NEWS OF THE WORLD
1721
ISLAMIC INVASION OF SICILY. Messina, Sultanate of Cordoba. In a year full of expected moves, such as Great Britain's unification of the islands, Polish eastward expansion, and France's unification of France, the Sultanate of Cordoba's decision to land troops to seize Two Sicilies stands out as the most unique early use of the peace in the Mediterranean to expand overseas. The British use of a sixth rate to seize Southern England via Middlesex ranks second as the most ambitious use of sealift, losing out only due to Great Britain's naval supremacy in the North Sea.
CIVIL UNREST IN SWEDEN AND CHINA. Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden. Across both countries, peasants are drilling in the countryside and preparing to overthrow their respective governments over perceived grievances, such as governmental inactivity. Bulgaria escaped such issues this year because of its unique government (OOC: Joined after first update).
Sweden, China, and Bulgaria all benefit from a sizable treasury, however.
BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SHIFTING. Marseilles, Kingdom of France. The establishment of new shipyards along Mediterranean coasts has shifted the balance of power in the sea into the hands of the Sultanate of Cordoba. The Sultanate's naval power in the sea is matched soundly by her sister sultanate in Egypt and by Bulgaria, but in sheer naval capacity, Cordoba's shipbuilding outpaces Egyptian and Bulgarian shipbuilding slightly, and French shipbuilding by a larger margin.
This has created worry in Marseilles, as the country's lack of any Mediterranean fleet could come back to haunt the young kingdom. However, the generals of France are worried more about Cordoba's advance into Catalonia, bringing one of the largest armies in the world just on the border with France.
Galloglaigh. Glasgow, Kingdom of Great Britain. The Galloglaigh is the first ship of its kind. The third rate has turned the British Navy into the most powerful navy in the world overnight, and all be insured Great Britain's North Sea dominance in the face of any serious competitors. Ireland and Southern England offer significant ports on the Coast of Iberia, with shipbuilding capacity in the sea province to match French shipyards in Picardy and Aquitaine.
MAPS AND STATS
Check your Spendable Row for spendable.
Map Legend
Triangles: 6th Rates
Squares: 3rd Rates
Diamonds: 1st Rates
Numbers in Provinces: Shipyard Levels
Numbers in Shapes: Number of ships.
ORDERS LOCK WEDNESDAY.
Correction: New L1 Shipyards from provinces forgotten to be added to stats. Does not affect spendables, so don't worry.