Most likely, i just couldn't resist imagining a droid with an iron cross in the chest saying "roger, roger" and being comically stupid.
For Want of A Sandwich - A Franz Ferdinand Lives Wikibox TL
- Thread starter MaskedPickle
- Start date
Guess an Farsi or Arabic version of Bayraktar would be more appropriate for this TL, then.
Hubert Humphrey inventing LSD and making shrooms a pharmacological therepeutic was NOT on my bingo card!
That’s good to know, you win some things, you lose some others.
Anyways, next question: what are the statuses of the following religions like in this timeline?:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Judaism
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
A special update for me : I happened to meet Nikola Petrovic-Njegos, who was a classmate of my uncle and an acquaintance of my mother. He is a really laid back dude, my friends were astonished when I said to them : "Hey, see? That's the guy who would be King of Montenegro !"
They are regular women, I will try to put on a note about it.
Russia had a fight with Iran in the 1990s relative to Central Asia, so they don't like them.
The Germans didn't intervene in Iran. The Bagdadbahn fell into economic oblivion due to the progress of air freight and cargo, it's still a big tourist attraction, like the Transsiberian.
I surely will, I made some matches earlier but it would be good.
-Islam is more positively seen. Political islamism is a thing but not as powerful as today, more of a fringe movement in the Middle East at least.
-Jewish populations are still huge in Europe, mostly Eastern. Zionism is rejuvenating but Israel has not a snowball's chance in hell to be created.
-Hinduism has a lot of bad rap due to the persecutions in Bharatavarsha. The Hindu populations abroad lesser so.
-Still great, not a thing among celebrities. The Dalai Lama is seen not as a hero but as a relic of feudal times.
Thank you so much, your appreciations mean a lot to me !
It's a thing for countries with aging population (Japan, Korea, Europe) and with a shitload of money (the Emirates).
They are regular women, I will try to put on a note about it.
Russia had a fight with Iran in the 1990s relative to Central Asia, so they don't like them.
As of the Orléans, my sight would be that they are desperately seeking approval of the other dynasties, who saw them as a rump monarchy in Algiers : so as long as they are marrying royals, they are okay on religion.
There was one in France, which got succesful.
The Germans didn't intervene in Iran. The Bagdadbahn fell into economic oblivion due to the progress of air freight and cargo, it's still a big tourist attraction, like the Transsiberian.
I surely will, I made some matches earlier but it would be good.
It's nothing like Star Wars : drones have long been a thing (and are mostly used in the Mesopotamian War) but the combat robots I speak about are more like huge mechas. Mainstream militaries are reluctant to give them weapons, so they are more on scouting, support, supplying and communications.
That was I hoped !
-Christianity is great, Orthodoxy is mingled with local governments, Protestantism is as various and the Religious Right is not as powerful as it is in the US, and Catholicism has its share of splinter movements due to the shock created by the assassination of the Pope during the World War.
-Islam is more positively seen. Political islamism is a thing but not as powerful as today, more of a fringe movement in the Middle East at least.
-Jewish populations are still huge in Europe, mostly Eastern. Zionism is rejuvenating but Israel has not a snowball's chance in hell to be created.
-Hinduism has a lot of bad rap due to the persecutions in Bharatavarsha. The Hindu populations abroad lesser so.
-Still great, not a thing among celebrities. The Dalai Lama is seen not as a hero but as a relic of feudal times.
Speaking of which, what is the Dalai Lama doing ITTL? Is he in China or in exile? On that note, how are Tibet, Xinjiang, and Mongolia faring under the RoC ITTL?
Then again, nothing is preventing the Arabs or Iranians from jury-rigging armed versions of them.
Speaking of trains, how is high-speed rail doing compared to OTL and what countries are leaders in it compared to our TL?
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Maybe the Orléans, which i seriously doubt as they were widely recognized by other dynasties and already related to them several times over and a marriage to them would be a way to influence Algiers France i can see any catholic dynasty eyeing them amd salivating (remember OTL they almost got their chance to return after the Franco Prussian war. Now, the other alternatives would be the Ex-King of Spain Jaime which would bring a personal union so neither Germany or UK will allow to happen or the Bonaparte who nobody would seriously back at that point in time so it's only the Orléans) Also, Françoise's mother almost married Albert I of Belgium but Leopold II feared republican France's reaction to that match and forced them to cancel it. Reactions from the other countries (Including mainland France have to be taken im consideration).
I don't know what does the Petrovic-Njegos have to gain from that unless every other country in Europe is hostile to them, they would want a powerful ally and backer (So either Germany, Italy or Russia as Austria has already lost Hungary and receded from the Balkans). Royal France, being exiled, would not really be a top priority for such a small country, i think. Remember also that Françoise married in 1929 OTL so there has to be a reason for her to wait another 12 years not finding any other husband. On 1941 she would be 38-39 (additonal can of worms, it would be seen at that time as a disgrace to never marry by that age) and Michael is by then the last heir and hope of the Montenegrin dynasty (all his brothers are already deceased). Marrying in that time someone that old is playing with the fate of your dynasty. Its something like Aleksandr of Serbia and Draga and would create a lot of blowback at home. Her son would be born when she is 41-42, it can biologically happen but i'm not sure how common that would be.
P.S. Also just noticed that you had Danilo abdicate as in OTL, not sure how likely that would happen. OTL Montenegro had been absorbed by Serbia by that point and he was married to a german so maybe that influenced him but even then it caused indignation although no "real" damage was done. ITTL the monarchy is still going so there is an additional legal hurdle to pass over, it is different to abdicate as pretender than as King. To abdicate in favor of a 14 years old boy, who was the son of a Black Hand member no less (no FF assassination ITTL but the attempt was made) would give Austria an excuse to invade, maybe even Serbia. That could doom Montenegro. This would make IMO most unlikely that Mihailo waits till 1941 to marry and all the more desperate to get local allies.
by 1941 it depends where Montenegro would look towards:
- Russia is resurgent and could try to reinfluence the Balkans now that Austria is no longen a concern. From there, maybe consider Catherine Ivanovna of Russia (1915-) she is First cousin to the Serbian King and 1st Cousin 1x removed to Mihailo or her aunt Vera Konstantinovna (1906-). There is also Maria and Kira Kirillovna (Daughters of first cousins and their line was not well liked in by the leading Romanovs so maybe not) or Xenia Andreevna (1919) but she comes form a OTL morganatic marriage so that would have to change.
- Italy has only the non first cousin princess i mentioned.
- Germany: If Danilo abdicates and Jutta has no say, the two other options would not likely be considered (Maybe Thyra). Prussia has a lot of marriageble Princesses at the time: Marie Therese (1911-), Luise Henriette (1912-), Cecilie Viktoria, Viktoria Marina, Luise Viktoria (all 1917-) and Elisabeth (1919-).
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Interesting. I was not expecting mechas of all things. How huge are we talking about? Pacific Rim or more like Titanfall? Can they fly?
Ah i forgot Russia took out a big chunk of Iran, they would not really be on good terms. The German intervention i think i read in another TL, my bad! Then i second the question of what brings the Iran supporters to it, is it merely to oppose Russia or is there more to it? (I can picture that being the reason for China at least)
so France is out of Reichspakt and EEC then?
On that note, how much in the war of left-wing or ultranationalist agitation was there in Russia in the aftermath of the Vladivostok bombing and aside from the Tsar and PM, what major figures were vaporized in the Vladivostok bombing (including noting what was "Ground Zero" for the bombing).
Country profile - Sharjah
New
Sharjah is a country in the Middle East. It is bordered in the north and west by the Persian Gulf, in the west and south by Dubai and Abu Dhabi and in the south by Oman.
History
Under control of the Al Qasimi clan since the 18th century, Sharjah prospered thanks to pearl fishing and an excellent location in the Persian Gulf, before becoming a British protectorate in 1820. Forming the Trucial States along with the neighboring emirates, Sharjah had to deal with Hashemite expansion and failed, along with them, to form a proper federation by 1971. But the transition to independence of the small emirate was marred with internal turmoil.
Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan had been Emir of Sharjah since 1951 when he was deposed by the British in 1965, who saw his socialist and Pan-Arabic sensibilities, unusual in the ruling caste, as a threat against their control of the Persian Gulf. Replaced by his cousin Khalid bin Mohammad, Saqr bin Sultan made an explosive return on 24 January 1972, arriving in Sharjah with a number of mercenaries and seized power in a coup, assassinating his cousin in the process. The coup saw no reaction from neighboring countries : the restored Emir was nevertheless warned by the Great Powers that any moves to join the Hashemite Empire would be met with a massive repercussion. Decided to make Sharjah a model Arabic country, Saqr bin Sultan welcomed the declaration of independence on 16 October 1973… Then astounded the world by proclaiming a republic on 24 January 1974, with himself as President.
A political anomaly, the Republic of Sharjah was less of a socialist paradise and more of a personal playground for Saqr al Qasimi, the “President-Emir”, who saw himself as an enlightened despot who would develop a fiefdom aimed at inspiring the Arab people, without the strife of the Hashemite Empire, the scope of democracy being hindered by strict application of the Sharia and forbidding of opposition parties, being an absolute monarchy in everything but in name, the “President-Emir” justifying himself by thinking that the people of Sharjah would first need to educate themselves. It was enough to convince the small emirates of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain to join the republic in 1979, but not to convince other countries, even if al-Qasimi’s economic policies managed to make the small republic prosper into the 21st century.
Al-Qasimi passed in 1993 and was succeeded, in true monarchic-republican fashion, by his son Sultan bin Saqr. Himself an unprepared ruler, he was deposed in 1999 in a military coup and replaced by Rashid al-Leem, who maintains himself as President to this day.
Political situation
Established by an Emir who fancied himself a President, Sharjah is a presidential republic, granting to the head of state powers that could be seen in absolute monarchies, while the Majlis, the local Parliament, maintains a consultative role and is almost fully appointed by the executive. All opposition parties are forbidden, given the regime’s continuous assumption of al-Qasimi’s policy of “teaching the Sharjahnese to be democrats”, a transitional state in the mold of the “dictatorship of the proletariat”, that has been ongoing since 1974.
Rashid al-Leem has been President of Sharjah since 16 April 1999 and has been reelected in 2000, 2007, 2014 and 2021, with scores superior every time to 99 %, being the only candidate running. An oil executive, al-Leem was designated by the Sharjahnese Army to lead the Republic after the al-Qasimi clan had been forced into exile in Egypt. Even if the face of the regime has changed, the regime remains the same, with all appearances of democracy being obliterated and al-Leem riding on the prosperity of the former Emirate to stay in place, along with the benevolent eye of the Great Powers and the Hashemite Empire.
Social situation, population
The least populated of the former Trucial States, Sharjah is also the only one who doesn’t rely on foreign manpower to maintain its economy, while the President-Emir’s economic policies managed to establish a standard of living lesser than Abu Dhabi and Dubai but nevertheless on par with Europe ; even if inequalities remain high, they are not as dramatic as they are in neighboring countries. As such, the University of Sharjah remains renowned as is growing.
Being a dictatorship, Sharjah’s basic freedoms are very low, with all opposition being silenced, but the republic is also the only one in the former Trucial States to enact the Sharia, with alcohol consumption and sale being prohibited and punishable by heavy fines, while decency laws remain strict and apostasy of Islam being a capital offense.
Economy
The oil and gas revenues of Sharjah are important but much less than those of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, just neighboring ; using his personal wealth, the President-Emir made everything to prepare the transition of the economy into the 21st century, setting up a sovereign fund that diversified investments in technology, real estate, finance and manufacturing, along with being able to establish a limited welfare state able to tend to the average citizens’ need. Nowadays, the Sharjahnese are still benefitting for this astute choice, enjoying a high standard of living while becoming a medium trade hub in the Persian Gulf, between Europe and the Far East, while his port in one of the fastest growing container ports. Tourism also plays a strong role in nowadays’ economy.
Military
The Sharjahnese Army was developed in order to protect the new republic’s independence, in face of a huge Hashemite Empire next door and other emirates, more populated and wealthier. With conscription in effect, and the army being the main force behind the 1999 coup that put al-Leem in power, the Sharjahnese Army benefits of total support from the presidency, investing in brand new equipment, straight from Germany or the United States. Put in alert since the Second Mesopotamian War started, the Sharjahnese Army also made headlines by being the first sovereign state to purchase military robots from Mariya, becoming the first state to deploy artificial autonomous entities in combat.
Culture
Al-Qasimi’s fortune was also given to give Sharjah his own distinct cultural identity, both as a propaganda tool and as a way to guarantee the country’s independence ; if the President-Emir was able to secure renowned masterpieces from the depleted French and Spanish museums to plenish the Saqr al-Qasimi Republican Museum, and also other establishments focused on natural history, science and islamic art, his efforts to make Sharjah a high place of filmmaking failed. Nowadays, tourism remains a high staple of the country’s economy, even if the strict application of islamic law tend to stop all wishful thiking of more unbridled tourism.
History
Under control of the Al Qasimi clan since the 18th century, Sharjah prospered thanks to pearl fishing and an excellent location in the Persian Gulf, before becoming a British protectorate in 1820. Forming the Trucial States along with the neighboring emirates, Sharjah had to deal with Hashemite expansion and failed, along with them, to form a proper federation by 1971. But the transition to independence of the small emirate was marred with internal turmoil.
Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan had been Emir of Sharjah since 1951 when he was deposed by the British in 1965, who saw his socialist and Pan-Arabic sensibilities, unusual in the ruling caste, as a threat against their control of the Persian Gulf. Replaced by his cousin Khalid bin Mohammad, Saqr bin Sultan made an explosive return on 24 January 1972, arriving in Sharjah with a number of mercenaries and seized power in a coup, assassinating his cousin in the process. The coup saw no reaction from neighboring countries : the restored Emir was nevertheless warned by the Great Powers that any moves to join the Hashemite Empire would be met with a massive repercussion. Decided to make Sharjah a model Arabic country, Saqr bin Sultan welcomed the declaration of independence on 16 October 1973… Then astounded the world by proclaiming a republic on 24 January 1974, with himself as President.
A political anomaly, the Republic of Sharjah was less of a socialist paradise and more of a personal playground for Saqr al Qasimi, the “President-Emir”, who saw himself as an enlightened despot who would develop a fiefdom aimed at inspiring the Arab people, without the strife of the Hashemite Empire, the scope of democracy being hindered by strict application of the Sharia and forbidding of opposition parties, being an absolute monarchy in everything but in name, the “President-Emir” justifying himself by thinking that the people of Sharjah would first need to educate themselves. It was enough to convince the small emirates of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain to join the republic in 1979, but not to convince other countries, even if al-Qasimi’s economic policies managed to make the small republic prosper into the 21st century.
Al-Qasimi passed in 1993 and was succeeded, in true monarchic-republican fashion, by his son Sultan bin Saqr. Himself an unprepared ruler, he was deposed in 1999 in a military coup and replaced by Rashid al-Leem, who maintains himself as President to this day.
Political situation
Established by an Emir who fancied himself a President, Sharjah is a presidential republic, granting to the head of state powers that could be seen in absolute monarchies, while the Majlis, the local Parliament, maintains a consultative role and is almost fully appointed by the executive. All opposition parties are forbidden, given the regime’s continuous assumption of al-Qasimi’s policy of “teaching the Sharjahnese to be democrats”, a transitional state in the mold of the “dictatorship of the proletariat”, that has been ongoing since 1974.
Rashid al-Leem has been President of Sharjah since 16 April 1999 and has been reelected in 2000, 2007, 2014 and 2021, with scores superior every time to 99 %, being the only candidate running. An oil executive, al-Leem was designated by the Sharjahnese Army to lead the Republic after the al-Qasimi clan had been forced into exile in Egypt. Even if the face of the regime has changed, the regime remains the same, with all appearances of democracy being obliterated and al-Leem riding on the prosperity of the former Emirate to stay in place, along with the benevolent eye of the Great Powers and the Hashemite Empire.
Social situation, population
The least populated of the former Trucial States, Sharjah is also the only one who doesn’t rely on foreign manpower to maintain its economy, while the President-Emir’s economic policies managed to establish a standard of living lesser than Abu Dhabi and Dubai but nevertheless on par with Europe ; even if inequalities remain high, they are not as dramatic as they are in neighboring countries. As such, the University of Sharjah remains renowned as is growing.
Being a dictatorship, Sharjah’s basic freedoms are very low, with all opposition being silenced, but the republic is also the only one in the former Trucial States to enact the Sharia, with alcohol consumption and sale being prohibited and punishable by heavy fines, while decency laws remain strict and apostasy of Islam being a capital offense.
Economy
The oil and gas revenues of Sharjah are important but much less than those of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, just neighboring ; using his personal wealth, the President-Emir made everything to prepare the transition of the economy into the 21st century, setting up a sovereign fund that diversified investments in technology, real estate, finance and manufacturing, along with being able to establish a limited welfare state able to tend to the average citizens’ need. Nowadays, the Sharjahnese are still benefitting for this astute choice, enjoying a high standard of living while becoming a medium trade hub in the Persian Gulf, between Europe and the Far East, while his port in one of the fastest growing container ports. Tourism also plays a strong role in nowadays’ economy.
Military
The Sharjahnese Army was developed in order to protect the new republic’s independence, in face of a huge Hashemite Empire next door and other emirates, more populated and wealthier. With conscription in effect, and the army being the main force behind the 1999 coup that put al-Leem in power, the Sharjahnese Army benefits of total support from the presidency, investing in brand new equipment, straight from Germany or the United States. Put in alert since the Second Mesopotamian War started, the Sharjahnese Army also made headlines by being the first sovereign state to purchase military robots from Mariya, becoming the first state to deploy artificial autonomous entities in combat.
Culture
Al-Qasimi’s fortune was also given to give Sharjah his own distinct cultural identity, both as a propaganda tool and as a way to guarantee the country’s independence ; if the President-Emir was able to secure renowned masterpieces from the depleted French and Spanish museums to plenish the Saqr al-Qasimi Republican Museum, and also other establishments focused on natural history, science and islamic art, his efforts to make Sharjah a high place of filmmaking failed. Nowadays, tourism remains a high staple of the country’s economy, even if the strict application of islamic law tend to stop all wishful thiking of more unbridled tourism.
The Dalai Lama resides in Lhasa, in the Potala Palace, and is well respect. Tibet, Xinjiang, Mongolia enjoy autonomy and acknowledgement of their languages.
High-speed rail is everywhere. The United States, thanks for President Driscoll, is a leading country, and so's Germany.
Thank you very much.
Danilo abdicated due to Italy's pressure and also seeing that Serbian annexation was pushing. I didn't thought of Mihailo's connexion to the Black Hand, due to having Sarajevo fail, it wouldn't be an issue : the Austrians would be too happy to help to divide Serbia. Thank for your remarks, I will find another match for Mihailo then.
It wasn't so much of a civil war (the term is not used, and not approved, in Russia) , but as a spread of independantist movements, in Ukraine, White Ruthenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and other places. The left and the right remained tight, united behind Lebed.
It's more of the big things you could see in Empire Earth, like mini-mechas in fact, not something the size of Pacific Rim or Evangelion. Flight is still an issue.
It's to threaten the hegemony of the Hashemites on oil and also to provide a counter-power in the Middle East, and to bet on the next big power. And also to weaken Russia, Germany and others.
Out of both of them, yes.
Uhmm, I'm not sure i completely understand what you mean here with Italy and dividing Serbia. Why were they against Danilo so much (he's brother-in-law to the King of Italy after all)? Even if Austria would love to see Serbia fall, they would oppose any Italian increase of power in the region up until they themselves blow up in 1926, especially Mihailo with the Black Hand thing of his father. If anything, maybe delay Danilo's abdication till 1926-1929? In that period Austria and Germany are otherwise engaged and after Austria falls, Germany needs to rethink their balkans approach. Everything depends on who goes where on the GEW (as far as i remember you initially have Germany, A-H, Ottomans vs France and Russia but not sure where the others fall, could you confirm all the participants of the war?). To find a good match younwould have to first see how are Montenegrin relations to their neighbors and who could he normally meet.
Got it. How recent is this? 1990's, 2000's?
Understandable
Any additional tensions between them? It would be a big powder keg and could bring up the Franco-German enmity again if France recovers some its earlier standing as a World Power. Germany would probably be sweating bullets.
I believe he just misread the question and got confused with a war in Poland.
That or mighty Bharatavarsha colonized Eastern Europe!
Aside from the Ukrainians, any prominent figures in these secessionist movements here?
Speaking of the Hashemites, what kind of military do they have?