Pre Update 4: 1506-1510: What Once Were Firm, Now are Frayed
Characters:
Nicholas Verner (born 1470) head of the House of Verner
Helene Verner, wife (born 1472)
Jean Claude Vauchamps, Helene’s brother (born 1480)
Verner Children: Pietro (b 1492), Jeanine (b 1495), Sarah (b 1497), Johann (b 1501)
Claire O’Rourke, sweetheart of Jean Claude, (b 1487)
Claire’s brothers: Ryan, Charles, & Sean (all sailors on English. Irish and Scottish ships)
Wu Kuan, former merchant of Ning-Po, Wokou pirate and now an established trader in the Spice Islands; (born 1470)
Wu Meiying, daughter of Wu Kuan (b 1490)
Herman Rabb, archivist to Maxmillian of Austria
Father Francis, Catholic priest
Gulrukh "Face like a Rose", a Pashtun princess from a Muslim royal family of Balochistan
Mahmud Santoso was fascinated by Pulau Selatan. This new continent was filled with strange creatures, and honestly he had no idea where he was going. Just follow the river they said, look for gold. Sure that was easy. As he prepared to leave Melaka Baru, he prayed with the town one last time. They bowed towards (what they hoped was) the holy city Mecca and recited their prayers. The colony had become largely religious with only actual leader in the colony being the Imam. The community was small, and there were no politicians among the settlers. As the prayers were over the explorers said their goodbyes, and set out to find any riches that could be found on this virgin continent.
Update 4: 1506-1510: What Once Were Firm, Now are Frayed
Kings Day 1509, Verner Compound, Augsburg
After morning mass the Verner family returned home to a toasty fire in the upstairs hearth and a spare meal after the rich feastings of Christmas. The four children changed out of their church dress into everyday wear and disappeared into the scattered recesses of the Verner complex of storehouses and workshops. Niccolo, Helene, Jean Claude and Claire sat around the fire and rehashed the tumultuous events of the past year. The mostly peaceful story of the west was in contrast to the wars that raged throughout the east. For two years Hans of Denmark had campaigned to put down the rebellious Sven Sture and his Swedish secessionists. He had started with Gotland Island off the southeast coast and taken it as a base of future operations. The summer campaign of 1507 had failed when the vanguard of the army marching from Scania was ambushed and soundly beaten along the Smaland coast. A recovered and refurbished Army led by Hans himself pushed to the outskirts of Stockholm in the summer of 1508. Siege preparations were begun and the troops reinforced with what could be spared from Gotland Island. Parlay failed and all settled in for the slow pace of siege warfare. But Hans had done his planning well. On September 14 1508 the day broke with the clanging of bells and weeping of women, followed at noon by a white flag emerging from the gates. In an hour it was over. A servant girl had found Sven Sture with a knife through his eye and hose tight about his neck when she brought him breakfast. The city surrendered. It was a bloody deed for sure, but one which saved the lives of many in the end. For those who felt the death of the previous Pope had been the hand of Sven, it was justice. In fact Niccolo had noticed that a Catholic faction had emerged in Hans court within a few months of the rebellions collapse. Everyone around the hearth hoped that trade would resume in the spring once the enemies had been purged and the noble houses realigned to suit the Kings desires. No one was sure just how the Finland problem would be resolved.
Army losses:
Kalmar Union: -970 men 1 cannon
As the short winter afternoon turned dark and the smells of dinner made their way up the stairs, the conversation moved further east to Muscovy and Poland. The men were anxious to talk of the war, but Claire and Helene wanted to think through the less bloody affairs of Tsar Demetrius II. He had been recently married. Children were on their minds, as well as, the Orthodox Church. Had Elizabeth of Denmark produced an heir? Had she converted? Would she demand that her husband return the Finnish lands to her father? The Russian Orthodoxy had been granted higher status by the churches of the Levant and at last it seemed that the pagan hordes of the east would win favor with God, even if it was the Greek version of things. And now that Feodor Kuritsyn was ailing, it appeared that Gennadius would assume even more influence with the Tsar.
Already, the Tsar was pacifying his captured Polish lands and the newly acquired holdings in Finland while he raised new troops to augment his push even further west. In addition, new fortifications were under construction around Smolensk and the armory in the Kremlin was being expanded and improved. This pause to consolidate gave breath to a conspiracy by the Szlachta (Polish Nobles) and on March 15, 1506 Michael Glinski and his fellows struck hard and fast. Vladislaus and his closest supporters were murdered and the government apparatus seized quickly, by April it was all over and Glinski was the new head of state. A new spirit was instilled into the nobility and new armies raised. With pomp and ceremony Glinski led his troops east to fight the Russians: 11,000 men and over 40 cannon. The Tsar had less than 10,000 men, but was raising upwards of 5,000 more. But this would not be a classic winner take all battle. The Prince of Muscovy had a plan.
Do you think either Glinski or the Tsar figured on Grandmaster Johann von Tiefen? Jean Claude asked. His 1,300 knights and 6,000 infantry had been making ready ever since the aborted war with Poland. They could be a spoiler in all this and reports had them wintering west of Drissa.
The Affairs of the Empire
Vienna on a Thursday in the spring of 1510
Herman Rabb, archivist to Maxmillian, was sorting through piles of dispatches and correspondence that had accumulated over the months while he was touring the states of the Empire to bring even more paper to his musty shelves. One pile was already sorted; it was everything he had on the marriage between Maxillian and Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan. And as sumptuous and joyous as the event was, it did tie the Emperor to the sticky mess that was Northern Italy. None-the-less, the guest list had included all the important heads of State and Church and a glorious time was had by all. He wondered if she was pregnant yet. Such a beauty would be bedded frequently he guessed.
Herman scanned the two documents that had been sitting off to one side. They were the same, but had apparently arrived by different routes. One was torn and stained the other not. There had been an attempt to rescue Queen Beatrix (of Hungary) from Venice. From the text, it was either badly bungled or foreseen. A Rene Laubin had been caught, his accomplice killed and French gold found in his purse. Herman was not surprised; the deft hand of Charles seemed to be everywhere at once. Further reading indicated that poor Rene had left his holding cell in several pieces. Looking at his table, Herman knew it would take the rest of the day if not longer to sort through what was immediately in front of him; it was the war in Hungary, now reduced to a pile of paper.
On top was the proclamation from 1506 of a newly configured Hungarian Diet. It declared Janos a bastard without claim to the throne of Hungary or any other kingdom and the Diets intention to elect a true and rightful king. Maxmillian no doubt; what else could the penniless, refugee Hungarian lords do? Without the Emperor behind them, they had no future at all. He chuckled. With the next unfolding, the deed was done and Maxmillian was declared King of Hungary and supported in that by the chief beggar in house Ladislaus. His fondness of the Emperor was only outweighed by his fondness for being King of Bohemia and Maxmillian was his ticket.
The next page was a receipt made out to one Hans G. for more gold than was advisable to give to any one person. He had seen the name before and knew it was destined for mischievous ends. For the Kings sake, he hoped it worked, but men who could be bought, could be bought by others too. It was followed by the order to raise another 7,000 troops and the plan to invade Bohemia in the fall of 1506.
The troop dispositions and order of battle were next, and all in great detail. He skimmed them. Ladislaus and 5,000 men would storm into Bohemia with the anticipated help of Brandenburg. I bet all were pretty surprised when that didnt happen, Herman thought. Caught with their shorts down. Reserves around Vienna, good; and the bulk of the Emperors men and cannon were dug in around Prague to fend off the expected offensive by the Black Army to retake their capital. A good plan, but no one apparently bothered to let Janos know what he was supposed to do. As the campaign season of 1506 opened and Ladislaus struck north to Prague, he was not alone. As the Bohemian king deployed before Prague he was faced by over 13,000 Hungarians and 44 cannon and not a Brandenburger to be found. It was worse than a rout. Ladislaus was slain along with most of his loyal nobles. His army melted away. Ladislaus left two legitimate heirs in Vienna: Anne, born in 1503, and Louis who was born in 1506. Their mother, Anne of Foix-Candale, was French with strong ties to Navarre as well. She died giving birth to Louis. Ah, the game of thrones.
Janos quickly follow up his victory with a move south on Buda. The Black Army struck hard and fast pushing the defending Austrians out of their positions around Kremnitz and back across the Danube. From there the Black Army fled east and south to drive plundering bands of Austrians out of Hungary.
Army Loses Prague:
Austria: -5000 men and 7 cannon; Ladislaus killed
Hungary: -1875 men and 5 cannon
Battle of Kremnitz:
Austria: -1704 men and 10 cannon
Hungary: -351 men and 6 cannon
Vienna on Friday
Herman was back to sorting papers and those freshly delivered by his apprentice were all related to the Milan situation. Maxmillians marriage had sealed the defensive pact between Milan and His Highness, but that did not stop the fighting. Mercenaries (Damn that Charles!) supported the Genoese attack on Milan in an attempt to over throw Lodovico Sforza in favor of the Pavia court. Levies were raised in Milan and they did keep the wolves from the gates of the city, but the cost was high, on both sides, and much of the landscape plundered.
Army losses
Genoa: -250 men 1 cannon
Mercenaries: -280 Dutch Arquebusiers -720 German Landsknecht
Milan: -1420 men 3 cannon
` Verner Compound, Augsburg 1510
Helene watched as the agent left the compound on foot. He would blend in with the afternoon crowd in minutes. He had wanted to speak to Niccolo, but the head of the House was away, so Helene would have to do. She didnt mind and enjoyed playing dumb and asking silly questions. The news he carried was about the House of Lee. The bank was on the move, quietly, but moving none the less. M. lee would base his office out of San Marino now instead of London. She wondered just what M. Lee knew that she didnt. The agent noted that the bank was supporting additional mercenaries now, pikemen and Hussars had been added to the roster. Experienced soldiers were in demand; no doubt they would turn a profit soon. She asked whether or not the bank was trading in new weaponry that was being used by the Tsar, but the agent did not know. In ay case she would pass the news on to Niccolo when he returned.
Niccolo and Jean Claude were concerned over the wars in Hungary and Poland. They were not good for trade, except in weapons. The new matchlock guns seemed to have potential. They were a more reliable improvement to the old harquebus. The two on the sideboard had been taken apart. Their conversation turned to the final chapter of the Russian campaigns.
Weather and logistical confusion delayed the Russian offense until the summer of 1509, but by then the stage was well set. General Obolenskiy and the young Tsar operated around Smolensk with threats towards Polotsk and Minsk. Glinski parried each thrust to the west, but was unable to force the Russians to stand; they fell back on the newly fortified Smolensk. Then as the season turned, an unexpected Russian army appeared before Kiev. Niccolo and Jean Claude moved their painted blocks around on the map spread across the table. The Glinski block was edging up on Smolensk, bumping up against the smaller army of Obolenskiy that was firmly entrenched behind stone and earthen walls; Niccolo placed his large green block on Kiev and clapped his hands. But the game went to Claire who cried out, The Knights attack and Glinski is buggered! she laughs and drops her piece on Polotsk. Yes, it had been a bad month for the Poles, but all was not lost. Half the army turned to face the Knights and within a month of the fall of Polotsk, it had been retaken and Grandmaster Johann von Tiefen soundly defeated. 3,000 more men hurried off to relieve Kiev, but were too late; word of the attack by the Knights had sent the city into despair and fearing abandonment, the city leaders choose life over the slow death by siege.
Army losses:
Poland: -1787 men 11 cannon
Muscovy: -2306 men 5 cannon
Teutonic Knights: -435 knights, 1800 men
Prague 1510
Janos pondered his situation. He was beset from all sides: Austria, probably Brandenburg, and also by the pig dogs of the Ottoman now. They had used his war against Austria to snatch lands of the south that he could not defend at the moment. At least Poland had it hands full with Muscovy and not likely to turn against him. He had gold enough to keep going with the gift that made its way from the west. He was quite thankful for it.
Via Flaminia 1510
Father Francis was an itinerant priest who walked the roads of Italy giving comfort to those in need and assisting local brethren with their parish problems. He was also handsomely paid by his patron for the dispatches he sent regularly to a man in Pisa. The gold he kept under his hat would keep him well fed for many months as well as provide for many less fortunate than him; he was quite pleased. He ran the neatly written pages that had dropped off through his mind. He had been impressed with the newly completed defenses all around the land access to Venice they would be important should war come and the city be attacked. And he did not forget that many of the Barons of the Papal lands were equally impressed and favoring Venice in their conversations.
Across the Po Valley Savoy had been building up its troops in case the Genoa/Milan trouble spread west. It appeared to him that a tide of anti French sentiment was rising as Charles stepped up his interest in the affairs of Italy to new heights (or depths?). In Rome the new Pope was focused on renovating the city. The Basilica of St Peter had been begun and promised to be quite sumptuous to match the beauty of the new University
of the Blessed Redeemer. The new order of the Eucharistic Congregation was housed there and charged to pursue God in all aspects of learning. It was founded by staunch papist Carlo Borromeo. With the University completed he set out upon his first task: build similar universities across Europe. The first two would be the Holy Cross of Christ in Nottingham England and St. Peters Orleans France. He wasnt sure how well these universities would mesh with the reformist mindset that was growing in France. Huldrych Zwingli was now in Paris pushing for reforms that were beyond anything that Charles was supporting as was his fellow associate Jacques Lefevre at the Paris University. Sometimes it seemed that the whole city was consumed with activist reformers. Over the years, the church of France had gained substantial independence from Rome and was determined to go their own way in Heavenly matters. It smelled like trouble to him.
To the south where he spent much of last year it seemed a bit calmer than in previous visits. King Ferdinand had abdicated to avoid succession issues with France and Alfonso crowed the new King of Naples. After the disaster in North Africa attention was turned towards home and the port of Naples was being upgraded and improved. More trade was anticipated by all accounts. But Francis had his suspicions that there was more than met the eye going on in the shadow of Vesuvius. Well, he would take another look around on his next trip south. A sign caught his eye Parmigiano-Reggiano. Exceptional cheese he thought and this inn would be the perfect place to stop for the night.
Rhine Valley
Claire had collected all her notes and letters together in a single oilskin for the boat trip up the Rhine on her journey back to Augsburg. Her family connections in the trading ports of Ireland, England and Scotland had proven to be invaluable to Niccolo Verner and this had been an important trip. She and Jean Claude had made the trip north, but once they reached Glasgow, Jean took a boat to Lisbon and he would return on his own through Spain and Southern France. Claire, with a small escort stayed. In England the talk was all about the King’s illness and whether or not he had died. All was quiet from the royal residence. There were no expeditions to the new world, the wars in Ireland were losing momentum and rumors abounded that the nobles were looting the treasury. It was hard to separate truth from fiction.
Scotland was a different story. Expeditions sailed to the new world and life was prosperous. The great maritime forests of the newly explored coastline held the promise of timber and furs. Off the barren rocky shores of the cold northern reaches, the sea was rich in fish and whales and all manner of life. Little was known of the interior or of the strange people who lived deep in the forest, but that could wait. Captain Goodwillie’s second voyage was only talked about in hushed voices along the docks. The king’s gold was keeping tongues still, but speculation was in the air. Most thought they had found a treasure trove of gold; others that disaster had struck and the news being suppressed. Still others were confident that the home of the devil himself had been found and no more voyages would be taken. Certainly, there was new gold in Scotland, but Claire figured it was from the trading post in Songhai on the coast of Africa far to the south, and not west. She would have to delve deeper into the court secrets to find what was being held back. In the meanwhile, she longed to make such an exciting voyage across an ocean, and not just a trip up the Rhine on a barge.
Barcelona
Jean Claude thought of his Galway girl as he waited for the procession to reach his spot along the route from the harbor to the palace. He wished she were here, enjoying the wine and sunny weather of Barcelona. Her hair was black and her eyes were blue and all he could think was “I am in love with you.” He let out a long slow breadth. Hernando Cortez was being feted by the King, but he wasn’t sure why. Ten ships had sailed from Cadiz and only five had returned. From the tails told by sailors, a great storm had thrown the small fleet hard upon the coral reefs of an unknown shore with a great loss of life, including the expedition leader, and half the ships. The young Cortez had brought the survivors back from the brink of starvation and despair with skilled leadership and dogged determination. All Jean Claude knew was that their ordeal was long and involved wild savages who dressed in animal skins and feathers. These wild beasts in human form feasted on human flesh, worshiped terrible gods and barked like dogs when they spoke. Well, that’s what he had heard.
The news from New Span was more reassuring. The colony was growing and three settlements now dotted the distant shore. Conditions were still primitive, but more regular voyages passed for trade and made profits for those risking the trips. It seemed that the relations with the locals were profitable and many souls were being saved as the colony grew. Soon it might be worth a trip across the ocean to see these new lands and strange people for himself.
The death of Queen Isabella in 1505 was old news now, but it had prompted Prince Juan to marry Germaine de Foix of Navarre and the fruits of that union were already evident in the infant Prince Juan. Jean Claude wondered if somehow this marriage to Navarre would tie the Spanish crown to the throne of Bohemia. He thought that the wife of the now dead Ladislaus was from Navarre. He would ask Niccolo when he got home. The Spanish church was flourishing and growing as Muslims and Jews were given the choice to either convert or go into exile. And while the University of Barcelona grew, it had none of the crazies that preached “reform of the church” that you found in Paris. The Pope was loved and respected in Spain.
After Hernando Cortez had passed, the cheering faded and the people returned to the daily labors of surviving, Jean mused over his wine and the 6 months he had spent in Lisboa. King John had been busy. He continued his war in Morocco and had subdued all the important parts of the country right up to the edges of those controlled by the Bey of Algiers. With the fall of Fez, John had threatened Algiers with destruction if they did not concede all Morocco to Portugal. He got his wish and Barkiyaruq agreed. It seemed a bit surprising until jean Claude learned that the Bey had been fighting, and conquering Tunisia and quite unable to defend his western border. Algiers was now ally with the Sultan of the Ottomans and together they had subdued the Tunisian pirates for the greater glory of Islam.
From what Jean Claude could ascertain from the sailors and traders along the wharf, Diascia was growing and New Lisbon a good source of timber and exotic animals. The small settlement was in a gentle climate, unlike much of the new continent’s coast which was wet and junglely with few suitable landfalls for permanent settlements. Little was known of the interior of this distant place. The eastern shore of the great landmass was still unsettled as far as Jean could tell. What lay beyond was not known. Dias himself had led another expedition to New Lisbon, but word of its discoveries had not yet made their way into the shadowy discourse of the docks. Jean was headed back to Germany in a week and would pass through southern France, travel up the Rhone and then cross over into the lands of the Empire and the arms of Claire O’Rouke. En route he hoped to confirm the largesse of the King of France and his court. Tales of the arts and culture of this kingdom were rampant throughout Spain and a twinge of jealousy evident among the nobles of Iberia. In addition, he had heard that pirates had been infesting the Ligurian Sea and preying upon the Genoan traders all along the Italian coast. That could be very bad for Verner and Company.
Ships Lost in the Pirate war
France -8
Genoa -10
Pirates -8
Tunisian War:
Algiers -425 men
Ottoman -75 men
Constantinople
Around the court of the Sultan some thought he was French, others Italian and a small group was sure he was Austrian, but all called him friend. Well, at least they liked his gold. He paid well for rumor and innuendo. At the moment, however, there was more fact than anything else. Egypt had fallen hard and the Sultan was now picking up the pieces bit by bit. What had not been won with the sword would fall for other reasons. His influence was spreading up the Nile and west along the coast to Tripoli. The hand of Beyazid II was at work in the Balkans too. New taxes on non Muslims were coupled with increased pressure to convert to the “One True Religion”. Even the war against Hungary had been quite successful for such little effort.
The Coast of West Africa
Sunni Ali was quite pleased as he watched the three small ships sail past his viewing station on the hill overlooking a small harbor. The lateen sailers were small, but quite sea worthy and could maneuver nicely in the shallow waters of the coast. The king beamed! The world was his. Had he been a younger man he would sail all the way to the far off Scotland and greet all the people who lived there and give them gold. The small Scottish fort was off to the north and beyond that out of sight a slightly larger Portuguese one. These strangers had brought much change to Songhai and it was a struggle to master so many new things. Ships had been one thing, but metal working for weapons was another. Spears and daggers could surely kill a man, but the Harquebus of these foreigners was a fearsome weapon and he wanted them. He had bought some, but his craftsmen still had not mastered the art of making them. These European men were hungry for gold and he had plenty; he just had to use it wisely. Both fort leaders had asked for more land to provide for the soldiers and "women" who lived in the forts, but Sunni Ali had been careful and only granted a few acres of good farmland. Sometimes these fair skinned visitors make him nervous.
Off the coast of Pulau Selatan
Pulau Seletan was a dry place. The wet coast had been a deceptive lure. Abu Jabar had found a river mouth for his first settlement that was quite suitable for a small fort. But inland the land was dry and hot for as far as they could go. It was a barren land inhabited by lizards, birds, thorny plants and little else. The peninsula to the west was much the same: a wet coast with hot dry desert stretching far to the south. Abu knew this place would never be a great city, but for now it could be a base for resupply and repair to and from some better place he was sure he could find. Fresh water and fishing seemed the best that Melaka Baru would have to offer.
Bangka Island Indonesia
From his small house overlooking the harbor Wu Kuan could keep easy track of what was happening in the busy port. Ships from all over stopped to load, unload, resupply and repair. Little escaped his sharp eyes and the ears of his contacts throughout the colony. His daughter Wu Meiying who as a child had loved to listen as he talked with captains and sailors from the four corners of the known world, now contributed. At 20 she could speak four languages, sail a ship, negotiate profitable deals and even command a crew (if a big man stood beside her).
Kuan and Mei Mei (as he called her) had been reviewing the news so that they could plan their next trading voyages. They were relieved to hear that Japan had settled down and that all rebellion had been crushed by Shogun Ashikaga. More interesting though was the expansion of Japanese territory onto the northern island of Hokkaido. It was a land rich in furs and timber and waters full of fish, crabs and other creatures of the sea. The Lords who had been loyal in the recent trouble had been granted large tracts and they were encouraging peasants to travel north to settle in this virgin land. Already its riches were filling the coffers of the Shogun. Mei Mei noted too, that three Indian vessels had stopped at Bangka recently. They were seeking the Nippon and the islands of the rising sun. They did sail north.
China, his homeland, was undergoing even more changes. The Emperor was raising taxes and few were happy with that. Many factions were grumbling as perceived changes in the balance of power came to light. Even the bureaucrats were complaining that trying to increase taxes without expanding the administrative offices of the government was foolhardy. Abu guessed that everything they were trying to collect in new taxes went into someone’s pocket. The Yangtze had run high for two consecutive springs and the death toll had been huge and central China was in turmoil once again. Floods and taxes bred unrest. The new Chinese colony in Ceylon was well established and ship traffic was even semi regular. An embassy was sent to King Parakramabahu VII to establish formal relations and if the rumors were correct, an alliance of some sort to protect the island from the evil eye of King Raya. Kuan’s contacts weren’t sure it was working though. Mei Mei thought that the Malaccans would put a stop to all the Chinese shipping if they could not tax it for profit. The failed Chinese attempt to establish a fort on Java made the Ceylon enterprise even more iffy. A formal Chinese presence there would be resisted vigorously it seems. Regardless, Bangka Island was a thriving port. It was growing rich off the spice trade from the east and as a trading point for moving the coveted tastes west and north.
Samarqand
After moving his capital to Samarqand and rebuilding the city, Samarqand flourished and trade from the east flowed into the city once again. But further expansion was on Babur’s mind. He invaded Transoxia and restored the ancient heritage of Timur in all his conquered lands. The Uzbeks stirred and settled their differences and borders with the Afghani and the Safavids and turned their eyes to the east and watched.
Mughals: -2390 men
Ramadan 1506, Delhi
Tonight, the last night of the holy month, fast was to be broken in a great feast for all the lords of Delhi. Barbak Shah and Alam Shah would join Sikander Shah in a show of unity and reconciliation. The Sultanate would prosper in the conquest of its enemies. Merwan , wandered the great dining hall in the guise of a servant of Barbak Shah. The stage was set and he was making sure that the “play” would end correctly. His master did not believe that Sikander’s call for unity was genuine. Barbak Shah knew that the impending war with Rajput would provide too many opportunities for treachery; it would be best to cut the head off the snake early and sleep and peacefully at night. Ramadan was sacred and Sikander would feel secure in his own palace, but the presenting of a gift, and an act of fealty and submission would provide the chance to change history and put his master on the throne of all India. He only needed to get close, just out of arm’s reach and the deed would be done. Sikander Shah would preside over his last feast tonight. As he stood with his back to the place where Sikander would be sitting, he noted a pattern in the carpet. This was all the closer he needed to be. With the passivity of a servant he moved toward the door and departed.
Three hours later Merwan stood outside the hall waiting to be called in. The gift was carefully wrapped in fine silk and held in his left hand. His right arm, under his sleeve, was burdened with a different weight. Commotion in the hall drew his attention and he moved to where he could see inside. Alam Shah was face down into his meal. Knives flashed and slashed across the throats of the servants and body guards who held allegiance to Alam or Barbak. Merwan’s eyes, though, were on his master. With his guards dead, a warrior jerked the would-be-king upright and slit his throat. The blood spurted across the table as Barbak Shah convulsed and died. Then the screaming began. Merwan turned and ran for the kitchens where he might escape, but the sword of a man he never saw, spilled his guts in the hall adding to the mess that would need to be cleaned up in the morning.
Some weeks later in a matter little noted, by even those with sharp eyes, a foreigner, looking like he was from the east arrived at the former palace of Barbak Shah. His mule was heavily laden and his attire nice, but well traveled. His inquiry at the gate brought a puzzled look and then the gate was closed sharply in his face. After a moment the stranger turned back into the city and disappeared.
With his throne firmly in hand, Sikander Shah prepared to rule all India. It would be his now and there was nothing to stop him. He ordered a census of his lands to begin and learned men to standardize the weights and measures used by tradesmen and traders. Gold flowed from the royal treasury to build roads and prepare for war. At Paniput a fortress was begun as was one in the Kyber pass. Afghan mercenaries and tribal warriors were recruited. Jatt and Pashtun arrived ready for war. In 1508 they marched south to Rajput.
Far beyond the sound of Delhi war drums, in the hot lands of the south King Raya also prepared for war. Part of that preparation was the grand marriage of Prince Tirumalai to Berar Princess Bibi Meriem. With the thrones united an alliance followed. The war in Ceylon continued unabated with 5000 men on a relentless push to force the stubborn King Parakramabahu into capitulation. Perhaps the rumors of Chinese support were true. But war in Ceylon was not the only conquest Raya planned.
Every effort was made to secure the knowledge of new weaponry from Ottomans and Safavids. Traders set up shop in Aden and Hormuz. And the army trained. In 1509 the attack burst upon Bijapur like a monsoon storm. 11,000 troops and 14 cannon attacked. Goa fell and the army moved north towards Bijapur city itself. Less than 6000 men would oppose them. Three weeks into the campaign word came that Ahmadnagar had joined the fight and was marching south. Raya didn’t know whose side they were on, but felt confident he would be victorious. As it turned out Ahmadnagar was on their own side and was merely taking advantage of Bijapur’s difficulty. Bijapur was lost, defeated north and south. All her land swallowed by her attackers who faced off in an uneasy truce.
Vijayanagar losses
Bijapur attack: -2687 men and 11 cannon
Ceylon attack: -223 men
Indus Valley 1510
In a cave along the Indus Rana Sangra had been hiding for weeks with his wife, two of his six children and a handful of devoted soldiers. His father had made his stand outside Chitor with over 11,000 men and elephants. Delhi had about the same and the battle could have gone either way had not another 10,000 men from Gujarat shown up; and they were not backing Rajput. An even fight turned into a rout and total destruction. His father was slain and most likely that proud head adorned the city gate. Sangra didn’t know for sure though, he had fled with what family he could pull together. He needed to stay alive. The hand of Delhi was heavy and there would be those who would follow his call to reclaim the crown of his father. Tonight they would move again. He had friends in Kandahar if they could get there.
Delhi: -1936 men and 1 cannon (725 are losses taken by mercenary troops)
Gujarat: -770 men
Rajput: conquered, Sangra Rana still at large
Shuri Ryukyu Islands
King Sho Shin was relaxed and proud of his efforts as he presided over his court. His ministers had been reporting all day to him and to those privileged enough to be in his presence. Not only was the colony in Luzon expanding as more and more citizens emigrated there for the free land, but his accumulating wealth had allowed him to expand his palace as well. His navy was coming along fine too, new ideas were improving both ship design and construction. But what made him proudest were the stories coming from Luzon:
Spoiler:
Naoto looked at the statue, satisfied with its placement at the center of the village. It had taken the labor of his men (along with many of the natives) to move it, and at many moments they feared it might tip over. Such a tragedy had be avoided, thankfully, and now the men stood there, staring at the massive construct.
It wasn't so much the size of the statue that captivated them. It was actually just barely taller than them. But the figure stood proudly and upright. Its face was stern, eyes staring harshly at seemingly everyone. In one hand it carried a book, no doubt a Confucian classic. The other hand was placed on a sword hilt, the sword sheathed at its side.
Sometime during their extensive stare at the impressive figure, the rest of the village had emerged from their homes, coming to observe what had been the result of the labors of their husbands and brothers. One old-timer walks up to the statue, running his hand over its surface, obviously impressed with the stonework. A child runs to the foot of the statue, looking up, only to be greeted by its harsh stare. The child immediately bursts into tears, his mother carrying him back to their home.
"Well my friends, our lord now looks over this village!" Naoto said, not even attempting to hold back his joy. "My brother Furaagawa in Shuri will think himself a fool for refusing to carry out this righteous mission."
"Honor and pride fill our minds, but what of our stomachs?" Asked one of the villagers in broken Okinawan. "Your lord does good sharing his image, but what of his wealth?"
"Ah, of course, gather 'round," Naoto urged, producing a bag from his pocket.
He gave each of the men their payment, no more, no less. That night he and his crew attended a feast at the village, bringing their sake from their ships to complement the various exotic dishes that had been presented to them. It was a night of revelry, laughter filling the area. For a time Naoto forgot that these were savages on the edge of civilization, and the villagers forgot that these sailors were dishonest outsiders. That night they were all brothers, closer than any family on the mainland.
Many deals were reached between the villagers and the sailors, supplies being exchanged between them, each deal being concluded with yet another toast. Eventually the business and intricacies of goods and supplies gave way to story and joke telling. The translator was busy telling tales of daring pirates, sea beasts, jungle spirits, and lost treasures to each group, himself being amazed by the tales being told.
Rather inebriated, the people began to dance around the fire. The whole of the village joined in chanting praises to the Larawan Panginoon [1].
And while the torchlights of the party flickered, the crying boy looked once more at the statue. He swore that it no longer held its harsh stare, but looked on with a joyous expression, its hands upon its gut and its mouth open, as if it was attempting to laugh but just couldn't get any noise out. His eyes were no longer looking on with disdain, but with approval and care. The boy smiled.
[1] Tagalog for "Statue Lord". Would become a common name for Sho Shin in Luzon due to the numerous statues being raised there. Some tribes even began to see him as a mythical figure.
Awesome update. Though let it be known that the hand of Delhi is not heavy but most benevolent and just like the firm hand of a father.
Also out of curiosity who does Rana Sanga have in Kandahar who would support him given that Rajput power never extended that far, and the Rajputs were surrounded almost exclusively by enemies. Also I question all these fairly durable and powerful Deccan Sultanates like Golkonda, and Bijapur who lasted for hundreds of years, who the Mughals fought a brutal campaign against to subdue and never really succeeded fully all falling to the very power they actually destroyed in OTL in a single turn. All of them had gunpowder weapons you know, even before Vijaynagar did in fact they were the one's who introduced it to Vijaynagar. This is basically the equivalent of France conquering Spain in one turn.
Awesome update. Though let it be known that the hand of Delhi is not heavy but most benevolent and just like the firm hand of a father.
Also out of curiosity who does Rana Sanga have in Kandahar who would support him given that Rajput power never extended that far, and the Rajputs were surrounded almost exclusively by enemies. Also I question all these fairly durable and powerful Deccan Sultanates like Golkonda, and Bijapur who lasted for hundreds of years, who the Mughals fought a brutal campaign against to subdue and never really succeeded fully all falling to the very power they actually destroyed in OTL in a single turn. All of them had gunpowder weapons you know, even before Vijaynagar did in fact they were the one's who introduced it to Vijaynagar. This is basically the equivalent of France conquering Spain in one turn.
If I told you about his Kandahar contacts, you could kill them. As for the Indian states, well it is a game and not real life and and as much as I would like to have even more countries to manage and do stats for, that is the way things went in my world.
As for the Indian states, well it is a game and not real life and and as much as I would like to have even more countries to manage and do stats for, that is the way things went in my world.
The update and the stats give different people for the ruler of Milan.
To: Alfonso II of Naples
From: Charles VIII, Emperor of France, Brittany, Burgundy, Naples, Genoa, and All Those Lands Which We Hold By Right
As the sovereign over Naples, so recognized by both God and all men, it is our duty to ensure that Naples is ruled in justice and in peace by men of wisdom and piety. Seeing that the greatness of our kingdom precludes our direct oversight, it is our ancient duty to invest one worthy by blood and deeds to oversee it so that it might grow in all measures of earthly and heavenly prosperity.
For this end, we hereby crown you King of Naples under our own beneficent Empire. If you wish you may come to us at a time and season which is convenient for you to receive your crown from our hands. However, knowing the burdens of state, we allow you to stay at your court, and we shall crown you King of Naples by proxy. With the crown of Naples, we do also invest you in all the ancient rights and privileges of the same, save where they are abrogated by your duties as a king under the Empire. Let all men, both great and small receive our words even as they receive our own personage.
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