[CHAR] A World Away - An Alternative History Colonization of the Americas [Defunct]

[Nerevarine]

Nation Name
Kingdom of Spain

Flag / Seal / Symbol (optional)


Territory
All of the yellow in Europe, as well as the Islands of Hispañola and Cuba

Technology Tier: European

Government Description

History
As a unified nation, Spain is a comparable infant to the other kingdoms of Europe. The territories of the Iberian peninsula had long been under the control of the Islamic invaders known as the Moors, a collection of Arab, Berber, African and Slavic muslims who came to Iberia in the 8th century with the sword of Islam to subjugate the people and enlighten them under Islam. The promise of wealth in ruling over these lands was attractive too.

The Christians of Iberia would have their time, however. Little by little the Iberians formed their own kingdoms and took back their ancestral lands. In 1469, the two most powerful of these kingdoms were unified through marriage, and the last bastions of Islam were purged from Spain in 1492.

But that year had more surprises for the Spanish.

An explorer that the monarchs had funded claimed to have done the impossible. He claimed he had reached India by sailing west.

Spain saw the potential of this new discovery and set out to jump on it. And so they did, arriving on the Islands of Hispañola and Cuba, bloodily conquering these lands in the name of Spain. From these newly established trade-posts, the Spanish engaged in trade with the local 'Indians'.

However, ambitious men back home wanted more.

And so a certain gambler in Andalusia raised enough money to purchase an army and a fleet to go to this new world, and take a chunk of his own land. In the name of Spain of course.

The would be Conquistador would meet his end in city in Mesoamerica, when a faux-pas lead to an attack on him and his band of mercenaries. These soldiers of God slaughtered without mercy by Heathen Warrior-Women. What few survived and made it back to Hispañola told of the horrors of their demise, and for the first time, the conquering and crusading spirit that had been born in the Reconquista was shaken, as the Spanish realized that their enemy was more dangerous than they had anticipated.

Spain now sits on its holdings, seeking an opening to descend upon Mesoamerica and inact vengeance upon the heathens.

Military
Spain is a militarily strong nation in the aftermath of the Reconquista. Constant conflict with the Muslims to their south, as well as with each other, produced an enviroment where military innovation was a necessity. The Spanish have access to gunpowder, and are quick to utilize it when they can. The Spanish are also notable in their calvary, which was refined in centuries of conflict with the Moors.

Economy
Spain is by no means an economy that is the envy of Europe. The expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain had the unintended effect of removing a great deal of highly skilled workers, who had no suitable replacement among the Christian population. As well, the enforcement of the so-called 'limpieza de sangra' has caused the problem of qualified individuals being denied positions of power due to the religious and ethnic background of their ancestors. Spain is suffering from a major brain drain and economic stagnation as skilled workers flee the country, and the nation may soon need to reconsider it's position on the descendants of Jews and Muslims if they cannot secure strong trade with the Americans.

International Relations /Issues / Disputes: TBD

[NecroKnight]

Xenia

Nation Name

Xeninian Kingdom

Seal



Territory

(Black)


Technology Tier

Meso-American

Government Description

They have a strong middle class of skilled and semi-skilled workers and artisans - whom are governed by a smaller class of specially educated merchant or warrior governors. At the top of this structure is the Prophet-Ruler.

A mix of an elite religious caste acts as advisory to the Prophet - whom is both the head of their religion and military leader. Thus having the ruler of Xenia be both educated and a great warrior.

The current leader of Xenia is the Prophetess Perosa Narxax.

Perosa Narxax

History

Xenia began with the fall of the Mayan Civilization around 1280 - with religious warfare caused by differences in dogma and secterianism, that lead to sacking and destruction of many Mayan Cities. Around this same time, that the Mayan Collapse was finalized at 1300 - several Arawak tribals were banished from current-day Hispaniola over religious differences and bad-yield of crops.

They settled in the Yucatan Peninsula and facing barely any resistance, occupied the old Mayan structures and cities - driving out scavengers and looters. Thus forming one of the few first corner-stones of Xenian history. With any authority having long collapsed the Arawak tribals, now mixing with the conquered Mayans - formed a new tribe of people, as Arawak and Mayan intermix creating the future-Xenia.

Xenian' authority eventually spread to encompass most of old Mayan north and south, reaching from the tip of Yucatan down to the Pacific Ocean. Around this time though - the future leaders of Xenia started to stamp-out most polytheistic religions sects, upon hearing of the fall of the Mayans. Especially, as they started to come into contact with the future-tribes of the west, whom took their people for human sacrifices and other rituals.

Xenia' future religion, would revolve around a more singular deity - as they started worshiping Xelex; or namely the Sun - its aspects of light during the day and darkness at night. To namely unite their people against the Aztecs in the west. Due to the earlier years requiring a massive undertaking - the role of women was more relaxed and open, as they were allowed to be both craftsmen and priests.

When the western factions were fully formed and started raiding Xenian lands - they allowed women to even become warriors to fight against the invaders. Xenia could never face against the might of the west, only managing to stop their advance yet never be able to counter-attack. With the arrival of the Spanish, things might change...

Religion

Due to the collapse of Mayan Civilization and the brutal nature of the other Mesoamerican sects - most Xenians are monotheistic. Namely they worship aspects of the sun - namely daylight which symbolizes growth, warmth, prosperity and life. While at night with stars, they symbolize it with calmness, sight and death.

Military

Xenians are adept jungle fighters, they prefer surrounding their enemies and withering them down - before striking when they are weakest. Due to their lack of any hard metals, most Xenians have had to simplify their equipment - namely most soldiery are equipped with obsidian-tipped spears, copper daggers, bows and arrows covered in venom.

Economy

Chief staples of Xenian economic activities are centered primarily around foods like meat, fish, squash, yams, corn, honey, beans, turkey, vegetables, chocolate drinks; raw materials such as limestone, marble, jade, wood, copper and gold; and manufactured goods such as paper, books, furniture, jewelry, clothing, carvings, toys, weapons, and luxury goods.

They also have an important service sector, through which mathematicians, farming consultants, artisans, architects, astronomers, scribes and artists would sell their services.

International Relations

'Western' faction(Rival/Enemy), Spain(Neutral/Recent-Contact)

[CaptainBritton]

England

Nation Name
Kingdom of England

Flag / Seal / Symbol


Territory
England & Wales

Technology Tier:
European

Government Description
King Henry VIII has reigned for twelve years as of 1521, and as the second monarch of the Tudor House, he has thus far made, to say the best, a mess of it. His executions were an all too unpopular means of dealing with his critics, and his wife’s continued inability to birth a suitable heir strained his marriage, leading to scandals and mistresses, and even an illegitimate son.

However, King Henry is much more behind the wall of ill-temper, infidelity, and abhorrent relations with the Catholic church. As a monarch, Henry’s philosophy is one of absolute power. Only reigned by the Magna Carta, the Parliament’s powers, and threat of rebellion, he maintains nearly every aspect of the government on some level.

Relegated below him, is the nobles, their rule often confined to shires, counties, or provinces, and the administrative duties that it entails. In exchange, these nobles raise levies on King Henry’s call, riding into battle with their entourages of knights and hordes of peasants.

At the lowest level of the centralised government, the Parliament is made up of appointed individuals representing their regions. Initially a council summoned when the King was to collect taxes, it has since grown into a regulatory entity, one which can draft bills and suggestions to the King, and though legally the King can disregard these, the unrest caused would simply be too much of a risk, as such the Parliament is somewhat of a leash on Henry VIII’s ambitions.

History
The true ‘modern’ Kingdom of England was founded during the Norman conquests, when William the Conqueror crossed the English Channel and conquered the English lands, proclaiming himself king. Over the next century, Norman lords began to also conquer Welsh lands, coming to control much of the interior Welsh lands.

As trades of land and arbitrary borders began to be drawn, the reigning king of the period, King Edward III, made a claim for the throne of France. Within the next century of war, appropriately titled the Hundred Years’ War, the English, at the start just disorganized fiefs, formed a national identity. Despite being defeated in the war and routed from France, the English were united under a common language (proto-English), a common line of royalty, and a region which to definitively call their own.

However, this union would not last long, as the battered and weakened English army, economy, and government were split during the War of the Roses. The House of Lancaster and House of York fought constantly over the throne of England, lasting nearly forty years before the illegitimate member of House Lancaster, named Henry VII, married Elizabeth of House York, founding an entirely new House of Tudor, finally claiming the throne of England.

Henry VII was wise and frugal during his reign. Careful to not spark yet more civil war, and very frugal as to stimulate the economy, he grew the Kingdom of England to its greatest extent on the isle itself. As he died, it became immediately apparent that his heir was not as wise as he. That was twelve years ago, and now Henry VIII has drained a significant amount of the English coffers, squandered his relations with the people, annoyed his nobles, and caused a rift with the Catholic church.

But now there is speech of a land beyond, to the west. For eight years, King Henry has poured cash into endeavors to what he hopes will be the end of his debts and troubles, to make a legacy as the king which conquered the west.

Military
During Henry VIII’s reign, England’s military has been rather neglected. The permanent standing Royal Forces of just under 1,000 men are all that remains of the once great armies that tiraded around France’s shores. Despite their small size, however, this force is nevertheless elite, and well-equipped. This Royal Force is made up of primarily paid, but loyal, professionals, ranging from a King’s guard of heavy cavalry, a contingent of polearms, and a mixture of light infantry, longbowmen, and javelinmen. Additionally, with essentially the blank check Henry VIII had given them, a well-maintained contingent of nearly 75 arquebusiers provide an advantage with gunpowder. In support, a battery of four serpentine guns and two siege bombards provides adequate artillery support.

As for the bulk of the forces, they are often levies or volunteers from the holdings of lords sworn in fielty to the King, with quotas determined based on the holding’s size. These levies often are not near as well-equipped as the Royal Force, but they are ideal for a prolonged engagement in which mass amounts of frontline melee troops and adequate skirmishers are needed. Each lord is responsible for mustering their troops, but greater minds than the King have made a checklist of standardization, provided as a stipend by the government, in some recalling to the Marian system.

And as well, those who are due for service are given the option to, instead of fight, pay the coin needed to hire a mercenary in their stead. This often leads to England’s more modern levies being more trained mercenaries than common rabble. As of current, England can only raise and support 18,000 troops.

As for the navy, Henry VIII has shown some competence in his interference here, having replaced the serpentines aboard the vessels with larger bombards, with superior ranges and damage. Credited with founding the Royal Navy itself, King Henry has nearly drained the coffers commissioning a new squadron of carracks and caravels which will sail west.

King Henry VIII of England

Economy
Henry VIII began his reign with a spectacular situation for England’s economy. A large fortune, a steady income of taxes approved by parliament, and an insignificant drain on the treasury, all meticulously maintained by his father, Henry VII. As with most things, Henry VIII nearly drove this all into the ground. His extravagant spending, mismanagement, and corruption operating under his nose all drained the coffers steadily. The approved tax margin eroded by works of Parliamentary lobbying by rivals, and then said rivals pocketed the loss.

Grasping at straws, he allowed himself reigned in by advisors. Now, with only a fraction of the money he had at the outset of his reign, Henry is making a last-ditch attempt at fortune and glory, putting all his faith and coin on an expedition westward to the New World, in search of gold and land.

International Relations /Issues / Disputes
Henry VIII, in his bouts of infidelity, profanity, and greed, has utterly strained his relations with the Catholic church. Coming close to excommunication on many occasions, he now treads lightly with the Church.

WIP