One: Reign of Jean II (1432-1459)
King of Cyprus, King of Jerusalem, King of Armenia
It is the year of great sorrow as the great city of Constantinople finally fallen to the Turks. Let explain about the situation of last Crusader Kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. Ever since the Guy of Lusignan purchased Cyprus from Knights Templar whom themselves bought it from Richard Lionheart. When he died, his brother, Amalric then received his crown from Holy Roman Emperor at the time. And so, the Royal Dynasty of Lusignan then rule the Kingdom ever since.
The news that Constantinople fallen shook Jean II to core, he went round the bend. In his unholy desire of gold which in his mind, will hire greatest hired armies to recover Jerusalem from evil demons. Regardless of all complaints from officers in his army and fleet, he disbanded his entire armed forces to prevent any more coins on them. Needless to say, with great and terrible threat from these Muslims states literally next door, most of them if not all questioned that decision but the sudden death of some most vocal resistance put to end to these comments.
His hope to augment his income, he begun favoured the naval aspect more in his policy for his Kingdom. The educated people who desire to explore strange ways that benefit their realm were pleased to find the King more pleased to hear their unusual requests. Trading part was focused more than any other aspects.
Henri Fadrigue and Jan Tocco hired at great expense then went on to improving trade and governing aspects. There are no doubt these great men have great effects on course of Kingdom.
At the beginning of the year of 1455, since Jean is now primarily naval oriented, the commander of recently disbanded army begged his ruler to consider a possibility of having a real army and invests more into it. He famously replied, “The fleet is Cyprus’ Castle.” The commander was in explicably distress when he was thrown into sea wearing his full armour. Finally at the end of summer, with the advice from Jan Tocco and in line with Jean’s plan, he chose Shrewd Commerce Practice. This allows Jean to make use of more sophisticated trading practice giving his merchants the upper hand over his competitors.
The people of Cyprus finally recovered from their dismay in following year. Jean told his small group of merchants to trade at the richest marketplace in known world. They immediately went onto their ships full with their wines and set course for Vlaanderen in Low Countries under rule of Duchess of Burgundy Marie I. Merchants from Cyprus literally making great money in Burgundy. Many time Treasury emptied to bride other merchants to trade with them.
On 8th April of 1459, he died at age of 41, ironically falling on rather sharp mast of his son's toy ship. The later history will record him as Jean II the Idle Merchant. In spite of all his troubles, he dragged his land of poorness screaming into era of naval prosperity. The recent research has shown that trading at his death made up two-third of total revenues. For this reason, people of Cyprus knew him as first in long line of the Merchant Kings. The next King is Henri the Third who even expanded his father's dream further.
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Originally Posted by Sapphire
So far, Mamluk is still a power to be reckon with. Still got long way to go...
Kongo? That is even more harder I would guess.
