The Empire of the North
Part IV
Carpe Diem (1560-1600)
June 22, 1560
Much has happened since I last wrote in these pages. In January 1557, the King followed suit with the English and changed the official state religion to Reformed Protestant. This sparked off massive riots, stability crisis, and religious revolts. Two years later, when King Frederik II was crowned King of Denmark, and first Emperor of that name in the North, the revolts had still not been suppressed. The power struggles that followed all this turmoil was set fit to destroy the Empire, and finally Emperor Frederik called in myself to handle the situation. Using my many allies, contacts, and deep knowledge of the backways of the Empire, I soon brought the situation under control, and I now rule unchallenged over the Empire once more.
In February 1560, Russia declared war on Kazan. As dutiful allies, we naturally joined them in that war declaration together with the English. In March, France and Scotland declared war on us, followed by Portugal, Spain and Poland in June.
Even as I write, 9 armies containing more than 500 cannon are crossing the borders into France.
January 1, 1561
Scotland has changed its religion to Reformed after making peace negotiations with the perfidious English. We are deeply dissappointed with our English allies.
January 1, 1562
We are fuelling troops into France at an ever increasing rate, with most of the nation already under our heel. On the Eastern front, we are holding our own against the Poles, having exchanged two provinces thus far. In the Americas, our armies are slowly grinding through the Spanish fortress at Atlixco - a tremendously difficult siege due to the problem of getting provenance to the men.
November 25, 1562
Poitou is the last French province to fall, and France finds itself forced to surrender to the might of our arms. The Papal states proclaimed their independence 4 short months ago, but have now been pacified again. The full weight of our armies are now prepared to strike at Portugal, Spain, and above all Poland. Kazan have paid an indemnity to the Russians,
December 10, 1563
We have concluded a white peace with Scotland, but now the Teutonic Orders - supported by the Persions - once again challenges our power. A very, very bad idea for the Teutonic Order.
April 3, 1564
Our armies struck through Spain and besieged Lisbon, forcing the Portuguese to sue for peace. Unfortunately, their possessions are minimal, so we let them off the hook. Spain too - invaded on all sides, with their capital fallen, submit once again - ceeding Nice, Atlixco, and paying us the round sum of 250d.
January 7, 1565
Hyderabad, Mysore and the Mughal Empire have declared war and invaded our tiny colony in Yanam. Our city walls will attempt to keep the Indians out of the town, though with its small garrison, there is little hope of success. Our war-time economy is booming though, and we feel secure enough in our position to start putting down the foundations of our Ship Manufactory #2.
January 11, 1566
Turkey has once again attacked and reannexed the Crimea. However, they seem to remain content not to get involved with our Empire, which is very gratifying. A large scale invasion of Poland with the armies newly released from the Western Front almost came to grief when a 20,000 man Polish army went on a counteroffensive against us. However, the situation is now stabilizing. Unfortunately the Russians have concluded a seperate peace with the Teutons, receiving 232d, which leaves our advances in that nation once again very scant. We are finding it quite hard to break through the massive barrier of soldiers in Kurland.
December 22, 1566
Hyderabad and their allies have settled for a white peace, after having marched 80,000 men into Yanam and taken our colony there. Only 7,000 men returned to their countries.
Daniel Rantzau once again led the decisive storm that took the last Polish fortress of Azow, thus completing the subjugation of Poland. After a short period for consideration, the Polish delegates submitted unconditionally to our Emperor. With the underpinning of the Teutonic Order gone, we were able to attack their nation all along the front, and within months they too are forced to surrender. With their allies gone, Persia proved willing to succumb to a white peace. Another six years of war come to an end.
August 29, 1567
The Papal States one again make a bid for independence, ending the fragile peace after just 6 short months. They are swiftly reannexed, but not before we receive prompt war declarations from Astrakhan and the Golden Horde, and finally Kazan as well. My allies are initially wary, but after copious bribes, follow us into the war.
July 24, 1568
The Golden Horde have already succumbed to our forces, giving up all rights to their ancestral lands to the all-conquoring Rantzau. Astrakhan is proving a tougher nut to crack while the Russian army is busy in Bohemia, putting down revolts on my ground instead of fighting in the front lines. Strange are the ways of my allies.
June 23, 1569
Once again, Spain and Portugal declare war on us; seems they have not learned from their earlier drubbing. We immediately dispatch expeditionary forces against the Portuguese Possessions and invade Spain; sending one of our armies against Lisbon. After loosing Voronez, the Khanate of Kazan are let off the hook; they are the last nation bordering our neighbours the Russians, and we would like to keep the Russians distracted, so as to preserve our alliance.
June 12, 1570
Daniel Rantzau passes away, after 28 years of faithful service. We shall miss his ability to quickly bring a city to its knees, as well as his personal bravery in battle - especially in storms on enemy fortresses.
May 26, 1571
Our armies are triumphant everywhere. Thinking to exploit our confusion after Rantzau's death, Tuscany made a bid for independence, but after 4 short months, they are reannexed by our forces. Our armies suffer bloodily in Central America, but are able to conquor Tehuanpec and sweep the Spanish from the area once again. Once again humbled, the Spanish relinquish Tehuanpec, Artois, and indemnities to our Emperor. Portugal is forced to concede Cape Verde and the Azores, in addition to presenting more gold to the Emperor. Astrakhan - after brave resistance, must bow as well, and are annexed entirely.
January 11, 1573
Our armies are kept busy suppressing revolts, while we are busy converting the heathen muslims of our Eastern possessions. We also improve the fortifications of our Indian province.
January 15, 1575
Russia declares war on Kazan once again, once more embroiling us in war. Since we now surround Kazan and own one of their home provinces, we end up being their primary target. The results are of course predictable: first Mysore and Hyderabad declare war on us, followed by Persia and the Mameluks, and finally Sibir. We take up the battle (rather inconclusively) in the East with the Persians, while ignoring the Mysore army that once again takes up the siege of Yanam.
July 30, 1576
Wonderful news: Turkey, the Hedjaz, Cyrenaica, and Iraq have declared war on the Mameluks and Persia. Even more wonderful news: Spain and Portugal have declared war on our Empire again. Almost traditionally, our French armies thrust into Catalonia toward Castille and Lisbon. We march both day and night now - out troops are so familiar with the roads they can get there in their sleep.
January 2, 1577
We conquored the small Mameluk enclave of Sochi and Georgia that they had up by the Persian border. We prepare a final thrust with fresh reinforcements into Sibir, after our first armies are all but wiped out in the harsh winters. Hard Siberian counterattacks along the narrow front are also problematic, and we are forced to march around Siberia into uncolonized lands to attack the Siberian rear areas.
January 4, 1577
Sibir is annexed after a storm captures the last province of the bedamned cold country just before the worst winter weather sets in. The losses in the capture of Astrakhan, the Golden Horde and Sibir from weather attrition alone have been quite horrendous, and we find our Eastern armies heavily decimated when we personally arrive there for a tour of the area. The region is bare, and significant reinforcements have to be raised and marched all the way from Ukraine to reinforce these barren areas.
January 3, 1578
After our support had helped to completely subjugate the Khanate of Kazan, the Russians made a peace with them, taking Ryazan and Lipetsk for themselves. Our Emperor has expressed his displeasure at this uneven distribution of the spoils.
After the Army of Macedonia landed in the Nile Delta and conquored the Mameluk capital, they collapsed to our terms, ceeding Sochi and Georgia.
January 3, 1579
The Spanish have Counter-reformed, in an attempt to stem the tide of the one true faith. In the meantime, our brightest General have come up with a new concept, that they call Logistics. This is a huge step forward in military thinking, allowing our troops to victual and supply themselves better, and allowing us to mount exploratory expeditions around the world. We immediately begin to explore the east coast of the Caspian Sea.
January 2, 1580
The Army of Macedonia, marching from their landing point at the Nile, marched across the middle east into Persia and brought down their capital of Isfashan. At the same time, our forces had explored from Siberia down to the northern persian border, allowing our troops to outflank the heavy Persian defences in Persis which were preventing reinforcements from reaching our forces.
In the meantime, heavily supported by our forces, Netherlands finally succeeded in declaring their independence from their Spanish oppressors.
With success on all fronts, we conclude peace with Spain, taking Guatemala and Hainaut; and Persia, taking the gold mines of Armenia and Azerbadjan. However, before we can conclude a final peace, Tuscany succeed in declaring their independence and declare war.
December 21, 1580
Despite our great services to their revolts, the Dutch - allied now with our enemies the Mameluks and the Persians, have declared war on us. Tuscany have been swiftly reannexed, but we are once again embroiled in wars across the continents.
March 2, 1582
Holland has been annexed entire. They are still rebellious, but by adjusting our religious tolerance, we are able to keep the people there relatively quiescent. We have once again landed our forces into Mameluk territory, while exploiting the Eastern route around the Caspian sea, we have also struck deep into Persia.
November 16, 1582
Hyderabad and Mysore have declared war upon us again, once again subjecting Yanam to siege and conquest. Our small force of 3,000 men in India are wiped out by the combined enemy armies. Falling to our vigorous assaults, the Mameluks are forced to cede Nuyssabin and Syria to our Empire, an event that immediately results in the breakout of war with Iraq, aided by the Hedjaz, Turkey and Cyrenaica.
Our explorers in North America discover a federation of North American Tribes called the Iroquouis.
March 7, 1583
Kars and Kurdistan are taken from the Persians in return for a swift peace. We find ourselves hard pressed by Turkish armies in the Balkans, and more so when Kazan declares war. The Russians dishonor our alliance on this occassion, though we are soon reconciled; however, our Empire is coming under significant pressure due to revolts and the multiple fronts, after 8 years of continuous war. Especially the low tolerance we are forced to show towards Islam during this time of great strain is making the entire Middle East a hotbed of continuous revolts. Despite a very concentrated and continuous conversion efforts which has introduced the Christian Reformation into many areas of Astrakhan and Armenia, there are still many areas that do not follow the true faith.
We intiate assaults on the two Turkish enclaves in Astrakhan - Kalmuk and Kouban. Both areas are horrbly bare areas, barely able to sustain 2000 man armies in a month - our army attacks in force and launches bloody and costly assaults on both fortresses.
November 3, 1584
After almost a year of continuous and bloody revolts, our war effort is beginning to suffer due to the constant need to replenish our forces with new troops. Our troops wiped out the Khanate of Kazan's armies, and we decided to annex them. Iraq too was completely subjugated, but in the final negotiations we decided to be lenient, and asked only for Kirkuk from Iraq, while the Turkish provinces of Kouban and Kalmuk were given to us by Iraq. Finally, by paying the barbarians of Hyderabad the lump sum of 250d, we secured a temporary halt to hostilities, and peace across the world after these 9 years of war.
July 2, 1585
The world peace lasted only a few months, as Turkey, together with the Hedjaz, Cyrenaica, and Iraq go to war with the Mameluks and Persia.
January 2, 1586
Having reached the very heights of the Baroque age, I decide to initiate a grandiose building program on behalf of our Emperor, and help to bring the Empire into the quickly approaching new century. Among our new projects, are the very first Goods manufactories in the world.
October 3, 1587
Suffering from harsh competition, the Spanish merchants petition their King to deny access to traders from our Empire. The Spanish King agrees, worsening relations between our two Empire.
January 1, 1588
Emperor Christian II of the North, also known as King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway rose to the throne on the death of debilated father. Spurred by the petitions of the merchants, the Emperor has no option but to declare war on the Spanish and their allies the Incas. This is soon followed by a counter-declaration from Portugal.
Once again, the Russians dishonor our alliance. We send the Czar a stern letter of warning.
April 7, 1588
After almost a 100 years of faithful alliance, the Russians declare war on our Empire. We are devastated by this turn of events, but react immediately by sending our armies striking North to Moscow. Such behavior as that evinced by the Czar can not be tolerated.
August 26, 1588
The 10,000 men we landed into the Inca realm in February make a clean sweep of the nation, and after 5 short months, all of the Inca realm is annexed.
October 22, 1588
Persia and the Mameluks declare war on Denmark and England, resulting in massive Danish invasion forces pouring across the border into Persia. A frightened Persia almost immediately make peace with Turkey, In the North, Moscow falls, giving us knowledge of the Asian interior all the way to China. Despite struggling with the harsh winter, the Russian Empire is slowly being reduced.
September 1, 1589
Turkey takes Aleppo and 170d from the Mameluks. In Copenhagen, a young inventor displays a new type of firearm, which he calls a musket. Impressed with the improved accuracy and firing rate, we immediately commission a quarter of a million pieces for distribution to our infantry.
April 13, 1590
Persia surrenders, ceeding Persis and Tabriz. In India, Mysore, Hyderabad, and the Moghul Empire once again attack Yanam - this time however, we have an army of 8,000 men and 50 cannon waiting, and they immeidtaely counterattack into Mysore.
September 2, 1591
Russia falls to our ever-conquoring forces in February and after a 100 years of alliance are forcibly annexed into our Empire. In April, Mysore pays gold in ransom for the return of their capital after the Army of Yanam attacked and plundered it. The Mameluks were forced to bend their necks to our forces, and were entirely annexed. Jerusalem is finally back in Christian hands. Finally, Portugal ceeded two tradeposts on the Brazilian coastline to our troops. Spain first paid indemnities to England, and then collapsed and ceeded Luxembourg and Honduras to our Empire, ending the era of Spanish presence in the lowlands.
March 16, 1592
Nubia attacked our newly won provinces in Egypt.
February 18, 1593
The Hedjaz offered us Jordan for a peace, and we accepted their offer. The Nubians offered us Batn Al Hajar , and despite our problems with pronouncing the name, we also agreed to this treaty. After being involved in a new war with Algiers and the Hedjaz, Turkey succumbed and ceeded Kerch and Trabzon as well as agreeing to indemnities to end our war with them.
January 1, 1594
A trade center has opened in our newly founded city at Sulawesi in the East Indies.
August 1, 1594
England has declared war on Scotland. So much for our hopes of world peace.
November 1, 1594
Tripoli declared war upon our alliance. Our forces in Egypt respond to the threat.
July 15, 1595
Persia declared war upon our alliance. Our prepared forces: 35,000 infantry and over 300 cannon start marching towards the border into Persia.
September 1, 1595
Tripoli was annexed.
October 2, 1595
Tunisia declared war upon our alliance.
August 5, 1596
Hyderabad, allied with Mysore and the Moghuls declared war upon us - this time however, they are facing armies of more than 20,000 men and a medium fortress. The English dishonored their alliance with us, to our great dissapointment. Shortly afterwards, Spain and Portugal declare war. We finally patch up our relationships in December, concluding a peace and reforging the alliance - nominally under English leadership.
August 21, 1597
The Hedjaz, allied with Aden, Algiers, Nubia and Turkey declare war upon Denmark and England. Our forces have now almost subjugated Persia, though a few provinces - horrible, arid, desert country with substantial fortifications still remain to be taken.
February 27, 1598
Persia is finally annexed to our Empire. The land road to India is now open, and we immediately send all of the Persian armies on the long road.
May 23, 1598
The two armies of Yanam complete the conquest of Hyderabad, which is annexed by our forces. The forces of the Indian states remain frustrated outside the medium fortress in Yanam. To curtail the power of the Portuguese, we seize Porto and Algarve in the peace conditions.
October 4, 1598
Mekkha falls, and with it the state of the Hedjaz who are annexed to our Empire. The Spanish are also forced to succumb, loosing Guadeloupe and the center of trade in Sacramento.
December 24, 1598
Nubia falls, and is annexed. The war is now putting a severe strain upon our resources, with 4 to 6 revolts occuring every month. As part of our defense system, we have mobilized huge armies consisting of 25-30,000 cavalry for the sole purpose of beating down the constant revolts.
July 1, 1599
Bereft and surrounded, Turkey are forced to relinquish Hellas and Albania to our troops in the peace negotiations. Aden gifts us with Yemen in return for a peace treaty. Algiers too ceedes a province, ending our wars in the European-African continent.
October 27, 1599
Mysore and the Mughal Empire falls to the overwhelming forces pouring in on the Persian road and peace settles once again over the world. An uneasy peace settles once again over the world. Dare one hope that it might last this time?
Only time will tell - 12 kingdoms still remain to challenge the unity of the Earth: China, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Algiers, Morroco, Aden, Oman, Turkey, Iroquous, England and Scotland. How long before yet another nation attempts to challenge the Empire of the North.
Part IV
Carpe Diem (1560-1600)
June 22, 1560
Much has happened since I last wrote in these pages. In January 1557, the King followed suit with the English and changed the official state religion to Reformed Protestant. This sparked off massive riots, stability crisis, and religious revolts. Two years later, when King Frederik II was crowned King of Denmark, and first Emperor of that name in the North, the revolts had still not been suppressed. The power struggles that followed all this turmoil was set fit to destroy the Empire, and finally Emperor Frederik called in myself to handle the situation. Using my many allies, contacts, and deep knowledge of the backways of the Empire, I soon brought the situation under control, and I now rule unchallenged over the Empire once more.
In February 1560, Russia declared war on Kazan. As dutiful allies, we naturally joined them in that war declaration together with the English. In March, France and Scotland declared war on us, followed by Portugal, Spain and Poland in June.
Even as I write, 9 armies containing more than 500 cannon are crossing the borders into France.
January 1, 1561
Scotland has changed its religion to Reformed after making peace negotiations with the perfidious English. We are deeply dissappointed with our English allies.
January 1, 1562
We are fuelling troops into France at an ever increasing rate, with most of the nation already under our heel. On the Eastern front, we are holding our own against the Poles, having exchanged two provinces thus far. In the Americas, our armies are slowly grinding through the Spanish fortress at Atlixco - a tremendously difficult siege due to the problem of getting provenance to the men.
November 25, 1562
Poitou is the last French province to fall, and France finds itself forced to surrender to the might of our arms. The Papal states proclaimed their independence 4 short months ago, but have now been pacified again. The full weight of our armies are now prepared to strike at Portugal, Spain, and above all Poland. Kazan have paid an indemnity to the Russians,
December 10, 1563
We have concluded a white peace with Scotland, but now the Teutonic Orders - supported by the Persions - once again challenges our power. A very, very bad idea for the Teutonic Order.
April 3, 1564
Our armies struck through Spain and besieged Lisbon, forcing the Portuguese to sue for peace. Unfortunately, their possessions are minimal, so we let them off the hook. Spain too - invaded on all sides, with their capital fallen, submit once again - ceeding Nice, Atlixco, and paying us the round sum of 250d.
January 7, 1565
Hyderabad, Mysore and the Mughal Empire have declared war and invaded our tiny colony in Yanam. Our city walls will attempt to keep the Indians out of the town, though with its small garrison, there is little hope of success. Our war-time economy is booming though, and we feel secure enough in our position to start putting down the foundations of our Ship Manufactory #2.
January 11, 1566
Turkey has once again attacked and reannexed the Crimea. However, they seem to remain content not to get involved with our Empire, which is very gratifying. A large scale invasion of Poland with the armies newly released from the Western Front almost came to grief when a 20,000 man Polish army went on a counteroffensive against us. However, the situation is now stabilizing. Unfortunately the Russians have concluded a seperate peace with the Teutons, receiving 232d, which leaves our advances in that nation once again very scant. We are finding it quite hard to break through the massive barrier of soldiers in Kurland.
December 22, 1566
Hyderabad and their allies have settled for a white peace, after having marched 80,000 men into Yanam and taken our colony there. Only 7,000 men returned to their countries.
Daniel Rantzau once again led the decisive storm that took the last Polish fortress of Azow, thus completing the subjugation of Poland. After a short period for consideration, the Polish delegates submitted unconditionally to our Emperor. With the underpinning of the Teutonic Order gone, we were able to attack their nation all along the front, and within months they too are forced to surrender. With their allies gone, Persia proved willing to succumb to a white peace. Another six years of war come to an end.
August 29, 1567
The Papal States one again make a bid for independence, ending the fragile peace after just 6 short months. They are swiftly reannexed, but not before we receive prompt war declarations from Astrakhan and the Golden Horde, and finally Kazan as well. My allies are initially wary, but after copious bribes, follow us into the war.
July 24, 1568
The Golden Horde have already succumbed to our forces, giving up all rights to their ancestral lands to the all-conquoring Rantzau. Astrakhan is proving a tougher nut to crack while the Russian army is busy in Bohemia, putting down revolts on my ground instead of fighting in the front lines. Strange are the ways of my allies.
June 23, 1569
Once again, Spain and Portugal declare war on us; seems they have not learned from their earlier drubbing. We immediately dispatch expeditionary forces against the Portuguese Possessions and invade Spain; sending one of our armies against Lisbon. After loosing Voronez, the Khanate of Kazan are let off the hook; they are the last nation bordering our neighbours the Russians, and we would like to keep the Russians distracted, so as to preserve our alliance.
June 12, 1570
Daniel Rantzau passes away, after 28 years of faithful service. We shall miss his ability to quickly bring a city to its knees, as well as his personal bravery in battle - especially in storms on enemy fortresses.
May 26, 1571
Our armies are triumphant everywhere. Thinking to exploit our confusion after Rantzau's death, Tuscany made a bid for independence, but after 4 short months, they are reannexed by our forces. Our armies suffer bloodily in Central America, but are able to conquor Tehuanpec and sweep the Spanish from the area once again. Once again humbled, the Spanish relinquish Tehuanpec, Artois, and indemnities to our Emperor. Portugal is forced to concede Cape Verde and the Azores, in addition to presenting more gold to the Emperor. Astrakhan - after brave resistance, must bow as well, and are annexed entirely.
January 11, 1573
Our armies are kept busy suppressing revolts, while we are busy converting the heathen muslims of our Eastern possessions. We also improve the fortifications of our Indian province.
January 15, 1575
Russia declares war on Kazan once again, once more embroiling us in war. Since we now surround Kazan and own one of their home provinces, we end up being their primary target. The results are of course predictable: first Mysore and Hyderabad declare war on us, followed by Persia and the Mameluks, and finally Sibir. We take up the battle (rather inconclusively) in the East with the Persians, while ignoring the Mysore army that once again takes up the siege of Yanam.
July 30, 1576
Wonderful news: Turkey, the Hedjaz, Cyrenaica, and Iraq have declared war on the Mameluks and Persia. Even more wonderful news: Spain and Portugal have declared war on our Empire again. Almost traditionally, our French armies thrust into Catalonia toward Castille and Lisbon. We march both day and night now - out troops are so familiar with the roads they can get there in their sleep.
January 2, 1577
We conquored the small Mameluk enclave of Sochi and Georgia that they had up by the Persian border. We prepare a final thrust with fresh reinforcements into Sibir, after our first armies are all but wiped out in the harsh winters. Hard Siberian counterattacks along the narrow front are also problematic, and we are forced to march around Siberia into uncolonized lands to attack the Siberian rear areas.
January 4, 1577
Sibir is annexed after a storm captures the last province of the bedamned cold country just before the worst winter weather sets in. The losses in the capture of Astrakhan, the Golden Horde and Sibir from weather attrition alone have been quite horrendous, and we find our Eastern armies heavily decimated when we personally arrive there for a tour of the area. The region is bare, and significant reinforcements have to be raised and marched all the way from Ukraine to reinforce these barren areas.
January 3, 1578
After our support had helped to completely subjugate the Khanate of Kazan, the Russians made a peace with them, taking Ryazan and Lipetsk for themselves. Our Emperor has expressed his displeasure at this uneven distribution of the spoils.
After the Army of Macedonia landed in the Nile Delta and conquored the Mameluk capital, they collapsed to our terms, ceeding Sochi and Georgia.
January 3, 1579
The Spanish have Counter-reformed, in an attempt to stem the tide of the one true faith. In the meantime, our brightest General have come up with a new concept, that they call Logistics. This is a huge step forward in military thinking, allowing our troops to victual and supply themselves better, and allowing us to mount exploratory expeditions around the world. We immediately begin to explore the east coast of the Caspian Sea.
January 2, 1580
The Army of Macedonia, marching from their landing point at the Nile, marched across the middle east into Persia and brought down their capital of Isfashan. At the same time, our forces had explored from Siberia down to the northern persian border, allowing our troops to outflank the heavy Persian defences in Persis which were preventing reinforcements from reaching our forces.
In the meantime, heavily supported by our forces, Netherlands finally succeeded in declaring their independence from their Spanish oppressors.
With success on all fronts, we conclude peace with Spain, taking Guatemala and Hainaut; and Persia, taking the gold mines of Armenia and Azerbadjan. However, before we can conclude a final peace, Tuscany succeed in declaring their independence and declare war.
December 21, 1580
Despite our great services to their revolts, the Dutch - allied now with our enemies the Mameluks and the Persians, have declared war on us. Tuscany have been swiftly reannexed, but we are once again embroiled in wars across the continents.
March 2, 1582
Holland has been annexed entire. They are still rebellious, but by adjusting our religious tolerance, we are able to keep the people there relatively quiescent. We have once again landed our forces into Mameluk territory, while exploiting the Eastern route around the Caspian sea, we have also struck deep into Persia.
November 16, 1582
Hyderabad and Mysore have declared war upon us again, once again subjecting Yanam to siege and conquest. Our small force of 3,000 men in India are wiped out by the combined enemy armies. Falling to our vigorous assaults, the Mameluks are forced to cede Nuyssabin and Syria to our Empire, an event that immediately results in the breakout of war with Iraq, aided by the Hedjaz, Turkey and Cyrenaica.
Our explorers in North America discover a federation of North American Tribes called the Iroquouis.
March 7, 1583
Kars and Kurdistan are taken from the Persians in return for a swift peace. We find ourselves hard pressed by Turkish armies in the Balkans, and more so when Kazan declares war. The Russians dishonor our alliance on this occassion, though we are soon reconciled; however, our Empire is coming under significant pressure due to revolts and the multiple fronts, after 8 years of continuous war. Especially the low tolerance we are forced to show towards Islam during this time of great strain is making the entire Middle East a hotbed of continuous revolts. Despite a very concentrated and continuous conversion efforts which has introduced the Christian Reformation into many areas of Astrakhan and Armenia, there are still many areas that do not follow the true faith.
We intiate assaults on the two Turkish enclaves in Astrakhan - Kalmuk and Kouban. Both areas are horrbly bare areas, barely able to sustain 2000 man armies in a month - our army attacks in force and launches bloody and costly assaults on both fortresses.
November 3, 1584
After almost a year of continuous and bloody revolts, our war effort is beginning to suffer due to the constant need to replenish our forces with new troops. Our troops wiped out the Khanate of Kazan's armies, and we decided to annex them. Iraq too was completely subjugated, but in the final negotiations we decided to be lenient, and asked only for Kirkuk from Iraq, while the Turkish provinces of Kouban and Kalmuk were given to us by Iraq. Finally, by paying the barbarians of Hyderabad the lump sum of 250d, we secured a temporary halt to hostilities, and peace across the world after these 9 years of war.
July 2, 1585
The world peace lasted only a few months, as Turkey, together with the Hedjaz, Cyrenaica, and Iraq go to war with the Mameluks and Persia.
January 2, 1586
Having reached the very heights of the Baroque age, I decide to initiate a grandiose building program on behalf of our Emperor, and help to bring the Empire into the quickly approaching new century. Among our new projects, are the very first Goods manufactories in the world.
October 3, 1587
Suffering from harsh competition, the Spanish merchants petition their King to deny access to traders from our Empire. The Spanish King agrees, worsening relations between our two Empire.
January 1, 1588
Emperor Christian II of the North, also known as King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway rose to the throne on the death of debilated father. Spurred by the petitions of the merchants, the Emperor has no option but to declare war on the Spanish and their allies the Incas. This is soon followed by a counter-declaration from Portugal.
Once again, the Russians dishonor our alliance. We send the Czar a stern letter of warning.
April 7, 1588
After almost a 100 years of faithful alliance, the Russians declare war on our Empire. We are devastated by this turn of events, but react immediately by sending our armies striking North to Moscow. Such behavior as that evinced by the Czar can not be tolerated.
August 26, 1588
The 10,000 men we landed into the Inca realm in February make a clean sweep of the nation, and after 5 short months, all of the Inca realm is annexed.
October 22, 1588
Persia and the Mameluks declare war on Denmark and England, resulting in massive Danish invasion forces pouring across the border into Persia. A frightened Persia almost immediately make peace with Turkey, In the North, Moscow falls, giving us knowledge of the Asian interior all the way to China. Despite struggling with the harsh winter, the Russian Empire is slowly being reduced.
September 1, 1589
Turkey takes Aleppo and 170d from the Mameluks. In Copenhagen, a young inventor displays a new type of firearm, which he calls a musket. Impressed with the improved accuracy and firing rate, we immediately commission a quarter of a million pieces for distribution to our infantry.
April 13, 1590
Persia surrenders, ceeding Persis and Tabriz. In India, Mysore, Hyderabad, and the Moghul Empire once again attack Yanam - this time however, we have an army of 8,000 men and 50 cannon waiting, and they immeidtaely counterattack into Mysore.
September 2, 1591
Russia falls to our ever-conquoring forces in February and after a 100 years of alliance are forcibly annexed into our Empire. In April, Mysore pays gold in ransom for the return of their capital after the Army of Yanam attacked and plundered it. The Mameluks were forced to bend their necks to our forces, and were entirely annexed. Jerusalem is finally back in Christian hands. Finally, Portugal ceeded two tradeposts on the Brazilian coastline to our troops. Spain first paid indemnities to England, and then collapsed and ceeded Luxembourg and Honduras to our Empire, ending the era of Spanish presence in the lowlands.
March 16, 1592
Nubia attacked our newly won provinces in Egypt.
February 18, 1593
The Hedjaz offered us Jordan for a peace, and we accepted their offer. The Nubians offered us Batn Al Hajar , and despite our problems with pronouncing the name, we also agreed to this treaty. After being involved in a new war with Algiers and the Hedjaz, Turkey succumbed and ceeded Kerch and Trabzon as well as agreeing to indemnities to end our war with them.
January 1, 1594
A trade center has opened in our newly founded city at Sulawesi in the East Indies.
August 1, 1594
England has declared war on Scotland. So much for our hopes of world peace.
November 1, 1594
Tripoli declared war upon our alliance. Our forces in Egypt respond to the threat.
July 15, 1595
Persia declared war upon our alliance. Our prepared forces: 35,000 infantry and over 300 cannon start marching towards the border into Persia.
September 1, 1595
Tripoli was annexed.
October 2, 1595
Tunisia declared war upon our alliance.
August 5, 1596
Hyderabad, allied with Mysore and the Moghuls declared war upon us - this time however, they are facing armies of more than 20,000 men and a medium fortress. The English dishonored their alliance with us, to our great dissapointment. Shortly afterwards, Spain and Portugal declare war. We finally patch up our relationships in December, concluding a peace and reforging the alliance - nominally under English leadership.
August 21, 1597
The Hedjaz, allied with Aden, Algiers, Nubia and Turkey declare war upon Denmark and England. Our forces have now almost subjugated Persia, though a few provinces - horrible, arid, desert country with substantial fortifications still remain to be taken.
February 27, 1598
Persia is finally annexed to our Empire. The land road to India is now open, and we immediately send all of the Persian armies on the long road.
May 23, 1598
The two armies of Yanam complete the conquest of Hyderabad, which is annexed by our forces. The forces of the Indian states remain frustrated outside the medium fortress in Yanam. To curtail the power of the Portuguese, we seize Porto and Algarve in the peace conditions.
October 4, 1598
Mekkha falls, and with it the state of the Hedjaz who are annexed to our Empire. The Spanish are also forced to succumb, loosing Guadeloupe and the center of trade in Sacramento.
December 24, 1598
Nubia falls, and is annexed. The war is now putting a severe strain upon our resources, with 4 to 6 revolts occuring every month. As part of our defense system, we have mobilized huge armies consisting of 25-30,000 cavalry for the sole purpose of beating down the constant revolts.
July 1, 1599
Bereft and surrounded, Turkey are forced to relinquish Hellas and Albania to our troops in the peace negotiations. Aden gifts us with Yemen in return for a peace treaty. Algiers too ceedes a province, ending our wars in the European-African continent.
October 27, 1599
Mysore and the Mughal Empire falls to the overwhelming forces pouring in on the Persian road and peace settles once again over the world. An uneasy peace settles once again over the world. Dare one hope that it might last this time?
Only time will tell - 12 kingdoms still remain to challenge the unity of the Earth: China, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Algiers, Morroco, Aden, Oman, Turkey, Iroquous, England and Scotland. How long before yet another nation attempts to challenge the Empire of the North.
