The Unification of The British Isles -> 1492 - 1502
England finished the XIV century in a good position. The British Isles were unified once again, after the annexation of Scotland to the Kingdom. Economy expanded, new lands were discovered and colonized and the Navy was reinforced and developed.
But to achieve these results it were need long and hard efforts. The priority was to accept the Scottish people demand and take power of the ancient Scottish Kingdom, rules by a greedy and hated Monarch. When English troops entered in Edinburgh they were treated like heroes.
In a not diplomatic way, an emissary from the Kingdom of France arrived in London. The French King was demanding Calais to “let” England unify the British Isle. What wouldn’t be a French business soon started to be an French excuse to attack England.
Seeing that wouldn’t be another way, England prepared itself for war against France. The military leaders of the Kingdom decided that if the English Navy could destroy the French one, the Kingdom would be safe. But that was the problem: While England had number superiority, it wasn’t huge: Anglosaxons had 70 warships while the French had 50. To aggravate the situation, the French navy was commanded by a good Admiral, called Bidoux, while the England navy in that era didn’t have any renamed leader.
But, by the grace of God and English superior tactics and firepower, the Battle of the Channel was won. After some small defeats, The English Navy could finally regroup and then fight the French one with full morale and force. Result: 33 French ships at the bottom of the sea, while only 7 English warships were lost! After that French Navy haven’t left the port, staying in the port of Vendee until the end of the war. This meant that the country was safety and therefore Calais was secured.
In the north, the Scottish army loyal to the hated King of Scotland were taking heavily loses. In the battle of Edinburgh, the great General Norfok met the Scottish Army. England had 40,000 men while Scotland had 35,000. When the battle finished, the Scottish Army retreated to Highlands with only 4,000 bad conditioned souls, while 38,000 England started to siege the old city.
In the meantime, 17,000 Irish crossed the border with Scotland and started to siege Glasgow. Norfok left the siege of Edinburgh with only its personal guards, but still leaving the city at siege, and come to help the Assault of Glasgow. Soon the richer lands of the north fell under English hands.
After that the war was ended anyway. The Highlands and The Grampians, despite some fanatical resistance, were taken and when the Capital surrendered the hated Scottish King offered peace deal: They would give all lands but the Capital to England and more 49 pieces of gold. After some considerations, Henry VII accepts the offer and peace was signed.
Seeing that continue the war would lead to nowhere, the French King offered a white peace to Henry VII that was immediately accept, despite the fact that this vile action from France wont be forgotten so easily.
After some years, to finish the ongoing project, war was declared again, but this time things were easier. France, knowing what would result join the Scottish side again, leave Scotland alone, the same act was made by Bretagne and Savoy.
Soon the Scotland Kingdom was incorporated into the English Kingdom and Henry VII was crowded Scottish King in the sacred city of Edinburgh. During the ceremony, Your Majesty, Henry VII, or Henry I (for Scotland), remembered William Wallace and his fight for peace and freedom in all British Isles.
It’s important to comment the actions of another great man: J. Cabot. This English explorer discovered new lands in the North part of the continent discovered by Columbus. Soon, with heavy English investments, settlers were sent to the area. A port in Nova Scotia was built and thousands of Trade posts were created to bring furs to the Centers of Trade of Europe.
In Foreign matters, Henry VII strengthens English relationship with Portugal, Spain and especially Austria. The Archduke of Austria, Holy Roman Emperor, offered a full alliance to England to counter French expansionism that was immediately accepted. Both leaders expect to have great profits with this friendship.
What these profits can be? Only the future can say…
