one crusade, as preiviously advertised elsewhere.
After this I think I will do some in depth documents. So any requests for events to be covered please post in the relevent location (in this thread that is)
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1496- Edward V of England, having given up on the Baccalar expedition, agrees with Henry Tudor that finding routes to India is more worthwhile. However he focus is remaining closer to home for the time being.
A number of raids occur along the west coast of France, Brittany and Ireland. Along with people and gold, a number of horses and cattle are also taken. These raids are being conducted by the Baccalans and the crews also include some natives.
Also George Williams discovers a lot of the east coast of the New World travelling as far as the Bahamas where he makes contact with the Taino people. He establishes trade and establishes a small settlement on the islands.
In Portugal, King Joao dies and is succeeded by his cousin Manuel I.
1497- Janos Corvinus becomes king of Hungary and Bohemia after the death of Matthias. Being illegitimate there is some uprising among the Hungarian nobles, but Janos had anticipated this and quickly crushes any opposition.
Edward attempt to re-establish control of Ireland. Landing in Dublin, he is proclaimed King of Ireland by the Irish parliament. Having anticipated unrest, he takes with him 3,000 men. Using his influence over the Fitzgeralds, quickly puts down what little opposition rises to face him. He then goes on a tour of Ireland with his army in trail as a show of force. He establishes control relatively bloodlessly and implements the reforms that had proved so successful in England to curb the power of the Irish nobility. He remains in Ireland for some time, summoning Irish nobles to his court there.
Andreas Palaiologos, believing the situation is ripe, asks the Pope Innocent to declare a crusade on the Ottomans. He begins arranging alliances and organising a grand army in anticipation. Innocent, who is himself of Greek extraction, agrees to the crusade, calling on all Christendom to provide men. Preparations are made throughout the year. He also appoints Antoine the Bastard as regent while he is at war
1498 – Three armies are assembled to partake in the 10th crusade. Andreas Palaiologos and Maximilian of Austria head an army of over 70,000 men from across Burgundy, the Holy Roman Empire and England. Edward respectfully declines taking part himself, but sends Richard Grey at the head of a body of men. Charles VIII of France leads an army of 30,000 from France, while Alfonso of Naples leads an Italian army of a similar size. Andreas, Maximilian and Charles make their way overland, while Alfonso arranges a large fleet from across Italy to carry him across the Adriatic.
The new Spanish king Juan, organises his own crusade against Granada, ignoring the Ottoman crusade. He also begins, on instruction from his mother, the Spanish Inquisition, while expelling thousands of Jews and Muslims. Those in the south of Spain flee into Granada, joining the defence of the kingdom, while those in the north flee into Navarro, which is gaining a reputation for tolerance.
1499 – Alfonso lands near Athens quickly defeating the local garrison. The local Greek population joins the crusaders, however a large Ottoman army is approaching. In the north, Janos Corvinus invades the empire with a large army. He defeats several smaller armies in the region, however he is driven back by a large Ottoman army.
Later in the year, the other crusaders arrive. Driving before them many armies and garrisons the sultan Bayezid II starts to panic. He assembles a grand army of his own in Instanbul and places it under the charge of his son Ahmed. 80,000 men march to meet the crusaders.
Edward of England and his wife Margaret have a daughter, named Edith.
1500 – Vasco de Gama succeeds where Colombo failed by finding a route to India. He lands in Calicut and establishes a trade post and gains trading rights for Portugal. He returns to Portugal a hero.
The crusaders and the Ottomans finally meet at the battle of Nis. In the largest battle in Europe, over 150,000 men fight. However the crusaders are veterans of several wars and emerge triumphant. Ahmed returns to Instanbul to find his Selim raising support for himself. A civil war erupts between the brothers while Bayezid is left to defend against the crusaders.
The Knights of Rhodes launch an attack on Smyrna, led by Richard of York. With men being called to other places, the city falls to them with relative ease. Emboldened by their success, the Knights also attack Mytilene. Though not as successful, it does eventually fall to them.
The crusaders conquer Thessalonika. In the south, Alfonso completes his conquest of Peloponnese.