Glimpses Of History
- Thread starter Tynnin
- Start date
A Tale Of A City
In 9 AD The Battle of Teutoburg Forest saw the defeat of three Roman Legion at the hands of the Arminius, Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, and Bructeri. The outrage in Rome, particularly by its highest citizen, was immediate and vengeful. New legions were levied and by 14 AD Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus had begun the assault to retake the lands beyond the Rhine. By 16 AD the war drew to a victorious end for the Roman Empire with the final campaign led by the Emperor Tiberius himself against the remaining Marsi tribes.
Colonia Agrippina was founded during this war (although officially it did not become a town until 40 AD). By years end in 14 AD Germanicus had significant footholds on the eastern bank of the Rhine though his brilliance came in establishing a military camp behind the warring tribes. Colonia Agrippina was set up along the banks of the Elbe river (roughly OTL Hamburg) and would become a major supply depot for the war and after.
Colonia Agrippina would become a focal point for peace after the war as well as the provincial capital in 42 AD. Despite imperial orders to punish the inhabitants of the new territory with enslavement and heavy taxation to help pay for the war Germanicus, now the military governor, felt differently. His efforts to maintain peace in the region would have long standing ramifications. Specifically would be his “Tribal Assembly” which was seated out of Colonia Aggrippina and helped to spread and incorporate the Roman way of life – modern historians feel that in actuality Germanicus was trying to establish a local republic with perhaps the intention of eventually rivaling Rome, however, the level of cooperation for such a plan never came into fruition.
What really allowed the town of Colonia Agrippina and the region as a whole to grow was the introduction of farming techniques around 50 AD that had been primarily used in Gaul. Growth, however, that was stalled during the tribal rebellion between 69-71AD (the Batavian, Marcomanni, as well as other Scythian tribes).
Despite being virtually ignored under Emperor Trajan the early part of the second century did see the development of homes in Colonia Agrippina using central heating systems. However, the lack of military presence in Germanica Superior during Trajan’s reign leads to a series of rebellions and invasions between 120 and 130 AD. The Emperor Hadrian would return to the region and extend the borders of the empire to the Vistula river (in 128 construction began on a number of fortification along the Vistula – effectively marking the high water mark for the empire in that region). Though Colonia Agrippina was spared much of the trouble of this period it did suffer some damage during the riots of 136 AD when a wave of Jewish persecution swept through the empire.
In 168AD a new era came to Colonia Agrippina when the Antonine Plague settled upon the city. A few years later and throughout the 170s Christianity began making major inroads into the region and especially that of Colonia Agrippina as it was viewed by many missionaries as a stepping stone to the heathen lands of the north. Disease, riots, persecutions, and now invasion strike the province in 178 AD. A panic stricken populous largely evacuates Colonia Agrippina as news of the loss of the Vistula fortifications arrives. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, already at war along the Danube, sends his son Commodus and a legion to take control of the situation. Commodus arrives in Colonia Agrippina and there is no evidence to suggest he ever left the city (the next information we have is Commodus leaving the city and the region with the very legion he was sent to defend it with to return to Rome to claim his inheritance at the news of his father’s death). Over the next ten years Germania Superior is all but abandoned to the Scythian invasion. In 195AD Rome further alienates Germania and its capital city of Colonia Agrippina when Septimius Severus deifies Commodus. In this same year, Governor Lucius Priscus is able to negotiate a peace, for Colonia Agrippina at least, with the Gothic war chief. In 197 Albinus rises up against Severus and Colonia Agrippina (with the backing of what remained of Germania Inferior/Superior) join in the rebellion and at the Battle of Lugdunum is able to win victory for what was to be called The Romani Britannica Empire.
In 210 AD Colonia Agrippina begins to expand once again as the R.B. Empire goes to war with the Goths, eventually pushing the borders back to the Vistula. Cutting his teeth under this campaign is Alaric Germanicus, a brutal general who was born, raised, trained, in Colonia Agrippina, and later becomes governor of Germania. By 235 this popular figure begins his own campaign to become emperor. In 240 he defeats the Britannian legions, abandoning the island never to set foot on it again, and spends the next 2 years pacifying Gaul. In 256 the splendor of the new capital of the Empire of Germania and Gaul is sacked by a Gothic invasion but reclaimed a year later by Emperor Arius. Three years later the city is again sacked and held by the Alani for a period of 2 years when Emperor Arius is forced to travel west to put down a series of revolts (the first of many conflicts between the largely Christian east and the polytheistic west). The Gothic invasion is finally put to an end in 271 but Colonia Agrippina is conquered once more in 275 by Emperor Aurelian of the Roman Empire and by 276 the Empire of Germania and Gaul is no more.
In 301 AD Colonia Agrippina rebels against Diocletian’s Christian persecution (a cause that is given to greater numbers after the Emperor contracts a fatal illness a few years later). By 312 however the rumors of another civil war are largely put to rest when Constantine passes the Edict of Toleration. The empire splitting seems to have been merely postponed because at the death of Constantine in 336 each of his children became co-rulers. Constantius was given Italia and North Africa, Constans was given Gaul and Spain, Constantine II was given Asia Minor, and Alexander was given Germania. Peace is short lived and in 340 AD the Empire is at war with itself – five years later with little gained peace is declared.
During his reign Alexander would start a number of public works projects many of which involved rebuilding temples to be rededicated to the Christian God. Most of these tasks would be completed by his son Felix who at the death of this father inherited Colonia Agrippina, Germania, and a growing unrest with the greater Roman Empire. Which is why in 356 AD Felix becomes the first of the co-emperors to announce his independence of the Roman Empire; laying personal claim to all lands within the Rhine, Danube, and Vistula. By 360 AD the Roman Empire ceases to be as each of the co-emperors secedes from the others.
In 358 AD Colonia Agrippina appoints its first bishop and by 360 all non-Christian temples within the city limits are closed. During the 360’s while the other co-emperors were at war with each other or putting down their own rebellions Germanica is thrust into conflict with the Visigoths. And about 10 years later these two warring factions come to a peace to fight jointly against the Hun invasion. In 390 AD the tables are reversed again and Germania and the Visigoths are at war again.
In 400 AD, during the last attempts of the Visigoths to permanently invade Germania Cologne (as the city was starting to be called) hosts the Council of Cologne at which the official biblical canon is decided upon. By 480 however fresh invasions succeed where others had failed and Cologne is captured by the Franks, Clovis I takes the city as his capital although moves that title to Trier in 485. Cologne remains a city within the Empire of the Franks (the borders of which are never fully secured or defined) but for the most part faces a steady depopulation and decline over the next 3 and a half centuries.
Cologne becomes important again in 840 AD when the Empire of the Franks is divided among the heirs of Louis the Pious. Louis the German establishes his capital in Cologne using its history and heritage to further cement his holdings east of the Rhine. The dynastic troubles of the 860’s gave the city a rebirth in art and architecture as competing family members tried to win over the population. And by 883 Charles the Fat throne at Cologne rules over Gaul, Germania, with the lands beyond the Baltic Sea and the Vistula paying tribute. Though how much of this is true is in contention as Charles and his successors were constantly fighting off the hit and run attacks of the Vikings, the Rus, and other roaming tribes of the steppes.
In 1090 AD Pope Urban II issues an edict for the creation of a Christian Army. Otto II of the German Empire gladly commits the resources of his lands to the liberation of the Holy Land: thus begins the First Crusade.
By 1255 the fortunes of Cologne and the German Empire are tested when the city is besieged by the Mongols for 10 months. Though the siege is ultimately lifted, over the next 15 years the crown of the German Empire is put to the task of fighting, and usually loosing, a war with the Mongols.
Between 1270 and 1278 AD Cologne and the German Empire are faced with further despair when the death of Louis VII leads to civil war between Olaf of Bohemia, Hector (the Greek) – each a cousin of the late emperor – and Thadin the Dane (grandson to the late emperor). Cologne will change hands 13 times in the course of the 8 year civil war. Eventually Thadin the Dane is hailed as the new emperor, albeit over a slightly smaller empire.
In 1350 AD Cologne is devastated by the Black Death the survivors of which would face a war with the Ottoman Empire that started in 1379. The next generation would fight invaders from the north in 1435 as the Scandinavian Union branches out to lay claim to the Danes of the northern peninsula. Cologne is besieged for 2 months in 1436 which after it was lifted was the last battle to be fought on German soil. After a short peace again legions are being levied in Cologne to fight another war with the Ottomans in 1445.
The next major event occurs in 1610 when Emperor Albert II proclaims that the German Empire is a continental power not a colonial one. Perhaps such a proclamation should have been a warning to the other nations but most were largely taken by surprise when in 1615 Henry V, the son of the late emperor, begins his campaign to reform the Roman Empire in all its glory. His efforts however meet with little excitement in Cologne and in 1620 he is deposed by an angry mod of soldiers and citizens. He regains the throne ten years later, and is finally defeated in 1642 at the Battle of Ravenna.
In 1645 the legacy of Henry V is civil war, Gaul splits from the empire, and the capital is moved to Frankfurt at the end of the war by Clovis III who felt Cologne had become too corrupt to govern wisely. The city falls into obscurity once again becoming just another city in the reduced German Empire until 1890 when war sweeps the world. It is captured by the Scandinavian Union in 1892 and held until the end of the war in 1901 (though several attempts are made to liberate the city). Rebuilding efforts in the years after the World War made Cologne one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. This trend continued through on into the modern day where Cologne has become a world leader in scientific and technological development.
In 9 AD The Battle of Teutoburg Forest saw the defeat of three Roman Legion at the hands of the Arminius, Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, and Bructeri. The outrage in Rome, particularly by its highest citizen, was immediate and vengeful. New legions were levied and by 14 AD Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus had begun the assault to retake the lands beyond the Rhine. By 16 AD the war drew to a victorious end for the Roman Empire with the final campaign led by the Emperor Tiberius himself against the remaining Marsi tribes.
Colonia Agrippina was founded during this war (although officially it did not become a town until 40 AD). By years end in 14 AD Germanicus had significant footholds on the eastern bank of the Rhine though his brilliance came in establishing a military camp behind the warring tribes. Colonia Agrippina was set up along the banks of the Elbe river (roughly OTL Hamburg) and would become a major supply depot for the war and after.
Colonia Agrippina would become a focal point for peace after the war as well as the provincial capital in 42 AD. Despite imperial orders to punish the inhabitants of the new territory with enslavement and heavy taxation to help pay for the war Germanicus, now the military governor, felt differently. His efforts to maintain peace in the region would have long standing ramifications. Specifically would be his “Tribal Assembly” which was seated out of Colonia Aggrippina and helped to spread and incorporate the Roman way of life – modern historians feel that in actuality Germanicus was trying to establish a local republic with perhaps the intention of eventually rivaling Rome, however, the level of cooperation for such a plan never came into fruition.
What really allowed the town of Colonia Agrippina and the region as a whole to grow was the introduction of farming techniques around 50 AD that had been primarily used in Gaul. Growth, however, that was stalled during the tribal rebellion between 69-71AD (the Batavian, Marcomanni, as well as other Scythian tribes).
Despite being virtually ignored under Emperor Trajan the early part of the second century did see the development of homes in Colonia Agrippina using central heating systems. However, the lack of military presence in Germanica Superior during Trajan’s reign leads to a series of rebellions and invasions between 120 and 130 AD. The Emperor Hadrian would return to the region and extend the borders of the empire to the Vistula river (in 128 construction began on a number of fortification along the Vistula – effectively marking the high water mark for the empire in that region). Though Colonia Agrippina was spared much of the trouble of this period it did suffer some damage during the riots of 136 AD when a wave of Jewish persecution swept through the empire.
In 168AD a new era came to Colonia Agrippina when the Antonine Plague settled upon the city. A few years later and throughout the 170s Christianity began making major inroads into the region and especially that of Colonia Agrippina as it was viewed by many missionaries as a stepping stone to the heathen lands of the north. Disease, riots, persecutions, and now invasion strike the province in 178 AD. A panic stricken populous largely evacuates Colonia Agrippina as news of the loss of the Vistula fortifications arrives. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, already at war along the Danube, sends his son Commodus and a legion to take control of the situation. Commodus arrives in Colonia Agrippina and there is no evidence to suggest he ever left the city (the next information we have is Commodus leaving the city and the region with the very legion he was sent to defend it with to return to Rome to claim his inheritance at the news of his father’s death). Over the next ten years Germania Superior is all but abandoned to the Scythian invasion. In 195AD Rome further alienates Germania and its capital city of Colonia Agrippina when Septimius Severus deifies Commodus. In this same year, Governor Lucius Priscus is able to negotiate a peace, for Colonia Agrippina at least, with the Gothic war chief. In 197 Albinus rises up against Severus and Colonia Agrippina (with the backing of what remained of Germania Inferior/Superior) join in the rebellion and at the Battle of Lugdunum is able to win victory for what was to be called The Romani Britannica Empire.
In 210 AD Colonia Agrippina begins to expand once again as the R.B. Empire goes to war with the Goths, eventually pushing the borders back to the Vistula. Cutting his teeth under this campaign is Alaric Germanicus, a brutal general who was born, raised, trained, in Colonia Agrippina, and later becomes governor of Germania. By 235 this popular figure begins his own campaign to become emperor. In 240 he defeats the Britannian legions, abandoning the island never to set foot on it again, and spends the next 2 years pacifying Gaul. In 256 the splendor of the new capital of the Empire of Germania and Gaul is sacked by a Gothic invasion but reclaimed a year later by Emperor Arius. Three years later the city is again sacked and held by the Alani for a period of 2 years when Emperor Arius is forced to travel west to put down a series of revolts (the first of many conflicts between the largely Christian east and the polytheistic west). The Gothic invasion is finally put to an end in 271 but Colonia Agrippina is conquered once more in 275 by Emperor Aurelian of the Roman Empire and by 276 the Empire of Germania and Gaul is no more.
In 301 AD Colonia Agrippina rebels against Diocletian’s Christian persecution (a cause that is given to greater numbers after the Emperor contracts a fatal illness a few years later). By 312 however the rumors of another civil war are largely put to rest when Constantine passes the Edict of Toleration. The empire splitting seems to have been merely postponed because at the death of Constantine in 336 each of his children became co-rulers. Constantius was given Italia and North Africa, Constans was given Gaul and Spain, Constantine II was given Asia Minor, and Alexander was given Germania. Peace is short lived and in 340 AD the Empire is at war with itself – five years later with little gained peace is declared.
During his reign Alexander would start a number of public works projects many of which involved rebuilding temples to be rededicated to the Christian God. Most of these tasks would be completed by his son Felix who at the death of this father inherited Colonia Agrippina, Germania, and a growing unrest with the greater Roman Empire. Which is why in 356 AD Felix becomes the first of the co-emperors to announce his independence of the Roman Empire; laying personal claim to all lands within the Rhine, Danube, and Vistula. By 360 AD the Roman Empire ceases to be as each of the co-emperors secedes from the others.
In 358 AD Colonia Agrippina appoints its first bishop and by 360 all non-Christian temples within the city limits are closed. During the 360’s while the other co-emperors were at war with each other or putting down their own rebellions Germanica is thrust into conflict with the Visigoths. And about 10 years later these two warring factions come to a peace to fight jointly against the Hun invasion. In 390 AD the tables are reversed again and Germania and the Visigoths are at war again.
In 400 AD, during the last attempts of the Visigoths to permanently invade Germania Cologne (as the city was starting to be called) hosts the Council of Cologne at which the official biblical canon is decided upon. By 480 however fresh invasions succeed where others had failed and Cologne is captured by the Franks, Clovis I takes the city as his capital although moves that title to Trier in 485. Cologne remains a city within the Empire of the Franks (the borders of which are never fully secured or defined) but for the most part faces a steady depopulation and decline over the next 3 and a half centuries.
Cologne becomes important again in 840 AD when the Empire of the Franks is divided among the heirs of Louis the Pious. Louis the German establishes his capital in Cologne using its history and heritage to further cement his holdings east of the Rhine. The dynastic troubles of the 860’s gave the city a rebirth in art and architecture as competing family members tried to win over the population. And by 883 Charles the Fat throne at Cologne rules over Gaul, Germania, with the lands beyond the Baltic Sea and the Vistula paying tribute. Though how much of this is true is in contention as Charles and his successors were constantly fighting off the hit and run attacks of the Vikings, the Rus, and other roaming tribes of the steppes.
In 1090 AD Pope Urban II issues an edict for the creation of a Christian Army. Otto II of the German Empire gladly commits the resources of his lands to the liberation of the Holy Land: thus begins the First Crusade.
By 1255 the fortunes of Cologne and the German Empire are tested when the city is besieged by the Mongols for 10 months. Though the siege is ultimately lifted, over the next 15 years the crown of the German Empire is put to the task of fighting, and usually loosing, a war with the Mongols.
Between 1270 and 1278 AD Cologne and the German Empire are faced with further despair when the death of Louis VII leads to civil war between Olaf of Bohemia, Hector (the Greek) – each a cousin of the late emperor – and Thadin the Dane (grandson to the late emperor). Cologne will change hands 13 times in the course of the 8 year civil war. Eventually Thadin the Dane is hailed as the new emperor, albeit over a slightly smaller empire.
In 1350 AD Cologne is devastated by the Black Death the survivors of which would face a war with the Ottoman Empire that started in 1379. The next generation would fight invaders from the north in 1435 as the Scandinavian Union branches out to lay claim to the Danes of the northern peninsula. Cologne is besieged for 2 months in 1436 which after it was lifted was the last battle to be fought on German soil. After a short peace again legions are being levied in Cologne to fight another war with the Ottomans in 1445.
The next major event occurs in 1610 when Emperor Albert II proclaims that the German Empire is a continental power not a colonial one. Perhaps such a proclamation should have been a warning to the other nations but most were largely taken by surprise when in 1615 Henry V, the son of the late emperor, begins his campaign to reform the Roman Empire in all its glory. His efforts however meet with little excitement in Cologne and in 1620 he is deposed by an angry mod of soldiers and citizens. He regains the throne ten years later, and is finally defeated in 1642 at the Battle of Ravenna.
In 1645 the legacy of Henry V is civil war, Gaul splits from the empire, and the capital is moved to Frankfurt at the end of the war by Clovis III who felt Cologne had become too corrupt to govern wisely. The city falls into obscurity once again becoming just another city in the reduced German Empire until 1890 when war sweeps the world. It is captured by the Scandinavian Union in 1892 and held until the end of the war in 1901 (though several attempts are made to liberate the city). Rebuilding efforts in the years after the World War made Cologne one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. This trend continued through on into the modern day where Cologne has become a world leader in scientific and technological development.
Nothing?! Not even a “no way that would never have happened” from any Roman lovers out there on the board? 
After all that trouble to make something interesting – this calls for drastic measures. I’ll need to do a Glimpse where we have crab-people in stead of humans and yet we still end up with States born out of the English colonies.
After all that trouble to make something interesting – this calls for drastic measures. I’ll need to do a Glimpse where we have crab-people in stead of humans and yet we still end up with States born out of the English colonies.
The Confederated Union of the Americas
A brief history of the Confederated Union of the Americas.
In the year 1775 the Continental Congress issued their edict of independence to Great Briton. For the next 10 years the Colonial Revolution would be fought – many initial set backs for the colonial armies almost brought the war to a close in 1777. However after months of debate the Articles of Confederation were amended granting for the unification of military resources during a time of continental war or under a majority vote by all the States. This led to the creation of the position of the Supreme General – appointed by the Congress (and ultimately under their authority as well) and over the winter of 1778 the colonial armies were united under the command of Supreme General Benedict Arnold. The war would continue until 1784 when Great Briton finally agreed to a cease-fire, an official truce was signed on November 15, 1785 in Paris.
In 1788 a major redrafting of the Articles of Confederation was undertaken after more than a year of bitter arguing between the states. The Continental Congress was facing the fact that although they won the battle of independence they’re fledgling nation could very well loose the war for survival. At odds were states rights and how much power the Continental Congress actually had to interfere. In April of 1788 the Articles of Confederation were amended once again and the Continental Congress was restructured (leaving the voting body with even less power than it had before). By 1790 many of the states weren’t even referring to themselves as states and instead the term nation-state had begun to be used.
In 1792 the Confederation entered into a 10 year period of rebellion. It started with loggers in New York claiming their independence as a separate nation-state in 1792. Though the loggers’ petition for recognition as a N.S. status and their submission to join the Continental Congress would be heard by the debating body it failed to gain the necessary majority vote to be ratified and thus was considered an internal matter for New York (the rebellion was put down in 1794). Clearly the other nation-states were looking to their own internal problems with the hopes of discouraging such acts within their own borders. However, the failure of the New York Loggers’ campaign did not derail Virginia’s western territory from attempting the same (1793-1799). Pennsylvania (1795-1796) and North Carolina (1796-1802) would face similar rebellions, although N.C. would be the only rebellion to successfully win their N.S. status becoming known as Tennessee.
In 1802 the attention of the Nation-States had shifted abroad and a solution to the rebellion problem began to be debated in many of the local governments. Unsettled issues between the States, Great Briton and now Spain and France were beginning to look to some as if yet another continental war was on the horizon. Southern and many northern states were at odds over slavery, Great Briton continued to search and seize American war and trading vessels, Georgia was in border skirmishes with Spanish garrisons in an undeclared war since 1799, and warnings from the embattled Napoleon that word had reached him of territorial annexations that had occurred in his Louisianan lands. Georgia would be the first to act – in 1802 they finally signed the Treaty of Madrid with Spain, establishing the Florida/Georgian border. Their congress was also the first to propose buying land from France, with plans on shipping criminals and the rebellious minded to the wilderness. Although Georgia would fail to follow up on their offer to Napoleon many other Nation-States would not pass up the opportunity. In all Napoleon was given 20 million for his North American lands between 1802 and 1806.
In 1803 the international negotiations would be halted as the Nation-States gawked at the first interstate conflict. Arguments between Pennsylvania and Virginia over claims to the Ohio River Valley opened up into a 9 month war that was eventually brought to an equitable arrangement by the mediating body of the Continental Congress. It was a major victory for the Confederation as many were beginning to ask about the validity of the governing body. The Continental Congress would go on to prove itself as mediating and debating body during the Louisiana Land Grab – it was successfully ratified, with Virginia dissenting and Georgia abstaining, that any further territorial expansion should be conducted through the Continental Congress in order to avoid the rebellions of the 1790s and situation like the Ohio River Valley War. In all, between 1806 and 1965 the Continental Congress negotiated the creation of 45 Nation-States (40 contiguous) and 5 Independent Native Territories – all but Anasazi would eventually become active members of the Continental Congress.
By 1812 the war that many saw coming had arrived. It stated with border skirmishes along the Canadian border. The Maine legislation, logistically unable to partake of the Louisiana territory, decides to expand on the lands they acquired in the Treaty of Paris. Similarly, New York begins making fraudulent claims to the territory between Lakes Huron, Ontario, and Erie (upsetting the Pennsylvanian Legislation but negotiation and payment eased this tension) with the ultimate goal of gaining footholds in the Native Territories of the Northeast. The war would be fought for a year before Maine and New York were able to get the Continental Congress to issue a National Emergency (until May of 1813 the war had been fought on British soil and none of the other Nation-States felt it was necessary to join the war unless Confederate lands had been invaded). On May 13, 1813 The Battle of Niagara Falls marked a major victory for the British forces against New York. Although the British General in charge had orders not to invade New York the NY Legislation had no difficulty in convincing the Continental Congress of the opposite – helping their case was the fact the issue of active search and seizures of Confederate vessels had soured many to the Empire. On May 21, 1813 the Continental Congress issued a national emergency and enacted Article 10 of the Articles of Confederation – all military resources are now under the control of the Congress and their military appointed leaders. Although the Confederation would successfully defeat and throw back British invasions of the north and eastern coast no territorial gains were made and in 1815 the Treaty of London was signed (settling issues that remained open after the war for independence and leaving borders anti-bellum).
Two decades of relative peace would fallow the War of 1812. In 1816, the Continental Congress issues a major colonial initiative; citizens from every Nation-State currently in existence are relocated to the Northeastern territory. The plan to bolster the Canadian border was an amazing display of the level of cooperation the Nation-States could muster when motivated. Between 1816 and 1821 the Nation-States of Wisconsin and Indiana as well as the Independent Native Territory (later to be called Huron) were established. In 1822 the Congress successfully negotiated a road and railroad works project to update the highway system and link the new states and territories. In 1827 Georgia becomes one of the largest Nation-States in the Confederation when they successfully buy the Spanish Peninsula. At the beginning of the 1830’s however the Nation-States were faced with several small wars and rebellions. In the west colonial efforts were hampered by what would become called the Indian Wars (1828-1890). In the south several slave revolts flared up between 1830 and 1840 in South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, Louisiana, and Ohio. But by far the most telling of the coming end of the 20 year peace were the troubles the colonists that were outside Confederate territory were having.
Migration into formally Spanish territory, now Mexican, brought the colonists into direct conflict with the Mexican government. Eventually, Santa Anna moved to reign in his lands north of the Rio Grand and in 1835 the Texan War for Independence was underway. Although several Nation-States bring the issue of Texas independence up during debates in the Continental Congress, voting to offer aide never reaches a majority – unofficially, however, military aide and units do cross the border into the war zone on a semi regular basis. Eventually, Texas is recognized in 1840 – though, much to the dismay of those that supported the cause Texas never joins the Confederacy (issuing in a level of distrust between the Nation-States and Texas for years to come).
The 1840’s saw the addition of Cuba to the Confederation as well as the Northwestern lands becoming known as Oregon Territory. Nation-State status for this new territory would languish in treaty negotiation with the British until 1848.
Though war seemed likely with the British once more the construction of forts in the northwest and militia organization was halted after the 1848 Oregon Territory Treaty. Two years later friction between Mexico and Confederate settlers would flare up into the Mexican/Confederation War. Tired of migration over the undefined borders and frustrated by the Confederation’s attempts to control their colonization the Mexican government issued the Order of Removal or Payment. Non-Mexican citizens would be forced to pay a heavy tax or be removed from Mexican claimed lands. This culminated in the massacre of several colonial towns in Alta California and Nuevo Mexico. War with Mexico was declared with a unanimous vote on March 11, 1850 (1850-1856). Problems for Mexico didn’t end there as Texas took it upon itself to declare war in 1851 to secure some western territory and to firmly establish their borders with Mexico which had been in contention since 1840. The war would leave Mexico in even more financial trouble. For the Confederation it meant the addition of much of the southwest which would eventually become the Nation-State of California and the Independent Native Territory of Anasazi.
The 1860’s saw the Confederation establishing trade ties with the Far East. After the opening of Japan by a British gun ship several of the seafaring Nation-States sought to establish markets in China and Japan. Again British/Confederate confrontations would occur but with little presence in the Pacific most of these confrontations were in the style of third party interventions. Not discovered until the 1890’s but during this time the British Empire was lending aid to the Independent Native Territories which in no small part cause the peak in the conflict known as the Indian Wars. In 1863 the Kansas City Massacre sent Arkansas into war with Cherokee and in 1865 several Nation-States fought the Joint War against Anasazi. The Confederation lent their own aide to Quebec, which would fight for its own independence between 1865-1869, for the British this was a peace-meal war as their attention was focused on their conflicts in Asia and their war with Russia (though the territorial loss of Quebec was balanced by the victory over Alaska).
January 1870 would bring new Nation-States to the Confederation as money and migration weigh in on the already war weary British Empire. British Columbia would join outright as their own Nation-State and the territory between the 54th and the Saskathewan River would join as New Canada.
During the 1870’s the light bulb is invented and the telephone so too is the first transcontinental railroad built. Several early Civil Rights Acts are pushed through in some of the Nation-States, leading to the outright abolishment in 1878 and the Acts of Segregation passed by New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts in 1879. It was during this decade that a number of institutions of higher education are founded, namely Stanford and Adams. Also at this time a couple independent labor unions formed in the New England Nation-States – the first coming out of Philadelphia in 1876.
The 1890’s saw an increase in tensions between Spain and Cuba which opened up into the Cuban/Spanish war of 1898 – though measures to pass a national emergency in the Congress failed Georgia and South Carolina do pledge their support and in 1899 join the war. The Treaty of Havana draws the war to a close in 1900 with Puerto Rico and Hispaniola being annexed (Georgia, South Carolina, and Cuba agree to joint administration). While the Cuban/Spanish war was being conducted in the Caribbean a coalition of merchants, developers, and money lenders stage a coup of the native monarchy of the Hawaiian Islands (the investors were banished in 1896 on suspicion of crimes against the kingdom – they returned in 1898 with the military backing of California and Oregon).
In 1900 slavery is officially abolished in the Nation-States of Confederation that hadn’t already done so in 1878 (though the practice had been defunct for nearly 20 years).
In 1900 negotiations failed in the Continental Congress between Oregon and California over the administration of the Hawaiian Islands – The Hawaiian War would be fought between 1900 and 1905, though many consider the annexation of 1898 to have been the start of the conflict. The war is ended at the signing of the Treaty of Honolulu – granting Hawaii to California.
A successful rebellion in China forces Confederation investors out of Asia in 1901. The first airplanes are developed in 1903 and assembly line production is first seen in 1905 at the Ford Motor Company.
In 1904 the United Merchants Guild of the Confederation successfully lobbies for the construction of a canal linking the Caribbean to the Pacific, the measure passes in the Continental Congress 21 to 19 with 5 abstentions. In 1905 a section of land was bought from Spain in Panama and construction was started on the canal (not completed until 1920). In 1910 construction on the canal would stop when Spain is forced from Panama during a rebellion that brought independence to the Central American country. Six months later the new government expels the Confederation – by 1911 the UMGC successfully suppresses opposition in the Continental Congress to suspend all canal efforts and on May 1911 a national emergency is issued. The Canal War is fought between 1911 and 1914 – Panama is annexed. Also in 1910 Cuba fights the Hispaniola War, 1910 to 1911 (without help from the mainland) – both Puerto Rico and Hispaniola gain their independence.
The Confederation sits out the First World War – many Nation-States experience an economic boom (the issue is debated several times though only in 1916 does the vote even come close to joining the war – that is the year Mexico goes to war with Texas).
The world depression hits the Confederation in 1932 and it isn’t until the opening guns of World War II that financial stability returns. In 1941 Hawaii is attacked by Japan and the Confederation votes for war in the Pacific although no troops are sent to the European theater supplies are committed to the cause. In 1945, floundering against the Japanese war machine, the first atomic bomb is used ending the Pacific War – a few months later World War II was officially concluded.
In 1946 the Confederation very nearly goes to war with itself over the issue of control over this new and destructive power. It is agreed that a commission should be formed under the direct control of the Continental Congress so that no one nation has sole access to the information (the Atomic Commission is later instrumental in the building and administration of nuclear power facilities and later expands into the International Atomic Commission).
In 1946 Panama is granted Nation-State status and joins the Confederation. This act largely draws the Confederation away from Europe – even further than it already was – and a number of free trade agreements are developed between the Americas.
In 1948 a ground breaking piece of legislation is drafted in New York – the Labor Rights and Equality Bill (similar legislation is adopted by many of the other Nation-States).
The world is again at war in 1954 against China as it rolls into Indonesia (also invaded were Japan in 1948 and Korea in 1950). The threat of the war crossing the Pacific was very real however it wasn’t until 1955 that the Confederation votes to join the war by a slim margin. The option to use nuclear weapons is argued in the Confederation – and ultimately agreed upon late in 1956 - it isn’t until 1959 that the IAC and the Confederation allies concur.
In the midst of World War III (1954-1960) the Confederation nearly had to withdraw from the confrontation when many Nation-States also enter into a period of, at times armed, conflict known as the Social Wars (1954 – 1965). Though legislation is passed to ease the tension in many N.S it isn’t until the Bill of Civil Rights is passed in New York in 1970 that real progress is made toward class, gender, and racial equality.
In the wake of Russian advance in space technology (with the first man to circle the globe in 1965) several Nation-States, California and New York leading the charge, develop rocket technology capable of landing a man on the moon. The first of these such events taking place on April 23, 1970 by a Californian team of astronauts lead by Captain George McGuire.
Through the 1970’s, 80’s and into the 90’s the Confederation underwent major changes. The gulf between expendable capital, science, technology, and social reforms expanded leaving some Nation-States, in comparison, still in the 18th century. It seemed to many that gluttony and greed ran rampant throughout the Confederation and society polarized as a result. The Continental Congress became a sounding board for angry rhetoric from both sides of the gap and in 1989 the first sign of what was to come made itself known.
1989 opened up with a bang – several coordinated bombing attacks in New York and Pennsylvania kill nearly a hundred people and destroys 5 abortion clinics. Two days later New Jersey and Nevada are forced to evacuate and temporary close several of their gambling hotels due to the release of poisonous gas – no reported deaths. Though unproven, and denied by the accused parties, many in the Continental Congress believed that religious extremists in Virginia were to blame. It wasn’t until 1991 however that full on engagements erupted. On April 15, 1991 Virginia, North/South Carolina, and Georgia signed a series of treaties called the Trinity Accords. On April 16th they stood in unison during a meeting of the Continental Congress announcing that they have formed their own Confederacy (the Union of Southern Nation-States: USNS), citing irresolvable grievances and differences between the rest of the Confederation.
By June of 1991 ambassadors of the USNS had been pulled from many of the Nation-States; with the exception of Tennessee, Missouri, and Mississippi. In July trade embargos went up between the USNS and nearly all other Nation-States when legislation began being passed allowing for civil marriages of same genders. By 30th of August talks completely failed and Pennsylvania invaded Virginia and declared war on the USNS; on the 31st New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Nevada, and California join Pennsylvania in their declaration. On September 12, 1993 a cease-fire was issued but frustrating delays during the peace talks reopened the war on November 11, 1993. This second phase of the war would last 2 more years but would see the inclusion of Tennessee and Ohio against the USNS. The USNS mistook sympathy for acceptance and when their requests for aide and use of their territory were rebuffed by the Ohio and Tennessee legislation both Nation-States were invaded, opening up a very costly second front (third if one was to include both the front lines in Virginia and the war in the Atlantic). In July of 1995 another cease-fire was issued and on August 1, 1995 the Treaty of Philadelphia was signed. The treaty and peace would prove to be very costly for the USNS for besides war reparations, Virginia lost to Pennsylvania all of their holdings in the Ohio River Valley as well as a large section of land north of the Appalachian Mountains. All territory gained in Tennessee and Ohio was returned to those Nation-States. With its large and mostly disenfranchised population of native peoples and Cubans the new Nation-State of Florida was carved out of southern Georgia.
The USNS was allowed to maintain their separate Confederacy and to this day there isn’t a more militarized border then the one shared between the CUA and the USNS.
A brief history of the Confederated Union of the Americas.
In the year 1775 the Continental Congress issued their edict of independence to Great Briton. For the next 10 years the Colonial Revolution would be fought – many initial set backs for the colonial armies almost brought the war to a close in 1777. However after months of debate the Articles of Confederation were amended granting for the unification of military resources during a time of continental war or under a majority vote by all the States. This led to the creation of the position of the Supreme General – appointed by the Congress (and ultimately under their authority as well) and over the winter of 1778 the colonial armies were united under the command of Supreme General Benedict Arnold. The war would continue until 1784 when Great Briton finally agreed to a cease-fire, an official truce was signed on November 15, 1785 in Paris.
In 1788 a major redrafting of the Articles of Confederation was undertaken after more than a year of bitter arguing between the states. The Continental Congress was facing the fact that although they won the battle of independence they’re fledgling nation could very well loose the war for survival. At odds were states rights and how much power the Continental Congress actually had to interfere. In April of 1788 the Articles of Confederation were amended once again and the Continental Congress was restructured (leaving the voting body with even less power than it had before). By 1790 many of the states weren’t even referring to themselves as states and instead the term nation-state had begun to be used.
In 1792 the Confederation entered into a 10 year period of rebellion. It started with loggers in New York claiming their independence as a separate nation-state in 1792. Though the loggers’ petition for recognition as a N.S. status and their submission to join the Continental Congress would be heard by the debating body it failed to gain the necessary majority vote to be ratified and thus was considered an internal matter for New York (the rebellion was put down in 1794). Clearly the other nation-states were looking to their own internal problems with the hopes of discouraging such acts within their own borders. However, the failure of the New York Loggers’ campaign did not derail Virginia’s western territory from attempting the same (1793-1799). Pennsylvania (1795-1796) and North Carolina (1796-1802) would face similar rebellions, although N.C. would be the only rebellion to successfully win their N.S. status becoming known as Tennessee.
In 1802 the attention of the Nation-States had shifted abroad and a solution to the rebellion problem began to be debated in many of the local governments. Unsettled issues between the States, Great Briton and now Spain and France were beginning to look to some as if yet another continental war was on the horizon. Southern and many northern states were at odds over slavery, Great Briton continued to search and seize American war and trading vessels, Georgia was in border skirmishes with Spanish garrisons in an undeclared war since 1799, and warnings from the embattled Napoleon that word had reached him of territorial annexations that had occurred in his Louisianan lands. Georgia would be the first to act – in 1802 they finally signed the Treaty of Madrid with Spain, establishing the Florida/Georgian border. Their congress was also the first to propose buying land from France, with plans on shipping criminals and the rebellious minded to the wilderness. Although Georgia would fail to follow up on their offer to Napoleon many other Nation-States would not pass up the opportunity. In all Napoleon was given 20 million for his North American lands between 1802 and 1806.
In 1803 the international negotiations would be halted as the Nation-States gawked at the first interstate conflict. Arguments between Pennsylvania and Virginia over claims to the Ohio River Valley opened up into a 9 month war that was eventually brought to an equitable arrangement by the mediating body of the Continental Congress. It was a major victory for the Confederation as many were beginning to ask about the validity of the governing body. The Continental Congress would go on to prove itself as mediating and debating body during the Louisiana Land Grab – it was successfully ratified, with Virginia dissenting and Georgia abstaining, that any further territorial expansion should be conducted through the Continental Congress in order to avoid the rebellions of the 1790s and situation like the Ohio River Valley War. In all, between 1806 and 1965 the Continental Congress negotiated the creation of 45 Nation-States (40 contiguous) and 5 Independent Native Territories – all but Anasazi would eventually become active members of the Continental Congress.
By 1812 the war that many saw coming had arrived. It stated with border skirmishes along the Canadian border. The Maine legislation, logistically unable to partake of the Louisiana territory, decides to expand on the lands they acquired in the Treaty of Paris. Similarly, New York begins making fraudulent claims to the territory between Lakes Huron, Ontario, and Erie (upsetting the Pennsylvanian Legislation but negotiation and payment eased this tension) with the ultimate goal of gaining footholds in the Native Territories of the Northeast. The war would be fought for a year before Maine and New York were able to get the Continental Congress to issue a National Emergency (until May of 1813 the war had been fought on British soil and none of the other Nation-States felt it was necessary to join the war unless Confederate lands had been invaded). On May 13, 1813 The Battle of Niagara Falls marked a major victory for the British forces against New York. Although the British General in charge had orders not to invade New York the NY Legislation had no difficulty in convincing the Continental Congress of the opposite – helping their case was the fact the issue of active search and seizures of Confederate vessels had soured many to the Empire. On May 21, 1813 the Continental Congress issued a national emergency and enacted Article 10 of the Articles of Confederation – all military resources are now under the control of the Congress and their military appointed leaders. Although the Confederation would successfully defeat and throw back British invasions of the north and eastern coast no territorial gains were made and in 1815 the Treaty of London was signed (settling issues that remained open after the war for independence and leaving borders anti-bellum).
Two decades of relative peace would fallow the War of 1812. In 1816, the Continental Congress issues a major colonial initiative; citizens from every Nation-State currently in existence are relocated to the Northeastern territory. The plan to bolster the Canadian border was an amazing display of the level of cooperation the Nation-States could muster when motivated. Between 1816 and 1821 the Nation-States of Wisconsin and Indiana as well as the Independent Native Territory (later to be called Huron) were established. In 1822 the Congress successfully negotiated a road and railroad works project to update the highway system and link the new states and territories. In 1827 Georgia becomes one of the largest Nation-States in the Confederation when they successfully buy the Spanish Peninsula. At the beginning of the 1830’s however the Nation-States were faced with several small wars and rebellions. In the west colonial efforts were hampered by what would become called the Indian Wars (1828-1890). In the south several slave revolts flared up between 1830 and 1840 in South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, Louisiana, and Ohio. But by far the most telling of the coming end of the 20 year peace were the troubles the colonists that were outside Confederate territory were having.
Migration into formally Spanish territory, now Mexican, brought the colonists into direct conflict with the Mexican government. Eventually, Santa Anna moved to reign in his lands north of the Rio Grand and in 1835 the Texan War for Independence was underway. Although several Nation-States bring the issue of Texas independence up during debates in the Continental Congress, voting to offer aide never reaches a majority – unofficially, however, military aide and units do cross the border into the war zone on a semi regular basis. Eventually, Texas is recognized in 1840 – though, much to the dismay of those that supported the cause Texas never joins the Confederacy (issuing in a level of distrust between the Nation-States and Texas for years to come).
The 1840’s saw the addition of Cuba to the Confederation as well as the Northwestern lands becoming known as Oregon Territory. Nation-State status for this new territory would languish in treaty negotiation with the British until 1848.
Though war seemed likely with the British once more the construction of forts in the northwest and militia organization was halted after the 1848 Oregon Territory Treaty. Two years later friction between Mexico and Confederate settlers would flare up into the Mexican/Confederation War. Tired of migration over the undefined borders and frustrated by the Confederation’s attempts to control their colonization the Mexican government issued the Order of Removal or Payment. Non-Mexican citizens would be forced to pay a heavy tax or be removed from Mexican claimed lands. This culminated in the massacre of several colonial towns in Alta California and Nuevo Mexico. War with Mexico was declared with a unanimous vote on March 11, 1850 (1850-1856). Problems for Mexico didn’t end there as Texas took it upon itself to declare war in 1851 to secure some western territory and to firmly establish their borders with Mexico which had been in contention since 1840. The war would leave Mexico in even more financial trouble. For the Confederation it meant the addition of much of the southwest which would eventually become the Nation-State of California and the Independent Native Territory of Anasazi.
The 1860’s saw the Confederation establishing trade ties with the Far East. After the opening of Japan by a British gun ship several of the seafaring Nation-States sought to establish markets in China and Japan. Again British/Confederate confrontations would occur but with little presence in the Pacific most of these confrontations were in the style of third party interventions. Not discovered until the 1890’s but during this time the British Empire was lending aid to the Independent Native Territories which in no small part cause the peak in the conflict known as the Indian Wars. In 1863 the Kansas City Massacre sent Arkansas into war with Cherokee and in 1865 several Nation-States fought the Joint War against Anasazi. The Confederation lent their own aide to Quebec, which would fight for its own independence between 1865-1869, for the British this was a peace-meal war as their attention was focused on their conflicts in Asia and their war with Russia (though the territorial loss of Quebec was balanced by the victory over Alaska).
January 1870 would bring new Nation-States to the Confederation as money and migration weigh in on the already war weary British Empire. British Columbia would join outright as their own Nation-State and the territory between the 54th and the Saskathewan River would join as New Canada.
During the 1870’s the light bulb is invented and the telephone so too is the first transcontinental railroad built. Several early Civil Rights Acts are pushed through in some of the Nation-States, leading to the outright abolishment in 1878 and the Acts of Segregation passed by New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts in 1879. It was during this decade that a number of institutions of higher education are founded, namely Stanford and Adams. Also at this time a couple independent labor unions formed in the New England Nation-States – the first coming out of Philadelphia in 1876.
The 1890’s saw an increase in tensions between Spain and Cuba which opened up into the Cuban/Spanish war of 1898 – though measures to pass a national emergency in the Congress failed Georgia and South Carolina do pledge their support and in 1899 join the war. The Treaty of Havana draws the war to a close in 1900 with Puerto Rico and Hispaniola being annexed (Georgia, South Carolina, and Cuba agree to joint administration). While the Cuban/Spanish war was being conducted in the Caribbean a coalition of merchants, developers, and money lenders stage a coup of the native monarchy of the Hawaiian Islands (the investors were banished in 1896 on suspicion of crimes against the kingdom – they returned in 1898 with the military backing of California and Oregon).
In 1900 slavery is officially abolished in the Nation-States of Confederation that hadn’t already done so in 1878 (though the practice had been defunct for nearly 20 years).
In 1900 negotiations failed in the Continental Congress between Oregon and California over the administration of the Hawaiian Islands – The Hawaiian War would be fought between 1900 and 1905, though many consider the annexation of 1898 to have been the start of the conflict. The war is ended at the signing of the Treaty of Honolulu – granting Hawaii to California.
A successful rebellion in China forces Confederation investors out of Asia in 1901. The first airplanes are developed in 1903 and assembly line production is first seen in 1905 at the Ford Motor Company.
In 1904 the United Merchants Guild of the Confederation successfully lobbies for the construction of a canal linking the Caribbean to the Pacific, the measure passes in the Continental Congress 21 to 19 with 5 abstentions. In 1905 a section of land was bought from Spain in Panama and construction was started on the canal (not completed until 1920). In 1910 construction on the canal would stop when Spain is forced from Panama during a rebellion that brought independence to the Central American country. Six months later the new government expels the Confederation – by 1911 the UMGC successfully suppresses opposition in the Continental Congress to suspend all canal efforts and on May 1911 a national emergency is issued. The Canal War is fought between 1911 and 1914 – Panama is annexed. Also in 1910 Cuba fights the Hispaniola War, 1910 to 1911 (without help from the mainland) – both Puerto Rico and Hispaniola gain their independence.
The Confederation sits out the First World War – many Nation-States experience an economic boom (the issue is debated several times though only in 1916 does the vote even come close to joining the war – that is the year Mexico goes to war with Texas).
The world depression hits the Confederation in 1932 and it isn’t until the opening guns of World War II that financial stability returns. In 1941 Hawaii is attacked by Japan and the Confederation votes for war in the Pacific although no troops are sent to the European theater supplies are committed to the cause. In 1945, floundering against the Japanese war machine, the first atomic bomb is used ending the Pacific War – a few months later World War II was officially concluded.
In 1946 the Confederation very nearly goes to war with itself over the issue of control over this new and destructive power. It is agreed that a commission should be formed under the direct control of the Continental Congress so that no one nation has sole access to the information (the Atomic Commission is later instrumental in the building and administration of nuclear power facilities and later expands into the International Atomic Commission).
In 1946 Panama is granted Nation-State status and joins the Confederation. This act largely draws the Confederation away from Europe – even further than it already was – and a number of free trade agreements are developed between the Americas.
In 1948 a ground breaking piece of legislation is drafted in New York – the Labor Rights and Equality Bill (similar legislation is adopted by many of the other Nation-States).
The world is again at war in 1954 against China as it rolls into Indonesia (also invaded were Japan in 1948 and Korea in 1950). The threat of the war crossing the Pacific was very real however it wasn’t until 1955 that the Confederation votes to join the war by a slim margin. The option to use nuclear weapons is argued in the Confederation – and ultimately agreed upon late in 1956 - it isn’t until 1959 that the IAC and the Confederation allies concur.
In the midst of World War III (1954-1960) the Confederation nearly had to withdraw from the confrontation when many Nation-States also enter into a period of, at times armed, conflict known as the Social Wars (1954 – 1965). Though legislation is passed to ease the tension in many N.S it isn’t until the Bill of Civil Rights is passed in New York in 1970 that real progress is made toward class, gender, and racial equality.
In the wake of Russian advance in space technology (with the first man to circle the globe in 1965) several Nation-States, California and New York leading the charge, develop rocket technology capable of landing a man on the moon. The first of these such events taking place on April 23, 1970 by a Californian team of astronauts lead by Captain George McGuire.
Through the 1970’s, 80’s and into the 90’s the Confederation underwent major changes. The gulf between expendable capital, science, technology, and social reforms expanded leaving some Nation-States, in comparison, still in the 18th century. It seemed to many that gluttony and greed ran rampant throughout the Confederation and society polarized as a result. The Continental Congress became a sounding board for angry rhetoric from both sides of the gap and in 1989 the first sign of what was to come made itself known.
1989 opened up with a bang – several coordinated bombing attacks in New York and Pennsylvania kill nearly a hundred people and destroys 5 abortion clinics. Two days later New Jersey and Nevada are forced to evacuate and temporary close several of their gambling hotels due to the release of poisonous gas – no reported deaths. Though unproven, and denied by the accused parties, many in the Continental Congress believed that religious extremists in Virginia were to blame. It wasn’t until 1991 however that full on engagements erupted. On April 15, 1991 Virginia, North/South Carolina, and Georgia signed a series of treaties called the Trinity Accords. On April 16th they stood in unison during a meeting of the Continental Congress announcing that they have formed their own Confederacy (the Union of Southern Nation-States: USNS), citing irresolvable grievances and differences between the rest of the Confederation.
By June of 1991 ambassadors of the USNS had been pulled from many of the Nation-States; with the exception of Tennessee, Missouri, and Mississippi. In July trade embargos went up between the USNS and nearly all other Nation-States when legislation began being passed allowing for civil marriages of same genders. By 30th of August talks completely failed and Pennsylvania invaded Virginia and declared war on the USNS; on the 31st New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Nevada, and California join Pennsylvania in their declaration. On September 12, 1993 a cease-fire was issued but frustrating delays during the peace talks reopened the war on November 11, 1993. This second phase of the war would last 2 more years but would see the inclusion of Tennessee and Ohio against the USNS. The USNS mistook sympathy for acceptance and when their requests for aide and use of their territory were rebuffed by the Ohio and Tennessee legislation both Nation-States were invaded, opening up a very costly second front (third if one was to include both the front lines in Virginia and the war in the Atlantic). In July of 1995 another cease-fire was issued and on August 1, 1995 the Treaty of Philadelphia was signed. The treaty and peace would prove to be very costly for the USNS for besides war reparations, Virginia lost to Pennsylvania all of their holdings in the Ohio River Valley as well as a large section of land north of the Appalachian Mountains. All territory gained in Tennessee and Ohio was returned to those Nation-States. With its large and mostly disenfranchised population of native peoples and Cubans the new Nation-State of Florida was carved out of southern Georgia.
The USNS was allowed to maintain their separate Confederacy and to this day there isn’t a more militarized border then the one shared between the CUA and the USNS.
I admit that I can do without the grandstanding-nay-sayers but really, no one has any comments?
Is that good or bad I wonder?
I thought perhaps some maps would spruce the place up – everyone loves a good map, and everyone loves to nitpick a bad one , so, if anyone wanted to dabble with a map based on the past entries I’m open to the additions (I may try putting one or two together myself, but free time has been rather limited lately).
Is that good or bad I wonder?
I thought perhaps some maps would spruce the place up – everyone loves a good map, and everyone loves to nitpick a bad one
, so, if anyone wanted to dabble with a map based on the past entries I’m open to the additions (I may try putting one or two together myself, but free time has been rather limited lately).Some of it is too similar to OTL....Tynnin said:I admit that I can do without the grandstanding-nay-sayers but really, no one has any comments?
Is that good or bad I wonder?
I thought perhaps some maps would spruce the place up – everyone loves a good map, and everyone loves to nitpick a bad one
Diamond
Banned
Well, you know me...Tynnin said:I thought perhaps some maps would spruce the place up – everyone loves a good map, and everyone loves to nitpick a bad one
I'll see if I can do one for the CUA TL later on this weekend (that TL is great BTW).Ah, responses, how very nice.
Wendell: The CUA did turn out a little close to OTL – that is mostly due to my rather disappointingly limited knowledge of American history. But I figured, even though a “National” government didn’t form the Continental Congress (a U.N. by any other name) was glue enough to keep any drastically different spins from occurring – at least as far as the North American continent goes.
I find myself wondering about the individual governments of the Nation-States? Did they all stay republics? Did some of them try and fail or successfully transform into a monarchy? I kind of got the sense after I wrote it that New York had become socialist or something akin to that and Pennsylvania was somewhat militaristic, although that could simply be a byproduct of 200 years of border issues with Virginia.
Wendell: The CUA did turn out a little close to OTL – that is mostly due to my rather disappointingly limited knowledge of American history. But I figured, even though a “National” government didn’t form the Continental Congress (a U.N. by any other name) was glue enough to keep any drastically different spins from occurring – at least as far as the North American continent goes.
I find myself wondering about the individual governments of the Nation-States? Did they all stay republics? Did some of them try and fail or successfully transform into a monarchy? I kind of got the sense after I wrote it that New York had become socialist or something akin to that and Pennsylvania was somewhat militaristic, although that could simply be a byproduct of 200 years of border issues with Virginia.
The Cult of the Crucifix
To help avoid any confusion I transcribed the dates used:
670AFR = 83BC
733AFR = 20BC
743AFR = 10BC
745AFR = 8BC
754AFR = 1AD
770AFR = 17AD
773AFR = 20AD
781AFR = 28AD
782AFR = 29AD
803AFR = 50AD
940AFR = 187AD
942AFR = 189AD
963AFR = 210AD
983AFR = 230AD
988AFR = 235AD
1033AFR = 280AD
1100AFR = 347AD
_______________________________________________________________________
Dorian Nestor climbed the stairs to the stage where the podium awaited him. He chaffed under his 50 drachma light-brown tweed suit, though it wasn’t the heat of the overhead lights that caused the sweat to build up on his shirt collar. He hated speaking in front of crowds; he was a field scientist and even left directing the excavation crew to Marcus. Yet, here he was, pressured into announcing their findings before they’ve really come to any conclusions. Neither of them were all that eager to be giving this lecture – and as he lost the lightening fast game of Even or Odds in the seconds before taking the stage the honor was his.
He tapped on the microphone and winced, as did the rest of the auditorium, when a few seconds of ear splitting feedback screeched back at him. He licked his lips and smiled nervously at the mostly empty stadium seating. At least the gods had spared him a full room. With a last look to Marcus, who sat cross legged in the front row, Dorian began. “Thank you all for coming on this last day, last lecture, of the Annual Spring Archaeological Summit,” he looked down at his three by five cards where his sprawling handwriting laid out his speech. “To begin, I would like to bring your attention to the abstract I see many of you holding – this lecture is based on our preliminary findings over two seasons of digging,” he caught Marcus trying to get his attention, his scholarly companion of 15 years was gesturing to his mouth and the obscenely large smile he wore. Dorian took the hint, shuffled the top note card to the back of the pile, and then looked back up to the awaiting crowd. He signaled the projector operator and a second later the auditorium lights were down and he was bathed in a blinding square of white – soon followed by his first slide, a picture of a crumbling fresco that central figure of which was a wooden cross.
“Who were the Cult of the Crucifixion?” Dorian smiled mechanically and ignored Marcus’ rolling eyes, downcast head, and the hand that frustratingly rubbed his balding pate. “We know very little about them as there is hardly any mention of them in any text of the time and absent are the artifacts that are usually found with religions movements. Is it any wonder though as their existence hardly covers three centuries, c.770 AFR to c.1100 AFR.” As he started his next card the slide behind him changed to a surprisingly well preserved stelae, several wall reliefs, and a couple marble busts – each was paused on for a few seconds before moving on to the next.
“In fact most of our information regarding this cult comes from only a few sources. The Jerusalem stelae, carvings done in low relief unearthed in homes in Jerusalem, Tyre, and Nazareth, and some minor points found in the histories of Livy, Suetonius, and Josephus of Jerusalem – or as we in the community call him, JJ,” he half laughed but his wait for others to join him fell into silence – Marcus’ fingers began to tap energetically on his armrest. Dorian cleared his throat and continued, “We will address each of these items in turn.” He shuffled to his next card and so too did the projector switch to the next slide – this one a map of the Roman world.
“Rome dominated the region between 743AFR and 803AFR and we know from Livy and Suetonius that Emperor Tiberius ordered the suppression of a minor revolt in Jerusalem in the year 773AFR and again in 781AFR. Unfortunately, these two great historians did not elaborate on these events other than to say that Nazareth had been the center of the rebellion and that Pilate, in 782AFR, had to suppress another minor revolt.” Dorian went to his next card as the slide behind him showed again one of the previous marble busts.
“Josephus of Jerusalem gives us a few more details. He states that in the rebellion of 773AFR that the Cult and its leader, who is only ever referred to as a priest, was singled out for not paying taxes. Although Josephus seemed to suggest that in actuality it was their belief and preaching of a single deity that brought Caesar’s attention down on them.” The picture behind Dorian became that of another relief, this one of a cross but with an orb and lines depicting rays of light shooting out in all directions. “Josephus also mentions that their leader, this priest, a man that it seems great care was taken to not mention or erase any mention of after the rebellion of 773AFR, was born in the last years of Herod the Great. Unfortunately, as with Livy and Suetonius, the last written mention of this cult and its leader was that he was caught and crucified but we have found no evidence of what happened to his body afterwards – in other words, we have yet to find his grave. Given the degree to which efforts were made to hide his identity, and the state of affairs in Syria at this time, there is a possibility that we may never find his last resting place,” the slide changed to a stone slab carved in surprising detail.
“Much of these tales are corroborated in the Jerusalem Stelae, which dates to about 983AFR and again makes no mention of any names. It is proof however that whatever movement was developing in the early mid seventh century continued after the death of their leader. It is tempting to make the claim that this priest was actually a follower of Marduk,” a map of the Babylonian Empire at its height was shown behind Dorian. “The region, now under Syrian and Egyptian control, had for many centuries been under Babylonian rule either solidly or marginally and it wasn’t until the successful Parthian invasion of 670AFR that the region began to destabilize. The Parthians were followed by the Romans in 743AFR who were themselves forced out by 803AFR by the reemergence of the Babylonians. If not for the troubles back in Rome at this time and the Roman withdraw from Egypt a few years later I’m sure we would have seen the land traded once again. The Babylonians held their Mediterranean ports until 940AFR when their own dynastic troubles would eventually lead to their ultimate demise and the rise of the Persian Empire. The Persians would only ever have a tenuous hold on the region and will eventually go to war with Egypt loosing much of the territory in the conflict that ended in 963AFR and the rest to a Syrian uprising in 1033AFR.” The screen behind Dorian was now showing images of the great god Marduk – a carving, an aerial view of his ziggurat in Babylon, and a modern painting.
“Throughout all of these troubles Marduk remained the primary god worshiped, the priests of which gained tremendous influence with whichever Empire had control of the territory. Both the Jerusalem Stalae and Josephus of Jerusalem describe the Cult leader as a priest but besides the fact the region was heavily influenced by the followers of Marduk there isn’t much proof of this. That is until we unearthed several homes in Nazareth that dated to about the end of the seventh century. In each of these homes we found small hidden shrines in tunnels beneath the houses,” the slide projector clicked through several images of the excavations. “In each case we found either faceless carvings of a man or a cross - accompanying each of these edifices was a smaller, always placed beneath the carvings of the cross or the faceless man, was that of a snake-like dragon. A dragon that Dr. Marcus and myself have identified as Tiamat,” the room began to murmur as quiet and not so quiet comments were shared. One gentleman, a fellow Dorian recognized as a colleague from Gallic Kingdom – a blowhard if ever there were – partially rousted his ample frame out of his seat.
“Many gods choose such a fantastic form, what makes you so certain that we’re looking at Tiamat?”
Dorian adjusted his poorly knotted tie, exposing the fact that his shirt had no top button. “If the gentleman from Gallia could hold his comments until the end of the lecture,” Dorian took a deep breath and waited for the slide to change. “This is an identification we feel justified in making given the depiction on the Jerusalem Stalae where we have the prominent cross and overlaid at the base is a clear representation of Marduk defeating Tiamat. Despite this connection with Marduk the Cult remained underground after the Roman persecution even after the Babylonians are able to retake the territory,”
“If indeed that is Tiamat than perhaps we are looking at a cult in her name – that would explain their persecution and the underground shrines,” Ewen from Gallia shouted, though this time he remained seated and was shushed by those around him.
Dorian continued. “There doesn’t seem to be any expansion of the faith until Persopolis throws off the yolk of the Babylonians in 942AFR. Under the King of Kings the small underground shrines are replaced as places of importance in the home. In once case, at a villa in Tyre, nearly a whole wing was dedicated to the Crucifixion but in most cases although the movement had come out of the shadows it remained largely isolated to the homes of the lower classes,” images of family shrines flashed behind Dorian. “Between 940AFR and 988AFR or to put it another way, between the reigns of Artaxerxes I and his son Artaxerxes II, the Cult seems to have been allowed to grow, however at the start of Darius’ reign, Artaxerxes II half-brother, in 983AFR we start to see a reverse of the first two rulers initiatives. The Cult is again forced underground, but unlike the followers in Jerusalem, which by 963AFR was in the hands of the Egyptians, there was no active persecution. The death blow for the Cult comes in 1033 when the Crucifixion fell under the rule of Cyrus I of Syria. By the start of the eleventh century the Cult appears to have completely died out.
There are questions that demand answers. Why was such a small faction persecuted so vehemently? It must have been more than just their lack of interest in paying taxes. Who was this man on the cross? What were the beliefs of this cult? How did they worship? The evidence at hand suggests it was a funerary cult with concepts of the individual and good verses evil but what were the specifics. We may never know but it is important that we not give up – especially with the civil strife now being fought in Syria we must make every effort to bring international pressure on these governments to help preserve this beautiful history.
At this time I would like to thank you for your attention, Dr. Marcus for his continued help, the city of Athens and the Imperial Academy of Antiquities for hosting this symposium, and of course his eminence the Archon for his continued funding. I will now open the floor to questions,”
To help avoid any confusion I transcribed the dates used:
670AFR = 83BC
733AFR = 20BC
743AFR = 10BC
745AFR = 8BC
754AFR = 1AD
770AFR = 17AD
773AFR = 20AD
781AFR = 28AD
782AFR = 29AD
803AFR = 50AD
940AFR = 187AD
942AFR = 189AD
963AFR = 210AD
983AFR = 230AD
988AFR = 235AD
1033AFR = 280AD
1100AFR = 347AD
_______________________________________________________________________
Dorian Nestor climbed the stairs to the stage where the podium awaited him. He chaffed under his 50 drachma light-brown tweed suit, though it wasn’t the heat of the overhead lights that caused the sweat to build up on his shirt collar. He hated speaking in front of crowds; he was a field scientist and even left directing the excavation crew to Marcus. Yet, here he was, pressured into announcing their findings before they’ve really come to any conclusions. Neither of them were all that eager to be giving this lecture – and as he lost the lightening fast game of Even or Odds in the seconds before taking the stage the honor was his.
He tapped on the microphone and winced, as did the rest of the auditorium, when a few seconds of ear splitting feedback screeched back at him. He licked his lips and smiled nervously at the mostly empty stadium seating. At least the gods had spared him a full room. With a last look to Marcus, who sat cross legged in the front row, Dorian began. “Thank you all for coming on this last day, last lecture, of the Annual Spring Archaeological Summit,” he looked down at his three by five cards where his sprawling handwriting laid out his speech. “To begin, I would like to bring your attention to the abstract I see many of you holding – this lecture is based on our preliminary findings over two seasons of digging,” he caught Marcus trying to get his attention, his scholarly companion of 15 years was gesturing to his mouth and the obscenely large smile he wore. Dorian took the hint, shuffled the top note card to the back of the pile, and then looked back up to the awaiting crowd. He signaled the projector operator and a second later the auditorium lights were down and he was bathed in a blinding square of white – soon followed by his first slide, a picture of a crumbling fresco that central figure of which was a wooden cross.
“Who were the Cult of the Crucifixion?” Dorian smiled mechanically and ignored Marcus’ rolling eyes, downcast head, and the hand that frustratingly rubbed his balding pate. “We know very little about them as there is hardly any mention of them in any text of the time and absent are the artifacts that are usually found with religions movements. Is it any wonder though as their existence hardly covers three centuries, c.770 AFR to c.1100 AFR.” As he started his next card the slide behind him changed to a surprisingly well preserved stelae, several wall reliefs, and a couple marble busts – each was paused on for a few seconds before moving on to the next.
“In fact most of our information regarding this cult comes from only a few sources. The Jerusalem stelae, carvings done in low relief unearthed in homes in Jerusalem, Tyre, and Nazareth, and some minor points found in the histories of Livy, Suetonius, and Josephus of Jerusalem – or as we in the community call him, JJ,” he half laughed but his wait for others to join him fell into silence – Marcus’ fingers began to tap energetically on his armrest. Dorian cleared his throat and continued, “We will address each of these items in turn.” He shuffled to his next card and so too did the projector switch to the next slide – this one a map of the Roman world.
“Rome dominated the region between 743AFR and 803AFR and we know from Livy and Suetonius that Emperor Tiberius ordered the suppression of a minor revolt in Jerusalem in the year 773AFR and again in 781AFR. Unfortunately, these two great historians did not elaborate on these events other than to say that Nazareth had been the center of the rebellion and that Pilate, in 782AFR, had to suppress another minor revolt.” Dorian went to his next card as the slide behind him showed again one of the previous marble busts.
“Josephus of Jerusalem gives us a few more details. He states that in the rebellion of 773AFR that the Cult and its leader, who is only ever referred to as a priest, was singled out for not paying taxes. Although Josephus seemed to suggest that in actuality it was their belief and preaching of a single deity that brought Caesar’s attention down on them.” The picture behind Dorian became that of another relief, this one of a cross but with an orb and lines depicting rays of light shooting out in all directions. “Josephus also mentions that their leader, this priest, a man that it seems great care was taken to not mention or erase any mention of after the rebellion of 773AFR, was born in the last years of Herod the Great. Unfortunately, as with Livy and Suetonius, the last written mention of this cult and its leader was that he was caught and crucified but we have found no evidence of what happened to his body afterwards – in other words, we have yet to find his grave. Given the degree to which efforts were made to hide his identity, and the state of affairs in Syria at this time, there is a possibility that we may never find his last resting place,” the slide changed to a stone slab carved in surprising detail.
“Much of these tales are corroborated in the Jerusalem Stelae, which dates to about 983AFR and again makes no mention of any names. It is proof however that whatever movement was developing in the early mid seventh century continued after the death of their leader. It is tempting to make the claim that this priest was actually a follower of Marduk,” a map of the Babylonian Empire at its height was shown behind Dorian. “The region, now under Syrian and Egyptian control, had for many centuries been under Babylonian rule either solidly or marginally and it wasn’t until the successful Parthian invasion of 670AFR that the region began to destabilize. The Parthians were followed by the Romans in 743AFR who were themselves forced out by 803AFR by the reemergence of the Babylonians. If not for the troubles back in Rome at this time and the Roman withdraw from Egypt a few years later I’m sure we would have seen the land traded once again. The Babylonians held their Mediterranean ports until 940AFR when their own dynastic troubles would eventually lead to their ultimate demise and the rise of the Persian Empire. The Persians would only ever have a tenuous hold on the region and will eventually go to war with Egypt loosing much of the territory in the conflict that ended in 963AFR and the rest to a Syrian uprising in 1033AFR.” The screen behind Dorian was now showing images of the great god Marduk – a carving, an aerial view of his ziggurat in Babylon, and a modern painting.
“Throughout all of these troubles Marduk remained the primary god worshiped, the priests of which gained tremendous influence with whichever Empire had control of the territory. Both the Jerusalem Stalae and Josephus of Jerusalem describe the Cult leader as a priest but besides the fact the region was heavily influenced by the followers of Marduk there isn’t much proof of this. That is until we unearthed several homes in Nazareth that dated to about the end of the seventh century. In each of these homes we found small hidden shrines in tunnels beneath the houses,” the slide projector clicked through several images of the excavations. “In each case we found either faceless carvings of a man or a cross - accompanying each of these edifices was a smaller, always placed beneath the carvings of the cross or the faceless man, was that of a snake-like dragon. A dragon that Dr. Marcus and myself have identified as Tiamat,” the room began to murmur as quiet and not so quiet comments were shared. One gentleman, a fellow Dorian recognized as a colleague from Gallic Kingdom – a blowhard if ever there were – partially rousted his ample frame out of his seat.
“Many gods choose such a fantastic form, what makes you so certain that we’re looking at Tiamat?”
Dorian adjusted his poorly knotted tie, exposing the fact that his shirt had no top button. “If the gentleman from Gallia could hold his comments until the end of the lecture,” Dorian took a deep breath and waited for the slide to change. “This is an identification we feel justified in making given the depiction on the Jerusalem Stalae where we have the prominent cross and overlaid at the base is a clear representation of Marduk defeating Tiamat. Despite this connection with Marduk the Cult remained underground after the Roman persecution even after the Babylonians are able to retake the territory,”
“If indeed that is Tiamat than perhaps we are looking at a cult in her name – that would explain their persecution and the underground shrines,” Ewen from Gallia shouted, though this time he remained seated and was shushed by those around him.
Dorian continued. “There doesn’t seem to be any expansion of the faith until Persopolis throws off the yolk of the Babylonians in 942AFR. Under the King of Kings the small underground shrines are replaced as places of importance in the home. In once case, at a villa in Tyre, nearly a whole wing was dedicated to the Crucifixion but in most cases although the movement had come out of the shadows it remained largely isolated to the homes of the lower classes,” images of family shrines flashed behind Dorian. “Between 940AFR and 988AFR or to put it another way, between the reigns of Artaxerxes I and his son Artaxerxes II, the Cult seems to have been allowed to grow, however at the start of Darius’ reign, Artaxerxes II half-brother, in 983AFR we start to see a reverse of the first two rulers initiatives. The Cult is again forced underground, but unlike the followers in Jerusalem, which by 963AFR was in the hands of the Egyptians, there was no active persecution. The death blow for the Cult comes in 1033 when the Crucifixion fell under the rule of Cyrus I of Syria. By the start of the eleventh century the Cult appears to have completely died out.
There are questions that demand answers. Why was such a small faction persecuted so vehemently? It must have been more than just their lack of interest in paying taxes. Who was this man on the cross? What were the beliefs of this cult? How did they worship? The evidence at hand suggests it was a funerary cult with concepts of the individual and good verses evil but what were the specifics. We may never know but it is important that we not give up – especially with the civil strife now being fought in Syria we must make every effort to bring international pressure on these governments to help preserve this beautiful history.
At this time I would like to thank you for your attention, Dr. Marcus for his continued help, the city of Athens and the Imperial Academy of Antiquities for hosting this symposium, and of course his eminence the Archon for his continued funding. I will now open the floor to questions,”
The Founder of the Line
Upon the death of Alexander the Great in 324BC Ptolemy was appointed satrap of Egypt by the nominal regents of the expansive empire. Ptolemy wasted no time in securing his domain – in fact it would become his driving passion during his reign. His concerns were for Egypt so that his name, his children, the Greeks of the land, and lastly the Egyptians would have a kingdom to span all of time. Throughout his time as satrap he would play the masterful politician and dutiful subordinate to the regents of Alexander’s legacy.
His first act as satrap was to lead an army out to conquer Cyrenaica in 322BC. He was under no order to do so but it is a fair assumption it was a political tactic to show the glory and strength of his name to his new subjects (Cyrena was also a strategic port for his future plans). It wasn’t until Ptolemy killed Cleomenes (a spy acting on behalf of Perdiccas as well as co-satrap of Egypt) that he gained unwanted attention. Perdiccas, who was the most powerful of Alexander’s regents was also absolutely intolerant of those he saw as threats to his position and acted accordingly. He invaded Egypt in 321BC but his forces were utterly defeated during the crossing of the Nile. Ptolemy, in all his magnanimous posturing, led a relief effort over the river to the remains of Perdiccas’ army. Perdiccas would escape but would not last long; he was murdered a short time later by two generals. At this time Ptolemy was offered the regency of the Empire but declined to continue as the overseer of Egypt.
There was talk among his own people that he should throw off the shackles of Alexander and declare himself king but again Ptolemy declined. In fact he did the exact opposite. He formed a ruling council of military and merchants and through them implemented building projects, restructured Egypt’s armies and navy, and began a line of fortification between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea (the line of forts, towers, and walls ran through Tyre and Jerusalem). As the succession wars heated up he continued to play his part as quiet and supportive. Homage and tribute were paid to the regent and advice and subversive help were offered to the other satraps and usurpers. When his lands away from the Nile were directly threatened by the wars he often decided on strategic retreats that were costly to the attackers. So it was that by 318 all of Syria north of his defensive line was in the hands of Antigonus. This loss was off set by the successful invasion of Cyprus in the same year, led by the Ptolemy himself. In 315 Antigonus ambitions brought the whole of Alexander’s Empire down on him. Ptolemy joined the coalition and fought off several invasions of Cyprus, maintaining control of the island, and the capture of Damascus.
In 312 two things would occur, Alexander IV (the last of Alexander legitimate heirs) was murdered and there was a revolt in Cyrenaica (which became widely known as an insurrection after Ptolemy’s propaganda machine got under way). He squashed the revolt within the year and used that and the death of Alexander’s heir as his excuse to declare himself king. He feared no reprisal from the other satraps as they in turn declared themselves independent kings of Alexander’s empire. The following year Ptolemy sent his brother Menelaus south to secure the vital resources of Nubia and to set up watch towers along the coast. A month later Ptolemy enacted his plans which had started with the conquest of Cyrenaica. He wanted Egypt to have complete control over trade in the Mediterranean and a major threat to that had always been Carthage. He had at his command one of the world’s largest fleets of the time and he used it. In January of 311 he landed an army on Malta and Byzacena with the goal of capturing Thapsus with as little fight as possible. After all, Carthage was already at war with Syracuse (luck would not favor Ptolemy, two fishing ships were able to dock and warn the city in time).
While conducting the siege of Thapsus and campaigning in northern Africa Ptolemy found out that Antigonus had declared war on Egypt – attacking first in Syria in 310BC. Ptolemy would leave Carthage with his fleet for Cyprus arriving in time to win the Battle of Salamis, which blunted Antigonus’ invasion. After securing his holdings in Syria Ptolemy then launched attacks on Antigonus’ supporters, sacking Corinth, Antioch, and Megara. By 309BC his focus had shifted east leaving his conflict against Carthage to stall into a defensive war however by 306, with Crete and most of Syria back under his control, Ptolemy opted out of the coalition that had formed against Antigonus to resume his war with Carthage. Although king Agathocles of Syracuse had been dealt a major defeat the following year, 305BC, Thapsus fell and Ptolemy was moving on Carthage itself. With Syracuse less of a distraction to the remaining Carthaginian army Ptolemy sent his fleet out to disrupt trade and supply lines from Carthage holdings further west. In 301 Carthage was tenuously under Ptolemy’s control and the war had all but ended, though distance and Hamilcar were making success difficult in Iberia. When events in the east began to heat up once more Ptolemy was almost ready to listen to talks of peace with what remained of Carthage. Antigonus had been defeated and the coalition was being pressured by Seleucus to force Ptolemy to give up his holdings in Syria. Ptolemy, ever the statesman, was able to negotiate a compromise and a treaty (Ptolemy would keep Crete and all lands south of Damascus but would give up all other claim to Syria as well as Megara and Corinth). In 298 Hamilcar had been captured and executed. The Carthaginian Empire was brought into the Egyptian fold as a client kingdom – though many of the old ruling class had been killed or enslaved the structures remained but this time with Greek-Egyptians in positions of military and civil authority.
Ptolemy set his mind to infrastructure now and over the next ten years went on a major building spree. In 285 he decided to abdicate in favor of his son, who had been co-ruler for the last three years. Ptolemy died in 283BC leaving a well organized and ordered realm.
Ptolemy needed a well organized and stable interior if he was going to keep Egyptian borders secure. So he did what he had to to maintain the level of order he required. For the most part Egypt was left in the hands of the Egyptians however where ever possible Ptolemy appointed Greeks to positions of authority in both military and civil posts. He granted freedom to Egyptians to bear arms in order fill his ranks but privileges didn’t extend far beyond this measure – what voting did occur was still in the hands of the children of Helen and most of those were located in Alexandria. Appeasements were made to the lower classes for Ptolemy did encourage his ministers to give council and to listen to the pleas of the people – even so little regard was given to these local civil courts. Ptolemy’s building projects went a long way to forestall any major violent resentment between the ruling class and the Egyptians. Temples were repaired and new ones built (with the addition of Serapis as a god and the Serapeum in Alexandria neither of which were ever very popular with the natives). There was no interference on behalf of the king towards the priests of any cult, gods were worshiped as they were before Ptolemy’s arrival. He was the patron of art and literature, founding the great library of Alexandria – where he added his own works (a history on Alexander’s campaigns and one on his own years ruling Egypt). In the end Ptolemy Soter left a legacy nearly as impressive as that of Alexander.
Upon the death of Alexander the Great in 324BC Ptolemy was appointed satrap of Egypt by the nominal regents of the expansive empire. Ptolemy wasted no time in securing his domain – in fact it would become his driving passion during his reign. His concerns were for Egypt so that his name, his children, the Greeks of the land, and lastly the Egyptians would have a kingdom to span all of time. Throughout his time as satrap he would play the masterful politician and dutiful subordinate to the regents of Alexander’s legacy.
His first act as satrap was to lead an army out to conquer Cyrenaica in 322BC. He was under no order to do so but it is a fair assumption it was a political tactic to show the glory and strength of his name to his new subjects (Cyrena was also a strategic port for his future plans). It wasn’t until Ptolemy killed Cleomenes (a spy acting on behalf of Perdiccas as well as co-satrap of Egypt) that he gained unwanted attention. Perdiccas, who was the most powerful of Alexander’s regents was also absolutely intolerant of those he saw as threats to his position and acted accordingly. He invaded Egypt in 321BC but his forces were utterly defeated during the crossing of the Nile. Ptolemy, in all his magnanimous posturing, led a relief effort over the river to the remains of Perdiccas’ army. Perdiccas would escape but would not last long; he was murdered a short time later by two generals. At this time Ptolemy was offered the regency of the Empire but declined to continue as the overseer of Egypt.
There was talk among his own people that he should throw off the shackles of Alexander and declare himself king but again Ptolemy declined. In fact he did the exact opposite. He formed a ruling council of military and merchants and through them implemented building projects, restructured Egypt’s armies and navy, and began a line of fortification between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea (the line of forts, towers, and walls ran through Tyre and Jerusalem). As the succession wars heated up he continued to play his part as quiet and supportive. Homage and tribute were paid to the regent and advice and subversive help were offered to the other satraps and usurpers. When his lands away from the Nile were directly threatened by the wars he often decided on strategic retreats that were costly to the attackers. So it was that by 318 all of Syria north of his defensive line was in the hands of Antigonus. This loss was off set by the successful invasion of Cyprus in the same year, led by the Ptolemy himself. In 315 Antigonus ambitions brought the whole of Alexander’s Empire down on him. Ptolemy joined the coalition and fought off several invasions of Cyprus, maintaining control of the island, and the capture of Damascus.
In 312 two things would occur, Alexander IV (the last of Alexander legitimate heirs) was murdered and there was a revolt in Cyrenaica (which became widely known as an insurrection after Ptolemy’s propaganda machine got under way). He squashed the revolt within the year and used that and the death of Alexander’s heir as his excuse to declare himself king. He feared no reprisal from the other satraps as they in turn declared themselves independent kings of Alexander’s empire. The following year Ptolemy sent his brother Menelaus south to secure the vital resources of Nubia and to set up watch towers along the coast. A month later Ptolemy enacted his plans which had started with the conquest of Cyrenaica. He wanted Egypt to have complete control over trade in the Mediterranean and a major threat to that had always been Carthage. He had at his command one of the world’s largest fleets of the time and he used it. In January of 311 he landed an army on Malta and Byzacena with the goal of capturing Thapsus with as little fight as possible. After all, Carthage was already at war with Syracuse (luck would not favor Ptolemy, two fishing ships were able to dock and warn the city in time).
While conducting the siege of Thapsus and campaigning in northern Africa Ptolemy found out that Antigonus had declared war on Egypt – attacking first in Syria in 310BC. Ptolemy would leave Carthage with his fleet for Cyprus arriving in time to win the Battle of Salamis, which blunted Antigonus’ invasion. After securing his holdings in Syria Ptolemy then launched attacks on Antigonus’ supporters, sacking Corinth, Antioch, and Megara. By 309BC his focus had shifted east leaving his conflict against Carthage to stall into a defensive war however by 306, with Crete and most of Syria back under his control, Ptolemy opted out of the coalition that had formed against Antigonus to resume his war with Carthage. Although king Agathocles of Syracuse had been dealt a major defeat the following year, 305BC, Thapsus fell and Ptolemy was moving on Carthage itself. With Syracuse less of a distraction to the remaining Carthaginian army Ptolemy sent his fleet out to disrupt trade and supply lines from Carthage holdings further west. In 301 Carthage was tenuously under Ptolemy’s control and the war had all but ended, though distance and Hamilcar were making success difficult in Iberia. When events in the east began to heat up once more Ptolemy was almost ready to listen to talks of peace with what remained of Carthage. Antigonus had been defeated and the coalition was being pressured by Seleucus to force Ptolemy to give up his holdings in Syria. Ptolemy, ever the statesman, was able to negotiate a compromise and a treaty (Ptolemy would keep Crete and all lands south of Damascus but would give up all other claim to Syria as well as Megara and Corinth). In 298 Hamilcar had been captured and executed. The Carthaginian Empire was brought into the Egyptian fold as a client kingdom – though many of the old ruling class had been killed or enslaved the structures remained but this time with Greek-Egyptians in positions of military and civil authority.
Ptolemy set his mind to infrastructure now and over the next ten years went on a major building spree. In 285 he decided to abdicate in favor of his son, who had been co-ruler for the last three years. Ptolemy died in 283BC leaving a well organized and ordered realm.
Ptolemy needed a well organized and stable interior if he was going to keep Egyptian borders secure. So he did what he had to to maintain the level of order he required. For the most part Egypt was left in the hands of the Egyptians however where ever possible Ptolemy appointed Greeks to positions of authority in both military and civil posts. He granted freedom to Egyptians to bear arms in order fill his ranks but privileges didn’t extend far beyond this measure – what voting did occur was still in the hands of the children of Helen and most of those were located in Alexandria. Appeasements were made to the lower classes for Ptolemy did encourage his ministers to give council and to listen to the pleas of the people – even so little regard was given to these local civil courts. Ptolemy’s building projects went a long way to forestall any major violent resentment between the ruling class and the Egyptians. Temples were repaired and new ones built (with the addition of Serapis as a god and the Serapeum in Alexandria neither of which were ever very popular with the natives). There was no interference on behalf of the king towards the priests of any cult, gods were worshiped as they were before Ptolemy’s arrival. He was the patron of art and literature, founding the great library of Alexandria – where he added his own works (a history on Alexander’s campaigns and one on his own years ruling Egypt). In the end Ptolemy Soter left a legacy nearly as impressive as that of Alexander.