Diamonds’R’us
Both Castille and France held a small area in America (or Leifland), making up the only European presence there.
To avoid long strung out wars, the league needed a stronghold with a land connection to large chunks of Castillian or French possessions in Africa or Asia.
In the late 17th century, a lot of African cities looked just like this on a busy day:
Mali, just south of the Sahara Dessert, had become the richest nation in the world in the past few decades and was experiencing some sort of golden age. At least there was funding to construct defences and large (mud) buildings
The reason for all this was trade in a very special commodity:
Mali had great strategic potential for the league, as it was a neighbour of Castille, it was right across the Atlantic ocean opposite South Leifland. Former Portuguese Cabo Verde was already Vinlandic and served as a naval base.
In May 1669 Tollak Sigurdsson, Prince of Vinland and overlord of the Viking League declared war on Rwanda and all of its allies, including Mali. Due to the relative short distance, troops were easily transferred to the African coast. At the end of the first winter, one year after the start of the conflict, the Second Battle of Brakna broke the spirit of Mali.
Neighbouring Segu succumbed to the League and for Mali it was but a question of time.
In October 1672 the great city of Djenne fell, half a year after Timbuktu. By the treaty of Cabo Verde Mali handed over the entire west coast, including the cities more land inward that homed the world’s largest diamond mines.
Sigurdsson commanded Yngling Leifson, victor of Brakna to clear the area of patriots and issue total control in the name of the league. Duke Olav VI of Ísland would receive the conquests as a mandate, to increase the strategic position of Iceland, and its military and economical might.
The league was now within striking distance of Castille and would be target number one, were it not that an opportunity arose…