What If Tamerlane Had an Heir? A Legitimate, Strong Heir who took over the Mongols after he died in 1405? It Happened and the new Great Khan, Nayuk chose that instead of advancing to China, they should advance into Anatolia against Osman's Rising. Although the Ottomans managed to defeat the Mongols and drive them back to Persia where they would remain for the coming centuries, the Mongols had unexpectedly given hope to, instead of terror to all: The Byzantines of Constantinople.
The Byzantines had spent the years the Ottomans and Mongolia fought wisely, building up a third wall to add to the double walled city, but this wall was a new innovation to defend against a new weapon: Bombards. By 1453, when Mehmed II assaulted Constantinople, his Jannisary's and Bombards were routed by a heroic defense and Mehmed II died during the struggle. A treaty following made peace with the turks and allowed them to pass through Byzantine territory so long as they were independent. The treaty was never threatened until a new monarch rose to the throne: Suleyman I. in 1520, He forced the Byzantines back to their fortress city and bypassed them while his forces stormed into the Balkans but were finally stopped at Vienna.
In Western Europe, Charles V had built up his great empire and had badly Beaten up the Germans of Luther. He then decided to give up instead of both his thrones, just the HRE's Crown. He then Made the Netherlands a independent state, but governed by Spain. There was never any dissent there, and so the Netherlands matured together with Spain to make a Grand Alliance Between Spain, Netherlands, Austria, and Portugal.
Many wars followed, and the world saw the decline of Spain, and the rise of England and France. despite the setbacks, Spain managed to keep ahold of New Spain, and like the Netherlands, Mexico became a 'governed' Ally to Spain. Portugal Also managed to keep Brazil, but deteriorated rapidly to a decrepid state. Perhaps the biggest event following the Napolenic Wars was the 'Reconquest' age when after 4 Centuries of Overlordship, the Byzantine Empire declared war on Ottoman Turkey in 1834. Internal struggles brought Ottoman Strength down, while the Byzantines had much like their Roman predecessors, and advantage of technology, equipping their army with the first true
Rifles. The Ottomans were rudely ejected out of Europe and the
Byzantnes Seized both Bursa in Anatolia, but also seized control of Italy and unified it as a great power. Under the Byzantines, Italy became an industrialized and unified society which Italy did not become until much later in time.
In Scandinavia, the Danish kings had unified Denmark, Sweden, and Norway into a confederation and Allied State in 1868. Perhaps their biggest worry lay not with Russia, but with the increasing power of Germany, But it decided to stay neutral in international affairs.
Colonial warfare also was a very interesting aspect and vital to the period. The Byzantines managed to defeat the Ethiopians in 1896, and made then a 'governed' Ally. Perhaps the biggest shock to the world in colonial warfare however was in South Africa. The Zulu empire had expanded and apparently threatened the British to the point that the British invaded in 1879. The Zulu's, Under Ceshtwayo however had made a secret ally: the Byzantines. The Byzantines gave the Zulu's Rifles and Ammunition to defeat their colonial rival which the Zulu's did with ease and then quickly overran all of South Africa. The Britsh, accepting the Zulu Victory, signed an Alliance with them and helped them Industrialize.
The world had been arming up in the past 3 decades, and had signed many Alliances when an event shook the world...
The Main Thread: The Old Empires
The Byzantines had spent the years the Ottomans and Mongolia fought wisely, building up a third wall to add to the double walled city, but this wall was a new innovation to defend against a new weapon: Bombards. By 1453, when Mehmed II assaulted Constantinople, his Jannisary's and Bombards were routed by a heroic defense and Mehmed II died during the struggle. A treaty following made peace with the turks and allowed them to pass through Byzantine territory so long as they were independent. The treaty was never threatened until a new monarch rose to the throne: Suleyman I. in 1520, He forced the Byzantines back to their fortress city and bypassed them while his forces stormed into the Balkans but were finally stopped at Vienna.
In Western Europe, Charles V had built up his great empire and had badly Beaten up the Germans of Luther. He then decided to give up instead of both his thrones, just the HRE's Crown. He then Made the Netherlands a independent state, but governed by Spain. There was never any dissent there, and so the Netherlands matured together with Spain to make a Grand Alliance Between Spain, Netherlands, Austria, and Portugal.
Many wars followed, and the world saw the decline of Spain, and the rise of England and France. despite the setbacks, Spain managed to keep ahold of New Spain, and like the Netherlands, Mexico became a 'governed' Ally to Spain. Portugal Also managed to keep Brazil, but deteriorated rapidly to a decrepid state. Perhaps the biggest event following the Napolenic Wars was the 'Reconquest' age when after 4 Centuries of Overlordship, the Byzantine Empire declared war on Ottoman Turkey in 1834. Internal struggles brought Ottoman Strength down, while the Byzantines had much like their Roman predecessors, and advantage of technology, equipping their army with the first true
Rifles. The Ottomans were rudely ejected out of Europe and the
Byzantnes Seized both Bursa in Anatolia, but also seized control of Italy and unified it as a great power. Under the Byzantines, Italy became an industrialized and unified society which Italy did not become until much later in time.
In Scandinavia, the Danish kings had unified Denmark, Sweden, and Norway into a confederation and Allied State in 1868. Perhaps their biggest worry lay not with Russia, but with the increasing power of Germany, But it decided to stay neutral in international affairs.
Colonial warfare also was a very interesting aspect and vital to the period. The Byzantines managed to defeat the Ethiopians in 1896, and made then a 'governed' Ally. Perhaps the biggest shock to the world in colonial warfare however was in South Africa. The Zulu empire had expanded and apparently threatened the British to the point that the British invaded in 1879. The Zulu's, Under Ceshtwayo however had made a secret ally: the Byzantines. The Byzantines gave the Zulu's Rifles and Ammunition to defeat their colonial rival which the Zulu's did with ease and then quickly overran all of South Africa. The Britsh, accepting the Zulu Victory, signed an Alliance with them and helped them Industrialize.
The world had been arming up in the past 3 decades, and had signed many Alliances when an event shook the world...
The Main Thread: The Old Empires