No problem. I will probably release the next update within the next couple of days.
The Silver Knight, a Lithuania Timeline
- Thread starter Augenis
- Start date
Chapter 45: A Period of Grace
Part 45: A Period of Grace (1700-1712)
Double-team us twice, shame on you.
This was the idea floating around the heads of the Hetmanate as the dust of the Galician War and the Second Great Russian Revolt settled. It was clear as day - Lithuania was now surrounded by hostile powers. Russians to the east and Visegrad to the west, and almost always when one strikes, the other joins to help. It happened during the second half of the 16th century, and it happened in the end of the 17th century. Something had to be done about this. This was the prime line of thought behind the new foreign policy of the Hetmanate, devised by Grand Hetman Aleksandras Chodkevičius and accurately named Eastern Strategy. The basics of this idea were simple - defense on the West, offense on the East. Diplomatic and military efforts in the West must be focused on preventing an another unexpected war with Visegrad, either by improving relations with them, making necessary alliances or outright dismantling the Triple Crown and thus making it powerless. While on the East, anything goes, - Lithuania expected that the neighbors there were weaker and could simply be taken over, and the sparse lands of the steppe had to be integrated - but any new Russian Revolt must be prevented, forever. By any means possible.
The main development in Lithuania during the first decade of the 18th century was the beginning of the construction of a series of fortresses and fortifications along the new Lithuanian-Visegradian border, known colloquially as the Western Wall, or Chodkevičius's Wall. Lithuania was quite lucky in this case - the new border ran through good defensive terrain, like forests, hills and the Pripyat. The Grand Hetman was a visionary in this case, he knew that the Amsterdam System is not going to be eternal, and once it falls, it will fall with a bang - and to protect Lithuania's interests during this event, preparations had to be made in advance. The fortresses along the Western Wall, the most famous being in Grodno, Allenstein and Pinsk, were very impressive, constructed with modern technology in mind, and were the first star forts in Lithuanian territory. Of course, Visegrad responded with protests, but at the time they didn't really mind, their revanchism had already been satiated.
While the Grand Hetman's fears on the death of the Amsterdam System appeared unfounded, some developments during the beginning of the 18th century appeared worrisome. The first half of the Age of Enlightenment were a time of incredible economic growth in Germany, growth that started all the way back after the Twenty Years' War. Peace in the land was beneficial to the recovery of the countryside and the cities, and the inclusiveness and democracy in Reformist South and Central Germany bolstered growth. New advancements in technology helped, too. However, one thing was a problem to the German economy - the division of the nation into the southern Holy Roman Empire and the North German Communion. The hostility between the governments of these two blocs severed trade ties and weakened Germany's standing in the global market. But the idea of a single, united German nation did not disappear, quite the opposite - it strengthened under the flag of the shame and anger that the Germans felt for the horrors they suffered during the Twenty Years' War. The Enlightenment in Germany was unique in that it began to take a national character along the other values brought by the movement, and slowly the people, especially the upper and middle classes, began to question this division of Germany and whether a united "Germania" should instead replace it.
The wealth of the divided Germany and the potential power it could wield if it was united worried it's neighbours, however, especially France. But this German Enlightenment was far from being able to yield fruit.
Vienna in the 18th century. Outside of being the capital of the Kingdom of Austria and the unofficial center of the Holy Roman Empire, it was also the center of the German Enlightenment and, in the eyes of some people, "the heart of Germania"
Sad news arrived on June of 1708 - the Emperor, Žygimantas II, died after a period of illness, most likely tuberculosis. Since he had no children nor brothers, he was succeeded by his cousin, the son of his aunt Marija, now crowned as Algirdas III. Žygimantas II was a much disliked monarch, he didn't really care for his country and instead focused on his own physical desores, and even centuries later he is despised for almost destroying the Empire. Algirdas III was only eight years old when he succeeded his cousin, but he didn't really need to be independent, anyway. The man who replaced Žygimantas II, Aleksandras Chodkevičius, didn't live much longer, either - he died on October 21st, 1711. Unlike his predecessor, Hetman Chodkevičius is viewed much more favorably - although, it really depends on who you ask. He saved Lithuania in a time of crisis, but at the same time, his army's brutality during the Second Glinskiada is seen in a very negative light.
Chodkevičius's death sparked a short succession crisis - the Grand Hetman did not leave any heirs, and there were no instructions on how he should be succeeded, he died too early. Some nobles feared a possible civil war, but the Council of Lords, the advisory instution under the former Grand Hetman's reign, was quick to come to a solution and nominated General Algimantas Songaila, the hero of the Battle of Vawkawysk during the Galician War, as the new Grand Hetman of Lithuania. The military dictatorship that was the Hetmanate was now established.
Algimantas Songaila, former Voivode of Kiev, now Grand Hetman of Lithuania
Glad to see my predictions of Lithuania becoming this worlds analogue to the OTL Maratha Empire. Though I am interesting in seeing the development of the Empires 'Agricultural' Revolution in the Steppe region thanks to this Eastern Strategy.
Well, that means that new Grand Hetman legitimacy is quite weak, meaning that any general or just outstanding politician can challenge Algimantas Songaila. Not necessarily on the field of battle; it's easier to murder him (by poison or something) and if you feel strong enough you have a chance to be nominated the next Grand Hetman by the Council of Lords. Or just get self-proclaimed.
What are the powers of the "advisory" Council of Lords now? I mean if they are 'king-makers' now, they might try establish their authority on a more solid ground.
Is it new dynasty or just 'dictatorship for life'? Does Algimantas Songaila have any son(s)? If Algimantas Songaila is dead, who decides who is the next Grand Hetman?
The position of Grand Hetman (basically the equivalent of a supreme commander of the armed forces) was never meant to be hereditary - in Imperial Lithuania, it was a position the Emperor would appoint to, and it was Chodkevičius who turned it into a political title.
I cannot speak on rival generals and the Council of Lords without spoiling future events, but rival generals and opposition are naturally expected - after all, Lithuania right now is a military dictatorship masquerading as a monarchy.
Will this position evolve from a Military position evolve into an equivalent to a Prime Minister or Chancellor in the future if the nation becomes a Constitutional Monarchy, will it transition loyalty from the crown to the parliament because of said changes.
There is already a position of "Grand Chancellor" in the Lithuanian empire, which would be the equivalent of what you are trying to say. It's just that the Chancellor has little actual influence in the current militaristic environment.
Oh. So will their be any attempts at going to war with Ottomans to expand into the Caucus or Balkans in the Future?
In my opinion Lithuania now is closer to this world analogue to OTL Ilkhanate - the tiny 'ethnic' (turko-)Mongol minority there ruled over the sea of other (mostly Iranian) peoples.
So in Lithuania the tiny 'ethnic' Lithuanian minority is ruling over the sea of other peoples (mostly Slavic).
Chapter 46: The World Ain't Gonna Stop Spinning
Part 46: The World Ain't Gonna Stop Spinning (1712-1725)
The news of Algimantas Songaila's appointment as the new Grand Hetman of Lithuania came as a surprise to many, both within the Empire and outside of it. Many nobles were aware that the Council of Lords was meant to only be an advisory institution under Hetman Chodkevičius, which is why the news of it actually flexing it's legislative muscles and choosing the successor to the dictator was quite a shock to them. Visegrad, whose King secretly hoped that Chodkevičius's death would cause a civil war in their eastern neighbour, also didn't take the news very lightly. But there was little actual dissent - after the near disaster that the Galician War and the Russian revolt were, the zeitgeist of the time in Lithuania wished for the Empire to remain stable. Emperor Algirdas III officially appoited the general as the Grand Hetman in 1713. Algimantas Songaila's dictatorial rule (what other type of rule is there?) began with a still wind.
What can be said about the man in the helm himself? A lot of things, actually. Back in his early days, Algimantas Songaila was one of the primary original supporters of Chodkevičius's coup, and his prestige across the Empire rose to tremendous heights after he successfully defended the fortress of Vawkawysk from superior Visegradian forces, preventing an enemy breakthrough into Lithuania Propria itself. In the Hetmanate government, Songaila served as the Voivode of his home region, Kiev, but was also influential in the higher reaches of the government. He was a major proponent of the construction of the Western Wall, even sometimes complaining that it might be too weak, and when he became the Grand Hetman, he ordered an additional expansion to the line of fortifications. Algimantas Songaila was a patriot to the Empire, a stern follower of where his nation will lead. He was neither very charming, nor an administrative genius, but he had one redeeming trait - his nigh-fanatical wish to improve his nation's status in Europe. While not the greatest leader that Lithuania has ever seen, he was far more than satisfactory for the position.
Songaila held a much more pragmatic view towards the Russians than his predecessor. While Chodkevičius would have wished to burn Tver to the cinders and build a statue of himself in the ashes if he could, the new Grand Hetman understood that such harshness will only incite further revolutions - what he figured, however, was that the Russians were far too united. Their culture and their religion was what unified them into one entity, and the natural response to that, in the Hetmanate's mind, would be to attempt to split the Russian nation up. Before the Lithuanian conquest of the Rus', the many East Slavic dialects in what we now call Russia were slowly beginning to split off, especially the Old Novgorod dialect, and under the Hetmanate, the attempt to "restore" and renew these linguistic differences began. Lithuania had a lot of sway in reshaping the course of language in it's territory - for one, it had control of the education system and a powerful apparatus to get things going. The ultimate goal of Songaila's government was to create two competing nationalisms in place of one Russian identity - one based around the Novgorod-Pskov area and the other around the Tver-Vladimir area. The Chronicle of Lithuania during this time was marked by a significant change in it's composition - while previously only writing about Lithuanian legends and history, it was expanded to cover the past of the entire Empire, including the artificially separated "Novgorod people" and "East Ruthenian people". Under the Hetman's orders, a vocabulary of the "Novgorodian language" and a translator book between "Novgorodian" and "East Ruthenian" were published, both composed by a Ruthenian scholar named Ivan Vinchevsky. This "divide and rule" tactic was a massive and hardly efficient task, but it set the stage for an entirely different set of Russo-Lithuanian interaction.
Never before did the government of a nation attempt to artifically destroy a nationality.
Outside of dealing with Russia in the name of the Eastern Strategy, Algimantas Songaila was also dedicated to rebuilding the imperial military. Following the example of Visegrad, military colleges were founded in Vilnius and in Kiev, and the long needed requirement of basic literacy for military officers was instituted. In addition, this was the first time in Lithuanian history that the Imperial Navy, long forgotten and neglected, received more than a fifth of the total military budget. A renovation program, replacing most of the 17th century ships with more modern versions, began. The Enlightenment had reached Lithuania by now, too, and it's echo was about to build up to something important.
18th century Lithuanian military uniforms. Pictured here are members of the 1st Imperial Infantry Regiment - on the left is an officer, on the right is an average soldier.
However, no matter what Lithuania was trying to do, that was not where the focus of the world was on during the decade. And the focus was on Western Europe, more specifically, France and the Holy Roman Empire. The border between France and this multi-state entity was composed of tiny principalities, margraves and Reformist republics, and more often than not, the borders between them and with the French were not very well defined. In addition, a series of diplomatic mishaps and the self-seeking actions of a particular French border general, Didier Diderot, led to a border conflict between local French forces and the small Republic of Elsass, a member of the HRE, which soon joined the tiny nation's side. This marked the beginning of a two-year long French-German War between 1721 and 1722. For many Germans and Frenchmen, this was the first war they had seen in their life, and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VII - a man of the Enlightenment and a patriot of his nation - was eager to put the reformed HRE to the test and turn it into the next great power of Europe, even if it meant fighting their brothers in faith. Throughout the last century, the Empire was slowly coalescing into a single state, a federation of some sorts, a hotbed of developing German nationalism. However, HRE forces were soundly and easily defeated by more disciplined and well prepared French forces, and the Germans were forced to sign a punitive peace treaty in 1722, forcing to pay reparations and cede a few border territories.
This was a humiliation for the southern Germans, and the former French-German friendship, developed during the Twenty Years' War, broke apart almost in an instant. While the Germans felt betrayed and defeated, the Director of France, Pierre-Louis Beaumont, and his government were starting to get worried. They didn't expect the HRE to unite in arms against their aggression - even if they lost in the end anyway, they have set a bad precedent for the future? A united Germany was the biggest possible threat for the Republic of France, and this cooling of relations became mutual as the French realized that the Amsterdam System must be protected at any possible cost.
It was around this time that Beaumont's Red Party, considered to be a fringe movement merely 20 years ago, began to gain popularity over the worried French population. The politics of the Republic had by then devolved into the standard two-party system, common under the so-called "winner takes all" format of election that France used in local elections - dominated by the moderate and pro-capitalist "Blue Party", calling itself "the party of De Foix", and the nativist, conservative and pro-aristocrat "Red Party", currently in control of the Republic. Beaumont, and by extension the Reds, were against any sort of compromise with Germany - it had to stay divided, forever.
In other news, a new competitor joined the race for South Vespucia. The Kingdom of Britannia, famous in Europe for being the continent's first true absolute monarchy and a haven for Christian extremism, began to spread and flap it's wings, arriving in this southern continent after a short flight. In 1715, the British established a small port and whaling base on a small group of islands southeast of South Vespucia, naming them "Charlia". A few years later, the first British colonies on the continent itself were founded, this being the cities of Jamestown and Southampthon. The territories were not far from the Inca and Portuguese Manuela, but distant and small enough to not bother them, yet. Far from the British Isles, these first islander colonies in the New World were put under the umbrella term "Virginia", basically referring to it being supposedly virgin land.
An another region lit up in action during this time, too - Sub-Saharan Africa. The forgotten region, avoided by Europeans due to the hostile environment, hosted numerous empires throughout millenia, and now, a brand new one came to light. For most of it's history, the Benin Empire was mostly locked to Benin City in the mouths of Niger, serving as a link between the Europeans in the ocean and the Africans on land due to it's strategic situation. For this reason, Benin was the first to be introduced to and adopt Western technology such as muskets and steel. In addition, throughout the years this small, but densely populated state built up a sophisticated bureacucracy and a very disciplined army, famous across Western Africa for it's effectiveness. The final spark needed for hegemony was placed by Oba (Emperor) Eweka III, a unique individual in Beninese history - he was the first Oba to be educated in the West, and who started the hegemony that Benin became. Between 1718 and 1725, this empire defeated and subjugated many of it's rivals, overpowering them with a sophisticated and disciplined army with Western weaponry, and the final achievement being the toppling and conquest of the great Songhai Empire in 1724. Most of the Niger Basin was united under the Benin Empire - the very first "gunpowder empire" in sub-Saharan Africa, - though a few states escaped it's hegemony, like Kanem Bornu and a recently restored Mali. This rapid expansion came as a surprise to local European powers, especially Portugal, who did not anticipate such a sudden birth of a new West African empire. But now it was there, and the Westerners had to reason with it.
The world in the year 1725
(Do you like my new format? I made it with the standard map and the TOASTER scheme and all)
(Maybe it will get clearer for you on who is controlling what)
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WOWEEE Benin has acquired many clays!
United Germany soon?
I see that Volga Russia has taken the southern parts of Sibir, with the north completely collapsing. And that China is slowly subjugating the Manchus.
Those overlapping Spanish-Dutch north american claims are probably gonna be a sore spot in the future....
United Germany soon?
I see that Volga Russia has taken the southern parts of Sibir, with the north completely collapsing. And that China is slowly subjugating the Manchus.
Those overlapping Spanish-Dutch north american claims are probably gonna be a sore spot in the future....
You have a good eye
Can't say much about Germany, but something big is going to happen there soon.
Really enjoying the developmemts that are occuring throughout Europe and the Vespucia's at present.
Though I am interested most in the developments between the Swedish and Dutch Empires in future.
Though I am interested most in the developments between the Swedish and Dutch Empires in future.
You have a good eye
Can't say much about Germany, but something big is going to happen there soon.
1. Scared of Germany
2. Nova Hollandia looks terrifying and impressive
3. Why hasn't the unified UK done anything?
I love Lithuania! You're right, it definitely deserves to have some TMs about it. I've been wanting to do a TM about Lithuania myself for some time, but I've never gotten around to making a draft.
Awesome timeline. You certainly have more novel-writing skill than most. I do find it improbable that Lithuania would have acheived such a swift, crushing victory over the heavily armed Muscovite state. It probabbly should have taken a few more pitched battles, but the TM is sound so far.
Awesome timeline. You certainly have more novel-writing skill than most. I do find it improbable that Lithuania would have acheived such a swift, crushing victory over the heavily armed Muscovite state. It probabbly should have taken a few more pitched battles, but the TM is sound so far.
1. You bet
2.
3. Britannia is an isolationist Puritan state, they've been more interested in building a "paradise" in their islands and stamping out wickedness (like theatre, alcohol and the Irish).
Thank you very much! I've already said in the beginning of the TL that such a quick Muscovite defeat might not be the most probable ending, but, well, it's certainly plausible in my book. Moscow in the 1370s was quite a lot weaker from what it was in the 15th century, after all.
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Chapter 47: The Serfdom Debate
Part 47: The Serfdom Debate (1725-1735)
While the decades after the Galician War marked a slow recovery from the infamous Grain Crisis, now sparked by increasing demand in the West as well as some producers switching to other production, the economic level of the Lithuanian Empire remained behind the Western countries. Urbanization was not fast enough to give way to an early manufacturing base, and thus Lithuania remained as a mostly agricultural nation, where the majority of the population was locked in villages and manors by serfdom. Sure, there were a number of advancements in the efficiency of farming, and the Pontic Steppe was giving one record yield after another, but agriculture alone was not going to build a powerful, world-tier economy, and this was where Lithuania's illusions of being a world power were starting to hit a brick wall.
A much different view of the world was proposed by the philosophers of the Enlightenment, a movement that has been taking Lithuania by a storm for a while now. Lithuanian Enlightenment thinkers like Valdemaras Chotiškis, Jonas Arbūnas and others, echoing European thinkers and heavily inspired by nature, which they perceived as orderly and the perfect God's work, declared that all citizens of a country must be equal in front of the law, and concepts like slavery or serfdom are unnatural, ineffective and must be swept away to create a better society. After all, animals like ants or beavers do not enslave one another and yet are able to create wondrous constructions, so why should humans be any different? The wish to emancipate the serfs was very controversial for Lithuania in the period (Arbūnas was even once arrested by the Hetmanate for such beliefs), but it was starting to gain traction.
The 18th century marked a development which is often described as The Serfdom Debate. Citizens across the Empire were beginning to discuss and often openly question the long-standing institution of serfdom, whether it was beneficiary or even ethical to hold the majority of the population locked to manors without any rights, almost like slaves. Both sides, the abolitionists and the conservatives, had their own arguments. The reactionary layers of the population believed that only keeping serfdom can preserve the imperial system from a potential revolution, while the abolitionists claimed that the institution and all that comes with it are the primary reasons for the empire's economic downturn, and emancipation will turn out to be beneficiary in the long run. Conservatives feared that emancipated peasants will not wish to serve in the army without a landowner forcing them to do so, while abolitionists rebutted by saying that this will only spark the shift to a modern, professional army. The Hetman and his government didn't make their stance on the issue clear, yet, but whichever path they will take, it will be one of the deciding factors for Lithuania's future.
18th century serfs in the Vologda region
However, while these internal debates were ongoing, Lithuania was successfully expanding to the East. 1729 marked a diplomatic victory for the Lithuanians, as Sweden and the Hetmanate finally decided on the border between the two nations in Northeastern Europe, a region in which they have been competing for almost a hundred years. King Frederick Charles II and Hetman Algimantas Songaila decided on a border to the White Sea, ceding Karelia and the Kola peninsula to Sweden, but obtaining control over the Nenets and Komi territories further east. With a clear border established, colonization could finally begin, in a similar manner as with the Pontic Steppe - entire villages of serfs getting forcefully relocated to designated territories, which in this case was usually a hillfort near a local river for easier communication. Northeastern Europe was most elusive for the Lithuanians due to the massive supply or rare furs it could provide - while the local Nenets and Komi tribes were surely unhappy with their new neighbours.
This was not the only place where Lithuania solved decades old border conflicts with neighbour nations, although in this particular case, it was solved with blood and steel, rather than diplomacy. Lithuania and Volga Russia both laid claims on the Don region, the land to the east and northeast of the Azov Sea. While Lithuania controlled the river banks, most of the upper river was populated by Russian settlers, and after a series of failed negotiations for resolving the border conflict, Lithuania and Volga Russia officially went to war in 1730. Despite their previous victory in the early 17th century, the Volgaks proved to be no match for the more experienced and prepared Lithuanian army this time, and after two years of conflict, Lithuania seized control of the Don river up to the Don-Volga crossing. Despite it's growing strength, Russia could not challenge Lithuanian military hegemony, yet.
However, the Eurasian steppe was far from the only region that was embroiled in conflict. After the end of the Sengoku period, the united Toyotami Japan rapidly grew in strength due to it's recovering economy and population, as well and adaptation of some Western technology from the Dutch, and feeling confident, the Shogun began to flex his nation's muscles. In 1724, Japan annexed the Kingdom of Ryukyu, which had broken away from Chinese influence after the fall of the Ming dynasty, and their next target was Joseon Korea - but this is where the Shun dynasty, fearing a breach into their sphere of influence, stepped in. The next nine years were marked by what is known as the War of the East China Sea. Since both sides were separated by a large body of water (it's in the name, after all), almost all of the battles of the conflict were duked out in the sea. The Japanese fleet was eventually defeated and destroyed by combined Korean and Chinese efforts, but neither side had the capability to land troops on the other, so a peace was signed with no territorial changes. Japan was not defeated, but it's expansionism was stopped.
An another region that lit up in flames around this time was a surprising one - North Vespucia. Tensions between New Netherland and Luisiana, colonies of the Netherlands and Spain respectively, over the rights to the region between them finally reached a breaking point when the Spaniards incited a number of native Vespucian tribes in the area to rise up and attack Dutch settlements nearby. Much like the War of the East China Sea, the Spanish-Dutch War was inconclusive, because both powers lacked the power projection to force the other side to surrender. Eventually, the two colonial empires were forced by France to enter the negotiations table, and the conflict region was partitioned, although the hostility remained. This war was also very important for the Dutch in that it marked a significant cooling of relations between the metropoly and New Netherland, or just Dutch Vespucia. As time went on, the Free State's profits from trade shrank because of the mercantilist policies employed by many European nations, so the Dutch were hurrying to integrate New Netherland into the country in order to be able to rip more taxes from the rich colonisits. And the Vespucians themselves hated this. It should also be noted that the composition of New Netherland was far from homogenous - outside of Dutch settlers, the land was inhabited by Frenchmen, Englishmen and other refugees from Europe, and also native Vespucians, which forged a far different culture from the one present in the metropoly. During the Spanish-Dutch War, the Netherlands were facing serious financial problems, and thus in 1733, the Staathalter proposed what is now known as the Rotterdam Compromise. New Netherland would gain seats in the Dutch Estates-General if they agreed to additional "war taxes" being levied in the colonies - and the colonial assembles surprisingly (and paradoxically) refused, citing that "New Netherland shall not become a mere state in order to be robbed by the Dutch barons. The compromise is only a step to integrate the colony and strip it of it's autonomy - there will be no taxes and no representation".
Of course, war and conflict wasn't the only thing happening. 1731 was marked in history by the publishing of the "Three Pillars of Government" by the French Enlightenment thinker Jean-Yves Pascal. It is famous in the world today for being one of the first to formulate the concept of separation of powers into different systems - the legislative, executive and judiciary function - that balance the other two out to make sure none get too powerful and thus undermine a country's democracy. In addition, spoken law or basic codification is not enough for the laws and basic concepts of a modern nation, and the philosopher believed that they need to be codified into a single document. Later philosophers and writers expanded on his ideas. Pascal was a notorious supporter of French republicanism, but his work was deemed quite controversial in his nation. While the reigning Reds saw this idea of separation and codification as an attack towards the French system and were for the most part sceptical, the Blues added the application of many of Pascal's ideas into their program.
Much like 1731, 1734 also went down in history, but for far different reasons. The idea of the existence of a sixth continent, separate from both the Old World and the Vespucias, had been postulated since the 17th century, and there had already been some evidence backing it up - for example, there were reports of a Portuguese galleon straying off it's course and reaching an unknown virgin land to the south of Indonesia during the East Asian War - but they were never confirmed, until that day. A Dutch fleet, led by the explorer Huibert van der Pols, explored the waters south and southeast of the Moluccas, discovering a vast new continent located on the western shores of the Indian Ocean. The expedition examined and marked over 300 miles of coastline, and the Netherlanders also sent an expedition led by van der Pols to the continent itself. In his diaries, the captain described the land as "lifeless, coarse and rough. If this is Terra Australis, then there is a reason why we never knew about it before". The captain himself named the land Oceania, noting the fact that it was surrounded by oceans, and this name stuck.
But what's there of use in that dead land?
Interesting developments throughout the geopolitics of this world.
Though not surprised Japan and New Netherlands are going the same route as their otl equivalents.
Though not surprised Japan and New Netherlands are going the same route as their otl equivalents.