Non Plus Ultra: A World Without America (OOC - SIGN-UP)

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Is the Philippines and North Borneo open?

Yes.

[Dragos Bee]

Is the Philippines and North Borneo open?

Yes.

Question; do you come from Alternatehistory.com? I sort of have a checkered history there (much of which was my fault), and I was wondering whether you'd be all right with that.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Yes.

Question; do you come from Alternatehistory.com? I sort of have a checkered history there (much of which was my fault), and I was wondering whether you'd be all right with that.

I don't come from it but I lurk there, used to post a little but lost interest.
I don't care for the website's moderation and a lot of the people who use it (not trying to trash AH.com in its entirety here). If you have a checkered history there you're alright by me.

[Dragos Bee]

Question; do you come from Alternatehistory.com? I sort of have a checkered history there (much of which was my fault), and I was wondering whether you'd be all right with that.

I don't come from it but I lurk there, used to post a little but lost interest.
I don't care for the website's moderation and a lot of the people who use it (not trying to trash AH.com in its entirety here). If you have a checkered history there you're alright by me.

Ah, thanks. I'm a banned member, btw.

[Dragos Bee]

Nation Name: Kaharian Ng Pilipinas (Kingdom of the Philippines)

Land claims: Philippines and North Borneo

Colonies: Palau, Guam, Marianas Islands.

Government type and leader: Constitutional Monarchy, Head of State is Queen Urraca Varela, the Head of Government is Jose Burgos, and the legislature is the Philippine Cortes.

Primary culture and religion: Tagalog, Catholic Christianity (though not doctrinally pure)

Ethnic and religious makeup: Tagalog, Cebuano, and Ilocano make up the Hispanized majority of the population, while the Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao, and various other groups, all termed 'Moros', make up the Muslim minority in the Philippines.

Main rifle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser_Model_1889 (Note that this is several years after the start date, but not too far).

Population excluding colonies: 5 Million.

Capital City: Manila.

Brief History Since 1492: With the loss of Columbus as a footnote to history, the Spanish Empire turned to the Far East earlier, conquering the Philippines as a stopover for trade with China. Upon finding gold in the islands, however, an oppressive system based on resource extraction and appropriation of native lands was imposed, alongside the outer trappings of civilization. Nevertheless, education and technological innovations were introduced, along with the infrastructure that would make an independent nation a possibility in the future. But revolution would not become a possibility until, due to the needs of war against the Dutch, the Spanish had to give increased power to native troops and half-native aristocrats, the latter who soon began to resent being discriminated against despite their elevated economic status.

The spark that led to full-fleged revolution came when the Spanish, in an attempt to exploit the Australian War of Independence, sent reinforcements of pure-blooded Spaniards, led by a clique of haugthy and prejudiced officers, to the Islands in preperation for an invasion of Australia. This clique, led by one Manuel Pavía y Lacy, quickly alienated the native troops and aristocrats, leading to a mutiny in the naval shipyards of Cavite; just a few miles away from the capital of Manila. This mutiny spread through the islands, as native and mixed-blood troops united to evict the Spanish presence, taking extra care to sieze the colonial government's naval assets. However, knowing that the revolution could not succeed without foriegn support, promises were made towards the Dutch (and British, if the player permits) of free trade in Philippine ports in exchange for diplomatic recognition and weapons.

Finally, the Spanish left in 1865, leading to the formation of the Kingdom of the Philippines/Kaharian Ng Pilipinas. With the Jesuits of the Ateneo de Manila choosing to stay in the newly-independent nation (in exchange for their assets remaining untouched while that of the other Religious Orders were expropriated), an educational and technical base was secured. Even then, secular teachers were eventually preferred, even if they had to be invited in from France or the Netherlands. The first Hari (King) of the Philippines, Rodrigo I, established land reform by evenly dividing the lands held by the pureblooded Spanish and the Non-Jesuit Religious Orders between the native aristocrats and the common people, conducted campaigns against the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao, and after five years of energetic rule, died. His successor was his wife, Urraca Valera.

Urraca proved to be a progressive leader, working alongside the newly-established Philippine Cortes and its charismatic and far-thinking head, Jose Burgos. Under her rule, the Philippines as a whole prospered, including those 'Moros' who agreed to swear allegiance to the Kingdom in exchange for autonomy and access to manufactured goods. These were provided via state and private factories, as Urraca had a policy of inviting in people with industrial skills. A policy of armed neutrality became the cornerstone of foreign policy; Philippine control of the 'West Philippine Sea' was considered vital to the nation's integrity. Thankfully, the Dutch from Java were weakened by the Australian revolt and the Australians themselves were still building up their economy. It was considered vital that the Philippines fill the vacuum caused by the Dutch East India Company's humiliation.

This policy would cause the ties between the Dutch and the Philippines to sour, but the threat of a Filipino - Australian alliance kept the Dutch East India Company from declaring ouright war. At the same time, diplomats were sent to China (if the Chinese player permits) and Japan for further opening of trade; rocket technology was much desired, in order to supplement the cannons used by the Filipino ships. Naval expeditions were sent east to annex Palau, Guam, and the Marianas Islands, in order to keep the Filipino forces in fighting shape.

At present, the Kingdom of the Philippines is a young and energetic nation, profiting from a power vacuum caused by the Australian War of Independence. Time will tell if its period of prosperity will end once said vacuum ceases to be...

[Dragos Bee]

Okay...decided that I won't be able to join; another RP came up. Sorry about this.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Okay...decided that I won't be able to join; another RP came up. Sorry about this.

Damn, I was about to accept you.
all good.

[Dragos Bee]

Okay...decided that I won't be able to join; another RP came up. Sorry about this.

Damn, I was about to accept you.
all good.

I did enjoy making the sheet, though; was it good?

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Damn, I was about to accept you.
all good.

I did enjoy making the sheet, though; was it good?

Yes, definitely, especially the history bit.

[Dentali]

reserve france please

[Pivert]

Nation Name: Regno dê Doje Sicilie (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)
Land claims: Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of Sicily, Sardinia
Colonies: Settlements upon the Swahili and Angolan Coasts (The state officially claims both coasts and the land in between), Several cities in South India, Settlements in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, Eritrea.
Government Type: Absolute Monarchy
Leader: King Louis II de Valois
Primary culture and religion: Italian Roman Catholics (Neapolitan and Sicilian)
Ethnic and religious makeup: Primarily Italic peoples such as Neapolitans, Sicilians and Sardinians with a significant Spanish and French minority. The nation is devoutly catholic.
Main rifle: M1870 Italian Vetterli
Population: Total Population ~6,500,000
Capital City: Naples
Brief History Since 1492: The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies achieved independence from the Kingdom of Spain in 1532 following the defeat of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in the Battle of Naples at the hands of King Francis I of France and King Henry VIII of England. Without the riches of the new world to supplement the growing Habsburg dominance of Europe, Spain was unable to deal with the constant wars of Charles V, and as such following the formation of the League of Cognac, whose goal it was to support the Pope and remove Spanish influence from Italy, Spain was forced to secede her possessions upon the Italian peninsula, along with the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Initially the throne of Two Sicilies was left vacant, and for six years the Kingdom was without a King, with the Pope serving as regent until a suitable candidate revealed themselves.
Many possible Kings presented themselves at Rome: Spanish, French and English, and whilst the Pope himself expressed a desire to see a native Italian upon the throne, growing pressure from King Francis I, who felt cheated, after supporting the conquest of the Kingdom from Spain forced the Pope to make a snap decision. Charles II de Valois, Duke of Orléans (Francis I's youngest son) was officially crowned King Charles I of the Two Sicilies in 1538, bringing French culture to the nation and cementing an alliance between the French and the Sicilians.
Following the state's formation, the Kingdom of Two Sicilies saw relative prosperity as a minor European nation in a world of growing superpowers. Despite it's size, it has involved itself in multiple European conflicts over the years, and the Kings of Two Sicilies have even attempted to press their claims upon the Kingdom of France once of twice, though as expected this has always ended in disaster. The House of Valois has thus far enjoyed a lengthy and almost uninterrupted rule (save for a few years during the Napoleonic Wars where they were temporarily replaced by Napoleon's brother-in-law Joachim Murat) though some have come to view an absolutist monarchy outdated in the modern world. The spirit of Republicanism has began to take hold, though it is uncertain how far it will spread and rampant organised crime within the south of the country has caused many native sicilians to flee to Africa and India in hopes of a better life.

[Vrijstaat Limburg]

Nation Name: Großherzogtum Baden/ Great Duchy of Baden
Land claims: South-Western Germany, as well as Mülhausen in Alsace and parts of Southern Alsace.
Colonies: None
Government type and leader: Semi-Constitutional monarchy
Primary culture and religion: The people of Baden are catholic Germans, loyal to the Pope and staunchly anti-protestant
Ethnic and religious makeup: The majority of the population is white, with the largest religion being catholic, and an opressed protestant minority in Württemberg.
Main rifle: Dreyse-Zündnadelgewehr
Population excluding colonies: 1,2 million inhabitants
Capital City: Freiburg
Brief History Since 1492: (where different from OTL)

The Great duchy of Baden was one of the countless states in Germany, with most of their people being farmers in a despotic system. Social standards changed with enlightenment and the arrival of Napoleon, and the country joined what is now known as the "Rhine confederacy". The monarchy eventually returned to Baden, but remained to be very anti-Prussia, because of their protestant views. Baden supported Austria both during the Schleswig campaign, and during the Austro-Prussian war, but instead of supporting Prussia during the Franco-Prussian war, Baden supported their Western neigbours and fought against the other Germans. This resulted in a massive military defeat for the Bavarian army due to their general's incompetence and their outdated weapons. Because of the lack of Bavarian support, the Franco-Prussian war lasted much longer, and French reinforcements were able to arrive without missing major battles. The Franco-Prussian war was still a victory for the Prussians, but Bismarck's expectations of a united Germany ultimately failed because Bavaria and Baden refused to join the Prussians.

Prussia annexed Alsace-Lorraine after the war, but catholic minorities disliked the Prussians, because the Franco-Prussian war didn't end as formidable as the Prussians expected. Baden secretly supported catholic independence groups in Lorraine, and an agreement was signed which decided that southern Alsace was to be a safezone for catholics in Alsace, and that this "Free state" was going to be a Baden dominion.

Baden's neigbours distrust it, and Baden does no longer have any land borders to its ally France. It's found itsself in a difficult position.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Nation Name: Regno dê Doje Sicilie (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)
Land claims: Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of Sicily, Sardinia
Colonies: Settlements upon the Swahili and Angolan Coasts (The state officially claims both coasts and the land in between), Several cities in South India, Settlements in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, Eritrea.
Government Type: Absolute Monarchy
Leader: King Louis II de Valois
Primary culture and religion: Italian Roman Catholics (Neapolitan and Sicilian)
Ethnic and religious makeup: Primarily Italic peoples such as Neapolitans, Sicilians and Sardinians with a significant Spanish and French minority. The nation is devoutly catholic.
Main rifle: M1870 Italian Vetterli
Population: Total Population ~6,500,000
Capital City: Naples
Brief History Since 1492: The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies achieved independence from the Kingdom of Spain in 1532 following the defeat of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in the Battle of Naples at the hands of King Francis I of France and King Henry VIII of England. Without the riches of the new world to supplement the growing Habsburg dominance of Europe, Spain was unable to deal with the constant wars of Charles V, and as such following the formation of the League of Cognac, whose goal it was to support the Pope and remove Spanish influence from Italy, Spain was forced to secede her possessions upon the Italian peninsula, along with the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Initially the throne of Two Sicilies was left vacant, and for six years the Kingdom was without a King, with the Pope serving as regent until a suitable candidate revealed themselves.
Many possible Kings presented themselves at Rome: Spanish, French and English, and whilst the Pope himself expressed a desire to see a native Italian upon the throne, growing pressure from King Francis I, who felt cheated, after supporting the conquest of the Kingdom from Spain forced the Pope to make a snap decision. Charles II de Valois, Duke of Orléans (Francis I's youngest son) was officially crowned King Charles I of the Two Sicilies in 1538, bringing French culture to the nation and cementing an alliance between the French and the Sicilians.
Following the state's formation, the Kingdom of Two Sicilies saw relative prosperity as a minor European nation in a world of growing superpowers. Despite it's size, it has involved itself in multiple European conflicts over the years, and the Kings of Two Sicilies have even attempted to press their claims upon the Kingdom of France once of twice, though as expected this has always ended in disaster. The House of Valois has thus far enjoyed a lengthy and almost uninterrupted rule (save for a few years during the Napoleonic Wars where they were temporarily replaced by Napoleon's brother-in-law Joachim Murat) though some have come to view an absolutist monarchy outdated in the modern world. The spirit of Republicanism has began to take hold, though it is uncertain how far it will spread and rampant organised crime within the south of the country has caused many native sicilians to flee to Africa and India in hopes of a better life.

Sounds good, but you should shrink your colonial Empire a little. Maybe lose Angola and more of Zanzibar except specific bits. Also, can you please specify which Indian cities you want?

Nation Name: Großherzogtum Baden/ Great Duchy of Baden
Land claims: South-Western Germany, as well as Mülhausen in Alsace and parts of Southern Alsace.
Colonies: None
Government type and leader: Semi-Constitutional monarchy
Primary culture and religion: The people of Baden are catholic Germans, loyal to the Pope and staunchly anti-protestant
Ethnic and religious makeup: The majority of the population is white, with the largest religion being catholic, and an opressed protestant minority in Württemberg.
Main rifle: Dreyse-Zündnadelgewehr
Population excluding colonies: 1,2 million inhabitants
Capital City: Freiburg
Brief History Since 1492: (where different from OTL)

The Great duchy of Baden was one of the countless states in Germany, with most of their people being farmers in a despotic system. Social standards changed with enlightenment and the arrival of Napoleon, and the country joined what is now known as the "Rhine confederacy". The monarchy eventually returned to Baden, but remained to be very anti-Prussia, because of their protestant views. Baden supported Austria both during the Schleswig campaign, and during the Austro-Prussian war, but instead of supporting Prussia during the Franco-Prussian war, Baden supported their Western neigbours and fought against the other Germans. This resulted in a massive military defeat for the Bavarian army due to their general's incompetence and their outdated weapons. Because of the lack of Bavarian support, the Franco-Prussian war lasted much longer, and French reinforcements were able to arrive without missing major battles. The Franco-Prussian war was still a victory for the Prussians, but Bismarck's expectations of a united Germany ultimately failed because Bavaria and Baden refused to join the Prussians.

Prussia annexed Alsace-Lorraine after the war, but catholic minorities disliked the Prussians, because the Franco-Prussian war didn't end as formidable as the Prussians expected. Baden secretly supported catholic independence groups in Lorraine, and an agreement was signed which decided that southern Alsace was to be a safezone for catholics in Alsace, and that this "Free state" was going to be a Baden dominion.

Baden's neigbours distrust it, and Baden does no longer have any land borders to its ally France. It's found itsself in a difficult position.

Not sure about the Napoleon and Franco-Prussian war parts. it could have been butterflied. part of what screwed France over enough to make it have a revolution was the fact that supporting the American Revolution bankrupted its treasury. With no New World, that money sink is not going to be there. France's shitty harvests and incompetent king could have easily fizzled over and created a slow transition to constitutionalism.

So I'll accept you because the app seems good, but your history canon may have to change depending on what the guy reserving France does.

[Shogunate of the Uzumaki Empire]

Reserve France please!

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Reserve France please!

France was already reserved.
I'll tell you what, if you can submit a finished app before the other France guy does I'll let you have it.

[Shogunate of the Uzumaki Empire]

Reserve France please!

France was already reserved.
I'll tell you what, if you can submit a finished app before the other France guy does I'll let you have it.

Reserve Norway instead then.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

France was already reserved.
I'll tell you what, if you can submit a finished app before the other France guy does I'll let you have it.

Reserve Norway instead then.

Sure. Why not Denmark-Norway, Sweden-Norway or Scandinavia, out of curiosity?

[Vrijstaat Limburg]

Nation Name: Regno dê Doje Sicilie (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)
Land claims: Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of Sicily, Sardinia
Colonies: Settlements upon the Swahili and Angolan Coasts (The state officially claims both coasts and the land in between), Several cities in South India, Settlements in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, Eritrea.
Government Type: Absolute Monarchy
Leader: King Louis II de Valois
Primary culture and religion: Italian Roman Catholics (Neapolitan and Sicilian)
Ethnic and religious makeup: Primarily Italic peoples such as Neapolitans, Sicilians and Sardinians with a significant Spanish and French minority. The nation is devoutly catholic.
Main rifle: M1870 Italian Vetterli
Population: Total Population ~6,500,000
Capital City: Naples
Brief History Since 1492: The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies achieved independence from the Kingdom of Spain in 1532 following the defeat of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in the Battle of Naples at the hands of King Francis I of France and King Henry VIII of England. Without the riches of the new world to supplement the growing Habsburg dominance of Europe, Spain was unable to deal with the constant wars of Charles V, and as such following the formation of the League of Cognac, whose goal it was to support the Pope and remove Spanish influence from Italy, Spain was forced to secede her possessions upon the Italian peninsula, along with the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Initially the throne of Two Sicilies was left vacant, and for six years the Kingdom was without a King, with the Pope serving as regent until a suitable candidate revealed themselves.
Many possible Kings presented themselves at Rome: Spanish, French and English, and whilst the Pope himself expressed a desire to see a native Italian upon the throne, growing pressure from King Francis I, who felt cheated, after supporting the conquest of the Kingdom from Spain forced the Pope to make a snap decision. Charles II de Valois, Duke of Orléans (Francis I's youngest son) was officially crowned King Charles I of the Two Sicilies in 1538, bringing French culture to the nation and cementing an alliance between the French and the Sicilians.
Following the state's formation, the Kingdom of Two Sicilies saw relative prosperity as a minor European nation in a world of growing superpowers. Despite it's size, it has involved itself in multiple European conflicts over the years, and the Kings of Two Sicilies have even attempted to press their claims upon the Kingdom of France once of twice, though as expected this has always ended in disaster. The House of Valois has thus far enjoyed a lengthy and almost uninterrupted rule (save for a few years during the Napoleonic Wars where they were temporarily replaced by Napoleon's brother-in-law Joachim Murat) though some have come to view an absolutist monarchy outdated in the modern world. The spirit of Republicanism has began to take hold, though it is uncertain how far it will spread and rampant organised crime within the south of the country has caused many native sicilians to flee to Africa and India in hopes of a better life.

Sounds good. Accepted.

Nation Name: Großherzogtum Baden/ Great Duchy of Baden
Land claims: South-Western Germany, as well as Mülhausen in Alsace and parts of Southern Alsace.
Colonies: None
Government type and leader: Semi-Constitutional monarchy
Primary culture and religion: The people of Baden are catholic Germans, loyal to the Pope and staunchly anti-protestant
Ethnic and religious makeup: The majority of the population is white, with the largest religion being catholic, and an opressed protestant minority in Württemberg.
Main rifle: Dreyse-Zündnadelgewehr
Population excluding colonies: 1,2 million inhabitants
Capital City: Freiburg
Brief History Since 1492: (where different from OTL)

The Great duchy of Baden was one of the countless states in Germany, with most of their people being farmers in a despotic system. Social standards changed with enlightenment and the arrival of Napoleon, and the country joined what is now known as the "Rhine confederacy". The monarchy eventually returned to Baden, but remained to be very anti-Prussia, because of their protestant views. Baden supported Austria both during the Schleswig campaign, and during the Austro-Prussian war, but instead of supporting Prussia during the Franco-Prussian war, Baden supported their Western neigbours and fought against the other Germans. This resulted in a massive military defeat for the Bavarian army due to their general's incompetence and their outdated weapons. Because of the lack of Bavarian support, the Franco-Prussian war lasted much longer, and French reinforcements were able to arrive without missing major battles. The Franco-Prussian war was still a victory for the Prussians, but Bismarck's expectations of a united Germany ultimately failed because Bavaria and Baden refused to join the Prussians.

Prussia annexed Alsace-Lorraine after the war, but catholic minorities disliked the Prussians, because the Franco-Prussian war didn't end as formidable as the Prussians expected. Baden secretly supported catholic independence groups in Lorraine, and an agreement was signed which decided that southern Alsace was to be a safezone for catholics in Alsace, and that this "Free state" was going to be a Baden dominion.

Baden's neigbours distrust it, and Baden does no longer have any land borders to its ally France. It's found itsself in a difficult position.

Not sure about the Napoleon and Franco-Prussian war parts. it could have been butterflied. part of what screwed France over enough to make it have a revolution was the fact that supporting the American Revolution bankrupted its treasury. With no New World, that money sink is not going to be there. France's shitty harvests and incompetent king could have easily fizzled over and created a slow transition to constitutionalism.

So I'll accept you because the app seems good, but your history canon may have to change depending on what the guy reserving France does.

OK. You're right, it's probably not up to a minor to decide those things. Fully understand your comments.
We'll check on France, and if the canon would have to be changed dramatically, I could switch to some other nation ideas that I had in the back of my mind. Thanks for accepting me as of now, and we'll find a proper solution.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Alright, I've updated the map with accepted people and people working on apps/reservations. Have at it, I'll be going to edit the map claims post now and get an app up for my Cape nation.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Nation Name: United Provinces of South Africa
Land claims: The southern half of Kalahari (Namibia, Botswana, Rhodesian border) and The Cape.

Colonies: The inland Kalahari is basically a colony, although arguably it's closer to the Territories of the OTL US frontier.

Government type and leader: South Africa is a federal constitutional republic like the USA of OTL. The country is divided into Provinces, which have their own local parliaments and Governors, and Territories, which have a limited degree of local government and are ruled directly from Providence (OTL Knysna). Congress is made up of the Senate (upper house), which has two representatives from every Province, and the House of Representatives, which has one representative from every Congressional District. South Africa always has exactly one hundred-and-one Congressional Districts, which are drawn every twenty years in such a manner that no Congressional District has twice the population of another Congressional District. Territories are not represented in Congress, but self-governing ones on the way to Province status have their own mini-parliaments and elected Governors. The President is elected by popular vote every four years and Congress is reelected every four years in two elections a month apart. The head of government is the President, but the head of state is the Governor-General, who is appointed by Congress. Congress can be dismissed by the Governor-General, creating a mid-term election, if the President agrees to do so as well. The current President is Thomas French, and the current governor-general is Alexander Harrison

Primary culture and religion: White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. The state is secular but a majority people are Baptist, Presbyterian or Lutheran, with a large Catholic minority. Native religion is on the decline due to missionary activity and white settlement in their communities.

Ethnic and religious makeup: The Western Cape is mostly (~95%) white, with a small minority of South Asians and Khoikhoi natives. The Eastern Cape is between 80% and 90% white, with the remaining Xhosa there east of Falmouth (OTL Port Elizabeth) and stuck in reservations. A solid white majority along the coast continues east to the estuary of the Mhlathuze River (OTL Richards Bay). Beyond there the majority of the population is Bantu, with the largest group being Zulu but with a number of ethnic groups (such as the Sotho and Xhosa) driven east.

The Karoo and the Highveld highlands are also areas of predominantly white settlement, where the indigenous Sotho and other Bantus have been driven out into more marginal regions. The Bushveld has mostly pastoral/rural white settlement and a sizeable Bantu population, and the Lowveld, being malaria country, is predominantly Bantu. Namaqualand and Namibia are predominantly white because of a low indigenous population density prior to European settlement.

Main rifle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_model_1873 Not the greatest rifle, but it works against Bantus.

Population excluding colonies: (including territories here because they'r'e small and connected by land) 24.68 million, of which nearly 20 million are whites. The total population of the USA was a bit under this in 1850 and more of it was white proportionally, so I'd say it's reasonable, especially given shipping routes for trade correspond with overseas migration routes prior to the Suez Canal. This means a population that's just at the 80% white mark and actually has slightly more non-whites than OTL South Africa had in 1911 (5.927 million in total with 1,276,242 whites according to the census). It seems big but it's actually reasonable, if arguably on the bigger side.

Of course, a lot of that white population is going to be packed into the southern coast and to a lesser extent the Highveld, but that's not a problem- judging from the research I've done, those two areas are the parts of South Africa most suited to European-style crops and settlements.

Capital City: Providence (OTL Knysna, South Africa). Less of a Washington D.C dealie and more of a medium-sized city in a good location being designated capital when independence happened.

Brief History Since 1492: The first European to reach South Africa was Bartolomeu Dias, who sailed around it in 1488 and documented its landforms while looking for a route to Asia by sea. Dias landed in a number of locations, including Walvis bay, but did not officially claim it for Portugal. (this happened in OTL)

The first European settlement in South Africa was made in 1630 by the Dutch East India Company at Cape Town, which served as a pitstop for European ships heading to the East Indies. The second settlement was Charlestown (OTL Mossel Bay) by the English in 1636, at the site of Dias' landing there in February 1488 (Dias landed here in OTL). The two European colonies were both successful for the first few decades, although English settlements further to the east often came into conflict with the hostile Xhosa. In 1664, three English frigates Cape Town from the Dutch, which was swiftly followed by the second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch Cape Colony was incorporated into English South Africa the following year. The next hundred years were made up of slow European encroachment upon South Africa, with several successful frontier wars against the Xhosa and a slow dispossession of the pastoral Khoikhoi people. Civil unrest in the British isles and then the discovery of gold brought waves of immigration into South Africa.

Independence came to South Africa in the 1760s, when London attempted to make the colonists pay ship money (a practice long abandoned in the British isles due to widespread opposition) and abruptly raised tariffs on several trade goods (including tea). This angered the South African colonials, now two million strong, who protested paying yet more taxes while still not having representation in parliament. Eventually tensions between the South Africans and their colonial rulers reached a boiling point, and so the South Africans arranged a makeshift local parliament with several representatives from each colonial province and declared independence on the 4th of July 1766. The next eight years were marked by the South African Revolution, in which numerous foreign powers backed the South Africans against their colonial overlords and The United Provinces of South Africa was lead by Governor-General Adam Jefferson, who ruled South Africa as a de-facto dictator until his death in 1768, after which parliament drafted the current version of South Africa's constitution. Elections were held and Benjamin Diller became the first President of South Africa.

The next few decades were made up of skirmishes with the British in Namibia, finally driving them out of that territory. The First Zulu wars in the 1790s against Senzangakhona and the second Zulu wars in the 1810s and 1820s were a victory for the South Africans, who pushed the frontiers of white settlement and drove the local Bantus further down the coast and into reservations. The following decades were made up of South African migration to the north and east, which ended with Namaqualand, Karoo, coastal Namibia, and the Highveld attaining Province status.The recent building of the Suez Canal has diverted shipping away from South Africa and caused an economic downturn to which the country is currently trying to adjust, hopefully by finding new avenues for economic prosperity.

[The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism]

Nation Name: Städtebund Jakobsland (League of Towns of Jakobsland), unofficially just Jakobsland works

Land claims: This area around the Gambia/Senegal

Colonies: Grüne Inseln (otl Cape Verde) is analogous to a colony

Government type and leader: The current head of state of Jakobsland is Bundespräsident Gotthard Anskis. The Städtebund is a federal alliance of states, each state being centered on a major township. The states are responsible for determining their own local government structures and have some reserved powers, such as managing their own schools and organizing state militias, but generally the federal government in Neu-Mitau has reserved most powers for itself. The unicameral legislature, the Repräsentantenhaus, is elected each three years and does not have a set number of seats. The state with the lowest population is awarded 2 seats, which determines the population required for each seat. Each state is then awarded seats based on their populations. Individual states determine their methods for electing representatives, but there are some restrictions to ensure democratic process.

Primary culture and religion: Baltic/German Lutherans

Ethnic and religious makeup: The majority of the European population are Curonians, Livonians and other Germanized Balts though there are notable minorities of French Huguenots, North Germans and Prussians, and some Italians. The natives of Jakobsland include small numbers of "civilized" Africans who live in the towns and can own property, but are not yet able to vote in federal elections, a much larger portion who are in slavery working on farms and plantations, and some groups entirely disenfranchised from the Städtebund living traditional tribal lives on land still undeveloped by European settlers. While this makes it difficult to be sure, it is estimated that about 30% of the population are natives.

Main rifle: Mauser Model 1871

Population excluding colonies: 3,432,000 (sources I could find put the local population of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau around 1880 at around 1.2 million, given that it's estimated that several million were taken from the region as slaves during the triangle trade which wouldn't have happened, this would be higher. Also, the region did not experience particularly intensive colonization in our timeline, but in this one the combination of factors including the success of the original Curonian colonies and the lack of an American immigrant-sponge, the number I reached seems reasonable.)

Capital City: Neu-Mitau

Brief History Since 1492: In 1639 the Duke of Courland and Semigallia, Jakob Kettler, purchased Banjul island from local minor kings. In 1641, two ships under Captain Caroon brought about 300 settlers to Banjul Island, where they peacefully established farms and a small port which Curonian ships could use as a stopover. In 1651, Duke Jakob acquired a colonial possession further down the Gambia river, a small island (otl Kunta Kinteh Island) where Fort Jakob was built and used as a post for Curonian mercantilism in the region. Soon after the fort's construction, the Duchy secured several other minor possessions in the region (several more river islands, and the region surrounding Jufureh). In 1654, the ship Das Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland ("The Arms of the Duchess of Courland") arrived at Banjul island carrying 45 cannons, 25 officers, 124 Courlander soldiers and 80 families of colonists. Captain Willem Mollens renamed the area Neu-Kurland, and a small town arose named Neu-Mitau.

Having a small, focused and successful area of colonization, the Curonians attracted little attention from major colonial powers and were able to slowly grow their colonial population as well as gradually acquire more land along the Gambia River. During the little Northern War, 1655–60, a large number of Curonians and Livonians emigrated to the Gambia to escape the brutal conflict. By 1682, when Duke Jakob died, Curonian Gambia had a European population in the high thousands. The next duke, Freidrich Casimir, was not an expert administrator like Jakob Kettler, and barely avoided selling the Gambia to England to pay off debts. The population from 1685-1720 experienced an explosion as migrating French Huguenots, poor Germans and large numbers of Balts pushed out by the Great Northern War took refuge in the colony, which continued to grow as new towns were settled and land beyond the territories officially owned by Courland was cleared away and settled by Europeans.

After the Great Northern War, as Russia gradually imposed more and more of it's own designs on the Duchy of Courland, the Curonian colonies around the Gambia gradually severed ties and worked to become self-sufficient. More Balts and a notable number of Curonian minor nobility migrated during the periods of conflict through the 1700's when Russian, Polish and local influences struggled for control, as well as more French Protestants, and aspiring and adventurous Germans and Italians who's own states had yet to create colonies of their own. In 1795, Courland was incorporated into Russia, ending the Duchy's autonomy. When this occurred, the Curonian Gambia declared independence, with Russia having little to no capability to exert it's own influence in Africa.

On April 12th, 1795, representatives sent by a number of European-populated towns along the Gambia river and outwards both North and South met in Neu-Mitau and signed the Treaty of Federation and Union, creating the Städtebund Jakobsland, which quickly grew to encompass the majority of European settlements throughout the region. Since the creation of the Städtebund, Jakobsland has primarily focused inwards, developing their land with farms, mines, roads and necessary amenities. They prospered using their position as a stopover before travelling on towards the Cape and around the continent, though since the construction of the Suez Canal this traffic has declined. Many of the European settlers have assimilated into a Curonian/German culture, and German is the national language, but some cultural minorities remain.

By 1880, Jakobsland has developed it's own identity, as pioneers and civilizers. There are a number of issues simmering under the surface, for example after suffrage was extended to all white men of adult age (21), several years ago, suffragette movements began protesting for women's right to vote. Slavery is another issue, seen as barbaric by some liberals who point to it's banning in many countries. There is a movement to abolish the states and create a fully empowered central government, and settlers on the frontier are pushing the government to acquire more land in the African interior for European development. The Städtebund Jakobsland has many difficult problems to solve in the coming years, problems that will decide the fate of the nation for good.

[The Cosmic Frankish Empire]

Nation Name: Städtebund Jakobsland (League of Towns of Jakobsland), unofficially just Jakobsland works

Land claims: This area around the Gambia/Senegal

Colonies: Grüne Inseln (otl Cape Verde) is analogous to a colony

Government type and leader: The current head of state of Jakobsland is Bundespräsident Gotthard Anskis. The Städtebund is a federal alliance of states, each state being centered on a major township. The states are responsible for determining their own local government structures and have some reserved powers, such as managing their own schools and organizing state militias, but generally the federal government in Neu-Mitau has reserved most powers for itself. The unicameral legislature, the Repräsentantenhaus, is elected each three years and does not have a set number of seats. The state with the lowest population is awarded 2 seats, which determines the population required for each seat. Each state is then awarded seats based on their populations. Individual states determine their methods for electing representatives, but there are some restrictions to ensure democratic process.

Primary culture and religion: Baltic/German Lutherans

Ethnic and religious makeup: The majority of the European population are Curonians, Livonians and other Germanized Balts though there are notable minorities of French Huguenots, North Germans and Prussians, and some Italians. The natives of Jakobsland include small numbers of "civilized" Africans who live in the towns and can own property, but are not yet able to vote in federal elections, a much larger portion who are in slavery working on farms and plantations, and some groups entirely disenfranchised from the Städtebund living traditional tribal lives on land still undeveloped by European settlers. While this makes it difficult to be sure, it is estimated that about 30% of the population are natives.

Main rifle: Mauser Model 1871

Population excluding colonies: 3,432,000 (sources I could find put the local population of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau around 1880 at around 1.2 million, given that it's estimated that several million were taken from the region as slaves during the triangle trade which wouldn't have happened, this would be higher. Also, the region did not experience particularly intensive colonization in our timeline, but in this one the combination of factors including the success of the original Curonian colonies and the lack of an American immigrant-sponge, the number I reached seems reasonable.)

Capital City: Neu-Mitau

Brief History Since 1492: In 1639 the Duke of Courland and Semigallia, Jakob Kettler, purchased Banjul island from local minor kings. In 1641, two ships under Captain Caroon brought about 300 settlers to Banjul Island, where they peacefully established farms and a small port which Curonian ships could use as a stopover. In 1651, Duke Jakob acquired a colonial possession further down the Gambia river, a small island (otl Kunta Kinteh Island) where Fort Jakob was built and used as a post for Curonian mercantilism in the region. Soon after the fort's construction, the Duchy secured several other minor possessions in the region (several more river islands, and the region surrounding Jufureh). In 1654, the ship Das Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland ("The Arms of the Duchess of Courland") arrived at Banjul island carrying 45 cannons, 25 officers, 124 Courlander soldiers and 80 families of colonists. Captain Willem Mollens renamed the area Neu-Kurland, and a small town arose named Neu-Mitau.

Having a small, focused and successful area of colonization, the Curonians attracted little attention from major colonial powers and were able to slowly grow their colonial population as well as gradually acquire more land along the Gambia River. During the little Northern War, 1655–60, a large number of Curonians and Livonians emigrated to the Gambia to escape the brutal conflict. By 1682, when Duke Jakob died, Curonian Gambia had a European population in the high thousands. The next duke, Freidrich Casimir, was not an expert administrator like Jakob Kettler, and barely avoided selling the Gambia to England to pay off debts. The population from 1685-1720 experienced an explosion as migrating French Huguenots, poor Germans and large numbers of Balts pushed out by the Great Northern War took refuge in the colony, which continued to grow as new towns were settled and land beyond the territories officially owned by Courland was cleared away and settled by Europeans.

After the Great Northern War, as Russia gradually imposed more and more of it's own designs on the Duchy of Courland, the Curonian colonies around the Gambia gradually severed ties and worked to become self-sufficient. More Balts and a notable number of Curonian minor nobility migrated during the periods of conflict through the 1700's when Russian, Polish and local influences struggled for control, as well as more French Protestants, and aspiring and adventurous Germans and Italians who's own states had yet to create colonies of their own. In 1795, Courland was incorporated into Russia, ending the Duchy's autonomy. When this occurred, the Curonian Gambia declared independence, with Russia having little to no capability to exert it's own influence in Africa.

On April 12th, 1795, representatives sent by a number of European-populated towns along the Gambia river and outwards both North and South met in Neu-Mitau and signed the Treaty of Federation and Union, creating the Städtebund Jakobsland, which quickly grew to encompass the majority of European settlements throughout the region. Since the creation of the Städtebund, Jakobsland has primarily focused inwards, developing their land with farms, mines, roads and necessary amenities. They prospered using their position as a stopover before travelling on towards the Cape and around the continent, though since the construction of the Suez Canal this traffic has declined. Many of the European settlers have assimilated into a Curonian/German culture, and German is the national language, but some cultural minorities remain.

By 1880, Jakobsland has developed it's own identity, as pioneers and civilizers. There are a number of issues simmering under the surface, for example after suffrage was extended to all white men of adult age (21), several years ago, suffragette movements began protesting for women's right to vote. Slavery is another issue, seen as barbaric by some liberals who point to it's banning in many countries. There is a movement to abolish the states and create a fully empowered central government, and settlers on the frontier are pushing the government to acquire more land in the African interior for European development. The Städtebund Jakobsland has many difficult problems to solve in the coming years, problems that will decide the fate of the nation for good.

I'm want to accept you, but are you sure large-scale European settlement could occur in Gambia and Senegal given the malaria there? Wouldn't it be a serious problem there?

[Prevnina]

I'm want to accept you, but are you sure large-scale European settlement could occur in Gambia and Senegal given the malaria there? Wouldn't it be a serious problem there?

Malaria wasn't too much of a problem for the Portuguese in their colonies in Mozambique which had ~250,000 Portuguese colonists in 1970 and Angola which had ~330,000 Portuguese in 1974, and that's with most of their immigrants having gone to Brazil or America.

As far as I know malaria is endemic to both colonies, though it's probably a bit more severe in the Gambia.

[The Miaphysite Church of Coptic Archism]

Nation Name: Städtebund Jakobsland (League of Towns of Jakobsland), unofficially just Jakobsland works

Land claims: This area around the Gambia/Senegal

Colonies: Grüne Inseln (otl Cape Verde) is analogous to a colony

Government type and leader: The current head of state of Jakobsland is Bundespräsident Gotthard Anskis. The Städtebund is a federal alliance of states, each state being centered on a major township. The states are responsible for determining their own local government structures and have some reserved powers, such as managing their own schools and organizing state militias, but generally the federal government in Neu-Mitau has reserved most powers for itself. The unicameral legislature, the Repräsentantenhaus, is elected each three years and does not have a set number of seats. The state with the lowest population is awarded 2 seats, which determines the population required for each seat. Each state is then awarded seats based on their populations. Individual states determine their methods for electing representatives, but there are some restrictions to ensure democratic process.

Primary culture and religion: Baltic/German Lutherans

Ethnic and religious makeup: The majority of the European population are Curonians, Livonians and other Germanized Balts though there are notable minorities of French Huguenots, North Germans and Prussians, and some Italians. The natives of Jakobsland include small numbers of "civilized" Africans who live in the towns and can own property, but are not yet able to vote in federal elections, a much larger portion who are in slavery working on farms and plantations, and some groups entirely disenfranchised from the Städtebund living traditional tribal lives on land still undeveloped by European settlers. While this makes it difficult to be sure, it is estimated that about 30% of the population are natives.

Main rifle: Mauser Model 1871

Population excluding colonies: 3,432,000 (sources I could find put the local population of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau around 1880 at around 1.2 million, given that it's estimated that several million were taken from the region as slaves during the triangle trade which wouldn't have happened, this would be higher. Also, the region did not experience particularly intensive colonization in our timeline, but in this one the combination of factors including the success of the original Curonian colonies and the lack of an American immigrant-sponge, the number I reached seems reasonable.)

Capital City: Neu-Mitau

Brief History Since 1492: In 1639 the Duke of Courland and Semigallia, Jakob Kettler, purchased Banjul island from local minor kings. In 1641, two ships under Captain Caroon brought about 300 settlers to Banjul Island, where they peacefully established farms and a small port which Curonian ships could use as a stopover. In 1651, Duke Jakob acquired a colonial possession further down the Gambia river, a small island (otl Kunta Kinteh Island) where Fort Jakob was built and used as a post for Curonian mercantilism in the region. Soon after the fort's construction, the Duchy secured several other minor possessions in the region (several more river islands, and the region surrounding Jufureh). In 1654, the ship Das Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland ("The Arms of the Duchess of Courland") arrived at Banjul island carrying 45 cannons, 25 officers, 124 Courlander soldiers and 80 families of colonists. Captain Willem Mollens renamed the area Neu-Kurland, and a small town arose named Neu-Mitau.

Having a small, focused and successful area of colonization, the Curonians attracted little attention from major colonial powers and were able to slowly grow their colonial population as well as gradually acquire more land along the Gambia River. During the little Northern War, 1655–60, a large number of Curonians and Livonians emigrated to the Gambia to escape the brutal conflict. By 1682, when Duke Jakob died, Curonian Gambia had a European population in the high thousands. The next duke, Freidrich Casimir, was not an expert administrator like Jakob Kettler, and barely avoided selling the Gambia to England to pay off debts. The population from 1685-1720 experienced an explosion as migrating French Huguenots, poor Germans and large numbers of Balts pushed out by the Great Northern War took refuge in the colony, which continued to grow as new towns were settled and land beyond the territories officially owned by Courland was cleared away and settled by Europeans.

After the Great Northern War, as Russia gradually imposed more and more of it's own designs on the Duchy of Courland, the Curonian colonies around the Gambia gradually severed ties and worked to become self-sufficient. More Balts and a notable number of Curonian minor nobility migrated during the periods of conflict through the 1700's when Russian, Polish and local influences struggled for control, as well as more French Protestants, and aspiring and adventurous Germans and Italians who's own states had yet to create colonies of their own. In 1795, Courland was incorporated into Russia, ending the Duchy's autonomy. When this occurred, the Curonian Gambia declared independence, with Russia having little to no capability to exert it's own influence in Africa.

On April 12th, 1795, representatives sent by a number of European-populated towns along the Gambia river and outwards both North and South met in Neu-Mitau and signed the Treaty of Federation and Union, creating the Städtebund Jakobsland, which quickly grew to encompass the majority of European settlements throughout the region. Since the creation of the Städtebund, Jakobsland has primarily focused inwards, developing their land with farms, mines, roads and necessary amenities. They prospered using their position as a stopover before travelling on towards the Cape and around the continent, though since the construction of the Suez Canal this traffic has declined. Many of the European settlers have assimilated into a Curonian/German culture, and German is the national language, but some cultural minorities remain.

By 1880, Jakobsland has developed it's own identity, as pioneers and civilizers. There are a number of issues simmering under the surface, for example after suffrage was extended to all white men of adult age (21), several years ago, suffragette movements began protesting for women's right to vote. Slavery is another issue, seen as barbaric by some liberals who point to it's banning in many countries. There is a movement to abolish the states and create a fully empowered central government, and settlers on the frontier are pushing the government to acquire more land in the African interior for European development. The Städtebund Jakobsland has many difficult problems to solve in the coming years, problems that will decide the fate of the nation for good.

I'm want to accept you, but are you sure large-scale European settlement could occur in Gambia and Senegal given the malaria there? Wouldn't it be a serious problem there?

Hmm, researching the British and French colonies of our timeline in the area, sickness was of course present, but it looks like at least in Senegal's case the primary reason for decline in European colonization was the end of the triangle trade. Rigorously draining swamps and standing waters near populated areas, cutting away overgrown vegetation and other land projects could go a long way in terms of significantly reducing the mosquito population by destroying the habitats in which they lay their larvae. Large projects which would take large amounts of time, but were technologically available options, and there are large periods of time in my history where the colonists weren't doing too much else.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Alright, I'm writing up a nation, but I basically have two seperate histories, depending on what France does. I will write like Napoleon happened, but I will change that if France comes to the very reasonable conclusion that the whole French revolution worked out differently.

Also, as a northern Italian state, I will either control Belgium or not, depending on whether Napoleon happened. If he didn't happen, I won't control Belgium.