Tales of Two Horizons OLD OOC

[Caltarania]

Generic Info
Nation Name: Grand Duchy of Milan (Italian: Granducato di Milano)
Symbols: Flag
Location: 31
Population: 8,186,700
Capital City: Milan

Government Info
Government Type: Absolute monarchy
Brief Explanation of Government: In the Grand Duchy of Milan, the word of the Grand Duke (Granduca) is law; despite calls for a more liberal constitution and a parliamentary body, all attempts have failed, or have been thwarted by the powers that be. The old aristocracy remain remarkably influential, but the rising working class in the cities of Milan, Turin, Genoa, Nice and the other major cities are also beginning to flex their muscles.
Ideology: Conservatism, absolutism, traditionalism and political Catholicism are the core tenants of the government's ideology, among the people, however, political radicalism and risorgmento have begun to spread, alongside the traditional political Catholicism and conservatism.
Leader/s: Granduca Francis II of the House of Este
Relations Strong relations to Austria, to whom the House of Este maintain personal relations. Neutral relations with France, somewhat weakened by their potential claims to the Savoyard region. Neutral-to-good relations with the other Italian states. Weaker relations with Aragon, largely due to the explicitly pro-unification attitudes of their monarch. Weak relations with the Eternal Turk.

Population Info
Brief Description of your people: Italian Lombards
Religion: Almost exclusively Roman Catholic
Ethnicity: Southern European/Mediterranean
Main/Accepted Culture(s): Lombard, Ligurian, Piedmontese, Emilian-Romagnol
Other Cultures: Occitan, Romand, Walser German

Military Info
Army: Army of the Grand Duke (Esercito del Granduca): 125,000 soldiers, of a medium level of quality; usually well-trained, but poorly equipped. Differences in the dialects of Italian spoken can cause some confusion in regiments not from the Lombard-speaking region, and the tradition of appointing aristocrats as officers has taken it's toll on the quality of the officer cadre.
Navy: Grand Ducal Navy (Marina Granducale): 9 Man o' Wars, 11 Steam Paddle Sloops, 21 Sail Frigates, 9 Rowing Frigates, 125 Small Merchant Ships. Sailors are generally conscripted from the city of Genoa, leading to difficulties, due to most naval officers having been aristocrats from Milan; the dialectal differences between Lombard and Ligurian compromises the effectiveness of the Navy.

Other Info
Brief Description of your Economy: While the agricultural industry remains the largest sector of the Milanese economy, the industrial revolution has certainly made it's way to the Northern cities. Milan, Turin, Genoa, Nice and the other major cities have all boast large working class populations, and bustling industrial districts, with the production of textiles a staple industry, and the production of steel beginning to rise in the region. Despite a lack of investment in railroads from the Grand Duke, they have in fact begun to show up in small numbers, developed by local and foreign businesses.
Goals: -Maintain autocracy
-Repress the democrats and the redshirts
-Make Milan Great Again
History:
1551-1796: The long-standing French occupation of the Duchy of Milan is ended by a wide-spread peasant rebellion, quickly followed by an Austrian invasion. French forces are swiftly pushed out, and the Austrians are quick to consolidate their gains; the Archduke of Austria is declared "Grand Duke of Milan and the Lombard Lands". The House of Este, ethnically German but the historical rulers of Modena, Ferrara and Reggio Emilia, are largely given control over the province as liege lords. Despite numerous anti-Austrian uprisings and attempts at devolution, the status quo established is largely, for the most part, maintained throughout the era.

1796-1815: Napoleon Bonaparte spearheads a campaign into Austrian Italy. Following a decisive French victory at the Battle of Lodi, Austrian rule over Milan and Lombardy is ended with the proclamation of the Transpadane, and later Cisalpine, Republic. The House of Este and the Hapsburgs are chased out of the city by local revolutionary battalions with French backing. Despite widespread support for the republic, and optimism for it's future, it was merely a facade for the French to control Milan, and did little to benefit the people of the city and surrounding lands. In 1802, the lands of the republic were expanded, and it was renamed the Italian Republic; however, it renamed merely a French client state. In 1805, Napoleon I declared the puppet-state to now be the Kingdom of Italy, with himself as King. This state of affairs would continue, until the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. With Napoleon's defeat, the Conference of Vienna decided who would come to control the lands of Milan, Savoy and Lombardia. As historical rulers with loyalties to the Hapsburg Crown, the House of Este were chosen to rule the region as Grand Dukes; with the Grand Duchy to act as a buffer state between the Kingdom of France the Austrian Empire.

1815-1848: The restoration of the House of Este was met with mixed feelings. While there was no love lost for the Kingdom of Italy and Napoleon's despotism, belief in the preceding republics somewhat remained. Despite this, Francis I was crowned Grand Duke of Milan, and proceded to rule as absolute monarch. His rule largely concerned rebuilding the country, and he is widely regarded as a tyrant and a despot across the country. He repressed all democratic movements appearing during his reign, particularly following a major revolt in 1830. With his death in 1846, the crown was handed to his son, Francis II, who appears less stern than his father, but nevertheless has opted to maintain the autocratic rule of the Grand Duke in the country.

RP Sample: "oh no the mirkans are coming"
but he did not see the mirkans coming and the mirkans won
429 - Do not remove. This is for tracking purposes.

[Rodez]

Generic Info
Nation Name: American Union / Unión Americana / União Americana
Symbols: arms

fleg

Location: 87
Population: 20,000,000
Capital City: Alvalade (OTL Houston)

Government Info
Government Type: Federal Republic
Brief Explanation of Government: Some would argue that America is really more of a military republic, given that the franchise in national elections is limited to landowners and either current or former soldiers and sailors. Regardless, nationwide political contests elect a powerful chief executive, the Chancellor, to a single six-year term. Elections also fill the 45-strong at-large National Council, which serves as a legislative body. The Chancellor may then appoint fifteen judges to the High Courts; it is constitutionally mandated that ten be approved by the National Council.

Being a federal state, provincial elections have a far less restrictive franchise. Even small landowners may participate in elections for governor and the provincial legislature.

Tension between the Chancellery and the National Council, or the Chancellery and the provinces is a constant, but in various times of national crisis the Chancellor has continued to emerge victorious and gather more power to his office.

Ideology: conservatism, republicanism, free trade
Leader/s: Chancellor Joaquim Moleiro de Lima
President of the Council Rafael Barboza Soares
Relations

Friendly: Great Britain, Scandinavia, France
Neutral: Brazil, New Batavia
Wary: Fusang, Centroamerica, Iberia
Unfriendly: Plains Confederacy

Population Info
Brief Description of your people: The American as he is recognized in 1848 is typically regarded as a white or mestizo Spanish or Portuguese speaker. Culturally, the Americans derive their languages and institutions from Europe, and so tend to look down upon those without any European blood as interlopers or outsiders. Exceptions to the rule exist in the southern Mexican provinces, where the indigenous population approaches half of the total. There, native traditions and languages are much stronger, and local religions have merged with Christianity to form new, syncretic faiths.

The 'North,' (those provinces north or east of the Red River, often considered the cultural dividing line) is almost entirely white European. Most are small, independent farmers, although many are employed in manufacturing thanks to the easily accessible coal deposits in the Appalachians. Dutch settlers from New Batavia primarily inhabit these mountainous provinces and are involved in mining. The Basques have settled almost entirely in OTL Kentucky and are famed for being great breeders and riders of horses.

The African minority, emancipated from slavery since the 1830s, remain socially downtrodden and disenfranchised. However, compared to past decades their fortunes have improved somewhat. They tend to inhabit very homogeneous fishing communities along the northern Gulf coast.

'The South,' which is synonymous with Mexico, is upwards of 80% mestizo or indigenous, with a much smaller white population compared to the North. It is also categorically more rural and poorer. The small Chinese population lives on the west coast; this is perhaps the most chronically mistreated minority of all, and the only one which the Constitution of 1806 does not recognize as citizens.

Religion: Roman Catholicism
Ethnicity: American (white Portuguese/Spanish or mestizo) 70%, Indigenous 13%, African 9%, Basque 4%, Dutch 2%, Chinese 2%
Main/Accepted Culture(s): white or mestizo Portuguese/Spanish, Basque, Dutch
Other Cultures: Indigenous, African, Chinese

Military Info
Army: 50,000 active / 80,000 reserve - The American Army is built, drilled and equipped on the standard European model. Active duty regiments have a decent level and pedigree of training and professionalism, but probably not something that would impress a European officer, except among the elite 4,000 strong Union Guard. Small arms and artillery are on par with Europe, although the heavy guns might be slightly behind.

Reserve units, meanwhile, are mobilized on the provincial level and have far less training than their active duty counterparts. However, they are only really intended to be used in their own local territory so that they have a detailed knowledge of the land and can function as effective guerrilla units to wear down an invading army.

Navy: 25,000 sailors / 6,000 marines - The American Navy probably stands atop the independent nations of the New World in terms of size, firepower, and quality. Descended from the tradition of the once-powerful Iberian navy, the Americans have had a very long time to practice the art of naval warfare, whether in the colonial period or after they declared independence in 1776. It is also perhaps the only institution that serves as a real haven for the Afro-Americans; black officers tend to have a sterling reputation due to their being raised on the Gulf Coast, in close proximity of pirates and Spanish raiders. Training and professionalism is generally superior to that of the Army. Naval assets are primarily concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico. The current strength stands as such: 5 Ships-of-the-line, 18 twodeckers/frigates, 35 schooners/blockade runners (Gulf Fleet). 2 Ships-of-the-line, 10 twodeckers, 16 schooners/blockade runners (Pacific Fleet).



Other Info
Brief Description of your Economy: The American economy is the largest of the New World, with massive agricultural outputs from Mexico and the Mississippi and Tennessee river valleys. A burgeoning manufacturing sector employs a growing number of workers in the northernmost provinces. Coastal communities derive their livelihoods from fishing, shipbuilding or trading with European, Caribbean and South American ports.

Management of the economy is very laissez-faire, with the federal government taking a minimalist approach to intervention and regulation. Two notable exceptions would be the Bank of the Union, which is used to control interest rates at times of booming growth or great recession, and grain-corn tariffs, which are utilized to protect American farmers and draw additional revenue for the government.

Goals: Subjugate Centroamerica, take Cuba, check Fusang, expand into Great Plains, introduce industrialization to Mexico, cement economic position in New World

History:

America's history begins as soon as Columbus first made landfall in 1492. From then on, the New World received a gradual trickle of settlers from Iberia. In the first decades of the colonial period, conquistadors left their bases in Cuba and Hispaniola to build forts all along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts, around which farming and fishing communities sprung up. Indigenous tribes in the northerly regions were neither large enough nor united enough to resist for long once a conquistador came through with an actual army.

The first major leap forward for Iberian colonization was the conquest of the Aztecs by Hernan Cortes, during his famed campaign of 1519-1521. After he captured Tenochtitlan and subjugated the remnants of the empire, he was awarded the the Viceroyalty of New Spain by the monarchy. With his newfound power, Cortes unilaterally encouraged other intrepid men of the Iberian lower gentry to come and settle not only in Mexico but also in the regions to the north. As it turned out, the men of the 'Cortes wave' vastly preferred the more temperate northern climes.

Northern colonies also experienced the first big population boom. Disease was all but wiping out the native tribes north of the Rio Grande, and Iberia continued to export its upstart lower nobility, non-compliant farmers, and Basque separatists to the New World. With some of the richest soils imaginable at their fingertips, Iberian settlers achieved enormous harvests relatively early in their colonial development. As a result, some of the wealthier landowners began importing African slaves in order to provide labor for plantations of tobacco, rice, cotton, peaches, and oranges.

In Mexico, there was far more interaction with native populaces. The conquistadors found it impossible to simply steamroll the large indigenous communities out of existence, so they often took native wives to legitimize their newfound authority. Within two generations, the result was the mestizo. Half-European, half-Indian, mestizos were raised to speak Spanish or Portuguese and often flouted native tongues and traditions. They thought of themselves as 'new' Europeans and so began a relationship with the white population that would remain relatively amicable, except when political concerns entered the fray in times of crisis.

Tenochtitlan, which Cortes had renamed 'Mexico City,' was long the largest city and administrative capital of Iberia's American ventures. But by 1600, the economic center of gravity was shifting northwards. Virgin soil was more readily available in the north, and farming was more successful there to begin with, which made it a continually more attractive target for Iberian immigration. Early in the 17th century, small but respectable cities were developing in the north: Neuvo Cadiz (OTL Richmond), Cuidad de Hinojosa (OTL Charleston), Cidade de Prata, (OTL New Orleans) and especially Alvalade (OTL Houston).

As the Iberians expanded closer and closer to the edge of the plains, they finally came into contact with mounted tribes fierce enough to resist them. The 1630s and 40s were known for brutal frontier wars against the Osage, Apache and Shawnee. But within a few decades, those groups were thoroughly decimated and forced into treaty agreements highly favorable to the Iberians.

This 'middle' colonial period was also where the Americans, as they were coming to be known, got their sea legs. American raiders would often engage English and French colonies in the Caribbean as an extension of the far-away wars of Europe. American privateers developed a reputation as excellent sailors and vicious fighters; they would often find themselves sailing back to the Mediterranean to fight under one power or another there.

Later in the 17th century, perhaps around 1670 or 1680, Alvalade surpassed Mexico City in population, fueled in part by a large-scale emigration of Cubans from their island to the American mainland.

Around the turn of the century, the Americans began to come into conflict with the Chinese settlers of the West. The early 1700s were filled with tales of range wars and cattle raids between American and Chinese that punctuated a lawless desert frontier fraught with peril. Such tales became part of the American mythos, an ethnic identity built on individualism and isolation from Iberia that was gradually becoming a separate ethnic identity from that of the motherland. Americans served and died in Iberia's European wars, but the same was hardly true of colonial struggles against the Indians and Chinese. As America's population began to rival and then match Iberia's in the 1730's, calls for independence or at least greater autonomy began to circulate more and more. One such incident was the Peach Rebellion of 1741-1743 in the province of Maria (Georgia). Impoverished farmers called on the monarchy for protectionist tariffs; that was ignored. Then the local governor, Antonio Duque Cuellar, instituted stiff agricultural tariffs in direct defiance of royal authority. When he was sacked, he simply ignored the order. When he was arrested and thrown in jail, it was a matter of a mere day before a mob of furious farmers broke him out. After that, bands of rural rebels ran wild through the countryside for well over two years. The local militia wouldn't fight them, so royal forces had to be brought in to put them down. Cuellar and the other ringleaders were promptly executed in 1743. It was nothing more than a nuisance, but it was an embarrassing affair for the monarchy.

The breaking point would prove to be the Seven Years' War. Iberia sided with the French, and although France was defeated, Iberia emerged with its colonial empire mostly intact. It was, however, financially ruined. It would have to recoup the losses through new taxes, and not on the mainland, for fear of a revolution. New tax burdens therefore fell almost entirely on the Americans, who were not necessarily unable to pay (as was often the claim). But the issue at hand was autonomy: the crown had dictated so little for so long that to have that change so suddenly was a bad rub to the colonists. A number of incidents in the 1770s built up to the outbreak of war: dozens of male orphans from Cidade de Prata were impressed into the Iberian Navy in 1771, six men were killed in Alvalade in 1773 while protesting new taxes. A number of isolated skirmishes in Virginia, Rio Grande do Sul, Maria, and Terra de Pedro preceded a large influx of troops in 1774.

Then came 1775. After a shooting incident similar to the one in Alvalade just two years before, an angry mob stormed the fortress at Neuvo Cadiz, seized the arms, and occupied it. A similar incident occurred just days later in Mexico City. The flames of revolution spread rapidly south from both epicenters.

Difficulties abounded for the rebels, however. The crown already had large field armies stationed in America, and they leapt into action. Nearly all of the early pitched battles of 1775-1776 were Iberian victories. The lone exception was the Battle of Zedes in Caravelas (Alabama), where a previously unknown carpenter named Artur Pascual Llorente smashed an Iberian force three times the size of his 500-strong army. While in Caravelas that winter, Llorente received delegates from every rebellious province, and there they put out, on December 2nd, a Declaration of Independence, proclaiming to all the world that these free and independent provinces break fully and utterly with the crown of Iberia, and do make themselves heretofore a sovereign state, separate from all others, until the end of time.

The decision was on the fly, and not drafted by any body except a cabal of men around a table in a campaign tent, and yet it received relatively widespread support wherever news of it went.

The signatories, who had a delegate from every province, promptly organized themselves into what they dubbed the National Council, would would unite and streamline the war effort. They promptly appointed Llorente (who else?) 'Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Union of America,' which, like the Declaration of Independence, was an ad-hoc title for what was meant to be a temporary state.

Llorente's Rio Grande campaign of 1777 was mostly a string of tactical defeats, and yet by 1778 the rebellion continued to gain strength while Iberia struggled to resupply an army strung extremely thin across a massive country. March 1778 saw a duo of victories for the rebels at Tampico, Mexico (by Llorente) and at Beselga, Maria (by Jose Godoy). The resulting political capital was enough to convince Great Britain and France to provide naval and logistical support for the patriot cause. This was a disaster for Iberia, as it totally isolated their loyalist armies, with no hope of resupply. Llorente struck the killing blow at the Battle of Villafranca del Bierzo in 1780. Although scattered fighting would continue for another three years, this crushing patriot victory all but ended the war.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 would formalize the independence of the American Union. A vast new country now stretched from the jungles of southern Mexico to the Potomac River, from the Gulf of California to Cape Hatteras.

With the Iberians no longer a threat, the divergent patriot factions now scrambled to form a permanent system of government. Federalists seeking to devolve all power to the provinces were in the numerical majority, but not decisively so.

Critically, Artur Llorente refused to leave the political scene. His troops were utterly loyal to him, more so than to the new state. If Llorente wanted something in the new constitution, then in it would go.

And what he wanted was a hard pill to swallow: Chancellor for life, incredibly expansive executive powers, the works. The provinces proved unable to stomach such conditions, especially if they were constitutionally mandated. So they worked out a compromise: To begin with, they would essentially give the Chancellery to Llorente. This wouldn't be controversial. Were there to be an actual election, no one would seriously think of challenging the great general for the office. He was a consummate leader, and the consensus choice.

But the Chancellor would be limited to a single, six-year term. His powers were expansive when it came to military and foreign diplomatic matters, but he couldn't declare war. Almost all major cabinet posts had to be approved by the Council. Most other domestic matters were devolved to the provincial level. And no one said anything about running again for a second, nonconsecutive term. Llorente was still fairly young for a statesmen, at forty-two. It was assumed he would depart the political arena only at his death.

This was the Constitution of 1784, in short. Both parties found it acceptable, so a civil war was averted. Llorente was sworn in as the first Chancellor of the American Union by unanimous vote of the Council on August 19th of that year. One of his first moves was to move the capital from Mexico City to Alvalade, a more geographically centered and by this time larger city.

Llorente's administration was popular most of the way through its term, and the new Chancellor was careful to avoid constitutional spars with the National Council or the High Court. In 1790, after great apprehension, he left office - mostly because his wartime subordinate and political protege Manuel Cerqueira Dantas was standing for the 1790 election, which he won relatively easily.

Llorente remained in the mix during Cerqueira's administration as a mere informal 'adviser,' although it is certainly true that he held a great deal of influence. Some political opponents described him as a co-president or even Cerqueira's puppet master.

The 1790's were a period of fierce ideological republicanism; American liberals derived great inspiration from the French Revolution's bloody dispatch of the old order, and sought a less contentious death for the aristocratic planter class.

When Llorente again stood for the Chancellery in 1796, there was widespread opposition. His adversaries were led by Luis Francisco Menezes, a radical republican war hero, publisher and orator. The election was hotly contested, but in the end, Menezes emerged the victor. Llorente demanded a recount; this was denied.

Here began the great crisis that would boil over into civil war. The army was still firmly in Llorente's camp, as were rural whites who were mostly skeptical of Menezes' radical ideas. The liberals drew support from urban populations disenfranchised by property requirements for voting and wary of a Llorente dictatorship. American society was deeply divided, and only war could resolve the issue.

The American Civil War kicked off in Veracruz in January of 1797, when a republican mob stormed and ransacked the local army barracks, occupied the fort, and executed the officers. In response, the resident naval squadron turned its guns on the city and shelled it for several hours. When a majority of the army mobilized for Llorente's conservative faction, Menezes was forced to flee the capital to the beating heart of American radicalism, Veracruz, where he began constructing his own republican forces.

The first pitched battle was fought in April, at Pueblo de Pinos in Buenaventura Province (South Carolina). There, the army routed a hastily raised force of republican militia. Such would be the pattern throughout the war; the conservatives would win set battle with relative ease given their professional military advantages, but the liberals had more manpower to draw on and could close the experience gap over time.

Other conservative victories soon followed: Neuvo Santiago and Cidade de Prata in 1798, Rio de Sangue in early 1799. But none of these proved decisive, and in each case the liberal government was able to reconstitute its forces and enter the field again. Llorente began losing troops to desertion or even defection when promises of a quick victory did not materialize.

A turning point came in June of 1800 when Liberal general José Tadeo Brión caught Cerqueira completely by surprise at Rancho Queimado in Maria, completely destroying his army of 10,000 in a crushing victory. Cerqueira himself was killed in the battle. In one stroke, Llorente had lost not only a third of his forces but his best subordinate forever. Thereafter, he would be outnumbered as liberal forces chased him up and down the countryside. He was cornered several times, but always seemed to break out of traps at the last moment. The Menezes government was never able to bring him to heel despite the conservative army's gradual disintegration.

Events came to a head in 1803. Menezes' term was up, but he would not vacate office, citing the national crisis and need for a stable government. Some of his radical supporters took this as an ideological betrayal. On February 3rd, 1803, a masked assassin belonging to the radical group Novo Amanhecer (New Dawn) shot Menezes dead as he observed a military parade in Veracruz.

With the liberal government coming apart at the seams and the American people tired of war, all parties came to the table. The conditions of the peace were this: Llorente and the conservatives would have to lay down their arms to be pardoned. Neither he, nor his subordinates,
nor anyone in the current government was eligible to run in the next election, which was set for 1804. This was readily agreed to, and Artur Pascual Llorente went into quiet retirement, where he would spend the remainder of his life.

The victor of the 1804 election then, was a relative political newcomer. Vincente Félix Padilla was a moderate liberal, long opposed to the radicalism of Menezes, and the first non-military Chancellor. He spent the entirety of his term attempting, with relative success, to heal the wound of civil war and craft a constitution that would stand more sturdily against the personal ambitions of men like Llorente and Menezes.
The ultimate result was the Constitution of 1806, which expanded the franchise, clarified the division of power between federal and provincial government, protected against warrantless arrest, and provided a constitutional right to legal council for defendants, among other things. Padilla saw an expansion of rights and the death of slavery as the only means to build a relatively equitable and harmonious society where people would actually want to live together. However, opposition from the eastern planter class prevented him from accomplishing abolition while in office.

After Padilla left office with a legacy of reconciliation and economic growth, his successors again turned America outward. The Union was neutral where Napoleon was concerned, but began favoring his adversaries for economic reasons, especially after the French invasion of Russia went awry in 1812.

America and Fusang fought the Sonoran War from 1831 to 1833. The brief, bloody conflict resulted in essentially status quo ante bellum, but it did serve to rekindle the cycle of violence between border ranchers that had been common a century earlier. The Union still does not trust the Chinese state, and sees them as a major threat to American interests in the region. The end of that brief war also brought about the end of slavery; abolition had been gaining momentum since Padilla's time and now found just enough support among the political class. When a unit of free black soldiers petitioned to have their relatives emancipated, the High Court took the case and expanded abolition to all slaves.

Some of the planter aristocrats found this to be an unacceptable outcome. Pro-slavery militias occupied the statehouses in Maria, Terra de Pedro and Buenaventura, but the rebellion turned out to be short-lived. There was not a strong appetite for protracted conflict and the army was able to quash the uprisings in a matter of months. Some radicals wanted the federal government to go so far as to redistribute white-owned land to newly freed blacks, but Chancellor Pablo Vasquez preferred to let events take their natural course, which was the economic ruin of the most slavery-dependent planters, to the great benefit of of small-time white farmers in the west and north.

The 1846 election has come and gone, and Chancellor Joaquim Moleiro de Lima is its victor. Lima is a prominent industrialist, with dreams of cementing the Union as the great power of the New World, until the end of time.

RP Sample: What did the conquistador say to the Aztec?
"You look cold. Here, have this blanket."
429 - Do not remove. This is for tracking purposes.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

snip

Accepted provided that you check your naval numbers a bit and consult your history with Thrace

[Hippie Kiwis]

Generic Info
Nation Name: United provinces of Apmeryka
Symbols:

Location: 84
Population: 14,350,000
Capital City: New Amsterdam (OTL New York)

Government Info
Government Type: Confederative Republic
Brief Explanation of Government: The nation is led by the Stadtholder, an official chosen from among the regents, similar to governors, who form the States-General, the federal government. There are 55 regents and each maintains the wellbeing of their province. The States-General is the Parliament that has most of the control over the nation, but the Stadholder maintains the military and foreign affairs, in addition to being a regent. The current Stadholder in Gustaaf Buys of the Schenectady Regency. Some Regencies are democratically elected, while some positions are hereditary, but most Regents are chosen by the town councils that they rule over. The Stadtholder holds their position for eight years or until death. The Stadtholder cannot be removed, but the States-General can strip them of most of their authority with a super-majority
Ideology: Free market, Republicanism, quasi-democracy, oligarchy
Leader/s: Stadtholder Gustaaf Buys
Relations good relations with Scandinavia and the Netherlands, rivalry with plains confederacy and England, cool relations with The American Union. Cordial with most of Europe.

Population Info
Brief Description of your people: Highly diverse with large numbers of French and Dutch with smaller numbers of Irish and Swedes, small groups of English, Spanish, and natives. The French mainly settle in the area around the cities of Dekane (OTL Pittsburgh) and Stenenstad (OTL Detroit), adopting Dutch culture. The Swedes mostly live in the city of Swaanendael (OTL Baltimore) and near the northern border. The Irish mainly settled in cities along the eastern coast while the english and Iroquois primarily live along the Hudson river. There is a small group of Portuguese living near the Potomac.
Religion: Mostly Protestant with a growing catholic minority.
Ethnicity: Dutch, French, Swedish, Irish, Iroquois, English, Portuguese
Main/Accepted Culture(s): Dutch, Swedish
Other Cultures: English, Spanish, Irish, Iroquois

Military Info
Army: The Apmerykan army is in no state to fight in a war. There are only 7,300 active member whose main job is policing the western reaches of the nation. These troops are well trained and use modern equipment, but if war broke out with one of Apmeryka’s neighbors, the country would be rushed to mobilize enough troops to not be overwhelmed. The country does have a considerable military-industrial complex, exporting weapons to Europe in large quantities. Apmeryka’s small army is mostly due to the Regent’s fears of giving the Stadtholder too much influence.
Navy: The Apmerykan Navy is one of the largest in the New World, rivaled in independent states only by The American Union, protecting it’s large merchant fleet in the atlantic. 11 ships of the line, 17 frigates, 21 sloops, 4 brigs, 10 schooners, 4 steamships. Of those, 6 Ships of the line, 5 frigates and 2 of the steamships are currently lying in drydock, but could be fitted to be seaworthy within a month or two. Unspecified number of small craft and merchant ships that could be repurposed in a state of war.

Other Info
Brief Description of your Economy: The Apmerykan economy is industrializing rapidly, with the “market revolution” in full force. Manufactured goods form the majority of exports, with timber and fish also being exported. Most of the country, especially the eastern portion, is either linked by railroads of canals.
Goals: Possibly expand into plains confederacy
Obtain New England from Britain
Continue to make money
Avoid war
Protect Dutch settlers in Colorado and Appalachia
History:  In the 1600’s, the Dutch established a pair of colonies in the new world known as New Netherland and New Batavia. New Netherland centered around the thriving trade hub of New Amsterdam ad New Batavia around the mouth of the Delaware river. Migrants flooded to the region, mostly Dutch at first, but a large number of Swedes and French Huguenots followed. English and Spanish occasionally spread from their nearby colonies and the Irish flooded in recently fleeing starvation in their homeland. The colonies of Swaanendael, Nassau, and Oranje were later founded. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Netherlands lost most of their hold on their colonies, and they experienced de facto independence. After the war ended, the Colonial Stadtholder issued an ultimatum to Amsterdam demanding independence, and the war-torn Netherlands was in no place to resist them. Since independence Apmeryka has focused on economic development and protecting it’s trade routes, engaging in anti-piracy and anti-slaver patrols off west Africa.
RP Sample: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=379101
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=313516
429 - Do not remove. This is for tracking purposes.

[Hippie Kiwis]

What country own Puerto Rico, Bissau, Ghana, Walvis Bay?

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

What country own Puerto Rico, Bissau, Ghana, Walvis Bay?

The Hanseatic League

[Senkaku]

Interesting- America app may set up some fun tension between America and Wu/Qi

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

snip

Most things seem in order, though there are a few things I might have you review before I accept this.

Firstly is your civil war, which in the end abolishes slavery. I would say this is unlikely this early, as you have significant plantation backers in your Eastern provinces. Mexico historically abolished slavery in 1829, it might be better to aim more around this time, though I would not discount the chance for another civil conflict erupting because of this, and .

The other concern I might raise would be your navy. The numbers seem somewhat large, Brazil irl had a grand navy, much larger than the United States, and it still only maintained around 90 vessels.

snip

A fair few things probably should be amended here before acceptance, first being the population, which should at most be around 12 million. Further regarding the population, the French probably would be assimilated into the base culture you have, similar religion and culture and all.

Your navy seems respectable, though I would check the numbers on the Ships-of-the-Line, as most new world navies did not field large numbers of these owing to cost.

Your history also may be a bit concerning, I would question the ability of the colony to buy its own independence from the Netherlands, I honestly might just have it do a "cya later" during the war and stay that way afterwards.

[Zelent]

3742


Is that a no regarding me setting up a republic prior to the start of the game?

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

3742


Is that a no regarding me setting up a republic prior to the start of the game?

I would rather you would not, as it would likely trigger Commonwealth and Austrian intervention within a short span of time. If you are aiming for a republic, it is probably best to find a slice of 48 to go for to get your revolution (Hungary historically had a 48 revolution)

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

And the IC is arrived : )

[Rygondria]

So how exactly would the Hansa have acquired the colonies, maybe a charter from the Holy Roman Emperor himself giving the League the rights to colonize the gold coast and the New world in the name of the empire, but in reality is really just the Hansa with colonial ambitions paying off the emperor for a official sponsorship and maybe a source of extra colonists.

[Jaslandia]

3742

Just a quick question, out of curiosity: Will this RP have random events generated by the OP(s), or is everything based around the actions of the RPers?

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

So how exactly would the Hansa have acquired the colonies, maybe a charter from the Holy Roman Emperor himself giving the League the rights to colonize the gold coast and the New world in the name of the empire, but in reality is really just the Hansa with colonial ambitions paying off the emperor for a official sponsorship and maybe a source of extra colonists.

I imagined expansion of trading posts n such could well lead to them, you can use the previous point as a justification if you wish though too

3742

Just a quick question, out of curiosity: Will this RP have random events generated by the OP(s), or is everything based around the actions of the RPers?

Random events will be made newspaper style every page or so, probably not the first page, but they will range from random snippets to events that more directly reach players.

[Rygondria]

So how exactly would the Hansa have acquired the colonies, maybe a charter from the Holy Roman Emperor himself giving the League the rights to colonize the gold coast and the New world in the name of the empire, but in reality is really just the Hansa with colonial ambitions paying off the emperor for a official sponsorship and maybe a source of extra colonists.

I imagined expansion of trading posts n such could well lead to them, you can use the previous point as a justification if you wish though too

3742

Just a quick question, out of curiosity: Will this RP have random events generated by the OP(s), or is everything based around the actions of the RPers?

Random events will be made newspaper style every page or so, probably not the first page, but they will range from random snippets to events that more directly reach players.

Most likely going to use the trade posts seeing as it is more plausible .

[Senkaku]

first post is mostly just atmospheric stuff, not really policy matters

[Zelent]

3742


Is that a no regarding me setting up a republic prior to the start of the game?

I would rather you would not, as it would likely trigger Commonwealth and Austrian intervention within a short span of time. If you are aiming for a republic, it is probably best to find a slice of 48 to go for to get your revolution (Hungary historically had a 48 revolution)

I'm aware of the revolution in 48, of course, but I feel itd be completely reasonable and preferable to place it earlier, without powerful Hapsburg rule, revolutionary sentiment that historically had been building since far earlier than 1848 could overboil before then.

I can come up with some other scenarios, too, as to how the Hungarian revolution happened early. Perhaps even, Hungary had become a Republic during the Napoleonic Wars, and was allowed to remain so at The Congress of Vienna, also it seems as though The Commonwealth had some instability in the first 20 years of the century, meaning that a revolution during that time would of effectively removed Commonwealth from position as a threat to Republican Hungary.

An early Hungarian revolution would certainly be preferred on my part, but I understand if you insist against it.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

I would rather you would not, as it would likely trigger Commonwealth and Austrian intervention within a short span of time. If you are aiming for a republic, it is probably best to find a slice of 48 to go for to get your revolution (Hungary historically had a 48 revolution)

I'm aware of the revolution in 48, of course, but I feel itd be completely reasonable and preferable to place it earlier, without powerful Hapsburg rule, revolutionary sentiment that historically had been building since far earlier than 1848 could overboil before then.

I can come up with some other scenarios, too, as to how the Hungarian revolution happened early. Perhaps even, Hungary had become a Republic during the Napoleonic Wars, and was allowed to remain so at The Congress of Vienna, also it seems as though The Commonwealth had some instability in the first 20 years of the century, meaning that a revolution during that time would of effectively removed Commonwealth from position as a threat to Republican Hungary.

An early Hungarian revolution would certainly be preferred on my part, but I understand if you insist against it.

I am afraid in this case I must insist. Unfortunately the political environment of the time would be against a Republic's existence, and would trigger bloody intervention by neighbouring powers.

[Rodez]

snip

Most things seem in order, though there are a few things I might have you review before I accept this.

Firstly is your civil war, which in the end abolishes slavery. I would say this is unlikely this early, as you have significant plantation backers in your Eastern provinces. Mexico historically abolished slavery in 1829, it might be better to aim more around this time, though I would not discount the chance for another civil conflict erupting because of this, and .

The other concern I might raise would be your navy. The numbers seem somewhat large, Brazil irl had a grand navy, much larger than the United States, and it still only maintained around 90 vessels.

Understood. I made the necessary edits and whatnot. Abolition got pushed back to the mid-1830s.

[Intermountain States]

This should be done.

Generic Info
Nation Name: The Empire of Joseon (대조선제국, 大朝鮮帝國)
Symbols: Royal Flag, Royal Seal
Homeland Population: 20 million
Imperial Population: None
Location/Claims: Number 50
Capital City: Hanseong (modern day Seoul)

Government Info
Government Type: Central Bureaucratic Monarchy
Brief Explanation of Government: The government of Joseon is a highly centralized monarchy with a Confucian-based bureaucracy. The Emperor rules for life, unlike any of his appointees and all Emperors of Joseon descends from the Imperial House of Yi (Jeongju Yi Clan) since its foundation. The Emperor commands absolute loyalty from his officials and subjects, but officials are expected to try to guide the Emperor to the right path if the latter was mistaken and Emperors are usually sensitive to public opinions.

The bureaucratic element of the government is dominated by Confucian scholars who enter service in the government through the civil service exam. All officials are expected to have passed a series of literary and psychological tests that determine their ability to serve the empire. Theoretically, anyone, excluding women, can take the civil service exams but only the wealthy have the money to afford preparations for the exams. However, seeing a lowborn take and pass the exams are not uncommon and are often celebrated in stories.

The monarch of Joseon has advisors from the State Council (which members also serve as ministers) which is the de facto legislative body in Joseon. Supposedly, the Phoenix Throne holds major power in the government with the Ministries/State Council serving as the advisory board but powers of the the Emperor and the Prime change over time with some Emperors serving as absolute monarchs while others leave daily agendas to the Ministries.
Ideology: Neoconfucianism, Silhak
Leader/s: Emperor Yi Yeong/Hyomyeongun, Prime Minister Kim Myeong-nyeong
Relations In inland China, Joseon favors stability within the countries due to the stance that if war breaks out between the states, then trade would be disrupted. Joseon also maintains alliance with the Yue and holds a lot of concern (some might say hostile) to the rising power of the Qians west of the border, seeing their expansion as potential threats to the region's stability and Joseon's sovereignty. While Joseon holds some concern over the current situation in Yamato due to its ongoing civil war spilling over to Korea's shores, they do not see Yamato as a major threat.

Joseon is only aware of the European and other non-East Asian powers such as the Ottomans, the Dutch, American, etc. Other than its favorable trade deals with the United Kingdom and goods coming from the Americas, Joseon cares very little about the dealings of the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Population Info
Brief Description of your people: Largely Korean race with most Manchus assimilated. Small trace of Japanese and various Chinese merchants and immigrants in coastal and northwestern areas respectively.
Religion: The country is largely irreligious with Neo-confucianism being the state ideology. However, Buddhism makes up the largest religion and still being influential in its own rights. Shamanism, Taoism, and Christianity (brought from British and Chinese missionaries) make up a very small minority in Joseon.
Ethnicity: The majority ethnic group of Joseon is the Joseon people themselves with the major minority ethnic group being the Manchus.
Main/Accepted Culture(s): Joseon
Other Cultures: Non-assimilated Manchus

Military Info
Army: The aftermath of the Mongol invasion of Goryeo and the various Joseon-Manchu wars that ended in the early 1600s (along with occasional Wokou pirate attacks between the time period) saw Joseon placing more emphasis on the military than ever before. At peacetime, the Joseon standing army is large at over 200,000 active soldiers (with the ability to call up more in wartime), the brunt of the army are focused on the western border. Much of the Joseon infantry are equipped with muzzle-loading rifles with cavalries preferring revolvers and carbines for ranged combats. The Joseon military also enjoys the backing of powerful artillery and rocketry made to decimate enemy lines with a follow up of raining arrows and bullets.

However, the Joseon military has been heavily specialized towards ranged combat, meaning much of regular infantrymen (with the exception of patriotic soldiers) are less disciplined when it comes to hand to hand combat. While they're far from the bumbling fools that made up the old Levy forces that flee from the sight of swords and spears, it was not uncommon to hear of reports by unimpressed officers of standard Joseon infantrymen lagging in hand to hand combat.

Militias known as the Righteous Army have appeared several times throughout the history of Joseon when the national armies were in need of assistance against foreign invaders since the Khitan invasion of Goryeo. Peasants, scholars, former government officials, Buddhist warrior monks, and other religious individuals as well made up such militias. While most of these righteous armies are equipped with hunting equipments and farming tools rather than state-of-the-art weapons employed by the Royal Army, the irregular militias make up for their equipment shortcomings with patriotic ferver and knowledge of home terrain.

Navy: Compared to the Army, the Joseon Navy is lacking in terms of funding due to the majority of potential threats in Joseon hailing from its land borders from the various conflicts between Joseon and Jurchen raiders until the early 17th century to recently, concerns over the expansive state of Qian. Although efforts were made to develop the royal fleet of Joseon, a very small minority of its Navy are contemporary vessels, most of the warships used are 16th century Panokseon and Turtle ships.

Other Info
Brief Description of your Economy: The economy of Joseon has been diversified thanks to more liberal elements of Confucian scholars calling for trade. While at a much lower rate compared to Yue, the northern half of Korea is starting to be the main industrial center of Joseon. The southern half of Joseon is a filled with agriculture and holds many trade hubs.
Goals: Prevent Qian expansion into Joseon and continual development and reform of Joseon's infrastructure.
History: The early 10th century was a period of unrest in the Korean peninsula. Silla, the kingdom that unified most of the Korean peninsula, was heavily weakened and lost control over local lords during the end of the 9th century and rebellions broke out with the peninsula experiencing civil war between Hugoguryeo/Taebong, Silla, an Hubaekje. Goryeo was formed when Taebong general Wang Geun lead a coup de'tat against King Gung Ye of Taebong and formed the nation of Goryeo (once again claiming to be the successor to the old Goguryo that ruled over much of Manchuria and Korea). The nation of Goryeo eventually unified much of the Korean peninsula in 936 AD and put an end to the Later Three Kingdoms.

One year after unification, Goryeo's northern neighbor, Balhae, fell into the Khitans and the last crown prince of Balhae (along with a few thousand refugees) fled to Goryeo who was welcomed by the Goryeo ruling family. Goryeo lived in relative peace with the Goryeo government adopting reforms and centralization. That all changed in 993 AD when the Khitan Liao Dynasty invaded Goryeo. The war ended in a stalement and Goryeo reluctantly agreed to become a tributary state of the Liao Dynasty. However, the Goryeo court secretly resisted the Khitans and worked with the Songs in an attempt to limit the Khitans in a series of wars between Goryeo and the Khitans in 1009, 1015, 1016, 1017, and 1018 when the Khitans signed a peace treaty with Goryeo after losing much of its invasion force in the Battle of Kwiju

In lieu of the conflicts between Liao and Goryeo, the Jurchens took advantage of the weakened Khitans and took over much of its territories in Manchuria, declaring the Jin Dynasty in Manchuria. Initially, Goryeo made little efforts to limit the Jurchens until border conflicts risen between Goryeo and the Jurchens. In response, the Goryeo military launched a coup de'tat against the scholar-class dominated Goryeo court and declared a military regime to fight the Jurchens. Like with the Khitans, Goryeo aligned with Song China in opposing the Jurchens, sending Jin into a two front war in which the Jurchens only held territories in Manchuria.

The Mongols invasion of China in 1206 had initial effect on Goryeo when fleeing soldiers of the Jin Dynasty invaded Goryeo multiple times in 1216 during the reign of King Gojong. Goryeo initially seeked an alliance with the Mongols to put an end to Jin stragglers once and for all. Relations broke down between the Mongols and Goryeo when the Mongols demand tribute and the death of the Mongol envoy was found in Goryeo territory (the Mongols charged that it was a government sanctioned murder while the Goryeo court denied any responsibility, blaming deserted Jin soldiers still at large after the Mongol invasion of Jin. The Mongols invaded Goryeo in 1231 and the two countries fought for over forty years. Despite the best efforts of various military dictators from the Ubong Choe Clan and their successors and King Gojong, Goryeo eventually capitulated as a vassal kingdom and an ally of the Mongols in 1270. Although Yuan darughachis in Goryeo were offered provisions and sometimes get involved in the affairs of the Goryeo court, Goryeo was able to keep its autonomy. Mongol and Goryeo rulers, however, were tied by marriages as some Mongol prince and aristocrats married Goryeo princesses and vice versa and Goryeo kings were no longer assigned temple names after their passing.

In response to the fall of the Yuans in 1318, Goryeo fortified its borders in fear of having strong allies for backing. King Gongmin in 1351 launched a campaign of Northern expansion and reclaimed Dongnyeon and Ssangseong from the weakened Mongol holdouts. Poverty, corruption charges, and raids from Wokou pirates plagued Goryeo since the fall of the Yuan Dynasty and Goryeo eventually fell into a coup by the Jeongju Yi Clan, deposing King Gonyang as the last King of Goryeo and executed Goryeo loyalist officials and scholars such as Yi Saek and Jeong Mong-ju. With little opposition, Goryeo general Yi Seong-gye declared an end to Goryeo and the formation of the Joseon Empire as a powerful country not bounded by an imperial ruler.

The reign of Taejo Seong-gye saw conflict between his sons over succession rights and after an attempt by military officials and his fifth-born son Yi Bang-won in a military coup, declared his second born son Yi Bang-gwa (temple name Jeongjong) as his successor and abdicated the throne in 1398. Jeongjong was an abled ruler but abdicated after two years of seeing bloodshed between his brothers Crown Prince Yi Bang-won and Yi Bang-gan. Yi Bang-won (Taejong) became Emperor right after, setting forth changes made to ensure that Joseon would be an absolute monarchy instead of a constitutional monarchy planned by his predecessors. Taejong's rise to power was a bloody affair but he proved to be a just and abled ruler, building up national defense and encouraging reforms that improved on the daily lives of the people and limited privileges of the aristocracy. Taejong was succeeded by his thirdborn son Yi Do (immortalized as Sejong the Great) as the fourth Emperor of Joseon. Sejong's reign was marked by various reforms pushed by Sejong that benefited Joseon. Sejong opened government positions to people of various social classes; encouraged innovation in the fields of science, technology, military, and agriculture; and pushed for the use of the hangul writing system to improve literacy.

In response to the emboldened border by the Jurchens, Sejong initiated campaigns to pacify the north. Originally, the intent was to build castles across the Amnok River and to encourage settlement into the north, However, raids lead to more campaigns into Manchuria under his successors, capturing the Liaodong Peninsula in 1486 under the reign of Seongjong and pushed up to the Amur River in 1563 during the reign of Seonjo. However, rebellions continued on between resisting Manchu tribes and Joseon occupiers and a rebellion broke out in 1598 during the reign of seonjo when Jurchen leader Nurhaci attempted to form a Manchu identity. The rebellion was put down with the imprisonment of Nurhaci. Manchus were encouraged to assimilate to Joseon culture and some Manchus risen up as administrators and government officials in the Joseon court.

With Joseon controlling most Manchuria and with the Manchus pacified and largely assimilated into Joseon culture, the government begins to shift its focus towards domestic policies with successive Emperors up to Gyeongjo being marked for their long reigns of peace and prosperity (although political struggles were still very common during the reign of Gyeongjo). Joseon re-engaged in international trade with the Chinese states like Yue. The third expansion of Qian in the late 18th century alarmed the Joseon government. Emperor Yeongjo encouraged remilitarization efforts and ordered strengthening of border defenses in northwestern Joseon. Although the Qians had not yet attacked Joseon, the government is still paranoid about a potential invasion, being reminded of Goryeo's fall to the Mongols and Balhae's destruction at the hands of the Khitans. Regardless, normalization of daily life continued through the mid 19th century with industralization taking shape in northern Joseon and European and New World goods entering Joseon markets.

RP Sample:
- War, what is it good for? (Back to 1935)
- Rednecks and post-apocalyptic America (Fallout: Damn Dirty South)
- Red Dawn but slightly better (Crane Ascendent)
- Generic late 19th century Alt-history RP (Voice of a New Age)
- War, war never changes (Fallout: Republic of Dusts)
429 - Do not remove. This is for tracking purposes.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

Most things seem in order, though there are a few things I might have you review before I accept this.

Firstly is your civil war, which in the end abolishes slavery. I would say this is unlikely this early, as you have significant plantation backers in your Eastern provinces. Mexico historically abolished slavery in 1829, it might be better to aim more around this time, though I would not discount the chance for another civil conflict erupting because of this, and .

The other concern I might raise would be your navy. The numbers seem somewhat large, Brazil irl had a grand navy, much larger than the United States, and it still only maintained around 90 vessels.

Understood. I made the necessary edits and whatnot. Abolition got pushed back to the mid-1830s.

Acceptemundo

[Hippie Kiwis]

3742

I think I fixed everything you mentioned in my app

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

3742

I think I fixed everything you mentioned in my app

12 million was the population I got when I used 1850 numbers with larger province areas for you. it really should be your population at most

Conditionally accepted, provided that you amend that.

[Western Pacific Territories]

wherein the emperor throws hands

[Alleniana]

joseon akcept