alternatehistory.com

@Constantinople: The Catholic church *in the tradition of the old popes*, yes. However, OTOH reformation didn't split the church, but came gradually - during the 15th/16th century, the bible was translated, priests started preaching in common tongues, princes gained the power the appoint bishops and secularized the church's property. After 1700, even the doctrine could be changed by the kings and dukes, if they didn't go too far (see my example about Nippon, where the tenno became head of the Nipponese church). So, theoretically, all Christians in Western Europe are Catholic... but Catholicism looks very different in every country, and the Germans, Poles and Scandinavians have stopped caring about the pope long time ago. I'll work out more details after I conclude the TL.

The pope returned to Rome from Avignon for some time after 1694... but in between the French king managed to take him back to Avignon again (see retcon below)!

The New Roman Empire has the Imperial Catholic church, the emperor is the head of. No more pope there, although the old buildings in Rome are still used, and the Imperial Catholic church looks very much like the old one - which is why it was accepted by then population.

I'll make a map soon, probably after the update next week.

About the Greeks... I've given them some thought. But you won't like the result, probably.

@Communist Wizard: Thanks. The Socialists would certainly hope for it - but they have all the powers on the continent against them, esp. the Germans.


And here's the update, folks:
The World, 1860-80:
Atlantis:
Retcon:
Early 1800s: Anti-slavery movement starts to rise in German Atlantis, later spreads to Canada, even later to Argentinien.


1861: First Transatlantean railroad finished in German Atlantis.

1862: Tom Liverpool flees from Britain to Canada, settles in Kingsburgh, becoming one of the world's most famous inventors.

1870s: Anti-slavery movement takes influence on government in German Atlantis (and to some lesser extent in Canada). This will lead to detoriating relations to Guinea, Braseal and later even New Rome.

1870: Braseal (used by New Rome as an exile colony for all kinds of resistors - Italian republicans, French and Spanish monarchists and nationalists, Inca nobles, anti-Imperial Catholics and other Christian minorities, Arab and Berb resistors, ordinary criminals, separatists of all kinds, defeated Indians) rises against New Roman Empire. Emperor Ludovico decides to grant them independence, and they go in peace. Given the ethnic mix of Braseal (there are descendants of the original English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish settlers; of French, Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, Catalanians, Basques and Bretons; of Arabs and Berbs, both slaves and free people; of Mexicans, Quechua and other native Atlanteans; of exiled Indians; and of black slaves of many different West African people), nobody expects anything but chaos to develop out of it. Indeed, the country falls into civil war; in the cities, the various ethnics street- and housefight each other, while on the countryside, every latifundia owner becomes a little king, and many slaves flee into the jungle.

1871: Germans in Argentinien construct "Der Zaun" (the Fence), a barbed wire fence along the border to Braseal, fearing that violence could swap over to them.

1873: A French man named Louis Philippe (in Braseal French: Lui Filip) in New London (later called Novolondon - OTL Salvador) who claims to be the heir of the French and Spanish royal families and can even present some of the (real!) French and Spanish crown jewels is declared king/emperor of Braseal, although his followers only control parts of the later capital.

1876: After defeating the Italian and Muslim bands of the capital, Lui Filip takes control of the whole province.

1880: Lui Filip controls one third of the coast of Braseal.


Western Europe:
Retcon:
1738: King Francois VI of France manages to smuggle pope Innocent from Rome to Avignon. The Italian king protests, but can't change it.

1841: Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands form the Mitteleuropäischer Zollverein (Central European Custom Union), also making the German Thaler common currency. Later the MEZV is joined by Greater Bohemia, Hungary and Poland, who start to approximate Germany, if only for the fear of Russia.


1860s: Industrial revolution changes the face of continental Europe and North Atlantis. The products made soon exceed British wares in quality and price, although the Socialist government had to lower prices already.

1860/61: First French-Roman War. France has to cede Savoy and Nice to New Rome, let Andalusia and Portugal leave its sphere of influence. The Andalusians soon accept the charismatic Ludovico as emperor.

1870s: Socialist government restarts piracy to make up for the loss of money from exports. German, French, Canadian and New Roman ships are attacked and plundered. This leads to a great anti-Socialist sentiment in these states, especially in Germany, which makes advocates for a responsible welfare policy practically outcasts. Still, many workers join the Socialist cause.

1872-74: Second French-Roman War. All of Catalonia ceded to New Rome, Castille also changes into New Roman camp. Toledo declared Second Capital of New Roman Empire. Basque lands stay French.
In this war, Indian soldiers were used by New Rome for the first time in a European war.

1877: Emperor Ludovico has the Castillians attack the Portuguese republic, making it another New Roman satellite.

1879: In the Scandinavian elections, a coalition of Social Democrats, Socialists and left republicans gains the majority. Germany fears the Socialist threat, invades, topples the king and makes Scandinavia a satellite republic.


Eastern Europe:
1860: All literate peasants in Novorossiya owning land get the right to vote in elections. The countryside has a representation for the first time, after the country was dominated by the cities for centuries.

1864: After emperor Ludovico has met the Czar of South Russia and even married one of his daughters to a prince in Kiev, South Russia and New Rome ally against the Muslim powers, Persia and the Seljuk Jumhuriya.

1870s: The first Water Power Plants are built along Russia's mighty rivers.

1879: Novorossiya uses the opportunity to reclaim/-annex Finland and Estonia in Scandinavia.


East Asia:
Retcon:
1820s: King Gioacchino starts hiring Indian soldiers to improve control over his vast empire.

1842: British Ceylon becomes independent again, confident that the Brits won't return.


1859: Emperor Ludovico takes Ceylon, laying the foundation for his Indian empire.

1872-79: Novorossiya invades China, takes Peking, brings the north under its control. The rest of China is divided among warlords.

1874: Canadians land in Java, claim the Spice Islands.

1876-80: When Vijayanagar falls into Civil War, emperor Ludovico decides to interfere. Since the first contact 75 years ago, Italians have learned Indian languages, advised local rulers and trained Indians. Now they can use their knowledge to bring the land under their control, making half of India a New Roman protectorate. Indians who resist are shipped to Braseal. By playing out the various groups against each other, the Empire can keep "the most valuable jewel in the crown" under control. Over the decades, Indian soldiers are transplanted into other parts of the Empire.

1879: Canada allies with Hong China, slowly brings OTL Philippines under its control.


Muslim world:
Retcon:
1820s: An independence movement develops in rural Greece (supported by Russians, often via the Orthodox church). The cities, however, stay firmly in Seljuk hand - 250 years with a printing press have assimilated most of the upper and upper middle class.

1850s/60s: After the Russian defeat in the Anti-Russian War, Seljuks become harsh (bordering genocide) on the Greeks - hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Greeks are displaced from their villages and resettled by force in other parts of the empire, mostly central Anatolia. Many thousands of them die on their way, or resisting the better armed and organized Seljuks.


1860s: Shiite uprisings in Persia bring the Pashtun dynasty in trouble. On the map still a great power, people can see now that the Persian Shahdom has become hollow.

1865-69: With emperor Ludovico doing negotiations, the two Russias, New Rome, various Indian princes, European Germany and Judea ally to fight the Anti-Persian War. The Negev, Aqaba and Petra are ceded to the Jewish protectorate; Delhi, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia and Aden to New Rome; Madagascar and East Africa around the capital Zanzibar to the Germans; Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and North Persia to Russia. Palestine gets a special status; Hejaz and Oman become independent. Shiite Persia (+ Afghanistan, southern Mesopotamia) survives as a rump state.

1870s: In occupied Persia, the "New Assassins" (a zealot-like group of conspirators opposed to the christian powers) start to form.


Rest of the World:
1866: Canada takes control of Hawaii.

1867: Canadian ironclads easily destroy the weaker navy of New Albion, take control of most Pacific islands. Now New Albion (which kings still claim Britain and other lands in Europe and the rest of the world are rightfully theirs) is finally reduced to an insignificant, anachronistic kingdom at the end of the world.

1878: German-Atlantean anti-slavery activists take Arguim, a Portuguese slave trading post in Africa. One after another, the others fall too.

1880: Germany takes control of Swedish colonies in Australia.

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