Introduction
Hello there! As a Canadian, I have always wished for a more interesting experience in what historically comprised British North America in EUIV. There is plenty of interesting history which could potentially be explored, particularly with regard to competition between the British and French over control of the lucrative fur trade with indigenous populations, something which would go on to shape and define the very politics and culture of the region for generations to come. I would like to eventually put together a more comprehensive suggestion for the region in the future, but for right now I'd like to focus on one aspect in particular: the Hudson Bay Company (HBC).
Historical Context
(flag of the Hudson's Bay Company, in use from 1801 to Present)
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, "The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), chartered 2 May 1670, is the oldest incorporated joint-stock merchandising company in the English-speaking world. HBC was a fur trading business for most of its history, a past that is entwined with the colonization of British North America and the development of Canada."
After reading through a few sources, and also using what I had learned in school, I have complied the following notes on the historical role of the HBC in regional affairs; from its founding in 1670, to its merger with the rival North West Company by royal decree in 1821.
Overview
(Map of HBC trading posts in North America and Hawaii. Each red dot represents a trading post)
(HBC ships trading with the Inuit)
(The Battle of Seven Oaks, 1816)
(HBC Made Beaver coin)
My Proposal
Now to the actual proposal itself. I might expand on it a bit in the future, but for now, this is what I have come up with.
Simply put, the Hudson Bay Trade Node should NOT be included in Colonial Canada, but rather should be made into a Trade Company Region instead. This is based on the historical context I've elaborated on above, and would make for a more realistic portrayal of the region, as the way in which the HBC functioned was not unlike similar companies in the East Indies or British India, being more similar to them than much of the New World Colonies. This would cause a lot of land to be lost from the Colonial Region of Canada, but I feel it would be justified by its improved accuracy.
I would also suggest that changes to provinces in the region be looked into, as many regions depicted as wastelands in the game actually had several trading posts within them, which would be nice to have illustrated in the game. I wouldn't want European levels of detail, just a bit of a facelift for this region is all. I will see if I can create an edited map with new provinces in the future based on trading posts. Some events too, such as the Seven Oaks Massacre and the minting of the Made Beaver Coin as described above could also work in EUIV. I will see about elaborating on them a bit further later on.
As my knowledge of First Nations bands' territorial claims is rudimentary at best, I have chosen not to tackle them in this thread out of respect as I would much rather have someone with a more detailed knowledge than me take on the role of representing these peoples and their respective societies.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read my thread! Hopefully I have been able to provide some useful information, and perhaps a future New World/Colonialism update could incorporate some of the ideas I have presented here. All opinions and further discussion are most certainly welcome. Have a nice day!
Hello there! As a Canadian, I have always wished for a more interesting experience in what historically comprised British North America in EUIV. There is plenty of interesting history which could potentially be explored, particularly with regard to competition between the British and French over control of the lucrative fur trade with indigenous populations, something which would go on to shape and define the very politics and culture of the region for generations to come. I would like to eventually put together a more comprehensive suggestion for the region in the future, but for right now I'd like to focus on one aspect in particular: the Hudson Bay Company (HBC).
Historical Context
(flag of the Hudson's Bay Company, in use from 1801 to Present)
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, "The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), chartered 2 May 1670, is the oldest incorporated joint-stock merchandising company in the English-speaking world. HBC was a fur trading business for most of its history, a past that is entwined with the colonization of British North America and the development of Canada."
After reading through a few sources, and also using what I had learned in school, I have complied the following notes on the historical role of the HBC in regional affairs; from its founding in 1670, to its merger with the rival North West Company by royal decree in 1821.
Overview
(Map of HBC trading posts in North America and Hawaii. Each red dot represents a trading post)
- The Hudson Bay Company (HBC) was incorporated May 2nd 1670 in London
- The HBC established 501 fur trading posts across Canada during colonial times
- It was a major player in the search for the Northwest Passage
- The Company, with its monopoly over the fur trade in British North America, would go on to have tremendous influence over Canadian politics, trade, and commerce for many decades since its founding
(HBC ships trading with the Inuit)
- Médard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson had originally proposed the idea of a trade company charter in the region to the French monarchy in the mid-17th century
- After failing to obtain the support of their own government, the two French merchants approached the British in 1665, gaining the support of Prince Rupert, cousin of King Charles II
- The land of the Hudson Bay drainage basin was chartered in 1670 by the British Crown to Prince Rupert’s company, who had been dispatched in 1668 and would later become the Hudson Bay Company
- The HBC held exclusive trading rights over this area, known then as Rupert’s Land
- Before the British conquest of New France, many HBC trading posts had been captured by the French in 1686, who were then forced to return them under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713
(The Battle of Seven Oaks, 1816)
- The HBC and its bitter rival, the North West Company (NWC), engaged in armed clashes over the fur trade in Rupert’s Land until being unified via royal decree in 1821
- One such clash was the infamous 1816 Seven Oaks Massacre in which 60 Métis mercenaries led by an NWC employee plundered HBC settlements along the Assiniboine River, eventually clashing with HBC soldiers which resulted in 21 dead
- The Seven Oaks Massacre led to the forced eviction of the HBC’s Red River Colony under threat of massacre by the NWC and Métis mercenaries
(HBC Made Beaver coin)
- The HBC issued its own currency, the Made Beaver Coin, for use in trading with natives. The currency was based on the standard of one prime male beaver pelt
- Barter was otherwise used by the HBC to obtain furs from indigenous peoples, who would trade pelts in exchange for metal tools, firearms, textiles and foodstuffs
My Proposal
Now to the actual proposal itself. I might expand on it a bit in the future, but for now, this is what I have come up with.
Simply put, the Hudson Bay Trade Node should NOT be included in Colonial Canada, but rather should be made into a Trade Company Region instead. This is based on the historical context I've elaborated on above, and would make for a more realistic portrayal of the region, as the way in which the HBC functioned was not unlike similar companies in the East Indies or British India, being more similar to them than much of the New World Colonies. This would cause a lot of land to be lost from the Colonial Region of Canada, but I feel it would be justified by its improved accuracy.
I would also suggest that changes to provinces in the region be looked into, as many regions depicted as wastelands in the game actually had several trading posts within them, which would be nice to have illustrated in the game. I wouldn't want European levels of detail, just a bit of a facelift for this region is all. I will see if I can create an edited map with new provinces in the future based on trading posts. Some events too, such as the Seven Oaks Massacre and the minting of the Made Beaver Coin as described above could also work in EUIV. I will see about elaborating on them a bit further later on.
As my knowledge of First Nations bands' territorial claims is rudimentary at best, I have chosen not to tackle them in this thread out of respect as I would much rather have someone with a more detailed knowledge than me take on the role of representing these peoples and their respective societies.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read my thread! Hopefully I have been able to provide some useful information, and perhaps a future New World/Colonialism update could incorporate some of the ideas I have presented here. All opinions and further discussion are most certainly welcome. Have a nice day!
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