Alyska. A kingdom of ice and Iron.

[Count of Crisco]

Forward.
Over the last number of years Alyska had appeared frequently in the news as the civil war unfolded before the eyes of billions via the power of television. With the recent reunification of the country under Catherine III following the bloody Yukon campaign and Posadka Siege many questions have arisen about the nations place in the modern world. With some pundits even claiming the country will not last much beyond the 2030s given the massive ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity which led in part to the recent thirty year period of civil unrest.
But whether or not the new state of Alyska will outlast its monarch or not is beyond the scope of this work which is intended to explore the long and rich nation which preceded it and for nearly four hundred years stood as a center of learning, experimentation and innovation.
This work is based upon years of exhaustive and time consuming research with many of the sources kindly provided by the Royal Museum of history of Novoya Amsterdam. A number of the sources referenced in this work were previously unknown outside of a very few museum curators and clerks.

 

[Virginia Liberal]

Very interesting lot of questions but I'll let it play out before I comment

 

[Count of Crisco]

There are many TLs out there focusing on Alaska as an independent and not US state. Most of these TLs, some of which are quite good, set Alaska up more or less the same. With Alaska remaining a part of the Russian empire and not being sold to the US in 1867, the colony is then colonized heavily/used as a penal colony/royal retreat or some variation until the October revolution happens and Alaska declares independence from the newly Communist Russia under the rulership of the Tsar/ White Russian forces/ Democracy/ Republic etc...

This TL is very different. While Russia does play a massive role in the history of the country they are second fiddle to a host of other nations which got there first. Plus none of the other time lines I have ever read regarding Alaska ever so much as mentioned the Mongol Empire. So if that last sentence has not piqued your interest then feel free to leave the thread. Otherwise stay tuned and wait for the first update to come out on Tuesday.

 

[Count of Crisco]

Chapter One.

Discovery and Settlement.

Portrait of Kublai Khan, recognized by some as the first king of Alyska and founder of the first settlement in western North America.​

Fifth great Khan of the Mongol Empire Kublai Khan had a dream of unifying the world under his and his successors control. To accomplish this Kublai sent armies to invade Song China, Tibet, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and even the island of Java. Most of these invasions were successful and ended in Mongol rule over much of Asia and eastern Europe by the end of his reign, although due to infighting amongst the heirs of Genghis much of this empire was under the control of various other lesser Khans. Early in his reign the young Khan would finally subdue Song China, eventually making his capital in what would become the city of Beijing. Kublai was a patron of the arts, science and literature. Funding many schools and universities and encouraging a new golden age of Chinese opera, poetry and astronomy to flourish. He also encouraged the expansion of Chinese seafaring with the aim of creating a large fleet for the carrying of troops.

Each of these widely disparate fields saw considerable government funding. But it was into the navy that a majority of Kublai`s money, and interest went. A major effort went into the building of invasion fleets intended for landings on the Japanese and Indian islands. However large amounts of funding also went into the creation of a large navy intended for the defence of the coasts and protection of the trade routes. A few of these ships were even sent out on missions of exploration to chart the islands of the Pacific and arctic oceans. It was one of these ships that stumbled upon what would become known as Alyska. A report, surviving today in the Royal archives in Novoya Amsterdam, was made of the ships exploration of what was thought to be a very large land mass with few natives, abundant natural resources and wildlife.

The great Khan quickly decided that this land needed to be settled and added to the empire. Now advanced in age and feeling as if he needed to leave a legacy, and with his recent attempts at new conquest failed Kublai ordered an immediate colony to be established on the new land. Which was named Gazar Doorkh Gazar, land across the waters. Not wishing to face the wrath of the increasingly irritable Khan his ministers worked quickly to accomplish his dream and by 1283 an outpost had been founded in what would become known as Oranje bay. In fact the colony was located roughly where the modern day city of Fredericksburg would one day be founded.

The new colony, named Aguu Khan Khot, or city of the great Khan, was soon flooded with transports which over the next ten years brought over sixty thousand colonists from all parts of Kublai`s empire. Though a majority of the colonies population was formed of both Han Chinese and ethnic Mongols. Farms and pastures were quickly set up but the harsh Alyskan winter and wild soil made crop yields small and livestock of meager frame. Food supplied for the colony had to be continually imported from China, often falling victim to Japanese pirate attacks. Making the presence of warships in the convoys a must, adding further to the expense of the colony. Upon the death of Kublai in 1294 the empire suffered a severe economic collapse. Brought about by years of inflation, costly invasions, civil wars and massive building projects. The crisis forced Kublai`s successor Temür to cut back on many of his grandfathers more grandiose projects. Such as the proposed third invasion of Japan, second invasion of Java and rumored participation in the ongoing invasion of India by other Mongol Khanates.

Portrait of Temür Khan. Successor to Kublai and the one responsible for the end of the original settlement.​

Unsurprisingly one of the first things to be cut by Temür would be Aguu Khan Khot. By order of the Khan himself no further ships would leave for Alyska after 1300. Until then any settler of the colony who wished was welcome to return with one of the ships and resume their life in the empire. Though their future prosperity was not in any way guaranteed.

While some would indeed travel back with the last few merchant ships the majority, perhaps fifty thousand chose to remain behind. Believing they had mastered the land and would be able to feed themselves when the last of the imported grain had been consumed. Likely a driving force for their refusal to leave was the lack of a certain future for them once they did return. They had abandoned their farms, pastures and shops when they had left Asia and had nothing to return back to. With that in mind the homes they had built in America seemed the more promising of the two options.

As per the orders of Temür the final Mongol merchant ship left the colony in 1299. And despite initial hopes to the contrary by a few of the colonists no further Mongol ships ever anchored in Oranje bay. And also against the hopes of the colonists the harvest of 1300 proved quite poor. As did the harvest of 1301, 02, 03, 04 and 05. By 1310 the colony was in very dire straits. Half the population had died during the previous decade, while the other closer half resembled emaciated skeletons than men. Drastic action was called for if any were to survive. It was just that none in the colony knew what action would be drastic enough to ensure survival.

Abandonment.​

In 1311 the answer came with the abandonment of the colony and the dispersion of the remaining settlers to regions to the south were the climate was somewhat milder, soil better suited to limited agriculture and game and pasturage more plentiful. It was soon after that the settlers came into contact with the native tribes. Which were quick to see the benefits of adopting the ways of the newcomers. Building their own permanent settlements. Farming their own crops and salting the annual Salmon catch to make it preserve longer. Over time the Mongol settlers would assimilate into the tribes. Working initially with them on shared irrigation projects and communal fields. Only later assimilating completely and nearly seamlessly into the ranks of the natives. Passing on many Chinese, Mongolian, Korean and Russian words onto the languages of the tribes and introducing them to writing and primitive metal working. Inciting the spread of copper farming and hunting implements across the continent in the process.

By 1400 very little of the original settlers could be seen. The colony had been more or less dismantled shortly before its abandonment and the settlers dispersed into the surrounding peoples. However their impact would be seen across the new world with their tools of writing and metal working spreading to the far corners of the Americas so that when in 1492 when the Italian Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola and claimed it in the name of the king and queen of Spain the curious natives which came out to meet him presented him and his men with copper arrowheads and knives as a symbol of friendship. Only later showing the Europeans the gold that would cause them so much misery and hardship over the following half millennium.

The new world had been changed irrevocably by its first interaction with the old. Though the next generations of colonists would not know if the fact until archaeological discoveries in Oregon and Columbia during the 1960s and 70s brought to light not only the real presence of the Mongol empire in the new world. But also the enormous impact they would have over the cultures and societies of the local populations.

​

 

[ETGalaxy]

Very interesting! I'm especially interested in the Novoya Amsterdam nation that was frequently mentioned!

 

[Count of Crisco]

Well first update and the Mongols have come and gone. They wont play much of a role from here on in. In fact their mere presence will be forgotten for many centuries. I plan on posting updates from here on in every Wednesday, though if I am unable I will post an alert saying when the next update will be online.
So what does everyone think of it so far?

 

[Contrary]

Did the Mongols also bring horses? (I like your TL so far BTW)

 

[Epimethius]

This looks interesting, very unlike a lot of the other timelines so far. I look forward to seeing where it goes

 

[Count of Crisco]

Did the Mongols also bring horses? (I like your TL so far BTW)

They did but only a few. And given the difficulties they had in surviving I would guess they would have been turned into stew very early on.

 

[Count of Crisco]

This looks interesting, very unlike a lot of the other timelines so far. I look forward to seeing where it goes

Hope the rest doesnt disappoint.

 

[Count of Crisco]

Treasure Hunters​

By 1315 tales of a land of abundant gold and silver had begun to circulate in many Asian cities. Especially in Japan where the pirates which had preyed on the Khans merchant ships told of ships brimming with precious metals on their way back from secret mines in a land far to the east. By 1340 these tales had become accepted as fact by most of Japanese society. Leading some to consider making the dangerous voyage to this land to find the rumored gold.. Although no documented voyages would occur until 1345 at the earliest. And even then these early treasure hunters would make landfall in the Aleutian islands and not the mainland.

The first recorded voyage to Alyska took place around 1350 at the behest of one of the greater Japanese clans which sent out three ships and seven hundred men. Ordering them not to return until they had found the source of Kublai Khans wealth. Which they intended to use to fund a conquest of all of Japan. The expedition would return by 1353 with no gold but with tales of abandoned Chinese towns and deserted fields. They claimed that the gold mines must have given out. Causing the rapid abandonment of the colony by Temür Khan shortly after the death of Kublai. A story that the clan seemed to accept as no punishment is said as being given to the unsuccessful treasure hunters.

They were far from the last expedition sent though as the myth of a Mongol gold mine refused to die. Each ended in disaster or failure. Many documented tales of men visiting the ruins of the Mongol settlement have survived (For further reading on the subject see Nippon in America, the story of Japanese explorers in the new world by professor Hikaru Malushai of the University of Aikaido. Specifically the early chapters) With each nail in the coffin of the myth the number of treasure seekers only grew until defeat was finally recognized by most in around 1370. Though a few further missions were recorded up until the turn of the century.

Hunters of a different kind.
Following hot on the heels of the treasure seekers were men interested in making their fortunes a different way. From fishing the rich grounds off Alyska`s coast which were overflowing with cod, Halibut, Mackerel, Sardines, Herring, and an assortment of other fishes. While the lands many vast rivers, lakes and streams held even more species such as trout and especially salmon in a number of different species. All species were caught in huge numbers. Making the owners of the vessels that caught them phenomenally rich, and the crews who manned the ships far from poor as well.

While the numerous species to be found in Alyska did lead to massive Japanese activity along the coast it would prove to be salmon rich would cause the establishment of permanent settlements on the mainland. These settlements, established near the deltas of many rivers and streams, served as harvesting centers where the incoming wave of salmon were caught as they made their way from the sea inland. The fish were then held in special ponds until they could be salted and placed in barrels for the journey back to Japan. Early on when the season had concluded the settlements were abandoned until next year.

Salmon species of Alyska and the north Pacific coast.Many of these species today are under the protection of the Alyskan governemnt and can only be caught in certian years.

However as the years went by and the fishing industry grew in importance and scale these settlements became more permanent. While also diversifying their business to include the building and repair of the ships of the ocean going fleet, providing entertainment and living space for sailors enjoying leave, and acting as warehouses for the catches of the increasingly permanent fishing fleet which began to sell their catch to cargo ships which made the voyage to Alyska from Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China regularly to buy and later sell fish in the markets of the great Asian cities.

In time the settlements of Alyska would come to host large populations, by 1500 the city of Umiyoshima boasted a permanent population of twenty thousand. Far more than any European settlement of the same period and more even than many cities in Europe at the time. Most of the citizens of the city were either directly or indirectly employed or had been at one time employed in the fishing industry. But a growing number of the settlers of Japanese America (a term used by many westerners who choose to treat the Japanese settlements as proper colonies of the Empire rather than private ventures originally funded by individuals and later by the clans) were employed in other fields.

By 1550 the farming of crops such as Buckwheat, rye, oats, rice in some places, as well as livestock raising. Notably cattle and later reindeer or Tonakai in Japanese (a very important animal even today for the surviving clans of the Yukon provinces) most of these crops were used to supply the fishing fleet with provisions, hardly any was sold outside of that, and none was sold for export to Japan itself. In time however the cultivation of local plants such as Majubi, Usagimi and others became an important industry as the call for spices rose during the onset of European trade, and later colonization of Asia. In time the spices and teas of Alyska would lead some Europeans to Alyskas shores. However for the moment export of spices was of very second importance to the fishing industry, though slightly ahead of the fur industry that would not come into importance until well into the first Republic period.

Thus, even while the Americas remained a vast unknown to Europe and the so called civilized world Alyska was fast becoming a place of intense interest for the Japanese. In time even Alyska would come to be called a part of Japan proper. With the cities, farms and territories of the various clans being placed alongside Japan itself in maps made from the beginning of the seventeenth century and beyond.

Fishing junk off the city of Novoyo Amsterdam today. The vessels that carried the early gold seekers, and later fishermen were of a similar, though less advanced design.
​

 

[Count of Crisco]

Second update is out now and good grief it was hard work. My computer is being retarded at the moment and whenever I start to write it jumps me up to the top of the page. Making editing nearly impossible, to say nothing of writing a complete update. Anyway this focuses on early Japanese settlement and the establishment of cities and towns along the river mouths of the major Alyskan rivers. Next week I wil write about the coming city states period and touch a little on the first European explorations of the area.
What does everyone think?

 

[ETGalaxy]

A Japanese colonial empire will certainly be interesting. Will other Asian nations colonize the New World as well? Also, what do the Japanese call the New World?

 

[pattontank12]

A Japanese colonial empire will certainly be interesting. Will other Asian nations colonize the New World as well? Also, what do the Japanese call the New World?

Land beyond the rising sun?

 

[Sceonn]

It'll also be a place of exile for many Clan or Samurai on the losing side as this is the Sengoku period. Ronin or similar could also be dumped there by the Tokugawa.

 

[Count of Crisco]

A Japanese colonial empire will certainly be interesting. Will other Asian nations colonize the New World as well? Also, what do the Japanese call the New World?

Technically Japan does have a colonial empire. However at the moment the way things stand the colony is comprised mostly of profit minded settlements based around fishing. In time this will change and a more civilized and law abiding society will be established. However even then the colony will be under only the theoretical control of the empire and the mainland clans. Most of the actual power will remain with local leaders and local Samurai.
No other nations will establish colonies because the Japanese would not allow them. And having the best ports for traveling to Alyska those that do try will likely be intercepted by Japanese warships.
As for the name I like land beyond the rising sun. Good suggestion PattonTank. I am stealing that

It'll also be a place of exile for many Clan or Samurai on the losing side as this is the Sengoku period. Ronin or similar could also be dumped there by the Tokugawa.

And yes alot of people will be exiled to the area by the clans. Many of them establishing their own power bases in the new world.

 

[pattontank12]

Wonder if we'll see any Japanese in California and the Philippines.

 

[Epimethius]

This is cool, reasonable extrapolation and novel. I love it!

 

[Count of Crisco]

This is cool, reasonable extrapolation and novel. I love it!

You all read it! I`m REASONABLE!!!
Glad it seems to be doing well.

Wonder if we'll see any Japanese in California and the Philippines.

Not really in the Philippines, but yes a few Japanese will settle as far south as California. Though in numbers to small to change much. And they will likely die out by the time Europeans arrive.

 

[Contrary]

I like this a lot. Please continue.