Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
1701: We won’t get fooled again!
Non-Military
King Myrddin of Affalon has decided to expand his tiny realm. He reached beyond the island of Affalon with wide ranging fishing expeditions and plans for a number of small settlements (see military events), however there were some troubles in convincing people to go to the new settlements, as free land still abounds in Affalon. Not sending any military escort with the settlers was not approved of by many either.
Trade on the Arawak Sea, which no longer seems the foremost priority of the Ajaw of T’ho (see military events) would have suffered this year if it were not for the great thirst for metals of the Acolhuan Empire, who has prodigious new army to equip; the Elites of Tarascan Michoacan are growing worried, as are the various proto-city states to the south of the Empire.
The Incan empire seems to be waking up to its problems as Sapa Inca Cupayuc begins to put money towards the reconstruction of the road network – the thing that truly holds the empire together. Meanwhile in the north the Chibcha have begun to rebuild their army and drive back the coastal Caribs.
Rather than expanding his colonial possessions, the Iberian King* decided to develop them instead, and the influx of raw materials and slaves is doing much to help Iberia’s economic recovery after the hyperinflation of its golden again and the crash of its fall (+1 Project progress)
The Royal Academy in Saragossa received a flood of new recruits this year, as the kingdom of Aragon readies itself for a confrontation with France, constructing an impressive series of watchtowers and fortifications in the Pyrenees, and going on a large recruitment drive for military personnel.
Like many others around the world, perhaps spurred by the spirit of a new century, the King of England** was enacting reforms. His were less drastic than most, merely officially renaming the kingdom into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and formally merging the thrones of Scotland and Ireland into this new nation with his “Act of Union”. Some protests arose from the Irish and the Scots, who were still annoyed about that whole “conquering” business, but the happiness of Welsh and some English (and the apathy of the rest) more than made up for it (+1 Confidence). A great naval academy in London, as well as the commissioning of a new fleet of heavy warships also received a mixed reception, some glad of England’s…nay, Britain’s growing power, others are worried about getting involved in continental wars, of which they had more than enough of under the Plantagenets.
King Christian IV of the Kalmar Union is somewhat more ambitious with his reforms than the humble King of Britain. To start with the Kalmarese did away with the personal union of personal unions that he felt was holding the nation back, and suspended the regional assemblies (government changed to Absolute Monarchy). These were replaced with a single centralised bureaucracy (+2 Centralization) that is still somewhat unused to all its functions (-1 Civilian leadership), but with its merit-based application system, that should change in the future. Similar methods where enacted on the army to centralize and winnow out the wheat of a “New Royal Army” out of the chaff of the four, now dismissed, organizations that existed before (-10 Divisions, +2 Army Training, +2 Military leadership). These efforts were successful; forging the nucleus of a new army, but it must be grown quickly to protect against Kalmar’s enemies. The new system of forts should help as well. The Swedes and Danes are hopeful about this new system and new monarch, but the Finns and Norwegians fear being marginalized and ignored, but since the Danes and Swedes make up the majority of the country the net result is favourable (+1 Confidence). However a great weight is being put on the figure of young King Christian; his success or failure will be the new systems success or failure.
Also constructing a series of enormous fortifications this year is the great Emperor Joseph Hapsburg, the Second of his name. His however are placed along the Turkish-Hungarian border, and are, if anything, even more massive than King Christians, and incorporate the latest philosophies on fortification geometry. Like many of his fellow heads of state this year, Josef II has also decided to institute some far ranging reforms, drastically reorganizing the Hapsburg empire, and the Hapsburg realms into a unified Federal state of Reichsstands and Reichsstadte, with the emperor still retaining great power of course. However, wary of too quick a change breaking apart the vast and diverse empire, the Emperor has decided to enact the reforms gradually, keeping ever an ever vigilant eye on his enemies. So far the reforms are getting mixed results – the old realms of Burgundy, Poland and Hungary, are all anxious of their old independence being slowly removed (-1 Confidence). But the entrepreneurs of some of the Reichsstadte have flourished under their new freedom and direct representation, harkening back to the old imperial free cities, and the old Hanse city of Köln has become something of a centre for processed goods (+ Köln Economy Centre).
The Empires Vassals of Savoy-Province and the Papal states quietly develop their militaries, perhaps at the Emperors suggestion.
Of course anything the Empire can do, the French can do better! (According to the French that is) and the new king of France has embarked on a truly monumental series of fortifications designed to completely encircle his nation in every direction. If fact so great were these defences that even with prisoner labour and “donations” from the nobles parts of the network are still incomplete from lack of funding. Deciding not to do any of this silly “reform” business, things having been sorted out before his reign, the king none the less kept a tight lid on everything.
The King of Songhay, much like his ancestor and namesake King Askia Mohammed Ture the Great, has embarked on an ambitious program of…you guessed it…reform into all facets of the empires existence. Firstly, abandoning the traditional mob tactics of the Songhay; used to overwhelm lesser populated states, the army underwent extensive training programs and harsh discipline, with predictable results on Songhay’s weaker military men (-5 Divisions +1 Training level). Secondly an ambitious program of civil reform for both the physical and political apparatus of government was embarked on, with purges and restructuring already bearing fruit (+1 Civilian Leadership). However all this rapid change has surprised and worried the populace (-1 Confidence), and the accusations of corruption leveled against them have stirred up some of the wealthy nobility against the king (-1 Confidence).
The Russian Tsar, or as he now styles himself, Imperator Vladimir II Ioannovich, is also caught up by this reform fever that’s sweeping the world. His are more minor than most, merely setting up a new representative senate for the citizenry, set up with typical Russian style. Once its firmly established it looks like to improve the efficiency of the Tsars government.
The Ottomans Sultans attempts to reconcile with various religious authorities in his empire are hampered somewhat by the harsh tactics used against groups that offer even the slightest hint of rebellion.
The Calicut Crisis (see military events) has hurt the economies of all Indian Ocean nations with significant maritime trade (-1 Economy from Ottomans, Sinhala, Bengal, White Malaya). An increase in overland trade to the west from Bengal and the White Malay to compensate for this has brought wealth to the Gujarat Sultanate (+1 Economy), though this is likely a temporary circumstance.
The Kingdom of Nepal makes a great deal of profit with its army acting as mercenaries in South East Asia, the capital from this, if properly invested could greatly aid the Kingdoms growth.
The Emperor Kangxi of the Later Jin Empire is in a good mood. In the closing day of the auspicious year of 1700 the Great lands his forefathers had conquered were renamed, no more were they merely the “Later Jin”, from now on the Manchu would truly be part of China, as the Da Qing Empire. To celebrate this great time the emperor commissioned a number of educational projects and permitted freedom of religion and study (+1 Culture), and forced (for compensation) the return of the land of Manchu nobles to the peasantry, to the adulation of the lower classes (+1 Confidence). The remaining Ming nobles were stripped of all their lands, the emperor obviously being a student of the “be generous with other people’s property” school of thought. Most Manchu nobles were happy with this, as this brought them considerable revenue, but the richest and most powerful were somewhat unhappy with their losses, even more so when heavy taxes were placed on them, in addition to a new tax code throughout the nation (+1 Economy). Finally the emperor decided to give himself a little gift; all the Eight banners were forced to swear eternal loyalty to the emperor in a grand ceremony, and shamed and exiled all those who showed disloyalty (+1 Centralization). The Da Qing Empire opened its borders to specialists from Nan Ming, Japan, and the south, with quite outrageous amounts of money offered to spur them on their way. Most of these have settled in the port city of Tsingtao, which is growing famous for its crafts, and they have sped along the Da Qing development (+1 Xin Bing project progress). The other nations must act to hold on to their educated cadres in face of this (minor at the moment) brain drain.
The Japanese however, rather than preventing this trend, perhaps seek to encourage it by increasing their trade links with the south, and investing strongly in their own educational establishment. Attempts to “Nipponify” Korea and Taiwan stumble through lack of resources, and resistance from both the home island and the colonial territories (-1 Confidence).
The King of Ayutthaya*** has embarked on a truly ambitious social engineering project, purchasing corvee labourers across the length and breadth of the kingdom, and employing them for the Crown in exchange for more freedom. This has certainly drawn more power to the throne, as well as earning the admiration of the lower classes (+1 Centralization, +1 Confidence) and the cost of worrying the nobles over the loss of their power.
White Malaya also invests in its education, with the establishment of a technical collage eerily similar to those being created in Europe.
Non-Military
King Myrddin of Affalon has decided to expand his tiny realm. He reached beyond the island of Affalon with wide ranging fishing expeditions and plans for a number of small settlements (see military events), however there were some troubles in convincing people to go to the new settlements, as free land still abounds in Affalon. Not sending any military escort with the settlers was not approved of by many either.
Trade on the Arawak Sea, which no longer seems the foremost priority of the Ajaw of T’ho (see military events) would have suffered this year if it were not for the great thirst for metals of the Acolhuan Empire, who has prodigious new army to equip; the Elites of Tarascan Michoacan are growing worried, as are the various proto-city states to the south of the Empire.
The Incan empire seems to be waking up to its problems as Sapa Inca Cupayuc begins to put money towards the reconstruction of the road network – the thing that truly holds the empire together. Meanwhile in the north the Chibcha have begun to rebuild their army and drive back the coastal Caribs.
Rather than expanding his colonial possessions, the Iberian King* decided to develop them instead, and the influx of raw materials and slaves is doing much to help Iberia’s economic recovery after the hyperinflation of its golden again and the crash of its fall (+1 Project progress)
The Royal Academy in Saragossa received a flood of new recruits this year, as the kingdom of Aragon readies itself for a confrontation with France, constructing an impressive series of watchtowers and fortifications in the Pyrenees, and going on a large recruitment drive for military personnel.
Like many others around the world, perhaps spurred by the spirit of a new century, the King of England** was enacting reforms. His were less drastic than most, merely officially renaming the kingdom into the Kingdom of Great Britain, and formally merging the thrones of Scotland and Ireland into this new nation with his “Act of Union”. Some protests arose from the Irish and the Scots, who were still annoyed about that whole “conquering” business, but the happiness of Welsh and some English (and the apathy of the rest) more than made up for it (+1 Confidence). A great naval academy in London, as well as the commissioning of a new fleet of heavy warships also received a mixed reception, some glad of England’s…nay, Britain’s growing power, others are worried about getting involved in continental wars, of which they had more than enough of under the Plantagenets.
King Christian IV of the Kalmar Union is somewhat more ambitious with his reforms than the humble King of Britain. To start with the Kalmarese did away with the personal union of personal unions that he felt was holding the nation back, and suspended the regional assemblies (government changed to Absolute Monarchy). These were replaced with a single centralised bureaucracy (+2 Centralization) that is still somewhat unused to all its functions (-1 Civilian leadership), but with its merit-based application system, that should change in the future. Similar methods where enacted on the army to centralize and winnow out the wheat of a “New Royal Army” out of the chaff of the four, now dismissed, organizations that existed before (-10 Divisions, +2 Army Training, +2 Military leadership). These efforts were successful; forging the nucleus of a new army, but it must be grown quickly to protect against Kalmar’s enemies. The new system of forts should help as well. The Swedes and Danes are hopeful about this new system and new monarch, but the Finns and Norwegians fear being marginalized and ignored, but since the Danes and Swedes make up the majority of the country the net result is favourable (+1 Confidence). However a great weight is being put on the figure of young King Christian; his success or failure will be the new systems success or failure.
Also constructing a series of enormous fortifications this year is the great Emperor Joseph Hapsburg, the Second of his name. His however are placed along the Turkish-Hungarian border, and are, if anything, even more massive than King Christians, and incorporate the latest philosophies on fortification geometry. Like many of his fellow heads of state this year, Josef II has also decided to institute some far ranging reforms, drastically reorganizing the Hapsburg empire, and the Hapsburg realms into a unified Federal state of Reichsstands and Reichsstadte, with the emperor still retaining great power of course. However, wary of too quick a change breaking apart the vast and diverse empire, the Emperor has decided to enact the reforms gradually, keeping ever an ever vigilant eye on his enemies. So far the reforms are getting mixed results – the old realms of Burgundy, Poland and Hungary, are all anxious of their old independence being slowly removed (-1 Confidence). But the entrepreneurs of some of the Reichsstadte have flourished under their new freedom and direct representation, harkening back to the old imperial free cities, and the old Hanse city of Köln has become something of a centre for processed goods (+ Köln Economy Centre).
The Empires Vassals of Savoy-Province and the Papal states quietly develop their militaries, perhaps at the Emperors suggestion.
Of course anything the Empire can do, the French can do better! (According to the French that is) and the new king of France has embarked on a truly monumental series of fortifications designed to completely encircle his nation in every direction. If fact so great were these defences that even with prisoner labour and “donations” from the nobles parts of the network are still incomplete from lack of funding. Deciding not to do any of this silly “reform” business, things having been sorted out before his reign, the king none the less kept a tight lid on everything.
The King of Songhay, much like his ancestor and namesake King Askia Mohammed Ture the Great, has embarked on an ambitious program of…you guessed it…reform into all facets of the empires existence. Firstly, abandoning the traditional mob tactics of the Songhay; used to overwhelm lesser populated states, the army underwent extensive training programs and harsh discipline, with predictable results on Songhay’s weaker military men (-5 Divisions +1 Training level). Secondly an ambitious program of civil reform for both the physical and political apparatus of government was embarked on, with purges and restructuring already bearing fruit (+1 Civilian Leadership). However all this rapid change has surprised and worried the populace (-1 Confidence), and the accusations of corruption leveled against them have stirred up some of the wealthy nobility against the king (-1 Confidence).
The Russian Tsar, or as he now styles himself, Imperator Vladimir II Ioannovich, is also caught up by this reform fever that’s sweeping the world. His are more minor than most, merely setting up a new representative senate for the citizenry, set up with typical Russian style. Once its firmly established it looks like to improve the efficiency of the Tsars government.
The Ottomans Sultans attempts to reconcile with various religious authorities in his empire are hampered somewhat by the harsh tactics used against groups that offer even the slightest hint of rebellion.
The Calicut Crisis (see military events) has hurt the economies of all Indian Ocean nations with significant maritime trade (-1 Economy from Ottomans, Sinhala, Bengal, White Malaya). An increase in overland trade to the west from Bengal and the White Malay to compensate for this has brought wealth to the Gujarat Sultanate (+1 Economy), though this is likely a temporary circumstance.
The Kingdom of Nepal makes a great deal of profit with its army acting as mercenaries in South East Asia, the capital from this, if properly invested could greatly aid the Kingdoms growth.
The Emperor Kangxi of the Later Jin Empire is in a good mood. In the closing day of the auspicious year of 1700 the Great lands his forefathers had conquered were renamed, no more were they merely the “Later Jin”, from now on the Manchu would truly be part of China, as the Da Qing Empire. To celebrate this great time the emperor commissioned a number of educational projects and permitted freedom of religion and study (+1 Culture), and forced (for compensation) the return of the land of Manchu nobles to the peasantry, to the adulation of the lower classes (+1 Confidence). The remaining Ming nobles were stripped of all their lands, the emperor obviously being a student of the “be generous with other people’s property” school of thought. Most Manchu nobles were happy with this, as this brought them considerable revenue, but the richest and most powerful were somewhat unhappy with their losses, even more so when heavy taxes were placed on them, in addition to a new tax code throughout the nation (+1 Economy). Finally the emperor decided to give himself a little gift; all the Eight banners were forced to swear eternal loyalty to the emperor in a grand ceremony, and shamed and exiled all those who showed disloyalty (+1 Centralization). The Da Qing Empire opened its borders to specialists from Nan Ming, Japan, and the south, with quite outrageous amounts of money offered to spur them on their way. Most of these have settled in the port city of Tsingtao, which is growing famous for its crafts, and they have sped along the Da Qing development (+1 Xin Bing project progress). The other nations must act to hold on to their educated cadres in face of this (minor at the moment) brain drain.
The Japanese however, rather than preventing this trend, perhaps seek to encourage it by increasing their trade links with the south, and investing strongly in their own educational establishment. Attempts to “Nipponify” Korea and Taiwan stumble through lack of resources, and resistance from both the home island and the colonial territories (-1 Confidence).
The King of Ayutthaya*** has embarked on a truly ambitious social engineering project, purchasing corvee labourers across the length and breadth of the kingdom, and employing them for the Crown in exchange for more freedom. This has certainly drawn more power to the throne, as well as earning the admiration of the lower classes (+1 Centralization, +1 Confidence) and the cost of worrying the nobles over the loss of their power.
White Malaya also invests in its education, with the establishment of a technical collage eerily similar to those being created in Europe.
It could be just me though 
MY REFORMS ARE BETTER THEN YOURS! 
oro? My poor fleet, she wasn't supposed to be a part of it, oh well, now to rebuild another.
Just a typo when the fingers are faster than the brain 
