The Kings income - also at this time. Part of what made Christian IV able to raise the army in Lower Saxony.
Henry the Great.
- Thread starter Quiet_Man
- Start date
The Kings income - also at this time. Part of what made Christian IV able to raise the army in Lower Saxony.
That appears to be more workable than anything I've come up with so far, thanks
(1634)Draining of the Cambridge Fens - An experienced embankment engineer, Vermuyden was financed by Henry to drain Hatfield Chase in the Isle of Axholme. Jointly financed by Dutch and English capitalists, Francis, Earl of Bedford and 13 Adventurers, the project was a controversial undertaking, not only for the engineering techniques used, but also because it employed Dutch rather than English, workmen. Despite many problems the project was a success and similar techniques were started to increase the amount of arable land available throughout Britain.
(1635) The Hampton Conference endorses a plan to unite the Kingdoms of England and Scotland with a joint Parliament. There are no plans for any union flags or any other symbols of the union other than the Royal standards. Henry agrees to summon the joint Parliament as soon as a building can be found to house it, recognising that the Palace of Westminster will not be suitable. The new Parliament building is still a long way off completion.
Negotiations also begin between the four northern protestant states (Britain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden) to stop the piracy of each others vessels, it had become self evident that they had more to gain from protecting each other than inflaming tensions between themselves.
A British colony in California is planted in the bay of St Francis (San Francisco) It is the largest undertaking the British colonial fleet has ever undertaken, even so with all the resources available over half the colony has succumbed to starvation and disease within a year. It will take a further 10 years and 3 other major resupply fleets before the colony is considered viable.
Many Highlanders are now fleeing to France (Including the MacDonald’s) via their kin in Ireland. Some though such as Clan Campbell have managed to prove to Cromwell’s satisfaction that they were not involved in the rebellion and had property and kin returned to them. The Campbell’s are now acting as scouts to the NBA seeking out rebel encampments and ridding themselves of the occasional rival clans (Lamont and Irvine being pre-eminent)
Glasgow and Edinburgh are now linked by a Kings Highway. The Great North Road from Edinburgh has now reached Newcastle and Peterborough from London. The Great canal is now under construction but is suffering from lack of expertise in canal building techniques. The Dutch engineer Vermuyden suggests using puddle clay to line the canal and this proves adequate to sealing the canal bottom. Many lowland Scot’s petition Cromwell for a canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is rejected as simply too expensive for the Crown to bear. Though many private investors look upon it with interest.
John Stearne, apprentice of Matthew Hopkins (Deceased, killed during the Devereaux uprising) aka the so-called "Witch-finder General” Is arrested in Norwich for murder along with several rich landowners who had hired his help to remove “undesirables” from their land by accusations of witchcraft.
Gustav Adolphus and the Swedish army re-invades Poland to bring the rebellious land back to heel. This proves far more difficult than Gustav thought, someone had been arming and training the Poles.
The war between France and Spain drags on, neither side despite numerous battles seems able to gain the upper hand.
(1635) The Hampton Conference endorses a plan to unite the Kingdoms of England and Scotland with a joint Parliament. There are no plans for any union flags or any other symbols of the union other than the Royal standards. Henry agrees to summon the joint Parliament as soon as a building can be found to house it, recognising that the Palace of Westminster will not be suitable. The new Parliament building is still a long way off completion.
Negotiations also begin between the four northern protestant states (Britain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden) to stop the piracy of each others vessels, it had become self evident that they had more to gain from protecting each other than inflaming tensions between themselves.
A British colony in California is planted in the bay of St Francis (San Francisco) It is the largest undertaking the British colonial fleet has ever undertaken, even so with all the resources available over half the colony has succumbed to starvation and disease within a year. It will take a further 10 years and 3 other major resupply fleets before the colony is considered viable.
Many Highlanders are now fleeing to France (Including the MacDonald’s) via their kin in Ireland. Some though such as Clan Campbell have managed to prove to Cromwell’s satisfaction that they were not involved in the rebellion and had property and kin returned to them. The Campbell’s are now acting as scouts to the NBA seeking out rebel encampments and ridding themselves of the occasional rival clans (Lamont and Irvine being pre-eminent)
Glasgow and Edinburgh are now linked by a Kings Highway. The Great North Road from Edinburgh has now reached Newcastle and Peterborough from London. The Great canal is now under construction but is suffering from lack of expertise in canal building techniques. The Dutch engineer Vermuyden suggests using puddle clay to line the canal and this proves adequate to sealing the canal bottom. Many lowland Scot’s petition Cromwell for a canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is rejected as simply too expensive for the Crown to bear. Though many private investors look upon it with interest.
John Stearne, apprentice of Matthew Hopkins (Deceased, killed during the Devereaux uprising) aka the so-called "Witch-finder General” Is arrested in Norwich for murder along with several rich landowners who had hired his help to remove “undesirables” from their land by accusations of witchcraft.
Gustav Adolphus and the Swedish army re-invades Poland to bring the rebellious land back to heel. This proves far more difficult than Gustav thought, someone had been arming and training the Poles.
The war between France and Spain drags on, neither side despite numerous battles seems able to gain the upper hand.
(1636) The NBA is finally withdrawn from the Highlands leaving many areas totally depopulated, although there is some movement north from immigrant groups moving into Britain escaping from the fighting by France and Spain. Local militias are drawn up to garrison the larger towns and deal with crime.
The Branca group demonstrate a steam powered spinning rig, linking several different machines powered by a Branca turbine, including a wood turning lathe, spinning machine, and a blacksmiths bellows. There is a great deal of interest from many groups including the Huguenots.
The first Newspaper in Britain is printed, it has no title, known simply as the “News”
John Sibthorpe demonstrates a coal burning oven.
William Gascoigne demonstrates a micrometer on his telescope allowing extremely accurate measurement and movement.
A British merchantman fleeing a typhoon seeks shelter in OTL Sydney harbour. The Captain realises this could be a new venture colony financed by the British crown and reports his findings to crown agents in Bombay, who despatch a message to London about this “NewLand”
First Japanese silks and laquerwork appear in London.
Plans are being drawn up to seize key locations in Nouvelle France in an attempt to take the colony off French hands.
Denmark/Norway attacks Sweden in an attempt to extend Danish influence further north of Scania. Although initially successful it rapidly becomes apparent that Swedish resistance is far stronger than Christian 4th imagined it would be, and this with much of the Swedish army bogged down in Poland.
France is now totally in control of the palatinate as an army under General Longueville crushes the remaining Spanish tercios operating in northern Europe. Spain is currently bogged down in Italy as the French block every move to break out to the north. Many of the fleeing Highlander clans seek permission to settle in the Pyrenees in return for service to the French crown, this is granted.
The Dutch attack at sea a Spanish fleet setting out for the Netherlands, the Dutch win but the loss of ships on both sides is immense. 30 Spanish and 24 Dutch men of war go to the bottom.
Britain, Holland and Denmark agree not to “liberate” each others merchantmen and concentrate on the Spanish and French instead. Sweden agrees in principle though not in the case of Denmark with whom they are at war.
The Branca group demonstrate a steam powered spinning rig, linking several different machines powered by a Branca turbine, including a wood turning lathe, spinning machine, and a blacksmiths bellows. There is a great deal of interest from many groups including the Huguenots.
The first Newspaper in Britain is printed, it has no title, known simply as the “News”
John Sibthorpe demonstrates a coal burning oven.
William Gascoigne demonstrates a micrometer on his telescope allowing extremely accurate measurement and movement.
A British merchantman fleeing a typhoon seeks shelter in OTL Sydney harbour. The Captain realises this could be a new venture colony financed by the British crown and reports his findings to crown agents in Bombay, who despatch a message to London about this “NewLand”
First Japanese silks and laquerwork appear in London.
Plans are being drawn up to seize key locations in Nouvelle France in an attempt to take the colony off French hands.
Denmark/Norway attacks Sweden in an attempt to extend Danish influence further north of Scania. Although initially successful it rapidly becomes apparent that Swedish resistance is far stronger than Christian 4th imagined it would be, and this with much of the Swedish army bogged down in Poland.
France is now totally in control of the palatinate as an army under General Longueville crushes the remaining Spanish tercios operating in northern Europe. Spain is currently bogged down in Italy as the French block every move to break out to the north. Many of the fleeing Highlander clans seek permission to settle in the Pyrenees in return for service to the French crown, this is granted.
The Dutch attack at sea a Spanish fleet setting out for the Netherlands, the Dutch win but the loss of ships on both sides is immense. 30 Spanish and 24 Dutch men of war go to the bottom.
Britain, Holland and Denmark agree not to “liberate” each others merchantmen and concentrate on the Spanish and French instead. Sweden agrees in principle though not in the case of Denmark with whom they are at war.
Very interesting and well thought out so far. Could it lead to a more open Japan? And a possibly Scottish Pyrenees state?
It may well lead to a more open Japan, British merchantmen don't carry missionaries or cause internal problems (other than the normal ones of sailors in ports), they're only interested in trade.
As for a Scottish Pyrenees state, well at the moment their numbers are way too low, but yes give them time and a lax French integrationalist policy it's certainly possible, along with a Celtic revival in Brittany where the Irish are settling.
Good updates. I like the variety of content. The NBA makes me think of the basketball one though
Good updates. I like the variety of content. The NBA makes me think of the basketball one though
Seconded, i keep thinking like that
Basketball teams armed with pikes and muskets
Their height alone would be imposing.Are these OTL developments that were not of big consequence in OTL, or are you getting into "Henry was so Great, he made industrialisation and Australian colonisation happen a century early" mode?
(Up to now I like your TL, but I see the danger of too much acceleration lurking around the corner...)
Are these OTL developments that were not of big consequence in OTL, or are you getting into "Henry was so Great, he made industrialisation and Australian colonisation happen a century early" mode?
(Up to now I like your TL, but I see the danger of too much acceleration lurking around the corner...)
These are all OTL Inventions that I've thrown in for a bit of local colour so to speak. The Branca steam turbine is an actual device, however it didn't gain much success in Italy after he built it simply because all his drawings were woodcuts and he couldn't get anyone to take him seriously. In TTL Britain with Henry pushing the arts and sciences hard it has. The industrial revolution however is still some ways off, they just have a few more innovations. I'd guess at best Britain is about 10, 15 years ahead if that.
Colonisation is a different matter, Henry has really been pushing this hard both in order to expand trade by getting hold of new resources and also to provide a pressure valve on the protestant hard line religions causing trouble with the mainstream believers. The British have a sizeable colonial fleet + several merchantmen who's sole job is to get people out of Britain and into the colonies. Not that colonial life is perfect, it's hard and the average life expectancy is still below 40 years. At the minute a great effort is being put into setting up a colony in OTL California, this will be taking up British efforts for the next 10 years. Australia, however is now known about (if a British secret) and will be colonised much earlier than OTL, but not for at least another 10 - 15 years.
Hmmm... I think one of the reasons Australia was colonised in the late 18th century in OTL was not so much that it was just there (and OTL, IIRC, Tasmania was discovered by the Dutch already in the 17th century, so lack of knowledge was not the major issue), but because due to US independence, the most attractive settlement areas in North America were not under British rule anymore and due to the porous border, Canada was not very useful as a penal colony.
None of these conditions holds in your TL at this point - it's much more sensible for Henry to concentrate on North America, than to waste money on a faraway continent without any obvious tradeable goods. (Now, if you'd make him lose North America to the French, Australia would become interesting - but your TL doesn't seem to go into that direction at the moment).
Henry is just highly expansionist, Australia is now known to the British sooner or later someone will come along and attempt to settle it even if it's just a small outpost. The most likely settlers will be the Dutch though, Henry's already squeezed them out of their holdings in North America.
(1637) The New British army is re-organised with the phasing out of pikes in favour of bayoneted muskets this gives it a much faster marching speed and battlefield manoeuvrability. The English Parliament debates standing it down, however the troubles in Europe as well as plans for further colonial acquisition means the debate comes to nothing. Henry also set up a board of ordinance to proof check all weapons supplied to the Army as well as the costs. He soon found out that the Worshipful Company of Workmen Armours of London was grossly overcharging him for each weapon supplied and started to look for alternative makers and suppliers.
The Great North Road is finally completed, it is now possible for a coach to travel from London to Edinburgh in just 2 days (with frequent horse changes en-route) Other Kings Highways are planned and the maintenance of these roads is taken up by Parliament, local roads being a parish responsibility.
The new British Parliament building is taking shape, though as yet there are no plans to dissolve the English Parliament and merge the two nations systems.
Work continues on the Royal canal mostly by trial and error, but it is now nearly 2/3rds dug.
William Oughtred demonstrates a circular slide rule based on a logarithmic scale to mathematicians in Oxford and Cambridge alongside his works on Clavis Mathematicae included a description of Hindu-Arabic notation and decimal fractions and a considerable section on algebra. He experimented with many new symbols including for x multiplication and :: for proportion. Like all Oughtred's works it was very condensed containing only 88 pages.
The Denmark Swedish war continues with Danish troops bogged down in southern Sweden and the Swedish army bogged down in Poland unable to return to Sweden because of Danish men of war interdicting all shipping in the Baltic. This is turning into a war neither side needs or wants. Though Christian 4th of Denmark still believes he can win, he now knows that it might not be worth the time or effort involved and is now looking for a way out of his predicament.
France is now pushing hard against Spanish holdings in Northern Italy, the only reason they haven’t pushed into the Papal States is the Popes threat to excommunicate any Frenchman who dares to violate his territory. Philip of Spain is now in talks with his cousin Ferdinand III of the Holy Roman Empire to come to his aid. Ferdinand instructs Albrecht Von Wallenstein to mobilise an imperial army, though is reluctant as yet to get involved.
Richelieu learns from various sources that Britain intends to move against Nouvelle France but does not have the support or means to prevent this. The King, Louis is far more interested in getting his hands on Northern Italy than keeping this territory. Richelieu sends a letter to King Henry in Louis name offering to sell the territories to him.
The Dutch continue to expand in the disputed Spanish Netherlands, although a strongly worded message from Cardinal Richelieu limits this somewhat. The Dutch have no desire to get into a war with France and start talks with Britain, Denmark and Sweden to see if they can arrange some sort of mutual defence league, though without great success.
More Irish and rebel Scots settle in France, often displacing natives and causing a lot of local unrest, they are however valued as doughty and fierce warriors by the French military.
The Great North Road is finally completed, it is now possible for a coach to travel from London to Edinburgh in just 2 days (with frequent horse changes en-route) Other Kings Highways are planned and the maintenance of these roads is taken up by Parliament, local roads being a parish responsibility.
The new British Parliament building is taking shape, though as yet there are no plans to dissolve the English Parliament and merge the two nations systems.
Work continues on the Royal canal mostly by trial and error, but it is now nearly 2/3rds dug.
William Oughtred demonstrates a circular slide rule based on a logarithmic scale to mathematicians in Oxford and Cambridge alongside his works on Clavis Mathematicae included a description of Hindu-Arabic notation and decimal fractions and a considerable section on algebra. He experimented with many new symbols including for x multiplication and :: for proportion. Like all Oughtred's works it was very condensed containing only 88 pages.
The Denmark Swedish war continues with Danish troops bogged down in southern Sweden and the Swedish army bogged down in Poland unable to return to Sweden because of Danish men of war interdicting all shipping in the Baltic. This is turning into a war neither side needs or wants. Though Christian 4th of Denmark still believes he can win, he now knows that it might not be worth the time or effort involved and is now looking for a way out of his predicament.
France is now pushing hard against Spanish holdings in Northern Italy, the only reason they haven’t pushed into the Papal States is the Popes threat to excommunicate any Frenchman who dares to violate his territory. Philip of Spain is now in talks with his cousin Ferdinand III of the Holy Roman Empire to come to his aid. Ferdinand instructs Albrecht Von Wallenstein to mobilise an imperial army, though is reluctant as yet to get involved.
Richelieu learns from various sources that Britain intends to move against Nouvelle France but does not have the support or means to prevent this. The King, Louis is far more interested in getting his hands on Northern Italy than keeping this territory. Richelieu sends a letter to King Henry in Louis name offering to sell the territories to him.
The Dutch continue to expand in the disputed Spanish Netherlands, although a strongly worded message from Cardinal Richelieu limits this somewhat. The Dutch have no desire to get into a war with France and start talks with Britain, Denmark and Sweden to see if they can arrange some sort of mutual defence league, though without great success.
More Irish and rebel Scots settle in France, often displacing natives and causing a lot of local unrest, they are however valued as doughty and fierce warriors by the French military.
Interesting, its a clever move, trying to get money for something he knows he'll lose anyway.
If i was Henry id beat the price down then agree, easier to keep the peace between the two and he might as well try
Causing trouble over there as well, i agree with the person who suggested a scotish/irish/french preynees state in France
It's one of those odd diplomatic quirks. Britain is not at war with France, however England is, due to France's support of the Scottish rebels. For all Richelieu paroled his troops back from Henry and the English parliament for £100,000 no peace agreement was ever signed or agreed. As England (and Britain) doesn't want a European entanglement Henry has opted to strike at something he feels is within his grasp.
When the British Parliament is finally in session this will be resolved, although at the minute it's to Henry's advantage.
Hope this makes sense.
Perfectly. Only I was hoping that they were at war so I could type this.
I'm Henry the Great I am, I am
Henry the Great I am, I am
I'm gonna invade the country next door
And it's been invaded a few times before
And every time it were an 'Enry ('Enry!)
Never by a Lizzie or a Sam (Or a Sam!)
I'm a great old man called Henry
Henry the Great I am!
...
Sorry.
I like the flag except for the white bordering white.
Maybe in the future there'll be one or two states like Andorra in the Pyrenees.
Maybe in the future there'll be one or two states like Andorra in the Pyrenees.