Rome's Folly(DEAD)

[The V O I D]

When I had made my app, I was under the assumption that the southern Turkish peninsula was taken, along with Cyprus and what remains of Greece. Honestly, if Egypt doesn't control it, and Rome doesn't, I think it should logically go to me, or someone who apps a secessionist Turkish State and/or the Ottoman Dynasty that didn't get to control the Turks.

Well, I wanted to take southern Greece, but I was told that it belonged to Egypt.

I was the one who told you that because I had thought that's what Egypt had reserved, but apparently not.

Tell ya what, you get Southern Greece, I get the rest of Turkey and Cyprus. We split that last Greek island down the middle.

Unless someone wants to take my idea of an Ottoman Turkish state and/or secessionist Turkish state.

[Kaledoria]

Think about it. How would Bohemia have conquered those parts of Greece and Turkey? And after the fall of Rome? At that time, there was no Bohemia. Even if we ignore the part where Bohemia, a central European nation, would have to suddenly focus on getting on the Mediterranean, for no reason at all. Conquering territories of the Byzantine Empire of the Egyptians at the time would have been impossible, and after the fall of the Byzantines, the area was disputed by three large powers, the Turks, the Romans, and the Egyptians. No way for Bohemia to get in at any time. And even if we would assume that Bohemia could have gained some territory, the loss of sea access would have resulted in losing contact with colonial territories, and in those territories collapsing or becoming independent. And coring those regions, culturally and religiously? Impossible. Conquering Egypt? Ridiculous.

I don't see it as Bohemia the later medieval Czech nation but rather as some Ostrogoths/Hunns that were able to conquer most of the Byzantine Empire when it collapsed in itself and then renamed themselves Bohemia, maybe because the Boii after whom Bohemia is named also settled on the Danube. As I said, I have no idea, whether USOceania imagined it that way, too, but it sounds plausible in my mind that way.

[Tracian Empire]

Think about it. How would Bohemia have conquered those parts of Greece and Turkey? And after the fall of Rome? At that time, there was no Bohemia. Even if we ignore the part where Bohemia, a central European nation, would have to suddenly focus on getting on the Mediterranean, for no reason at all. Conquering territories of the Byzantine Empire of the Egyptians at the time would have been impossible, and after the fall of the Byzantines, the area was disputed by three large powers, the Turks, the Romans, and the Egyptians. No way for Bohemia to get in at any time. And even if we would assume that Bohemia could have gained some territory, the loss of sea access would have resulted in losing contact with colonial territories, and in those territories collapsing or becoming independent. And coring those regions, culturally and religiously? Impossible. Conquering Egypt? Ridiculous.

I don't see it as Bohemia the later medieval Czech nation but rather as some Ostrogoths/Hunns that were able to conquer most of the Byzantine Empire when it collapsed in itself and then renamed themselves Bohemia, maybe because the Boii after whom Bohemia is named also settled on the Danube. As I said, I have no idea, whether USOceania imagined it that way, too, but it sounds plausible in my mind that way.

Which is, false. In this timeline, it is kinda established that the Turks conquered the Byzantines. Even if we assume that the Huns or any big barbarian group would have invaded Byzantium though, it would be impossible for them to fully conquer it. And even if we consider this impossible and abstract thing to have happened, any Bohemian territories there would have been eradicated by the arrival of the Romans, Turks, and Egyptians.

And his established app and history doesn't allow your theory to work, unfortunately.

[United City States of Oceania]

I don't see it as Bohemia the later medieval Czech nation but rather as some Ostrogoths/Hunns that were able to conquer most of the Byzantine Empire when it collapsed in itself and then renamed themselves Bohemia, maybe because the Boii after whom Bohemia is named also settled on the Danube. As I said, I have no idea, whether USOceania imagined it that way, too, but it sounds plausible in my mind that way.

Which is, false. In this timeline, it is kinda established that the Turks conquered the Byzantines. Even if we assume that the Huns or any big barbarian group would have invaded Byzantium though, it would be impossible for them to fully conquer it. And even if we consider this impossible and abstract thing to have happened, any Bohemian territories there would have been eradicated by the arrival of the Romans, Turks, and Egyptians.

And his established app and history doesn't allow your theory to work, unfortunately.

It doesn't really matter anyways, I've dropped that app.
Scandinavia was going to be my first choice, but I thought that someone else was making an app for that.
But apparently it's not reserved. So here I go again.

[United City States of Oceania]

Full Nation Name: The Confederation of Scandinavian States
Shortened Name: Scandinavia
Other Name(s): The Scandinavian Confederation
Flag:
Other Symbol[s]:



Government: Constitutional Monarchy (Emperor has executive powers, although Council of Lords and the elected Parliament have legislative powers)
Ideology: Expansionism
Dominant Religion: Mainly Christianity, although the old Nordic gods are also worshiped by a large minority
Head of State: Christian VI,Scandinavia
Head of Government: Christian VI, Emperor of Scandinavia
Other Important Officials: Prime Minister Francis Joseph, King Charles XIV John of Sweden, King Frederick VII of Denmark, King Charles III John of Norway, (exiled) King Gustav V of Finland
Population: 63 million (includding colonies)
Capital(s): Copenhagen
Claim: Claims in dark red.
Territory Controlled: Controlled territories in Maroon.
Military Population: 1.5% of population is in standing military, although more will be called up in case of a war.
History: The year was 1523. The Kalmar Union was in disarray. There were talks of it's collapse. The Russians had troops positioned on the border. The Union was growing disconnected from the colonies of Greenland and Iceland. It was possible the colonies would secede. Times were rough.

But the Union pulled through. King Christian II managed to pull the Union back from the brink of collapse, and it survived. But it's problems were not over. Internal struggles systematically weakened the Union, and the Russians took advantage of that fact, beginning the Russo-Scandinavian Wars. In the First Russo-Scandinavian War, the Kalmar Union was actually successful in gaining more land, as the Russian offensive was ill-prepared and was bogged down due to intense guerrilla warfare.

But the war still crippled the Union's fighting ability, and it lost much of it's territory in the 3 wars that followed. In the Fourth Russo-Scandinavian War, the Union lost the colony of Iceland, forcing it to take a hard look at itself. This led to a reformation of the Union, which became the The Confederation of Scandinavian States, under a new governmental system. The new Confederation decided that another war with Russia was not feasible at the time and decided to look overseas for more land and prosperity. Thus began a new age of Scandinavian exploration.

Scandinavian ships once again began leaving the homeland, looking for more land to conquer and control. This effort was met with great success, with the Confederation gaining more colonies in the Americas, along with colonies in Africa, India, the East Indies and Australia. But there was still trouble brewing at home.

The Rapid industrialization that had been taking place led to a food shortage, and the Confederation became heavily dependent on Russia for food. But many in the Confederation severely disliked this fact, and looked to conquering the breadbaskets of Russia and claiming that land as their own in order to alleviate the dependency. Troops began amassing on the Russian border, and the situation once again intensified. War is coming. The only question now, is whether Scandinavia is prepared.
RP example: https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=382741

Rome's Folly

[Skarten]

I need an country to choose. Any ideas?
i wanted to be Carthago but i think it's taken and all.

Any ideas?

I have Rome 2, so it would help if it was an faction that had an base/relation with any of the factions in it

[United City States of Oceania]

I need an country to choose. Any ideas?
i wanted to be Carthago but i think it's taken and all.

Any ideas?

I have Rome 2, so it would help if it was an faction that had an base/relation with any of the factions in it

You should go for an African nation.
Something like a Carthage successor state, maybe.

[Skarten]

I need an country to choose. Any ideas?
i wanted to be Carthago but i think it's taken and all.

Any ideas?

I have Rome 2, so it would help if it was an faction that had an base/relation with any of the factions in it

You should go for an African nation.
Something like a Carthage successor state, maybe.

Yeah i'll try.
Anyone else have rome 2?
We could play the battles here there.
It would be fun.

[Skarten]

What happened to carthage anyway?
I'm supposed to be a successor carthage in libya, but for the history that's an problem

[Skarten]

Full Nation Name:The Empire of Libya
Shortened Name:The Libyan Empire
Other Name(s):
Flag:Link here
Other Symbol[s]:
Government:Empire (Sultanad)
Ideology(If any):Militaristic
Dominant Religion:Ancient Canaanite Religions. May differ from place to place
Head of State:Emperor(Or Sultan) Adonibaal
Head of Government:Emperor (Or Sultan)
Other Important Officials:
Population:79 Million
Capital(s):Tripoli
Claim:Link here (Bright Orange )
Territory Controlled:Link
Military Population:790 000 Military Personnell
History:WIP
RP example:1880-1920 Era War (Still going)
I would put the rest here, but then i'd stay all night digging for the Rps

Rome's Folly(Do not remove)

[United City States of Oceania]

What happened to carthage anyway?
I'm supposed to be a successor carthage in libya, but for the history that's an problem

Read the OP.

[Skarten]

What happened to carthage anyway?
I'm supposed to be a successor carthage in libya, but for the history that's an problem

Read the OP.

i did
I mean anything after the RP started?
Idk
Anything happening on Libya right now on IC

[Skarten]

Also this is like ancient tech right?
I mean like,swords and all?

Tell me which year it would be

it's 1840 After Christ?

That would be like too much

I tried to enter this rp because i like ancient roman times

[United City States of Oceania]

Also this is like ancient tech right?
I mean like,swords and all?

Tell me which year it would be

it's 1840 After Christ?

That would be like too much

I tried to enter this rp because i like ancient roman times

No, it's Industrial Age.

That means rifles and late muskets

[United City States of Oceania]

Also this is like ancient tech right?
I mean like,swords and all?

Tell me which year it would be

it's 1840 After Christ?

That would be like too much

I tried to enter this rp because i like ancient roman times

I did for that reason too, but then I decided this was cool too and stuck with it.

[United City States of Oceania]

Read the OP.

i did
I mean anything after the RP started?
Idk
Anything happening on Libya right now on IC

Don't think so, although you can check the IC yourself if you want to.
We are still on the first page.

[The Valyria Empire]

Full Nation Name: The United Republic of Russia
Shortened Name: U.R.R
Other Name(s): The States of Rus, Russia
Flag:

Other Symbol[s]:

Government: Constitutional Republic
Ideology(If any): Russian Imperialism (American Imperialism)
Dominant Religion: Russian Orthodox
Head of State: Alexander Chernyshyov
Head of Government: Alexander Nikolaevich
Other Important Officials:
Population: 85,531,341 (Counting colonies and Scandinavia territories)
Capital(s): Saint Petersburg
Claim: Lighter Green
Territory Controlled: Very Dark Green
Military Population: 641,485
History:

The Land of Rus. A land that was known for the Great Slavs. The land was divided for many years, and it was not until a man by the name of Ivan IV would the land become united as one. The Tsardom of Russia would rule for many years, until the Time of Troubles. With the death of Vasili IV, the Tsardom was thrown into chaos. A famine swept the nation, and with the nobles held up in Moscow the peasants became restless. While the Slavic kingdoms to the west did little to ease the suffering of their neighbors many serfs took up arms against the nobility. Eventually, The Serfdom Revolt broke out and would last for two years before being put down. However, the hatred among the Serfdom would forever remain. With the Romanov dynasty being elected as the new Tsars they would continue to rule as Tsars until Peter the Great.

Under Peter the Great's rule Russia had many reforms. With it ultimately becoming more like it's western counterparts. Peter would see Russia through the Fourth Russo-Scandinavian War in which Russia was able to take Iceland and solidify it's hold in Scandinavia. However, not all would be well as the serfs of Russia never forgot the Uprising many years ago. Once Peter passed, he would be Russia's first and only Emperor. Upon Catherine's accession the serfs of Russia had enough of the cruelty they had suffered. Thus the "Great Revolution" began. Across Russia, many serfs would rise up and slowly Russia was overcome. Eventually they took Catherine and beheaded her, thus instituting the Council of Dumas. With this new government, the Republic of Russia was formed and the Romonav dynasty was sent into exile in the west.

However, the oligarchy was corrupt and thus after the "Reign of Horror" in which many were beheaded. The people rose up against the oligarchy and instituted the Second Council of Dumas and called the Romonav dynasty back to Russia. A constitutional monarchy would be established and the dynasty would rule until 1791 in which the monarchy was abolished following the rule and assassination of Paul I of Russia. The Council of Dumas which had been compromised of characters from many backgrounds decided that the monarchy limited the nation, and could not call themselves a Republic while a King sat the throne.

Thus The United Republic of Russia came to be, however the Romonav family would remain in Russia and would go on to become four of Russia's presidents and now one is their vice president.

In foreign affairs, Russia would continue expanding east, until they reached the Pacific Ocean. Not wanting to be left in the dirt, the Constitutional Monarchy saw the creation of many colonies. One is in the Oceania, following in the footsteps of the Gauls and one in the New World.

Now Russia stands with their backs against the wall. Surrounded by monarchies and communism, they are Europe and Asia's only hope for democracy. Russia now looks to one day rid the world of Kings and Dictators, all the while embracing their own Imperialism.

RP example: Check signature. If you need direct links let me know.

Rome's Folly(Do not remove)

[Democratic East-Asia]

I recommend a major population readjustment. Russia circa 1897 only had a population of 67 million, if Tsarist figures are to be trusted. Population as of 1840 should be even lower than that. This takes into account colonies, which probably lack population.

[The Valyria Empire]

I recommend a major population readjustment. Russia circa 1897 only had a population of 67 million, if Tsarist figures are to be trusted. Population as of 1840 should be even lower than that. This takes into account colonies, which probably lack population.

I figured the Scan population added quite a few million. Lowered it to 85, I've never been good with population pre 20th century since hardly anybody recorded that shit.

[Arventum]

Hmm. Familiar names, good. I hope to see these familiar names in my upcoming RP. I'm pretty sure I'm going to join this, but need to investigate to see ify prospective claims are taken. I want to RP the Sikj Empire... Again. But this time it will be limited to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and down to Agra in India. I've wanted to play an earlier Sikh Empire for a while, and 1840 would be the year after Ranjit Singh died, and his daughter managed to execute the siblings that would have ripped apart the empire IRL, bringing the number of siblings she has to a much lower number. I want to see if I could survive...

[Arventum]

Why do I have an obsession with the Sikh Empire? Maybe I'll get over it... Just not yet.

[Skarten]

Also this is like ancient tech right?
I mean like,swords and all?

Tell me which year it would be

it's 1840 After Christ?

That would be like too much

I tried to enter this rp because i like ancient roman times

I did for that reason too, but then I decided this was cool too and stuck with it.

What a deception
I have a Revolution-Ww1 RP already

[Democratic East-Asia]

Alright, app up tonight if possible. China will just be exiting a period of revolution / entering one of "peace" (AKA mass purges and societal reorganization).

[Democratic East-Asia]

Full Nation Name: The Chinese Revolutionary State
Shortened Name: China , Zhongguo (中國)
Other Name(s): -----
Flag:

Other Symbol[s]:

Government: The Chinese Revolutionary State is technically a non-partisan "republic", although an overwhelming amount of elected officials tend to be highly leftist. While there is a legislature, quite a lot of power rests in the hands of the nation's politburo, who's members are chosen from the congress below them. At the head of the politburo is the Chairman / woman, who's essentially a dictator. The current one has been ruling for 2 years.

Ideology(If any): The Chinese Revolutionary State runs under a combination of agrarian communalist and "totalist" (state / totalitarian socialism) ideas. The countryside is largely dominated by large communes run by peasants, where land is shared amongst the people. Farmers are free to sell and consume as they'd like, although small govt. quotas have to be met (in order to keep food cheaper for city people). In large cities, worker managed businesses have yet to proliferate (as China is currently rapidly industrializing), with the State controlling most key industry. Small scale private enterprise is fully permitted, although put under watch.

Dominant Religion: Buddhism and traditional folk religions (from philosophies such as Daoism) are relatively common. Mongolians are mostly Tengrist, while Uyghurs tend to be muslim. Even so, the state is officially atheist, and promotes atheism quite actively among the youth. This has notably caused tension in further flung regions and more conservative parts of the revolutionary state, especially in Turkestan, as China's government quite dislikes Islam.

Head of State: Shi Xianggu. Former pirate, revolutionary, mother, and a member of the Chinese politburo, Shi Xianggu is not a woman to mess with. Renowned for her naval expertise, Shi Xianggu, although now a rather old woman, still acts just as aggressively as ever. Ever since the death of renowned Chairman Huang Yupian (who had served some 20 years), Xianggu has been commanding the Chinese state from the very front.

Head of Government: Zuo Zongtang (AKA General Tsao / Chicken general). The barely 28 year old Zuo Zongtang's position is largely for propaganda purposes, as the Chinese state likes to show itself as the nation of the "revolutionary youth". This is not saying that Zongtang isn't talented, rather that all real decision making actually lays elsewhere in the government. In reality, the politburo member He Rui is actually in charge.

Other Important Officials:
Li Hongzhang - A young officer in the Chinese army. Rather talented and poised to make something out of himself.
Zeng Guofan - A relatively popular statesman in his native Hunan province.

Population: 325.1 million (roughly ~80 million below actual China, mainly due to a much bloodier history).
Capital(s): Beijing
Claim: All of China and Mongolia, as stated. Basically Qing Dynasty land as of 1840. Those extra land gaps had to go.
http://theqingdynasty.com/thecontent/images/2014/02/Territories%20under%20Qing%20Dynasty%20Rule.jpg

Territory Controlled: "Han" China + Greater Manchuria. The Manchus have been thoroughly sinicized, not so much for everyone else. Control in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Mongolia are iffy (the Mongols are left alone for the most part, unless China calls them up for military service, etc. Tibetans don't mind much given their autonomy, but the Uyghurs are by far the rowdiest).

Military Population: 1,000,000 troops (the standard revolutionary army. Armed in many different manners). 4.5 million revolutionary militia (not called upon unless there happens to be an invasion of the homeland. Basically peasants with 2nd rate guns and whatever weapons available).

History:

Butterflies from history meant that China would never be the same, one way or another. While the fall of Rome hadn't prevented the fall of the Han Dynasty or the splitting of China into 3 warring kingdoms (a time period which would last a few hundred years, and kill off roughly 1/3 of the Chinese population), but would have longer lasting effects in the future.

The Sui Dynasty never quite formed as a distant result of the history's divergence, leading to the 3 Kingdoms Era lasting another few decades. By the time the Yang* Dynasty was founded roughly 30 years later, China came under a regime far more authoritarian and controlling than the kingdoms before it. Even so, the Yang Dynasty would manage to survive nearly 400 years, before being overthrown and succeeded by a series of weak and ineffectual dynasties. By the time of the Mongol invasion, China was even less prepared than it had been in OTL, and few quicker.

Mongol rule, as history would recall, wouldn't last. Following a failed invasion of Japan and numerous cases of governmental mismanagement, rebellion, and famine, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty would implode in the 1300s, leaving a massive power vacuum. Rebel forces were far from united, and it took another 20 years for them to coalesce into a force powerful enough to reunify China. Thus came the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, which would prove to be China's last.

Ming rule was at first marked by a period of relative peace and exploration, a time where sciences grew and China's war weary population was finally able to put down it's weapons. Chinese explorers and scientists would make many important discoveries, advancing Chinese military, astronomical, and sea faring technologies. However, by the mid 17th century, Ming foreign policy would take a deep turn as a series of expansionists emperors sought to enlarge the Middle Kingdom by several times. Mongolia, Tibet, Manchuria, Indochina, and Southern Siberia all became staging points of massive land based invasions. A large percentage of China's treasury had been dedicated to these invasions, all in the name of "restoring the middle kingdom".

This turned out to be a recipe for future disaster. Inexperienced Chinese peasant conscripts found themselves fighting far more experienced and better inspired opponents, and although the Ming Dynasty would eventually prevail (suffering atrocious losses in the meantime), these victories were short lived at best. Only the Manchus would ever be sinicized to a decent degree; all other minorities felt rather oppressed and quite rebellious.

By the mid-18th century, the once powerful Ming Dynasty had been reduced to a war torn husk of its former self. Years upon years of government overspending compounded by extreme taxes and subsequent famine (farmers paid taxes in grain / rice) threatened the empire with total economic and political collapse, while minorities were more rebellious than ever. The national treasury was empty, and the economy was in tatters. Despite all of this, the Chinese nobility and scholarly clergy lived just as decadently as they always had, which added to discontent amongst impoverished and starving farmers. Something drastic was about to happen.

All it took was a trigger in the form of a volcanic eruption. Mr. Laki in Iceland was quite far off from China, yet when it blew up in 1783-4, some 120 million metric tonnes of ash was thrown into the atmosphere. It's effects on China would've been rather nominal, if it hadn't been that China's already overstretched agricultural system was near the brink of collapse. In one winter, some 12 million Chinese would die from starvation, possibly the nation's worst single year famine to date. During the spring of 1784, the whole nation erupted in revolt. Various rebel groups, ranging from Hui muslims to radical agrarians, rose up against their nation's corrupt and dysfunctional regime.

A key revolutionary movement during this time was that of the Red Banners, a radical offshoot of the White Lotus society, which had started its own activity roughly around the same time. Red Banner members were characterized by the red flags (banners) they flew and red head bands they wore. Led by the insipirational and foreignly educated radical Ouyang Yue, the Red Banners quickly took hold of key provinces in Central China (Hubei, Hunan, Henan). Red Banner policies of land redistribution and communal sharing proved popular with the regions' peasants, who in turn rallied under the Red Banners.

From there, the Red Banners spread. Fighting against countless other rebel groups, the Red Banners, while ultimately successful, were forced to concede in certain areas. Indochina, for example, simply wouldn't tolerate living under Chinese control any longer. While other zones such as Mongolia ultimately submitted, a large degree of autonomy was given. Religious of freedom (somethinf Ouyang was privately against) for minorities was guaranteed, while much of traditional society was preserved.

Even so, it took decades longer for China to finally unite under one government, and those decades had radicalized the Red Banners even further. The days of Ouyang and Huang are over, and as the revolution comes to an end, the peace has just begun. The Chinese Revolutionary state celebrates today it's 1st anniversary, and only time will tell if China endures.


RP example: You know me.

Rome's Folly(Do not remove)[/quote]

[United City States of Oceania]

Full Nation Name: The Chinese Revolutionary State
Shortened Name: China , Zhongguo (中國)
Other Name(s): -----
Flag:

(Image)

Other Symbol[s]:

(Image)

Government: The Chinese Revolutionary State is technically a non-partisan "republic", although an overwhelming amount of elected officials tend to be highly leftist. While there is a legislature, quite a lot of power rests in the hands of the nation's politburo, who's members are chosen from the congress below them. At the head of the politburo is the Chairman / woman, who's essentially a dictator. The current one has been ruling for 2 years.

Ideology(If any): The Chinese Revolutionary State runs under a combination of agrarian communalist and "totalist" (state / totalitarian socialism) ideas. The countryside is largely dominated by large communes run by peasants, where land is shared amongst the people. Farmers are free to sell and consume as they'd like, although small govt. quotas have to be met (in order to keep food cheaper for city people). In large cities, worker managed businesses have yet to proliferate (as China is currently rapidly industrializing), with the State controlling most key industry. Small scale private enterprise is fully permitted, although put under watch.

Dominant Religion: Buddhism and traditional folk religions (from philosophies such as Daoism) are relatively common. Mongolians are mostly Tengrist, while Uyghurs tend to be muslim. Even so, the state is officially atheist, and promotes atheism quite actively among the youth. This has notably caused tension in further flung regions and more conservative parts of the revolutionary state, especially in Turkestan, as China's government quite dislikes Islam.

Head of State: Shi Xianggu. Former pirate, revolutionary, mother, and a member of the Chinese politburo, Shi Xianggu is not a woman to mess with. Renowned for her naval expertise, Shi Xianggu, although now a rather old woman, still acts just as aggressively as ever. Ever since the death of renowned Chairman Huang Yupian (who had served some 20 years), Xianggu has been commanding the Chinese state from the very front.

Head of Government: Zuo Zongtang (AKA General Tsao / Chicken general). The barely 28 year old Zuo Zongtang's position is largely for propaganda purposes, as the Chinese state likes to show itself as the nation of the "revolutionary youth". This is not saying that Zongtang isn't talented, rather that all real decision making actually lays elsewhere in the government. In reality, the politburo member He Rui is actually in charge.

Other Important Officials:
Li Hongzhang - A young officer in the Chinese army. Rather talented and poised to make something out of himself.
Zeng Guofan - A relatively popular statesman in his native Hunan province.

Population: 325.1 million (roughly ~80 million below actual China, mainly due to a much bloodier history).
Capital(s): Beijing
Claim: All of China and Mongolia, as stated. Basically Qing Dynasty land as of 1840. Those extra land gaps had to go.
http://theqingdynasty.com/thecontent/images/2014/02/Territories%20under%20Qing%20Dynasty%20Rule.jpg

Territory Controlled: "Han" China + Greater Manchuria. The Manchus have been thoroughly sinicized, not so much for everyone else. Control in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Mongolia are iffy (the Mongols are left alone for the most part, unless China calls them up for military service, etc. Tibetans don't mind much given their autonomy, but the Uyghurs are by far the rowdiest).

Military Population: 1,000,000 troops (the standard revolutionary army. Armed in many different manners). 4.5 million revolutionary militia (not called upon unless there happens to be an invasion of the homeland. Basically peasants with 2nd rate guns and whatever weapons available).

History:

Butterflies from history meant that China would never be the same, one way or another. While the fall of Rome hadn't prevented the fall of the Han Dynasty or the splitting of China into 3 warring kingdoms (a time period which would last a few hundred years, and kill off roughly 1/3 of the Chinese population), but would have longer lasting effects in the future.

The Sui Dynasty never quite formed as a distant result of the history's divergence, leading to the 3 Kingdoms Era lasting another few decades. By the time the Yang* Dynasty was founded roughly 30 years later, China came under a regime far more authoritarian and controlling than the kingdoms before it. Even so, the Yang Dynasty would manage to survive nearly 400 years, before being overthrown and succeeded by a series of weak and ineffectual dynasties. By the time of the Mongol invasion, China was even less prepared than it had been in OTL, and few quicker.

Mongol rule, as history would recall, wouldn't last. Following a failed invasion of Japan and numerous cases of governmental mismanagement, rebellion, and famine, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty would implode in the 1300s, leaving a massive power vacuum. Rebel forces were far from united, and it took another 20 years for them to coalesce into a force powerful enough to reunify China. Thus came the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, which would prove to be China's last.

Ming rule was at first marked by a period of relative peace and exploration, a time where sciences grew and China's war weary population was finally able to put down it's weapons. Chinese explorers and scientists would make many important discoveries, advancing Chinese military, astronomical, and sea faring technologies. However, by the mid 17th century, Ming foreign policy would take a deep turn as a series of expansionists emperors sought to enlarge the Middle Kingdom by several times. Mongolia, Tibet, Manchuria, Indochina, and Southern Siberia all became staging points of massive land based invasions. A large percentage of China's treasury had been dedicated to these invasions, all in the name of "restoring the middle kingdom".

This turned out to be a recipe for future disaster. Inexperienced Chinese peasant conscripts found themselves fighting far more experienced and better inspired opponents, and although the Ming Dynasty would eventually prevail (suffering atrocious losses in the meantime), these victories were short lived at best. Only the Manchus would ever be sinicized to a decent degree; all other minorities felt rather oppressed and quite rebellious.

By the mid-18th century, the once powerful Ming Dynasty had been reduced to a war torn husk of its former self. Years upon years of government overspending compounded by extreme taxes and subsequent famine (farmers paid taxes in grain / rice) threatened the empire with total economic and political collapse, while minorities were more rebellious than ever. The national treasury was empty, and the economy was in tatters. Despite all of this, the Chinese nobility and scholarly clergy lived just as decadently as they always had, which added to discontent amongst impoverished and starving farmers. Something drastic was about to happen.

All it took was a trigger in the form of a volcanic eruption. Mr. Laki in Iceland was quite far off from China, yet when it blew up in 1783-4, some 120 million metric tonnes of ash was thrown into the atmosphere. It's effects on China would've been rather nominal, if it hadn't been that China's already overstretched agricultural system was near the brink of collapse. In one winter, some 12 million Chinese would die from starvation, possibly the nation's worst single year famine to date. During the spring of 1784, the whole nation erupted in revolt. Various rebel groups, ranging from Hui muslims to radical agrarians, rose up against their nation's corrupt and dysfunctional regime.

A key revolutionary movement during this time was that of the Red Banners, a radical offshoot of the White Lotus society, which had started its own activity roughly around the same time. Red Banner members were characterized by the red flags (banners) they flew and red head bands they wore. Led by the insipirational and foreignly educated radical Ouyang Yue, the Red Banners quickly took hold of key provinces in Central China (Hubei, Hunan, Henan). Red Banner policies of land redistribution and communal sharing proved popular with the regions' peasants, who in turn rallied under the Red Banners.

From there, the Red Banners spread. Fighting against countless other rebel groups, the Red Banners, while ultimately successful, were forced to concede in certain areas. Indochina, for example, simply wouldn't tolerate living under Chinese control any longer. While other zones such as Mongolia ultimately submitted, a large degree of autonomy was given. Religious of freedom (something Ouyang was privately against) for minorities was guaranteed, while much of traditional society was preserved.

Even so, it took decades longer for China to finally unite under one government, and those decades had radicalized the Red Banners even further. The days of Ouyang and Huang are over, and as the revolution comes to an end, the peace has just begun. The Chinese Revolutionary state celebrates today it's 1st anniversary, and only time will tell if China endures.


RP example: You know me.

Rome's Folly(Do not remove)

It's going to be interesting because Scandinavia borders China...