das
Regeneration In Process
True. What exactly happened?
Alternate History Thread II...
- Thread starter Xen
- Start date
- Status
das
Regeneration In Process
Oh ye whose uppermost body part resembles a shape that is not entirely unlike that of a cone, unfortunately I was rather busy celebrating my birthday yesterday, but anyway, some progress was made.
Tawantinsuyu (Incan Empire)
Capital: Cuzco
Ruler:
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 30 thousands (Tolerable)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Semi-Rabble)
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Loving
Projects:
Nation Background: Traditionally, Peru was divided between several empires, that changed each other from time to time in their respective regions. But traditions mattered little when white-clad men from beyond the Ocean came in the 14th century, and destroyed the fledging northern empire of Chimu. However, by this destruction they doomed themselves to eventual defeat. This has served as a grave warning for the southern rivals of the Chimu, the Inca, who decided to let Chimu refugees into their lands and soon finished the unification of non-conquered Peru. Having luckily defeated several Andalusian invasions, the Incans then used a civil war back in Andalusia to push the Andalusians out of northern Peru as well, uniting all of Peru for the first time. Yet the Andalusians have more than recovered since then, and are ready to avenge this dishonour...
Kingdom of Britannia
Capital: Caerllion
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 30 ships (Very Good)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Competent
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: For centuries, Britannia was unjustly oppressed by the barbaric Germannics - first, just the Anglo-Saxons, and later Vikings as well. But none of them managed to completely destroy the ancient peoples of this land. While England was torn into pieces by the never-ending Viking-Saxon wars, the green island of Ireland fought back all Viking incursions, and its king Brian II, in the 12th century, has first united all the Celtic realms and then invaded the Anglo-Saxon and Viking fiefdoms, and has, despite all odds, restored the ancient Celtic rule to the easternmost parts of the land. Since then, Britannia was united and went ever-stronger, participating in wars against France and reaching out for the new world of Affalon. Over time, that latter direction of expansion became primary, and tensions begun growing with Andalusia and France.
Andalusian Empire
Capital: Ixvillia
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 40 ships (Good)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Good
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Perfect
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Founded from the shards of the Ummayad Caliphate by the Oman tribe, one of those that went all the way from Arabia to the then-Visigothic Iberia, Andalusia rose and fell many times by now. At first, as the Mediterranean was in chaos after the end of the first Caliphate, the Omanids secured all of the Western Mediterranean, and the peninsula of Italy as well. That empire fell to civil war and the vile Frankish invaders, and only after a century were the core Andalusian lands re-united. The Christians by then retook the northern one-fourth of Iberia - but they again lost it to the new Zakkarids, whose had revived the Omanid Empire. They too were eventually pushed out of most of their conquests, but held the line on the Garonne. The present Andalusian Empire was founded by a pretty obscure 13th century taifa state ruler, Ibrahim ibn-Taymiyah, who united the realm yet again, and defeated the French Holy Roman Empire's attempt to subdue Iberia. But this time, Andalusia decided not to go after the Mediterranean; instead, inspired by the recent Britannian discoveries, it too begun building an Atlantic colonial empire, reaching out for West Africa and Central/South Affalon. Despite some 15th century instability that caused a few setbacks, Andalusia has mostly succeeded in its colonial efforts, and will probably go forward for further victories.
Kingdom of France
Capital: Paris
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 25 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Much like Andalusia, France had had its ups and downs. Its first rise was under Charles II (OTL Charlemagne), when the Pope had moved to France and became a French puppet (and remains so to this day, causing many schisms), and when France had headed the Christian resistance to the Muslim advance. In the end the Franks had stopped the Arabs, but failed to reconquer all of Italy and Spain. After the death of Charles II, the Frankish empire has still survived for some time, and tried desperately to press on, and even made some gains at times, but by the 10th century were firmly on the retreat again. When the Zakkarids collapsed in Andalusia and Italy, the Franks were little better themselves and failed to exploit this. However, in 1286, Lothair II the Great had declared the Holy Roman Empire, and advanced into Spain, Italy and Germany, winning battle after battle. Eventually, an international coalition of Muslims and Christians alike was forged out of sheer fear of the seemingly-invincible HRE, and under this united pressure Lothair II, for all his skill, was forced to retreat as his empire crumbled around him. His daughter Catherine I had, with adroit intrigue and diplomacy, saved the French core lands after his death in the great battle at Verden, but had to give up most of his conquests and even some older French lands. It seemed as if France was doomed to mediocrity, especially after Catherine's death caused a full-blown civil war, but in the 15th and early 16th century, a new hope appeared, as France underwent a cultural renaissance and also begun building a colonial empire.
Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Very Good)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Good)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Like all truly great empires, Sweden rose to power not only because of its own strenght and often brilliant leadership, but also due to the weakness of its foes. In the west, Denmark and Norway were always busy fighting the Anglo-Saxons... and when both were defeated by Brian II of Ireland, Sweden was there to pick up the pieces. In the east, Novgorod was the Carthage of Sweden's Rome, and like Carthage, despite all the victories of its generals and all the daring raids, it was eventually crushed between the Swedish hammer and the Khazar anvil. And in the south, Germany was an ever-shifting mess of little states and tribes, Germanic and Slavic alike, while France and Poland, the two powers that could have conquered it, were too busy fighting on other fronts, as well as fighting each other. When the War of the Holy Roman Empire came, Sweden played all cards well, only entering the war when Emperor Lothair's star has clearly begun to set. Thus as the 14th century begun, Sweden was in complete control over the Baltic and Scandinavia, and that century indeed proved to be "golden" for it. But it has spoiled the Swedes, and the 15th century saw some turn-arounds, as it has only barely maintained its supremacy - and then, still lost some ground - in a series of wars with Poland, Khazaria and Britannia. This was a pretty rude awakening, as was the Swedish defeat in Affalon.
League of Nowa Ladowa
Capital: Corvey
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal League
Centralization: League
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Average
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The territories that eventually became the feudal league of Nowa Ladowa have changed rulers a countless amount of time throughout the Middle Ages. Saxons, Franks, Danes, Franks again but under the Holy Roman Imperial banner... and finally, Poles and their Wendish vassals. After the disintegration of the greater Polish empire, this westernmost Polish province fell into two decades of feudal strife, called, rather unimaginatively, "the Strife". But finally, in 1522, in the city of Corvey, the strongest feudals of the land met to form a feudal league. However shaky, it provided for the restoration of peace.
Hamburk
Capital: Hamburk
Ruler: ?
Government: Merchant Republic
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): 15 ships (Good)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Hamburk - or Hamburg, as its German population calls it - was for long a center of commerce of local significance, at the least, and no wars could end its status as such. After the downfall of the first, Carolingian, Frankish empire, the mercantile elite of Hamburk has secured independence for their city in all but in name, not entirely unlike the one Venice enjoyed before its fall to the Sultan Rumad; indeed, Hamburk became the northern Venice, and for a short while in the 10th-11th centuries even dominated the Baltic and North Sea trade. After that, it declined rapidly, and this coincided with growth of outside threats to it. The city was even conquered, but not destroyed, by a Wendish warlord, Drevoslav, who made it the capital of his short-lived northern state. After his death, his successors were overthrown and the city asked for Swedish protection from Poles, Franks and local German/Wendish rulers alike. Under the Swedish rule, Hamburk prospered again, but in the late 14th century declined once more and also lost much of its early political autonomy. In the end, this was used well by the Poles who incited a revolt in the city, and by the peace treaty of Visby that ended the Baltic War Hamburk gained full independence and some nearby lands, becoming a buffer state between the Polish empire in Germany and Sweden. But with the downfall of Poland in the 1430s, Hamburk was ever more threatened by the Swedes, and survived only due to its strong walls and alliance with Britannia...
Kingdom of Lusatia
Capital: Misen
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Educated
Culture: Average
Confidence: Barely Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Lusatia has been one of the earliest Polish gains in the west, but even it was lost after the Polish Time of Troubles. Unfortunately for the Lusatians, this didn't save them from troubles of their own - since they became subjects of a king of their own, Lusatia became a battleground between various local noble lineages, and between them all combined and the king himself. Since the Battle at Modla and the Charter of Misen in 1491, peace has reigned in the kingdom, but will this last for long?
Kingdom of Bavaria
Capital: Ingolstadt
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Bavaria, like the rest of Germany, kept falling under one foreign ruler or another, but, unlike much of the rest, also had a pretty long tradition of independence despite the above fact. Having fallen, at times, to French, Muslim and Polish rule, it still remained independent for most of the times, having always rebelled against invaders and used their natural enemies against them. Indeed, only the Carolingian Franks and the Poles maintained control over this land for over a decade, and then they often had to grant considerable autonomy to it. Thus, after the fall of the Polish empire and the final fragmentation of the lands sometimes reffered to, quite uncorrectly, as Germany, Bavaria split off rather easily and peacefully, avoided the civil wars of the northern Slavic-ruled states and even prospered. For now, it tried to remain neutral in all affairs, but it is clear that sooner or later, one greedy conqueror or another will set his eyes on this land.
Kingdom of Poland
Capital: Warsaw
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 5 ships (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Poland, as of the year 1550, is at the crossroads. The past, since its conversion to Christianity and entry into big European politics in the 11th century, was very indecisive. Polish kings warred against their neighbours, sometimes winning brilliant tactical victories, but until the 13th century they rarely secured any major, and lasting, territorial gains, apart from Boleslaw I's 12th century conquest of Greater Moravia, which however was eventually lost to the Bulgars. During the late 13th century War of the Holy Roman Empire, and the early 15th century Baltic War, the Poles were at their best, their armies winning loud victories against first the French Imperials, and then the Swedes, and after 1411, Wladimir IV had ruled a Poland that stretched all the way to the Rhine. Alas, it was a badly-overstretched Poland, and Wladimir's less competent successors have lost pretty much all the western gains. Poland itself fell into a civil war, and remained quite weak after that. Yet in more recent times, Wladimir V, and more importantly his uncle Ludwig, the Bishop of Krakow, have defeated all internal opposition, purged the ranks of aristocracy and transformed Poland into a centralized, buerocratic state. Now, empire becons... but in which direction to go in its pursuit?
Rumadid Bulgarian Caliphate
Capital: Tsarigrad
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 60 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 20 ships (Better)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Since the Bulgars inadvertly landed the finishing blow on the Byzantine Empire by invading it in the 7th century just as the united Muslim armies were about to retreat, it was clear that the Bulgars were guided by fate, were favoured by Allah as the Muslim theologicians explained to Khan Krum in the next century. Khan Krum considered this, and made the next step on the Bulgarian path to hegemony, by agreeing to convert to Islam. After the downfall of the Ummayad Caliphate, the Bulgars were the obvious heirs apparent, and the then-Khanate's forces soon overran the entirety of Eastern Mediterranean using the chaos there, but the first great Bulgar empire didn't last, it soon collapsed into feudal strife and local revolts, and by the 11th century all that remained of it were several "Bulgar" states in the Balkans and south Italy. But already in 1089, one of the Bulgar Italian warlords by the name of Tervel defeated all of his enemies, fought off a French invasion and, having moved his capital to Rome, changed his name accordingly. Under that new name and title - Sultan Rumad - he went down in history. Rumad lived for long - for long enough to finish his conquest of Italy, even seizing the virtually-impregnable city of Venice in one of history's most brilliant military operations, and also for long enough to, having strenghthened his fleet with the captured Venetian fleet, conquer the Balkan Bulgars - but eventually died in 1133. His son was Ibrahim I, one of the few Rumadid rulers that weren't named "Rumad" as well. This Ibrahim has moved the capital to Constantinople, and begun the conquest of the Middle East. The next several Rumads that ruled after him built up the Empire - along the way changed into the Caliphate - into what it is today, advancing on all fronts. But by the middle 16th century, this vast empire begun to stagnate, its buerocracy being barely apable to control all of its lands, and its many enemies eyeing its territory greedily...
Khazarian Kaganate
Capital: Itil
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 35 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 20 ships (Better)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Khazaria has always been a strong power, which however was not always a good thing for it as its various neighbours kept uniting in coalitions to stop the Kaganate's expansion. The fact that their southern neighbours participated in this has only proven that they are ungrateful dogs, for without Khazar help the Caliphal forces would never have taken Constantinople. Still, though often enough kept at bay, the Khazars made gains in most directions, over time. Recently revived and reformed by Kagan Iyas IV, Khazaria, despite some backwardness, is ready to press on, but the problem is that of choice, for the southern Bulgar lands and the access to the Mediterranean, Central Asia and the control of the Silk Route and Swedish Baltic colonies and the access to the Baltic look equally seductive.
Thats Europe. I'm afraid that my update will not allow me to do Africa and Asia until Thursday...
Tawantinsuyu (Incan Empire)
Capital: Cuzco
Ruler:
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 30 thousands (Tolerable)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Semi-Rabble)
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Loving
Projects:
Nation Background: Traditionally, Peru was divided between several empires, that changed each other from time to time in their respective regions. But traditions mattered little when white-clad men from beyond the Ocean came in the 14th century, and destroyed the fledging northern empire of Chimu. However, by this destruction they doomed themselves to eventual defeat. This has served as a grave warning for the southern rivals of the Chimu, the Inca, who decided to let Chimu refugees into their lands and soon finished the unification of non-conquered Peru. Having luckily defeated several Andalusian invasions, the Incans then used a civil war back in Andalusia to push the Andalusians out of northern Peru as well, uniting all of Peru for the first time. Yet the Andalusians have more than recovered since then, and are ready to avenge this dishonour...
Kingdom of Britannia
Capital: Caerllion
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 30 ships (Very Good)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Competent
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: For centuries, Britannia was unjustly oppressed by the barbaric Germannics - first, just the Anglo-Saxons, and later Vikings as well. But none of them managed to completely destroy the ancient peoples of this land. While England was torn into pieces by the never-ending Viking-Saxon wars, the green island of Ireland fought back all Viking incursions, and its king Brian II, in the 12th century, has first united all the Celtic realms and then invaded the Anglo-Saxon and Viking fiefdoms, and has, despite all odds, restored the ancient Celtic rule to the easternmost parts of the land. Since then, Britannia was united and went ever-stronger, participating in wars against France and reaching out for the new world of Affalon. Over time, that latter direction of expansion became primary, and tensions begun growing with Andalusia and France.
Andalusian Empire
Capital: Ixvillia
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 40 ships (Good)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Good
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Perfect
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Founded from the shards of the Ummayad Caliphate by the Oman tribe, one of those that went all the way from Arabia to the then-Visigothic Iberia, Andalusia rose and fell many times by now. At first, as the Mediterranean was in chaos after the end of the first Caliphate, the Omanids secured all of the Western Mediterranean, and the peninsula of Italy as well. That empire fell to civil war and the vile Frankish invaders, and only after a century were the core Andalusian lands re-united. The Christians by then retook the northern one-fourth of Iberia - but they again lost it to the new Zakkarids, whose had revived the Omanid Empire. They too were eventually pushed out of most of their conquests, but held the line on the Garonne. The present Andalusian Empire was founded by a pretty obscure 13th century taifa state ruler, Ibrahim ibn-Taymiyah, who united the realm yet again, and defeated the French Holy Roman Empire's attempt to subdue Iberia. But this time, Andalusia decided not to go after the Mediterranean; instead, inspired by the recent Britannian discoveries, it too begun building an Atlantic colonial empire, reaching out for West Africa and Central/South Affalon. Despite some 15th century instability that caused a few setbacks, Andalusia has mostly succeeded in its colonial efforts, and will probably go forward for further victories.
Kingdom of France
Capital: Paris
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 25 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Much like Andalusia, France had had its ups and downs. Its first rise was under Charles II (OTL Charlemagne), when the Pope had moved to France and became a French puppet (and remains so to this day, causing many schisms), and when France had headed the Christian resistance to the Muslim advance. In the end the Franks had stopped the Arabs, but failed to reconquer all of Italy and Spain. After the death of Charles II, the Frankish empire has still survived for some time, and tried desperately to press on, and even made some gains at times, but by the 10th century were firmly on the retreat again. When the Zakkarids collapsed in Andalusia and Italy, the Franks were little better themselves and failed to exploit this. However, in 1286, Lothair II the Great had declared the Holy Roman Empire, and advanced into Spain, Italy and Germany, winning battle after battle. Eventually, an international coalition of Muslims and Christians alike was forged out of sheer fear of the seemingly-invincible HRE, and under this united pressure Lothair II, for all his skill, was forced to retreat as his empire crumbled around him. His daughter Catherine I had, with adroit intrigue and diplomacy, saved the French core lands after his death in the great battle at Verden, but had to give up most of his conquests and even some older French lands. It seemed as if France was doomed to mediocrity, especially after Catherine's death caused a full-blown civil war, but in the 15th and early 16th century, a new hope appeared, as France underwent a cultural renaissance and also begun building a colonial empire.
Kingdom of Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Very Good)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Good)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Like all truly great empires, Sweden rose to power not only because of its own strenght and often brilliant leadership, but also due to the weakness of its foes. In the west, Denmark and Norway were always busy fighting the Anglo-Saxons... and when both were defeated by Brian II of Ireland, Sweden was there to pick up the pieces. In the east, Novgorod was the Carthage of Sweden's Rome, and like Carthage, despite all the victories of its generals and all the daring raids, it was eventually crushed between the Swedish hammer and the Khazar anvil. And in the south, Germany was an ever-shifting mess of little states and tribes, Germanic and Slavic alike, while France and Poland, the two powers that could have conquered it, were too busy fighting on other fronts, as well as fighting each other. When the War of the Holy Roman Empire came, Sweden played all cards well, only entering the war when Emperor Lothair's star has clearly begun to set. Thus as the 14th century begun, Sweden was in complete control over the Baltic and Scandinavia, and that century indeed proved to be "golden" for it. But it has spoiled the Swedes, and the 15th century saw some turn-arounds, as it has only barely maintained its supremacy - and then, still lost some ground - in a series of wars with Poland, Khazaria and Britannia. This was a pretty rude awakening, as was the Swedish defeat in Affalon.
League of Nowa Ladowa
Capital: Corvey
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal League
Centralization: League
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Average
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The territories that eventually became the feudal league of Nowa Ladowa have changed rulers a countless amount of time throughout the Middle Ages. Saxons, Franks, Danes, Franks again but under the Holy Roman Imperial banner... and finally, Poles and their Wendish vassals. After the disintegration of the greater Polish empire, this westernmost Polish province fell into two decades of feudal strife, called, rather unimaginatively, "the Strife". But finally, in 1522, in the city of Corvey, the strongest feudals of the land met to form a feudal league. However shaky, it provided for the restoration of peace.
Hamburk
Capital: Hamburk
Ruler: ?
Government: Merchant Republic
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): 15 ships (Good)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Hamburk - or Hamburg, as its German population calls it - was for long a center of commerce of local significance, at the least, and no wars could end its status as such. After the downfall of the first, Carolingian, Frankish empire, the mercantile elite of Hamburk has secured independence for their city in all but in name, not entirely unlike the one Venice enjoyed before its fall to the Sultan Rumad; indeed, Hamburk became the northern Venice, and for a short while in the 10th-11th centuries even dominated the Baltic and North Sea trade. After that, it declined rapidly, and this coincided with growth of outside threats to it. The city was even conquered, but not destroyed, by a Wendish warlord, Drevoslav, who made it the capital of his short-lived northern state. After his death, his successors were overthrown and the city asked for Swedish protection from Poles, Franks and local German/Wendish rulers alike. Under the Swedish rule, Hamburk prospered again, but in the late 14th century declined once more and also lost much of its early political autonomy. In the end, this was used well by the Poles who incited a revolt in the city, and by the peace treaty of Visby that ended the Baltic War Hamburk gained full independence and some nearby lands, becoming a buffer state between the Polish empire in Germany and Sweden. But with the downfall of Poland in the 1430s, Hamburk was ever more threatened by the Swedes, and survived only due to its strong walls and alliance with Britannia...
Kingdom of Lusatia
Capital: Misen
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Educated
Culture: Average
Confidence: Barely Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Lusatia has been one of the earliest Polish gains in the west, but even it was lost after the Polish Time of Troubles. Unfortunately for the Lusatians, this didn't save them from troubles of their own - since they became subjects of a king of their own, Lusatia became a battleground between various local noble lineages, and between them all combined and the king himself. Since the Battle at Modla and the Charter of Misen in 1491, peace has reigned in the kingdom, but will this last for long?
Kingdom of Bavaria
Capital: Ingolstadt
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Bavaria, like the rest of Germany, kept falling under one foreign ruler or another, but, unlike much of the rest, also had a pretty long tradition of independence despite the above fact. Having fallen, at times, to French, Muslim and Polish rule, it still remained independent for most of the times, having always rebelled against invaders and used their natural enemies against them. Indeed, only the Carolingian Franks and the Poles maintained control over this land for over a decade, and then they often had to grant considerable autonomy to it. Thus, after the fall of the Polish empire and the final fragmentation of the lands sometimes reffered to, quite uncorrectly, as Germany, Bavaria split off rather easily and peacefully, avoided the civil wars of the northern Slavic-ruled states and even prospered. For now, it tried to remain neutral in all affairs, but it is clear that sooner or later, one greedy conqueror or another will set his eyes on this land.
Kingdom of Poland
Capital: Warsaw
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 5 ships (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Poland, as of the year 1550, is at the crossroads. The past, since its conversion to Christianity and entry into big European politics in the 11th century, was very indecisive. Polish kings warred against their neighbours, sometimes winning brilliant tactical victories, but until the 13th century they rarely secured any major, and lasting, territorial gains, apart from Boleslaw I's 12th century conquest of Greater Moravia, which however was eventually lost to the Bulgars. During the late 13th century War of the Holy Roman Empire, and the early 15th century Baltic War, the Poles were at their best, their armies winning loud victories against first the French Imperials, and then the Swedes, and after 1411, Wladimir IV had ruled a Poland that stretched all the way to the Rhine. Alas, it was a badly-overstretched Poland, and Wladimir's less competent successors have lost pretty much all the western gains. Poland itself fell into a civil war, and remained quite weak after that. Yet in more recent times, Wladimir V, and more importantly his uncle Ludwig, the Bishop of Krakow, have defeated all internal opposition, purged the ranks of aristocracy and transformed Poland into a centralized, buerocratic state. Now, empire becons... but in which direction to go in its pursuit?
Rumadid Bulgarian Caliphate
Capital: Tsarigrad
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Exploration Age
Army (Training): 60 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 20 ships (Better)
Economy: Very Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Since the Bulgars inadvertly landed the finishing blow on the Byzantine Empire by invading it in the 7th century just as the united Muslim armies were about to retreat, it was clear that the Bulgars were guided by fate, were favoured by Allah as the Muslim theologicians explained to Khan Krum in the next century. Khan Krum considered this, and made the next step on the Bulgarian path to hegemony, by agreeing to convert to Islam. After the downfall of the Ummayad Caliphate, the Bulgars were the obvious heirs apparent, and the then-Khanate's forces soon overran the entirety of Eastern Mediterranean using the chaos there, but the first great Bulgar empire didn't last, it soon collapsed into feudal strife and local revolts, and by the 11th century all that remained of it were several "Bulgar" states in the Balkans and south Italy. But already in 1089, one of the Bulgar Italian warlords by the name of Tervel defeated all of his enemies, fought off a French invasion and, having moved his capital to Rome, changed his name accordingly. Under that new name and title - Sultan Rumad - he went down in history. Rumad lived for long - for long enough to finish his conquest of Italy, even seizing the virtually-impregnable city of Venice in one of history's most brilliant military operations, and also for long enough to, having strenghthened his fleet with the captured Venetian fleet, conquer the Balkan Bulgars - but eventually died in 1133. His son was Ibrahim I, one of the few Rumadid rulers that weren't named "Rumad" as well. This Ibrahim has moved the capital to Constantinople, and begun the conquest of the Middle East. The next several Rumads that ruled after him built up the Empire - along the way changed into the Caliphate - into what it is today, advancing on all fronts. But by the middle 16th century, this vast empire begun to stagnate, its buerocracy being barely apable to control all of its lands, and its many enemies eyeing its territory greedily...
Khazarian Kaganate
Capital: Itil
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 35 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 20 ships (Better)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Competent
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Khazaria has always been a strong power, which however was not always a good thing for it as its various neighbours kept uniting in coalitions to stop the Kaganate's expansion. The fact that their southern neighbours participated in this has only proven that they are ungrateful dogs, for without Khazar help the Caliphal forces would never have taken Constantinople. Still, though often enough kept at bay, the Khazars made gains in most directions, over time. Recently revived and reformed by Kagan Iyas IV, Khazaria, despite some backwardness, is ready to press on, but the problem is that of choice, for the southern Bulgar lands and the access to the Mediterranean, Central Asia and the control of the Silk Route and Swedish Baltic colonies and the access to the Baltic look equally seductive.
Thats Europe. I'm afraid that my update will not allow me to do Africa and Asia until Thursday...
conehead234
Braves on the Warpath
Azale said:
I'm still modding.
tossi
Der kleine Prinz
Here is a repost of the map 
. I just searched atleast 10 pages for it.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119987&d=1142618440
. I just searched atleast 10 pages for it.http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119987&d=1142618440
das
Regeneration In Process
Sultanate of Timbuktu
Capital: Timbuktu
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Literate
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Timbuktu is but the last of a series of West African empires; though not the most powerful in its history, it certainly is the most prosperous, having entered good trading relations with Andalusia after the first few incidents. However, there don't seem to be any good targets for expansion nearby...
Kanem-Bornu
Capital: Kuka
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Barely Tolerable
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Just as Lake Chad is a giant oasis in the middle of the world's greatest desert, so Kanem-Bornu is an oasis of civilization in a desert of barbarianism. The real desert, Sahara, has saved this unique civilization from a foe much worse than either the heat of these lands or the barbarian tribes - from the other civilizations. But it has also caused it to stagnate and weaken, despite the recent re-awakening of trade between North and Subsaharan Africas, with Kanem-Bornu as one of the middlemen.
Benin
Capital: Ijaw
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The obas of Benin have ruled this sub-Saharan country since the 13th century, but their own royal power was not always very strong, with the nobles and the tribes retaining much autonomy. Royal authority was at its best under the reign of Equare the Great in the middle 15th century, but since then it once more declined, and this in a time when a new rise of trade has happened in the area, promising profits... and threatening with foreign conquest.
Dunqulah
Capital: Dunqulah
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Literate
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The lands of the very upper Nile have been contested between Muslim Arabs and Christian Nubians since the Arab conquest of Egypt. Yet while the Nubians regarded it a battle for survival, the Arabs did not particularily care about Nubia, having other things to do. So did the Bulgars, albeit after the collapse of the first Bulgar Empire Merkurios III of Maqurrah briefly conquered, but didn't hold on to, Egypt. Yet after that, Maqurrah, which by then united Nubia, went into decline and was finished off by a coalition of non-Arabic Muslim desert peoples that eventually founded the Sultanate of Dunqulah and by now eradicated Christianity in their lands.
Oromistan
Capital: Gonder
Ruler: ?
Government: Tribal-Feudal Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Tolerable)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Pathetic
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Divided
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Christian rulers of Abyssinia also resisted Islamic encroachment. They, however, had an even less intense conflict with the Arabs, at first. But after the fall of the first Bulgar empire, the Abyssinians came into conflict with their fellow Christians in Maqurrah, and this weakened both, allowing the various pagan and Muslim peoples from the west and the south to overrun them. The Abyssinians were particularily unlucky as they were assaulted both from the north by Yemeni raiders and from the south by the ferocious Oromo hordes. Eventually, in the 14th century, despite all Abyssinian efforts the Oromos, in alliance with rebelling feudals, overran the Ethiopian Highlands and established their own reign in the Abyssinian cities. At first there was a possibility of the Oromos being assimilated, but after their rulers chose Islam over Christianity, the chances of that dwindled by the weeks. The Abyssinian nobility tried to stage a large revolt, but despite their early successes they were all cracked down upon, and so were those that rebelled afterwards. Yet here, unlike in Sudan, the new Muslim rulers have failed to eliminate Christianity, as there were simply too many of them. In the recent years, by the 1473 decree of Husuni II, religious tolerance (albeit with taxation) was officially practiced, but this was only a fragile peace between the Muslim ruling elite and the Christian masses, and soon, civil war is likely to recommence.
Swahili League
Capital: Mombasa
Ruler: ?
Government: Mercantile League
Centralization: League
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Culture: Average
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: In the 9th century, while the Caliphate back home begun to stagnate and crumble, Arabs begun colonizing East Africa. First, as usual, came merchants and missionaries, and both had some success; later, their families followed them as well, as did the more curious. They mixed with the local African populations, and founded an unique Afro-Arabian Muslim culture that eventually became known as the Swahili. The various Swahili city-states prospered from the trade, but this has made them good targets for the nearby barbarians, and despite the tall walls that were eventually built these barbarians still did cause trouble. And also, in general, trade begun to decline in recent times, after the Bulgar conquest of the Persian Gulf caused it to shift northwards.
Great Zimbabwe
Capital: Zimbabwe
Ruler: ?
Government: Tribalism
Centralization: Loose Federation
Tech. Level: Late Ancient Age
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Semi-Rabble)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Pathetic
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Since 8th century AD, Zimbabwe - "Stone Dwelling" - was the house and the capital of the Karanga Bantus, who built the world's southernmost empire out of it. Although of regional importance, in truth Zimbabwe is utterly insignificant on the world stage, and perhaps will always be like that. Then again, it is very wealthy with gold, which means that maybe it will be conquered by someone greedy enough to go all the way here.
Sultanate of Yemen
Capital: Mocha
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Competent
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Having briefly been a part of the greater Ummayad Caliphate, after its fall Yemen was isolated from the rest of Muslim world by the brief rise of the Qarmatic Empire in Arabia. During the 10th-12th centuries, the Yemenis, well-positioned as they were, dominated the Red and Arabian Seas, wrought havoc on the Abyssinian coast and colonized the Swahili coast; alas, they failed to solidify their empire, and with the eventual rise of the Rumadid Caliphate, they were lucky to retain their independence. But Yemen has now entered a renaissance along with the rest of the Islamic world, and its potential has been further boosted by the competent new Qahtanid Dynasty with its grand South Arab ambitions. But then again, the Caliphate is still strong, and perhaps it is much more promising to restore the naval supremacy and build a great colonial empire?
Khanate of Karakazakia
Capital: Bukhara
Ruler: ?
Government: Tribal Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Kazaks - wanderers, nomads - have for ages inhabited northern Central Asia. Their exact ethnic composition changed over time, although they all were Turkish, but their lifestyle didn't, and those tribes that moved elsewhere, like the Khazars did once, were soon replaced by new ones. That was the way things always were... until 1374, when a tribal leader named Abish Khan has united several Kazak tribes and led them with war and conquest south, into Central Asia, where at the time there were numerous small states. The armies of Abish Khan advanced all the way to the Indian Ocean and Mesopatamia, but his empire did not survive his death and crumbled again. However, the days of glory were not forgotten, and in 1532 one of Abish' self-declared descendants, Tenghiz, has re-united some of the Kazak tribes - the fearsome "Karakazaks" - and conquered the others, eventually retaking Bukhara in the south and making it his capital. Now his descendants are ready to lead the Horde to further conquests...
Ghuzistan
Capital: Herat
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Barely Tolerable
Education: Literate
Culture: Divided
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Ghuzz Turks have for long wrecked havoc upon the Persians and the Indians alike, in the 13th century even founding a short-lived Kalimid Empire from the Euphrates to the Ganges. Alas, after Kalim's death it all fell apart, and in the end the Turks came out even weaker from it all, especially as Persia re-emerged. Eventually, the more sedentary Turkmen have forced the Ghuzz Turks out of many of their traditional lands, forcing them to settle in the barren west of the Central Asia. In revenge, the Ghuzz Turks have allied with Abish Khan in the 14th century, and formed one of the main parts of his army, but after this conqueror too has died, they did not despair for long and founded a new state of their own, Ghuzistan, in some of the lands Abish had conquered. There they hold out to this day, but they have fallen into ever-growing tribal strife and decline, and thus will probably make easy prey for Karakazakia.
Uighur Empire
Capital: Kucha
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The Uighurs are definitely a curious people, and even more curious is their refined, complex civilization in the middle of a barbaric steppe, a country where such diverse religions as Buddhism, Manicheanism and Nestorian Christianity exist side by side. The first Uighur Empire arose somewhat to the west from its current center, on the ruins of the Tang Chinese empire; it has greatly prospered due to the Silk Route, which is still one of the main foundations of their economy. This first era of prosperity has ended when in the 9th century the Kyrgyz peoples have devastated the empire, but they could not destroy the Uighur civilization, which started anew in the east, around its modern capital. A peaceful people, the Uighurs managed to get on the good side of the Jin Empire when it was on the rise, and remained of their few allies; yet after the fall of the Jin and the strenghthening of the steppe nomads, the Uighurs had to build up a good army, first to defend themselves and later to expand in the nearby territories. Now, in the 14th-16th centuries, Uighuria has trully became an imperial power, with its enlightened and still rather pacifist civilization protected by tall walls and elite soldiers that also begun bringing the light of civilization to the barbarians around them, securing even more of the Silk Route along the way.
Tarushkia
Capital: Multan
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Tarushkas - Turks - are only the latest of the Central Asian, and Muslim, invaders that came into India. But they are notable in that, since their arrival in the 13th century with Kalim Khan, they stayed, and remained a notable military power, as well as retained, despite quite some influence, many elements of their culture. From their well-fortified citadels up the Indus, these fierce warriors have protected the land they had conquered from countless Indian and other Turkish conquerors. But now that Karakazakia is rising in the north and Madanapala Gangetic Empire - in the east, the warlords of Tarushkia might just be doomed.
Tibet
Capital: Lhasa
Ruler: ?
Government: Theocracy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Barely Tolerable
Education: Perfect
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Nation Personified
Projects:
Nation Background: This country is the Roof of the World, and its capital is the Mecca of Buddhism, by the virtue of its ruler being the Dalai-Lama, since the 13th century. By this value and by the value of there not being much of, well, value in the entire country apart from that, the Tibetians are quite free to sit on their Roof and watch the world history fly by.
Madanapala Empire
Capital: Varanasi
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 55 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 5 ships (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The Madanapala Empire, centered in the ancient city of Varanasi, is the third of the great Gangetic empires. The first one was Magadha; the second, Gupta; and the Madanapalas intend to best even those two. And thus far, the process is going well. Since the 14th century when the Madanapala Empire emerged from one of the petty princedoms of the Gangetic Plain, led by its charismatic first ruler Madanapala I after whom the empire and the dynasty were named, it has built up a strong buerocratic system, a numerous, disciplinned army, and has overwhelmed much of Northern India, with only Telingana and Tarushkia holding their ground. Kekapala I has prevented it from collapsing to exhausting in the 16th century, after a particularily grueling war with Telingana, and now the ambitious Gangetics are prepared to campaign once more.
Telinganan League
Capital: Warangal
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Moanrchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The states of Central India have been numerous and fiercely independent, which was what nearly doomed them in the 1390s-1440s when the Madanapalas begun their systematic conquest of this land. But the princes of this land, in their despair, united around a little-known, yet popular leader of vaguely-noble descent, Adakkamalla, who has routed the Madanapala army in an epic battle at Warangal, in 1425. That proved to be the turning point, but the Madanapala threat remained powerful enough. Adakkamalla, using the power vacuum, has rose to power in Warangal itself, and, now as a true equal and maybe even superior (Warangal was a very good city, and Adakkamalla still had his loyal army) to the other princes, proposed the creation of the Telinganan League, led by him and his successors ofcourse, but with them still retaining many, many powers. The naive princes agreed, perhaps because they were so weak after the war with the Madanapalas they knew that there was no real alternative. Adakkamalla staid true to his word, but his descendants gradually transformed this Telingana into their own fief, reducing the other rulers to nonsignificance. This proved to be a rather bad decision when the discontent princes of western Telingana rose up in 1492 and asked for Madanapala assistance; in the end, the Telinganans persisted, but had to cede some territories, especially in the east, while the princes of Warangal had to give some of the old autonomy back to the nobles, who also formed a council that would "advise" the League leader. In recent times, the political struggle between Warangal and the rest of the League begun to intensify, which is not a good thing as the Madanapalas are already amassing their forces...
Kerala
Capital: Shrirangapattanam
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Perfect
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Shielded from practically all threats by its geographic and geopolitical position, Kerala at the same time profited from commerce due to the same reasons. A peaceful state and a tolerant civilization, it is one of the few places where Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism co-exist in peace, and indeed this mix allowed a great cultural flowering to take place in the 15th and 16th centuries. Culture or no culture, it is a wealthy, and at the same time rather insignificant state for now, unthreatened... and unambitious. But perhaps it could build a great colonial empire? Or maybe it should go east instead, uniting Deccan?
Chola
Capital: Vikrampura
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 20 ships (Good)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Loving
Projects:
Nation Background: Since the days of the legendary king Karikalan, the Cholas, despite occasional setbacks, only grew, both in territory and in power. Having united much of south India's eastern coast through war and marriage, the Cholas have however met their match in the Vijayabahas of Ceylon, who not only resisted the attempts to conquer their island fully, but eventually even expelled the Cholas from it and defeated them on the sea. From the 13th century onwards, two great naval powers fought indecisively; the Cholas made a few gains, but the Sinhalese Vijayabahas still dominated much of the Indian Ocean trade. Perhaps this struggle is futile, but on the other hand, no future is as promising to the Cholas as that of the colonial empire.
Vijayabahan Sinhala
Capital: Anuradhapura
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 25 ships (Good)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Sinhala, or Ceylon, or Sri Lanka, is in the perfect position to build a colonial empire in the Indian Ocean, and many of the preconditions for that have been fulfilled - a great fleet was built, and much of the trade has been taken over. But alas, the Sinhalese have their hands full with keeping the vile Cholas at bay. The arrogant south Indians once had invaded Ceylon itself, but were eventually repulsed by the great Vijayabaha, whose descendants united the island and led its people to victory. Yet the Cholas remained strong, they expanded in southern India and now are ready for another stage in their struggle for the position of middleman of the Indian Ocean. As long as the Cholas are a threat, the Sinhalese don't have much of a chance for expansion in South-East Asia.
Paganese Empire
Capital: Pegu
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Educated
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The Buddhist kingdom of Pagan has united all of Myanmar under the Burman banner by 1057, and, prospering from the trade with India and Indonesia, it has also rose in fame and diplomatic significance. Having defeated a Sinhalese invasion in 1076, the Paganese, in alliance with Srivijaya and Champa, have destroyed Khmeria and forced back, temporarily at least, the Sinhalese imperialists. During the 13th century, the Paganese Empire was generally in decline, and some territories, including Khmeria, broke off, but there were no strong enough enemies nearby that weren't occupied otherwise, and in the 15th century, under Ayushwehti, have recovered and even expanded further, using the fact that Srivijaya was no more and its Singhasari successors were more interested in eastwards expansion. Now, Pagan is the strongest - and the only surviving - Indochinese state, and it is in position to threaten any of the foreign possessions in the region; or perhaps, it could seek its empire in the west, in Bengalia.
Singhasari
Capital: Singhasari
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 30 ships (Good)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Insular South-East Asia was always a whole region, commercially and culturally if not politically. Since the 7th century, the process of political unification has also started, although the commercial-oriented empire of Srivijaya eventually overstretched itself and was destroyed after the loss of a naval war with Sinhala. In the late 13th century, however, the Hindu-Buddhist Javan empire of Singhasari begun its ascendance; its power was based as much on the commerce as on its powerful fleet, and towards 1550 it has taken over practically all the importance positions in the region.
Yuan China
Capital: Dadu
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Literate
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Mongols are definitely one of the unluckiest of peoples that actually survived their misfortunes. Dynasty after dynasty, whenever China was united it has defeated all Mongol raids, and started punitive raids, or, as the Jin did in the 13th century, campaigns of extermination to break the Mongols altogether. In the end, the Mongols might have survived the Jin invasion, but they were badly battered and Temujin's brief confederation, how ever succesful in defeating the Jin, has soon crumbled. Thus the Mongols failed to gain much from the initial crumbling of the Jin in the 13th century, as the banners of the Riben Emperor were rising in East Asia. Yet in the early 15th century, the Mongols were united by Mongke, who declared himself Genghis Khan and led them to war against the overstretched Riben Empire, penetrating deep into China before his death and defeat at Longxing. His successors, however, held on to regions of northernmost China, and, falling victim to the infamous Chinese cultural assimilation, moved their capital to Dadu, beginning the Hundred Years War with the Riben Empire, which is unconcluded to this day.
Great Riben Empire
Capital: Shanghai
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 25 ships (Good)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Loving
Projects:
Nation Background: To think that once, the great lineage of the Riben emperors was only limited to the Home Islands, with not much chance of future expansion! The 13th century changed everything. The Jin Chinese armies have, despite the storms, invaded and conquered Kyushu, Shikoku and the southwesternmost parts of Honshu, bringing Japan on the brink of collapse. Yet that was like a cure that, if slightly overdosed, will kill, but if given in the right dose will revive a man. Japan was revived by the need to survive; the collapsed Kamakura bakufu was replaced by direct Imperial reign, military and other reforms took place, and in 1287, with the battles at Okayama and at Tsushima, the armies and fleets of the corrupt Jin China were crushed. But Emperor Go-Ojin, often called the "Japanese Alexander", did not stop at that. Leaving the comfort of his court, he led his armies to victory after victory, taking over Korea and Manchuria, while his fleet established a presence on the wild island of Taiwan. And from there, he invaded his Persia - China itself, which was in such a chaotic state by then that he had triumphed. Unlike Alexander, though, he didn't die at that point, and instead created the Great Riben Empire, reforming the buerocracy, consolidating his gains. He moved his capital to Shanghai, away from the still-hostile feudals of Japan, but surrounded himself with a primarily-Japanese initial court. After a while, however, that court was very Sinified, both due to assimilation and the addition of Chinese courtiers. Thankfully, Go-Ojin has prepared his son well for the burden of reign, and this, along with some luck, prevented the destruction of Riben Empire, though the army had to be grown much in order to support garrisons all over the rebellious empire, especially in the Home Islands. Another problem came in the 15th century, when Genghis Khan invaded China, but in the end he was stopped; alas, northernmost China was not retaken, and this doomed the Riben Empire to the Hundred Years War, which, despite occasional victories, remained in the balance and drained the coffers much. The unity of the Empire is fading, based only on the loyalty to the Emperor, and as the economy declines further, it is possible that for all of the splendour and strenght it might soon be over...
Capital: Timbuktu
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Literate
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Timbuktu is but the last of a series of West African empires; though not the most powerful in its history, it certainly is the most prosperous, having entered good trading relations with Andalusia after the first few incidents. However, there don't seem to be any good targets for expansion nearby...
Kanem-Bornu
Capital: Kuka
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Early Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Barely Tolerable
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: Just as Lake Chad is a giant oasis in the middle of the world's greatest desert, so Kanem-Bornu is an oasis of civilization in a desert of barbarianism. The real desert, Sahara, has saved this unique civilization from a foe much worse than either the heat of these lands or the barbarian tribes - from the other civilizations. But it has also caused it to stagnate and weaken, despite the recent re-awakening of trade between North and Subsaharan Africas, with Kanem-Bornu as one of the middlemen.
Benin
Capital: Ijaw
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Early Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The obas of Benin have ruled this sub-Saharan country since the 13th century, but their own royal power was not always very strong, with the nobles and the tribes retaining much autonomy. Royal authority was at its best under the reign of Equare the Great in the middle 15th century, but since then it once more declined, and this in a time when a new rise of trade has happened in the area, promising profits... and threatening with foreign conquest.
Dunqulah
Capital: Dunqulah
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Literate
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The lands of the very upper Nile have been contested between Muslim Arabs and Christian Nubians since the Arab conquest of Egypt. Yet while the Nubians regarded it a battle for survival, the Arabs did not particularily care about Nubia, having other things to do. So did the Bulgars, albeit after the collapse of the first Bulgar Empire Merkurios III of Maqurrah briefly conquered, but didn't hold on to, Egypt. Yet after that, Maqurrah, which by then united Nubia, went into decline and was finished off by a coalition of non-Arabic Muslim desert peoples that eventually founded the Sultanate of Dunqulah and by now eradicated Christianity in their lands.
Oromistan
Capital: Gonder
Ruler: ?
Government: Tribal-Feudal Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Tolerable)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Pathetic
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Divided
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Christian rulers of Abyssinia also resisted Islamic encroachment. They, however, had an even less intense conflict with the Arabs, at first. But after the fall of the first Bulgar empire, the Abyssinians came into conflict with their fellow Christians in Maqurrah, and this weakened both, allowing the various pagan and Muslim peoples from the west and the south to overrun them. The Abyssinians were particularily unlucky as they were assaulted both from the north by Yemeni raiders and from the south by the ferocious Oromo hordes. Eventually, in the 14th century, despite all Abyssinian efforts the Oromos, in alliance with rebelling feudals, overran the Ethiopian Highlands and established their own reign in the Abyssinian cities. At first there was a possibility of the Oromos being assimilated, but after their rulers chose Islam over Christianity, the chances of that dwindled by the weeks. The Abyssinian nobility tried to stage a large revolt, but despite their early successes they were all cracked down upon, and so were those that rebelled afterwards. Yet here, unlike in Sudan, the new Muslim rulers have failed to eliminate Christianity, as there were simply too many of them. In the recent years, by the 1473 decree of Husuni II, religious tolerance (albeit with taxation) was officially practiced, but this was only a fragile peace between the Muslim ruling elite and the Christian masses, and soon, civil war is likely to recommence.
Swahili League
Capital: Mombasa
Ruler: ?
Government: Mercantile League
Centralization: League
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Culture: Average
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: In the 9th century, while the Caliphate back home begun to stagnate and crumble, Arabs begun colonizing East Africa. First, as usual, came merchants and missionaries, and both had some success; later, their families followed them as well, as did the more curious. They mixed with the local African populations, and founded an unique Afro-Arabian Muslim culture that eventually became known as the Swahili. The various Swahili city-states prospered from the trade, but this has made them good targets for the nearby barbarians, and despite the tall walls that were eventually built these barbarians still did cause trouble. And also, in general, trade begun to decline in recent times, after the Bulgar conquest of the Persian Gulf caused it to shift northwards.
Great Zimbabwe
Capital: Zimbabwe
Ruler: ?
Government: Tribalism
Centralization: Loose Federation
Tech. Level: Late Ancient Age
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Semi-Rabble)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Barely Tolerable
Infrastructure: Pathetic
Education: Illiterate
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Since 8th century AD, Zimbabwe - "Stone Dwelling" - was the house and the capital of the Karanga Bantus, who built the world's southernmost empire out of it. Although of regional importance, in truth Zimbabwe is utterly insignificant on the world stage, and perhaps will always be like that. Then again, it is very wealthy with gold, which means that maybe it will be conquered by someone greedy enough to go all the way here.
Sultanate of Yemen
Capital: Mocha
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Competent
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Having briefly been a part of the greater Ummayad Caliphate, after its fall Yemen was isolated from the rest of Muslim world by the brief rise of the Qarmatic Empire in Arabia. During the 10th-12th centuries, the Yemenis, well-positioned as they were, dominated the Red and Arabian Seas, wrought havoc on the Abyssinian coast and colonized the Swahili coast; alas, they failed to solidify their empire, and with the eventual rise of the Rumadid Caliphate, they were lucky to retain their independence. But Yemen has now entered a renaissance along with the rest of the Islamic world, and its potential has been further boosted by the competent new Qahtanid Dynasty with its grand South Arab ambitions. But then again, the Caliphate is still strong, and perhaps it is much more promising to restore the naval supremacy and build a great colonial empire?
Khanate of Karakazakia
Capital: Bukhara
Ruler: ?
Government: Tribal Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Kazaks - wanderers, nomads - have for ages inhabited northern Central Asia. Their exact ethnic composition changed over time, although they all were Turkish, but their lifestyle didn't, and those tribes that moved elsewhere, like the Khazars did once, were soon replaced by new ones. That was the way things always were... until 1374, when a tribal leader named Abish Khan has united several Kazak tribes and led them with war and conquest south, into Central Asia, where at the time there were numerous small states. The armies of Abish Khan advanced all the way to the Indian Ocean and Mesopatamia, but his empire did not survive his death and crumbled again. However, the days of glory were not forgotten, and in 1532 one of Abish' self-declared descendants, Tenghiz, has re-united some of the Kazak tribes - the fearsome "Karakazaks" - and conquered the others, eventually retaking Bukhara in the south and making it his capital. Now his descendants are ready to lead the Horde to further conquests...
Ghuzistan
Capital: Herat
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Barely Tolerable
Education: Literate
Culture: Divided
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Ghuzz Turks have for long wrecked havoc upon the Persians and the Indians alike, in the 13th century even founding a short-lived Kalimid Empire from the Euphrates to the Ganges. Alas, after Kalim's death it all fell apart, and in the end the Turks came out even weaker from it all, especially as Persia re-emerged. Eventually, the more sedentary Turkmen have forced the Ghuzz Turks out of many of their traditional lands, forcing them to settle in the barren west of the Central Asia. In revenge, the Ghuzz Turks have allied with Abish Khan in the 14th century, and formed one of the main parts of his army, but after this conqueror too has died, they did not despair for long and founded a new state of their own, Ghuzistan, in some of the lands Abish had conquered. There they hold out to this day, but they have fallen into ever-growing tribal strife and decline, and thus will probably make easy prey for Karakazakia.
Uighur Empire
Capital: Kucha
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 25 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Perfect
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: The Uighurs are definitely a curious people, and even more curious is their refined, complex civilization in the middle of a barbaric steppe, a country where such diverse religions as Buddhism, Manicheanism and Nestorian Christianity exist side by side. The first Uighur Empire arose somewhat to the west from its current center, on the ruins of the Tang Chinese empire; it has greatly prospered due to the Silk Route, which is still one of the main foundations of their economy. This first era of prosperity has ended when in the 9th century the Kyrgyz peoples have devastated the empire, but they could not destroy the Uighur civilization, which started anew in the east, around its modern capital. A peaceful people, the Uighurs managed to get on the good side of the Jin Empire when it was on the rise, and remained of their few allies; yet after the fall of the Jin and the strenghthening of the steppe nomads, the Uighurs had to build up a good army, first to defend themselves and later to expand in the nearby territories. Now, in the 14th-16th centuries, Uighuria has trully became an imperial power, with its enlightened and still rather pacifist civilization protected by tall walls and elite soldiers that also begun bringing the light of civilization to the barbarians around them, securing even more of the Silk Route along the way.
Tarushkia
Capital: Multan
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Normal (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Tolerable
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Tarushkas - Turks - are only the latest of the Central Asian, and Muslim, invaders that came into India. But they are notable in that, since their arrival in the 13th century with Kalim Khan, they stayed, and remained a notable military power, as well as retained, despite quite some influence, many elements of their culture. From their well-fortified citadels up the Indus, these fierce warriors have protected the land they had conquered from countless Indian and other Turkish conquerors. But now that Karakazakia is rising in the north and Madanapala Gangetic Empire - in the east, the warlords of Tarushkia might just be doomed.
Tibet
Capital: Lhasa
Ruler: ?
Government: Theocracy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Not Bad (+1)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Barely Tolerable
Education: Perfect
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Nation Personified
Projects:
Nation Background: This country is the Roof of the World, and its capital is the Mecca of Buddhism, by the virtue of its ruler being the Dalai-Lama, since the 13th century. By this value and by the value of there not being much of, well, value in the entire country apart from that, the Tibetians are quite free to sit on their Roof and watch the world history fly by.
Madanapala Empire
Capital: Varanasi
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 55 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 5 ships (Normal)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The Madanapala Empire, centered in the ancient city of Varanasi, is the third of the great Gangetic empires. The first one was Magadha; the second, Gupta; and the Madanapalas intend to best even those two. And thus far, the process is going well. Since the 14th century when the Madanapala Empire emerged from one of the petty princedoms of the Gangetic Plain, led by its charismatic first ruler Madanapala I after whom the empire and the dynasty were named, it has built up a strong buerocratic system, a numerous, disciplinned army, and has overwhelmed much of Northern India, with only Telingana and Tarushkia holding their ground. Kekapala I has prevented it from collapsing to exhausting in the 16th century, after a particularily grueling war with Telingana, and now the ambitious Gangetics are prepared to campaign once more.
Telinganan League
Capital: Warangal
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Moanrchy
Centralization: Tight Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The states of Central India have been numerous and fiercely independent, which was what nearly doomed them in the 1390s-1440s when the Madanapalas begun their systematic conquest of this land. But the princes of this land, in their despair, united around a little-known, yet popular leader of vaguely-noble descent, Adakkamalla, who has routed the Madanapala army in an epic battle at Warangal, in 1425. That proved to be the turning point, but the Madanapala threat remained powerful enough. Adakkamalla, using the power vacuum, has rose to power in Warangal itself, and, now as a true equal and maybe even superior (Warangal was a very good city, and Adakkamalla still had his loyal army) to the other princes, proposed the creation of the Telinganan League, led by him and his successors ofcourse, but with them still retaining many, many powers. The naive princes agreed, perhaps because they were so weak after the war with the Madanapalas they knew that there was no real alternative. Adakkamalla staid true to his word, but his descendants gradually transformed this Telingana into their own fief, reducing the other rulers to nonsignificance. This proved to be a rather bad decision when the discontent princes of western Telingana rose up in 1492 and asked for Madanapala assistance; in the end, the Telinganans persisted, but had to cede some territories, especially in the east, while the princes of Warangal had to give some of the old autonomy back to the nobles, who also formed a council that would "advise" the League leader. In recent times, the political struggle between Warangal and the rest of the League begun to intensify, which is not a good thing as the Madanapalas are already amassing their forces...
Kerala
Capital: Shrirangapattanam
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Middle Middle Ages
Army (Training): 10 thousands (Normal)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Tolerable/Competent
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Perfect
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Shielded from practically all threats by its geographic and geopolitical position, Kerala at the same time profited from commerce due to the same reasons. A peaceful state and a tolerant civilization, it is one of the few places where Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism co-exist in peace, and indeed this mix allowed a great cultural flowering to take place in the 15th and 16th centuries. Culture or no culture, it is a wealthy, and at the same time rather insignificant state for now, unthreatened... and unambitious. But perhaps it could build a great colonial empire? Or maybe it should go east instead, uniting Deccan?
Chola
Capital: Vikrampura
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 20 ships (Good)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Competent/Better
Infrastructure: Improving
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Loving
Projects:
Nation Background: Since the days of the legendary king Karikalan, the Cholas, despite occasional setbacks, only grew, both in territory and in power. Having united much of south India's eastern coast through war and marriage, the Cholas have however met their match in the Vijayabahas of Ceylon, who not only resisted the attempts to conquer their island fully, but eventually even expelled the Cholas from it and defeated them on the sea. From the 13th century onwards, two great naval powers fought indecisively; the Cholas made a few gains, but the Sinhalese Vijayabahas still dominated much of the Indian Ocean trade. Perhaps this struggle is futile, but on the other hand, no future is as promising to the Cholas as that of the colonial empire.
Vijayabahan Sinhala
Capital: Anuradhapura
Ruler: ?
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 5 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 25 ships (Good)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Better/Better
Infrastructure: Efficient
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Respecting
Projects:
Nation Background: Sinhala, or Ceylon, or Sri Lanka, is in the perfect position to build a colonial empire in the Indian Ocean, and many of the preconditions for that have been fulfilled - a great fleet was built, and much of the trade has been taken over. But alas, the Sinhalese have their hands full with keeping the vile Cholas at bay. The arrogant south Indians once had invaded Ceylon itself, but were eventually repulsed by the great Vijayabaha, whose descendants united the island and led its people to victory. Yet the Cholas remained strong, they expanded in southern India and now are ready for another stage in their struggle for the position of middleman of the Indian Ocean. As long as the Cholas are a threat, the Sinhalese don't have much of a chance for expansion in South-East Asia.
Paganese Empire
Capital: Pegu
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 20 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 10 ships (Better)
Economy: Growing (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Educated
Culture: Hyperpatriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: The Buddhist kingdom of Pagan has united all of Myanmar under the Burman banner by 1057, and, prospering from the trade with India and Indonesia, it has also rose in fame and diplomatic significance. Having defeated a Sinhalese invasion in 1076, the Paganese, in alliance with Srivijaya and Champa, have destroyed Khmeria and forced back, temporarily at least, the Sinhalese imperialists. During the 13th century, the Paganese Empire was generally in decline, and some territories, including Khmeria, broke off, but there were no strong enough enemies nearby that weren't occupied otherwise, and in the 15th century, under Ayushwehti, have recovered and even expanded further, using the fact that Srivijaya was no more and its Singhasari successors were more interested in eastwards expansion. Now, Pagan is the strongest - and the only surviving - Indochinese state, and it is in position to threaten any of the foreign possessions in the region; or perhaps, it could seek its empire in the west, in Bengalia.
Singhasari
Capital: Singhasari
Ruler: ?
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Centralization: Federation
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 15 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): 30 ships (Good)
Economy: Rich (+3)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Patriotic
Confidence: Admiring
Projects:
Nation Background: Insular South-East Asia was always a whole region, commercially and culturally if not politically. Since the 7th century, the process of political unification has also started, although the commercial-oriented empire of Srivijaya eventually overstretched itself and was destroyed after the loss of a naval war with Sinhala. In the late 13th century, however, the Hindu-Buddhist Javan empire of Singhasari begun its ascendance; its power was based as much on the commerce as on its powerful fleet, and towards 1550 it has taken over practically all the importance positions in the region.
Yuan China
Capital: Dadu
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary with Exceptions
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Better)
Navy (Training): None yet
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Tolerable
Education: Literate
Culture: Devoted
Confidence: Tolerating
Projects:
Nation Background: The Mongols are definitely one of the unluckiest of peoples that actually survived their misfortunes. Dynasty after dynasty, whenever China was united it has defeated all Mongol raids, and started punitive raids, or, as the Jin did in the 13th century, campaigns of extermination to break the Mongols altogether. In the end, the Mongols might have survived the Jin invasion, but they were badly battered and Temujin's brief confederation, how ever succesful in defeating the Jin, has soon crumbled. Thus the Mongols failed to gain much from the initial crumbling of the Jin in the 13th century, as the banners of the Riben Emperor were rising in East Asia. Yet in the early 15th century, the Mongols were united by Mongke, who declared himself Genghis Khan and led them to war against the overstretched Riben Empire, penetrating deep into China before his death and defeat at Longxing. His successors, however, held on to regions of northernmost China, and, falling victim to the infamous Chinese cultural assimilation, moved their capital to Dadu, beginning the Hundred Years War with the Riben Empire, which is unconcluded to this day.
Great Riben Empire
Capital: Shanghai
Ruler: ?
Government: Divine Monarchy
Centralization: Unitary
Tech. Level: Late Middle Ages
Army (Training): 40 thousands (Good)
Navy (Training): 25 ships (Good)
Economy: Good Enough (+2)
Leadership (Military/Civilian): Good/Better
Infrastructure: Good
Education: Well Educated
Culture: Strongly Cultured
Confidence: Loving
Projects:
Nation Background: To think that once, the great lineage of the Riben emperors was only limited to the Home Islands, with not much chance of future expansion! The 13th century changed everything. The Jin Chinese armies have, despite the storms, invaded and conquered Kyushu, Shikoku and the southwesternmost parts of Honshu, bringing Japan on the brink of collapse. Yet that was like a cure that, if slightly overdosed, will kill, but if given in the right dose will revive a man. Japan was revived by the need to survive; the collapsed Kamakura bakufu was replaced by direct Imperial reign, military and other reforms took place, and in 1287, with the battles at Okayama and at Tsushima, the armies and fleets of the corrupt Jin China were crushed. But Emperor Go-Ojin, often called the "Japanese Alexander", did not stop at that. Leaving the comfort of his court, he led his armies to victory after victory, taking over Korea and Manchuria, while his fleet established a presence on the wild island of Taiwan. And from there, he invaded his Persia - China itself, which was in such a chaotic state by then that he had triumphed. Unlike Alexander, though, he didn't die at that point, and instead created the Great Riben Empire, reforming the buerocracy, consolidating his gains. He moved his capital to Shanghai, away from the still-hostile feudals of Japan, but surrounded himself with a primarily-Japanese initial court. After a while, however, that court was very Sinified, both due to assimilation and the addition of Chinese courtiers. Thankfully, Go-Ojin has prepared his son well for the burden of reign, and this, along with some luck, prevented the destruction of Riben Empire, though the army had to be grown much in order to support garrisons all over the rebellious empire, especially in the Home Islands. Another problem came in the 15th century, when Genghis Khan invaded China, but in the end he was stopped; alas, northernmost China was not retaken, and this doomed the Riben Empire to the Hundred Years War, which, despite occasional victories, remained in the balance and drained the coffers much. The unity of the Empire is fading, based only on the loyalty to the Emperor, and as the economy declines further, it is possible that for all of the splendour and strenght it might soon be over...
das
Regeneration In Process
Clap, fools, clap!
Now I'll get back to the Unenlightened Althist... although, I've been thinking of starting another one, before I lose inspiration for it, because I have a rather neat idea. I still will continue Kal'thzar's in any case, ofcourse - if I find the time for one, I'll find time for both, and if I don't find time for any, that's not quite good in any case. Without revealing anything else yet, that other idea involves completely changing the Age of Discovery, altogether.
Now I'll get back to the Unenlightened Althist... although, I've been thinking of starting another one, before I lose inspiration for it, because I have a rather neat idea. I still will continue Kal'thzar's in any case, ofcourse - if I find the time for one, I'll find time for both, and if I don't find time for any, that's not quite good in any case. Without revealing anything else yet, that other idea involves completely changing the Age of Discovery, altogether.
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
:round of applause:
Oh man, I hope this is modded, I already have an evil, evil plan. Provided there are nations free of course
Oh man, I hope this is modded, I already have an evil, evil plan. Provided there are nations free of course
das
Regeneration In Process
The Cone-Headed One did promise to mod it, we should for him now...
conehead234
Braves on the Warpath
Thanks for the rest of the stats das, I'll open this over spring break.
das
Regeneration In Process
I dare you to play Zimbabwe! 
But yes, that was the intended effect.
But yes, that was the intended effect.
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
Are you going to make a map with ECs on it das?
das
Regeneration In Process
Well, if conehead requests it...
(Working on Kal'thzar's althist currently. Any Metis fans here?)
(Working on Kal'thzar's althist currently. Any Metis fans here?)
tossi
Der kleine Prinz
What kind of Metis? 
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
OOC: Continuing the beloved, but somewhat misnamed Shahrbaraz timeline.
Now, by 675, the Frankish Kingdom had been restored, a united empire across Neustria and Austrasia. However, it was a vulnerable kingdom, one which was divided, damaged by war, with a number of powerful neighboring kingdoms. And in 671, the Irisid Caliphate decided that it would be profitable to attack this vulnerable empire, and gathered on their side the Sultanate of Aquitane (the Muslim state occupying all of that region), and together, they determined to plunge twin daggers into the Franks.
The Irisids, for their part, launched a lightning campaign up from their part of the Italian Peninsula, and shattered the Frankish garrison forces of Rome. Simultaneously, the Aquitainians defeated Frankish forces in Provence and also the independent nation of Brittany. Further advances took Paris, while the Irisids continued their advance, up through the Po River Valley region; the Franks were hammered on all fronts.
The deathblow came when the Franks sent out a massive field force near Metzthe entirety of the Frankish armies in the Austrasian region, under the command of many famed and fearsome lords... And it was shattered by Arab and Berber cavalry. The Frankish Empire was completely defeated, and their king signed a treaty recognizing all Irisid and Aquitainians gains.
The Frankish Empire thus collapsed, with Burgundy breaking away, taking with them much of the Alpine region; the rest was taken along with Bavaria when they declared their own independence. The Carolingian Franks were regulated to only one small part of the old Roman region of Gaul, and a bit of the Rhineland as well.
Meanwhile, in the east, the Bulgars scored striking victories over their neighboring states, defeating the Greeks, the Illyrians, the Khazars, the Moravians, and even scoring a victory over the distracted Umayyads, who were busy with other things...
Directly following their loss to the Bulgars, the Greeks decided to make a bid for empire, partly driven by revenge against the Bulgars, and partly due to their religious differences to the Umayyad Caliphate. In a swift campaign, he defeated the second largest Umayyad army that was assembled at the time, the other doing... other things, and conquered the Ionian Coast of Turkey and Cyprus for the new Greek Empire, and even considerably inland; he also captured Thrace back from the Bulgars, who were defeated due to turmoil internally.
The Bulgar troubles, as it happened, stemmed mainly from the fact that their Khan had recently converted to Islam, a decision which led to his rule being contested by several of his brothers. However, they united quickly enough behind the Khan after the Greek victory reminded them that there were other nations in the world, and Greater Bulgaria was now solidly Muslim, though it was now devoid of Thrace... For his part, the Khan decided to make up for this by campaigning northward, against the Moravians and Khazars, with some success.
******************
Now, by 675, the Frankish Kingdom had been restored, a united empire across Neustria and Austrasia. However, it was a vulnerable kingdom, one which was divided, damaged by war, with a number of powerful neighboring kingdoms. And in 671, the Irisid Caliphate decided that it would be profitable to attack this vulnerable empire, and gathered on their side the Sultanate of Aquitane (the Muslim state occupying all of that region), and together, they determined to plunge twin daggers into the Franks.
The Irisids, for their part, launched a lightning campaign up from their part of the Italian Peninsula, and shattered the Frankish garrison forces of Rome. Simultaneously, the Aquitainians defeated Frankish forces in Provence and also the independent nation of Brittany. Further advances took Paris, while the Irisids continued their advance, up through the Po River Valley region; the Franks were hammered on all fronts.
The deathblow came when the Franks sent out a massive field force near Metzthe entirety of the Frankish armies in the Austrasian region, under the command of many famed and fearsome lords... And it was shattered by Arab and Berber cavalry. The Frankish Empire was completely defeated, and their king signed a treaty recognizing all Irisid and Aquitainians gains.
The Frankish Empire thus collapsed, with Burgundy breaking away, taking with them much of the Alpine region; the rest was taken along with Bavaria when they declared their own independence. The Carolingian Franks were regulated to only one small part of the old Roman region of Gaul, and a bit of the Rhineland as well.
Meanwhile, in the east, the Bulgars scored striking victories over their neighboring states, defeating the Greeks, the Illyrians, the Khazars, the Moravians, and even scoring a victory over the distracted Umayyads, who were busy with other things...
Directly following their loss to the Bulgars, the Greeks decided to make a bid for empire, partly driven by revenge against the Bulgars, and partly due to their religious differences to the Umayyad Caliphate. In a swift campaign, he defeated the second largest Umayyad army that was assembled at the time, the other doing... other things, and conquered the Ionian Coast of Turkey and Cyprus for the new Greek Empire, and even considerably inland; he also captured Thrace back from the Bulgars, who were defeated due to turmoil internally.
The Bulgar troubles, as it happened, stemmed mainly from the fact that their Khan had recently converted to Islam, a decision which led to his rule being contested by several of his brothers. However, they united quickly enough behind the Khan after the Greek victory reminded them that there were other nations in the world, and Greater Bulgaria was now solidly Muslim, though it was now devoid of Thrace... For his part, the Khan decided to make up for this by campaigning northward, against the Moravians and Khazars, with some success.
******************
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
How far are you planning to take this timeline?
- Status
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