I believe it is an altered portrait of Tilly of 30 years war era fame.
Of Pirates and Manatee's : The Kingdom of Bartholomew Roberts
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Chapter 6 : Of Prussians and Maroons
Chapter 6 : Two Young Conquerers
"Hate always three things. The Devil, the Heretic and the Prussian." - Common Polish Proverb first recorded during the 1760's.
Frederick the Great
1751 - Outside Poznan - Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth
The stench of gunpowder was one that was ever-present on a deserted battlefield. There were of course other smells, shit, death and the peasantry picking over the remains of soldiers to name but a few. But to the nose of Frederich von Hohenzollern, the burnt wafts of gunpowder always stuck out from amongst the other odours of war.
The sounds too, the cries of wounded foes begging for death, the distance marching of tens of thousands of feet, the caws of carrion birds making their way to a feast beyond all imagining.
A smile made its way to his lips, and Friedrich turned around to his assembled officers, many of whom bore similar expressions, filled with greed at the thought of the riches to come from the victory he had achieved.
"It would appear General Christoph, that the Poles were foolish enough to fall for the bait."
The General in question, Christoph von Dohna, was gazing over the shattered remains of the once proud Commonwealth army, and only glanced towards Friedrich at his comment before replying in an awed tone.
"Indeed they were your majesty, and Prussia is all the greater for it."
Friedrich's smile on grew larger. The battle had long since left his mind. No, as Von Dohna had said, Prussia would be ever greater for the utter decimation inflicted upon the Commonwealth this day. Images of cities he could claim as rightful Prussian heritage sped across his mind. Poznan, Kalisz, Lidzbark and a dozen others would be his for sure. If he was lucky the Poles would be so shocked they might give up Danzig itself!
Friedrich remained atop the little hill, staring at what was to come for some time afterwards. Thoughts of conquest and glory filling his mind. It was only later after general Von Katte approached him and spoke for a time, and the two left for the army camp being set up slightly away from the besieged city of Poznan. The observant watcher may even have noticed that the two were rather closer together than would be expected of King and Vassal, but only the foolish observer would mention such in the presence of an officer.
The man known to history as Frederick the Great was always said to be at home more upon the march than in Berlin. Though nobody was quite sure how or why that could be.
Prussia in 1763, after the War of the Three Kings------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Life of King Samuel" by Moses Rake - continued
"Queen Nanny" as a historical figure, stands out as one of the few who did not seek power for powers sake. Believed to have been born around 1686 in the Ghana region of western Africa, Nanny was enslaved as a young child and transported to Jamaica where it is thought she worked a plantation in the Saint Thomas Parish.
Queen Nanny escaped the planation in the early 18th century along with three other influential figures of Jamaican history. Warlord Quao, "Captain" Cudjoe and Accompong. These four and other slaves joined the "Maroons", a term for the mixed Arawak and African bands of escaped slaves who inhabited much of Jamaica's then unexplored interior, and made life hellish for the British who sought to expand further control of the island. By 1720, Nanny had established what would become known as "Nannytown", the first permanent settlement of the Maroons, there Nanny would act as "Obeah", a term still used to denote a figure of spiritual and political importance in Jamaica.
It is probable that had events gone otherwise and the British been given time to properly reinforce Jamaica, that the Maroons would have been crushed and an otherwise fascinating period of colonial history would have been lost forever. But in 1726 the entire history of Jamaica was irrevocably changed when the combined force of Governor Dionisio Martinez and Bartholomew Roberts landed at Port Antonio.
The defeat of the British force sent to stop the landing caught the attention of the Maroons, and a meeting was held between the Windward and Leeward groups to discuss possible action. Cudjoe favoured remaining in the mountains and using the distraction to free as many slaves as possible before the British returned in force. But Quao and Nanny had a different course of action in mind. Freed slaves had guided Bartholomew Roberts to Nannytown, and while the Maroons as a whole were opposed to trusting any european, let alone a man of Britain, they did listen to his words.
The exact course of the debate is unknown after this point. But by the end of the meeting Cudjoe's group had been sidelined and an army of almost two thousand Maroons and freed slaves joined Roberts band of pirates and Spaniards. The sheer numerical advantage this gave the Spanish aligned forces was insurmountable, and every British force sent against it was defeated swiftly, the largest being a band of some 800 under Duke Henry Bentinick who were cornered outside the town of Negril in a last stand.
Nanny and Quao quickly gained a reputation as fierce fighters, both of them becoming in effect the monarchs of the Maroon bands. Over the next two years they would, along with Captain Roberts, establish a regime over the freed slaves and colonists who remained on Jamaica, enforced by the Maroon warriors and supplied by Roberts fleet.
The true change however, would come when the Second Quadruple Alliance came to end in 1729, and Jamaica was handed back to the now bankrupt and war weary Great Britain. Initially this caused an immense panic amongst the Maroons, who were worried about the prospect of an actual British army coming to the island, something not even the warmongering Quao was confident they could defeat.
Surrendering to the British was not an option, so the next obvious choice was to elect a leader from amongst those on the island. Warlord Quao was initially suggested as a potential King by his supporters within the Maroons, but Queen Nanny was supported by an equally large proportion of the Maroons, and even more of the Freedmen blacks. The formative kingdom was seemingly going to break apart before it could even form, but itwas then that the most unlikely of kingmakers emerged. The freed slave Ruth, who had become the lover of Bartholomew Roberts during the years spent on Jamaica, engaged in talks with Queen Nanny and Quao, trying to persuade them to support Bartholomew as a potential King, someone who was universally respected and not bound by Jamaican politics. The last point in especially convinced all the Maroon leaders that the ex-pirate was perhaps the best choice for a King that was available, since they would never support any of colonial population and no leaders of note had yet emerged from the freedmen blacks.
King Bartholomew would return the support shown by Nanny and Quao by granting them the only other noble titles on Jamaica, the self created positions of Leeward Earl and Windward Earl for Quao and Nanny respectively. This gave the two Maroon leaders unrivalled power on Jamaica, but each took it differently. Quao became an intense loyalist and support of King Bartholomew, and was given command of the garrison in Kingston. Nanny on the other hand more or less retired after 1730, acting only as the occasional mediator between the conflicts of Queen Ruth and Quao while keeping herself in relatively good living thanks to her owning much of the good farming land seized from the planters.
An artistic rendering of King Bartholomew's entrance into Kingston
This retirement would be ended swiftly when the succession crisis of 1743 erupted. Exactly why Nanny acted against Quao's coup is uncertain, especially given that she had worked with Quao for a full 30 years at a minimum by that stage of her life. Regardless, within two days of the coup Maroon guardsmen loyal to Nanny had captured or killed all of the prominent Samuelist leaders, including Quao himself.
Nanny was placed as the new commander of the Kingston garrison and would thereafter act as one of the two powers behind the throne. Even in King Samuels mid 30's he always ensured Queen-Mother Ruth and Nanny were on his side before acting on a decision, a wise choice considering the ruthless nature of the two women he was dealing with. Eventually in 1760 Nanny would pass away from an outbreak of pneumonia passing through Jamaica, and would be the first non-royal person to be given a state funeral by the Kingdom. Nanny's power however would not transfer onto her successor as Windward Earl, her son Kwasi, who was almost entirely subordinate to King Samuel's wishes.
Queen Nanny has remained an important cultural figure in Jamaica even long after her death, and has a statue in Kingston to commemorate her achievements. She also remains a figure of note in the semi-pagan folk beliefs of Jamaica, being known as a wise woman and rumoured to be a woman who possessed great influence with the supernatural throughout her life. Regardless, few of Jamaica's citizens forget one of the mostly influential figures of the 18th century.
Authors Notes
Freddy here was forced into the role of king two years earlier than OTL, and quickly was involved in a opportunistic (But less successful) conflict with Austria which resulted in him claiming a slightly smaller Silesia than OTL. In General he had something of a more successful military career than OTL as well, but it also ended a lot sooner. Suffice to say, if he attempts any partitions he's going to find significant.... opposition from every single one of his neighbours.
Also I know its somewhat unlikely Von Katte would have had the same importance as OTL, but screw likelihood, historical figures deserve a break every now and then!
"Hate always three things. The Devil, the Heretic and the Prussian." - Common Polish Proverb first recorded during the 1760's.
Frederick the Great
1751 - Outside Poznan - Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth
The stench of gunpowder was one that was ever-present on a deserted battlefield. There were of course other smells, shit, death and the peasantry picking over the remains of soldiers to name but a few. But to the nose of Frederich von Hohenzollern, the burnt wafts of gunpowder always stuck out from amongst the other odours of war.
The sounds too, the cries of wounded foes begging for death, the distance marching of tens of thousands of feet, the caws of carrion birds making their way to a feast beyond all imagining.
A smile made its way to his lips, and Friedrich turned around to his assembled officers, many of whom bore similar expressions, filled with greed at the thought of the riches to come from the victory he had achieved.
"It would appear General Christoph, that the Poles were foolish enough to fall for the bait."
The General in question, Christoph von Dohna, was gazing over the shattered remains of the once proud Commonwealth army, and only glanced towards Friedrich at his comment before replying in an awed tone.
"Indeed they were your majesty, and Prussia is all the greater for it."
Friedrich's smile on grew larger. The battle had long since left his mind. No, as Von Dohna had said, Prussia would be ever greater for the utter decimation inflicted upon the Commonwealth this day. Images of cities he could claim as rightful Prussian heritage sped across his mind. Poznan, Kalisz, Lidzbark and a dozen others would be his for sure. If he was lucky the Poles would be so shocked they might give up Danzig itself!
Friedrich remained atop the little hill, staring at what was to come for some time afterwards. Thoughts of conquest and glory filling his mind. It was only later after general Von Katte approached him and spoke for a time, and the two left for the army camp being set up slightly away from the besieged city of Poznan. The observant watcher may even have noticed that the two were rather closer together than would be expected of King and Vassal, but only the foolish observer would mention such in the presence of an officer.
The man known to history as Frederick the Great was always said to be at home more upon the march than in Berlin. Though nobody was quite sure how or why that could be.
Prussia in 1763, after the War of the Three Kings
"The Life of King Samuel" by Moses Rake - continued
"Queen Nanny" as a historical figure, stands out as one of the few who did not seek power for powers sake. Believed to have been born around 1686 in the Ghana region of western Africa, Nanny was enslaved as a young child and transported to Jamaica where it is thought she worked a plantation in the Saint Thomas Parish.
Queen Nanny escaped the planation in the early 18th century along with three other influential figures of Jamaican history. Warlord Quao, "Captain" Cudjoe and Accompong. These four and other slaves joined the "Maroons", a term for the mixed Arawak and African bands of escaped slaves who inhabited much of Jamaica's then unexplored interior, and made life hellish for the British who sought to expand further control of the island. By 1720, Nanny had established what would become known as "Nannytown", the first permanent settlement of the Maroons, there Nanny would act as "Obeah", a term still used to denote a figure of spiritual and political importance in Jamaica.
It is probable that had events gone otherwise and the British been given time to properly reinforce Jamaica, that the Maroons would have been crushed and an otherwise fascinating period of colonial history would have been lost forever. But in 1726 the entire history of Jamaica was irrevocably changed when the combined force of Governor Dionisio Martinez and Bartholomew Roberts landed at Port Antonio.
The defeat of the British force sent to stop the landing caught the attention of the Maroons, and a meeting was held between the Windward and Leeward groups to discuss possible action. Cudjoe favoured remaining in the mountains and using the distraction to free as many slaves as possible before the British returned in force. But Quao and Nanny had a different course of action in mind. Freed slaves had guided Bartholomew Roberts to Nannytown, and while the Maroons as a whole were opposed to trusting any european, let alone a man of Britain, they did listen to his words.
The exact course of the debate is unknown after this point. But by the end of the meeting Cudjoe's group had been sidelined and an army of almost two thousand Maroons and freed slaves joined Roberts band of pirates and Spaniards. The sheer numerical advantage this gave the Spanish aligned forces was insurmountable, and every British force sent against it was defeated swiftly, the largest being a band of some 800 under Duke Henry Bentinick who were cornered outside the town of Negril in a last stand.
Nanny and Quao quickly gained a reputation as fierce fighters, both of them becoming in effect the monarchs of the Maroon bands. Over the next two years they would, along with Captain Roberts, establish a regime over the freed slaves and colonists who remained on Jamaica, enforced by the Maroon warriors and supplied by Roberts fleet.
The true change however, would come when the Second Quadruple Alliance came to end in 1729, and Jamaica was handed back to the now bankrupt and war weary Great Britain. Initially this caused an immense panic amongst the Maroons, who were worried about the prospect of an actual British army coming to the island, something not even the warmongering Quao was confident they could defeat.
Surrendering to the British was not an option, so the next obvious choice was to elect a leader from amongst those on the island. Warlord Quao was initially suggested as a potential King by his supporters within the Maroons, but Queen Nanny was supported by an equally large proportion of the Maroons, and even more of the Freedmen blacks. The formative kingdom was seemingly going to break apart before it could even form, but itwas then that the most unlikely of kingmakers emerged. The freed slave Ruth, who had become the lover of Bartholomew Roberts during the years spent on Jamaica, engaged in talks with Queen Nanny and Quao, trying to persuade them to support Bartholomew as a potential King, someone who was universally respected and not bound by Jamaican politics. The last point in especially convinced all the Maroon leaders that the ex-pirate was perhaps the best choice for a King that was available, since they would never support any of colonial population and no leaders of note had yet emerged from the freedmen blacks.
King Bartholomew would return the support shown by Nanny and Quao by granting them the only other noble titles on Jamaica, the self created positions of Leeward Earl and Windward Earl for Quao and Nanny respectively. This gave the two Maroon leaders unrivalled power on Jamaica, but each took it differently. Quao became an intense loyalist and support of King Bartholomew, and was given command of the garrison in Kingston. Nanny on the other hand more or less retired after 1730, acting only as the occasional mediator between the conflicts of Queen Ruth and Quao while keeping herself in relatively good living thanks to her owning much of the good farming land seized from the planters.
An artistic rendering of King Bartholomew's entrance into Kingston
This retirement would be ended swiftly when the succession crisis of 1743 erupted. Exactly why Nanny acted against Quao's coup is uncertain, especially given that she had worked with Quao for a full 30 years at a minimum by that stage of her life. Regardless, within two days of the coup Maroon guardsmen loyal to Nanny had captured or killed all of the prominent Samuelist leaders, including Quao himself.
Nanny was placed as the new commander of the Kingston garrison and would thereafter act as one of the two powers behind the throne. Even in King Samuels mid 30's he always ensured Queen-Mother Ruth and Nanny were on his side before acting on a decision, a wise choice considering the ruthless nature of the two women he was dealing with. Eventually in 1760 Nanny would pass away from an outbreak of pneumonia passing through Jamaica, and would be the first non-royal person to be given a state funeral by the Kingdom. Nanny's power however would not transfer onto her successor as Windward Earl, her son Kwasi, who was almost entirely subordinate to King Samuel's wishes.
Queen Nanny has remained an important cultural figure in Jamaica even long after her death, and has a statue in Kingston to commemorate her achievements. She also remains a figure of note in the semi-pagan folk beliefs of Jamaica, being known as a wise woman and rumoured to be a woman who possessed great influence with the supernatural throughout her life. Regardless, few of Jamaica's citizens forget one of the mostly influential figures of the 18th century.
Authors Notes
Freddy here was forced into the role of king two years earlier than OTL, and quickly was involved in a opportunistic (But less successful) conflict with Austria which resulted in him claiming a slightly smaller Silesia than OTL. In General he had something of a more successful military career than OTL as well, but it also ended a lot sooner. Suffice to say, if he attempts any partitions he's going to find significant.... opposition from every single one of his neighbours.
Also I know its somewhat unlikely Von Katte would have had the same importance as OTL, but screw likelihood, historical figures deserve a break every now and then!
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