Thanks History Dude. I'll have the next update done within a day or so.
I'll be glad to give it to you when I do.Why wouldn't we care about this AAR?If you do make that tweak to the HRE you were planning to, I'd like to have the code.
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Thank you Gela, I appreciate it. I really mean it.
Berlin is a long way away Saiyan. That said I hope you can enjoy future expansion to the South and North instead.
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Colonialism in Oceania
The East Indies, or Indonesia as it is commonly referred to by the populous, has been ravaged by colonialism. In just seventy years there went from having only the Timurids and Japanese to worry about to now having the entirety of the European World bearing down on the islands. Oddly enough, however, only two European Nations seem to have a keen interest in colonizing the region. Those powers are Spain and the Ummayad Emirate. The Iberian Powers had taken over the islands almost entirely due to the spice trade. Venice had wanted to take control of the islands, but when the Indian ocean was blocked to them Spain quickly reneged on their promise to allow Venice free reign. The Philippines were completely taken over by Spain, as were a lot of the islands. Granada negotiated for the western half of Java
The Timurid Khaganate continues to ravage the area as it regularly declares war with Japan over control of the Malay Peninsula as well as with Malacca and Brunei. The Island of Sumatra is of similar division. As the two great empires of Japan and the Timurids compete over the East Indies most powers are terrified to interfere. The Sultanate of Brunei is not one of those powers. Brunei is lead by a Timurid heir and is using that name and the prowess that comes with it to attack their former neighbors and establish native hegemony. In fact, Brunei is the only native power to not be subject to loss of home territory. Oddly enough, Brunei was dominated by the very same native powers that it now controls. The Sultanate of Gujarat and Bali are the other powers of the region with anything to say. Gujarat is lead by a Genghisid and has had a keen interest in the region for a while now. Bali, however, has been continuously invaded and has survived only by keeping its wits about it and making gains where it can. Gujarat and Bali often engage one another in war.
Farther to the East the presence of Europeans becomes much more potent. The French and Spanish set up colonies stretching across all of Oceania, France has colonies far beyond the ones represented. The difference between French and Spanish expansion into Oceania is that France has done so without the need for war. This is not true for Spain. Indeed Spain has gotten into numerous squabbles with the Natives. Spain had gone to war with both Brunei and Bali. Bali had seized control of over one half of the island that houses Makassar in a war with Spain, in addition they also seized the island of Halmahera. In the ensuing war the Sultanate of Gujarat had taken back the northern half of Sulawesi. Spain immediately recognized Gujarat's claim over that portion of the island. Halmahera, however, would remain in Bali hands.
Another war, this one with Brunei, proved embarrassingly short. Spain had attempted to take the island of Borneo by storm and subjugate the Timurid Sultan before greatly expanding their territories in the far east. This action backfired tremendously, Spain had not been prepared for Brunei to have a strong and functional navy and army. Spain had relegated only the most basic of resources to the war which resulted in the relatively small army and navy to be overwhelmed by the Sultanate of Brunei which had spent the last several decades expanding and restoring their military power. They would seize Irian on New Guinea as well as Taiwan. Both were ethnically Uzbek, one should assume that it was taken from a minor skirmish with their elder brother, the Timurid empire.
One of the greatest Gaffs for Spain in Oceania was in handling Japan, which had in its own right transformed itself into a superpower and fellow colonizer. Spain had the unfortunate occurrence to treat Japan as they would any other Muslim power, this was a decision to respect Japan as a powerful force, but not one that is equal to Europeans. This action was not unique, many European powers had recognized Japan, China, and the Timurids as Muslim powers as they were strong enough to separate themselves from the weak native empires that existed solely for European domination. The problem occurred when Japan demanded to be treated as an equal and its colonial possessions be recognized as their own by Spain. This did not happen, no power seriously entertained the notion that a far eastern native state could be equal to any European power.
A war would ensue over the division of Greater Australia. Japan would surprise Spain with a modern and large navy, as well as a significant army. The Japanese forces inside of Australia quickly invaded and overran the Spanish colonies to the south. Spain's navy and the Japanese navy would also clash, Spain's navy was no longer small after the embarrassing war with Brunei, but it was no match to the Japanese Navy which had employed vast amounts of Khaganate, British, French, Venetian, and Prussian ship builders and naval trainers. Japan would also seize Rabaul. It was at this time that Andalusia once again began to back Spanish territories. Rabaul was the first. And from Tasmania an invasion of Greater Australia ensued. Japanese and Andalusian forces would engage in numerous battles over Greater Australia before the French finally intervened in the conflict and negotiated a peace which recognized Japanese colonial hegemony in all of Australia apart from Tasmania and a single port in the far south of Greater Australia. It was a humiliating loss for Spain that solidified Japan as a power no less equal to the European powers, just the same as the Khaganate had proved centuries ago.
The East Indies, or Indonesia as it is commonly referred to by the populous, has been ravaged by colonialism. In just seventy years there went from having only the Timurids and Japanese to worry about to now having the entirety of the European World bearing down on the islands. Oddly enough, however, only two European Nations seem to have a keen interest in colonizing the region. Those powers are Spain and the Ummayad Emirate. The Iberian Powers had taken over the islands almost entirely due to the spice trade. Venice had wanted to take control of the islands, but when the Indian ocean was blocked to them Spain quickly reneged on their promise to allow Venice free reign. The Philippines were completely taken over by Spain, as were a lot of the islands. Granada negotiated for the western half of Java
The Timurid Khaganate continues to ravage the area as it regularly declares war with Japan over control of the Malay Peninsula as well as with Malacca and Brunei. The Island of Sumatra is of similar division. As the two great empires of Japan and the Timurids compete over the East Indies most powers are terrified to interfere. The Sultanate of Brunei is not one of those powers. Brunei is lead by a Timurid heir and is using that name and the prowess that comes with it to attack their former neighbors and establish native hegemony. In fact, Brunei is the only native power to not be subject to loss of home territory. Oddly enough, Brunei was dominated by the very same native powers that it now controls. The Sultanate of Gujarat and Bali are the other powers of the region with anything to say. Gujarat is lead by a Genghisid and has had a keen interest in the region for a while now. Bali, however, has been continuously invaded and has survived only by keeping its wits about it and making gains where it can. Gujarat and Bali often engage one another in war.
Farther to the East the presence of Europeans becomes much more potent. The French and Spanish set up colonies stretching across all of Oceania, France has colonies far beyond the ones represented. The difference between French and Spanish expansion into Oceania is that France has done so without the need for war. This is not true for Spain. Indeed Spain has gotten into numerous squabbles with the Natives. Spain had gone to war with both Brunei and Bali. Bali had seized control of over one half of the island that houses Makassar in a war with Spain, in addition they also seized the island of Halmahera. In the ensuing war the Sultanate of Gujarat had taken back the northern half of Sulawesi. Spain immediately recognized Gujarat's claim over that portion of the island. Halmahera, however, would remain in Bali hands.
Another war, this one with Brunei, proved embarrassingly short. Spain had attempted to take the island of Borneo by storm and subjugate the Timurid Sultan before greatly expanding their territories in the far east. This action backfired tremendously, Spain had not been prepared for Brunei to have a strong and functional navy and army. Spain had relegated only the most basic of resources to the war which resulted in the relatively small army and navy to be overwhelmed by the Sultanate of Brunei which had spent the last several decades expanding and restoring their military power. They would seize Irian on New Guinea as well as Taiwan. Both were ethnically Uzbek, one should assume that it was taken from a minor skirmish with their elder brother, the Timurid empire.
One of the greatest Gaffs for Spain in Oceania was in handling Japan, which had in its own right transformed itself into a superpower and fellow colonizer. Spain had the unfortunate occurrence to treat Japan as they would any other Muslim power, this was a decision to respect Japan as a powerful force, but not one that is equal to Europeans. This action was not unique, many European powers had recognized Japan, China, and the Timurids as Muslim powers as they were strong enough to separate themselves from the weak native empires that existed solely for European domination. The problem occurred when Japan demanded to be treated as an equal and its colonial possessions be recognized as their own by Spain. This did not happen, no power seriously entertained the notion that a far eastern native state could be equal to any European power.
A war would ensue over the division of Greater Australia. Japan would surprise Spain with a modern and large navy, as well as a significant army. The Japanese forces inside of Australia quickly invaded and overran the Spanish colonies to the south. Spain's navy and the Japanese navy would also clash, Spain's navy was no longer small after the embarrassing war with Brunei, but it was no match to the Japanese Navy which had employed vast amounts of Khaganate, British, French, Venetian, and Prussian ship builders and naval trainers. Japan would also seize Rabaul. It was at this time that Andalusia once again began to back Spanish territories. Rabaul was the first. And from Tasmania an invasion of Greater Australia ensued. Japanese and Andalusian forces would engage in numerous battles over Greater Australia before the French finally intervened in the conflict and negotiated a peace which recognized Japanese colonial hegemony in all of Australia apart from Tasmania and a single port in the far south of Greater Australia. It was a humiliating loss for Spain that solidified Japan as a power no less equal to the European powers, just the same as the Khaganate had proved centuries ago.
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I'm happy to oblige.
Thanks Derahan!Brilliant... just really brilliant!
I commented in my thread because I make a policy out of only commenting on AAR's if I've finished reading them. You've gone on the razors edge that happens in AARs when your country gets way larger than it did historically, the genre I call 'World Conquest AARs" though you've stopped conquesting as much as you did before.
But in the case, the larger your empire gets compared to historical circumstances, the harder that it is to contextualize anything. I'm able to write from Prussian history and from general polisci theories because my Prussia has followed Prussian history, and the detail I go into makes me reticent to conquer too much because I won't know how to WRITE about stuff like that. But this AAR is great, it manages to keep a history book feel even though 2 of the major powers never gained this amount of power, but the strength of the Timurids and the Golden Horde gives this a Land of Rice and Sand feel
But in the case, the larger your empire gets compared to historical circumstances, the harder that it is to contextualize anything. I'm able to write from Prussian history and from general polisci theories because my Prussia has followed Prussian history, and the detail I go into makes me reticent to conquer too much because I won't know how to WRITE about stuff like that. But this AAR is great, it manages to keep a history book feel even though 2 of the major powers never gained this amount of power, but the strength of the Timurids and the Golden Horde gives this a Land of Rice and Sand feel
Thanks History Dude!
Note: This is no attempt to dissect your comment, but rather to address all the points you raised.
The only thing I've entertained even remotely similar to world conquest is evicting Europe out of the old world and force them into the new world. In essence, Eurasia would be mine and they could keep a few islands so the HRE would survive in Corsica and that little Estonian province. The thing is I never truly carried this notion out. My aims are that of politics and the story behind it. The alliance with the Bavarian de Valois was a real defacto alliance in game, both forces helped each other even if there were no official ties which allowed for greater interest. Once Bavaria became owner of the HRE and started to toss their weight around relations slowly soured, as reflected inside the AAR. Also states that were allies that began to share a dynasty such as the de Valois or the von Habsburg would begin to side against one another, also creating a good story about it. The history book feel of this AAR is a direct result of playing off the material the game provides, though there is some occasional manipulation, it is mostly minor and helps the other forces.
Since the inception of this game I have helped most of the forces far more than I've helped myself. Most of the Indian Powers and Chinese powers have received tech and military unit upgrades, which has allowed Japan to attain its rise, and it has prevented the Timurids from conquering China and India with ease. The HRE is now more dynamic and can include provinces that share no border to the HRE if its owner is an HRE member and has 150 relations with the Emperor, or if the owner has relations of 200 even if it is not an HRE member, that said you haven't seen this part yet, no one has. Not even me. The results of this tampering could be minimal at worse, or fundamentally game changing that makes Bavaria a true and worthy opponent. Another thing I've been doing to make the game a bit harder is that I use limited armies, I've referred to the standard unit that I use several times and my force is only a fraction of that allowed.
Note: This is no attempt to dissect your comment, but rather to address all the points you raised.
I would not ask you to comment on my AAR if it would be uncomfortable for you in any way. I'm in the habit of trying to serve my readers, not trying to have them serve me.
I have no intention, nor did I have the intention, of doing a world conquest. I had raced to the colonial game because I did not want any powers grabbing Siberia, it just wouldn't feel right for Portugal or Spain to take the region. That, and I wanted the region too. I'm playing the game based on what could be motives for expansion. One monarch wants to expand rapidly, and he does so when the game allows it. When the Byzantines constantly declared Holy Wars on states when I was defender of the state, well... they had to go. There's no way to justify their presence without retaliation from a monarchical perspective. Then they fled to North Africa and it made the story more interesting, they became Carthage, and a Rome in exile. It brought them into conflict with Spain that wouldn't happen as easily otherwise. It makes for good story. The rise of the von Habsburgs and their conflicts with the de Valois, an actual occurrence in game without the need of interference, allowed me to have a monarch play diplomacy and manipulation with the HRE and the other powers. Almost everything is story driven.
The only thing I've entertained even remotely similar to world conquest is evicting Europe out of the old world and force them into the new world. In essence, Eurasia would be mine and they could keep a few islands so the HRE would survive in Corsica and that little Estonian province. The thing is I never truly carried this notion out. My aims are that of politics and the story behind it. The alliance with the Bavarian de Valois was a real defacto alliance in game, both forces helped each other even if there were no official ties which allowed for greater interest. Once Bavaria became owner of the HRE and started to toss their weight around relations slowly soured, as reflected inside the AAR. Also states that were allies that began to share a dynasty such as the de Valois or the von Habsburg would begin to side against one another, also creating a good story about it. The history book feel of this AAR is a direct result of playing off the material the game provides, though there is some occasional manipulation, it is mostly minor and helps the other forces.
Since the inception of this game I have helped most of the forces far more than I've helped myself. Most of the Indian Powers and Chinese powers have received tech and military unit upgrades, which has allowed Japan to attain its rise, and it has prevented the Timurids from conquering China and India with ease. The HRE is now more dynamic and can include provinces that share no border to the HRE if its owner is an HRE member and has 150 relations with the Emperor, or if the owner has relations of 200 even if it is not an HRE member, that said you haven't seen this part yet, no one has. Not even me. The results of this tampering could be minimal at worse, or fundamentally game changing that makes Bavaria a true and worthy opponent. Another thing I've been doing to make the game a bit harder is that I use limited armies, I've referred to the standard unit that I use several times and my force is only a fraction of that allowed.
I already answered this partially, but the game provides material for you to use. If you record every war that happens, every monarch that dies, every adviser that hi hired, every war that is lost, and even a quarter of the battles and rebellions that occur within a ten year period of the game you have enough raw material for an actual history book. Its how you use this material, and how relevant you can make it to the story, that helps you contextualize even the most absurdly large of forces. You can track their wars, their relations, who they give gifts to, what merchant league they join, what holy wars they fight. This all builds up in the game. Allies are now no longer readily gained and abandoned by the AI forces as there is now some genuine loyalty unless you begin to abuse them or call of them when they are in shambles at home.
Start by cataloging what the forces you expand into have done, and catalog their relations to other forces. If you expand into a province that has a weak monarch or where a Pretender just rose to the throne in, invade the territory under a reason under such a pretense and from there. If you see Dynasties rising and falling incorporate them. The game's dynasty system is primitive, as is its monarchical system, but there is nothing stopping you from using them. If you see the rise of the von Holstein or the von Hohenzollern it can be made into a valuable resource for your story even if you have little to actual write for the few years except never ending battles with an enemy that seems never to run out of manpower, you can add a political back story to it. HRE politics are exceptionally good as it allows for greater play between an HRE member and another HRE member or an outside force like France.
I'm not too sure about that, I draw inspiration for the Golden Horde on Tsarist Russia, the Il Khanate, the Caliphate, and the Mongol Empire. Tsarist Russia is not all that smaller than my Golden Horde. That said, yes, there are a few forces that are ridiculously powerful.
The Timurids were actually more or less a natural occurrence after I got rid of Steppe Horde mechanics (I did this to everything), albeit one that I carefully cultivated and am reluctant to destroy completely. There are some very close powers in terms of strength to the Timurids.
I wonder if Australia can remain split when/if there is an independence movement. Much of the country is not suited to heavy population, right? So the Japanese decendants would probably be on top?
Basically what's taken is all that they can take (with a few inland provinces privy to Japan), so the Japanese colonialists would be dominant. That said there's no independence movement programed into the game for Australia. It wouldn't be a bad idea, same with South Africa and a few others. That said there's nothing saying won't happen in the eventual epilogue or conversion into Vicky II.
Before I post the next update I'd like to show what the Americas were like before I post this next installment. Oceania was empty so there was little need for it and Africa could easily be linked back to what it was before. This one, however, is quite different from what it looked like before. I invite you all to take another look at it.
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Colonialism in the Americas
The Americas is a chaotic mixture of old meets new, with, perhaps, the most orderly colonizing taking place in the Northern continent. Spain is unquestionably dominant in the entire continent. Controlling the richest part of the continent as well as controlling more territory than anyone else, or even anyone else combined. The lands in the northern part of the mainland are so large that it lacks an official name, or unofficial name. It is simply called The Americas, with carrying territories from Florida to Las Manos Norte. The Spanish, so far, has been the only nation to actually go to war with the natives on a larger scale than on the local level. In fact, they have been going to war with some of the Native powers for over one hundred years. Originally there were four enemies that the Spanish fought against, the Creek, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Iroquois. Of all of them, the Iroquois nation is the absolute most powerful of the bunch actually having taken lands from the Spanish in the past. They are the only nation to still have their lands completely intact. The southern nations have had less luck with the Spanish. Though the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Creek nations were strong, they fought against each other creating openings which were easily exploitable. The Creek, the weakest of the nations, was conquered after forty years of conflict. Though they still rebel and have a significant presence, they are no longer a nation. The Cherokee and Shawnee have lost half of their lands, but have allied with one another to defeat the Spaniards who still go to war with them every five years.
After the Spaniards, the Prussians have the most significant presence on the northern continent. They are not quite occupying rich territory, but they make up for that in quantity. Further adding to the point, they are also powerful. They border the Swedes to the north, though there is no doubt that if the Von Habsburgs of Prussia wished to conquer those lands, they could do so. Currently the Prussians have an uneasy agreement with the Iroquois. Neither will interfere with the others affairs and there will be a region in which neither claim dominion inbetween them. The Prussians have no intention of keeping this treaty forever, but for now it is adhered to.
After the Von Habsburg Spaniards and Prussians there are the de Valois French. Originally they agreed to end their border at the advent of Cherokee territory, but as it appeared that the Cherokee lost more and more ground, this treaty became relatively meaningless. The de Valois, instead of attacking the Cherokee, instead drew up an agreement with the Spaniards that their colony's integrity would be maintained. Now the border is between Spain and France. The French colony stretches from the Spanish Coast all the way to the powerful Aztec Empire, which continues to show off force against any invaders. The colony, despite being officially referred to as French North America following the standards laid down since before their arrival, it is unofficially referred to as New France, or Nouvelle-France. France also maintains a presence in the Bahamas as well as Bermuda. The colony was established through island claiming allowing the French navy to secure a route straight to Nouvelle France.
After these three powers, there remains but two more colonizers. The Venetians and the Swedes. Both have relatively minor presences inside North America. The Venetians, eager to also control trade in the Americas attempted to establish a colony on the Island of Newfoundland as a means of having a corridor in the North Atlantic, while they were successful in establishing control on the eastern half of the Island, they were surprised to find that Sweden had claimed lands there as well. Sweden is currently the only colonizer in the entire world to be a reformed catholic. The Venetian colony is currently more so providing for the Swedes than it is Venice. The Swedish colony is dependent upon the Venetians, who control trade into the northern corridor of the Atlantic. The relationship between the Swedes and Venetians is symbiotic in nature at the moment in the North Atlantic, only time will tell if these two minor colonizers start getting active.
North America:
The Caribbean is a very much a monopoly of the Spanish, even more so than North America. Ever since the first voyages into the unknown, most of the islands have been claimed and colonized by the Spaniards. With the natives unaccustomed to Old World diseases, they found themselves quickly becoming a minority in the wake of ever increasing immigration. All of the larger islands have been converted into virtual replicas of provinces of the Spanish Empire, with growing Castillian Populations and towns of Spanish architecture, if you did not know you were on an island you could easily mistake yourself for being in Iberia. All this said, the Caribbean is not exclusively the property of Spain. The French in their journey to find themselves a place to build a colony and in order to get in on the sugar trade established a colony in Saint Lucia and the Turk Islands. Trinidad and Tobago were colonized by Venice in the usual merchantilistic fashion of their breed. With the sugar trade becoming apparently a lucrative business, Venice tried its best to make sure that it did not get left behind. Faced with the awesome might of the Spanish Armada and the resources and the massive Spanish Empire they could only secure two small islands inside of the Caribbean.
Colombia is divided up into three powers, two of which are plainly visible. The King of Naples was not one to limit his power and prestige to just the areas around the Kongo, he also extended it to South America, one of the only places on earth that the Spanish did not monopolize yet in the known world. considered untouched and pristine, the northern part of the continent was named after Christopher Colombus, the explorer who had found the continent. The Spanish control the majority of the Colombia territory, while Naples controls a sizable portion as well, but with Naples portion positioned where it is, it is apparent that Naples cannot expand it's colony, while the Spanish can.
Caribbean:
The South American continent is chaotic with conflicting and overlapping claims of territories with colonies tossed in rather crude patterns. There are currently five nations attempting to colonize the lands, and those are the Republic of Hansa, the Merchant Republic of Venice, The Kingdom of Naples, the Empire of France, and the Empire of Spain. Here, in the mess, there is no nation with a clear advantage over another, apart from perhaps France, which stands resolute with most of the southern tip of the continent under it's wing as French Patagonia, with a small part of Brazil also under it's wing. The French discovered the southern edge of the continent a few decades ago, and immediately began colonizing it to stem off the progression of the other powers into the region. The claim is on mostly barren lands, but there is enough of it to pose a threat if adequately utilized.
Next in terms of power is unclear between Spain and Naples. Neapolitan Colombia is comparable to Spanish Brazil, and Neapolitan Brazil is comparable to New Spain. Spain and Naples have continued to divide up most of the lands in South America between them as with Colombia, and as with Colombia Spain remains in the best position to expand their claims while Naples will ultimately find itself hemmed in, if not by Spain, than by it's lesser neighbors. Nonetheless, the rise of Italian Dominance inside South America was unpredictable, Venice had it's reasons for expanding to every corner of the world, but Naples seems just to colonize for the sake of colonizing. To increase their culture, their power, their prestige, and their faith.
The remaining two powers inside South America, not native to the region, are the Republic of Hansa and the Merchant Republic of Venice. Hansa was experiencing internal turmoil throughout the beginning of the colonizing race. Without their Doge to guide them they found themselves lagging behind in the world. With the United Kingdom controlling the northern corridor into Scandinavia, they have found themselves in a position of irrelevance. With one of their greatest rivals, Novgorod reduced to nothing but a shattered remnant clinging to Kola, they found themselves dying slowly as their prominence waned with each new decade. When Venice took to the sea for merchantile ventures, the Hansa was slow to respond. Finally, they were able to devote what was left of their powers into claiming a small strip of Brazil with the hopes that it will become profitable and they will be able to expand further in the world, hoping it is not to late for them, so far the Hansa is the only member of the Holy Roman Empire to colonize territory. Venice has continued pouring resources into finding new trade routes and new monopolies. they also control a large part of Colombia's territory as well as small chunk of Brazil bordering Hansa. Will these two rivals in trade continue their rise to power in colonial conquest?
South America:
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Colonialism in the Americas
The Americas is a chaotic mixture of old meets new, with, perhaps, the most orderly colonizing taking place in the Northern continent. Spain is unquestionably dominant in the entire continent. Controlling the richest part of the continent as well as controlling more territory than anyone else, or even anyone else combined. The lands in the northern part of the mainland are so large that it lacks an official name, or unofficial name. It is simply called The Americas, with carrying territories from Florida to Las Manos Norte. The Spanish, so far, has been the only nation to actually go to war with the natives on a larger scale than on the local level. In fact, they have been going to war with some of the Native powers for over one hundred years. Originally there were four enemies that the Spanish fought against, the Creek, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Iroquois. Of all of them, the Iroquois nation is the absolute most powerful of the bunch actually having taken lands from the Spanish in the past. They are the only nation to still have their lands completely intact. The southern nations have had less luck with the Spanish. Though the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Creek nations were strong, they fought against each other creating openings which were easily exploitable. The Creek, the weakest of the nations, was conquered after forty years of conflict. Though they still rebel and have a significant presence, they are no longer a nation. The Cherokee and Shawnee have lost half of their lands, but have allied with one another to defeat the Spaniards who still go to war with them every five years.
After the Spaniards, the Prussians have the most significant presence on the northern continent. They are not quite occupying rich territory, but they make up for that in quantity. Further adding to the point, they are also powerful. They border the Swedes to the north, though there is no doubt that if the Von Habsburgs of Prussia wished to conquer those lands, they could do so. Currently the Prussians have an uneasy agreement with the Iroquois. Neither will interfere with the others affairs and there will be a region in which neither claim dominion inbetween them. The Prussians have no intention of keeping this treaty forever, but for now it is adhered to.
After the Von Habsburg Spaniards and Prussians there are the de Valois French. Originally they agreed to end their border at the advent of Cherokee territory, but as it appeared that the Cherokee lost more and more ground, this treaty became relatively meaningless. The de Valois, instead of attacking the Cherokee, instead drew up an agreement with the Spaniards that their colony's integrity would be maintained. Now the border is between Spain and France. The French colony stretches from the Spanish Coast all the way to the powerful Aztec Empire, which continues to show off force against any invaders. The colony, despite being officially referred to as French North America following the standards laid down since before their arrival, it is unofficially referred to as New France, or Nouvelle-France. France also maintains a presence in the Bahamas as well as Bermuda. The colony was established through island claiming allowing the French navy to secure a route straight to Nouvelle France.
After these three powers, there remains but two more colonizers. The Venetians and the Swedes. Both have relatively minor presences inside North America. The Venetians, eager to also control trade in the Americas attempted to establish a colony on the Island of Newfoundland as a means of having a corridor in the North Atlantic, while they were successful in establishing control on the eastern half of the Island, they were surprised to find that Sweden had claimed lands there as well. Sweden is currently the only colonizer in the entire world to be a reformed catholic. The Venetian colony is currently more so providing for the Swedes than it is Venice. The Swedish colony is dependent upon the Venetians, who control trade into the northern corridor of the Atlantic. The relationship between the Swedes and Venetians is symbiotic in nature at the moment in the North Atlantic, only time will tell if these two minor colonizers start getting active.
North America:
The Caribbean is a very much a monopoly of the Spanish, even more so than North America. Ever since the first voyages into the unknown, most of the islands have been claimed and colonized by the Spaniards. With the natives unaccustomed to Old World diseases, they found themselves quickly becoming a minority in the wake of ever increasing immigration. All of the larger islands have been converted into virtual replicas of provinces of the Spanish Empire, with growing Castillian Populations and towns of Spanish architecture, if you did not know you were on an island you could easily mistake yourself for being in Iberia. All this said, the Caribbean is not exclusively the property of Spain. The French in their journey to find themselves a place to build a colony and in order to get in on the sugar trade established a colony in Saint Lucia and the Turk Islands. Trinidad and Tobago were colonized by Venice in the usual merchantilistic fashion of their breed. With the sugar trade becoming apparently a lucrative business, Venice tried its best to make sure that it did not get left behind. Faced with the awesome might of the Spanish Armada and the resources and the massive Spanish Empire they could only secure two small islands inside of the Caribbean.
Colombia is divided up into three powers, two of which are plainly visible. The King of Naples was not one to limit his power and prestige to just the areas around the Kongo, he also extended it to South America, one of the only places on earth that the Spanish did not monopolize yet in the known world. considered untouched and pristine, the northern part of the continent was named after Christopher Colombus, the explorer who had found the continent. The Spanish control the majority of the Colombia territory, while Naples controls a sizable portion as well, but with Naples portion positioned where it is, it is apparent that Naples cannot expand it's colony, while the Spanish can.
Caribbean:
The South American continent is chaotic with conflicting and overlapping claims of territories with colonies tossed in rather crude patterns. There are currently five nations attempting to colonize the lands, and those are the Republic of Hansa, the Merchant Republic of Venice, The Kingdom of Naples, the Empire of France, and the Empire of Spain. Here, in the mess, there is no nation with a clear advantage over another, apart from perhaps France, which stands resolute with most of the southern tip of the continent under it's wing as French Patagonia, with a small part of Brazil also under it's wing. The French discovered the southern edge of the continent a few decades ago, and immediately began colonizing it to stem off the progression of the other powers into the region. The claim is on mostly barren lands, but there is enough of it to pose a threat if adequately utilized.
Next in terms of power is unclear between Spain and Naples. Neapolitan Colombia is comparable to Spanish Brazil, and Neapolitan Brazil is comparable to New Spain. Spain and Naples have continued to divide up most of the lands in South America between them as with Colombia, and as with Colombia Spain remains in the best position to expand their claims while Naples will ultimately find itself hemmed in, if not by Spain, than by it's lesser neighbors. Nonetheless, the rise of Italian Dominance inside South America was unpredictable, Venice had it's reasons for expanding to every corner of the world, but Naples seems just to colonize for the sake of colonizing. To increase their culture, their power, their prestige, and their faith.
The remaining two powers inside South America, not native to the region, are the Republic of Hansa and the Merchant Republic of Venice. Hansa was experiencing internal turmoil throughout the beginning of the colonizing race. Without their Doge to guide them they found themselves lagging behind in the world. With the United Kingdom controlling the northern corridor into Scandinavia, they have found themselves in a position of irrelevance. With one of their greatest rivals, Novgorod reduced to nothing but a shattered remnant clinging to Kola, they found themselves dying slowly as their prominence waned with each new decade. When Venice took to the sea for merchantile ventures, the Hansa was slow to respond. Finally, they were able to devote what was left of their powers into claiming a small strip of Brazil with the hopes that it will become profitable and they will be able to expand further in the world, hoping it is not to late for them, so far the Hansa is the only member of the Holy Roman Empire to colonize territory. Venice has continued pouring resources into finding new trade routes and new monopolies. they also control a large part of Colombia's territory as well as small chunk of Brazil bordering Hansa. Will these two rivals in trade continue their rise to power in colonial conquest?
South America:
nice update! just wonder, shouldn't Neopolitan and Venetian Colombia actully be Neopolitan and Venetian Guyana to be more geograhpically precise?
It was a nice update (I hope so anyways), but an old one. I made that for the 1600 overview. The 1675 update has a very few large, and fundamental, differences which constituted me reposting the 1600 overview.
Thank you Derahan and History Dude for your comments! Now for the actual question of location the concept of Colombia and Brazil changed slightly. While it would be technically right for those two regions to be called Guyana, they aren't called that way inside the update because of the slight change in concept. Much the same way there is no "New Zealand" but rather Greater and Lesser Australia, all of which is referred to as Oceania.
Thank you Derahan and History Dude for your comments! Now for the actual question of location the concept of Colombia and Brazil changed slightly. While it would be technically right for those two regions to be called Guyana, they aren't called that way inside the update because of the slight change in concept. Much the same way there is no "New Zealand" but rather Greater and Lesser Australia, all of which is referred to as Oceania.
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Colonialism in the Americas
The Northeast of the Northern American subcontinent is a very interesting place. Originally Prussia had but an edge of the continent while Sweden and Venice divided the rest of the north. This is no longer the case. Prussia has expanded far beyond the confines of the minor peninsula it originally colonized and spread to the west and north. Periodic wars between Prussia and Spain has changed the landscape. Originally the two existed side by side peacefully, but when a war between Sweden and Venice brought in Prussia and Spain on opposite sides the peaceful co-existence between Spain and Prussia ended in the Americas. The latest war ended with a victory for Spain taking two provinces from Prussia. One from the border, and another "reclaimed" on behalf of the Swedes.
Venice was not so lucky inside the engagements having lost its only colony in North America. As Prussia and the other powers swarmed on the position there was little left for them to do but head elsewhere, and head elsewhere they did becoming a very prominent colonizer in Africa and expanding inside South America. The Kingdom of Norway and the Hanseatic League both made their claims on the region, with some success. The Norwegians gained the useful island of Greenland, which the League managed to capture the northeastern most edge of the continent. Sweden's success was limited. Though they managed to take all of their primary colonial site, a rather large island off the coast of the continent, they had lost their sole mainland colony. They were dismayed when Spain had captured the territory, but refused to return it to the Swedes.
Another stroke of bad luck had taken Norway and Sweden and forced them into a position of humiliation, of sorts. When the Swedes and Norwegians had the gaul to attack the Golden Horde, the Khaganate responded with such harshness that the two Kingdoms would be stripped of the entirety of their European holdings by the Khagan. Norway moved voluntarily, seeking Greener shores in the island of green. Sweden needed greater convincing, and this came with the Ango-Swedish war which completely destroyed what remained of their Scandinavian Empire. Then, and only then, did they move to their island. Many Swedes began calling that island their "New found land" and so the island became known as Newfoundland. Both the Norwegians and the Swedes remain in the New World, even if some of their territories revolt and declare allegiance to them out of fear of the Golden Horde. This fear is well founded as the Khagan has a personal dislike for their arrogance.
Further South we have a more predictable sight. The Empire of Spain lead by the von Habsburgs continues its drive west. This drive is stymied by the Shawnee peoples. They have been fighting with Spain for well over one hundred years. The Shawnee, however, are fighting a losing battle. Every war sees Spain make greater gains. The Shawnee themselves are rapidly losing the will to fight as they are forced deeper and deeper into their own territory. The Cherokee before them were unable to prevent their own destruction at the hands of the Spaniards, while the Shawnee are stronger than they were that is no guarantee that they will survive. The other great Indian Tribe was that of the Iroquois which had effectively defended against the Spanish and Prussians for almost a century. Often they would play Spain and Prussia off of one another to maintain their own independence.
In fact, the Iroquois would expand three times against the forces of Spain and Prussia, claiming colonies as their own. Unfortunately for them, Prussia and Spain had resolved to crush them because of it. In three separate wars the Iroquois were forced back deeper into the inland of the continent. Capitalizing on a disagreement between the Iroquois leaders, Prussia was able to support a breakaway state from the Iroquois that is now firmly in the camp of the colonizers. The great Iroquois nation is no just a shadow of its former self. Some, however, point to them as inspiration to resist the colonials and use the Huron confederacy as an example of what not to do in case of hardship and disagreements. Even if the Iroquois nation is beaten back and decrepit it still raids the Spanish and vies for a union with the Huron, to unite their quarreling tribes before it is too late for them to stand against them.
For the rest of the territory the Venetians had managed to keep control of Trinidad and Tobago in spite of several wars with the Spaniards and French, the primary owners of the Caribbean. In addition the Emirate of Granada has once again proven itself to be versatile in colonizing the world. The Isthmus connecting the northern and southern subcontinents of the Americas has become part of their domain. It is unknown how exactly they came to have those colonies. Theories abound over the subject. Some claim that Spain and given them the colonies as a reward for their service to the Empire over the many years. Some believe that they were territories captured in one of the many wars, perhaps from a lesser power which the great powers did not approve of. One thing is for certain, with this strategic position the Andalusian colony in North America, no matter how small, is very significant to trade in the region for connecting North to South even if the terrain is hard to traverse.
The central region of the northern subcontinent is sometimes referred to as Mexico, a Spanish tainted word that used to come from the natives. This region has been far more chaotic than in the north or in the south. Here there has been a great many genuine wars over control of the region. The French, British, Spanish, and Andalusian quarrel over the region, its gold, its resources, and the prized Pacific coast. Ever since Christopher Columbus set sail to the west in the hopes of finding China the powers of Europe had tried their hardest to acquire a route to the East. As a route was made over the horn of Africa and under Patagonia, now the powers wish to make their claim on the region so that they can catapult their interests into the far east far more easily than they could from the eastern shores of America or on the tiny islands that dot the Indian Ocean.
The main enemy to colonial conquest in the region of Mexico was the Aztec Empire. A powerful state that had defeated all European attempts at conquest. Even Cortez suffered defeat after defeat at the hands of the Aztecs. After it became apparent that in order to beat the Aztecs, you needed to control the territory around it, the French colonized both coasts in an attempt to defeat them. Their attempts ended in failure. Nevertheless French Mexico had expanded vastly. Many people wished to refer to the colony as New France as its population grew and grew. France officially refused to do so and kept it named Mexico. One of four Mexican colonies in the region. Where France had failed, Spain would soon stake their own name on an attempt to conquer the mighty Aztecs.
They failed. But not as spectacularly as the French had. After several years of bloody fighting Spain had managed to get the Aztecs to make a rather small, and minor, concession on their coast. This would become the beginning of the end of the Aztecs. Every seven to ten years a European would attempt to conquer them. The French, the Venetians, the Prussians, and even the Kingdom of Naples would try. They would all fail. The Aztecs had managed to withstand the best that Europe had to offer, but inside their state the Aztecs were beginning to wear down. Their stability was always in shambles. Their army was poorly funded. Their mass sacrifices had further damaged them. The Aztec Emperor had finally resolved to end the practice completely which caused several hard feelings between the Aztec Ruler and the religious theocrats that were under him. For a time the Aztec Emperor managed to control his people and keep the Theocrats at bay, but then the fifth French invasion began.
This French invasion was different from the other ones. France's army was better prepared and their forces were a little stronger, no doubt a sign that France had been right. The key to conquering the Aztecs came with colonizing the region surrounding them. The Aztecs were completely cut off save a single Spanish colony that served no better than harassment. The French had succeeded in conquering most of the region when a single Aztec regiment of three thousand broke through the French line and marched into French territory. This would prove disastrous for the French. Many of their colonies lacked walls to defend them. Some, with insufficient numbers, were either razed to the ground or claimed as sovereign territory of the Aztec Empire. The French were thoroughly humiliated and sent their soldiers back to deal with the Aztec soldiers. It took years to defeat them, but by then the Aztecs had raised a much larger army.
The war continued for several more years before Spain declared war on the Aztecs as well. Ordinarily France would have just been mildly unhappy that a von Habsburg and a de Valois teamed up to take on the Aztecs, but this situation was different. The Aztecs had claimed a large portion of the western coastline. The French themselves were not numerous enough to claim the territory in any real haste and the Aztecs were a constant source of worry. The Aztec Emperor had believed he was about to score the greatest victory a native Empire had ever achieved against a colonial power, but he was wrong. The Spanish army, though smaller, was lead by incredibly talented commanders from their many wars with Prussia and on the continent. These commanders swept through country and would claim all captured colonies for their own. This would give Spain the French west coast, which would the the source of unending conflict between the two.
It was at this time that the Aztec Emperor realized that he was unable to withstand the armies of two of the greatest powers Europe had ever seen, as well as against the allies of the two greatest families inside the entirety of the world. He capitulated for a peace, that was surprisingly generous. Spain merely took three more provinces and had got Spain to renounce their claims on the originally captured territory. The Emperor, counting his blessings, declared the war a victory for his people. To any other nation this would be a defeat, but for the Aztecs to go up against the forces of the world and survive it was indeed no small triumph. Unfortunately for the Emperor his underlings did not agree. With this latest defeat the theocrats rose up everywhere. Particularists, Nobles, Peasants, and Zealots ravaged the country side. He had lost control of his country. It was at this time, the worst of all times, that the British decided to invade.
The British at this time were still lead by the von Habsburgs. The British had failed to establish a colonial empire of their own in the Americas for centuries, which had become the primary concern for the British as they were seen to be second rate colonizers, even put up against their Prussian cousins who controlled some of the more inhospitable terrain. There was a lot of truth to that as for all intents and purposes they were second rate colonizers. This would change with the war with the Aztecs. The Aztec Emperor had no control over his country and the rebels refused to yield to his leadership, which was for all intents and purposes some of the best in the world at the time. The British landed with only minor difficulties against disorganized nobles, peasants, particularists, and zealots. Within mere months the entirety of the great Aztec Empire was occupied.
A horrendous peace followed as more than half of the country was taken by the British. Instead of uniting as one against the British, who were by no means as benevolent as their Habsburg cousins in Spain, they pushed the blame entirely on the Emperor. Now the Emperor could have done nothing for the people who refused to follow him, and now the Emperor could do nothing as the state fell into an even greater state of disrepair. This time the powers of the land had regicide on their mind. The Aztec Emperor was killed in a coup, as were all fourteen of his children. His younger brother would flee to the Yucatan Peninsula where he would ally with the Spaniards who would invade the remnant Aztec Empire. This Empire, now existing solely in name, fell to the Spaniards who set up the rival Mayan Empire to the Aztecs. Shortly after the British would invade yet again and conquer what remained of the Aztecs.
The actual Aztec Empire may have been defeated, but the Empire lives on with the Mayans. The Mayans are ruled by the Aztec Dynastic line even if they are not Aztec in terms of culture. The Maya would be a completely different civilization from the Aztecs, but be the same in many ways. This Mayan Empire is an ally of the Spanish and will, for all intents and purposes, survive the onslaught of time where other native peoples had failed. That is, so long as they remain allied to their Spanish Patron. It is unknown if the British or the French will invade the small country, but until they do the Mayans will remain at peace.
The last part of the northern sub continent is much more divided. This region has not had centuries to develop into nicely organized territories. Much of it remains roughly done. Wars between the Spanish Empire and the French Empire remain commonplace. The entire west coast of the northern sub continent is referred to as either Pacifica or California. Pacifica is so named because of the ocean it borders in much the same way that some people referred to early Atlantic colonies as Atlantis. The idea of California has a more interesting origin. Originally California was the same thing as Mexico, but after Spain had claimed enough land to divide the French colony of Mexico into two regions, and the sheer length of time to communicate between the French west Mexico to east Mexico the French decided to divide Mexico into California and Mexico. The name apparently caught on as both Spain and Andalusia would claim to have colonies named California, most of which were captured from France.
French Pacifica came about after the French Empire claimed the region under the valiant admiral Petain. The region has a valuable fur trade as well as enjoys close relations to the Golden Horde's Siberian territories in the far east. Spain has fought France several times over the region but in all cases France remains far too stubborn to give up Pacifica. It was not all wars, however. France became the first nation to link the American colonies to the Oceanian colonies by claiming the Kingdom of Hawaii as a colony and using it as a naval base, with its natural harbors, to coordinate communications and traveling between regions. Spain shows no official interest in the island chain preferring to capture more strategic territory for trade with the lucrative Khaganate market.
The Eastern regions of the southern sub continent has been a hot bed of activity between the Republic of Venice, the Hanseatic League, and the Kingdom of Naples. Spain and France have been known to intervene as they see fit in the region. Venice's colonies were always in constant conflict with that of Naples. Venetian Colombia was surrounded by Neapolitan Colombia and Brazil. Over a period of several decades of warfare Venice had become supreme inside the conflict, but not completely so. Neapolitan Colombia ceased to exist as it was absorbed into Venetian Colombia. In addition the northern half of Neapolitan Brazil was ceded to Venice. With this new development Venice merged Venetian Colombia with Venetian Brazil, with the main seat of Venetian Brazil shifted to the northern territories. Since Brazil's transition to the African coast, the security of Brazil has become a top priority.
Naples, however is facing problems of their own. Before they were a dominant power in Europe, but now it has become apparent that they are a waning empire. France had intervened on the behalf of Venice inside the conflict with Naples. Unfortunately what was just a colonial squabble soon involved a French invasion of Naples itself. After being soundly defeated France had taken territory belonging to Naples for hundreds of years. Later Spain would declare war on the nation yet again and would follow France's president by taking a colonial disagreement to Naples, this time forcing it to cede a province and grant Sicily independence. With this it became apparent that Naples could not afford to stay in Europe much longer, but with Brazil a hotbed of wars were could they go? The Monarchy, for now, remains in their traditional seat of power in the city of Napoli. Only time will tell if the city will fall to another power.
The Hanseastic League is another interesting case. Unlike Venice who retreated under rather dire circumstances but remaining in control of their capital, or like Sweden or Norway that witnessed the empire crumble before retreating, but refusing to return even when their homeland becomes independent again, the Hanseatic league fled from Europe in the face of annexation. The Empire of France and the insidious de Valois had their eyes on Lubeck and would take the city. Hansa didn't retreat because it wished to be safe, it retreated because their great city was sacked and occupied by France. Without a single European holding left, the Hanseatic League has become a state focused on keeping what little it has. In the North this involves keeping the most frigid and unwanted of provinces. To the south it includes staying far out of the way of Spain and France and engaging in only the tiniest of squabbles with Venice.
Inside the western part of the southern sub continent things have progressed predictably for the most part. France has monopolized Patagonia claiming a large portion of the southern part of the southern sub continent. Spain has driven west, as it has with its northern territories and south from Colombia. Now they control almost the entirety of the sub continent apart from the Brazilian colonies and French Patagonia, one being too full of diverse nationalities to bother with and the other too powerful to take outright. This leaves the Empire of the Inca, which has proven itself to be even more resourceful and powerful than the Aztecs. Their downfall, however, has been their inaction. The Inca has been content to merely control their lands and have shown no drive to take on the Spanish. Instead the Inca and their client state the Chimu have merely gone to war with the Europeans when they have already declared wars on them.
Each time, however, they have proven themselves to be exceptional warriors. The Spanish forces are unable to truly defeat the stable Inca Empire. And since the Inca are far away from the French and other European powers, the Inca hasn't had to worry about succumbing to the same situation that the Aztecs did. Unfortunately for the Inca, as the world becomes more developed their isolation effectively ceases to exist. The Inca are also known to be prominent for their conversion to Catholicism. Very few Inca actually follow the faith, however. Even so it has nevertheless proven to be an excellent deterrent from most of the European Powers even if they will never recognize them as an equal. The Papacy has declared the Inca a sovereign and educated people, unlike the pagan and animist heathens that the European powers continue to conquer relentlessly. Only time will tell if the Inca can survive another seventy-five years.
The Northeast of the Northern American subcontinent is a very interesting place. Originally Prussia had but an edge of the continent while Sweden and Venice divided the rest of the north. This is no longer the case. Prussia has expanded far beyond the confines of the minor peninsula it originally colonized and spread to the west and north. Periodic wars between Prussia and Spain has changed the landscape. Originally the two existed side by side peacefully, but when a war between Sweden and Venice brought in Prussia and Spain on opposite sides the peaceful co-existence between Spain and Prussia ended in the Americas. The latest war ended with a victory for Spain taking two provinces from Prussia. One from the border, and another "reclaimed" on behalf of the Swedes.
Venice was not so lucky inside the engagements having lost its only colony in North America. As Prussia and the other powers swarmed on the position there was little left for them to do but head elsewhere, and head elsewhere they did becoming a very prominent colonizer in Africa and expanding inside South America. The Kingdom of Norway and the Hanseatic League both made their claims on the region, with some success. The Norwegians gained the useful island of Greenland, which the League managed to capture the northeastern most edge of the continent. Sweden's success was limited. Though they managed to take all of their primary colonial site, a rather large island off the coast of the continent, they had lost their sole mainland colony. They were dismayed when Spain had captured the territory, but refused to return it to the Swedes.
Another stroke of bad luck had taken Norway and Sweden and forced them into a position of humiliation, of sorts. When the Swedes and Norwegians had the gaul to attack the Golden Horde, the Khaganate responded with such harshness that the two Kingdoms would be stripped of the entirety of their European holdings by the Khagan. Norway moved voluntarily, seeking Greener shores in the island of green. Sweden needed greater convincing, and this came with the Ango-Swedish war which completely destroyed what remained of their Scandinavian Empire. Then, and only then, did they move to their island. Many Swedes began calling that island their "New found land" and so the island became known as Newfoundland. Both the Norwegians and the Swedes remain in the New World, even if some of their territories revolt and declare allegiance to them out of fear of the Golden Horde. This fear is well founded as the Khagan has a personal dislike for their arrogance.
Further South we have a more predictable sight. The Empire of Spain lead by the von Habsburgs continues its drive west. This drive is stymied by the Shawnee peoples. They have been fighting with Spain for well over one hundred years. The Shawnee, however, are fighting a losing battle. Every war sees Spain make greater gains. The Shawnee themselves are rapidly losing the will to fight as they are forced deeper and deeper into their own territory. The Cherokee before them were unable to prevent their own destruction at the hands of the Spaniards, while the Shawnee are stronger than they were that is no guarantee that they will survive. The other great Indian Tribe was that of the Iroquois which had effectively defended against the Spanish and Prussians for almost a century. Often they would play Spain and Prussia off of one another to maintain their own independence.
In fact, the Iroquois would expand three times against the forces of Spain and Prussia, claiming colonies as their own. Unfortunately for them, Prussia and Spain had resolved to crush them because of it. In three separate wars the Iroquois were forced back deeper into the inland of the continent. Capitalizing on a disagreement between the Iroquois leaders, Prussia was able to support a breakaway state from the Iroquois that is now firmly in the camp of the colonizers. The great Iroquois nation is no just a shadow of its former self. Some, however, point to them as inspiration to resist the colonials and use the Huron confederacy as an example of what not to do in case of hardship and disagreements. Even if the Iroquois nation is beaten back and decrepit it still raids the Spanish and vies for a union with the Huron, to unite their quarreling tribes before it is too late for them to stand against them.
For the rest of the territory the Venetians had managed to keep control of Trinidad and Tobago in spite of several wars with the Spaniards and French, the primary owners of the Caribbean. In addition the Emirate of Granada has once again proven itself to be versatile in colonizing the world. The Isthmus connecting the northern and southern subcontinents of the Americas has become part of their domain. It is unknown how exactly they came to have those colonies. Theories abound over the subject. Some claim that Spain and given them the colonies as a reward for their service to the Empire over the many years. Some believe that they were territories captured in one of the many wars, perhaps from a lesser power which the great powers did not approve of. One thing is for certain, with this strategic position the Andalusian colony in North America, no matter how small, is very significant to trade in the region for connecting North to South even if the terrain is hard to traverse.
The central region of the northern subcontinent is sometimes referred to as Mexico, a Spanish tainted word that used to come from the natives. This region has been far more chaotic than in the north or in the south. Here there has been a great many genuine wars over control of the region. The French, British, Spanish, and Andalusian quarrel over the region, its gold, its resources, and the prized Pacific coast. Ever since Christopher Columbus set sail to the west in the hopes of finding China the powers of Europe had tried their hardest to acquire a route to the East. As a route was made over the horn of Africa and under Patagonia, now the powers wish to make their claim on the region so that they can catapult their interests into the far east far more easily than they could from the eastern shores of America or on the tiny islands that dot the Indian Ocean.
The main enemy to colonial conquest in the region of Mexico was the Aztec Empire. A powerful state that had defeated all European attempts at conquest. Even Cortez suffered defeat after defeat at the hands of the Aztecs. After it became apparent that in order to beat the Aztecs, you needed to control the territory around it, the French colonized both coasts in an attempt to defeat them. Their attempts ended in failure. Nevertheless French Mexico had expanded vastly. Many people wished to refer to the colony as New France as its population grew and grew. France officially refused to do so and kept it named Mexico. One of four Mexican colonies in the region. Where France had failed, Spain would soon stake their own name on an attempt to conquer the mighty Aztecs.
They failed. But not as spectacularly as the French had. After several years of bloody fighting Spain had managed to get the Aztecs to make a rather small, and minor, concession on their coast. This would become the beginning of the end of the Aztecs. Every seven to ten years a European would attempt to conquer them. The French, the Venetians, the Prussians, and even the Kingdom of Naples would try. They would all fail. The Aztecs had managed to withstand the best that Europe had to offer, but inside their state the Aztecs were beginning to wear down. Their stability was always in shambles. Their army was poorly funded. Their mass sacrifices had further damaged them. The Aztec Emperor had finally resolved to end the practice completely which caused several hard feelings between the Aztec Ruler and the religious theocrats that were under him. For a time the Aztec Emperor managed to control his people and keep the Theocrats at bay, but then the fifth French invasion began.
This French invasion was different from the other ones. France's army was better prepared and their forces were a little stronger, no doubt a sign that France had been right. The key to conquering the Aztecs came with colonizing the region surrounding them. The Aztecs were completely cut off save a single Spanish colony that served no better than harassment. The French had succeeded in conquering most of the region when a single Aztec regiment of three thousand broke through the French line and marched into French territory. This would prove disastrous for the French. Many of their colonies lacked walls to defend them. Some, with insufficient numbers, were either razed to the ground or claimed as sovereign territory of the Aztec Empire. The French were thoroughly humiliated and sent their soldiers back to deal with the Aztec soldiers. It took years to defeat them, but by then the Aztecs had raised a much larger army.
The war continued for several more years before Spain declared war on the Aztecs as well. Ordinarily France would have just been mildly unhappy that a von Habsburg and a de Valois teamed up to take on the Aztecs, but this situation was different. The Aztecs had claimed a large portion of the western coastline. The French themselves were not numerous enough to claim the territory in any real haste and the Aztecs were a constant source of worry. The Aztec Emperor had believed he was about to score the greatest victory a native Empire had ever achieved against a colonial power, but he was wrong. The Spanish army, though smaller, was lead by incredibly talented commanders from their many wars with Prussia and on the continent. These commanders swept through country and would claim all captured colonies for their own. This would give Spain the French west coast, which would the the source of unending conflict between the two.
It was at this time that the Aztec Emperor realized that he was unable to withstand the armies of two of the greatest powers Europe had ever seen, as well as against the allies of the two greatest families inside the entirety of the world. He capitulated for a peace, that was surprisingly generous. Spain merely took three more provinces and had got Spain to renounce their claims on the originally captured territory. The Emperor, counting his blessings, declared the war a victory for his people. To any other nation this would be a defeat, but for the Aztecs to go up against the forces of the world and survive it was indeed no small triumph. Unfortunately for the Emperor his underlings did not agree. With this latest defeat the theocrats rose up everywhere. Particularists, Nobles, Peasants, and Zealots ravaged the country side. He had lost control of his country. It was at this time, the worst of all times, that the British decided to invade.
The British at this time were still lead by the von Habsburgs. The British had failed to establish a colonial empire of their own in the Americas for centuries, which had become the primary concern for the British as they were seen to be second rate colonizers, even put up against their Prussian cousins who controlled some of the more inhospitable terrain. There was a lot of truth to that as for all intents and purposes they were second rate colonizers. This would change with the war with the Aztecs. The Aztec Emperor had no control over his country and the rebels refused to yield to his leadership, which was for all intents and purposes some of the best in the world at the time. The British landed with only minor difficulties against disorganized nobles, peasants, particularists, and zealots. Within mere months the entirety of the great Aztec Empire was occupied.
A horrendous peace followed as more than half of the country was taken by the British. Instead of uniting as one against the British, who were by no means as benevolent as their Habsburg cousins in Spain, they pushed the blame entirely on the Emperor. Now the Emperor could have done nothing for the people who refused to follow him, and now the Emperor could do nothing as the state fell into an even greater state of disrepair. This time the powers of the land had regicide on their mind. The Aztec Emperor was killed in a coup, as were all fourteen of his children. His younger brother would flee to the Yucatan Peninsula where he would ally with the Spaniards who would invade the remnant Aztec Empire. This Empire, now existing solely in name, fell to the Spaniards who set up the rival Mayan Empire to the Aztecs. Shortly after the British would invade yet again and conquer what remained of the Aztecs.
The actual Aztec Empire may have been defeated, but the Empire lives on with the Mayans. The Mayans are ruled by the Aztec Dynastic line even if they are not Aztec in terms of culture. The Maya would be a completely different civilization from the Aztecs, but be the same in many ways. This Mayan Empire is an ally of the Spanish and will, for all intents and purposes, survive the onslaught of time where other native peoples had failed. That is, so long as they remain allied to their Spanish Patron. It is unknown if the British or the French will invade the small country, but until they do the Mayans will remain at peace.
The last part of the northern sub continent is much more divided. This region has not had centuries to develop into nicely organized territories. Much of it remains roughly done. Wars between the Spanish Empire and the French Empire remain commonplace. The entire west coast of the northern sub continent is referred to as either Pacifica or California. Pacifica is so named because of the ocean it borders in much the same way that some people referred to early Atlantic colonies as Atlantis. The idea of California has a more interesting origin. Originally California was the same thing as Mexico, but after Spain had claimed enough land to divide the French colony of Mexico into two regions, and the sheer length of time to communicate between the French west Mexico to east Mexico the French decided to divide Mexico into California and Mexico. The name apparently caught on as both Spain and Andalusia would claim to have colonies named California, most of which were captured from France.
French Pacifica came about after the French Empire claimed the region under the valiant admiral Petain. The region has a valuable fur trade as well as enjoys close relations to the Golden Horde's Siberian territories in the far east. Spain has fought France several times over the region but in all cases France remains far too stubborn to give up Pacifica. It was not all wars, however. France became the first nation to link the American colonies to the Oceanian colonies by claiming the Kingdom of Hawaii as a colony and using it as a naval base, with its natural harbors, to coordinate communications and traveling between regions. Spain shows no official interest in the island chain preferring to capture more strategic territory for trade with the lucrative Khaganate market.
The Eastern regions of the southern sub continent has been a hot bed of activity between the Republic of Venice, the Hanseatic League, and the Kingdom of Naples. Spain and France have been known to intervene as they see fit in the region. Venice's colonies were always in constant conflict with that of Naples. Venetian Colombia was surrounded by Neapolitan Colombia and Brazil. Over a period of several decades of warfare Venice had become supreme inside the conflict, but not completely so. Neapolitan Colombia ceased to exist as it was absorbed into Venetian Colombia. In addition the northern half of Neapolitan Brazil was ceded to Venice. With this new development Venice merged Venetian Colombia with Venetian Brazil, with the main seat of Venetian Brazil shifted to the northern territories. Since Brazil's transition to the African coast, the security of Brazil has become a top priority.
Naples, however is facing problems of their own. Before they were a dominant power in Europe, but now it has become apparent that they are a waning empire. France had intervened on the behalf of Venice inside the conflict with Naples. Unfortunately what was just a colonial squabble soon involved a French invasion of Naples itself. After being soundly defeated France had taken territory belonging to Naples for hundreds of years. Later Spain would declare war on the nation yet again and would follow France's president by taking a colonial disagreement to Naples, this time forcing it to cede a province and grant Sicily independence. With this it became apparent that Naples could not afford to stay in Europe much longer, but with Brazil a hotbed of wars were could they go? The Monarchy, for now, remains in their traditional seat of power in the city of Napoli. Only time will tell if the city will fall to another power.
The Hanseastic League is another interesting case. Unlike Venice who retreated under rather dire circumstances but remaining in control of their capital, or like Sweden or Norway that witnessed the empire crumble before retreating, but refusing to return even when their homeland becomes independent again, the Hanseatic league fled from Europe in the face of annexation. The Empire of France and the insidious de Valois had their eyes on Lubeck and would take the city. Hansa didn't retreat because it wished to be safe, it retreated because their great city was sacked and occupied by France. Without a single European holding left, the Hanseatic League has become a state focused on keeping what little it has. In the North this involves keeping the most frigid and unwanted of provinces. To the south it includes staying far out of the way of Spain and France and engaging in only the tiniest of squabbles with Venice.
Inside the western part of the southern sub continent things have progressed predictably for the most part. France has monopolized Patagonia claiming a large portion of the southern part of the southern sub continent. Spain has driven west, as it has with its northern territories and south from Colombia. Now they control almost the entirety of the sub continent apart from the Brazilian colonies and French Patagonia, one being too full of diverse nationalities to bother with and the other too powerful to take outright. This leaves the Empire of the Inca, which has proven itself to be even more resourceful and powerful than the Aztecs. Their downfall, however, has been their inaction. The Inca has been content to merely control their lands and have shown no drive to take on the Spanish. Instead the Inca and their client state the Chimu have merely gone to war with the Europeans when they have already declared wars on them.
Each time, however, they have proven themselves to be exceptional warriors. The Spanish forces are unable to truly defeat the stable Inca Empire. And since the Inca are far away from the French and other European powers, the Inca hasn't had to worry about succumbing to the same situation that the Aztecs did. Unfortunately for the Inca, as the world becomes more developed their isolation effectively ceases to exist. The Inca are also known to be prominent for their conversion to Catholicism. Very few Inca actually follow the faith, however. Even so it has nevertheless proven to be an excellent deterrent from most of the European Powers even if they will never recognize them as an equal. The Papacy has declared the Inca a sovereign and educated people, unlike the pagan and animist heathens that the European powers continue to conquer relentlessly. Only time will tell if the Inca can survive another seventy-five years.
