Chapter 1: The fight over the supremacy of The Netherlands
A Brabant/Dutch AAR
Part 7.1: The East-Indies
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OOC: Wow, long time no update. I finally got the motivation I lost. It’s gonna be splitted in two parts. In this part I am experimenting a narrative update. Hope you guys like it.
Note: I used the Oranje-Bleue-Blanche to foreshadow Part 7.2
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These letters were discovered in the Dutch National Archive in Amsterdam. These letters depicts Admiral Guillaume de Houtman’s adventure to Zuid-Afrika and the East-Indies.
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26th of August 1566, Nieuwhaven.
Dear father,
All hail Duke Guillaume II! The Company has given my orders now. I am preparing to sail to the unknown. I reached Nieuwhaven two days ago. I had time to visit the colony for a while. Obviously the Sea is the life of these settlers. They are either fishermen or workers at the harbour. My men are telling me that the ship will be ready by November. I’m nervous, I heard that the sea was rough there. I hope to be alright.
Love, your son Gullaume.
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12th of November, 1566, Nieuwhaven.
Dear father,
I know this letter is short but i just want you to be aware that we should be sailing tomorrow. The other sailors are saying that the weather is actually not bad and it was a good time for sailing.
I hope they are right
Your son, Guillaume.
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9th of February, 1567, “Cape of Good Hope”
Dear father
I have reached the southern-most tip of Africa! I have called it “The Cape of Good Hope”. We had disembarked and met some natives there. I think it could be a very good spot for a Colony so that sailors can stop and repair their ships.
The Duke and the Company will be glad
Admiral de Houtman
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12th of December, 1567, Burma
Dear Father
I have reached what the French explorers called “Burma”. The natives were very helpful and they repaired our ship. I was glad to hear that I was getting closer the Kingdom of Aceh according the the natives.
Admiral de Houtman, future discoverer of the East Indies.
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28th of May, 1558, Straights of Malacca.
Dear father,
I have reached the East-Indies. Sadly, the natives were not very welcomed with our “Surprise”. The
First Army of the East-Indies landed. Our soldiers were attacked by the natives. It seemed that we could not acquire this land peacefully. Diplomacy failed. We were able to capture a map of Aceh and “Malacca”, a peninsula north of Aceh on the Mainland of Asia, also controlled by Aceh. While the Army of the East-Indies will be invading after capturing Aceh, I shall be mapping the Island and the most of the East-Indies I can map.
Admiral de Houtman, future conqueror of the Indies.
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14th of Janurary, 1571, Aceh
Dear father,
I know, I know, it has been a while until I sent you a letter about my progress. I am happy to announce that our Glorious Armies are occupying the Island of Sumatra. They are moving toward Malacca. They seem to be tenacious and they may not surrender everything. It may take more another or more wars against them to fully conquer them.
Admiral de Houtman
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13th of April, 1575, Aceh
Dear father,
My work here is done. I have been able to conquer South and East of Sumatra and half of Malacca. I am coming after Nine years of my adventure. I don’t know how much time it is going to take until I come home but it shouldn’t take long. I hope that I will become famous back home in Amsterdam! I have a feeling that you may have shared the letters I sent you. I don’t mind.
Admiral de Houtman, your son.
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OOC: I hope you enjoyed this different update.
Coming soon: Part 7.2: The Netherlands!
PS: Don't forget to read the Italian AAR a couple of posts back!
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