I think it's too late for Polish Silesia. But with an Empire consolidating on their western border, and one across the sea to the North, Poland is going to have to step up its game.
Edward II of England, the Clever Handed
- Thread starter BigDestiny
- Start date
But the loss of Silesia happened on 1333, so that is butterflied, Silesia remains nominally Polish now that Bohemia is weak..
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We're into the 1360s now, and if anything Bohemia is stronger than it was in the OTL. As we go along, more and more things are getting butterflied, but earlier in the time line many things are still happening in about the same way.
Bohemia is weaker because Charles is not elected and the Poles have two allies in Silesia in the person of Wladyslaw Opolczyk and Bolko of Swidnica..
Ah, I see the confusion. Wenceslaus IS Charles. In the OTL, he changed his name to Charles in recognition of his patron Charles Valois, king of France. In this time line Charles Valois isn't king of France, so Wenceslaus kept his original name.
Chapter Twenty: A New Race to China
Edward II, Emperor of the Britons had died, and Edward III had reigned nine years before the Edward Clever Handed returned heavily laden with treasure and news from British West Africa.
The years in between had been ones of a cold war with the other great Empires of the day. The Holy Roman Emperor was propping up the Byzantine Empire against the Ottoman threat, and allowing clashes at the northern border of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The British enclave held, but holding sole control over the Silk Road to China was becoming an expense that Britain's council of barons, the Witangamot, was getting disinterested in paying.
The Kalmar Union was already making plans to circumvent the Silk Road. Their records indicated that their infrequently contacted colonies in Greenland had discovered lands further west and south, that seemed likely to be closer to China than beleaguered Jerusalem. Some in the British Navy wanted to strike west before the Scandinavians could finish upgrading their fleet, but there was no way of knowing if anyone could cross the Mid-Atlantic without the advantages of Iceland, Greenland, etc. to allow for resupply.
The African expedition's return made for a great boost in prestige at a very necessary time then. The Mali Empire had not taken much effort to overthrow. At the time, its vassals had already received some independence, and the great tour to Egypt that had started British interest in the area was remembered locally as a bleeding of their economy to serve eastern shrines. Using the same patterns developed in western France, the British claimed protection of a Confederation of African states, and managed to nudge the locals away from Islam as well.
The Emperor and his young heir were delighted by the gold, maps, and strange animals the Edward Clever Handed brought to Five Ports. But the real fascination came from a report that had only been included as a report on the history of the area. A previous Mali leader had abdicated to explore what seemed to be another route to the East. No one returned from this expedition, and only one ship had come back from its predecessor fleet, which had found unexplored lands after being lost in a storm, but then the Mali vessels were much less advanced than the British fleet. The important thing was that it seemed that there was a southern route to China that the British could take advantage of.
The Byzantine problems were reaching a critical juncture and Edward III sent ships back to Africa ordering the return of the Empress Isabella to assist the Edward Clever Handed and the rest of the Mediterranean fleet in harrowing Constantinople again. The Gascon and the Roger Mortimer, however, were to load up and set sail westward as soon as possible. That way even if circumstances required withdrawal from the Holy Land, Britain could still retain an important link to Eastern trade.
Edward II, Emperor of the Britons had died, and Edward III had reigned nine years before the Edward Clever Handed returned heavily laden with treasure and news from British West Africa.
The years in between had been ones of a cold war with the other great Empires of the day. The Holy Roman Emperor was propping up the Byzantine Empire against the Ottoman threat, and allowing clashes at the northern border of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The British enclave held, but holding sole control over the Silk Road to China was becoming an expense that Britain's council of barons, the Witangamot, was getting disinterested in paying.
The Kalmar Union was already making plans to circumvent the Silk Road. Their records indicated that their infrequently contacted colonies in Greenland had discovered lands further west and south, that seemed likely to be closer to China than beleaguered Jerusalem. Some in the British Navy wanted to strike west before the Scandinavians could finish upgrading their fleet, but there was no way of knowing if anyone could cross the Mid-Atlantic without the advantages of Iceland, Greenland, etc. to allow for resupply.
The African expedition's return made for a great boost in prestige at a very necessary time then. The Mali Empire had not taken much effort to overthrow. At the time, its vassals had already received some independence, and the great tour to Egypt that had started British interest in the area was remembered locally as a bleeding of their economy to serve eastern shrines. Using the same patterns developed in western France, the British claimed protection of a Confederation of African states, and managed to nudge the locals away from Islam as well.
The Emperor and his young heir were delighted by the gold, maps, and strange animals the Edward Clever Handed brought to Five Ports. But the real fascination came from a report that had only been included as a report on the history of the area. A previous Mali leader had abdicated to explore what seemed to be another route to the East. No one returned from this expedition, and only one ship had come back from its predecessor fleet, which had found unexplored lands after being lost in a storm, but then the Mali vessels were much less advanced than the British fleet. The important thing was that it seemed that there was a southern route to China that the British could take advantage of.
The Byzantine problems were reaching a critical juncture and Edward III sent ships back to Africa ordering the return of the Empress Isabella to assist the Edward Clever Handed and the rest of the Mediterranean fleet in harrowing Constantinople again. The Gascon and the Roger Mortimer, however, were to load up and set sail westward as soon as possible. That way even if circumstances required withdrawal from the Holy Land, Britain could still retain an important link to Eastern trade.
Encompassing all or part of the modern nations of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad, at its height in 1300, Mali was one of the largest empires in the world - See more at: http://www.blackpast.org/gah/mali-empire-ca-1200#sthash.8xrhCSjK.dpuf
A very good pushing off point for reaching Brasil, but maybe too far south to make use of the fastest westward current. Big ships, denuded of most their cannon could carry a lot of stores (pickled cabbage, oranges, some Mali preserve?) and a skeleton crew. Tea might help freshen the ship's water. As would a bag of silver hidden in the main water butt for safe keeping.
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Thanks so much for the information on trans-Atlantic travel. I'm thinking that they'll be going up to Cape Verde to make the crossing, to maximize the distance they can go on their supplies, which should bring them to better seas. Ironically, the shortest distance is to the southwest, but they don't know that.c.1200
Encompassing all or part of the modern nations of Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad, at its height in 1300, Mali was one of the largest empires in the world - See more at: http://www.blackpast.org/gah/mali-empire-ca-1200#sthash.8xrhCSjK.dpuf
A very good pushing off point for reaching Brasil, but maybe too far south to make use of the fastest westward current. Big ships, denuded of most their cannon could carry a lot of stores (pickled cabbage, oranges, some Mali preserve?) and a skeleton crew. Tea might help freshen the ship's water. As would a bag of silver hidden in the main water butt for safe keeping.
Chapter Twenty One: The Fall of Constantinople
The Mediterranean fleet sailed east, under the command of John of Gaunt, Edward III's brother. The Holy Roman Emperor had been financing Byzantine aggression in the Middle East, threatening British interests in the Holy Land.
Prince John had two of the She-wolves, and five of Edward's great ships which while old had been upgraded with new cannons for the mission. Although the purpose of the attack was going to be to lean on the Byzantine Emperor, John had brought with him soldiers in case a land battle was necessary.
Constantinople had changed since the last time the Britons had been there. Thanks to the Roman Emperor, the defenses of the city had been upgraded, and they now too had cannons. But the British fleet was fast and heavily armed, and they did heavy damage to the city walls.
The She-wolves weren't as fast as the great ships, so John involved them in a dance. Firing their cannons, then pivoting to present a smaller target to the city. But on one of these passes, the Empress Isabella didn't turn quickly enough. A cannonball penetrated the hull and an unlucky spark blew up one of the gunpowder stores. The explosion tore a hole in the She-wolf and she sank in about 45 minutes.
The loss had the opposite effect to the one that the Byzantines might have hoped. Once the survivors were taken aboard, it seemed that the Britons went mad with grief. The fleet threw all their fire at the Gate of the Lion until it came down. The Byzantines sent troops to protect the breach, but were met with British soldiers shouting "For the Empress!" If a Byzantine soldier appeared, they killed him. If a peasant left a mule behind when he fled, they chased it into enemy lines. Losses were heavy on both sides, but the city was soon in chaos. The city's guns were captured and used on the city itself. In fact, it took Prince John until morning to restore order among his own troops. And by then, large sections of the city were in ruins.
The damage was literally so bad that the city couldn't be held due to lack of defenses. John salvaged what he could, seizing the Imperial Crown Jewels and even taking whole mosaics where possible. He knew he would need as much as possible to show to the Witangamot to explain the loss of the Empress Isabella and the poor discipline of his troops.
But John's hope of being shielded by his brother were called into doubt when he arrived home to find that Edward III had died. His teenaged son, Richard of Dover now reigned as Richard I.*
* previously Richard II
The Mediterranean fleet sailed east, under the command of John of Gaunt, Edward III's brother. The Holy Roman Emperor had been financing Byzantine aggression in the Middle East, threatening British interests in the Holy Land.
Prince John had two of the She-wolves, and five of Edward's great ships which while old had been upgraded with new cannons for the mission. Although the purpose of the attack was going to be to lean on the Byzantine Emperor, John had brought with him soldiers in case a land battle was necessary.
Constantinople had changed since the last time the Britons had been there. Thanks to the Roman Emperor, the defenses of the city had been upgraded, and they now too had cannons. But the British fleet was fast and heavily armed, and they did heavy damage to the city walls.
The She-wolves weren't as fast as the great ships, so John involved them in a dance. Firing their cannons, then pivoting to present a smaller target to the city. But on one of these passes, the Empress Isabella didn't turn quickly enough. A cannonball penetrated the hull and an unlucky spark blew up one of the gunpowder stores. The explosion tore a hole in the She-wolf and she sank in about 45 minutes.
The loss had the opposite effect to the one that the Byzantines might have hoped. Once the survivors were taken aboard, it seemed that the Britons went mad with grief. The fleet threw all their fire at the Gate of the Lion until it came down. The Byzantines sent troops to protect the breach, but were met with British soldiers shouting "For the Empress!" If a Byzantine soldier appeared, they killed him. If a peasant left a mule behind when he fled, they chased it into enemy lines. Losses were heavy on both sides, but the city was soon in chaos. The city's guns were captured and used on the city itself. In fact, it took Prince John until morning to restore order among his own troops. And by then, large sections of the city were in ruins.
The damage was literally so bad that the city couldn't be held due to lack of defenses. John salvaged what he could, seizing the Imperial Crown Jewels and even taking whole mosaics where possible. He knew he would need as much as possible to show to the Witangamot to explain the loss of the Empress Isabella and the poor discipline of his troops.
But John's hope of being shielded by his brother were called into doubt when he arrived home to find that Edward III had died. His teenaged son, Richard of Dover now reigned as Richard I.*
* previously Richard II
Chapter Twenty Two: Expansion Pains
Although the battle at Constantinople had been won, and the majority of the attacking ships had returned, there were those in the Witangamot who thought that John of Gaunt should be made to answer for the loss of the Empress Isabella and the destruction of Constantinople. This opinion was made more common by the arrival of an emissary from the Pope. Apparently, 'they sunk our battleship' was considered a poor reason to destroy the center of Eastern Christendom.
Richard I knew from history that no king or emperor could function in opposition to his nobles. But that didn't mean that he wasn't entitled to act as he saw fit. He had officers report to the Witangamot on the situation as it had been in Constantinople, and exonerated his uncle. If John's son Henry Bolingbrook was so deserving of responsibility, as the anti-Gaunt lobby ironically insisted, then Richard had a better job for him. Henry was given a ten year posting as the regent of British West Africa. It was a dubious honor.
The Pope's emissary was disregarded as well. The destruction of Constantinople was clearly a tragic accident, and Richard scoffed when the emissary noted that the British Navy seemed to run on sodomy, rum, and the lash. Richard, who had been on ships since he was old enough to be a cabin boy and was looking like he was turning out like his great grandfather, said that those were his favorite parts.
A bigger problem emerged with the return of the expedition looking for a shorter route to China. They had returned safely, which was cause for a thanksgiving service, and they brought back amazing stories of strange people, and lands, and a tense meeting with a Scandinavian fleet. But consultation with the Northerners had confirmed one thing: they had discovered a new and sizeable landmass that unfortunately was completely blocking the route to China that they wanted.
For the time being, this was a disappointment, but it meant that the current route overland at Jerusalem was all the more important. And Richard saw in this new world the wood for ships and the men for armies. And he hoped that they could create a force big enough that there could never be a threat to their control of the Silk Road. Richard ordered that Henry's first task as regent would be to plan a meeting with the African nobles to serve as a ceremony announcing Richard's coronation. And from there, Richard would personally examine the building of a British Antilles in these new lands. John of Gaunt would be regent at home, assisted by Richard's own Gascon.
Henry Bolingbrook balked at the plan, unsure about the length of time it would take Richard out of the realm. But Richard was unconcerned. And when Henry warned that the African council was made up mostly of savages, Richard quipped that "the Scots are the same way".*
* As a Scot myself, it pains me to write this. Though it is still a typical attitude in TTL.
Although the battle at Constantinople had been won, and the majority of the attacking ships had returned, there were those in the Witangamot who thought that John of Gaunt should be made to answer for the loss of the Empress Isabella and the destruction of Constantinople. This opinion was made more common by the arrival of an emissary from the Pope. Apparently, 'they sunk our battleship' was considered a poor reason to destroy the center of Eastern Christendom.
Richard I knew from history that no king or emperor could function in opposition to his nobles. But that didn't mean that he wasn't entitled to act as he saw fit. He had officers report to the Witangamot on the situation as it had been in Constantinople, and exonerated his uncle. If John's son Henry Bolingbrook was so deserving of responsibility, as the anti-Gaunt lobby ironically insisted, then Richard had a better job for him. Henry was given a ten year posting as the regent of British West Africa. It was a dubious honor.
The Pope's emissary was disregarded as well. The destruction of Constantinople was clearly a tragic accident, and Richard scoffed when the emissary noted that the British Navy seemed to run on sodomy, rum, and the lash. Richard, who had been on ships since he was old enough to be a cabin boy and was looking like he was turning out like his great grandfather, said that those were his favorite parts.
A bigger problem emerged with the return of the expedition looking for a shorter route to China. They had returned safely, which was cause for a thanksgiving service, and they brought back amazing stories of strange people, and lands, and a tense meeting with a Scandinavian fleet. But consultation with the Northerners had confirmed one thing: they had discovered a new and sizeable landmass that unfortunately was completely blocking the route to China that they wanted.
For the time being, this was a disappointment, but it meant that the current route overland at Jerusalem was all the more important. And Richard saw in this new world the wood for ships and the men for armies. And he hoped that they could create a force big enough that there could never be a threat to their control of the Silk Road. Richard ordered that Henry's first task as regent would be to plan a meeting with the African nobles to serve as a ceremony announcing Richard's coronation. And from there, Richard would personally examine the building of a British Antilles in these new lands. John of Gaunt would be regent at home, assisted by Richard's own Gascon.
Henry Bolingbrook balked at the plan, unsure about the length of time it would take Richard out of the realm. But Richard was unconcerned. And when Henry warned that the African council was made up mostly of savages, Richard quipped that "the Scots are the same way".*
* As a Scot myself, it pains me to write this. Though it is still a typical attitude in TTL.
Chapter Twenty Three: Tropical Exploits
The Imperial fleet laid anchor off the shore of British West Africa at Port Arthur, the Confederation's main trading post and government hub. Despite Bolingbrook's concerns, the locals made a stunning display of gratitude to the Britons for liberating them from Mali control. The fact that they were now controlled by the Britons hadn't yet occurred to them.
The presentation happened at the specially built promenade named the Grand Arena that could be sailed right up to in the harbor. There was a staging area off the gang plank, where the Emperor was dressed in light raiments, African riches, and his father's ruby built into a new crown. He went out onto the raised dais and accepted homage from the sunken seating below it. Beyond the causeway to the shore were more seats containing the African nobles, their families, and retainers, who gave a great cheer when they saw the Emperor.
Richard walked down the causeway to meet his new subjects. The nobles still needed translators, but the meeting went rather smoothly. Richard explained the concept of a Gascon, and told them Bolingbrook would act in that regard should the local council require additional help. The Empire would provide assistance in building defenses and infrastructure, and the Africans would just have to pay for its upkeep. Richard made an additional request that no one expected: he'd been very impressed with how the Africans had looked during his presentation. He wanted the option to a have a contingent of soldiers available for formal occasions in addition to wartime responsibilities. The council accepted with no difficulties.
The arrival at New Avalon, the chief port in the British Antilles, was sadly not as good as the local populace was sick with a variety of European illnesses. The really ill Britons stayed in bed and didn't pass anything on, but what was transmitted had the native population in the throes of a pandemic. Richard was alarmed, especially when it became obvious how little their best medical knowledge was actually good for. The Emperor's presentation was canceled, and Richard ordered thorough examination of the ill and the dead to learn anything that could help deal with their current problems. But they were basically starting from scratch.
The Imperial fleet laid anchor off the shore of British West Africa at Port Arthur, the Confederation's main trading post and government hub. Despite Bolingbrook's concerns, the locals made a stunning display of gratitude to the Britons for liberating them from Mali control. The fact that they were now controlled by the Britons hadn't yet occurred to them.
The presentation happened at the specially built promenade named the Grand Arena that could be sailed right up to in the harbor. There was a staging area off the gang plank, where the Emperor was dressed in light raiments, African riches, and his father's ruby built into a new crown. He went out onto the raised dais and accepted homage from the sunken seating below it. Beyond the causeway to the shore were more seats containing the African nobles, their families, and retainers, who gave a great cheer when they saw the Emperor.
Richard walked down the causeway to meet his new subjects. The nobles still needed translators, but the meeting went rather smoothly. Richard explained the concept of a Gascon, and told them Bolingbrook would act in that regard should the local council require additional help. The Empire would provide assistance in building defenses and infrastructure, and the Africans would just have to pay for its upkeep. Richard made an additional request that no one expected: he'd been very impressed with how the Africans had looked during his presentation. He wanted the option to a have a contingent of soldiers available for formal occasions in addition to wartime responsibilities. The council accepted with no difficulties.
The arrival at New Avalon, the chief port in the British Antilles, was sadly not as good as the local populace was sick with a variety of European illnesses. The really ill Britons stayed in bed and didn't pass anything on, but what was transmitted had the native population in the throes of a pandemic. Richard was alarmed, especially when it became obvious how little their best medical knowledge was actually good for. The Emperor's presentation was canceled, and Richard ordered thorough examination of the ill and the dead to learn anything that could help deal with their current problems. But they were basically starting from scratch.
So, I'm asking for some help here. The pandemic in the British Antilles doesn't loom large in the narrative (and because the expedition is less mercenary than the Spanish one, the death toll will be much smaller), but I still want to know how far British medicine can advance at this point. I don't know anything about medieval medicine and the Internet is not accommodating at all. Does anyone here have some much wanted information?
No, the Scandinavians didn't get their act together in the OTL. But yes, they are looking to build their own colonial empire. The two fleets met just off the coast of the OTL Carolina, very almost came to blows, and pretty much left that as the dividing line between the two Empires. Which is fine for a coastline, but there will still be jockeying once the full geography of the Antilles is discovered.
The English would be smart to invite the Hospitalers to establish a presence in the Antills; they were probably the most advanced medical practitioners in Christendom at this point. Richard could also provide benefits to any Jews with medical training willing to relocate; same reason. Don't know what you have planned for the hospitalers in the long-run, but them trying to hold Rhodes is probably unsustainable long-term, so relocating, and possibly mitigating the impact of disease transfers, could be helpful.
All that said, it's going to be pretty grim, as medieval medicine wasn't very good anywhere.
All that said, it's going to be pretty grim, as medieval medicine wasn't very good anywhere.
Chapter Twenty Four: Maneuverings of the Great Powers
When the British Empire took over the defense of the former Kingdom of Jerusalem, they had invited back the Knights Hospitaller to assist in the administration of the territory. The Hospitallers had the most advanced medicine in Europe (which wasn't saying much), and they were the best ones to go to to deal with the Antillian pandemic.
The British Emperor returned to England and the rescue mission was prepared. Meanwhile, Richard sent an emissary to the Kalmar Union with a letter to the Scandinavian king, Erik of Pomerania. It congratulated him on his fleet's success and invited them to meet to discuss how to best deal with the division of the Antilles. King Erik agreed to the meeting, adding that while the Kalmar Union was calling their territory Vinland, after the old reports, that they were more than amiable to calling the whole of the continent Antilles.
Even the She-wolves had been stripped to bare essentials to manage the crossing, so a new, larger Antilles class ship was being built to better accommodate travel across the Atlantic. It was on board the new flagship, the Royal Sovereign, that Richard met Erik for their negotiations. Easily agreed was that the Antilles were their lands, and that the Portuguese, the Roman Empire, and even the Pope were to be shut out.
The full extent of territory in the Antilles was not yet determined, so the two monarchs determined that exploration would be peaceful and cooperative with the final distribution of lands determined by later negotiations. Additionally, Richard received some islands close to the Scottish frontier, and Erik got assurances against the Hanseatic League and Richard's grandfather's chivalric order, the Order of the Garter. The two monarchs parted satisfied, with a friendship far more critical than any agreement made.
In the Roman Empire, Wenceslaus had been succeeded by his son Sigmund, who was alarmed by the cooperation between the Britons and the Kalmar Union. He had luckily lured an Eastern warlord named Timur away from attacking China and towards the weakened eastern Mediterranean. He now proposed to extend that alliance to take full control of the Silk Road, and ultimately conquer China itself.
When the British Empire took over the defense of the former Kingdom of Jerusalem, they had invited back the Knights Hospitaller to assist in the administration of the territory. The Hospitallers had the most advanced medicine in Europe (which wasn't saying much), and they were the best ones to go to to deal with the Antillian pandemic.
The British Emperor returned to England and the rescue mission was prepared. Meanwhile, Richard sent an emissary to the Kalmar Union with a letter to the Scandinavian king, Erik of Pomerania. It congratulated him on his fleet's success and invited them to meet to discuss how to best deal with the division of the Antilles. King Erik agreed to the meeting, adding that while the Kalmar Union was calling their territory Vinland, after the old reports, that they were more than amiable to calling the whole of the continent Antilles.
Even the She-wolves had been stripped to bare essentials to manage the crossing, so a new, larger Antilles class ship was being built to better accommodate travel across the Atlantic. It was on board the new flagship, the Royal Sovereign, that Richard met Erik for their negotiations. Easily agreed was that the Antilles were their lands, and that the Portuguese, the Roman Empire, and even the Pope were to be shut out.
The full extent of territory in the Antilles was not yet determined, so the two monarchs determined that exploration would be peaceful and cooperative with the final distribution of lands determined by later negotiations. Additionally, Richard received some islands close to the Scottish frontier, and Erik got assurances against the Hanseatic League and Richard's grandfather's chivalric order, the Order of the Garter. The two monarchs parted satisfied, with a friendship far more critical than any agreement made.
In the Roman Empire, Wenceslaus had been succeeded by his son Sigmund, who was alarmed by the cooperation between the Britons and the Kalmar Union. He had luckily lured an Eastern warlord named Timur away from attacking China and towards the weakened eastern Mediterranean. He now proposed to extend that alliance to take full control of the Silk Road, and ultimately conquer China itself.
Chapter Twenty Five: Course Adjustments
Richard's reign had begun with promise, but as he grew older he grew more arrogant and it was with some relief when he died in 1430. He had never been able to father a child with any of his three wives, so the crown went to his cousin Richard of York, who was descended from both the Empress Isabella and Roger Mortimer.
Richard II vowed in his coronation oath to be a "goode friende" to his nobles, now stretching over four continents, and to end the expensive occupation of the Holy Land by providing a route to China over the narrow isthmus that divided North and South British Antilles. This was far easier said than done. After several years of Native Antillians dying of various illnesses, the tables had turned when exploring the jungle of the isthmus had resulted in many British deaths. The British fleet dealt with the problem the way they did everything: with superior firepower. Using an Arab equivalent of Greek fire, the fleet burned thousands of acres of woodlands. The resulting inferno shocked and cowed the natives.
In Eastern Europe, the Roman Empire had used the conquest of Albania, Serbia, and the former Byzantine territories by the Ottomans to frighten Poland into a closer relationship and was waging a war of attrition against the Ottomans with the Timurs attacking the Ottoman flank. It was only a matter of time before Anatolia was Roman, and the Eastern Alliance could move on Jerusalem with impunity. There was therefore little time to cross the British Antilles and establish marine relations with China.
The Britons had hoped a canal would be possible, but the mountains put the plan out of reach. There were rivers that could be navigable by smaller craft, but it was clear a new fleet would need to be created on the Chinese Ocean side of the isthmus. The Britons were trading advancement for labor (and turning a blind eye to some of the more shocking native practices), so it could be done affordably, but it would take time.
Richard II ordered the far west fleet to begin, while he sent as many ships and soldiers as could be spared to hold the Silk Road for as long as possible. He wanted to order the Empress Isabella's remains returned to England, but didn't want his troops demoralized by the visible implication that they couldn't win. That would have difficult repercussions.
Richard's reign had begun with promise, but as he grew older he grew more arrogant and it was with some relief when he died in 1430. He had never been able to father a child with any of his three wives, so the crown went to his cousin Richard of York, who was descended from both the Empress Isabella and Roger Mortimer.
Richard II vowed in his coronation oath to be a "goode friende" to his nobles, now stretching over four continents, and to end the expensive occupation of the Holy Land by providing a route to China over the narrow isthmus that divided North and South British Antilles. This was far easier said than done. After several years of Native Antillians dying of various illnesses, the tables had turned when exploring the jungle of the isthmus had resulted in many British deaths. The British fleet dealt with the problem the way they did everything: with superior firepower. Using an Arab equivalent of Greek fire, the fleet burned thousands of acres of woodlands. The resulting inferno shocked and cowed the natives.
In Eastern Europe, the Roman Empire had used the conquest of Albania, Serbia, and the former Byzantine territories by the Ottomans to frighten Poland into a closer relationship and was waging a war of attrition against the Ottomans with the Timurs attacking the Ottoman flank. It was only a matter of time before Anatolia was Roman, and the Eastern Alliance could move on Jerusalem with impunity. There was therefore little time to cross the British Antilles and establish marine relations with China.
The Britons had hoped a canal would be possible, but the mountains put the plan out of reach. There were rivers that could be navigable by smaller craft, but it was clear a new fleet would need to be created on the Chinese Ocean side of the isthmus. The Britons were trading advancement for labor (and turning a blind eye to some of the more shocking native practices), so it could be done affordably, but it would take time.
Richard II ordered the far west fleet to begin, while he sent as many ships and soldiers as could be spared to hold the Silk Road for as long as possible. He wanted to order the Empress Isabella's remains returned to England, but didn't want his troops demoralized by the visible implication that they couldn't win. That would have difficult repercussions.
It would be nice if you go into detail of how much of the silk roads they're controlling that and a map.
Also how they work with other powers in the region all the way to China.
Its kind of hard to tell but it looks like their territory is besieged by the power north, actually surprise the Ottoman did not attack the Brits.
Just checking what's British Antilles?
Also how they work with other powers in the region all the way to China.
Its kind of hard to tell but it looks like their territory is besieged by the power north, actually surprise the Ottoman did not attack the Brits.
Just checking what's British Antilles?