1850: Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC-OPEN]

by **Remnants of Exilvania** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:25 am

Plzen wrote:
Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Uhm, they speak their own older Gutnish.

Which may or may not count as a dialect of Scandinavian, I suppose, depending on how generous Copenhagen is feeling this year in terms of its census policy.

I'm sure the German merchants of Gotland will do good business in Serampore or the Gold Coast just like they once did in the Teutonic Order when we just drop them in with the clothes on their backs. Clearly. They're clearly not all going to starve and become street criminals.

It the main Teuton-Livonian national unity comes from religion, then... hmm... deport all the Catholics (which I imagine is virtually the entire population) and just resettle the area with Swedish farmers? Clearly the Gutes are not to be trusted, either.

Ultimately Scandinavia wants a pro-Scandinavian population in Gotland, for obvious reasons. If the Teuton-Livonians pushed national unity via religion then we have to pretty much replace the island's entire population to make that happen.

Wow, talk about overreacting.

Deporting and resettling everything that doesn't fit into the government's idea of how it should be definitely sounds like the way to go, don't you think? And suddenly one of your beloved colonies of deported renounces its allegiance to Scandinavia and declares itself independent...or worse as a colony of the Teutonic Order

I always love getting free colonies. Meanwhile Scandinavia experiences a slower industrialisation and economic growth because it has sent the much needed worforce for all the new factories or projects popping up to repopulate some unpopulated islands or to increase the power of their colonies. :lol2:

by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:34 am

Oscalantine wrote:
Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Geez, this RP is definitely more tense in the OOC than the last one.

Just often have you already posted by now Oscal, clearing up misunderstandings and stuff?

Compared to how many TGs that I had to file? Not as many, happily XDDD.

... if anything, I want everyone to talk about rainbows and unicorns for just ONE day so I can finish my post. XDDDDD Seriously, at least one issue blows out of hand each day that each day is a pleasant surprise to wake up to.

by **Plzen** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:36 am

Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Wow, talk about overreacting.

Overreaction is what Scandinavia does in this RP.

If the Scandinavian government feels like a schizophrenic morass, then good, because that was exactly the feel I was going for.

Suppress independence movements by burning down the villages that the rebels are recruiting from and resettling people around to mix up nationalities. Swing between liberalism and conservatism every blasted election while the socialists snicker and slowly grow their strength. Get rid of people who want more autonomy for the German minority by shooting them in the streets of Kiel.

Why are you surprised that we are overreacting to one more thing?

I'm not entirely sure what to do with the Gotland natives, though. Deport and resettle would be the sensible strategy, but Scandinavia's government does consider Gutes to be Swedish people, so that's not likely to happen. They will probably be allowed to just sit there and keep being a thorn in Scandinavia's side... or integrate, which might happen given a few decades. Perhaps try the opposite strategy of extending citizenship and social services and hope they like it enough to change sides, as in Java?

Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Deporting and resettling everything that doesn't fit into the government's idea of how it should be definitely sounds like the way to go, don't you think? And suddenly one of your beloved colonies of deported renounces its allegiance to Scandinavia and declares itself independent...or worse as a colony of the Teutonic Order I always love getting free colonies.

The population of the Scandinavian colonies combined is on the order of 20 million. I don't think the German 5% of Gotland's population will make a meaningful presence there, especially if Scandinavia splits them up everywhere (which they will).

Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Meanwhile Scandinavia experiences a slower industrialisation and economic growth because it has sent the much needed worforce for all the new factories or projects popping up to repopulate some unpopulated islands or to increase the power of their colonies.

I imagine that if I have to resettle places the necessary numbers will come from the undereducated statare population, who would be glad to move in exchange for a bit of land to call their own; the same strategy by which the United States settled the west, pretty much.

by **The Traansval** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:07 pm

Tracian Empire wrote:I'm pretty proud of this

Name
Personnel
Subordinate units
Officer in command
Stratevma
~160,000
~2 Themata
Protostrategos
Thema
~80,000
~2 Legeonai
Strategos
Legeona
~40,000
~2 Tagmata
Legatos
Tagma
~20,000
~2 Menarchiai
Domestikos
Menarchia
~9,600
~4 Tourmai
Menarches
Tourma
~2,400
~6 Droungoi
Tourmarches
Droungos
~400
~2 Banda
Droungarios
Bandon
~200
~2 Kentarchiai
Komes
Kentarchia
~100
~2 Pentekentarchiai
Kentarches
Pentekentarchia
~50
~5 Kontoubernia
Pentekontarches
Kontoubernion
~10
N/A
Dekarchos

Damn.

That's a waaay better format than what I wrote for my organization. Mind if I steal it?

by **The Traansval** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:08 pm

Remnants of Exilvania wrote:
Tracian Empire wrote:The Byzantine Kontoubernion was directly inspired by the Roman Contubernium, the equivalent of a modern squad. While the Contubernium used eight men, the Byzantines generally used ten.

I on the contrary am planning 40 man units minimum for the greater part of my army.

The Dutch smallest unit is a 53 man Platoon for the Infantry

by **Tracian Empire** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:29 pm

Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων
Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
Basileia tōn Rhōmaiōn
Basileía Rhōmaíōn

The Empire of the Romans
The Roman Empire

Η βασιλεύς Σύγκλητος και ο Λαός της Ρώμης
I Basileus Sýnklitos kai o Laós tis Rómis
The Emperor, Senate and People of Rome

Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων!
Basiléus Basiléon Basilévon Basilevónton!
Emperor or Emperors, Ruling Over Those Who Rule!

Full Nation Name : The Roman Empire (Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων-Basileía Rhōmaíōn|(Imperium Romanum), the Empire of the Romans (Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Basileia tōn Rhōmaiōn|Ἀρχὴ τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Archē tōn Rhōmaiōn|Imperium Romanorum). The phrase: the Emperor, Senate, and People of Rome (Η βασιλεύς Σύγκλητος και ο Λαός της Ρώμης - I Basileus Sýnklitos kai o Laós tis Rómis|Imperator Senatusque Populusque Romanus) is used to officially refer to the Roman state, which is also commonly referred to simply as Rome (Ρώμη-Rómi|Roma) or the New Rome (Νέα Ῥώμη-Néa Rómi|Nova Roma). Other names like the Roman Republic (Πολιτεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Politeia tōn Rhōmaiōn|Res Publica Romana) and Romania (Ῥωμανία|the Land of the Romans), with the derived (Βασιλεια Ρωμανια-Basileia Romania|Imperium Romaniae) also exist. Foreigners sometimes use the historical exonyms of the Byzantine Empire (Bυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία-Byzantiní Autokratoría|Imperium Byzantinium), or of the Eastern Roman Empire (Ανατολική Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία-Anatolikí Romaïkí Autokratoría|Imperium Romanum Orientale) but they are not actively used by the Romans themselves. The nation is also sometimes designated as the Empire of the Greeks (Βασιλεία των Ελλήνων-Basileia ton Ellínon|Imperium Graecorum), but its usage is considered to be an insult by the Romans.

Majority/Official Culture : The main and official culture is Roman (Ρωμαϊκή-Romaïkí), but other cultures exist through the many citizens of the Empire. The Roman view on the culture of its citizens is a little different than the view held by most of the other nations of Europe. The Roman view is based around the concept of Ρωμανότητα-Romanótita (Romanity, or Romanism). This is the idea of the Roman civilization and culture rather than the ethnic reality. Included among its concepts are the very ideals of the Roman Empire and of the Roman people, military, and government. The inhabitants of the Empire refer to themselves as Roman (Ρωμαιοι-Romaioi) or Roman citizens (Ρωμαίοι πολίτες-Romaíoi polítes). The citizens of the Empire do not see their common identity as being based on their inherited ethnicity, but instead, they consider it to be based on being part of a political and religious community with common values, customs, morality and way of life. Though ethnically diverse, a majority of the Empire's population is tightly bound together by their Roman culture and their Roman national identity, centered on the use of Greek (Ρωμαικα-Romaika|Roman/ Roman language) as their first language, on the Roman cultural customs, on the idea of the Roman people, and on the Orthodox Christian religion. The Roman identity and culture of today is a true successor of both the Roman and the Hellenistic worlds of the Antiquity and of the Middle Ages. Like the Byzantine culture of real life, the Roman culture carried over the old traditions and cultural elements, while also being influenced by the Orient. Most of the population speaks Greek, and Latin remains a second language only in the administration and among those with with higher education, but the citizens of the Empire completely and fully consider themselves to be Roman. The idea of the Greeks as a separate identity no longer exists, with most Romans generally considering themselves to be the heirs of both the Ancient Romans and the Ancient Greeks. A notable exception to this exists however, as a Greek identity is still preserved by the religious minority of the Hellenic pagans.

Other cultures throughout the Empire are actively persecuted, going through a cultural process known as Romanization or well, Hellenization, the process of acculturation, integration and assimilation of those inhabitants of the Empire which do not belong to the Roman culture. The process itself contains a variety of methods, and is considered by the Roman Empire to be an attempt to civilize barbarian people. Perhaps more aggressive than the Romanization of the antiquity, this process as been raised to the status of a state policy during the Empire's long existence, with it being currently used in Egypt and certain parts of the Middle East. The process is mostly based on the strong promotion or even enforcement of Greek, of Roman laws and customs, and of Orthodox Christianity, an attempt to eradicate the cultural and religious identity of those groups that are Hellenized, accomplished through various means, like forced conversions, the existence of Roman colonists, education controlled by the Roman state, depopulation and forced resettlement, together with certain incentives, like granting the Roman citizenship to those loyal to the Empire.

Territorial Core :

1. Theme of Thrace|Thema Thrakēs - Θέμα Θράκης|Adrianople
2. Theme of Scythia|Thema Skýthis - Θέμα Σκύθης |Constantia
3. Theme of Paristrion|Thema Paristrion - Θέμα Παρίστριον|Dorostolon
4. Theme of Strymon|Thema Strymōnos - Θέμα Στρυμώνος|Serres
5. Theme of Thessalonica|Thema Thessalonikēs - Θέμα Θεσσαλονίκης|Thessaloniki
6. Theme of Diocleia| Thema Diokleías - Θέμα Διοκλείας |Nysos
7. Theme of Dyrrachium|Thema Dyrrhachiou - Θέμα Δυρραχίου|Dyrrachium
8. Theme of Nicopolis|Thema Nikopoleōs - Θέμα Νικοπόλεως|Nikópolis
9. Theme of Hellas|Thema Helladikoi - Θέμα Ελλαδικών|Thebes
10. Despotate of Morea|Despotáton toú Moréos - Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μορέως|Mystras
11. Theme of the Aegean Sea|Thema Aigaiou Pelàgous - Θέμα του Αιγαίου Πελάγους|Mytilene
12. Theme of Crete| Thema Krētēs - Θέμα Κρήτης|Megalo Kastro
13. Theme of Cyprus|Thema Kyprou - Θέμα Κύπρου|Lefkosia
14. Theme of Optimates|Thema Optimatōn - Θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων|Nicomedia
15. Theme of Opsikion|Thema Opsikiou - Θέμα Ὀψικίου|Nicaea
16. Theme of Samos|Thema Samou - Θέμα Σάμου|Smyrna
17. Theme of the Cibyrrhaeots|Thema Kibyrrhaiotōn - Θέμα Κιβυρραιωτῶν|Attaleia
18. Theme of the Anatolics|Thema Anatolikōn - Θέμα Άνατολικῶν| Amorion
19. Theme of the Bucellarians|Thema Boukellariōn - Θέμα Βουκελλαρίων|Ancyra
20. Theme of Paphlagonia|Thema Paphlagonias - Θέμα Παφλαγονίας|Gangra
21. Theme of the Armeniacs|Thema Armeniakōn - Θέμα Άρμενιάκων|Amaseia
22. Theme of Cappadocia|Thema Kappadokias - Θέμα Καππαδοκίας|Tyana
23. Theme of Seleucia|Thema Seleukeias - Θέμα Σελευκείας|Seleukeia
24. Despotate of Trebizond|Despotáton tis Trapezoúntas - Δεσποτᾶτον της Τραπεζούντας|Trapezous/Trebizond
25. Theme of Koloneia|Thema Kolōneias - Θέμα Κολωνείας|Koloneia
26. Theme of Cilicia|Thema Kilikías - Θέμα Κιλικίας|Adana
27. Theme of Iberia|Thema 'Ivirías - Θέμα 'Ιβηρίας|Theodosiopolis
28. Theme of Vaasprakania|Thema Vaasprakanías - Θέμα Βαασπρακανίας|Eua
29. Theme of Mesopotamia|Thema Mesopotamias - Θέμα Μεσοποταμίας|Kamacha
30. Theme of Melitene|Thema Melitenéos - Θέμα Μελιτενέος|Melitene
31. Theme of Antioch|Thema Antiócheia - Θέμα Αντιόχεια|Antioch
32. Theme of Palmyra|Thema Palmyrénio - Θέμα Παλμυρένιο|Palmyra
33. Theme of Syria|Thema Sýrios - Θέμα Σύριος|Dionysias
34. Theme of the Galilee|Thema Galilaíos - Θέμα Γαλιλαίος|Berytus
35. Theme of Palestine|Thema Palaistínios - Θέμα Παλαιστίνιος|Jerusalem
36. Theme of Arabia|Thema Arabikós - Θέμα Aραβικός|Eliat
37. Theme of Sinai|Thema Sinaíos - Θέμα Σιναίος|Saint Catherine
38. Exarchate of Alexandria|Exarchía tis Alexándreias - Εξαρχία της Αλεξάνδρειας|Alexandria
39. Exarchate of Syrene|Exarchía tou Syrene - Εξαρχία του Συρενη|Syene
40. Despotate of Taurica|Despotátis tis Tavrikís - Δεσποτάτης της Ταυρικής|Cherson
41. Exarchate of Nubia|Exarchía tou Noubia - Εξαρχία του Νουβία|Meroe
42. Theme of Mépsila|Thema Mépsilos - Θέμα Μέψιλοσ|Mepsila
44. Theme of Traianopolis|Thema Traianopolisos - Θέμα Τραιανοπολισοσ|Traianopolis (modern day Baghdad)
44. Theme of Irakleiopolis|Thema Irakleiopolisos - Θέμα Ἡράκλειοπολισοσ|Irakleiopolis (modern day Basra)

Territorial Claim :

Capital City : Constantinople, Konstantinoupolis, the New Rome, the Second Rome, the Eastern Rome, Roma Constantinopolitana, the Queen of Cities, the Great City, the City of the Emperors, the Reigning City, the City, the God-Guarded City, Great City of the Romans, the Throne of the Romans, the Eye of the World, the Envy of the World, the City of the World's Desire,the City of Sins, Byzantium. One of the greatest cities of Europe and Asia, the capital of Constantine the Great, spread on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, this ancient city continues to impress and amaze.
Symbols:

Flags
Dynastic Banners
Naval Flags
Greater Coat of Arms
Lesser Coat of Arms
Dynastic Emblem
Chi-Rho Monogram
Saint Andrew the Apostle
Saint Constantine the Great
Saint Justinian the Great
Roma (personification of the Roman state)
Motto: Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων-Basiléus Basiléon Basilévon Basilevónton|Imperator Imperatorum Imperans Imperantibus|Emperor of Emperors, Ruling over Those Who Rule

Population : 38,753,451
Government Type : The Roman Empire has a pretty mixed type of government, but it is traditionally considered to be a Cesaropapist Absolute Monarchy, with the Roman Emperor holding the supreme authority in both secular and religious matters. In practice however, the Roman Empire is considered to have certain elements which would belong to a mixed government. The monarchy is of course, clearly embodied in the person of the Emperor, the aristocracy is largely represented by the Senate, and certain democratic elements are also present, like the existence of a constitution of sorts, and the existence of the recently introduced great public gatherings inspired by the Ancient Roman assemblies. For the time being, the Roman state seems to advocate the balance between the Emperor, the Senate, and the People of Rome as the ideal form of government, but the fact that the Roman Empire is still very much an Autocracy can not be easily masked.
Government Ideology/Policies : Imperialism, Conservatism, Roman Nationalism, Orthodox Traditionalism, Irredentism, Pragmatism
Government Focus : The Roman Government is currently focusing on bringing the Roman Empire in line with the great powers of this world from all points of view.
Head of State : His Imperial Majesty, Michael IX Palaiologos, in Christ Basileus and Autokrator of the Romans, Porphyrogennētos, Kaisar and Despot of the Eternal Rome, the Empire without End, Forever Sebastos, Viceroy of Jesus Christ on Earth, the Pious and the Blessed, Defender of the One True Orthodox Faith, Great Protector of the Holy Cities of Constantinople, Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, Lord of the Mare Nostrum, Sovereign of the Holy Order of the True Cross, Grand Master of the Order of Saint Andrew, of the Order of Constantine the Great and of the Order of Justinian the Great, Emperor of Emperors, King of Kings, Ruling Over Those Who Rule.
Head of Government : Grand Logothete and Hypatos Alexandros Kantakouzenos
Government Description :

Majority/State Religion : The Eastern/Roman Orthodox Church is the largest religion of the Roman Empire, while also being the Empire's state religion. Orthodoxy is actively enforced and spread throughout the territory of the Empire, with imperial authorities trying to convert all other believers.
Religious Description : The Roman or Eastern Orthodoxy, is one of the groups inside of the Christian Chalcedonian Church. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church practices what it understands to be the original faith passed down from the Apostles. The Church is unoffically led by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is recognized as "primus inter pares" (first among equals) between all the Orthodox bishops and patriarchs. Besides from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the other Patriarchates under Roman control are the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. The Emperor, due to his supreme authority in both secular and religious matters, is considered to be divinely ordained, as the Viceroy of Jesus Christ on Earth, and all Patriarchs must receive his confirmation before taking their positions.

Economic Ideologies: Overall, the Roman Empire follows the principles of mercantilism, but a movement that pushes for more capitalism and for the adoption of a more laissez-faire doctrine exists.
Major Production: Agricultural products, iron, coal, minerals, silk, clothing, industrial products
Economic Description: A regional economic power, the Roman Empire is economically divided between its industrialized western provinces, like its European possessions and Asia Minor, and its still mostly agricultural regions, like Syria, Palestine and Egypt. The Roman state has actively supported and encouraged the development of its industry for the past half century, but due to various reasons, its Middle Eastern provinces have remained overwhelmingly agricultural, an area in which they do excel. The ultimate aim of the Roman economy is to increase the state revenues without damaging the prosperity of its citizens, in order to prevent the emergence of social disorder and to keep the traditional organization of the Roman society intact, and from that point of view, the Roman Empire is perhaps closer to the principles of the Oriental states than to the economies of Western Europe. The Empire attempts to exercise a formal control over interest rates, and to set the parameters for the activity of the guilds and corporations inside of the empire. In the last decades, the imperial government has slowly tried to relax its control over certain industries, but it still maintains a strong control over such fields as silk and weaponry.

Due to its good position, its ownership over the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, due to its ports in the Red Sea and its agreements with various foreign nations,with Constantinople still acting as the primary western terminus of the Silk Road, and most specially because of the Suez Canal the Roman Empire is a trade hub between Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Suez Canal is directly owned by the Roman state through its Emperor, with the Roman Empire having built it, and protected it ever since. The Canal has has shortened the journey between the North Atlantic and the Indian Oceans ever since it was completed in 1869, and its ownership plays an important role in the economic policies of the Empire. The state strictly controls both the internal and the international trade, maintaining a durable and flexible monetary system adaptable to its trade needs.

The western regions of the Roman state, more exactly, its European possessions, Asia Minor, and islands like Cyprus are the most developed, from the point of view of infrastructure, as the railway system there is very well developed. The other regions of the empire are somewhat lacking, but railways unite most major cities, and many more are planned to be developed. Separate from the issue of railways, the Roman Empire maintains an incredibly vast and very well developed system of paved roads throughout all of its provinces, trying to emulate the traditions of the empire of old.

Tech Group : [Read "Centers of Modernization," European, Oriental, Mesoamerican, N/A (default is N/A)]

Army Description : The Roman Army (Ρωμαϊκό Στρατό-Romaïkó Strató|Exercitus Romanum), or the Army of the Romans (Στρατός τῶν Ῥωμαίω-Stratós tōn Rhōmaiōn|Exercitus Romanorum), sometimes also known just as the Army (Στρατός-Stratós|Exercitus) is the land force of the Roman Empire. A direct and uninterrupted continuation of the Roman army of old and of its traditions, the Stratós is renowned for its level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. A professional army, and arguably one of, if not the best in its region, the army of the Roman Empire is a force to be reckoned with. The Roman soldiers, still called "legionnaires" (λεγεωνάριοι-legeonárioi) by some, are generally considered to be excellent soldiers, due to their morale, discipline, obedience, and really harsh training. Its organization and training system both provide it with a certain edge over older armies. The army also retains a certain degree of flexibility due to its organization and straight forward command line. As such,the Roman force is generally characterized by pragmatism and meticulousness. By necessity, its officer corps has developed into one built more on meritocracy than on family and blood, leading to the existence of some very young and talented officers. The Romans also enjoy certain original weapons, mostly their famous flamethrowers, wielded by specially trained units. The Romans have also always been among the first to adopt new weapons that they deemed to be useful, and due to its economic strength, the army is very well equipped, especially in terms of domestically produced bolt action rifles, machine guns, and artillery in general. The Stratos is also using an extremely well organized reserve system, based upon the compulsory conscription that exists in the empire. Because of that, a large reserve force exists, normally known as the Auxilia.
In terms of tactics, the Romans favor the war of movement, attempting to surround and to outmaneuver enemy formations, and the danger of a war on multiple fronts leads to the strict idea that wars should be won through decisive battles.All of this can lead to an easy conclusion, the army has a great importance in the eyes of the state, and because of that, the Stratós is well funded and extremely popular among the Empire's population.

Army Weakness : Despite all of its strengths, the Stratós still has to face significant weaknesses. The first negative aspect is a conservative style of thought in the upper echelons of the army, which does lead to innovations being adopted relatively slowly, despite the army being overall modern, and it does mean that the Roman Army is prone to same strategic and tactical weaknesses experienced by real life European armies of this era. This conservatism can only be seen in the army's overall strategy and tactics, as the Romans often prefer to play it safe rather than risk it, as obvious by the way in which they are currently building their military strategy. The biggest weakness of the army however can be seen it its numbers. Its professional status does mean that the Stratós only enjoys limited numbers. While the auxiliary and reserve forces are by no means weak, and while the empire maintains a strong conscription and training system, that does mean that the overall quality of the army is going to suffer in a long conflict, and that creates a lot of issues for the Romans, from their cautious and even sometimes hesitant fighting style to their desire to avoid getting into possibly long lasting conflicts which could lead to reckless offensives. As such, in wars, the Romans will also come to rely on their auxiliary forces, quite a lot, if necessary. Their officer corps is also far from perfect, because while they are using the system of the meritocracy, aristocratic officers still tend to take over the highest positions. The current organization of the army is oriented towards a flexible defensive, and as such, offensives will be more difficult.
Naval Description : The Roman Navy (Ρωμαϊκό Ναυτικό-Romaïkó Nautikó|Classis Romanum), or the Navy of the Romans (Ναυτικό τῶν Ῥωμαίω-Nautikó tōn Rhōmaiōn|Classis Romanorum), sometimes known simply as the Navy (Ναυτικό-Nautikó|Classis), is the naval force of the Roman Empire. Due to the active threat of the Vandals, the Nautikó is a well-organized, competent and sizable force in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Roman Navy is by no means a weak force, its forces are fairly modernized, and they do maintain a degree of discipline and organization similar to that of the army. Mainly oriented towards defense, and benefiting from a series of ports, bases, and forts along the coasts of the Empire, the Nautikó is a force that would deter anyone from attacking the Romans without thinking twice. The Roman naval forces are also well known for their secret weapon, the Greek or the Roman Fire, an extremely inflammable substance that can even burn on water, making in a somewhat useful but dangerous weapon. Even if it is no longer what it used to be, now in this era of ships of steel and steam, it is still employed on naval and coastal fortifications, and in defensive operations, while secret projects exist that are trying to use in various other ways.
Naval Weakness: The Nautikó has never in the history of the Roman state enjoyed the same level of prestige as the army. As such, it was never completely embraced by the Roman state - it is considered to be somewhat "un-Roman", and it has often been neglected, with the desire to the protect the Suez Cana; being the only reason for why it is a competent force today. The Navy has never received the same amount of funding has the army, and its relative lack of popularity does reduce the number of potential recruits willing to join, with this also having a negative effect on the navy's officer corps. While the Navy has saved the Empire time and time again, the Roman naval forces have always had periods of decline when the threat of an enemy seemed low, and the Roman Navy is only now recovering from such a period. Serving a mostly defensive role, the Navy is affected by this double-edged sword. While it is extremely good at protecting the coasts of the Roman Empire, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Straits, and those trade routes in the area, the Navy will have major difficulties in any offensive operations, and the presence of the Roman Navy in other seas is close to zero.
Further Military Description :

Varangian Guard
Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων

The Varangian Guard (Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων - Tágma tōn Varángōn) is an elite unit of the Roman Army, having been created in the 10th century, under Emperor Basil II. The Varangians are different from the rest of the units of the Roman Army, as their ranks are mostly formed by foreigners. The Guard was created at the height of the Viking Age, with its first members being provided by the Nordic warriors of the Kievan Rus. The Nordic warriors quickly proved their loyalty, and their battle prowess became a legend. The Guard is no longer formed only by men of Nordic heritage, nor is it formed only by Germanic people, as it was during the late 11th century, but the Varangians are still worthy of their heritage. Like in the days of old, the "axe bearing foreigners" are some of the best warriors under the command of the Romans, more than able to clash directly with any elite units foolish enough to challenge the Roman Empire.

Like in the days of old, the Varangians are only recruited from among foreigners, though, the Romans normally avoid recruiting their guards from neighboring countries. In order to join the Guard, potential members must meet really strict physical, moral, and psychological requirements. They must pass a series of tough tests, and they must prove their willingness to fight and to die in the Guard. Of course, they must also pass a complete background check, and an unofficial requirement is to be recommended by a veteran member or officer of the guard, and of course, to be approved by the Emperor himself. As such, the Varangians are pretty much handpicked, the best, of the best. Before they actually join the Guard though, they must take part in extensive training sessions. The Varangians must be able to fight anywhere, and at any time, as a conventional army unit, armed with rifles, but also in unconventional situations and in close quarters combat. They are also trained to perform bodyguard, ceremonial and police duties.

The Varangians mainly serve as the Emperor's personal bodyguards, swearing an oath of loyalty to him. They perform ceremonial duties as retainers and acclaimers and they also perform some police duties, especially in cases of treason and conspiracy. Their loyalty is in most cases, unquestionable. They are united by a bond of brotherhood as members of the Guard, by their heritage, their status, and by their oath of loyalty to the Roman Emperor. The Varangians are extremely well paid, and they enjoy a sense of prestige that can rarely be found somewhere else. The idea of the Varangians betraying their Emperor is often unthinkable, simply because there would be nothing they could gain out of it. On the contrary, the assassination of an Emperor would be a disaster for the guard, and the loyalty of the Varangians was crucial in the establishment of the hereditary monarchy under the Palaiologos dynasty. When a Roman Emperor dies of a natural death, the Varangians have the unique right of running to the imperial treasury and taking as much gold and as many gems as they could carry, a procedure that is still known by its Old Norse name of "palace pillaging" (polutasvarf). This special privilege allows many of the Varangians to return to their home as rich men, only serving to further strengthen their loyalty.

The Varangians are easily recognizable not only because of their foreign origin. It's a tradition for most of the Varangians to have long hair, and all of them wear red rubies in their left ears. Their ceremonial uniforms are decorated and ornamented with dragons sewn on their shirts and tunics. Their Guard is organized as a tagma unit, commanded by a trusted, native Roman officer known as the Akolouthos (Aκόλουθος|"follower, attendant"). The unit itself is traditionally divided into two. The Hetaireia (Ἑταιρεία-the Company), formed by those Varangians known as the Companions (Εταίροι), is the part of the Varangian Guard directly responsible for guarding the Emperor and the members of the imperial family, led by an officer known as the Hetaeriarch (ἑταιρειάρχης - hetaireiarchēs) The Warriors (Πολεμιστές-Polemistés) are those Varangians which are used directly on the battlefield when needed, led by an officer known as the Domestikos of the Warriors (Δομέστικος των Πολεμιστών - Domestikos ton Polemistón)

Palatine Schools
Σχολαί Παλατιναι
Scholae Palatinae

The Palatine Schools (Σχολαί Παλατιναι-Scholaí Palatinai|Scholae Palatinae) are an elite unit of the Roman Army. Even if they have lost their role as the main guards of the Roman Emperor in the 10th century, this elite unit, with its origins during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great continues to exist and to persevere, as one of the best and proudest parts of the Roman military. Much like the Varangians, the Scholarians (Σχολάριοι - Scholarioi|Scholares) are among the best trained and equipped units of the Roman military. Formed by native Romans, the Schools are used as guards in Constantinople and other big cities, but also as elite units deployed during the critical moments of a battle. The entire unit is organized as a tagma, with each individual school being organized as a tourma, though, it should be noted that the Schools do not follow the exact same organization in terms of numbers as the regular army.

The Scholai are led by an officer known as the Great Domestic of the Schools (Μέγας Δμέστικος τῶν Σχολῶν- Mégas Domestikos tōn Scholōn). He is helped by two subordinate officers, the Domestic of the East (Δομεστικος [τον Σξηολον] τες Ανατολεσ-Domestikos [tōn Scholōn tēs] Anatolēs) and the Domestic of the West (Δομεστικος [τον Σξηολον] τες Δψσεσοσ - Domestikos [tōn Scholōn tēs] Dyseōs), one responsible for the Schools operating in Europe, the other one for the Schools operating in Asia and Africa. As it might be obvious due to the unit's name, this elite guard is divided between multiple so called "schools", each of them with its own origin, emblem, history, and name.

The Exkoubitoi or Exkoubitores (Excubiti|Ἐξκούβιτοι, "the Sentinels"). Established by Emperor Leo I, the currently serve a role similar to the Varangian Companions. They guard the Emperor, the members of the imperial family. During times of war, they have the honor of guarding the Emperor's camps. The School of the Exkoubitoi is led by the Domestic of the Excubitors (Δομέστικος τῶν Eξκουβίτων/Eξκουβιτόρων - Domestikos tōn Exkoubitōn/Exkoubitorōn).
The Vigla (Βίγλα, "guard watch") another one of the Schools. Smaller in terms of the numbers of its members, it has the honor of guarding the imperial palaces. They are led by the Droungarios of the Watch (Δρουγγάριος τῆς βίγλης/βίγλας, Droungarios tēs Viglēs/Viglas).
The Hikanatoi (Ἱκανάτοι|"the Able Ones") are a specialized unit of the schools, mostly used for covert and guerrilla operations. Not much is known about their unit, but they are led by the Domestic of the Hikanatoi (Δομέστικος τῶν Ἱκανάτοι - Domestikos tōn Hikanatoi)
Teichistai (Τειχισταί) or the Schole tōn Teicheōn (Σχολή τῶν Τειχέων|" School of the Walls"), are another really old unit. They started as the regiment of the Schools manning the Walls of Constantinople, and they have evolved to become an elite unit specialized in defensive operations, like protecting forts and defending rivers and mountain passes. They are also one of the only elite units of the Empire seriously specialized in urban warfare.
The Optimatoi (Ὀπτιμάτοι|"the best"), are an unit of the Schools specialized in an amphibious warfare of sorts. Their reorientation started with their deployment in the Aegean Islands, in order to fight the more aggressive Vandal raids that were threatening to break through in an attempt to reach Constantinople. From there on, the unit was re-purposed in order to closely mimic the raiding tactics of others.
The Immortals (Ἀθάνατοι - Athanatoi) are an elite cavalry unit, created in the 10th century. Probably inspired by the old Immortal Guard of the Persian Empire, today they are used as an elite unit of dragoons.
The Archontopouloi ( Ἀρχοντόπουλοι|"sons of the archons (leaders)") is the smallest of the Schools. It is most often considered to be a palace officer-training corps, and it is formed by orphans of Roman officers and soldiers who have died in battle. The orphans are taken by the state from when they are little, with the agreement of their remaining guardian of course, and they are trained and indoctrinated, turned into a loyal unit that is often described as fanatic.

National Goals: Protect the Empire by any means, strengthen the Roman military, defend the Suez Canal, create new alliances with other powers, accelerate the development of the Empire's Oriental provinces, expand into the Horn of Africa.
National Issues: A heavy and cumbersome bureaucracy and administration, tensions between the aristocracy and the general population, a general desire for more modernization conflicting with the conservatism of some people, conflicts with some the neighbors, a navy that might not necessarily match the empire's ambitious foreign policy, religious tensions between Orthodox Christians, Oriental Christians, and Muslims, a resistance against Hellenization in certain parts of Africa and of the Middle East, differences between more developed regions and those who are still underdeveloped, and a geographical and regional position that is a double edged blade.
National Figures of Interest:

National Ambition/Aspirations: A series of reforms meant to strengthen the Empire and to avoid the fall of its autocratic system, creating trade relations with the Oriental nations, improving the Empire's diplomacy.
Rival: Kingdom of the Vandals

RP Sample: I'm Thrace

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

by **Tracian Empire** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:29 pm

History :

The long and glorious history of the Eastern Roman Empire begins of course, in the year of our Lord 284, when the Roman Emperor Diocletian divided the once mighty Empire into two. Rome was weak and sick.. in order to survive and to persevere, it had to shed its filthy pagan origins, and to be reborn. The rebirth of Rome truly began with the reign of Constantine the Great. Roman Emperor and Saint, protector of Christianity, savior of the Empire..he founded the New Rome a city that would reach and surpass the glory of the Eternal City.. the Queen of Cities. Constantinople. While the Western Empire continued to rot and to decade, and while the Old Rome was sacked by the Vandals..the righteous looked East. Majorian was the last competent Emperor of the old Western Empire, and while the the West was broken, again and again, the East continued to grow even stronger. Considering that the Vandals were threatening their African possessions, the Emperors of Constantinople firstly forced Majorian to attack those barbarians, an attack which ended in failure. A final, desperate attempt was made, but a joint Roman force was utterly defeated in the Battle of Cap Bon. The Roman war efforts against the Vandals ended in 470, as the West was breathing its last.

And when the Western Empire fell to the filthy barbarian known as Odoacer, Emperor Zeno knew that the time had come. With the death of Julius Nepos, and the abdication of Romulus Augustulus, the West had no Augustus.. and when he received the imperial insignia of the West.. Zeno declared himself Emperor of both the West and the East. The Roman Empire was reborn that day. Unfortunately, the Romans were unable to take back Italy on their own.. so Zeno negotiated with the Ostrogoths under Theodoric, who was sent to crush Odoacer as the magister militum per Italiam. While the Italian Peninsula was still nominally under Roman rule, any dreams of restoration had to wait. The one who would restore the Empire to its older glory had to be someone else. A perpetual peace was signed with the Vandals, and the Leonid dynasty soon died, with the energetic reformer known as Anastasius I as its last member. The Justinian Dynasty followed.

Oh, Justinian the Great, another Emperor and Saint, Restitutor Orbis... the Restorer of the World. Justinian assumed the throne in 527, with a dream to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory. The Eastern Empire signed a peace with Sassanid Persia in 523, and with the help of his wife Theodora, the eunuch Narses, and the generals Belisarius and Mundus, the Emperor used the Blue faction against the Green faction in order to bring an end to the Nika riots. In 533, the Romans started their long campaign of reconquering the West. This reconquest began with the Roman attack on Vandal Africa under the command of the great general Belisarius. Taking advantage of the overthrowing of the friendly King Hilderic by his fanatic cousin Gelimer, the Romans invaded the Kingdom of the Vandals in order to bring Hilderic back on the throne. After a short and glorious campaign, the forces of Gelimer were crushed in the Battle of Ad Decimum, and Hilderic recovered his throne, as a vassal of Constantinople. With Africa mostly secured, the Romans turned towards Italy, the former heart of the Empire, where internal struggle had left the Ostrogothic Kingdom weakened. In 535, the Romans took back Sicily, before landing in Italy proper, but due to Gothic resistance, the war was prolonged. The Roman expedition would have probably been defeated if not for the genius of Belisarius. On the bring of defeat, the Ostrogoths offered Belisarius the title of Emperor of the West, but Belisarius fooled them, remaining loyal. Rome, Naples, and Ravenna were all conquered, and the Italian peninsula was brought back under Roman control. Perhaps influenced by Theodora, perhaps by the Patriarch or by the Pope, Justinian decided to reward Belisarius by making him his junior emperor, the Caesar of the West. Imperial rule in Italy was strengthened, and a Athanaglid, a Visigothic noble from Hispania, called for the Empire's help against the Visigothic King, leading to the reconquest of a small slice of Hispania's coast. With that, the Empire was truly reborn. Roman troops, led by Belisarius and his son, managed to crush the Lombard-Saxon force that was threatening to invade Italy, keeping it under Imperial rule. Eventually, both Belisarius and Justinian died, bringing their new empire on the brink of destruction.

Justin II and Tiberius II were both mediocre Emperors, losing bits and pieces of Roman territory. Their successor however, Maurice, was an extremely competent general Emperor, energetic and aggressive. He stopped the decline, intervening in the Persian Civil War, pushing the Avars and the Slavs back over the Danube. But this was not going to last. Maurice was murdered by the usurper Phocas, and Mesopotamia was lost to the Persians. A civil war soon started, led by Heraclius the Elder. Nicetas invaded Egypt, and after taking over Cyptus and Syria, Heraclius the Younger sailed to Constantinople with an icon affixed to the prow of his ship, managing to rally the citizens of the capital against the tyrant. Heraclius personally killed and beheaded Phocas, before the usurper's body was mutilated, paraded through the streets of Constantinople, and burned. The Persians soon pushed into Asia Minor, taking over Damascus and Jerusalem, taking the True Cross to Ctesiphon. The counterattack of Heraclius tok the form of a holy war, with an acheiropoietos image of Jesus Christ being carried as a military standard. Constantinople was saved from an Avar siege by Patriarch Sergius and what was claimed to be an intervention by the Virgin Mary, which allowed the Emperor to focus on the Persians. The enemy forces were destroyed at Nineveh in 627, and the Great Palace of Dastagird was later burned to the ground, while the Persian Emperor was killed, his son taking the throne. A peace treaty was signed, and all captives and Christian relics were returned, while the borders were restored. The True Cross was taken to Constantinople, and placed high atop the altar of Hagia Sophia. Heraclius planned to return it to Jerusalem, and the Romans all expected their Emperor to lead them into a new age of glory. But the clouds of war were gathering at the Empire's borders. The Arabs had arrived.

The war with the Persians had exhausted both Empires, but the Roman forces in the Orient were still strong. The Battle of Ajnadayn ended indecisively, with the Romans managing to withdraw with most of their forces. Damascus and Jerusalem were both besieged, and Heraclius quickly gathered all his available forces, perhaps also receiving help from the Persians. Heraclius closely prepared this offensive, with the Muslim forces geographically divided, the Romans tried to exploit this situation, and to fight the enemy forces one by one, concentrating large forces against each of the Muslim armies before they would be able to consolidate their troops. In 636, leaving Antioch under the command of Theodore Trithyrius and Vahan, the Roman forces pushed through Syria. Having been unable to find out about the plans of the Roman forces, the Arab forces continued to remain divided. The Romans managed to avoid a decisive battle, as the forces of Theodore crushed the forces of Yazid near Damascus. Before the Arab commanders managed to realize the danger, the forces of Vahan fought and destroyed the Muslim forces in Emesa, while a third army, led by Heraclius' son Constantine, managed to inflict serious damage to the forces of Shurahbil in Kordan. The remains of the Muslim forces withdrew towards the besieged Jerusalem, where Khalid ibn al-Walid tried to draw the Roman forces into a situation where the Arabs would be able overcome their numerical disadvantage. Their armies clashed near Jerusalem, but the arrival of a force led personally by Heraclius took Khalid by surprise. Enraged, and unwilling to lose all his achievements because of this barbarian invasion, Heraclius managed to overcome his fear of the open sea, and to lead a force that had landed at Tyre, before it moved south, never found by the Muslims. The forces of Islam were surrounded, but Khalid led a final counterattack that allowed some of them to break through. Jerusalem was saved, but the Roman forces were exhausted, and weakened by internal tensions. The effort made by Heraclius in this battle was too much for his old age, and the Emperor died a few weeks later, in Jerusalem. With his death, the Roman Empire was unable to stop the Arab forces from storming Egypt and expanding into Africa, but Syria and most of Palestine remained under Roman rule, with Jerusalem serving as the strongest bastion of imperial rule in the region. With their position weakened, the Arabs never truly managed to pose a threat to the empire's core in Asia Minor, but the Romans and the Arabs fought a lengthy war in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Empire was reorganized, being effectively turned into a military state with the system of the themata, which allowed it to keep the Arabs at bay. In the Balkans, the weakened Roman lines were unable to stop the invasion of the Slavs, spearheaded by the Bulgars and the Khazars. In 680, Roman forces sent to take care of the Slavs were defeated, and Constantine IV signed a treaty with the Bulgar khan, creating the Bulgarian state that would threaten the Empire for centuries to come. Expeditions in 688 under Justinian II managed to strengthen imperial rule in Thrace, Macedonia, and Epirus, stopping the Slavs from advancing even further. Conflicts with the urban aristocracy however brought the reign of the Heraclian dynasty to an end. The Twenty Years' Anarchy followed, but neither the Slavs nor the Arabs were able to properly take advantage of it, and in 717, the Isaurian Dynasty was established by Leo III. A naval siege of Constantinople was stopped with the help of the Greek Fire and of the Bulgans. However, the Empire soon had to face a crisis, started by Iconoclasm.
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The reforms of Michael III, from 842 to 886 A.D. set the ground for the Macedonian Renaissance, which officially started with the establishment of the Macedonian Dynasty by the energetic and aggressive Emperor Basil I. Good financial policies increased the gold reserves of the Empire, while the iconoclast movement was breathing its last, declining, suppressed by the Emperors who were promoting religious unity. The themata system was perfected, and the legistlative, cultural, and economic situation continued to improve, while the support of the Emperors for the iconodule cause turned the Church once again into a great supporter of imperial rule. The powers of the aristocracy were weakened. The threat of the Bulgarians was great, as Tsar Simeon I had defeated the Roman forces in 896, and by 912, Constantinople itself was threatened, with the Romans being forces to grant Simeon the crown of Basileus of Bulgaria, with the young Empror Constantine VII being forced to marry one of the daughters of Simeon. A great imperial expedition was then defeated, and the Bulgarians pushed into Greece, but the death of Simeon weakened the Bulgars. Emperor Basil II then fought back, in a twenty years long war, a systematic conquest of Bulgaria was brought to an end, with the Slavs being massacred, assimilated and converted, their population pushed out of the cities, colonists were brought from Asia Minor, and the Bulgarian army was definitively crushed in the Battle of Kleidon. Legends say that from the Bulgarian survivors, 99 out of every 100 soldiers were blinded, with the remaining hundredth man left with one eye as to lead his comrades home. The last Bulgarian Tsar, Samuil, is said to have died of heart attack after seeing the remains of his army. Bulgaria surrendered, being defeated and deleted from history. The Danube frontier was permanently restored.

Basil II, unfortunately, never planned his succession, and his death weakened the Empire. The professional army created by the Macedonian emperors was difficult to maintain, and the economy of the empire declined. Unlike in real life however, the native forces were never replaced by mercenaries. The Great Schism still happened in 1054, as an outbursts of all the tensions between Rome and Constantinople. The Seljuk Turks, crossed into Armenia in 1067. The new emperor, Romanos Diogenes, utterly crushed the Seljuk forces in 1071 in the Battle of Manzikert. Sultan Alp Arslan was captured and burned alive. However, Romanos died a few years earlier, his death creating a short civil war which culminated with the establishment of the Komnenian dynasty. Under Alexios the Great, the Romans managed to end the threat of the Turks once and for all. Alexios was one the first Eastern Emperors of his age to actually realize that reconciliation with Rome was necessary for the survival of both sides of the Roman Empire, as they were equally threatened by the presence of the Normans in Southern Italy and the western coasts of Greece, so the forces of Rome and Constantinople fought together against the external threat. This created some trust, and personal efforts by Alexios managed to soften the blow of the recent Schism. After a personal visit of Alexios in Rome, the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch decided to nullify the anathemas of 1054, effectively ending the schism, and bringing the churches back together, at least from a political point of view. The split in the Church along doctrinal, theological, linguistic and geographical lines was however never going to healed, as proven even today by the followers of the Catholic, Latin rite, and by the followers of the Orthodox, Greek rite. One church with two heads, as many say even today. Regardless, a new alliance was created, and with the help of Italy and of the Papacy, Alexios started to consolidate Roman claims in the Middle East, starting the era of the crusades. By the end of the life of this great emperor, Egypt, Palestine, and Sinai had been recovered. In terms of prosperity and expansion, the Komnenian period was a true rebirth. The close relation with the Italians and the other Westerners led to Roman art, culture, knowledge being spread towards the West, while various Western ideas and customs were also brought to the Empire. The death of this great Emperor however cut the personal relations between Rome and Constantinople, planting the seeds for what was to come.

1180 marked the final decline of the Komnenoi, as the Frankish regency of the young Alexios II Komnenos was incredibly unpopular. Andronikos I, a grandson of Alexios I, launched a revolt, overthrowing him, killing Alexios II, massacring many Latins in Constantinople, which broke the relations between the two sides of the Empire. The reign of Andronikos began with a strong campaign against corruption, which earned him the support of the peasantry, but his fight against the nobility earned him many enemies. Andronikos was never overthrown like in real life, and as such, the Komnenoi survived for a little longer, with his son, Manuel Komnenos, as the next Emperor. A mediocre leader, Manuel was unable to repair the relations with Rome, and after his death, he was followed by his younger brother, Alexios III, a son of Andronikos with the Western princess Agnes. Alexios was a much better leader than his predecessor, and his few reforms attempted to strengthen the empire. However, in the last years of his reign, Manuel was manipulated by Alexios Angelos. Angelos married a daughter of Manuel, hereby gaining a vague claim at the throne, all in the hope of stopping Alexios Komnenos, who was perceived as a Western puppet, from taking the throne. The plot of the Angeloi failed, but Alexios III was merciful, the mistake that would end his life. From 1198 to 1204, the Fourth Crusade was planned pretty much just like in real life, with the objective of taking Egypt which was once again, endangered by Muslim rebels and states. The Crusade was spearheaded by Venice, and instead of paying the Venetians, the crusaders agreed to help them establish Venice's rule again in the Christian port of Zara. The Pope was reluctant to stop the Crusade, and as such, it continued. Alexios Angelos however, having been sent into exile, was seeking for aid in order to press his claim to the throne. Angelos offered to put the Ecumenical Patriarchy under the control of the Pope, to play the crusaders 200,000 silver marks, and to join the crusade against Egypt. The Pope tried to stop this plan, but his letter arrived after the crusaders had left Zara. Alexios III was not expecting the crusaders to be hostile, so the city was unprepared. Alexios III was murdered in front of the gates of Constantinople, after the crusaders had deceived him to leave the walls in order to take part in a ceremony. Along with loyal Roman troops, Alexios Angelos took over the city, while the crusaders awaited their payment along the walls. Angelos was crowned as Alexios IV, killing the wife of the previous emperor, but the young daughter of Alexios III, Princess Eirene, was hidden in a monastery inside the city by Komnenoi supporters. Before a civil war could even properly start, tensions rose sharply between the crusaders and the Romans. In a coup d'etat against Alexios, yet another Alexios, Doukas this time, started a revolt in the city, his men murdering every foreigner and Latin they could find. Alexios IV was murdered in front of the Hagia Sophia, and the crusaders attacked the city. Alexios Doukas was then murdered by someone, and the imperial throne was left open, in the Thirty Years' Anarchy that had just started. Michael Palaiologos, born earlier in this timeline, was in the city when the chaos started, and the young officer mobilized the remaining forces against the crusaders. Using burning ships and Greek fire, the Byzantines managed to burn parts of the Venetian fleet, forcing it to withdraw, and the remaining crusaders were unable to breach the Theodosian Walls. The crusaders eventually withdrew. But the war had just started.

Led by the Venetians, the crusaders caused chaos in Macedonia, sacking and burning the city of Thessaloniki, creating their own states. Venetian forces took over parts of the Aegean islands, over Morea and parts of Epirus, while other crusaders created a small state in Thrace after they took Adrianople through trickery. Meanwhile, in Asia Minor, a Doukas pretender claimed the throne, and the remaining Angeloi did the same, creating a state with the capital in Mytilene. In Trebizond, another alleged Komnenoi claimed the imperial mantle. Isaac Komenos had a short reign in Cyprus before being assassinated, and the Muslim forces took over the remaining Roman strongholds in Egypt, pushing in the Sinai. The Vandals, sensing weakness, intensified their raids in the region, bringing fire and death with them. Everything seemed to be lost. But Michael, hailed as the savior of Constantinople, was there to take control. The Palaiologoi was crowned as Emperor in early 1205, marrying Princess Eirene in order to solidify his claim to the throne. The new Emperor was young and aggressive, calling the native Roman population to fight against the vilified crusaders. In a swift move, Michael attacked Adrianople, taking it after some of the inhabitants opened one of the smaller gates. The captured crusaders were executed, but before he was able to move on to Macedonia, the Doukas pretender attacked the loyal city of Nicaea. Michael crossed the Bosporus, reaching Asia Minor, defeating the pretender in the Battle of Nicaea, even if he managed to escape. With the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the entire Angeloi family from Mytilene, Michael was able to retake the entire theme of Thrace, including its Asian lands.
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For the next thirty years, for most of his reign, Michael managed to wage successful wars against most of his enemies, alternating campaigns between Europe and Asia. The death of the Doukas pretender 10 years later brought an end to the rebellions in Asia Minor, and the region was pacified. With a lot more strength than before, the Romans defeated the crusaders in the Battle near Mount Chortiatis, pushing into Macedonia and Greece. The death of Michael in 1235 found the core territories of the empire back under Constantinople's rule. His status as a hero and a saint greatly improved the prestige of the Palaiologoi, and a series of extremely successful emperors managed to properly create a system of agnatic-cognatic primogeniture for the succession to the imperial throne, creating the Palaiologos dynasty.

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

by **Tracian Empire** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:31 pm

With this, my app should be ready. The further military description could use some work, and I will finish the entire history at some point, but if I'll continue like this, I'll never be able to post in the IC xD

by **The Traansval** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:33 pm

So uh, my computer has suddenly decided that it can't find its OS and now it's effectively a fancy brick until I fix it, which means I'm mobile bound for the time being.

by **Tracian Empire** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:33 pm

The Traansval wrote:So uh, my computer has suddenly decided that it can't find its OS and now it's effectively a fancy brick until I fix it, which means I'm mobile bound for the time being.

Windows?

by **The Traansval** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:51 pm

Tracian Empire wrote:
The Traansval wrote:So uh, my computer has suddenly decided that it can't find its OS and now it's effectively a fancy brick until I fix it, which means I'm mobile bound for the time being.

Windows?

Yee

by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:04 pm

Trace accepts Trace welcome aboard

by **Heidi Girl of the Alps** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:36 pm

My word document got corrupted after i wrote a complete post.....no worries, I know how to deal with this.

Step 1, lay down
Step 2, Try not to cry
Step 3, cry a lot

by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:53 pm

Heidi Girl of the Alps wrote:My word document got corrupted after i wrote a complete post.....no worries, I know how to deal with this.

Step 1, lay down
Step 2, Try not to cry
Step 3, cry a lot

"You should've written it in word"

-infinity people on the forum

by **The Traansval** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:57 pm

The Ik Ka Ek Akai wrote:
Heidi Girl of the Alps wrote:My word document got corrupted after i wrote a complete post.....no worries, I know how to deal with this.

Step 1, lay down
Step 2, Try not to cry
Step 3, cry a lot

"You should've written it in word"

-infinity people on the forum

Too true

by **Heidi Girl of the Alps** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:17 pm

*Sniffles*

My post might get delayed a bit. Gotta go to work soon.

by **Heidi Girl of the Alps** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:59 pm

Remnants of Exilvania wrote:
Plzen wrote:Linguistically, though?

A lot of Javan natives in Batavia show up as "Scandinavian" in the national census, and I suspect that a lot of Gutes in Gotland will show "Germans" for the same reason.

Scandinavia runs a fiercely nationalist and supremacist ideology, just like the Orientals, but unlike the Orientals of this RP Scandinavia doesn't take bloodlines or traditions very seriously. To be Scandinavian is a mixture of a variety of factors that are difficult to collectively explain, but the most important one is definitely language.

Can you speak Scandinavian? Are you a part of Scandinavian civilisation? Do you pledge loyalty to the flag and the republic? Yes? Then we welcome you to the master race, brother, and we welcome your local traditions to our master culture.

It doesn't matter whether your ancestors are from Sweden or from Java.

Uhm, they speak their own older Gutnish.
I mean, the german population were mainly merchant families who had settled down there.
It's true that the Teutonic Government pursues a policy of german supremacy but the Gutes as germanics were pretty far down the list. This policy was mainly tried in polish settled areas but was discontinued when it didn't exactly yield the results they had hoped for as well as when the Teutonic Order started to try and develop better relations with Poland.
That policy was replaced by the "Unity through Faith" which grants the people cultural and ethnic freedom but aims to mold them all together through the catholic faith.

Also, it should be mentioned that some foreign nationals could have also died in the bombing due to war corresnpondants and traders and such. Considering its the only war in Europe that i know of so far I see no reason why there shouldn't be reporters from across Europe covering the matter for the entertainment of beuracrats and literate citizens alike.

by **Old Tyrannia** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:05 pm

I've completed my app.

Old Tyrannia wrote:
(Image)
大日本海国
Dai Nippon Kaikoku
Great Japanese Maritime Nation

Full Nation Name : Maritime Empire of Japan (大日本海国, Dai Nippon Kaikoku)
Majority/Official Culture : Japanese
Territorial Core : Japanese home islands, the Ryukyu Islands, Sakhalin, Taiwan, Hawaii, Micronesia, Guam, the Mariana Islands, the Nanpō Islands, Minamitori Island, New Guinea, the Bismarck Islands, Cape York Peninsula.
Territorial Claim : Eastern Indonesian islands and East Timor, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and the Solomon Islands.
Capital City : Kyoto
Population : 51.7 million (31.9 million for the home islands; 19.8 million in colonies).

Government Ideology/Policies : Imperialism, mercantilism, traditionalism, Confucianism
Government Focus : Economic growth, maintaining dominant position in the Pacific, colonial expansion.
Head of State : Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperors of the Northern and Southern Courts.
Head of Government : Lady Toyotomi Hinami, Kampaku (Imperial Regent) of Japan
Government Description : The ultimate fount of all authority is considered to be the two co-emperors of Japan, who rule by virtue of their descent from the sun deity, Amaterasu-Omikami. In practice, however, authority is exercised by the Toyotomi clan as imperial regents or kampaku. There are two parallel governments within the Japanese Empire- one for the home islands of the Japanese people, referred to as Yamatokoku (大和国), and one for the overseas empire, known as the state of the sea or Kaikoku (海国), often translated as thalassocracy. Since all relations with tributary and barbarian states is dealt with by the Kaikoku-seifu (海国政府), the thalassocratic government, the latter is generally recognised as the relevant sovereign entity by foreign powers who refer to Japan in formal terms as 大日本海国, Dai Nippon Kaikoku. The supreme head of both governments is the kampaku (関白), meaning civil dictator or regent. The government of Yamatokoku consists of the Council of State, the Daijō-kan (太政官), and the Eight Ministries. In practice the imperial regent generally deals mostly with the affairs of the Kaikoku, whilst the Chancellor of the Realm (Daijō-daijin, 太政大臣), an official appointed by the regent, heads the administration of the Yamatokoku. The Kaikoku-seifu is formed of three secretariats, the Secretariat of Martial Affairs, the Secretariat of External Relations and the Secretariat of Civil Administration. The first oversees the defence of the Japanese empire; the second deals with foreign affairs, and the last is responsible for appointing colonial officials, collecting revenue and overseeing the implementation of justice outside the home islands. Each is headed by a secretary appointed by the regent.

Majority/State Religion : Most Japanese practise a combination of Shinto, Buddhism and Confucianism. Confucianism is the state ideology and is strongly promoted by the Imperial Government. Shinto remains a largely disorganised folk religion, although it is central to the Japanese understanding of themselves and their nation; the Japanese Emperors serve as the dual religious heads of the Shinto religion. Buddhism has been suppressed in the past but is currently tolerated officially. Because Shinto regards death as unclean, funerary rites have traditionally been the domain of the Buddhist clergy.

Economic Ideologies : The economic system of the Japanese Empire may be best described as a sort of aristocratic corporatism. The Kaikoku-seifu generally pursues a mercantilist and protectionist economic policy, maintaining high tariffs on imports and imposing a system of "imperial preference" on its colonies that requires them to trade principally with the home islands rather than with outside powers.
Major Production : Coal, steel, foodstuffs (especially rice), and luxury goods such as tea, silk and furniture.
Economic Description : Japan has one of the strongest economies in the world, and dominates maritime commerce in the Pacific as it has done for centuries. The Imperial Government pursues protectionist and mercantilist policies in order to encourage production within the empire and reduce the outflow of wealth from importing foreign goods. Under a system of imperial preference, Japan restricts its colonies from trading with other states in order encourage trade within the empire. Within the Yamatokoku, most economic power and capital is still focused in the hands of the traditional aristocracy, whereas in the Kaikoku a less rigid social hierarchy prevailed, with successful middle-class merchants from the homeland achieving great wealth and forming a new colonial ruling class. As the empire expanded, raw materials from the colonies flowed back to Japan to fuel a burgeoning industrial economy, with Japan following Korea to become East Asia's second industrial power. Amidst Japan's rapid industrialisation, many merchants founded successful companies which would eventual grow into powerful family-owned conglomerates, or zaibatsu (財閥), that continue to dominate the Japanese economy.

The Imperial Government generally maintains an interventionist stance towards the economy and a close relationship with the zaibatsu. Faced with unrest due to the poor working conditions in Japan's new factories and the precarious status of regular workers, and inspired by Confucian ideals of reciprocal loyalty between lords (employers) and servants (employees), Japan has begun to develop the basics of a welfare state with employers being required to provide for the medical care and pensions of their workers. Despite the modernisation of its infrastructure Japan remains somewhat conservative in many ways; in particular, land ownership in the Yamatokoku is still largely feudal in nature and, as mentioned above, social mobility is virtually non-existent. By contrast the Kaikoku or colonial part of the Japanese Empire is more modern in both regards, although its culture and society remain deeply hierarchical. The Yamatokoku is more industrialised than the Kaikoku, which mainly serves as a source of raw materials. Japan's main trading partners are Korea and China, although more trade with the American powers is beginning to take place. Most trade takes place through the colonies, which are more accessible to foreigners and foreign trade than the home islands. Japan is fairly self-sufficient economically but does import industrial materials (e.g. coal and steel) from Korea and food as well as many luxury manufactured items from China. American and European nations are a source of luxury manufactured goods, technology and exotic foods- for example, chocolate from the Azteks.

Tech Group: Oriental

Army Strength : 822,560 troops strong, divided between the 160,200 troops of the Imperial Japanese Army and 662,360 Imperial Marines. Japan's ground forces are efficiently organised, highly motivated and loyal. Japanese culture promotes courage and honour in battle, and most Japanese troops would rather die than surrender to the enemy.
Army Weakness : The officer class, largely drawn from old samurai families, remain highly conservative in outlook and are yet to fully accept modern military doctrine and reconcile it with the samurai warrior code, whilst the rank-and-file are largely made up of conscripts who are less well-equipped and trained than their Western counterparts. Japan's ground forces also suffer from a lack of cavalry and artillery.
Naval Strength : The Imperial Japanese Navy (日本海軍, Nippon Kaigun) is one of the largest and best funded naval forces in East Asia. Its newest ships are among the world's most technologically advanced, and the Japanese have a strong naval tradition with a well established, tried and tested naval doctrine.
Naval Weakness : Decades of complacency have eroded the technological edge of Japan's fleets, with many ships being somewhat outdated, and it will take time to fully replace them with newer classes. Additionally many of the navy's officers achieved their position by birth rather than through merit, and are untested in a real battle scenario.
Further Military Description : There are two main branches of the Japanese military- the Imperial Japanese Army (日本皇軍), Nippon Kōgun) and the Imperial Japanese Navy (日本海軍, Nippon Kaigun). The Imperial Army is under the authority of the Yamatokoku-seifu and the Ministry of Defence, and dedicated to the defence of the home islands; in practice, it is relatively small and fulfils a largely ceremonial role due to the fact that Japan itself has not been under direct threat of invasion for centuries. The Imperial Navy is under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat of Martial Affairs, part of the Kaikoku-seifu. As the Imperial Army's role is officially restricted to the defence of the home islands, the role of the main ground force of the Japanese military is fulfilled by the greatly swollen Imperial Marine Corps, 日本海兵隊 (Nippon Kaiheitai). The Imperial Marines are responsible for the defence of the Japanese colonial empire and serve as its main offensive ground force. Many are drawn from the colonial population and are experts at ship-to-ship combat and boarding manoeuvres, island-hopping and fighting in tropical environments, making them highly well suited to defending Japan's vast maritime empire.

National Goals : To consolidate Japan's position as the main naval power in the Pacific, expand Japanese territory in southern Polynesia, Indonesia and Australasia, and keep rival colonial powers out of its sphere of influence.
National Issues : Japan faces the challenge of fully modernising its large but increasingly outdated naval forces, ending its diplomatic isolation by securing new alliances, and strengthening the army in order to defend and expand its continental possessions. Additionally, the Empire faces factionalism amongst the ruling elites at home and the threat of insurgency from its colonies.
National Figures of Interest :
Emperor of the Southern Court (南朝天皇, Nanchō Tennō): Personal name Yutanari (寛成). 58 years old. The older of Japan's co-sovereigns, Yutanari was known in his youth for his profligacy and inattention to study, preferring to spend time gambling, hunting and pursuing women. However his attitudes have changed with age, and he has become increasingly conservative, adopting an ascetic lifestyle and performing his obligations as emperor with dutiful devotion. Maintains a strictly Confucian court with close attention to protocol, but also a deeply devoted Zen Buddhist. His era name is Shōzū (正崇), meaning "upright and honourable."
Emperor of the Northern Court (北朝天皇, Hokuchō Tennō): Personal name Kenshō (賢章). 19 years old. The younger of Japan's co-sovereigns, only a year into his reign following the abdication of his grandfather. Bright, idealistic and open-minded, the Northern Emperor is known to be pro-reform whilst remaining a devoted Confucian. Although dutiful he is more inclined to question the established way of doing things than his southern counterpart. His era name is Shōkyō (昌慶), meaning "prosperous and jubilant."
Toyotomi Hinami (豊臣日南): 31 years old. The first woman to hold the title of kampaku, Lady Hinami is the daughter of previous imperial regent Toyotomi Hatsuo. She succeeded him as regent due to the lack of male heirs, with her father asking for and being granted a special edict approved by both emperors allowing the position to be filled by a woman in order to secure her legitimacy. Her husband, Toyotomi Motozane, is the head of a junior branch of the Toyotomi clan, although said branch broke off from the main line some 200 years ago, meaning the couple are not closely related. Their marriage was arranged to secure the Toyotomi clan's control of the office of regent. Charming and cultured, Hinami has proven a capable leader, embodying the ideal of the Yamato-Nadeshiko; a proper lady with a streak of iron. Her rule has been characterised by cautious reform and an increasingly ambitious and assertive foreign policy.
National Ambition/Aspirations : To become the leader of a politically and economically dominant coalition of countries under East Asian cultural influence, pursuing a civilising mission amongst the barbarians of the world. Hakkō ichiu.
Rival: The Scandinavian Republic; The Tsaardom of Russia

History : Japan is a nation with an ancient history. According to traditional accounts its sovereigns have reigned in an unbroken line for over two thousand years, the Imperial House of Yamato- Japan's ruling dynasty- having been founded by Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇, Jinmu-tennō) in 660 BC. Through him, the imperial lineage may trace its ancestry back to the Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu-Omikami (天照大神). Although the early origins of the Japanese nation are shrouded in myth and mystery, Chinese sources dating from the 3rd century AD confirm the existence of a powerful kingdom known as Yamataikoku in the Japanese archipelago. Buddhism was introduced to Japan by the 6th century, in the Asuka Period. In the following Nara Period, so-named for the city of Nara which is built upon the site of the then-capital of Japan, the country became more centralised and began to adopt Chinese Confucian ideas on governance. Literature and the arts began to flourish. The Nara Period ended with the shift of Japan's capital from Nara to Nagaoka and then finally to Heian, modern day Kyoto, marking the beginning of the Heian Period. This period of Japanese history witnessed the decline of imperial authority as Japan's emperors became figureheads for the powerful Fujiwara clan, who monopolised the powerful position of kampaku (関白), meaning chief advisor to the emperor. The loss of power by Japan's emperors did not halt the cultural flourishing that had begun in the Nara Period, however. Japan at this time began to develop the distinctive culture it is known for today, and a strong sense of Japanese identity and nationhood emerged. The ethos of the Japanese nation in this period was expressed by a phrase from The Tale of Genji, one of the greatest works of Japanese and world literature, written at the Heian court by a female courtier named Murasaki Shikibu; "it is when there is a fund of Chinese learning (才, zae) that the Japanese spirit (大和魂, Yamato-damashii) is respected in the world."

The trend of declining imperial authority continued into the second millennium, and by the 12th century the court nobility had also began to lose its power in favour of the newly ascendant warrior class, the samurai. The passage of power from the Fujiwara court clan to the Minamoto samurai clan under the leadership of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first military ruler or shogun (将軍) of Japan, heralded the dawn of Japan's feudal era and the beginning of the Kamakura Period. By the end of the Kamakura shogunate, even the shogun had become a figurehead to the powerful Hōjō clan, who wielded the title of Regent to the Shogunate or shikken (執権). Thus the emperor, kampaku and shogun were all reduced to figureheads in a situation that could only arise as a result of Japan's strong Confucian culture, which made openly deposing and replacing one's superior or liege lord an unthinkable offence. Under the Hōjō clan the Japanese successfully defeated Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281, but they ultimately lost power in the 14th century as a result of an attempt by the Emperor Go-Daigo to topple the shogunate and restore the imperial house to true power in the so-called Kenmu Restoration. The Emperor was successful in toppling the Hōjō, but not in curbing the ambitions of the samurai class. By 1336 the Restoration government had collapsed and the imperial capital of Kyoto fell into the hands of a rebel samurai named Ashikaga Takauji, a descendant of the Minamoto clan, who proclaimed himself shogun and installed a rival claimant to the imperial throne as Emperor Kōgon. Emperor Go-Daigo and his supporters fled south to Yoshino, where they established a rival court known as the Southern Court whilst the court in Kyoto became known as the Northern Court. The conflict between the Ashikaga shoguns and the Southern Court lasted until 1392, when the third Ashikaga shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, offered the beleaguered Southern Court a compromise; the role of emperor would be shared between the northern and southern lines, who would each hold nominal authority over the northern and southern parts of the country, with Kyoto demarking the dividing line. In practice, authority over the entire country would remain with the shogun, but the Southern Court could save face and retain their prestige. The three imperial treasures, the regalia of the Japanese Emperor, would be shared between the two emperors, spending half the year with the Northern Court Emperor and half the year with the Southern Court Emperor. Furthermore, as the senior imperial line the Southern Court Emperors would hold seniority to the Northern Court. This agreement led to the establishment of Japan's unique diarchic system that has endured to the modern day.

The rule of the Ashikaga clan saw Japan experience an era of relative peace and prosperity, but the in-looking tendencies of the Japanese elite continued. Whilst neighbouring Korea emerged as a colonial power in south-east Asia, Japan remained insular and unconcerned with foreign affairs. This state of affairs was not to last indefinitely, however. Growing rivalries between Japan's powerful feudal lords, the daimyō (大名), began to undermine the central authority of the shogunate. In 1467, the Ōnin War broke out as a consequence of a dispute between two powerful lords, Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen. The war rapidly escalated out of control, and signalled the end of the Ashikaga shogunate's centralised rule over Japan. This began Japan's Warring States or Sengoku Period. The Imperial Courts lacked any authority to impose order on the country. Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the 14th Ashikaga shogun, was assassinated in 1565 and the ambitious and powerful daimyō Oda Nobunaga seized power and installed Yoshiteru's brother Yoshiaki as puppet shogun. Nobunaga was a skilled military leader and a capable political reformer, but also known to be brutal in his efforts to unify Japan under his rule. By 1582 most of Japan was under Nobunaga's control, but in that year he was assassinated along with his eldest son in a coup by a former subordinate, Akechi Mitsuhide. It fell to Nobunaga's vassal Hashiba Hideyoshi, a peasant's son raised high by his talents as a negotiator and commander and by Nobunaga's largesse, to avenge his liege lord. Mitsuhide was defeated by Hideyoshi's forces at the Battle of Yamazaki, and Mitsuhide himself died shortly afterwards, supposedly killed by a bandit named Nakamura Chōbei with a bamboo spear- a dishonourable end for the powerful samurai. Hideyoshi now took for himself his former master's place as ruler of Japan. Like Nobunaga, he was not descended from the Minamoto clan and therefore ineligible to claim the title of shogun, but instead had himself adopted by the Konoe branch of the powerful Fujiwara clan and adopted a new surname, Toyotomi. He was thus able to take the title of kampaku, civil dictator or regent to the Emperors.

Hideyoshi was not content with completing the unification of Japan that Nobunaga had began. After securing the country, he looked to expand his power by invading China. His hopes were to construct a vast Japanese empire spanning all of Asia, rivalling that of the Mongols who had tried to invade Japan centuries earlier. Hideyoshi had hoped to gain the collaboration of Korea in his ambitions, but the Koreans, who were a tributary to the Chinese Ming dynasty at the time, refused to allow Japanese forces to pass through Korea. Hideyoshi thus resolved to invade Korea. From 1592 to 1598, Japan waged two campaigns against Korea. The Korean kingdom was at the time feeble militarily and Hideyoshi's troops, far better trained and equipped than their Korean counterparts and experienced from Japan's long civil wars, quickly overran most of the peninsula. However, Japanese ambitions were ultimately foiled by the intervention of the powerful and virtually independent Korean Viceroyalty of Chuk-jae-do in south-east Asia. The Viceroyalty's forces inflicted devastating losses on the Japanese navy, cutting off Japan's armies in Korea from reinforcements, and fresh Korean troops from the colonies began to wear down the resolve of Japan's forces. On the 18th September 1598, Hideyoshi died of natural causes, and the new ruling Council of Five Elders decided to withdraw Japan's armies from Korea. The ill-feeling towards Korea in Japan was somewhat moderated by the Koreans' agreement to allow the peaceful withdrawal of Japanese soldiers and the release of all prisoners of war. With Hideyoshi gone, his son Toyotomi Hideyori was declared kampaku and ruler of Japan, but actual power was exercised by a council of regents. Hideyoshi's dreams of expansion were temporarily forgotten by Japan's new rulers, but not by his heirs.

By 1600, relations between the members of the council had deteriorated. Civil war broke out between Hideyoshi's former retainer Tokugawa Ieyasu and the other four members of the council. Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Hideyoshi's nephew, adopted son and former heir who had been exiled upon the birth of Toyotomi Hideyori to prevent a succession crisis, returned from his exile and began gathering an army of his own to fight the Tokugawa forces and protect Toyotomi rule. Hideyoshi had considered forcing Hidetsugu to commit suicide, but had relented after being advised against it; it was now Hidetsugu who would save the Toyotomi clan's legacy. Hidetsugu met and defeated Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, after which Ieyasu committed ritual suicide, seppuku, leaving Hidetsugu in control of Japan. Hideyori remained the nominal ruler of Japan, but his older cousin and adoptive brother held real power, marrying his daughter to Hideyori in order to increase his authority over him as his father-in-law, since under Confucian precepts sons-in-law owed filial piety to their bride's parents. Both Hidetsugu and Hideyori shared Hideyoshi's dreams of expanding Japanese power, but it was clear that another invasion of Korea was out of the question. Instead, Hidetsugu opened Japan up to trade with Korean and European merchants, and began building up Japan's naval strength, nurturing ambitions of building a Japanese colonial empire that would eclipse that of Korea. Under him, the Japanese gradually expanded north, charting and colonising the unexplored islands of Hokkaido and Karafuto (Sakhalin). At the same time, Japanese merchants with state sponsorship began to establish outposts in the Philippines and the Spice Islands, resulting in clashes with Korea. A series of colonial wars with Korea through the 17th and 18th centuries saw Japan's defeat in the Philippines, but by then Japan had already established a presence further south, shifting its colonial aspirations to the south and east and away from Korea.

Hidetsugu died 1632. He had intended that his son Senchiyomaru would succeed him as Japan's ruler, but an effort to displace Hideyori as kampaku backfired when Hideyori, as Hideyoshi's rightful heir, was able to claim the support of most of the daimyō and defeated Senchiyomaru in a brief succession struggle. Senchiyomaru performed seppuku and Hideyori reigned for more than twenty years, overseeing the conquest of Taiwan and defeat of rival colonial ventures on the island by the Koreans, Dutch and Spanish. It was Hideyori who initiated the division of Japan's government between the Yamatokoku-seifu, responsible for administrating the home islands, and the Kaikoku-seifu, which oversaw Japan's colonies and dealt with foreign affairs. At the same time, Japan began to improve its naval forces by incorporating elements of European design into its ships. Naval innovation in this period led to the creation of ships that were better suited than their Korean and Chinese counterparts for long voyages in deeper waters, and Japanese explorers set out to reach the west coast of America, the regent's court being inspired by tales of Europeans circumnavigating the globe. In the process the Japanese charted and annexed much of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

In the 19th century, Japan was one of the two great colonial powers of East Asia. At this time, concerns over European expansion into what the Oriental powers regarded as their natural sphere of influence prompted a détente between Korea and Japan, and an agreement was established that Japan would restrict its territorial ambitions to the east whilst Korea focused on expansion in the west. Japan was the second East Asian country to begin industrialise, following Korea in the mid-19th century. Although power remains in the hands of the Toyotomi clan as imperial regents, some reforms have been implemented as the nation progresses both technologically and socially; discrimination against the burakumin (部落民) outcast class is now officially prohibited, although still widespread unofficially. The samurai class have been converted into a class of hereditary officer families, filling high-ranking positions within both the military and civil service, which remain closely intertwined. Powerful merchant clans have developed into the family-owned zaibatsu business conglomerates which control much of Japan's economy. The Empire has developed a basic welfare state based on Confucian precepts. Despite this, Japan remains a deeply traditional society, more distrustful of outside influence than other East Asian nations; Japanese regard their nation as the modern centre of East Asian and Confucian culture, replacing China as the "Middle Kingdom" (中国, Chūkoku). Other cultures are dismissed as barbarians and their presence in Japan itself is generally restricted to a few ports, except for those who gain special permission from the Yamatokoku-seifu to travel more widely.

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

by **Oscalantine** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:56 pm

Okay, nothing bad happened today. I can post... finally... after all this time... peace...

Remember guys, rainbows and unicorns. Hold out for me just a few more hours for me to post!

*looks at Trace and Ty's apps*

I am sure someone else will accept them. *runs off into Word~*

by **The Traansval** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:26 pm

Huzza, my computer now works again. ~~and all i lost was literally every single file on my computer that i've had since 2016. Although to be fair 90% of them were just memes and maps.~~

by **Plzen** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:18 pm

Write posts in a plaintext editing software.

.txt files get corrupted basically never.

by **Remnants of Exilvania** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:20 pm

Well that's a steep decline of activity both IC and OOC.

by **Plzen** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:24 pm

Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Well that's a steep decline of activity both IC and OOC.

I got a stern talking-to on the very first NationStates roleplay I participated in about this. Apparently it's not polite to make two IC posts in a row without waiting for someone else.

So, wait I do...

by **The Traansval** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:08 pm

Plzen wrote:
Remnants of Exilvania wrote:Well that's a steep decline of activity both IC and OOC.

I got a stern talking-to on the very first NationStates roleplay I participated in about this. Apparently it's not polite to make two IC posts in a row without waiting for someone else.

So, wait I do...

Yeah, I've felt that the unspoken rule is don't make two IC posts back to back.

But, do not despair. My computer is fixed and my posts shall come soon

by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:35 pm

The Traansval wrote:
Plzen wrote:I got a stern talking-to on the very first NationStates roleplay I participated in about this. Apparently it's not polite to make two IC posts in a row without waiting for someone else.

So, wait I do...

Yeah, I've felt that the unspoken rule is don't make two IC posts back to back.

But, do not despair. My computer is fixed and my posts shall come soon

And sorry about my silence as well, I just got caught up in another rp for the moment and some other things and, above all, I wanted to wait until you had your computer back up and running before just moving that storyline along.

Name	Personnel	Subordinate units	Officer in command
Stratevma	~160,000	~2 Themata	Protostrategos
Thema	~80,000	~2 Legeonai	Strategos
Legeona	~40,000	~2 Tagmata	Legatos
Tagma	~20,000	~2 Menarchiai	Domestikos
Menarchia	~9,600	~4 Tourmai	Menarches
Tourma	~2,400	~6 Droungoi	Tourmarches
Droungos	~400	~2 Banda	Droungarios
Bandon	~200	~2 Kentarchiai	Komes
Kentarchia	~100	~2 Pentekentarchiai	Kentarches
Pentekentarchia	~50	~5 Kontoubernia	Pentekontarches
Kontoubernion	~10	N/A	Dekarchos

1850: Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC-OPEN]

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