[BTS] [RFC-DoC] Stars and Stripes Forever - A Tale Of American Empire

Gruekiller · May 20, 2011

It was the year of the lord 1776, and Europe was at war. All eyes were focused on France and its allies, the Confederation of the Rhine and the Sultanate of Russia, as they warred against the Kingdom of Sweden and the decaying Ottoman Caliphate. Political commentators pointed to Napoleon's great success and large empire as evidence of the validity of socialism, a new ideal embraced by the French, while others ascribed it simply to the incompetence of France's enemies.

Regardless of this, all were ignorant to a new force stirring half a world away, in the backwater of North America. Dutch colonists along the eastern coast of the continent had been largely autonomous for decades. Populating the region during the religious wars of previous centuries, the most avidly independent and republican Dutch wandered to Nieuw Holland in increasing numbers. With Holland's influence in the world waning, the Nieuw Hollanders decided that it was now or never, and approached the King of the Netherlands with their demands: full independence for Nieuw Holland. The King was forced to relent.

From Maine to the Potomac, the delegates came together to decide the fate of their new nation. To follow would come perhaps the greatest failure of democracy in recorded history, one which would have a profound effect on the world - for better or for worse. None of the delegates could agree on even the simplest of matters. Within a day, the convention fell apart, and the new nation still had no constitution. In these uncertain times came Andrew Jackson, a descendant of English colonists, and a charismatic soldier. Leading a private army of rabid patriots up and down the East Coast, the cities of the former Nieuw Holland fall one by one under Jackson's control. Soon Jackson anointed himself First Citizen and Stadtholder of a new nation - Verenigde Staten van Amerika.

Now Jackson sits in his newly-constructed, eponymous capital on the Potomac River, looking upon the map of the world. Soon his grand dream will be realized. And he will not rest until above the world fly...

Spoiler Disclaimer... :

Yoshiegg737 · May 21, 2011

I'm set for another Gruekiller tale

hoplitejoe · May 21, 2011

Creatureboy11 · May 21, 2011

Cool! Subscribing.

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

But all this was in the future. For now, America was a relatively small nation with a small military, standing precariously close to collapse or takeover by a European power. Jackson didn't like it, but America was essentially a non-entity. He stayed up late at nights, thinking, devising a plan.

"He has an indomitable personality," one of his aides wrote, having seen him sit awake in his study. "Any American would gladly give their life for him. With such a level of devotion, there's no doubt as to the eventual accomplishment of his plans. I'm most interested to see how he goes about it."

First Citizen Andrew Jackson

At last, Jackson turned his eyes south, past the borders of his young nation, at the small French fortress-town of Fort Caroline. In many ways, Jackson had great respect for Napoleon, the leader of the French Empire, one which the Frenchman would eventually share for his American counterpart. Even as they both grew old, correspondence in letters would continue. But for now, a French fort stood on rightfully American land, and Jackson couldn't allow it. "Boxed-in", as he saw it, by remaining Dutch and Swedish colonies in Canada, the French to the south, and hostile natives to the west, Jackson grew anxious for action.

With the French occupied with their ancient enemies, Russia and Turkey, Jackson knew that little could be done against him were he to seize Fort Caroline. And so an army crossed the Potomac in June 1779 and by July had reached the outskirts of the French town.

Fort Caroline, ca. 1690

Runners went frantically from the environs of French Florida to the Fort itself, announcing the approach of the American army. The French general, one Bertrand Chartel, was sanguine. He knew that the skeleton force in the Fort could do little against a professional army like Jackson's, and parlayed to meet with the American leader outside the town. Chartel surrendered the fort, and he and his men were allowed to leave Fort Caroline for the homeland. Unfortunately for Chartel, however, it would be a scant year before Napoleon's Revolutionary Council had him beheaded for cowardice in the face of the enemy.

The small town which existed around the Fort was hugely overhauled, restructured into an Anglo-Dutch model. The French inhabitants of the city sarcastically referred to the much-changed town as "Jacksonville". The name stuck with the soldiers garrisoning it, and so it was named. It would certainly not be the last time a city was christened after Jackson or his successors.

Verenige Stater van Amerika in AD 1780

With French Florida subjugated, all of the eastern coast south of Canada was under American control, and Jackson's paranoia subsided (well, partially). Later in 1780, Jackson drafted the Western Territories Amendment, an amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing the rights of Americans (well, white, Anglo-Dutch Americans) to advance west of the Appalachians. But soon other things would turn his attentions farther abroad.

For centuries Egypt had been essentially independent from Ottoman rule, but only recently had it finally declared its independence. The Sultanate of Egypt was in a dire state, however, with its finances drained, and Ottoman forces lingering near its borders. Various agents, clandestine or otherwise, approached many of the world's governments, begging for aid in return for Egypt's allegiance. The established powers of both East and West all balked at the idea of facing off against Turkey, crumbling, but still a proverbial giant. At last, in desperation, the Egyptians went to America.

To the surprise of the entire world, Jackson accepted.

The territory of American Egypt, ca. 1780

Incensed, the Ottoman sultan immediately demanded that the upstart Americans withdraw from the Turkish sphere of influence, a demand which Jackson haughtily refused. The Turks immediately declared war. Unfortunately for them, a new surge in French and German troops came from the west, requiring their attention in Turkey itself. In this attack, the Turks merely saw bad luck. But looking at a map of the Ottoman Empire, Jackson saw opportunity.

The capital of Ottoman Ethiopia, Aksum, former capital of the ancient Aksumite Empire... And most poorly-defended portion of the collapsing Turkish Empire.

Creatureboy11 · May 21, 2011

Awesome!

Civ'ed · May 21, 2011

Are you saying all Dutchmen are good for is to become the subjects of a fascist Englishman? The horror!
Nah, I kid. Good start!

Tlönitte · May 21, 2011

Love the historical pictures and writing! Any chance of a world map for those who haven't played DoC?

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

Yeah, gimme a few minutes and I'll go back to the initial save to get one.

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

A series of maps of the world, ca. 1776 AD.

The East Coast of North America at the birth of the Verenigde Staten. (Not pictured: the Swedish colony of Vinland)

The Nahuatl Empire, the Kingdom of Yucatan, and Texan Free State.

The Portuguese Viceroyalty of Brazil.

The former Tawantinsuyu or Inca Empire, now the Portuguese Viceroyalty of Peru, and the so-called Inka Kingdom. (Not pictured in South American maps: Andalusian Viceroyalty of Argentina)

The Malinese Empire and Portuguese Morocco.

The Caliphate of Al-Andalus, Andalusian Morocco, and the Azores, from which the government-in-exile of the Sultanate of Portugal rules.

The French Empire, its vassal the Confederation of the Rhine, and the Norman Kingdom of Italy.

The Caliphate of Pritanniya (or England), the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Kingdom of Sweden.

The European portions of the Caliphate of Rusiya (Russia).

Central Asia, and the Mongolian heartland of the Great Horde.

China, Korea, and the Republic of Japan.

The Empire of Siam and Japanese Philippines. (Not pictured: The Siamese colony of Java.)

The Indian territories of the Siamese Empire, the Persian territory of Mughalistan, and the Principality of Cochin.

The Persian Empire and the northern environs of the Ottoman Empire.

The southern portions of the Ottoman Empire, the Sultanate of Egypt, and the Horn of Africa.

And finally a small map of the world.

hoplitejoe · May 21, 2011

that's one weird world

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

I've seen weirder. :lol:

Look at my posts in the OMG Look What Happened thread if you don't believe me.

EDIT: Oh, hey, I passed 1000 posts. *confetti*

Civ'ed · May 21, 2011

And, of course the Aztecs are at war with Texas

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

I just noticed to my amusement that Byzantium/Constantinople is "Utica" in this save, which is the first city name on the queue for Phoenicia when it settles outside of its name map. Never seen the Phoenicians settle the Bosporus before.

Tlönitte · May 21, 2011

Pretty impressive offshore Portuguese empire, and Napoleon is a monster :king:

momo1000 · May 21, 2011

How come the English haven't colonized anywhere?

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

I'm not sure. I presume that they've just been busy with European affairs.

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

One can only imagine the surprise of the Sultan's Red Sea Fleet when they looked to the south in the spring of 1784, to see masts on the horizon. The American Navy had arrived in Africa, and the continent would never be the same. The American fleet had left harbor at Nieuw Amsterdam in the summer of 1783, and rounded the Cape six months later. At the head of this naval force, appointed by Jackson himself, was a young naval officer named Stephen Decatur.

Stephen Decatur, hero of the First Turko-American War

In light of his brilliant abilities, Decatur was rapidly promoted from captain to admiral, and put at the head of a twenty-ship taskforce. His flagship, USS Jackson, was just beginning a prestigious naval career which would continue over the following centuries.

The Ottoman fleet sallied forward to fight these upstart infidels, confident in their victory. In hindsight, the Turks severely underestimated their opponent.

Decatur and his men fighting Muslim troops hand-to-hand

The Turkish vessels were hopelessly outdated. In the late 17th Century, perhaps, they'd rule the seas, but at the hands of the Americans' converted East Indiamen, they were torn to shreds. Although the Jackson was briefly boarded, the boarders were fought back. As he escaped the battle, the naval commander, Mehmet Abdul Pasha, is said to have lamented, "Then our Empire is finished."

The Americans turned south, landing along the coast of Eritrea, and advanced inland, into the Ethiopian Highlands. Though in many cases such an invading force would be harassed by guerillas in Ethiopia's mountainous terrain, the natives hated the occupying Turks far more than the invaders. And so the Ethiopians formented revolt in the region's cities, rather than keep out the Americans - a decision they would soon grow to regret.

The Battle of Aksum opened up with a roar of artillery fire, which tore into the Medieval structures of the city. The cuirassiers garrisoning the city rode out to attempt to break the siege, but to no avail. One of the artillery barrages started a fire in the spring heat, and the city's fate was sealed.

Artillery fire tears through cavalrymen at the Battle of Aksum

At midnight on the third day of the siege, the American ground commander, Jan van Schyk, ordered the Americans to press the attack. Within the hour, the city was taken. As if the siege and battle weren't bad enough, to follow was an appalling and atrocious act which would echo through the centuries.

As the Americans overtook the city, the native population was rounded up in the city square, and systematically killed. By the time the smoke cleared, thousands were dead, and the city a burnt-out shell. In a moment of fanaticism, the Americans renamed the city after both the nation's capital and the former French town in Florida: Jacksonville-in-Ethiopia, the first in what would eventually be a series of cities renamed for their American conquerors.

The former Aksum, now Jacksonville-in-Ethiopia

Next in the Americans' crosshairs was the small provincial town of Bonga, on the Nile, and the last bastion of Ottoman rule in Africa. Though the Ethiopians had been reluctant before to resist the invading Americans, the massacre at Aksum had frightened every native in the entire Horn, and they were now stirring up in resistance. To the misfortune of the natives, however, Ottoman troops pulled out of the region, seeing an indefensible position, leaving the locals to their fates. The humiliated sultan paid 100 gold ducats to the American government for the cessation of hostilities.

And so the Americans turned south and east, to the independent kingdoms of the Horn of Africa, none of which offered any significant resistance to the American war machine.

One by one, the cities of the Horn fell, and matching scenes of horror and devastation continued.

At the end, only the Kenyan kingdom of Moyale managed to ward off attack, and that was only due to its geographical isolation. The stars and stripes now flew over the majority of the Horn, marking the beginning of American presence in Africa. A process of "purification" began, which would see a huge demographic shift in the region as natives moved into the minority.

The American territory of the Horn of Africa.

momo1000 · May 21, 2011

Name every captured city Jacksonville!

Gruekiller · May 21, 2011

Not every city. Just a few of them.

I'm sure that Jackson had the many "Alexandrias" of antiquity in mind. He and his subjects likely view him as a new Alexander any way. It's an ego thing.

[BTS] [RFC-DoC] Stars and Stripes Forever - A Tale Of American Empire

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