1901
Non-War Events
The Aleutian Empire (or Company) expanded its ports and trade concerning tin, gold, and timber, and offered generous loans to small businesses, even foreign ones, and especially ones that were willing to improve the state of the Empire’s snowy roads.
(+Aleut government approval)
The République du Kanata signed a trade pact and defensive alliance with the Cheyenne Tribal Federation.
The Socialist Triumvirate, organized by the Combined Syndicalists of America, was joined by the Napoleonic Communes of France and the Union of Britain. Though the latter two nations neutered the clause that asked for a defensive alliance, the Triumvirate’s creation seemed to create a wave of unrest in non-communard countries. In Dixie, Vinland, the Baltic Council, the Holy Roman Empire, Tilabaiinke, and the Malinke Empire, relatively minor riots and work stoppages are leaving a heavy impression on citizens and power elites.
(-Vinland government approval, -Dixie government approval, -Baltic government approval, -Holy Roman government approval, -Tilabaiinke government approval, -Malinke government approval)
The Combined Syndicalists of America built new factories and promoted socialist ethos by, among other things, expanding into southwest Africa, around Mali’s Angolese colony.
(See Military Events)
Texas expanded its rail network into ranchland, making beef export more efficient. The Texan military similarly stepped up internal and coast guard patrols, detaining a number of famous bandits.
(+Texan government approval)
Reaching out to the Amerindian nations, Shengzhou signed a free trade agreement with Miskito and a non-aggression treaty with the Cheyenne Tribal Federation, but its outreach to the Apache Nation was met with a great deal of “ask Texas,’” while Miskito asked for more time to consider a proposal that would formalize its tributary relationship with the Jade Throne.
The Tilabaiinke Republic enjoyed a diplomatic coup this year—New Deseret agreed to pay taxes to Zanuyeba in exchange for representation. No monies have been paid as of yet, but in any case, the Republic’s interior continues to be settled apace, with many native settlements being co-opted by African settlers, and many of those autonomous frontier towns applying for full membership in the Republic in 1901.
(+Tilabaiinke government approval)
Vinland and the Baltic Council increased trade.
The Malinke Empire signed a formal alliance with Dixie, increasing transatlantic trade ties and sending a small but loudly-announced expeditionary force under Marshal Adowa to bolster the ex-colony’s defenses.
The Emperor of Mali, Mansa Omobolanle, also agreed on a three year non-aggression pact with Kongo, and ordered the expansion of his Angola and Madagascar colonies. The soldiers and administrators on the ground carried out their Mansa’s ruling with a light touch, layering in some Malinke law on the borderlands but largely leaving the natives culture alone. No significant trouble has come of this policy yet, but it does make colonial growth very slow.
The Ptolemaic Empire beefed up its military camps in Greece and along the French border.
The Angevin Empire built up its rail links between London and Nottingham, and around the country generally. Some of the King’s guards on the British border have been seen carrying around large guns.
The Napoleonic Communes of France signed a three year non-aggression pact with the Baltic Council, and a five year non-aggression pact with the United Kingdom of Iberia and Naples, continuing its longstanding normalization policy.
The Baltic Council’s…um…Grand Councillor continued his nation’s rather impressive economic growth with initiatives to expand the merchant marine and upgrade port facilities. Such expansive naval spending upset the traditionally dominant army representatives on the Council, who were also somewhat peeved by loud orders to dig in some of their units around the mouth of the Baltic so as to protect the interior shipping lanes. Still, the naval initiatives have made the rich Hanseatic League region of the Baltic Council quite happy, so the Grand Councillor was not forced into an election this year.
The Holy Roman Empire of Germans and Poles was not only wracked by communards, but also by the emergence of various republican movements, one of which is based in the military. The monarchy is teetering unstably.
(-Holy Roman government approval)
The United States of Russia spearheaded the formation of a League of Free Nations, which aims to join federal democracies, republics, and constitutional monarchies in a pact of mutual defense and support. The Angevin Empire was the first to accept, followed by the United States of Vinland, but Russian feelers stalled at that point, perhaps because the Constitutionalists in Moscow got distracted by a massacre of pro-republican protesters in northern Great Iran.
The Siberian Company revved up its mineral export business. Some demonstrations occurred in the cities for unification with the United States of Russia, but nothing serious. Chinese and indigenous, who form a majority together, still appreciate the Company.
The United States of Greater India engaged in military exercises/parades along its international borders.
The USGI also organized a non-aggression pact with the Mugala Empire, and sanctioned cross-national trade.
The Republic of Greater China tried very hard to live up to that name, guaranteeing the independence of the partly-Chinese Siberian Company in exchange for promises of military and research assistance. The Leaders of the Dragon Government even reached over Mugala to sign a ten year defensive alliance with the United States of Greater India. The Generalissimo even created a Sinosphere Association by joining hands with Siberia, the Aleuts, and Shengzhou, though this alliance as of yet seems as hollow as the Socialist Triumvirate. The Sinosphere’s greatest accomplishments to date have been the construction of lavish Republican Chinese embassies in Siberia and the Aleutian Empire, which host all manner of gala and very little in the way of meaningful diplomatic cooperation.
China also went on a binge of public works projects, which included rather too high a proportion of new statues. Still, as the government poured money at businesses in the name of the Great Republican Revolution, the people flailed around happily. All hail the military-industrial complex!
(+Republican Chinese government approval)
Texts of Chinese philosophers have made their way into South Asia, whipping up sentiment against the colonialist French and Malinke.
(-French government approval)
Nieuw Holland conducted a comprehensive census that seems to have left no billable property untouched, threw up some restrictive voting laws to combat Yellow Peril (xenophobic flavor of the year was Japanese), and invaded Nieuw Zeeland. The invasion went well. Sort of.
(See War Events)
War Events
The Union of Britain expanded their South African holding further into the ‘Dark’ Continent, grabbing considerable territory at the point of a gun but suffering losses to disease and aggressive native tribes.
(-4 British divisions)
The Combined Syndicalists of America’s adventure in southwestern Africa led to some tribes’ swearing allegiance, but the required sailing, battles, and forced marches have taxed CSA forces. The CSA’s light touch in conquered lands has started to earn some goodwill, however.
(-2 CSA divisions, -1 CSA squadron)
The Napoleonic Communes of France decided to make their claim on all East Africa effective with many tens of thousands of troops. Many died, and one indigenous port city holds out, but by and large, France has conquered the relevant coastline.
(-4 French divisions, -1 French group)
The Union of Britain makes some noise.
(See Spotlight)
(-4 Vinland squadrons, -4 British squadrons)
Nieuw Holland’s troopers landed on the islands of Nieuw Zeeland with some trepidation, because the ruling Patriotten party, which had sent them there, seemed to have equated ‘no major urban centers’ with ‘no population.’ After rather extensive clashes with tribal Zeelanders, the army worked out a deal with some cooperative chiefs—Nieuw Holland’s civilized claim over the islands would not be formally contested, and in exchange, Nieuw Holland would leave the Zeelanders essentially alone.
(-3 Nieuw Hollander divisions)
