Remember, Remember, the Third of October...
- Thread starter Mumby
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Thanks for the map.
Will the Dutch be augmenting their colonies with Germans like OTL? And it's interesting to see that they're attempting to do more than just creating trade posts.
Its okay.
The Dutch have some considerable influence over the Confederacy of Westphalia, and that will likely be a good source of colonists for its various ventures. I have to point out that though the Dutch Empire is rather more widely spread that might mean that it might be smaller in different places.
The Swedish Empire had been birthed in war, but after decades of peace, it tended to wallow slightly. Gustavus Adolphus was an energetic king, who had brought education to much of Sweden, and via his new tax system had vastly increased the revenues of the Crown. But the Empire struggled to maintain its grip on Baltic trade. The Novgorodans were uneasy under their Swedish overlords, and the Danes could still cut off Sweden from the Atlantic at a moments notice.
Gustavus Adolphus had also thrown Sweden into the colonial race, as a way to find new avenues for expansion. In particular the Caribbean and Chesapeake Bay had proven attractive to Swedish colonists, and a thriving trade in West African slaves fuelled the expansion of these colonies. Tobacco was an important cash crop in New Sweden's expansion, though the settlers were growing ever more concerned about the Powhatan, especially after they wiped the Irish settlements off the map.
Gustavus Adolphus was aging by the 1640s. His wife was erratic, and of the children who had survived birth, there was only a few, and they tended towards sickliness. The stress of running the Northern Empire was causing the great statesman to age prematurely. He feared that Sweden would decay into irrelevancy after his death. To prevent this occurrence, he built a powerful clique of advisors around him, men from all over Sweden's empire and vassals. If his heirs were not up to the job, he would ensure Sweden's continued greatness.
This simple act had a huge number of consequences. First of all, it bound Sweden's vassals far more tightly to herself (to the point that Livonia was annexed to Sweden proper albeit in an autonomous state in the early 1650s), secondly, it massaged the ill-feeling many Novgorodans harboured towards the Swedish conquerors, and thirdly, it displaced some of the power of the Riksdag over the Crown. This spurred on a number of reforms in which the Swedish Dominions were bound more tightly to Sweden, and their autonomy protected, but their representation in the Riksdag was not reformed, maintaining Swedish domination over the whole.
Gustavus Adolphus had also thrown Sweden into the colonial race, as a way to find new avenues for expansion. In particular the Caribbean and Chesapeake Bay had proven attractive to Swedish colonists, and a thriving trade in West African slaves fuelled the expansion of these colonies. Tobacco was an important cash crop in New Sweden's expansion, though the settlers were growing ever more concerned about the Powhatan, especially after they wiped the Irish settlements off the map.
Gustavus Adolphus was aging by the 1640s. His wife was erratic, and of the children who had survived birth, there was only a few, and they tended towards sickliness. The stress of running the Northern Empire was causing the great statesman to age prematurely. He feared that Sweden would decay into irrelevancy after his death. To prevent this occurrence, he built a powerful clique of advisors around him, men from all over Sweden's empire and vassals. If his heirs were not up to the job, he would ensure Sweden's continued greatness.
This simple act had a huge number of consequences. First of all, it bound Sweden's vassals far more tightly to herself (to the point that Livonia was annexed to Sweden proper albeit in an autonomous state in the early 1650s), secondly, it massaged the ill-feeling many Novgorodans harboured towards the Swedish conquerors, and thirdly, it displaced some of the power of the Riksdag over the Crown. This spurred on a number of reforms in which the Swedish Dominions were bound more tightly to Sweden, and their autonomy protected, but their representation in the Riksdag was not reformed, maintaining Swedish domination over the whole.
An Ottoman presence had been maintained on the coast of Ethiopia for some years, and support had been leaned to the Muslim inhabitants of East Africa in an attempt to take control of the Christian Kingdom and expand the domains of the Sublime Porte yet further. The Reckoning destroyed this ambition. And with the fall of the Ottomans into civil war, the Ethiopians occuppied this coastal strip of land, and began to make their presence felt at sea.
One of the biggest problems for the Ethiopian Empire at this time was the Galla horsetribes, who threatened their eastern frontier, and the warring Muslim city-states to the West. The Portuguese allies that the Ethiopians had managed to accrue could not become too involved in a war if it gained them nothing.
But the Portuguese had a strategy. They helped the Ethiopians bringing the eastern Galla states to abeyance, and helped them vassalise a few of the Muslim western kingdoms. Inreturn they gained a valuable trading post and a deal of influence in these western kingdoms, via which they could indirectly influence the Empire itself.
In reaction, a restored Mogadishan Sultanate was formed, an empire which soon reasserted its dominion over the East African Muslim settlements. This empire was still weak and fractious, united simply by fear of the power to the east. And the trading empire of Oman looked on this wealthy but weak nation, and licked its lips. If Oman could dominate the Horn of Africa and Zanzibar, and take control of south Arabia, then their trading relationship with Portugal would bloom, and Portugal would have an indirect trading monopoly over the entire Indian Ocean coast of Africa south of Egypt...
One of the biggest problems for the Ethiopian Empire at this time was the Galla horsetribes, who threatened their eastern frontier, and the warring Muslim city-states to the West. The Portuguese allies that the Ethiopians had managed to accrue could not become too involved in a war if it gained them nothing.
But the Portuguese had a strategy. They helped the Ethiopians bringing the eastern Galla states to abeyance, and helped them vassalise a few of the Muslim western kingdoms. Inreturn they gained a valuable trading post and a deal of influence in these western kingdoms, via which they could indirectly influence the Empire itself.
In reaction, a restored Mogadishan Sultanate was formed, an empire which soon reasserted its dominion over the East African Muslim settlements. This empire was still weak and fractious, united simply by fear of the power to the east. And the trading empire of Oman looked on this wealthy but weak nation, and licked its lips. If Oman could dominate the Horn of Africa and Zanzibar, and take control of south Arabia, then their trading relationship with Portugal would bloom, and Portugal would have an indirect trading monopoly over the entire Indian Ocean coast of Africa south of Egypt...
In 1652, an era came to an end. Emperor Charles I, of Great Britain, died. His reign had for the most part been a peaceful one, excepting the Twenty Five Years War, which had moulded him into a fiery monarch. The bullet which had paralysed him had deeply depressed him, and he had devoted his life to his family and the creation of the Britannican Church. Parliament, and the Lord High Commissioner who bestrode it, had grown used to a monarch who spoke of his divine right to rule, but kept his opinions to himself, and interfered with little frequency in the matters of the Kingdom.
The new emperor, James II[1], was to change that. His father had devoted much of his life to educating James. Like his father, James was convinced of his divine rights as Emperor, and was possessed of the same single-minded fiery zeal that his father had taken to reforming the British Church. Unlike his father, he was not limited by the humility born of being crippled. He was absolutely convinced that his actions were annointed by God, and was unwilling to compromise. James had been a sickly child, and Charles had attempted to forge his son into a 'philosopher-king'. This hardly helped limit the young emperor's ambition.
The twenty one year old King ascended the throne alongside his wife, Christina, the daughter of the Swedish king, Gustavus Adolphus. Christina was very different to her dogmatic, firebrand husband. While James was highly educated, he was hardly an intellectual. Christina was inspired the Baconian ideals of her adopted country and was determined to make Britain the 'Athens of the North'. She was a great patron of the arts, and was known for her liberal attitude towards religion. In fact some said the ostensibly Lutheran Empress had secretly converted to Catholicism. She was at heart a utilitarian, and distrusted superstition and the concept of divine intervention. This contrasted sharply with the extremely pious James, who saw the hand of either God or the Devil in all things, and was known for his superstitious outbursts.
The marriage between Christina and James, like many arranged marriages, was tempestuous. They were known to go a week without speaking, to spend a month haranguing one another, and then to spend another month passionately declaring their undying love to one another and apologising for their previous outbursts. In this strange relationship, Christina had six children[2], though she suffered tremendously through each of her pregnancies.
Christina's independence from her husband, her enormous influence on the arts, and the support she leaned to Parliament, all had massive repercussions. The position of women in society was critically examined, and though no substantive changes emerged for a long time, arguably the seeds Christina lay would grow into a movement for change.
More broadly speaking, the accession of James II caused all manner of problems for Parliament. Technically, James could remove the Lord High Commissioner from his position, and sit in Parliament himself. The presence of the King could dramatically shift legislation in his favour. And James' well-known intention to retake power from Parliament that his father had allowed to drift away would alter the balance of power that existed in the British political system. At a time of political radicalism, when thinkers were rethinking the concept of the state, of monarchy, of Parliament, this could be extremely dangerous...
[1] Charles I back-dated the foundation of the Empire to the accession of James I and the Union of Crowns.
[2] 1643: Charles, 1645: Christina, 1646: David, 1648: James, 1651: Margaret, 1652: Eleanor
The new emperor, James II[1], was to change that. His father had devoted much of his life to educating James. Like his father, James was convinced of his divine rights as Emperor, and was possessed of the same single-minded fiery zeal that his father had taken to reforming the British Church. Unlike his father, he was not limited by the humility born of being crippled. He was absolutely convinced that his actions were annointed by God, and was unwilling to compromise. James had been a sickly child, and Charles had attempted to forge his son into a 'philosopher-king'. This hardly helped limit the young emperor's ambition.
The twenty one year old King ascended the throne alongside his wife, Christina, the daughter of the Swedish king, Gustavus Adolphus. Christina was very different to her dogmatic, firebrand husband. While James was highly educated, he was hardly an intellectual. Christina was inspired the Baconian ideals of her adopted country and was determined to make Britain the 'Athens of the North'. She was a great patron of the arts, and was known for her liberal attitude towards religion. In fact some said the ostensibly Lutheran Empress had secretly converted to Catholicism. She was at heart a utilitarian, and distrusted superstition and the concept of divine intervention. This contrasted sharply with the extremely pious James, who saw the hand of either God or the Devil in all things, and was known for his superstitious outbursts.
The marriage between Christina and James, like many arranged marriages, was tempestuous. They were known to go a week without speaking, to spend a month haranguing one another, and then to spend another month passionately declaring their undying love to one another and apologising for their previous outbursts. In this strange relationship, Christina had six children[2], though she suffered tremendously through each of her pregnancies.
Christina's independence from her husband, her enormous influence on the arts, and the support she leaned to Parliament, all had massive repercussions. The position of women in society was critically examined, and though no substantive changes emerged for a long time, arguably the seeds Christina lay would grow into a movement for change.
More broadly speaking, the accession of James II caused all manner of problems for Parliament. Technically, James could remove the Lord High Commissioner from his position, and sit in Parliament himself. The presence of the King could dramatically shift legislation in his favour. And James' well-known intention to retake power from Parliament that his father had allowed to drift away would alter the balance of power that existed in the British political system. At a time of political radicalism, when thinkers were rethinking the concept of the state, of monarchy, of Parliament, this could be extremely dangerous...
[1] Charles I back-dated the foundation of the Empire to the accession of James I and the Union of Crowns.
[2] 1643: Charles, 1645: Christina, 1646: David, 1648: James, 1651: Margaret, 1652: Eleanor
In the early 1650s, a history changing event occurred. Khmenlytsky, the Cossack Hetman was in the process of securing his tenuous rule over the former Kievan Khanate. In order to win the popularity of the peasants he prosecuted a genocidal campaign against the people he had laid the blame for their sorry state on. The Turkish aristocrats, and their supposed Jewish lackeys. While the Turks fled south to the Ottoman satellite states in the Caucasus, the Jews had less choice. Their first choice was to flee to Poland, but the new German Protestant Dynasty had won over the Catholic populace by appealing to a form of narrow nationalism that put great constraints on the Jews. Fleeing further north, the Jews found themselves in the Kingdom of Prussia. The Prussians were more amenable, but didn't want the stream of refugees which was coming north. Filthy camps clustered around Baltic ports, as the Jewish refugees sought a new home.
The Prussians began busily negotiating with their neighbours to get the Jewish Problem out of their hair. The Swedes, who had become deeply religiously intolerant, wanted none of it. The other German states were unwilling to take on such a large number of people who would undoubtely encounter a lot of resistance.
Salvation finally came from a very unusual source. James II was prone to sudden strange outbursts, and when the plight of the refugees reached his ears, he was gripped by a sudden obsession. Entering into negotiations with the Prussians, he ordered the galleons of the newly expanded Imperial Navy to head to the Baltic and begin bringing the refugees to Britain. Cromwell was forced to push a bill through Parliament inviting the Jews back to Britain, and abolishing the tight restrictions imposed under Edward I. This caused some tension between Crown and Parliament, but for once the Emperor and the Lord High Commissioner were in agreement. The construction projects which had rebuilt the cities, and expanded the ports were altered to build housing and synagogues for Britain's new population.
While some hostility rose against the new immigrants, Cromwell ensured his printing presses would bombard the literate with propaganda. He also used the preachers of the Britannican Church to toe the government line to the less literate sort. A line comparing the civilised magnanimous British to the violent, savage, prejudiced peoples of the Continent was rather popular, and allied to the pride which the average Briton attached to the fact that they were an Empire of their own. In fact, as greater numbers of native Britons began migrating to the Caribbean and North American colonies, the demand for immigrants particularly from the wartorn areas of Eastern Europe and the Balkans grew...
The Prussians began busily negotiating with their neighbours to get the Jewish Problem out of their hair. The Swedes, who had become deeply religiously intolerant, wanted none of it. The other German states were unwilling to take on such a large number of people who would undoubtely encounter a lot of resistance.
Salvation finally came from a very unusual source. James II was prone to sudden strange outbursts, and when the plight of the refugees reached his ears, he was gripped by a sudden obsession. Entering into negotiations with the Prussians, he ordered the galleons of the newly expanded Imperial Navy to head to the Baltic and begin bringing the refugees to Britain. Cromwell was forced to push a bill through Parliament inviting the Jews back to Britain, and abolishing the tight restrictions imposed under Edward I. This caused some tension between Crown and Parliament, but for once the Emperor and the Lord High Commissioner were in agreement. The construction projects which had rebuilt the cities, and expanded the ports were altered to build housing and synagogues for Britain's new population.
While some hostility rose against the new immigrants, Cromwell ensured his printing presses would bombard the literate with propaganda. He also used the preachers of the Britannican Church to toe the government line to the less literate sort. A line comparing the civilised magnanimous British to the violent, savage, prejudiced peoples of the Continent was rather popular, and allied to the pride which the average Briton attached to the fact that they were an Empire of their own. In fact, as greater numbers of native Britons began migrating to the Caribbean and North American colonies, the demand for immigrants particularly from the wartorn areas of Eastern Europe and the Balkans grew...
With wealth in Britain growing, and a number of new imports, exports and industries emerging, the Emperor was determined to harness that growth for his own benefit. As was his Imperial Prerogative, he granted monopolies on various products to political allies and favourites, securing key industries under the patronage of the Crown. Parliament raised hell over this, but Cromwell could do little to directly challenge James. He was after all, only resurrecting a practice widely carried out under previous monarchs, and he had done the same in his moves to rebuild Britain after the wars. He was also weakening. He had never had excellent health, and in recent years he had seen his children grow up and leave him, either marrying or tragically dying. Cromwell was hollowed out emotionally, and he regularly withdrew to his Fenland home. The planned draining of the Fens of pre-war England was never carried out, and while he returned from these journeys mentally refreshed, there was a great risk of malarial infection or succumbing to a lung problem.
James modelled his plans for monopolies on Elizabeth I, granting monopolies on vital commodities like starch, and extracting a hefty sum from their sale. In this way, he was able to supplement the income of the Crown, and threaten the power of Parliament. But for most people, this drove the cost of many products up, and stunted the growth of industries by discouraging innovation.
Structures which had emerged in the localities of Britain rose in resistance. The intellectuals of the new Baconian cities railed against this domination and restriction of intellectual pursuits, the descendants of the rural Communes refused to acknowledge the power of monopolies on common land. The potential for a major crisis was emerging. Large landowners, and 'Court', along with those who benefitted from imperial monopolies backed the Emperor, while the emerging manufacturers, and 'Country' formed a nebulous opposition. Parliament was largely split, as it was mostly composed of big landowners, who largely didn't stand to lose from the Emperor's moves, but also didn't stand to gain. The waning grip of the Lord High Commissioner was also causing a rise in factionalism in a body which had up until this point had been mostly united.
James modelled his plans for monopolies on Elizabeth I, granting monopolies on vital commodities like starch, and extracting a hefty sum from their sale. In this way, he was able to supplement the income of the Crown, and threaten the power of Parliament. But for most people, this drove the cost of many products up, and stunted the growth of industries by discouraging innovation.
Structures which had emerged in the localities of Britain rose in resistance. The intellectuals of the new Baconian cities railed against this domination and restriction of intellectual pursuits, the descendants of the rural Communes refused to acknowledge the power of monopolies on common land. The potential for a major crisis was emerging. Large landowners, and 'Court', along with those who benefitted from imperial monopolies backed the Emperor, while the emerging manufacturers, and 'Country' formed a nebulous opposition. Parliament was largely split, as it was mostly composed of big landowners, who largely didn't stand to lose from the Emperor's moves, but also didn't stand to gain. The waning grip of the Lord High Commissioner was also causing a rise in factionalism in a body which had up until this point had been mostly united.
The civil war in Turkey, and the subsuquent waning of Ottoman influence, even once the Reckoning had ended and the Diarchy of Usman and Murad had been installed had caused Muscovy to once again turn its eyes south. An attempt to take control of Khemenlytsky's Cossack Hetmanate was speedily repulsed, but Muscovite ambitions turned deeper into the continent where they would soon find common cause with the Mughals.
But while Muscovy was caught up in a hunger for expansion, its primitive economy and weak industry could not be deployed against Sweden and Novgorod. The Danes and the Lithuanians had aligned themselves against Sweden. John II of Lithuania was no more pliable than his father and was eager to ruin Gustavus Adolphus' empire and reclaim what he saw as his birthright. The Danes were also eager to reclaim their former status as Scandinavia's primary power. The Poles were primarily concerned with their own neutrality, not wanting to shake the boat at this point.
The Northern War was notable for its pitched naval battles, and for the brilliance of Gustavus Adolphus, now in his sixties, in his prosecution of the war. The Lion of the North roared again, and reaffirmed Sweden's status as one of Europe's greatest powers.
The war began in 1654, and was over in 1659. Sweden was victorious, annexing the remainder of Norway from Denmark, and established Lithuania as a Swedish vassal, John II exiled, eventually finding himself embittered and alone in Turkey. Poland was given some land from Lithuania, and in a deal brokered by Sweden received a Baltic sea port from Prussia. In return, Prussia received Swedish Pomerania. Sweden's domination of the Baltic was now unquestioned, and the ability of Denmark to ever again challenge her for supremacy over Scandinavia was indefinitely broken.
But while Muscovy was caught up in a hunger for expansion, its primitive economy and weak industry could not be deployed against Sweden and Novgorod. The Danes and the Lithuanians had aligned themselves against Sweden. John II of Lithuania was no more pliable than his father and was eager to ruin Gustavus Adolphus' empire and reclaim what he saw as his birthright. The Danes were also eager to reclaim their former status as Scandinavia's primary power. The Poles were primarily concerned with their own neutrality, not wanting to shake the boat at this point.
The Northern War was notable for its pitched naval battles, and for the brilliance of Gustavus Adolphus, now in his sixties, in his prosecution of the war. The Lion of the North roared again, and reaffirmed Sweden's status as one of Europe's greatest powers.
The war began in 1654, and was over in 1659. Sweden was victorious, annexing the remainder of Norway from Denmark, and established Lithuania as a Swedish vassal, John II exiled, eventually finding himself embittered and alone in Turkey. Poland was given some land from Lithuania, and in a deal brokered by Sweden received a Baltic sea port from Prussia. In return, Prussia received Swedish Pomerania. Sweden's domination of the Baltic was now unquestioned, and the ability of Denmark to ever again challenge her for supremacy over Scandinavia was indefinitely broken.
While the Northern War progressed in Europe, Muscovy turned her eyes south. While her foray around the Black Sea had failed, she found a willing ally for her ambitions in Central Asia. The Mughals had been plotting the downfall of the Uzbeks for a long time. The unstable Khanate was becoming increasingly influential in Central Asia, and this stood in the path of Shah Jahan's ambition to once again hold Samarkand. The Mughals and the Muscovites came to an agreement. While the Mughals invaded the south of the Uzbek state, the Muscovites would occupy the weak neighbouring state and then harry and raid Uzbek border posts which would draw Uzbek troops north away from the real fight in the south.
Ultimately the plan was a success, and the Khiva Khanate was reduced to a rump. Muscovy had re-established herself as a major power, and with her new found position on the Caspian Sea, founded a new capitol in Asia, named after the new Tsar, Paul. Pavelsburg would become a great city in its own right, and the construction of the city would be notable as the indicator of the beginning of the shift from the Tsardom being considered Muscovite to being considered Rurikid [1].
While this was happening, the eastern provinces of the Mughals began agitating for independence as the eyes of the Emperor in Agra turned west. Bengal and Orissa notably exploded into open rebellion which was only ended with Dutch aid. With Mughal power being limited, they agreed to make the Duth factory in Bengal the Diwan of Bengal and Orissa in return for military aid and an annual tithe. This would have enormous consequences further down the line.
[1] Vasili Shuysky secured rule over Muscovy in this world, albeit only after Russia was temporarily dismembered. He legitimised his rule when he reunified Polish puppet Muscovy with his southern Russian rump by proclaiming his house to be the Rurikids continued.
Ultimately the plan was a success, and the Khiva Khanate was reduced to a rump. Muscovy had re-established herself as a major power, and with her new found position on the Caspian Sea, founded a new capitol in Asia, named after the new Tsar, Paul. Pavelsburg would become a great city in its own right, and the construction of the city would be notable as the indicator of the beginning of the shift from the Tsardom being considered Muscovite to being considered Rurikid [1].
While this was happening, the eastern provinces of the Mughals began agitating for independence as the eyes of the Emperor in Agra turned west. Bengal and Orissa notably exploded into open rebellion which was only ended with Dutch aid. With Mughal power being limited, they agreed to make the Duth factory in Bengal the Diwan of Bengal and Orissa in return for military aid and an annual tithe. This would have enormous consequences further down the line.
[1] Vasili Shuysky secured rule over Muscovy in this world, albeit only after Russia was temporarily dismembered. He legitimised his rule when he reunified Polish puppet Muscovy with his southern Russian rump by proclaiming his house to be the Rurikids continued.
forget
Banned
Hi Mumby, I have been away for quite some time, its good to see you have persisted with your update of this TL.
The struggle between monopolies and innovating industrialists, set up by a greedy king is a fascinating time period in British history.
In which the Empire was made and sadly broken by the power of the monopolies in OLT.
Then again the British monopolies are at a significant disadvantage from OLT as they do not have the massive resources of the East Indian company behind.
With out which i doubt they can break the back of innovation as thoroughly as they did in OLT.
The struggle between monopolies and innovating industrialists, set up by a greedy king is a fascinating time period in British history.
In which the Empire was made and sadly broken by the power of the monopolies in OLT.
Then again the British monopolies are at a significant disadvantage from OLT as they do not have the massive resources of the East Indian company behind.
With out which i doubt they can break the back of innovation as thoroughly as they did in OLT.
I wouldn't necessarily describe James as greedy, but more acutely aware of the weakness of his position and utterly determined to strengthen it. Imagine Charles I but with the aspect and determination of a King like Edward III.
forget
Banned
Greedy or not, I trying to get a hold of the lager picture, in this TL, of which I find rather fascinating.
The Parliamentary Crisis of the 1650s
James II's increasingly erratic behaviour, and especially the admittance of the Jews (seen with the modern eye as an enlightened act) was seen by Parliament as overstepping the boundaries of Imperial power that the British constitution sought to contain. The recovery of the southern economy, and the creation of monopolies had won him the support of powerful finance particularly in London, and the major trading companies based in Bristol and Scotland. He had also recovered much of the power of the southern landowners, and broken down much of the power of the Midland Communes. The death of Oliver Cromwell in 1657 represented a severance of ties with the generation who had fought the First British Civil War, and the consensus that had existed both between Crown and Parliament and within Parliament itself.
When the Emperor attempted to use his prerogative to make changes to local government and centralise authority from the relatively decentralised compromise solution that his father had left, both local dignitaries and Commissioners protested this invasion of traditional power. The admittance of the Jews and the construction of Jewish quarters in many towns raised fears of the Jewish blood libel.
Along with Jews, many other migrants from Poland, the Cossack Hetmanate and the Crimea came to Britain, mostly because they had been affiliated with the Jewish community and tainted by association. With the Swedish victory in the Northern War, Lithuanians and Norse migrants also fled to Britain seeing it as a welcoming and liberal country. When they got there, they found themselves the unfortunate subjects of abuse by the locals. The numbers of migrants was sufficient to make local workers feel threatened by cheaper migrant labour, merchants feared the wealth that was traditionally associated with the Jews, and the skills which some migrants brought with them forced out some local businesses entirely. While these fears were largely ungrounded it didn't stop riots from breaking out in the big towns of Eastern England. James, ever the pious gentleman, ordered that these riots be put down with force.
The Massacre of Spalding took place in a Fenland town, where the locals felt threatened by Lithuanian migrants who were involved in another abortive attempt to drain the Fens. Imperial troops from Peterborough were brought in by the local magistrates, and thirty people were killed or wounded including women and children. The larger number of Lithuanians who had been killed in previous days has not been recorded. Stories of the massacre spread across the Fens, and then across Eastern England. This land had suffered immensely from the smallfighters of the Triplicate Wars, and they soon slipped into old habits, attacking military patrols and using the land to their advantage. An organisation known as the Wakes emerged, named after the anti-Norman freedom fighter Hereward the Wake.
Parliament protested the use of force against common folk, and tried to stymie James' attempts to inflict retribution on the Wakes. At this, he dissolved Parliament, the first time it had been dissolved indefinitely since the reign of James I. Commissioners returning to their constituencies heard the grievances of their people, and began to build a more cohesive movement than mere hostility to immigrants and anger at the Emperor. The monopolies were particularly loathed, and were linked to Jewish moneylenders. The generally Catholic nature of other immigrants was also pointed out, and it was heavily implied that the Emperor was unduly influenced by Papists. This was very much the opposite of the case, but it didn't stop the rumours that James was secretly in league with Rome. In this case, the moderation of his wife was seen as suspicious.
With plenty of money at his disposal thanks to Cromwell's reforms, and the remaining weakness of Britain's aristocracy since the Conflagration, James found it surprisingly easy to run the Empire without Parliament. For ten years, a period known variously as the Decade of Tyranny or the Ten Years Personal Rule, James ran the country fairly efficiently, focussing on saving money and not requiring Parliament to raise taxes. However, he was eager for glory now that he had seemed to have secured his position. He reformed the army, using it enforce his will on the more recalcitrant parts of the Empire. Increasingly, he came to loggerheads with the Dutch Republic, a major competitor with Britain for control over the North Atlantic trade, and by the end of the ten years, the realm was on the verge of war. No matter how competently the state had been run before, it simply wouldn't stand up to the expense of an all out war, which might well expand across Europe...
James II's increasingly erratic behaviour, and especially the admittance of the Jews (seen with the modern eye as an enlightened act) was seen by Parliament as overstepping the boundaries of Imperial power that the British constitution sought to contain. The recovery of the southern economy, and the creation of monopolies had won him the support of powerful finance particularly in London, and the major trading companies based in Bristol and Scotland. He had also recovered much of the power of the southern landowners, and broken down much of the power of the Midland Communes. The death of Oliver Cromwell in 1657 represented a severance of ties with the generation who had fought the First British Civil War, and the consensus that had existed both between Crown and Parliament and within Parliament itself.
When the Emperor attempted to use his prerogative to make changes to local government and centralise authority from the relatively decentralised compromise solution that his father had left, both local dignitaries and Commissioners protested this invasion of traditional power. The admittance of the Jews and the construction of Jewish quarters in many towns raised fears of the Jewish blood libel.
Along with Jews, many other migrants from Poland, the Cossack Hetmanate and the Crimea came to Britain, mostly because they had been affiliated with the Jewish community and tainted by association. With the Swedish victory in the Northern War, Lithuanians and Norse migrants also fled to Britain seeing it as a welcoming and liberal country. When they got there, they found themselves the unfortunate subjects of abuse by the locals. The numbers of migrants was sufficient to make local workers feel threatened by cheaper migrant labour, merchants feared the wealth that was traditionally associated with the Jews, and the skills which some migrants brought with them forced out some local businesses entirely. While these fears were largely ungrounded it didn't stop riots from breaking out in the big towns of Eastern England. James, ever the pious gentleman, ordered that these riots be put down with force.
The Massacre of Spalding took place in a Fenland town, where the locals felt threatened by Lithuanian migrants who were involved in another abortive attempt to drain the Fens. Imperial troops from Peterborough were brought in by the local magistrates, and thirty people were killed or wounded including women and children. The larger number of Lithuanians who had been killed in previous days has not been recorded. Stories of the massacre spread across the Fens, and then across Eastern England. This land had suffered immensely from the smallfighters of the Triplicate Wars, and they soon slipped into old habits, attacking military patrols and using the land to their advantage. An organisation known as the Wakes emerged, named after the anti-Norman freedom fighter Hereward the Wake.
Parliament protested the use of force against common folk, and tried to stymie James' attempts to inflict retribution on the Wakes. At this, he dissolved Parliament, the first time it had been dissolved indefinitely since the reign of James I. Commissioners returning to their constituencies heard the grievances of their people, and began to build a more cohesive movement than mere hostility to immigrants and anger at the Emperor. The monopolies were particularly loathed, and were linked to Jewish moneylenders. The generally Catholic nature of other immigrants was also pointed out, and it was heavily implied that the Emperor was unduly influenced by Papists. This was very much the opposite of the case, but it didn't stop the rumours that James was secretly in league with Rome. In this case, the moderation of his wife was seen as suspicious.
With plenty of money at his disposal thanks to Cromwell's reforms, and the remaining weakness of Britain's aristocracy since the Conflagration, James found it surprisingly easy to run the Empire without Parliament. For ten years, a period known variously as the Decade of Tyranny or the Ten Years Personal Rule, James ran the country fairly efficiently, focussing on saving money and not requiring Parliament to raise taxes. However, he was eager for glory now that he had seemed to have secured his position. He reformed the army, using it enforce his will on the more recalcitrant parts of the Empire. Increasingly, he came to loggerheads with the Dutch Republic, a major competitor with Britain for control over the North Atlantic trade, and by the end of the ten years, the realm was on the verge of war. No matter how competently the state had been run before, it simply wouldn't stand up to the expense of an all out war, which might well expand across Europe...
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Fall of the Kingdom
Vernon Curthoys had been able to keep the peace while he was alive, but when he died in 1663, the kingdom he had forged fell apart. Greedy lieutenants, marcher kings eager to reclaim their position and Powhatan wanting to force back the Gaelic cultural taint all warred on each other. But this war was folly, and they failed to take into account the Swedish colony to their north.
The Swedes had massively expanded their empire in Europe, and they now had many subjects who didn't necessarily want to be governed from Stockholm. The Swedes sent many such individuals to New Sweden and the colony rapidly expanded away from the unhealthy swampy climes into the uplands where plantations rapidly expanded and New Sweden became a major and important colony.
The collapse of the powerful native kingdom to the south was seen by the governors of New Sweden as an ideal opportunity. The secretly brokered deals with various Gaelic kings, and pliable Powhatan chiefs promising them high positions worthy of their status within a more stable government.
In 1664, the New Swedish unleashed an invasion in which the descendants of Curthoys found themselves on the back foot. Organised rebellion by the allies of the Swedes broke any resistance, and in areas of particular recalcitrance, the Swedes had the military power to enact a genocidal war of extermination, which disturbingly paralleled the lack of tolerance of rebellious Natives in the British North American colonies.
By 1666, a shaky Swedish colony been established. Those who had aided the Swedish invasion found themselves elevated into the new colony's administration. Tolerance of Catholicism was granted, and the name of Virginia was resurrected for the colony. A form of feudal system was encouraged, and a relatively tolerant society emerged. Swedish settlers soon moved south, and the already curious mixture of Irish and Powhatan influences gained significant Swedish influences. New colonial charters were granted to both New Sweden and Virginia which extended their claims 'from sea to sea'.
Vernon Curthoys had been able to keep the peace while he was alive, but when he died in 1663, the kingdom he had forged fell apart. Greedy lieutenants, marcher kings eager to reclaim their position and Powhatan wanting to force back the Gaelic cultural taint all warred on each other. But this war was folly, and they failed to take into account the Swedish colony to their north.
The Swedes had massively expanded their empire in Europe, and they now had many subjects who didn't necessarily want to be governed from Stockholm. The Swedes sent many such individuals to New Sweden and the colony rapidly expanded away from the unhealthy swampy climes into the uplands where plantations rapidly expanded and New Sweden became a major and important colony.
The collapse of the powerful native kingdom to the south was seen by the governors of New Sweden as an ideal opportunity. The secretly brokered deals with various Gaelic kings, and pliable Powhatan chiefs promising them high positions worthy of their status within a more stable government.
In 1664, the New Swedish unleashed an invasion in which the descendants of Curthoys found themselves on the back foot. Organised rebellion by the allies of the Swedes broke any resistance, and in areas of particular recalcitrance, the Swedes had the military power to enact a genocidal war of extermination, which disturbingly paralleled the lack of tolerance of rebellious Natives in the British North American colonies.
By 1666, a shaky Swedish colony been established. Those who had aided the Swedish invasion found themselves elevated into the new colony's administration. Tolerance of Catholicism was granted, and the name of Virginia was resurrected for the colony. A form of feudal system was encouraged, and a relatively tolerant society emerged. Swedish settlers soon moved south, and the already curious mixture of Irish and Powhatan influences gained significant Swedish influences. New colonial charters were granted to both New Sweden and Virginia which extended their claims 'from sea to sea'.
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Its kind of similar to OTL's Anglo-Dutch Wars but worse because of the greater successes of TTL's Dutch Republic.
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