The World in 1393 and How it Got There
France and the British Isles
England:
The King and the nobles of England are for the most part French-speaking, although ruling their domains from London, an arrangement that has persisted since the Norman conquest in 1066, with an interruption for a period of civil strife and Norse-influenced rule in the early 1200s. Having regained control of the country, the Normano-English have expanded both on the Island and on the Continent (in Guyenne, Maine and Normandy), where they vie with Burgundy for the French crown. The Kingdom is once again one of the most powerful countries in Europe, but its greatest moments still lie ahead…
Scotland:
Scotland has barely survived as an independent nation; almost completely occupied by the English in the mid-1100s, the Scots nonetheless seized their chance at independence when English royal authority collapsed. Soon after the restoration of the Scottish Crown, the dynasty of the Earls of Caithness died out and Charles, Duke of Blois, was invited to rule. Through several fortunate accidents of inheritance, the new de Blois dynasty found itself in control of the immensely rich Flandres and Artois, and has used the money to expand on the Island whenever possible, while investing in a vast merchant fleet…
Ireland:
Since Irish unification seemed as unlikely a goal as a Russian Emperor in Constantinople, it likewise came about. The Red Branch of the O’Neills unified the country by 1140, and has largely held it intact despite somewhat frequent rebellions. The country has prospered under their rule, so much so that far from fearing English invasions, they had conquered the domains of the Manx kings, repeatedly warred with Scotland and Brittany, and even sponsored several crusades into Portugal and the African Coast, a few of which helped local Christians through off the Muslim yoke…
Wales:
Although small and poor, Wales arose to prominence in Europe when Alastair ap Seisyll enrolled as a knight in the service of the German Emperor. The wide adventures of the dynasty are well-known; not only were his descendants briefly Kings of Naples, they also fought under German banners in Egypt, Tripoli and Carinthia. The accumulated prestige and backing from the Emperor allowed them to finally unify their country into a single Kingdom that has survived precariously, and, if it plays its diplomatic connections right, could still stand unbowed by any of its neighbours…
Cornwall:
The Cornish haven’t been a great nation for centuries, and were under the Saxon and the Norman lords; however, the collapse of the English Kingdom in the 1200s gave the local prominent men a chance to assert their power, so when the new Duchy of Cornwall was re-established, it pursued a course independent of London, falling at long last into the orbit of Wales. How long they stay independent will also largely depend on their larger ally…
Poitou:
After liberation from the Muslims, the Dukes of Poitou were vassals to the Grand Duchy of Holstein, Grand Duchy of Lower Lorraine, and finally England. This part of the country was a major battleground and is not one of the richer parts of France anymore, dependent on the English to defend their interests.
Orleans:
Orleans is the last Duchy not dependent on England or Burgundy; the Orleannais think of themselves as the last True Frenchmen, and pursue a stubbornly independent course. Like most of France, Orleans fell to the forces of Seville in the early 1200s, but avoided the tragic misfortunes of fire, pillage, famine and disease that befell Paris. Can the Orleannais form the nucleus of a new, Free France, or will they be absorbed by their neighbours?
Brittany:
The Bretons are a people apart, who, like the Scots, have taken advantage of the collapse of English, French and Sevillan might to arise as a regional power. The Duchy is home to many famed sailors and pirates. It depends on the control of the seas to keep the wealth flowing, and on English weakness to stay independent.
Burgundy:
It is almost impossible to quickly summarise Burgundy; in its history it has progressed through numerous highs and lows. Beginning as the Kingdom of Arles, the state sometimes grew to include both the kingdoms of Germany and Italy, only to lose it all to violent upheavals in Imperial politics. Since the collapse of France, it has expanded ever Westward, first into French and then into Spanish territory. By contrast, it could not keep the pressure on a strengthening Bavaria to remain the hegemon among the Germans, nor could it retain a tight grip on the rebellious, unruly Italian cities…
Auvergne:
The largest of the Burgundian Marches, Auvergne is a mountainous region sparsely populated by hardy men who fought for generations against both Muslim raids and English cheuvachee. Although proud of their freedom, the Auvergnais fall firmly within the Burgund sphere of influence.
Lorraine:
The dukes of Upper Lorraine have benefited greatly from their alliance with Burgundy, going as far as getting elected to be Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. However, Lorraine’s main focus seems on expanding North, towards the trade-rich Low Countries.
Luxembourg:
The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg was once far larger than it is now; while its line may be a proud one and its riches considerable, its loose control over the Dutch will probably force it to seek help of its neighbours, and then it’s but a short step to de-facto vassalage.
Bearn:
One of the smaller French states, Bearn lies in the Pyrinees and was one of the Burgundian Marcher duchies on the border with Muslim Spain. Over the course of several Anglo-Burgund wars, it has increasingly fallen under the sway of England.
Provence:
Conquered by the Muslims in the 12th cenury, the valleys and the coasts were conquered by the Eastern Roman Empire under Vsevolod II and III. The sizeable orthodox and muslim communities make this one of the most religiously diverse parts of France. The Elegemitoi, Emperors of the East, sold the entire territory to Burgundy in order to pay for troops. Since then, the Dukes – descended from the last ruling Orthodox prince-bishop - have recognized the Pope, but kept the Eastern rite.