Challenge: Habsburg Mali

ninebucks

Banned
With a POD after 1230, have the House of Habsburg become the ruling dynasty of the Mali Empire. There can either be a separate Mali branch of the house, or, preferably, a personal union with another Habsburg possession.
 
How would that be possible without converting to Islam? I can rather see it as a colony - have Spain conquer Morocco and go for Mali next.
 
How would that be possible without converting to Islam? I can rather see it as a colony - have Spain conquer Morocco and go for Mali next.
All we need is for Mali to become Catholic instead of Islamic.

It looks like Mansa Musa was the first Emperor to really cement Islam among the nobility and general populace? Though the problem is there's really no reason for Mali to become Catholic unless Morocco is Catholic as well, and then we bump up against the POD limit... (or have an insanely successful and fast Reconquista)
 
All we need is for Mali to become Catholic instead of Islamic.

I don't really think Catholicism is required. After all, the King of Spain held the title of King of Granada and the Russian Emperor those of Khan of Kazan and of Astrahan... emperor/king/ruler of Mali could just as well be there.
A POD would be anything that makes Habsburg Spain much more focused on North Africa; so this could be linked to TLs where Spain gets stronger.
 
I don't really think Catholicism is required. After all, the King of Spain held the title of King of Granada and the Russian Emperor those of Khan of Kazan and of Astrahan... emperor/king/ruler of Mali could just as well be there.
A POD would be anything that makes Habsburg Spain much more focused on North Africa; so this could be linked to TLs where Spain gets stronger.
Well Spain and Portugal (maybe moreso Portugal, but whatever) did try to conquer Morocco as the natural extension of the Reconquista, it's just that they had an annoying tendency to fail at it.

And Catholicism is required if you want the title to be acquired through personal union (well I guess you could have Muslim Hapsburgs, but that'd be weird), which is what I was going for initially...
 
Well Spain and Portugal (maybe moreso Portugal, but whatever) did try to conquer Morocco as the natural extension of the Reconquista, it's just that they had an annoying tendency to fail at it.

And Catholicism is required if you want the title to be acquired through personal union (well I guess you could have Muslim Hapsburgs, but that'd be weird), which is what I was going for initially...
I know that the Muslims of North Africa repulsed many attempts at Christian invasion, but if events up north lead to a much weaker France or a weaker Reformation (say an even longer HYW or a more succesful Counter-Reformation), then Morroco might face the full strength of Spain, which by the 16th century had overwhelming resources at its disposal.
If only a personal union is allowed than yes, Catholicism is necessary but if a Habsburg ruled Mali counts, religion is irrelevant imo.
 
Top