies. Admiration of the Haudenosaunee style of self governance and a desire to take hold of their own destiny to a greater degree leads to a decision to hold a colonial congress to debate future expansion as well as new boundaries. The British Parliament agrees to look at any decisions arrived at by the congress, though not necessarily to ratify them.

In the Netherlands there is fierce debate over the actions of the VOC and the Regents. Although there is no direct evidence of wrongdoing it is becoming very obvious that the Regents are not acting in the best interests of the Republic. Prince William is in talks with Henry and Christian over the situation and agrees to act against the Regents should evidence be found that they are directly responsible for the actions taking place in the East Indies as he is not yet strong enough to act directly against them.

Denmark though concerned over the problems in the East Indies continues to expand its commercial interests in Africa, China and India. Profits also soared from her West Indies possessions despite the rampant corruption of the governor of New Denmark (OTL Puerto Rico) The Danish army is also put on alert over the Polish invasion of Brandenburg, though the Swedes have not (as yet) asked for aid. King Christian also begins talks with the Rigsraad over a revision of offices held by nobility, this is very unpopular with some of the nobility, but Christian uses his influence along with the support gained in the new territories to carry it through.

In Sweden the attacks by Poland-Lithuania come as no surprise and the Swedish army moves to counter the two invasions of Swedish territory. A series of battles in Estonia rapidly drives the invaders off Swedish territory and plans are made to drive further south into Latvia. In Brandenburg the situation is a lot more difficult as the Polish armies have been bolstered by mercenaries from various HRE states and the Swedes and Brandenburger’s are forced into a series of defensive battles and are slowly pushed out of the province despite causing greater casualties to the invaders.

In Poland-Lithuania though happy with progress in Brandenburg they are dismayed at the defeats in Estonia. There is further bad news with an indecisive battle with the Cossacks between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army under King Jan II Casimir and Cossack and Ukrainian peasant forces, led by Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky and their Crimean Tatar allies. The Polish army had around 70,000 troops, the Cossacks around 80,000 plus 40,000 Crimean Tatar cavalry. Both sides had about 40,000 cavalry each. Fighting was close; with the core of excellent Cossack infantry making up for the weakness of their cavalry, much of the decisive fighting was by the infantry and dismounted dragoons of each side. Victory was claimed by the Cossacks despite the Crimean Tatars, dispirited by the death of their leader Toğay Bey, deserting the battlefield. However most historians agree the battle petered out, as the Cossacks charged the ranks of the Polish-Lithuanian army but were unable to break through. As a result, Casimir was forced to call up more troops to defend his realm.

In France it was another series of inconclusive battles in the South with neither side being able to gain an advantage over the other. King Louis XIV comes of age and takes over the reins of power from his mother Queen Anne.

In Spain preparations were being made for war with the Dutch, although there was a great deal of enthusiasm for the fight amongst Philips generals, Philip and his advisors knew it was not really in Spain long term interests to get bogged down in another struggle with the Netherlands, something they hadn’t come close to winning before when they had troops stationed in Flanders.

Savoy puts down an attempted insurrection in Tuscany.

Venice agrees to purchase some long range armed merchantmen from Britain in its first attempts to start trading in the New World and East Asia.