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Chapter 84: Germania and Italia
View attachment 511953
A political map of the area
Okay so I have taken a look into it again and came up with this: Poland is not going to fragment. Poland remains as a stable country, also including Silesia and Mazovia. And support from Poland is the factor behind Nitra unifying Slovakia. This Poland also made its way to the Baltic Sea by subjugating Kashubia[1].
The main reason why I decided to rewrite history is development in Saxony and Germany. Saxony is no longer the same country as in the times of Charlemagne. The large forests have disappeared mostly, apart from the mountainous regions. The population increased dramatically, and cities such as Hamburg and Bremen flourish. The Saxons have expanded their control to include the Sorbian lands east of the Elbe and to the middle Oder valley. The new available land enables the surplus population of Saxony to move eastwards into former Lutician lands[2].
Saxons have also integrated Thuringia, and jealously look at the Danish Pomerania, which they view as rightfully theirs. Saxony is a heavily feudal society, where practically all of the land is held by the nobility; exceptions include the lands of the Archbishop of Magdeburg and the royal free cities of Bremen and Hamburg.
The typical Saxon warriors are light infantrymen equipped with axes, others with swords and gradually also heavy infantrymen and knights.
As for Germany, we can observe a gradual weakening of royal authority. That remains to some extent in the Rhine Valley and Swabia; and after a dynastic union with Italy, the German kings sought to actually enforce their rule in the country. However, they epically failed, as they met the Lombard League, a confederation of Italian cities, led by Milan, which also included places like Verona, Brescia, Mantua, Padova and Genoa. More to be said later.
The Duchies of Bavaria and Carinthia (to the southeast of the Eastern Alps) became independent; and thus Germany proper was confined to Swabia, Franconia and Lotharingia. These areas were subject to the so-called Landsfrieden, meaning that vassals were not allowed to wage war upon each other.
Bavaria, located between the Bavarian Forest[3], the Lech and eastern Alps, remains a unified kingdom, and Bavarians have settled the Alpine valleys[4] and the former Ostmark, around Linz and Vienna.
The Alpine pass of Brenner remains one of the most important in Europe, and the cities of Verona and Augsburg, on either side of the pass greatly profit from transcontinental trade.
As mentioned northern Italy saw the rise of a new socio-political formation. The rise of city-states (as this area, heavily populated had its population concentrated in the cities) was a phenomenom which was not restricted merely to the most famous coastal states of Genoa, Pisa and Venica, the latter ruling over much of Istria as well. In fact, the medieval commune was spread throughout the entire Po Valley, and included also inland cities such as Milan, Torino, Verona or Bergamo. These cities were held together by confederation called the Lombard League. The only exception was the Patriarchate of Aquilea, an independent theocracy.
View attachment 511954
The republican form of government has increasingly become common in northern Italy
While the interests of maritime merchants in Pisa, Genoa and Venice are rather doomed to change over time, as they compete for markets and trade zones, this confederation of city-states is united at this time against foes from beyond the Alps or from the Rhomaic Empire.
The Po Valley of Italia Annotaria has maintained a memory of the Roman culture and tradition in its cities, as Italy always had remained a much more urbanized society compared to, let us say Gaul or Spain. While the Langobard or Ostrogoth kings themselves did divide their realm into duchies and counties, their residences remained the cities, rather than castles or fortresses. The feudal model imported from Francia beyond the Alps may have been briefly implemented, but in the densely- populated Po Valley, this was not to last for very long.
Rather, the townspeople established communes or signorias themselves, and the most influential families in every city shared power over the city as a whole. Gradually, some of the cities might evolve into de-facto monarchies, as one of the families might become dominant, yet still they would be challenged by the others. Feuds between families within a city were not uncommon, and therefore one can witness defensive towers within the city. More often, however, the city-states resulted in cooperation, rather than bloody warfare.
Further southwards, we can see independent city state of Pisa (controlling Corsica), Lucca, Florence, and Ancona. These form a strip of land, between the Papal State and the Lombard League. Florence and Ancona have been previously part of Lombardy; Pisa is however the dominant naval power in the Tyrrhenian Sea
In southern Italy, we have the Duchies of Spoleto and Benevento, which are the remnants of the Lombard invasion of the Appenine Peninsula. Still, in their capitals, Spoleto and Benevento, one is much more likely to encounter people with blonde hair or blue eyes as in the rest of the peninsula. After witnessing the conquest of Salerno, the other smaller states in Campania (such as Gaeta or Capua), accept the authority of the Duke of Benevento, who in turn recognizes their liberties. This new agreement is also sponsored by the Pope, who has no interest whatsoever of bordering the Rhomaic Empire.
As for Sardinia, the island is divided into three. The northeastern part is held by Pisa; Tátari[5] itself is an independent city-state, while the south is held by Tafirka.
Regarding linguistic development, as you may be concerned, we can see a separate development of the Saxon[6] language, which is differentiated from the High German of the rest of the country. Bavarian remains rather distinct, but other than that, we can see no real differences, except the Sorbia and the Carantanian[7] being more geographically spread.
View attachment 511955
A language map of Germany and Italy
As for the language borders in the Alps, we have a couple of good news for the Rhaetian speakers, as their language stays much more vibrant in the Rhaetian region, as well as in Tyrol. The Patriarchate of Aquilea is locate in Friuli, and the Furlan language, itself a form of the Rhaeto-Romance, is the language of this theocratic realm.
With the rise of independent city-states in much of Italy, we can see that the emergence of a great dialectal variety is very likely to happen. This is already the case of Ligurian (Genoa), Lombard (Milan and westwards), Venetian (Venice and March of Verona), Romagnan (Ancona and region), Tuscan, and dialects for Latium, Umbria and Samnium. Sicilian language is going to be again influenced by the imposition of Greek, as is the southern dialect of Campania.
The language of Corsica on the other hand, is under heavy influence of the Tuscan dialect of Pisa; as is the northeastern corner of Sardinia.
[1] Remember however, that the majority of Kashubians are pagan, however Gduńsk is the seat of bishopric and the town is already Christian.
[2] Sorbian population remains in the marshy Spreewald, as well as in the district of Frankfurt and der Oder of Brandenburg.
[3] Šumava, on the borders with Czechs
[4] Of Steiermark
[5] Sassari
[6] Low German
[7] Slovene
A political map of the area
Okay so I have taken a look into it again and came up with this: Poland is not going to fragment. Poland remains as a stable country, also including Silesia and Mazovia. And support from Poland is the factor behind Nitra unifying Slovakia. This Poland also made its way to the Baltic Sea by subjugating Kashubia[1].
The main reason why I decided to rewrite history is development in Saxony and Germany. Saxony is no longer the same country as in the times of Charlemagne. The large forests have disappeared mostly, apart from the mountainous regions. The population increased dramatically, and cities such as Hamburg and Bremen flourish. The Saxons have expanded their control to include the Sorbian lands east of the Elbe and to the middle Oder valley. The new available land enables the surplus population of Saxony to move eastwards into former Lutician lands[2].
Saxons have also integrated Thuringia, and jealously look at the Danish Pomerania, which they view as rightfully theirs. Saxony is a heavily feudal society, where practically all of the land is held by the nobility; exceptions include the lands of the Archbishop of Magdeburg and the royal free cities of Bremen and Hamburg.
The typical Saxon warriors are light infantrymen equipped with axes, others with swords and gradually also heavy infantrymen and knights.
As for Germany, we can observe a gradual weakening of royal authority. That remains to some extent in the Rhine Valley and Swabia; and after a dynastic union with Italy, the German kings sought to actually enforce their rule in the country. However, they epically failed, as they met the Lombard League, a confederation of Italian cities, led by Milan, which also included places like Verona, Brescia, Mantua, Padova and Genoa. More to be said later.
The Duchies of Bavaria and Carinthia (to the southeast of the Eastern Alps) became independent; and thus Germany proper was confined to Swabia, Franconia and Lotharingia. These areas were subject to the so-called Landsfrieden, meaning that vassals were not allowed to wage war upon each other.
Bavaria, located between the Bavarian Forest[3], the Lech and eastern Alps, remains a unified kingdom, and Bavarians have settled the Alpine valleys[4] and the former Ostmark, around Linz and Vienna.
The Alpine pass of Brenner remains one of the most important in Europe, and the cities of Verona and Augsburg, on either side of the pass greatly profit from transcontinental trade.
As mentioned northern Italy saw the rise of a new socio-political formation. The rise of city-states (as this area, heavily populated had its population concentrated in the cities) was a phenomenom which was not restricted merely to the most famous coastal states of Genoa, Pisa and Venica, the latter ruling over much of Istria as well. In fact, the medieval commune was spread throughout the entire Po Valley, and included also inland cities such as Milan, Torino, Verona or Bergamo. These cities were held together by confederation called the Lombard League. The only exception was the Patriarchate of Aquilea, an independent theocracy.
View attachment 511954
The republican form of government has increasingly become common in northern Italy
While the interests of maritime merchants in Pisa, Genoa and Venice are rather doomed to change over time, as they compete for markets and trade zones, this confederation of city-states is united at this time against foes from beyond the Alps or from the Rhomaic Empire.
The Po Valley of Italia Annotaria has maintained a memory of the Roman culture and tradition in its cities, as Italy always had remained a much more urbanized society compared to, let us say Gaul or Spain. While the Langobard or Ostrogoth kings themselves did divide their realm into duchies and counties, their residences remained the cities, rather than castles or fortresses. The feudal model imported from Francia beyond the Alps may have been briefly implemented, but in the densely- populated Po Valley, this was not to last for very long.
Rather, the townspeople established communes or signorias themselves, and the most influential families in every city shared power over the city as a whole. Gradually, some of the cities might evolve into de-facto monarchies, as one of the families might become dominant, yet still they would be challenged by the others. Feuds between families within a city were not uncommon, and therefore one can witness defensive towers within the city. More often, however, the city-states resulted in cooperation, rather than bloody warfare.
Further southwards, we can see independent city state of Pisa (controlling Corsica), Lucca, Florence, and Ancona. These form a strip of land, between the Papal State and the Lombard League. Florence and Ancona have been previously part of Lombardy; Pisa is however the dominant naval power in the Tyrrhenian Sea
In southern Italy, we have the Duchies of Spoleto and Benevento, which are the remnants of the Lombard invasion of the Appenine Peninsula. Still, in their capitals, Spoleto and Benevento, one is much more likely to encounter people with blonde hair or blue eyes as in the rest of the peninsula. After witnessing the conquest of Salerno, the other smaller states in Campania (such as Gaeta or Capua), accept the authority of the Duke of Benevento, who in turn recognizes their liberties. This new agreement is also sponsored by the Pope, who has no interest whatsoever of bordering the Rhomaic Empire.
As for Sardinia, the island is divided into three. The northeastern part is held by Pisa; Tátari[5] itself is an independent city-state, while the south is held by Tafirka.
Regarding linguistic development, as you may be concerned, we can see a separate development of the Saxon[6] language, which is differentiated from the High German of the rest of the country. Bavarian remains rather distinct, but other than that, we can see no real differences, except the Sorbia and the Carantanian[7] being more geographically spread.
View attachment 511955
A language map of Germany and Italy
As for the language borders in the Alps, we have a couple of good news for the Rhaetian speakers, as their language stays much more vibrant in the Rhaetian region, as well as in Tyrol. The Patriarchate of Aquilea is locate in Friuli, and the Furlan language, itself a form of the Rhaeto-Romance, is the language of this theocratic realm.
With the rise of independent city-states in much of Italy, we can see that the emergence of a great dialectal variety is very likely to happen. This is already the case of Ligurian (Genoa), Lombard (Milan and westwards), Venetian (Venice and March of Verona), Romagnan (Ancona and region), Tuscan, and dialects for Latium, Umbria and Samnium. Sicilian language is going to be again influenced by the imposition of Greek, as is the southern dialect of Campania.
The language of Corsica on the other hand, is under heavy influence of the Tuscan dialect of Pisa; as is the northeastern corner of Sardinia.
[1] Remember however, that the majority of Kashubians are pagan, however Gduńsk is the seat of bishopric and the town is already Christian.
[2] Sorbian population remains in the marshy Spreewald, as well as in the district of Frankfurt and der Oder of Brandenburg.
[3] Šumava, on the borders with Czechs
[4] Of Steiermark
[5] Sassari
[6] Low German
[7] Slovene
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.2k