Hmm, I really think we need to reach a consensus on the still controversial country setup questions asap. Pretty hard to go ahead and do further work like events otherwise. We really need to decide which province we want to represent what. These ones are pretty clear IMO (correct me if I'm wrong):
- Steiermark represents Styria and Carinthia with its capital in Graz and is German cultured
- Bosnia represents central Bosnia with its capital in Bobovaz and Slavonic culture
- Serbia is Serbia with its capital in Smederevo and Slavonic culture
- Albania is Middle Albania, the territory held by the Kastrioti, with its capital in Kruja and Albanian culture
- Ragusa represents Durazzo and other Venetian holdings in the area, with its capital in Durazzo and Albanian culture
- Bulgaria is western and central Bulgaria with its capital in Sofia and Slavonic culture
- Rumelia is Eastern Bulgaria with its capital in Plovdiv and Slavonic culture
- Dobrudja is Dobrogea with its capital in Silistra and Romanian (or maybe Slavonic? Dunno) culture
- Hellas is the Duchy of Athens with its capital in Athinai and Greek culture
- Morea is the Despotate of Morea with its capital in Mistra and Greek culture
The other ones are controversial. Let's look at each decision objectively and within the context of the whole setup:
Macedonia could either represent the city of Thessaloniki that was still held by Byzantium in 1419, turned over to Venice in 1424 and conquered by the Ottomans in 1430 (iirc) or the big Macedonia province that was firmly held by the Ottomans. Thessaloniki somewhat makes for interesting events and prevents an early annexation of Byzantium, on the other hand it is kinda strange to give Byzantium the province just because they had one city while the countryside was Ottoman, and it cuts off the Ottomans from their European possessions. If the province stays Ottoman, it would probably be necessary to change the city.
Kosovo could either represent Kosovo proper, with its capital in Nish, or Montenegro. I personally prefer Kosovo since it is consistent with the map name, gives the Ottomans another province (which could be particularly important when they loose Macedonia or any Anatolian province) and saves a tag.
Now we're lacking Croatia, Istria, Dalmatia and Krain, and have a real problem since there will be no perfect solution with these four. What we all agree on ís that:
- either Dalmatia or Istria will be given to Venice
- either Istria or Krain will be given to Styria
- Croatia will be given to Hungary
The problems are that:
- both Istria and Krain being owned by Styria does not look entirely right
- if Hungary does not have Krain, Croatia represents all of Croatia, with Zagreb its capital, and passes to the Hapsburgs in 1526. We would have to ignore that the southern part of Croatia (and the majority of the Croatia province) actually became Ottoman
- it would (for reasons already discussed) be good to give Bosnia a second province representing Hercegovina that becomes independent in 1448
- it might also be nice to have Cilli as a state
As I see it, we have these possibilities:
A: Croatia (capital Zagreb) to Hungary, Istria (capital Pula) to Venice, Krain (capital Ljubljana) to Styria, Dalmatia (capital Mostar) to Bosnia (independent in 1448)
My favourite solution, since it includes Hercegovina. The cons are that it has no Cilli and only one province for Croatia. Styria bordering Hungary, Croatia and Istria by owning Krain is
basically right.
B: Croatia (capital Osijek) to Hungary, Krain (capital Zagreb) to Hungary, Istria (capital Trieste) to Styria, Dalmatia (capital Zara) to Venice
This setup has a two-province Croatia, however no Cilli and no Hercegovina. The Istria harbour will need to be removed.
C: Croatia (capital Zagreb) to Hungary, Krain (capital Celje) to Cilli, Istria (capital Trieste) to Styria, Dalmatia (capital Zara) to Venice
This includes Cilli, but not Hercegovina and not two-province Croatia. The Istria harbour will need to be removed.