do you think we can have an Americas update, I don't think we've had one in a while if im not mistaken.
Two Lucky Princes: A TL
- Thread starter SavoyTruffle
- Start date
do you think we can have an Americas update, I don't think we've had one in a while if im not mistaken.
A little "border incident" between English and French colonies, perhaps?
Nice, those are always fun
Colonial Rivalry: England and France
Although England and France were at peace following the Imperial War, relations between the two countries were typically cold. Though open war was not on the minds of newly ascended Henry VIII and Francis I, a diplomatic incident was to test whether either of them would blink.
Both England and France had rather large claims on Columbia, even though in practice neither controlled territory far from the coast. After all, the French colonial town of Nouvelle-Angoulême was newly established, and the English colonial capital of Arthuria was similarly nascent. Few would have been surprised at the rivalry of these two colonies, that manifests in the rivalry of the Republic of New England and the Dominion of New France to this day.
A rather simple hunting accident quickly turned into a border dispute that would tax English and French diplomats alike. A French colonist named Henri Duchamp was busy hunting game, and managed to get too far from his outpost. As he searched for deer, he fired a gun at what he thought would be a rather major game - but would turn out to be an Englishman. The English, only known as Smythe, died of his wounds after returning to the English colony.
The rather vague claims of both countries had thus resulted in several meetings between English and French officials, which by producing quite little results served to worsen relations even more. Was war on the horizon again? Both were unprepared for war, seeing as their treasuries were being spent on infrastructures and supporting the royal households. In the end, an intermediary would have to intervene...
Poor Smythe, an unfortunately necessary casualty of a timeline writer....
Still this should be interesting. I'm assuming the mediator will be Iberia? Though I could be wrong.
The Polish Push North
Though the Livonian War would ultimately be far less decisive than any of the powers involved would expect, the war in its early and middle stages - up until the Battle of Reval - was firmly in the favor of Poland-Lithuania. After Courland and Semigallia were secured by the Polish, they began moving north, though the Muscovites would lead a celebrated retreat, defeating small Polish vanguards.
However, Muscovy was down but not out, and its main army had recently been reinforced by fresh recruits. The two would meet at the town of Valka, where the Muscovites guarded the route to Reval. Sigismund Jagiellon, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, had once more decided to rely on his infantry, seeing their power at the Battle of Riga. The Muscovites still relied on their cavalry, with medium and heavy cavalry playing the biggest parts. However, an increasing number of Muscovite infantry were equipped with arquebuses.
On a rainy day, Valka was to be the scene of a bloody battle of the Livonian war. The rain made the arquebuses unwieldy and ineffective, forcing the Polish pikemen and Muscovite infantry to come to a bloody melée prematurely. The Muscovite cavalry would attempt to encircle the Polish, yet the rain and mud would prevent them from effectively mounting an assault. As the German Baron von Schwarzmond[1] recalled in his chronicle, "as we continued the attack against the Muscovites, the rain kept pouring down, mixing with the blood on our shirts and on the ground. The mud was thus rust-colored, mixing with our blood and the enemy's."
In the end, however, the bloody stalemate was broken when the Polish discipline and superior armament decided the day, forcing the Muscovites to fall back. It was a tactical victory for the Polish, yet both sides had telling casualties: Both took about 5000 lives. For the Muscovites, it was not as hard on them - they had the defensive approach, strategically, and were nearer their borders and supplies than the Polish, for whom the fields were being scorched by the Muscovites in order to weaken them.
And after this fateful battle, the Nordic nations entered the fray...
[1]Fictional; the name is a subtle reference. TTL he's a minor noble who decides to join the Polish army as a mercenary.
But of course. I'm thinking about making an update on Wallachia next.
I decided to write a... different update.
Though the Iberians and the Mexicans (the demonym of those who live in the Dominion of Mexica) disagree on what to call the events of 1536 in the then Captaincy of New Granada, both agree that it was a watershed event that would foreshadow the formation of the Dominion, and the devolution of the Iberian colonial empire by the 19th century. The Iberians call it Cuauhtemoc's Great Revolt, while the Mexicans call it the First Mexican Revolution.
Although Hernán Cortés had succeeded in taking power for himself, and receiving confirmation from King Miguel of Iberia as Capitan of New Granada, the nephew of the former tlatoani Moctezuma II, Cuauhtemoc had managed to flee northward with a few loyal Mexica. Although Cuauhtemoc had only a few hundred or at most a thousand followers after Cortés' coup, he had managed to gain the help of many local tribes and cities, telling them about the "evil invader, who by his appearance as Quetzalcoatl, has deceived the Mexica." By 1536 Cuauhtemoc had twenty-five thousand men at his beck and call.
By this time Cortés had renamed Tenochtitlan New Toledo[1], and had encouraged his men to intermarry with the local women, as well as asking for a formal mission to be set up there. The temples were not demolished - yet the sacrificial areas were - but set up as churches, to serve as the places of worship for the New World congregation. Cortés also set up the leaders of the Mexica who allied with him as part of the New Granadan government, thus setting up a precedent of partial self-rule.
Cuauhtemoc made his move in 1536. Although his army was far larger, it was still relatively behind in terms of technology. None of his men had iron weapons, and most of them had not yet encountered the deadly sound of gunpowder. However, an elite core of the troops led by Cuauhtemoc himself had known of the Iberian force's advantage, and would prove to be his deadliest weapon.
The stage was thus set up for a clash - between the two men considered to be the most instrumental in founding the Mexican state.
The First Mexican Revolution
Though the Iberians and the Mexicans (the demonym of those who live in the Dominion of Mexica) disagree on what to call the events of 1536 in the then Captaincy of New Granada, both agree that it was a watershed event that would foreshadow the formation of the Dominion, and the devolution of the Iberian colonial empire by the 19th century. The Iberians call it Cuauhtemoc's Great Revolt, while the Mexicans call it the First Mexican Revolution.
Although Hernán Cortés had succeeded in taking power for himself, and receiving confirmation from King Miguel of Iberia as Capitan of New Granada, the nephew of the former tlatoani Moctezuma II, Cuauhtemoc had managed to flee northward with a few loyal Mexica. Although Cuauhtemoc had only a few hundred or at most a thousand followers after Cortés' coup, he had managed to gain the help of many local tribes and cities, telling them about the "evil invader, who by his appearance as Quetzalcoatl, has deceived the Mexica." By 1536 Cuauhtemoc had twenty-five thousand men at his beck and call.
By this time Cortés had renamed Tenochtitlan New Toledo[1], and had encouraged his men to intermarry with the local women, as well as asking for a formal mission to be set up there. The temples were not demolished - yet the sacrificial areas were - but set up as churches, to serve as the places of worship for the New World congregation. Cortés also set up the leaders of the Mexica who allied with him as part of the New Granadan government, thus setting up a precedent of partial self-rule.
Cuauhtemoc made his move in 1536. Although his army was far larger, it was still relatively behind in terms of technology. None of his men had iron weapons, and most of them had not yet encountered the deadly sound of gunpowder. However, an elite core of the troops led by Cuauhtemoc himself had known of the Iberian force's advantage, and would prove to be his deadliest weapon.
The stage was thus set up for a clash - between the two men considered to be the most instrumental in founding the Mexican state.
Interesting update.
By instrumental, does this mean that Cortez and Cuauhtemoc are going to come to some sort of agreement?
Otherwise, it sounds like Cortez will get scalped.
Think of it this way: Without Cortés the Dominion of Mexica won't be a Dominion; without Cuauhtemoc Mexica would remain a colony.
As promised, the Wallachian update!
As the Grand Vizier Pargalı İbrahim Pasha would envision, the smallest army would be sent to Wallachia to deal with the uprising led by Radu of Afumati. Though said army was only 13000 strong, it was well drilled and trained for the reclamation of Wallachia, which was true of Ottoman armies of the time. This battle would also be the baptism of fire for the reforms İbrahim Pasha had proposed to Suleiman I, citing an increased use of lightly armored swordsmen. These swordsmen were based on the Spanish model of swordsmen equipped to break the push of pike, although they were quite vulnerable to arquebuses and crossbows.
On the 17th of October, 1534, after quelling much smaller rebel-held strongholds, the Ottoman Army of Wallachia faced the Wallachian army led by Radu of Afumati himself near the important town of Curtea de Argeş. If Radu was to win here, he would effectively ruin İbrahim Pasha's plan. He also had reason to be confident: He had 21000 men to the Ottomans' 13000. However, these men were not all armed in the contemporary fashion, preferring instead to use axes and shorter spears. He also had a lack of gunpowder weapons, with only cannon and no arquebusiers.
The Ottoman army had the advantage of not being forced to position themselves at the foot of a hill; they had managed to also secure a hilltop for the battle. It would thus negate the increased strength of a charge that would come from a foe's increased elevation, while the Ottoman weapons would be able to attack with impunity. On the command of Mustafa Pasha, the general in charge of the Ottoman force, the Ottoman guns and arquebuses began firing. Radu realized that the arquebuses and guns would eventually destroy his force if he was hesitant in attacking. Despite the use of crossbowmen, the Wallachian force was outgunned.
In his first blunder, Radu of Afumati ordered his infantry to charge, with axes held high. The Ottomans held themselves, with the pikemen keeping the axemen at bay. Now Mustafa Pasha played his trump card. Ordering the swordsmen to file out from the flanks of the pikemen, they began breaking the pike-poleaxe deadlock with incredible efficiency while the arquebuses reloaded. The Wallachians then broke, leaving the cavalry unsupported.
In vain Radu of Afumati was to order a charge against the Ottoman force, yet it failed as the pikemen still held firm, disallowing the cavalry access to the Ottoman guns. Mustafa Pasha ordered the guns to fire once more, and the Wallachian cavalry was decimated. Radu of Afumati was forced to flee.
The Wallachians took heavy losses, and the nobles who had supported Radu were imprisoned or executed. The remaining nobility were forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty once more, as Suleiman (rather accurately) decided against full annexation. Radu of Afumati fled to the Bohemian court, where he spent the last of his days.
The Battle of Curtea de Argeş
As the Grand Vizier Pargalı İbrahim Pasha would envision, the smallest army would be sent to Wallachia to deal with the uprising led by Radu of Afumati. Though said army was only 13000 strong, it was well drilled and trained for the reclamation of Wallachia, which was true of Ottoman armies of the time. This battle would also be the baptism of fire for the reforms İbrahim Pasha had proposed to Suleiman I, citing an increased use of lightly armored swordsmen. These swordsmen were based on the Spanish model of swordsmen equipped to break the push of pike, although they were quite vulnerable to arquebuses and crossbows.
On the 17th of October, 1534, after quelling much smaller rebel-held strongholds, the Ottoman Army of Wallachia faced the Wallachian army led by Radu of Afumati himself near the important town of Curtea de Argeş. If Radu was to win here, he would effectively ruin İbrahim Pasha's plan. He also had reason to be confident: He had 21000 men to the Ottomans' 13000. However, these men were not all armed in the contemporary fashion, preferring instead to use axes and shorter spears. He also had a lack of gunpowder weapons, with only cannon and no arquebusiers.
The Ottoman army had the advantage of not being forced to position themselves at the foot of a hill; they had managed to also secure a hilltop for the battle. It would thus negate the increased strength of a charge that would come from a foe's increased elevation, while the Ottoman weapons would be able to attack with impunity. On the command of Mustafa Pasha, the general in charge of the Ottoman force, the Ottoman guns and arquebuses began firing. Radu realized that the arquebuses and guns would eventually destroy his force if he was hesitant in attacking. Despite the use of crossbowmen, the Wallachian force was outgunned.
In his first blunder, Radu of Afumati ordered his infantry to charge, with axes held high. The Ottomans held themselves, with the pikemen keeping the axemen at bay. Now Mustafa Pasha played his trump card. Ordering the swordsmen to file out from the flanks of the pikemen, they began breaking the pike-poleaxe deadlock with incredible efficiency while the arquebuses reloaded. The Wallachians then broke, leaving the cavalry unsupported.
In vain Radu of Afumati was to order a charge against the Ottoman force, yet it failed as the pikemen still held firm, disallowing the cavalry access to the Ottoman guns. Mustafa Pasha ordered the guns to fire once more, and the Wallachian cavalry was decimated. Radu of Afumati was forced to flee.
The Wallachians took heavy losses, and the nobles who had supported Radu were imprisoned or executed. The remaining nobility were forced to recognize Ottoman suzerainty once more, as Suleiman (rather accurately) decided against full annexation. Radu of Afumati fled to the Bohemian court, where he spent the last of his days.
I have a Time problem
Then raise a Army in defiance of the Governor. Sail to UNKNOWN lands, Where He doesn't know the Language, Then there is the Time spent while Moctezuma is deposed .
somehow scheme with the former War Chief [not political or religious Leader].
Your TL for the Post doesn't stand up.
In a earlier piece you had Cortes in India during 1520. It take a year to return [1521]- then some time before He reaches Cuba [decision and travel] [1522?]By the Way, ?Why does he go to - not nothing much Cuba?
Then raise a Army in defiance of the Governor. Sail to UNKNOWN lands, Where He doesn't know the Language, Then there is the Time spent while Moctezuma is deposed .
somehow scheme with the former War Chief [not political or religious Leader].
Your TL for the Post doesn't stand up.
A teaser of what's to come, with regards to Iberia.
Two things of note:
1. I have made an intentional, but quite subtle reference to an OTL monarch in this graph. Try identifying the reference!
2. By the 17th century the Aviz-Trastamara dynasty is dead in the male line, and later in said century a famous-but-not-quite dynasty takes it place.
Two things of note:
1. I have made an intentional, but quite subtle reference to an OTL monarch in this graph. Try identifying the reference!
2. By the 17th century the Aviz-Trastamara dynasty is dead in the male line, and later in said century a famous-but-not-quite dynasty takes it place.
Kings and Queens of Iberia
Miguel I (1521-1560)
Manuel I (1560-1568) son of Miguel I
Miguel II (1568-1602) brother of Manuel I
John III (1602-1618) grandson of Miguel II (son of Miguel de Asturias)
Isabella II (1618-1685) daughter of John III
Charles I (1685-1702) nephew of Isabella II (son of Anna of Iberia and Stephen of Bavaria)
Does that mean we will have a Wittlesbach on the Spanish throne later in this timeline?
Can't wait to see this when we get there
Miguel I (1521-1560)
Manuel I (1560-1568) son of Miguel I
Miguel II (1568-1602) brother of Manuel I
John III (1602-1618) grandson of Miguel II (son of Miguel de Asturias)
Isabella II (1618-1685) daughter of John III
Charles I (1685-1702) nephew of Isabella II (son of Anna of Iberia and Stephen of Bavaria)
Does that mean we will have a Wittlesbach on the Spanish throne later in this timeline?
Can't wait to see this when we get there
