Onward to Glory (Main Thread)

[Immaculate]

Treaty of Tordesillas,

In the name of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three truly separate and distinct persons and only one divine essence. Be it manifest and known to all who shall see this public instrument, that at the village of Tordesillas, on the seventh day of the month of June, in the year of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ 1494,we three signatories swear to uphold and to hold true the agreements, word for word, in tenor and in spirit, which follow.

Firstly, that all lands discovered beyond the open sea, accessible by travel westwards beyond the Atlantic Ocean or southwards beyond Cape Non of Africa should be divided between Castile and Aragon, reigned by Don Ferdinand and Dona Isabella, by the grace of God king and queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Galiciaj Majorca Seville, Sardinia, Cordova, Corsica, Murcia, Jaen, Algarve, Algeciras, Gibraltar, and the Canary Islands, count and countess of Barcelona, lord and lady of Biscay and Molina, duke and duchess of Athens and Neopatras, count and countess of Roussillon and Cerdagne, marquis and marchioness of Oristano and Gocian, and Portugal, reigned by Dom John, by the grace of God, king of Portugal and of the Algarves on this side and beyond the sea in Africa, lord of Guinea.

Secondly that the kingdom of Portugal and kingdoms of Aragon and Castile agree to divide those lands they explore, conquer, or settle, as they see fit and in spirit of fairness and cooperation between one another, understand that one nation will not encroach too closely upon the other and that each should have their region of interest and influence and that through mutual understanding and converse the boundaries of which will be peacefully determined.

Thirdly that in case of dispute, the signatories of this agreement or its inheritors shall appoint each a single representative to a council of three, one appointment to be provided by the crown of Portugal, one by the crowns of Castile and Aragon, and one by the Pope, our most divine representative of God’s will on earth, and that this council shall by popular vote determine and resolve, through peaceful negotiation, reason, and divine inspiration, matters of dispute and that the crowns of Portugal and the crowns of Castile and Aragon, or their inheritors, shall peaceful abide by the decision of this council.

The said deed of treaty, agreement, and concord, above incorporated, having been examined and understood by us, approve, commend, confirm, execute, and ratify it, and we promise to keep, observe, and fulfill all the abovesaid that is set forth therein, and every part and parcel of it, really and effectively. We renounce all fraud, evasion, falsehood, and pretense, and we shall not violate or oppose it, or any part of it, at any time or in any manner whatsoever. For greater security, we swear before God and Holy Mary, and by the words of the Holy Gospels, wheresoever they are written at greatest length, and upon the sign of the Cross upon which we actually placed our right hands, thus to keep, observe, and fulfill it, and every part and parcel of it, so far as it is incumbent upon us, really and effectively, as is abovesaid, for ourselves and for our heirs and successors, and for our said kingdoms and lordships, and the subjects and natives of them, under the penalties and obligations, bonds and abjurements set forth in the said contract of agreement and concord above written. In attestation and corroboration whereof, we sign our name to this our letter and order it to be sealed with our leaden seal' hanging by threads of colored silk. Given in the town of Tordesillas, on the second day of the month of July, in the year of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1494.


Signed,

Don Ferdinand and Dona Isabella, by the grace of God king and queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Galiciaj Majorca Seville, Sardinia, Cordova, Corsica, Murcia, Jaen, Algarve, Algeciras, Gibraltar, and the Canary Islands, count and countess of Barcelona, lord and lady of Biscay and Molina, duke and duchess of Athens and Neopatras, count and countess of Roussillon and Cerdagne, marquis and marchioness of Oristano and Gociano

Dom John, by the grace of God, king of Portugal and of the Algarves on this side and beyond the sea in Africa, lord of Guinea

Pope Alexander VI, born Roderic Llançol i de Borja, servant of the servants of God, Divine Majesty, and God’s Will Upon The Earth

***​

Treaty of Cordova

In the name of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three truly separate and distinct persons and only one divine essence. Be it manifest and known to all who shall see this public instrument, that at the Cathedral of Cordova, on the twentieth day of the month of February, in the year of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ 1494,we two signatories swear to uphold and to hold true the agreements, word for word, in tenor and in spirit, which follow.

Firstly, we two signatories do agree to come to the aid of the other, by manner of military, economic, and diplomatic effort in case of war between a signatory and any hostile European kingdom.

Secondly, we two signatories do promise to keep a certain minimal force upon the Iberian mainland for the mutual protection of our two nations not less than [12 companies of infantry and 5 companies of horse] or one-third of the nation’s total military force, whichever is more and to commit such forces to the mutual protection of one another in case of attack upon Iberia, unless mutually agreed to assign such force to foreign conquest, hostilities, or attack.

The said deed of treaty, agreement, and concord, above incorporated, having been examined and understood by us, approve, commend, confirm, execute, and ratify it, and we promise to keep, observe, and fulfill all the abovesaid that is set forth therein, and every part and parcel of it, really and effectively. We renounce all fraud, evasion, falsehood, and pretense, and we shall not violate or oppose it, or any part of it, at any time or in any manner whatsoever. For greater security, we swear before God and Holy Mary, and by the words of the Holy Gospels, wheresoever they are written at greatest length, and upon the sign of the Cross upon which we actually placed our right hands, thus to keep, observe, and fulfill it, and every part and parcel of it, so far as it is incumbent upon us, really and effectively, as is abovesaid, for ourselves and for our heirs and successors, and for our said kingdoms and lordships, and the subjects and natives of them, under the penalties and obligations, bonds and abjurements set forth in the said contract of agreement and concord above written. In attestation and corroboration whereof, we sign our name to this our letter and order it to be sealed with our leaden seal' hanging by threads of colored silk. Given in the Cathedral of Cordova, on the twentieth day of the month of February, in the year of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ 1494


Signed,

Don Ferdinand and Dona Isabella, by the grace of God king and queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Galiciaj Majorca Seville, Sardinia, Cordova, Corsica, Murcia, Jaen, Algarve, Algeciras, Gibraltar, and the Canary Islands, count and countess of Barcelona, lord and lady of Biscay and Molina, duke and duchess of Athens and Neopatras, count and countess of Roussillon and Cerdagne, marquis and marchioness of Oristano and Gociano

Dom John, by the grace of God, king of Portugal and of the Algarves on this side and beyond the sea in Africa, lord of Guinea

​

 

[Immaculate]

On the Issue of Slavery and Ownership of the Heathens

In regards to the first issue brought forth in letters from Cristóbal Colón, Viceroy of the island of Hispania, and favored of the crowns of Aragon and Castille,

Let it be known that the crowns of Aragon and Castile will not and cannot impose a will counter to that of Pope Alexander VI, née Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, divine representative of God upon the earth, as well as our long-term friend and fellow Iberian, and will not and cannot countenance the slavery of Christians.

The heathens of Africa and of the Indian lands beyond the Atlantic are not Christian however, and Don Ferdinand and Donna Isabella, in their wisdom, have decreed that these men and women who are captured as prisoners of war or who are sold to the people of our the Spanish kingdoms as slaves, can be held by Spaniards as slaves.

Slaves owned by subjects of the Spanish crown can be bought, sold, and traded amongst themselves and with and from foreign powers. There is to be no territorial limits upon their transport, nor limits upon their use. Should it please a slave owner to work that slave in gold-bearing pit, or in flowering field of cotton, in plantation of sugar, or in galley hold, or even in manor or home, the owner of the slaves shall be in their legal right.


On the Issue of Lands and Territories in the Western Islands and Beyond Cape Non

In regards to the second issue brought forth in letters from Cristóbal Colón, Viceroy of the island of Hispania, and favored of the crowns of Aragon and Castille,

The united crowns of Aragon and Castille, in their wisdom, have decreed that they shall not adopt the Encomienda system suggestd by Cristóbal Colón. Instead,

All lands conquered or claimed by the Spanish crowns shall, by judgment of the royal court and its dedicated council, be apportioned as they see fit. Lands hence gifted or sold shall be held by subjects of the Spanish crowns as they would be in Iberia, to be invested in, managed, and bequeathed to favored son or heir, by the owner of said lands, just as if such lands were in the heart of Iberia.

Lands held thusly will be taxed, as if upon the Iberian mainland, at a rate determined by governor and crown.

Nobles and those of means seeking estates beyond the seas can be granted extensive holdings to work as they see fit, provided they provide tax and support to the crown, in accordance with their contributions to the efforts of the Spanish crowns in outfitting and supplying the crowns’ conquistadors and soldiers, ships and guns, or through support of infrastructure, as outlined by crown and government. Said nobles or men of wealth and means will need to support the transport of a portion of serfs from their properties to join them beyond the seas, providing for their shelter, protection, and basic necessities, both in transport and in their new homes. Both the degree of military and financial support and the number of colonists transported, will ultimately determine the quality and quantity of land apportioned.

Peasantry arriving in lands of the Spanish crowns or of its subjects, beyond the seas, by virtue of a noble’s transport, will continue to work for said nobles as indentured servants, to repay the cost of transport, for a period not to exceed 3 years, upon which time they shall be treated as free people having arrived in beyond the seas by their own means; freemen colonists.

Peasantry without the means to transport, who have not sworn fealty to some noble lord and arranged passage thusly, will have opportunity to travel to lands of the Spanish crowns beyond the seas, at expense of the Spanish crowns, in doing so, becoming indentured servants of the crown. Said people will repay their debts to the crown by work upon crown lands for a period of no more than 5 years, upon which time they shall be treated as free people having arrived in beyond the seas by their own means; freemen colonists.

Indentured servants shall work, under contract, with state or noble, for a period specified prior to their transport to the lands, and shall only enter such terms voluntarily. During said period, the indentured shall be provided with shelter, food, clothing, and protection.

Freemen colonists are men and women who have arrived in the new lands either by their own means or the means of others but who have since repaid that debt. These men and women shall have rights to purchase property from crown or from private sale and work it as they see fit, provided they pay appropriate taxes or to work for another for a fair and honest wage. Additionally, those wishing to do so may work unclaimed, and unimproved lands, within the territories claimed by the crowns of Castile and Aragon but beyond the reach of the crowns' direct influence, their representatives, or their subjects. These, necessarily distant, ‘wild-lands’, if improved upon and continuously invested into by freemen colonists, will thereby become homesteads, granting their freemen colonists working upon them rightfully ownership of said lands, with all benefits and responsibilities inherit. Such homesteads shall not exceed 200 acres in dimension and true ownership of the land, as privately owned territory of the spanish crowns' subject, will not be considered valid unless continuously worked upon by the colonist for a period of no less than 4 years.

​

(OOC: So, I’ve basically decided that I didn’t want to just recreate the Encomienda system from our own timeline so we’re going to allow slaves, allow ownership of lands, and generally just take a different approach.)

 

[Azale]

It would be easy for Wei to take part in the rearing of the young prince.

Excellent update. China is back, time 2 ball.

 

[madviking]

get orders in you wankers.

- da pope

 

[Grandkhan]

A Proclamation from Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor

The Rebels in Burgundy have risen up against all proper order, their God, their King, and their rightful Place in the Holy Roman Empire.

I, Maximilian I, By the Grace of God Holy Roman Emperor, on behalf of my son, Duke Phillip IV of Burgundy, declare the provinces of Burgundy and the Lowlands in rebellion against the Holy Roman Emperor. Those aiding and abetting the rebellious provinces of Burgundy shall feel the full weight of the Holy Roman Empire descend upon them and their traitorous lives.

 

[Everblack]

Mamluk-Sultan Qaitbay began to pay off the debt he own to Venice 1495. Seeing that the Great Sultan has only used his money for architecture. He decide that some of t should go to paying Venice to show that the Mamluks always pay their debts.

Mamluk-Sultan Qaitbay hire Yashbak min Mahdi to be his economic advisor in 1496. Many of his subjects had question if Qaitbay would be able to handle the Mamluks financial aspect so they suggested that he hire someone to take care of that.