A Golden Era of Empires RP [AH] (OOC/OPEN/SIGNUPS)

[Monsone]

A Golden Era of Empires
An Alternate History RP



-----Current Map-----The IC-----

The year is 1914, and the world is dominated by empires. Nations large and small all have great ambitions and great expectation. and even nations which claim to despise imperialism have formed empires of their own. Behind this expansionism are weapons like those never seen before; armored cars, airplanes, flamethrowers, and chemical weapons are all now parts of the modern battlefield. In the air, German aviator and aircraft engineer August Euler created the first synchronization gear for aircraft in 1911 allowing aircraft to mount forward-facing machine guns increasing the combat capabilities of aircraft exponentially. And on the sea, bigger and better ships were launched with ever more armor and guns.

Amidst this dizzying display of arms, the economies nations continue to grow at unprecedented rates, and living standards and wages increase. Industrialization is growing at unprecedented rates as the previously small middle class grows with it. But with industrialization has come enlightenment. The proletariat can now read and write, and with this newfound knowledge, they demand change. Change not every government is ready to accept in the future, or every nation is willing to give to its citizens.

As tensions will soar to new heights, technology brings about even more deadly weapons, the average citizens demand more rights and freedoms, industry and economies grow at unprecedented rates, and new ideas are created by intellectuals, do you have what it takes to keep with the traditions of old, and defend your nation? Will you reform for the betterment of your people and your nation? Or will you radically change your nation and its people? Only time will tell which course of action is the correct one.

• The word of the OP is the law. You may appeal the OP's rulings and decisions with good arguments, and/or empirical evidence to back your point up. The only time this is not allowed is in changes to the lore set out by the OP or the rules themselves.
• Most weapons can only be created when they were created in real life, with some exceptions. In the section about some of the lore and differences between this timeline and ours, a more in-depth list of changes is shown. But by in large, most weapons will be created when they were created in real life.
• No glorification or downplaying of atrocities, genocides, racism, and war crimes in the OOC. The IC is a different story (this is 1914 after all), but in the OOC, such statements will not be allowed and will lead to immediate removal and ban from the RP.
• Please be courteous in the OOC. If you have a dispute with another player, feel free to bring in a moderator or the OP to settle the dispute if you so wish.
• You will need to create an equipment list as well as a list listing the size of your nation's armed forces. This is mandatory. Failure to comply with this rule means you can't partake in any wars or conflicts in the IC until you complete it. You do not a full-on ORBAT, just a list of your nation's equipment, how many troops, ships, planes, etc. you've got and that's it. A good source for said information is Wikipedia (surprisingly).
• The basis for the progression of time in this RP is completely subject to each player's activity and the general activity of the RP. Do not expect this to be an extremely fast-paced RP. But do realize that this RP does require significant time, effort, and dedication at least initially (for the creation of the application and lists regarding your military).
• All posts must be at least five paragraphs long. If they (the posts) are exclusively dialogue, there must be at least ten lines of dialogue between the minimum two different characters. Images are not required but are encouraged for one's posts. The images can be as simple as a flag or as complex as cityscapes and battle images.
• The point of divergence is 1800CE.

[*]Keep the IC PG-13 and the same goes of the OOC. Cursing and violence are allowed in the IC (just don't make it to explicit and gory). In the OOC, please refrain from cursing or insulting other players. Violating this rule will result in a warning in minor cases and extreme removal, ban, and removal from the RP.
[*]If one has three warnings for rule violations, they will be removed and banned from the RP for being a repeat offender.
[*]Remeber to have fun![/i]

Technological Changes

As stated both in the rules and in the introduction, there are notable differences between this timeline and our timeline. Notably, the creation of a synchronization system for aircraft machine guns. Other notable changes are the earlier proliferation of chemical weapons as well as medicine being about 5 years more advanced than in our timeline. But other than that, the technological level of this timeline is identical to that of our timeline's 1914.

Some Unchangeable Lore (Note: More may be added)

• The Russo-Japanese War (It still occurs, with an uncertain outcome to be decided to the Russia and Japan players).
• European Arms Race (Not only does it still occur in this time, but it's also arguably worse than in real life).
• All infrastructure that existed in real life in 1914 also exists in this RP.

Note for the application: Please type your writing outside of the bolded text. The bolded text is to differentiate the writing and to make reading the application easier.

Thank you for your consideration.

Code: Select all

[align=center][b][u]Nation Reservation[/u][/b]

This reservation lasts for two weeks after which it cannot be renewed.[/align]

[b]Nation Being Reserved:[/b]
[b]Territorial Claim:[/b]
[b]Did You Read The Rules?[/b]

Code: Select all

[align=center][b][u]Application for a Nation[/u][/b][/align]

[b]Official Name of the Nation:[/b]
[b]Shortened Name:[/b]
[b]Head of State:[/b]
[b]Head of Goverment:[/b]
[b]Government Type:[/b]
[b]Territorial Claim:[/b]
[b]Alliances the Nation is in:[/b]
[b]Population:[/b]
[b]National Language(s):[/b]
[b]Lingua Franca(s):[/b]
[b]GDP:[/b]
[b]GDP Per Capita:[/b]
[b]Currency:[/b]
[b]Railroad Gauge:[/b]
[b]Military Size:[/b]
[b]Conscription (if so, mention for how long):[/b]
[b]Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in real life nation (explain said differences in the history section):[/b]
[b]History:[/b]
[b]Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):[/b]
[b]Did You Read The Rules?[/b]

[Monsone]

Nation Reservation

This reservations lasts for two weeks after which it cannot be renewed.

Nation Being Reserved: Russia (Russian Empire)
Territorial Claim: All IRL territories of the Russian Empire plus Alaska, Sakhalin, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces.
Did You Read The Rules? I created them, I certainly read them.

[Benuty]

CODE: SELECT ALL

Nation Reservation

This reservations lasts for two weeks after which it cannot be renewed.

Nation Being Reserved: Pacific States of America
Territorial Claim: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Montana.
Did You Read The Rules? Yes.

Basically going for a United States collapsing in the wake of a larger, and much more ideologically charged civil war.

[Benuty]

Application for a Nation

Official Name of the Nation: the Pacific States of America.

Shortened Name: Pacific States.

Head of State:
Head of Goverment:

Government Type: Elected Republic.

Territorial Claim: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Montana.

Alliances the Nation is in: Officially Neutral, but unofficially options are open.

Population:

National Language(s): English, Spanish, various native languages.

Lingua Franca(s): English.

GDP:
GDP Per Capita:
Currency: National Script.

Railroad Gauge: Standard Gauge.

Military Size:
Conscription (if so, mention for how long):
Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in real life nation (explain said differences in the history section):
History:
Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):
Did You Read The Rules?

[The Pearl River]

Nation Reservation

This reservations lasts for two weeks after which it cannot be renewed.

Nation Being Reserved: Qing dynasty
Territorial Claim: Mainland china,
Did You Read The Rules? yes

[Sao Nova Europa]

Nation Reservation

This reservations lasts for two weeks after which it cannot be renewed.

Nation Being Reserved: Ottoman Empire
Territorial Claim: Albania, Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Syria, Israel-Palestine, Egypt, Sudan
Did You Read The Rules? Yes

[Monsone]

Application for a Nation

Official Name of the Nation: Russian Empire (Россійская Имперія)

Shortened Name: Russia (Россія)

Head of State: Tsar Nicholas II

Head of Government: Aleksei Feodorovich Aladin

Government Type: Authoritarian Parilamentary Monarchy

Territorial Claim: All IRL territories of the Russian Empire plus Alaska, Sakhalin, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces.

Alliances the Nation is in: Triple Entente

Population: 186 million

National Language(s): Russian, Finnish, Polish

Lingua Franca(s): Including but not limited to Russian, Finnish, Polish, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Romanian, Mongolian, Korean, and Chinese

GDP: $586.644 Billion (2020 Dollars)

GDP Per Capita: $3.154 (2020 Dollars)

Currency: Russian Ruble

Railroad Gauge: 1,524mm (5ft)

Military Size: [750,000 (Peace Time) 1,500,000 (War Time Minimum) 3,000,000 (Legal War Time Maximum) Russian Army] [75,000 (Finnish Army)] [150,000 (Polish Army)] [150,000 (Manchurian Army)]

Conscription (if so, mention for how long): There is the conscription of all male citizens of Russia, and it lasts for two years in active service with a further eight in non-active reserve as well as the possibility of being called up in times of war until age 50. All conscripts are given a primary school education if they do not already have it.

Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in the real-life nation (explain said differences in the history section):

[1] A Russian victory in the Russo-Japanese war (see history for how this was achieved).

[2] Implementation of the Duma in 1894 (see history for how Alexander III was forced to abdicate limited powers to the Duma).

[3] Alaska wasn't sold to the USA in 1867.

History:

Most Russian history up to 1881 is exactly as it occurred in real life, the exception being Alaska was never sold to the USA, and instead simply more heavily invested in by Russia. But the primary change is that Alexander III is not allowed to revoke the decree set out by his father that would have ever so slightly limited the autocracy of the Tsar by establishing advisory committees. The revoked is stopped by the threat of Alexander III not being officially crowned. Hence, Alexander has to reluctantly keep the communities.

These committees are not as much of a hindrance to the rule of Alexander III up until 1892 because most of the people on the communities agree with Alexander's points and obey his every whim and desire. But the 1891-1892 famine in Russia sparks a change. Zemstvo (local administrations) grow in power as the central government fails to respond adequately to the famine. and the people grow ever more discontent with the authoritarian nature of Russia. So much so that in 1893 the Baltic Fleet mutinied and seized St. Petersburg. Under this pressure from both his own citizens and the military, the ailing Alexander III was forced to cede some limited powers to a Duma in early. But before the Duma or Alexander III could duke it out with each other in a power struggle, Alexander III died on November 1st, 1894.

His son (Nicholas II) succeeded him. And what he inherited was a very emboldened Duma. Nicholas wanted to remain the Autocrat of All Russias, but the Duma had other plans. And between 1894 to 1896 (only ending when Nicholas was officially crowned in late May 1896) the Duma went rouge. Many anti-Jewish laws were rolled back, many restricting aspects of Alexander III's regime were done away with, citizens were granted more rights, the Duma granted itself more rights, it reduced the military expenditure, implemented new economic policies, and became an organ of democracy in Russia.

Once Nicholas II was officially crowned, he initially wanted to roll back said reforms. But it was not to be as the reforms were popular with the general populace. So, Nicholas was forced to change his world view and was forced to become the first true Parliamentary Monarch of Russia. The Duma (now with the Tsar's blessing) continued to reform Russian society and ever so slightly separated church and state. The economy was reformed, foreign investment was incentivized, the press was liberalized, universal suffrage was granted, the economy boomed, the railroads where nationalized, and then disaster struck.

The Russo-Japanese war was the inevitable collision of the two dominant powers in Northern Asia, Japan, and Russia. After negotiations for a peaceful resolution broke down in 1904, Japan began to fervently prepare for war, while Russia rested on its laurels and I kid you not, did absolutely nothing except slightly build up its forces in the Far East. Needless to say, what Russia did was a mistake as the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the Russian Far Eastern Fleet in Port Arthur on February 8th. As the Far Eastern Fleet and Port Arthur endured a bombardment of Japanese naval and later ground artillery, Russian troops where being sent along the newly complete Trans-Siberian to fight off Japan.

With Port Arthur now blockaded, Admiral Makarov wished to break out of the port and make a mad dash for the "safer" port of Vladivostok. However, reports of mines in the harbor prevented this from happening and left the Russian fleet a sitting duck. Meanwhile, the Japanese besieged Port Arthur from the sea. As the poor Far Eastern Fleet was sunk from land, Major General Anatoly Sterssel considered abandoning Port Arthur. But he was forced to reconsider when the threat of a court-martial and execution for doing so were sent by Tsar Nicholas himself. In Manchuria proper, the first reinforcements from Western Russia arrived and immediately faced a brutal struggle against the Japanese. Bloody land battles at the Yalu River and Nanshan were both Japanese victories, but they also proved that concentrated machinegun fire was extremely effective and that entrenched positions were extremely difficult to take.

By late 1904, the war had been in a stalemate for several months. Japanese troops could not make headway, and the Russians didn't advance or retreat. In the meantime, Russian forces had swelled to 750,000 in Manchuria thanks to reinforcements from the rest of Russia. But there was trouble brewing as a Japanese agent who was also a priest (Georgy Gapon) led a protest against the Tsar. Unbeknownst to Gapon, the Russian government knew he was a Japanese spy thanks to a double agent of the Germans who had learned the intelligence from the British. So as Gapon made his way to see the Tsar, the Cossacks arrested him and told the crowd Gapon was a Japanese agent and a traitor to Russia. This enraged the people and nearly resulted in Gapon getting killed by the angry mob (and hence Bloody Sunday was averted).

Meanwhile, in Manchuria, two massive Russian attacks ended the siege of Port Arthur and also make a huge dent in the Japanese lines. But the Japanese still held the strategically important city of Mukden. So between late February and mid-March, two Russian assaults surrounded and cut off Mukden before forcing the city to surrender. As the war situation clearly had turned against Japan, Russia still had one last trick up its sleeve as it then proceeded to found a Korean revolt against the occupying Japanese forces. By now, Japan had really no other option but to sue for peace.

The Treaty of Portsmouth was a resounding victory for Russian. The Japanese had to do the usual song and dance of war reparations, but the treaty didn't mention anything about not annexing the part of Manchuria Russia controlled. Which is something Russia promptly did in late 1905. The annexation also brought along anew constitution for Russia. In it, Russia officially became a Parliamentary Monarchy with the Tsar giving up a significant amount of his powers to the Duma and the Prime Minister. Additionally, Finland, Manchuria, and Poland were all given additional autonomy in the form of their own Duma's their own police forces, railroad companies, school systems, and constitutions. This was meant to ease some of the ethnic tensions in Russia at the time. The new constitution was a new hit, and even Tsar Nicholas II realized it was for the best, even if he was not a big fan of the liberalization and the new constitution.

After 1905, the Russian economy boomed and grew an unprecedented rate. Foreign investment was up, infrastructure was greatly expanded and improved, industrial growth skyrocketed, and the extraction of natural resources also skyrocketed. Alaska was heavily invested in, as was the Far East. These areas experienced vast growth in natural resources extraction and light industry. Meanwhile, Siberia, Central Asia, and European Russia all saw vast investments in both heavy industry and agriculture. Along with this economic growth came a tripling in literacy rates from 24% to 72% and increased worked productivity and efficiency thanks to the institution of a 45-hour workweek. This however had the consequence of massive support for left-wing communist and socialist parties like the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks.

So in the 1910 elections, left-wing parties not only gained an absolute majority in the Duma but the first left-leaning Russian Prime Minister was elected (Aleksei Aladin). Along with this leftist tide in Russia, an economic boom came as oil demand increased exponentially and the Russian Empire capitalized on oil extraction thanks to its vast oil reserves. Additionally, socialized healthcare and a welfare net were implemented by the new socialist coalition government. But despite this all, Russia would still lag behind the world. And in 1912 the national anthem was changed to Patrioticheskaya Pesnya (Patriotic Song) from God Save the Tsar by popular referendum.

Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):

[1]The Debt Empire---Russia is deeply in debt. Much of the money used to modernize Russia came from abroad. And while nations where more than willing to give Russia loans, Russia is now saddled with all these debts. Major industrial powers control the majority of the debts, and very well could plunge Russia into a recession. The only thing stopping them from doing so is the massive Russian economy and an equally massive military which instills fear in foreign nations. But very realistically, Russia's economy could topple overnight if forced to pay its debts.

[2]Republicanisim---The riches and enlightenment brought by industrialization and modernization have created a thinking and politically active proletariat. With this enlightenment, institutions like the monarchy and the Orthodox Church have been questioned, and their roles in Russia are somewhat in doubt. Republicanism and socialism as well as communism and even anarchism are on the rise. And so, after over 300 years, the time of the Tsars may have finally reached an end.

[3]Decentralization---Surprisingly little in Russia is centralized. Save for the national bank, the Duma, and the Tsar, everything else is pretty decentralized. The Russian Army actually is made up of four armies (the Polish, Finnish, Manchurian, and Russian armies), and most other ministries and organizations are divided similarly. While there are overarching national ministries and organizations, most are merely there to represent the smaller local ministries. Because of this, Russia and by extension the central government can have issues actually making binding decisions because of pushback from the three semi-autonomous duchies of Finland, Poland, and Manchuria and their respective governments.

[4]A Great Power---The grandeur and power of Russia cannot be overstated. It is the largest continuous country in the world and is a transcontinental empire that spans the international date line, Europe, Asia, and North America. It is the second-most populous country in the world and it has the largest army of any of the Great Powers. But amidst all this grandeur and power is the fact that ruling such a large nation is difficult, stressful, and frankly quite time-consuming too. Hence, communications between certain parts of the empire can be lacking, albeit there have been massive improvements thanks to the use of railroads, telephones, teletelegraphsd even radio. Yet the time old issue of having to rule a country where one part of the country is a whole day behind the other is still a daunting task and is still a logistical nightmare.

Did You Read The Rules? I created them, I read them.

[Tysoania]

Application for a Nation

Official Name of the Nation: KIngdom of Spain
Shortened Name: Spain
Head of State: Alfonso XIII
Head of Goverment: Eduardo Dato (Conservative)
Government Type: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Territorial Claim: Spain, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, Melilla, Penan de Venez de la Gomera, Spanish Morocco, Western Sahara, Spanish Guinea
Alliances the Nation is in: formally unaligned, but leans towards the Triple Entente
Population: 21,500,000
National Language(s): Spanish
Lingua Franca(s): French, English
GDP: 110 billion (USD)
GDP Per Capita: 5,116.30
Currency: Peseta
Railroad Gauge: 1,668 mm throughout Spain, with a large-gauge network matching French railways in northern Spain
Military Size: 500,000 regular forces
Conscription (if so, mention for how long): Yes, for 4 years
Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in real life nation (explain said differences in the history section):
- The collapse of the Spanish Empire by 1898 had two ruling interpretations: the conservative faction of the government blamed it on a lack of willpower and national unity, while the liberal faction blamed it on a lack of development and innovation. This split was seen not only in the government, but also the military and the general public.
History:
Although the Kingdom of Spain was established hundreds of years before the first transatlantic voyages, it was Spanish contact with the Americas that brought the kingdom to international prominence. Upon landing in Cuba, Haiti, and other islands and landmasses in the Americans, Spanish troops wiped out local populations and established the first European colonies in the New World, with much of the region eventually falling under Spanish sway. The new colonizers quickly began shipping gold, spices, and other exotic goods to Spain and Europe, generating massive revenues for the Kingdom and allowing it to fund a buildup of both the Empire and the military forces required to keep it under control. This led to a cultural golden age for Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries, but it began to decline soon after when it attempted to capture various regions in Europe. Invasions of England and the Netherlands ended in disaster, and combined with economic mismanagement and Spain's overreliance on precious metals from its overseas colonies, resulted in the kingdom becoming bankrupt several times during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Thirty Years' War, in which France and Spain fought to a standstill, is regarded as the beginning of a long Spanish decline, as Portugal successfully seceded from Spain during the war.

Spain during this period was marked by endemic corruption, continual poor economic performance, and routine clashes between the ruling Catholic Church and the Protestant, Jewish, and other religious minorities in Spain. This had the effect of strangling any possibility of economic growth in the rural countryside that dominated Spain, and although the colonies ostensibly provided huge benefits to the Crown in the form of silver imports, they also drained the nation of ambitious youth and experienced tradesmen, who immigrated to the colonies for better opportunities. By the time of the War of the Spanish Succession, Spanish industry had declined from its earlier dominance in the textile market.

The decline of the Hapsburg and Bourbon monarchies, which had ruled Spain for hundreds of years, came to an end with the invasion of Spain by Napoleon in 1808. Although France won many early victories, Spanish resistance continued in the form of guerrilla warfare, and this campaign was eventually won largely by insurgents, with the restoration of the King of Spain in 1814. However, the war had sapped most of Spain's troops and money, and in a series of revolts from 1808 to 1898, all of Spain's New World colonies declared independence. Those years also saw various civil wars and forms of government in Spain, from absolute monarchy to liberal democracy, as the nation attempted to restabilize after the war against France. Finally, in 1874, a military coup put King Alfonso XII in charge of Spain, with legislative powers granted to an uncompetitive, non-democratic parliament. The Catholic Church gained control over much of the education system, and corruption began to take root in the government and military. The 1898 war against Cuba and the United States worsened Spain's political problems, as the loss created a generation of politicians and military leaders who saw the failure as either caused by Spain's technological backwardness or by a lack of willpower and national unity, both of which were qualities seen in the United States.

The Spain of 1914 is a tenuous one, barely held together by Alfonso XIII. The parliament is currently run by a conservative minority government, with both the liberal and conservative factions beginning to splinter apart. Although the military has an informal right to step in and adjust the government as it sees fit, the disasters of 1898 have also split it, leaving it rudderless and unable to correct course. The 1909 Catalonia Revolt was barely suppressed, and it remains to be seen if Spain can even remain a united state, let alone strive to retake its dominant position on the world stage.

Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):
- Corruption: electoral fraud and bribery are nothing new in Spain, and this entrenchment was one of the causes of the collapse of the Empire. However, it is still not being effectively tackled by the government, which was "elected" through the same corrupt system and thus has no reason to fix it. This has resulted in significant damage to the national economy, lower tax revenues, and many other effects on the economy. More importantly, though, it has undermined public confidence in the institutions of the state and this resentment has already made itself known in the 1909 Revolt.
- Political Infighting: the government of the late 1800s was run by the liberal and conservative factions, which took turns running the nation. However, with the disasters of 1898 and 1909, these factions have begun to splinter into smaller groups, which has affected the ability of the government to conduct national business and get projects completed. This, in turn, has fuelled both resentment and extremism as intellectuals and politicians begin to speak of overturning the fragile system currently in place.
- Economic Collapse: Spain's economy has been heavily reliant on silver imports from the colonies, and with the end of the Spanish Empire, the national economy has gone into freefall. The king has defaulted multiple times on loans from bankers and other nations, while the industrial base of the heavily agricultural and rural Spain has been gutted by cheaper, more plentiful goods from heavily industrialized nations like America and Britain. Even the arms race has not benefitted the poor nation, as there are no arms factories to speak of and there are not enough industrial centers to compete for the large amount of international capital flowing into military-related industries.
Did You Read The Rules? Yes

[Monsone]

-snip-

Interesting. Accepted.

[Bala Mantre]

-snip-

Interesting. Accepted.

-snip-

Interesting. Accepted.

Application for a Nation

Official Name of the Nation:Arabic-Anglo-British Empire of Bala Mantre
Shortened Name:Bala Mantre
Head of State:Emperor Ashkenzic I
Head of Goverment:Emperor Ashkenzic I
Government Type:Absolute Monarchy
Territorial Claim:British Territories in 1914 and also as it is different, the Arabic government in 1903 sided with Israeli Independence from the Ottoman Empire and sucked them into the Empire (Aka Israel and Palestine today). Also, the Empire seeing the American collapse ordered a official "Help" of the old thirteen states and Florida plus Maine and basically got them back.
Alliances the Nation is in:1914 allies except it also is allied with Vietnam and Korea
Population:88 million (Official 1914 census in the beginning of WW 1)
National Language(s):English (Official) Arabic (Official)
Lingua Franca(s):Bala Mantrean, Mantrean, Brit or British, Arabian
GDP:564.74 Billion
GDP Per Capita:48,769.90
Currency:Pound, Shilling
Railroad Gauge:4 ft 8 1⁄2 in
Military Size:(Peaceful Times)(Total:1.789 million) (Reserve:980,789)(Full Time:808,211)(Wartime)(Total:3.4 million)(Reserved:2.00 million)(Full time:1.4 million)
Conscription (if so, mention for how long):Yes, and its indefinite until the said so war ends.
Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in real life nation (explain said differences in the history section):
History:England, which had subsumed Wales in the 16th century under Henry VIII, united with Scotland in 1707 to form a new sovereign state called Great Britain. Following the Industrial Revolution, Great Britain ruled a colonial Empire, the largest in recorded history. THis also included South American, African and Asian countries as well. With the American Revolution in 1776, the Empire never was allies with America until the year 1918 when the first American troops came to Britain to celebrate joining the war. This never happens because America had fallen before WW 1 and also Britain went through a brief period called "The British Civil War" (1897-1901) in which Emperor Ashkenzic I and his armies fought against the Crown for power and then beat them and set up an Absolute Monarchy called the British Bala Mantrean Empire after his grandfather, Balsha Mantrae Ashkenzic. With the fall of America in the West, Ashkenzic ordered troops to go in and "Help" the Thirteen states (Plus Maine and Florida) with their troubles and occupy them again. Then they won the Israelis their independence (Israeli War for Independence 1903-1909) and had them as their own Arabian colony. As an absolute Monarchy, its easier for the empire to keep a hold of all this and even continues to expand. Their relations with Germany is nuetral.
Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):
Minimal Human Rights:
This empire does not care about the basic human rights of the common man and thus has even a secrative force of loyal British police brandishing machine guns.
Political Enemies removed:
The Empire does not deal with traitors so they are removed when needed.
Honorable Battles:
This nation believes in a fighting spirit so fighting as a soldier is deemed honorable creating a strict aristocratic society.
Did You Read The Rules?Yes I did

[Monsone]

-snip-

Please put some effort into the application and follow the guidelines set out on how to fill out the application. Also do keep realism in terms of your nations history. You can have alternate history, but typically said history is believable enough (and is based off of relatively insignificant changes that accidentally snowball into something much larger), this application isn't believable or even remotely realistic. Just because it's alternate history doesn’t mean you can change whatever you wish. Even in alternate timelines some things would remain the same.

Not to mention it's early 1914. The term WW1 won't br in use for another 25 years and anything relating to WW1 just hasn't really occured yet (save for some dramatic buildup)

[Sao Nova Europa]

Application for a Nation

Official Name of the Nation: Ottoman Empire
Shortened Name: Ottomans
Head of State: Sultan Mehmed V
Head of Goverment: Prime Minister Damat Ferid Pasha
Government Type: Federal Constitutional Monarchy

The head of state is the Sultan, belonging to the House of Osman. He can veto any legislative acts, is the supreme commander of the armed forces and can dismiss the Prime Minister if he so wishes.

The head of government is the Prime Minister. The PM must have the confidence of the legislative branch, in order to form a government and to retain his post. The PM leads the cabinet, directs foreign and domestic policy and makes judicial appointments (but such appointments have to be approved by the legislature).

The legislative branch is made up of two houses.

The upper house (Chamber of Notables) is made up of; 5 Notables for each state, regardless of the state's size or population, for a total of 100 Notables (20 States) and 15 Notables appointed by the Sultan on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The 100 elected notables are elected every four years, while the 15 appointed Notables remain in office for as long as the Prime Minister that recommended them is in office.

The lower house (Chamber of Deputies) is comprised of 400 Deputies, elected across the empire in single-seat constituencies with a first-past-the-post system. They are elected every four years.

A bill must pass through both chambers in order to become law, but judicial appointments are confirmed (or rejected) by the Chamber of Notables only.

The judicial branch of government is headed by the Supreme Imperial Court, made up of six judges appointed for a term of fifteen years. Their appointments are made by the Prime Minister when there is vacancy, but must the approved by the Chamber of Notables. The Supreme Court is responsible for determining if a legislative act is in accordance to the constitution of the empire.

Below the central government, there are twenty states (mostly created on ethnic grounds). Each State government is comprised of:

1. A Pasha, appointed by the Sultan to act as the head of state.
2. A Beylerbey, head of government who needs the confidence of the parliament.
3. State Parliament, with number of MPs ranging from each state, but with a term of four years.

State governments have broad autonomy on a number of fiscal, cultural, religious and regulatory issues.

Territorial Claim: Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Israel-Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Saudi Arabia
Alliances the Nation is in: Central Powers
Population: 35,000,000
National Language(s): Turkish, Arab, Greek, Armenian
Lingua Franca(s): Turkish
GDP: $587.81 USD (2020)
GDP Per Capita: 1,042 USD
Currency: Lira
Railroad Gauge: 1,050 mm (3 ft 5⁄32 in)
Military Size: 650,000 (Peace Time), 2,870,000 (War Time Maximum) - 250,000 (Balkans), 250,000 (Western Asia), 150,000 (North Africa)
Conscription (if so, mention for how long): All male citizens must serve two years in the military upon becoming twenty, with seven years as non-active reserve.
Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in real life nation (explain said differences in the history section):

- The Ottoman Empire retained control of Egypt, Sudan and Libya.
- The Ottoman Empire pushed much broad political and civic reforms than the RL Tanzimat.
- The Ottoman Empire is now a federal, constitutional monarchy.

History:

The nationalist revolts in the Balkans and the Egyptian War of 1831-3 were shocks for the empire. The Ottomans had to accept Serbian and Greek independence, and only barely managed to reestablish central control over Egypt, which had become de facto independent under Muhammad Ali Pasha. That last victory happened only after Sultan Mahmud II purged the Janissary Corps and began a program of military modernization. They also highlighted how unstable the empire was due to ethnic, religious and regional differences.

Mahmud II began the Tanzimat Period, a period of gradual reforms that lasted up to 1882. A modern conscription system was established, a central bank was founded, homosexuality was decriminalized, religious law was replaced with secular law and Christians and Jews became equal before the law to their Muslim brethren. Most importantly, perhaps, regional self-rule was established, with provinces being given greater autonomy and leeway than ever before. Those reforms stabilized the empire and allowed it to slow down the spread of nationalism, but also spread the ideas of liberalism among many high-ranking Ottoman officers.

In 1878, the Bulgarians revolted. Although the Ottomans were initially successful, a Russian intervention secured the independence of Bulgaria and further loss of lands and prestige. In 1882, a coup led by reformist, liberal military officers (called Young Turks) forced the Sultan to grant a constitution. The 1884 Constitution established a parliament, reorganized the provinces into twenty states and codified a number of civil and economic rights. The first elections were held in 1885 and since then the Ottoman Empire has, for the most part, been a stable constitutional monarchy.

Developments since then have been mixed. On the one hand, successive governments have constructed large-scale railways, industrialized parts of the country and successfully held on to Egypt, Sudan and Libya despite attempts by European powers to establish themselves in North Africa.
On the other hand, in the Balkan Wars (1912-3) the Ottoman army suffered a defeat from the combined forces of Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria, and had to cede Macedonia to them. Since then, expanding the military and reclaiming the lost lands at any cost has become the priority of all politicians in the empire.

Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):

Revenge: The entire population of the Ottoman Empire is enraged by the defeat in the Balkan Wars, and seeks revenge. This means that the population is highly supportive of war and will enthusiastically back Ottoman attempts to take back lost provinces. The only drawback is that a government that isn't seen as making attempts to take back the lost territories will be facing popular backlash.

Federalism: The broad powers granted to states means that the federal Ottoman governments cannot fully utilize the resources at its disposal nor can it implement grant empire-wide policies.

Debt: Successive Ottoman governments financed various industrialization programs through deficit spending and borrowing. Now, the Ottoman debt stands at about 75% of the GDP. Interests rate are not as of yet a concern, but an economic crisis may change this.

Transcontinental: The Ottoman Empire governs lands in the Balkans, Western Asia and a large part of northwestern Africa. This means that it has to deal with challenges on three fronts.

Did You Read The Rules? Yes

[Monsone]

-snip-

There are luckily only a few issues with the application and they're minor. The first is claiming Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both territories where Iranian not Ottoman, and the lands became Russian in the 1820s. You can claim Western Armenia (the part in Turkey), but Armenia and Azerbaijan weren't ever Ottoman.

The other issue is with the Balkan revolts. It needs to said up front that even with more liberal and inclusive policies, the Balkan lands would break away. The populace in these lands hated the Ottomans, and they had some very powerful friends. The Greek War of Independence saw the Ottomans face off against the Greeks, Russians, and English. There was no way the Ottomans would win that war, and hence in real life lost (the same should hold true in this timeline). And then there are all the mid to late 19th century wars where Russia aided Balkan countries break away from the Ottoman Empire. There was no way really for the Ottomans to reform politically enough to keep their Balkan territories those where inevitably going to break away, the writting had been on the wall since the early 18th century after Russia became a superpower and forced the Ottomans out of Georgia, Crimea and parts of Ukraine and Southern Russia.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Can I keep Greece but let the rest of the Balkans (Serbia and Bulgaria) go? We could say that the Ottomans crushed the revolt during its first years, before the Western powers could intervene.

[Monsone]

Can I keep Greece but let the rest of the Balkans (Serbia and Bulgaria) go? We could say that the Ottomans crushed the revolt during its first years, before the Western powers could intervene.

That's basically what happened in real life, yet the foreign powers still intervened. The rebellion was practically crushed and Russia along with the UK intervened regardless on the Greek's side. I don't really see how Greece could be kept since it's independence was inevitable. It was going to become a nation one way or another.

And even if the 1821 war ended with an Ottoman victory, the next major Russian intervention in the Balkans would end with an independent Greece (probably in 1878). The simple fact is, the Ottoman Empire even with reforms won't be able to keep it's European lands.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Can I keep Greece but let the rest of the Balkans (Serbia and Bulgaria) go? We could say that the Ottomans crushed the revolt during its first years, before the Western powers could intervene.

That's basically what happened in real life, yet the foreign powers still intervened. The rebellion was practically crushed and Russia along with the UK intervened regardless on the Greek's side. I don't really see how Greece could be kept since it's independence was inevitable. It was going to become a nation one way or another.

And even if the 1821 war ended with an Ottoman victory, the next major Russian intervention in the Balkans would end with an independent Greece (probably in 1878). The simple fact is, the Ottoman Empire even with reforms won't be able to keep it's European lands.

Would it be possible to change my concept/app to a greater Greece then? Perhaps with Russian help or during the Balkan Wars expanding to take over Constantinople and Western Asia Minor?

[Monsone]

That's basically what happened in real life, yet the foreign powers still intervened. The rebellion was practically crushed and Russia along with the UK intervened regardless on the Greek's side. I don't really see how Greece could be kept since it's independence was inevitable. It was going to become a nation one way or another.

And even if the 1821 war ended with an Ottoman victory, the next major Russian intervention in the Balkans would end with an independent Greece (probably in 1878). The simple fact is, the Ottoman Empire even with reforms won't be able to keep it's European lands.

Would it be possible to change my concept/app to a greater Greece then? Perhaps with Russian help or during the Balkan Wars expanding to take over Constantinople and Western Asia Minor?

I mean, the last time Russia did something that crazy, it ended with a siege in Sevastopol.

The answer is yes. But even then I think Russian support would eventually be tenuous at best because Russia is also trying to please all the other Balkan nations.

If you really want a challenge, you can try Japan or Austro-Hungary.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Would it be possible to change my concept/app to a greater Greece then? Perhaps with Russian help or during the Balkan Wars expanding to take over Constantinople and Western Asia Minor?

I mean, the last time Russia did something that crazy, it ended with a siege in Sevastopol.

The answer is yes. But even then I think Russian support would eventually be tenuous at best because Russia is also trying to please all the other Balkan nations.

If you really want a challenge, you can try Japan or Austro-Hungary.

If I keep Ottomans, can I revise my claims then to include Libya and Tunisia, that were once part of the Ottomans? Also, can Ottomans keep Macedonia and Albania? We can say that they were victorious in defending themselves in the Balkan Wars.

EDIT: Also, since this loss of most Balkan lands means like 90% of my population will be Muslim, can I remove the multiculturalism issue?

[Monsone]

I mean, the last time Russia did something that crazy, it ended with a siege in Sevastopol.

The answer is yes. But even then I think Russian support would eventually be tenuous at best because Russia is also trying to please all the other Balkan nations.

If you really want a challenge, you can try Japan or Austro-Hungary.

If I keep Ottomans, can I revise my claims then to include Libya and Tunisia, that were once part of the Ottomans? Also, can Ottomans keep Macedonia and Albania? We can say that they were victorious in defending themselves in the Balkan Wars.

EDIT: Also, since this loss of most Balkan lands means like 90% of my population will be Muslim, can I remove the multiculturalism issue?

Tunisia I'm going to say no to, but you can keep Libya. The same goes for Albania. But Macedonia is complicated since it is a majority Christian land and it would side with Serbia and/or Bulgaria.

[Sao Nova Europa]

If I keep Ottomans, can I revise my claims then to include Libya and Tunisia, that were once part of the Ottomans? Also, can Ottomans keep Macedonia and Albania? We can say that they were victorious in defending themselves in the Balkan Wars.

EDIT: Also, since this loss of most Balkan lands means like 90% of my population will be Muslim, can I remove the multiculturalism issue?

Tunisia I'm going to say no to, but you can keep Libya. The same goes for Albania. But Macedonia is complicated since it is a majority Christian land and it would side with Serbia and/or Bulgaria.

The problem is that if don't have Macedonia, Albania will basically be an exclave since it won't be connected by land to Thrace. So it is better not have Albania at all then.

So, will revise my app to include Libya then and remove those Balkan territories.

[Sao Nova Europa]

Edited my app to change claims, history and issues.

Also, you can expect me to be pretty, pretty aggressive in the IC. There are going to be a lot of wars in the Balkans.

[Monsone]

-snip-

Accepted.

[Benuty]

Will work on my application after a bout of homework.

[Taganian Unfied States]

Application for a Nation

Official Name of the Nation: The Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire
Shortened Name: Austria
Head of State: Emperor Franz Joseoh (de jure)/ Regency Council (de facto)
Head of Goverment: Prime Minister Corenlius Dos Miller
Government Type: Absolute monarchy with National Parliament Advisory and Regency Council
Territorial Claim: Austria and Hungary as well as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Herzegovina
Alliances the Nation is in: Central Powers
Population: 52.8 million
National Language(s): Austrian, Hungarian, Czech
Lingua Franca(s): Austrian
GDP: 198 billion (2020 value)
GDP Per Capita: 3500 USD
Currency: Krone
Railroad Gauge: 1,435 mm‎ (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Military Size:
Army: Austrian 40,000 men~ Hungary 30,000 men
Navy: 20,000 personnel
Air Force: 8,0000 personnel

Conscription (if so, mention for how long): 350,000 men of the Royal Army
The Austro-Hungarian Imperial Army had mostly been mobilized in parts of the AILF, only at 30% activation

Major differences between this timeline's nation and the in the real-life nation
(explain said differences in the history section):
-Two factions of the Habsburg Dynasty fighting for power in the court
-Formation of the third crown for the Dual Monarchy
-Republicans control the national assembly, calling for more repsenation and power in the government
-Greater focus on industrialization in the heartland of the empire
-Greater investment in railroad transportation
-Greater investment in social policies
-Greater investment in mining resources
History:
The Austro-Hungarian Empires history remained current until 1908. With the rising tide of nationalization, the Bosnian Proclamation of promised civil liberties for the minority ethnic groups was to be implemented. Full citizenship guaranteed the right to representation in the National Parliament and cultural tolerances in their historic lands. Outside of those zones, to be tolerated in segregated areas of any city. Franz Joseph also began a policy of industrialization. Railroads from the eastern to the western corner of the empire were being built. As well as a northern to southern link that would all converge in Vienna. To be the jewel of this empire. Hopefully, the northern link would connect with Germany, while the southern link, in time, with Ottoman Istanbul. The eastern link to Italy, and the western link into Russia. With this industrialization came the need for labor. The Proclamation of Bosnia also enforced a policy of five years of labor in the Austrian Imperial Labor Force (AILF) in return for citizenship. Many filled the ranks. Hard conditions broke the backs of many. Serving in the AILF or the armed forces or the factories was the only course to citizenship. The AILF also was opened to current citizens who broke the law. Death sentences were changed to AILF for life. Effectively slaves. AILF was everywhere. It was the biggest employer of citizens in the empire. Cultivating farmland, working the mines, or building the nation’s factories or infrastructure. Homes were built by the empire in cities to form new communities. For two years, the empire went on this way. The Regents Council heavily gave the Agriculture Ministry support by Franz Ferdinand. The Trade Ministry also was funded well. Trade links with all the major powers were sent out to be established. The military saw little support. The Austrian navy was given priority over the army. Needing new ships and facilities to support those ships. The AILF Buerua was apart of the major works. Construction companies could lobby AILF contracts. Prisoners were slowly being handed over to AILF labor teams when their time of release came. They were released and offered employment with the AILF.

The Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire was at its zeneth in 1914. For six years, the AILF slammed away. Bringing life to Franz Joseph’s dream, the Regency Council that now ruled in the name of the aging Emperor was lead by ArchDuke Franz Ferdinand and Aden Hapsburg, The Duke of Northton. Both the head of a branch of the royal family. Both were ambitious men. ArchDuke Franz commanded the Imperial Guard, the elite guard of the Imperial family who guarded Vienna, Budapest and now Sarajevo as the third seat of the Crown. Aden Hapsburg, the Duke of Northton, was a Major General in the Royal Army, commander of the 1st Austrian Guard. Resposnible for protecting the empire southern border against any Turk incursions. Franz Joseph spent more and more time away from Vienna and the affairs of the government at the pleasure palace in Trieste along the coast. Surrounded by young ladies and the grandeur of the empire. Franz Ferdinand often a guest to the Emperor, informing him of the actions of his Regents, mostly those of Aden against the regime. Adens sister, the lady of Ammera, informed her cousin in Vienna of the growing conflict in the palace often. Soon, the ArchDuke and the Duke of Northton would be at odds. The military was already being courted and asked to take a side. The Golden Dove, the symbol of the Duke of Northton, became a common badge in Vienna, where as the White Crown became the common badge at Trieste and Budapest. Sarajevo was only a lose court, hardly counted on for support in the older pairs power play.

Issues Plaguing the Nation (3-5 Minimum):
NATIONAL DEBT~ The Austrian-Hungarian Empire has borrowed relentlessly to buy its growth. The Empire is finally starting to show effects from this. To fight it, the empire is seeking new trade deals and improving gold mining to repay its debts. Slowly limiting imported goods to influence production and demand for homemade products
Ethnic Groups- The Empire is diverse with several ethnic groups. The Bosnian Proclamation began the road to inclusion in the empire, but the not forcing Austrian and Hungarian citizens into the AILF stills shows favored. By forming the Third Crown of the Empire, Greater Bosnia (absorbing Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia, and the Czech to form one crown, the Triumverant of Hapsburg has given the peoples of this state to the equality of the Imperial Crowns. Now Aden is the Emperor of these three peoples.
Industrialization- The Empire has made great strides in improving what they currently had. New factories were finally opening. More and more products could be pushed out of the assembly line. The military industry was still lacking, new factories focused on military production were being built, but not yet ready.
Factions at Court- The White Stags and the Golden Doves are the two strongest factions in the Hapsburg court. Great men of the countries aristocracy and the industrial barons were taking sides. If war came, would the country hold together if one toppled the other, or would Civil War descend.
Did You Read The Rules?
Of course

[Monsone]

-snip-

Very interesting. My one suggestion is remove all the killing the archduke part. It's officially January 1st, 1914. Franz Ferdinad didn't die until the 28th of June of the same year. That being said, everything else is good. In fact, you can RP the coup when the death of Franz Ferdinand occurs.