A More Personal Union
- Thread starter Thespitron 6000
- Start date
Was the RL 17th century really all that better, on the whole? (In this case, though, I can imagine a historic "long 17th century" that would encompass the Great War.)It's not like Europe's doing much better.
I am overjoyed to see the resumption of this fascinating timeline. I had especially missed the wonderful narration and the vivid style of the dialogues and documents cited, which are exemplified respectively by the latest update on Japan and the correspondence between the King of Portugal and the Duke of Guimares. (On the latter, I cannot testify as to the accuracy of the language, not being accustomed to reading texts of that period, but it is always a delight to read.*) The only problem is that I'll have to do some sort of revision, because I confess to having forgotten many of the finer points, like the complex situation with the pretenders in Spain—though the new posts do help me remember. There is no end in sight for the country's plights, apparently... And I recall clearly the Japanese sugar boom, though have no recollection of the bust; am I forgetting, or is this the first explicit mention of it?
*There are two typos which my compulsions compel me to point out: "To my most humble and respectufl servant" (respectful) and "your ill-advised and obdurate subordination towards my commands" (insubordination, if I do not mistake the meaning of the phrase).
In 1616? Hardly. Besides, they don't even have the beginnings of a political theory that could account for a Japanese state without the Emperor. And while Thespi may be planning to actually spirit the Emperor out of Japan, that...will be an incredibly tough sell, plausibility-wise. Basically nobody would be in favor of that plan.
And hey, monkeys. At least it's not kudzu (yet).
I don't think the events in Japan will qualify for a real civil war, though. The insurgents were clearly planning on a decapitation strike, at which they have completely failed, having lost the Emperor, only corralled the shogun, and quite probably failed to plan or prepare for a prolonged campaign. It will be an ugly bloodletting, but the establishment will annihilate them fairly quickly, redistribute their assets and emerge a more centralized state...
I'm dealing with some health issues, but I will get around to it, I promise.
Eventually I will get around to updating this; right now all my references are in storage.
Looking at the situation in this TL worldwide, I'm guessing the TTL 17th Century will involve:
- A 7 Years' War equivalent between the Haudenosaunee, the Shawano, Sweden, the Franco-British Union, the Golden Roman Empire and whoever wins the TTL War of Spanish Succession. Oh, and Japan - Samurai vs Conquistadors would make a great movie.
- A civil war in the Valois realms between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, the Catholics and the Protestants, the Puritans and the Fun People, the Fascists and the Secessionists... that's a 30 Years' War level of confusing right there.
- The Germans in Southern Denmark declaring independence and either returning to the HRE or (more and more likely at this point) forming an independent Republic of Germany.
- Poland creating a mythology to unite its various provinces (as Lechistan, maybe?) with the help of a certain playwright writing about Lech, Krak, and Wanda.
- The HRE going to war with Poland and the Republic of Germany, kicking off what might end up being the equivalent of the Revolutionary Wars.
- The Ottoman Empire gaining control of Russia after the current Tsar dies, and maybe a Russian Civil War breaking out.
- A Scramble for Africa that involves the Ottoman Empire, Navarre, and at least the Bijapur part of India.
- And many other awesome things.
September 17, 1622
To his most Gracious Majesty, Henry, being the Ninth of his name, King of England, France, Ireland, and Scotland,
From the hand of Avram Sequerra, physician and man of business, most loyal subject of your Grace's esteemed brother monarch the Prince of Orange,
Most sincere and humble greetings.
Your Grace,
Being it well-known that you are a monarch of temperment most serene and wisdom approaching that of the son of David, I beseech you now on behalf of those men and women who share my faith, the faith of Moses, Isaac, and Jacob, and who now face in these most uncertain times sure peril in those lands which surround the Rhine, through no fault that can be laid upon them save that which hath been charged unto them by the Lord in the time of Abraham. Know you well, I am certain, that the Rhine country is no longer safe for honest farmers and traders, and here the Jews of the Empire have come to dwell, this spit of land which extends into the realms of your Reformed faith as a peninsula into a body of water, or a headland into a great ocean, for these lands lie large beyond the writ of your Grace's enemy, the Emperor of the Germans, against whom you waged war when the years lay not so heavy on us both. And too, in Holland do we rest uneasy, where until late days my people, called Marranos by the Spaniard, did dwell since Ferdinand, the father of your Grace's nemesis Ferdinand of Uceda's grandfather, expelled from his realm all Jews save those who would change their faith; and those who changed their faith did so as did your countrywoman Jean when she was in the hands of her enemies--at swordpoint. The Dutchmen in their minds remain our friends, but their spirits are roused too quick to anger by demagogues of German tongue and Satanic disposition, who come now seeking sanctuary from that hell they leave behind and in so doing turn our beloved Republic into a hell of its own kind. I have known the fear that creeps by night, and comes with the savage crowd, in whom beats the savage heart, and turns night to day by torch and bonfire and arson. My people cry out for salvation!
Your Grace is truly the most temperate of monarchs, and in days past you have proven yourself again and again the friend and champion of the oppressed. We Jews, when we speak of you, we say, this King of England hath brought forth from bondage many who groaned beneath the Spanish yoke. Truly, he is the Moses mundi novi. We say this, and now we look to you, O King of the French, King of the English, King of the Scots, King of the Irish, to make you our overlord. How can a people be free unless they possess unto themselves their own country? You reign over four peoples; I beseech you, O Henrice Magne, reign over a fifth! We ask you for little save this: let us take for ourselves a small country, in those realms you call Gloriana. We shall be unto you the most loyal, the most devoted servants, should you grant us this boon, which is so insignificant I am loath to even bring it before you; we ask for no ships, no arms, no seed; we ask only for a writ or charter that we might bring a lesser portion of that great continent under the plow in your name. It is a vast country, brought under your rule by the Lord's design; we are and have been a small people. We shall take no more space than a besom in a corner. I beseech you now on our behalf, grant unto us a plantation and we shall serve you and your heirs faithfully until the coming of the Messiah.
I remain your obd't and humble servant,
Avram Sequerra
To his most Gracious Majesty, Henry, being the Ninth of his name, King of England, France, Ireland, and Scotland,
From the hand of Avram Sequerra, physician and man of business, most loyal subject of your Grace's esteemed brother monarch the Prince of Orange,
Most sincere and humble greetings.
Your Grace,
Being it well-known that you are a monarch of temperment most serene and wisdom approaching that of the son of David, I beseech you now on behalf of those men and women who share my faith, the faith of Moses, Isaac, and Jacob, and who now face in these most uncertain times sure peril in those lands which surround the Rhine, through no fault that can be laid upon them save that which hath been charged unto them by the Lord in the time of Abraham. Know you well, I am certain, that the Rhine country is no longer safe for honest farmers and traders, and here the Jews of the Empire have come to dwell, this spit of land which extends into the realms of your Reformed faith as a peninsula into a body of water, or a headland into a great ocean, for these lands lie large beyond the writ of your Grace's enemy, the Emperor of the Germans, against whom you waged war when the years lay not so heavy on us both. And too, in Holland do we rest uneasy, where until late days my people, called Marranos by the Spaniard, did dwell since Ferdinand, the father of your Grace's nemesis Ferdinand of Uceda's grandfather, expelled from his realm all Jews save those who would change their faith; and those who changed their faith did so as did your countrywoman Jean when she was in the hands of her enemies--at swordpoint. The Dutchmen in their minds remain our friends, but their spirits are roused too quick to anger by demagogues of German tongue and Satanic disposition, who come now seeking sanctuary from that hell they leave behind and in so doing turn our beloved Republic into a hell of its own kind. I have known the fear that creeps by night, and comes with the savage crowd, in whom beats the savage heart, and turns night to day by torch and bonfire and arson. My people cry out for salvation!
Your Grace is truly the most temperate of monarchs, and in days past you have proven yourself again and again the friend and champion of the oppressed. We Jews, when we speak of you, we say, this King of England hath brought forth from bondage many who groaned beneath the Spanish yoke. Truly, he is the Moses mundi novi. We say this, and now we look to you, O King of the French, King of the English, King of the Scots, King of the Irish, to make you our overlord. How can a people be free unless they possess unto themselves their own country? You reign over four peoples; I beseech you, O Henrice Magne, reign over a fifth! We ask you for little save this: let us take for ourselves a small country, in those realms you call Gloriana. We shall be unto you the most loyal, the most devoted servants, should you grant us this boon, which is so insignificant I am loath to even bring it before you; we ask for no ships, no arms, no seed; we ask only for a writ or charter that we might bring a lesser portion of that great continent under the plow in your name. It is a vast country, brought under your rule by the Lord's design; we are and have been a small people. We shall take no more space than a besom in a corner. I beseech you now on our behalf, grant unto us a plantation and we shall serve you and your heirs faithfully until the coming of the Messiah.
I remain your obd't and humble servant,
Avram Sequerra
