Merveilles du Monde (Map Game)

After a long trek through Asia spanning two decades, Venetian explorer Marco Polo published the compiled journal of his travels in 1295. He described in great detail the Near East, with its many castles and fortresses held by many mighty empires. He entered the Gate of Iron, through which Alexander crossed into the east millennia ago. He toured the eight kingdoms of Persia and witnessed scores of miracles and wonders, many of which he dared not publish for he felt his audiences would not believe what he wrote. He described in great detail the exploits of the great Kublai Khan, the intrigue in the Emperor's court, the sprawling landscape of Yuan China, and the massive battles that took place during his stay.

Polo named his work Livre des Merveilles du Monde - Book of the Marvels of the World. In publishing these journals, he brought knowledge of the eastern world back to Europe and vice-versa. Just like that, the world got a little bit smaller. The Holy Roman Empire - locked in a state of interregnum with no end in sight - became aware of the wars of Kublai Khan. The faltering Byzantine Empire and its breakaway state of Trebizond became the subject of discussion from Lisbon to Kathmandu. The wealthy Abu Bakr II of Mali would seek to follow in Polo's footsteps, paving the way for the rise of Mansa Musa. The Kamakura Shogunate of Japan defeated wave after wave of Mongol forces while, an ocean over, Mesoamerica was still reeling from the fall of the Toltec Empire.

Merveilles du Monde is a spiritual successor to the Principia Moderni franchise. It sets the clock back to the year 1295, in the Late Middle Ages - in other words, an era of great change and great suffering; an era in which nations rose and fell; an era in which power was cemented....

Moderators

 * Death: Curmudgeonly yours - Crim 01:38, October 14, 2019 (UTC)
 * Famine: User:Nathan1123
 * Pestilence: User:Reximus55
 * War:

Important Pages

 * Rules and Algorithm (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)
 * Alliances (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)
 * Holy Roman Empire (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)
 * Feudal Dynasty (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)
 * College of Cardinals (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)
 * Nations (Merveilles du Monde Map Game)

Nations

 * If you want to be a tribal nation, add the name of the tribe into its respective region. It is not shown on the map.
 * Personal Union: A monarch rules over two nations. If this is the case, these nations are in an alliance, but are not played by the same player. They are not vassals unless stated otherwise.
 * Dynastic Union: Two nations have a monarch of the same dynasty. If this is the case, these nations are not in alliance and are not played by the same player. They are not vassals unless stated otherwise. However, if the cadet branch of the dynasty dies out, the main branch can inherit. However, if the main dynasty dies out, the cadet branch can't inherit.
 * Vassal/Client Nations: Are automatically played by controlling nation unless stated otherwise.
 * When posting as your nation, make sure you use the name of your nation that is directly on the nation list or something similar to it.

British Isles

 * Kingdom of England:-Lx (leave me a message)
 * Uí Néill/ Lordship of Ireland: User:Person67
 * Kingdom of Scotland: User:Colgan dog
 * Kingdom of Connacht:
 * Kingdom of Desmond:
 * Principality of Wales:
 * Uí Donnell:

Scandinavia

 * Kingdom of Denmark: Majestral
 * County of Holstein: Majestral
 * Kingdom of Norway:
 * Kingdom of Sweden: Noah.Rodby

Iberia

 * Kingdom of Aragon: Adolf Coffee (talk)
 * Kingdom of Castille: User:Ahoys123
 * Emirate of Granada:
 * Kingdom of Navarre (PU with France):
 * Kingdom of Portugal: Atli

Kingdom of France

 * House Capet: User:Lord falconis
 * County of Anjou:
 * County of Artois:
 * County of Auvergne:
 * County of Berry:
 * County of Blois:
 * County of Bourbon:
 * Duchy of Brittany:
 * Duchy of Burgundy:
 * County of Champagne:
 * County of Flanders:
 * Castelanny of  Tournai and Tournaissis
 * County of Maine:
 * County of Nevers:

ITALY

 * Republic of Ancona:
 * Papal States: https://althistory.fandom.com/wiki/User_talk:DrivingFan42
 * Republic of Genoa: User:ROCAMBOLER529
 * Kingdom of Naples: Th3 Legnd 27 (Talk) 14:00 October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Republic of Pisa:
 * Kingdom of Sicily:
 * Kingdom of Spoleto:
 * Republic of Venice: User:Ycasto

Italian Peninsula

 * Patriarchate of Aquilea:
 * Republic of Arezzo:
 * Commune of Bologna:
 * Podesteria of Cremona:
 * Marquisate of Ferrara:
 * Republic of Florence:
 * Republic of Lucca:
 * Podesteria of Mantua:
 * Lordship of Milan: Kqbj
 * Duchy of Brescia: Kqbj
 * Marquisate of Modena:
 * Marquisate of Montferrat:
 * Republic of Noli:
 * County of Parma:
 * Podesteria of Piacenza:
 * Free City of Ravenna:
 * Podesteria of Rimini:
 * Republic of Siena:
 * County of Verona:

Alpine States

 * County of Aargau:
 * County of Baden:
 * Prince-Bishopric of Basel:
 * Free City of Berne:
 * Prince-Abbey of St. Gallen:
 * Duchy of Thurgau:
 * Bishopric of Sion (Valais):
 * Swiss Confederacy:

Transalpine States

 * County of Provence:
 * County of Savoy:
 * County of Saluzzo:
 * Dauphiné of Viennois:

German States

 * County of Anhalt:
 * Duchy of Austria:
 * County of Berg:
 * Kingdom of Bohemia: User:Nkbeeching
 * Margraviate of Brandenburg:
 * Archbishopric of Bremen:
 * Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg:
 * Kingdom of Burgundy:
 * Bishopric of Cammin:
 * County of Chiny:
 * Free City of Cologne:
 * Frisian Lands:
 * Free City of Hildesheim:
 * County of Holstein:
 * Margraviate of Lausitz:
 * Duchy of Lorraine:
 * Free City of Lübeck: Curmudgeonly yours - Crim 06:21, October 6, 2019 (UTC)
 * County of Luxemburg:
 * County of Jülich:
 * Archbishopric of Magdeburg:
 * County of Mark:
 * Republic of Metz:
 * Margraviate of Meissen:
 * Bishopric of Münster:
 * County of Nassau:
 * County of Oldenburg:
 * Margraviate of Osterland:
 * Bishopric of Paderborn:
 * Duchy of Pomerania:
 * Bishopric of Ratzeburg:
 * Lordship of Rostock:
 * Duchy of Saxony:
 * Margraviate of Silesia:
 * County of Tecklenburg:
 * Duchy of Thuringia:
 * Archbishopric of Trier:
 * Bishopric of Verden:
 * County of Verdun:

Lowlands

 * Duchy of Brabant: Vinny   Baker of Nate's Cookies  Chocolate_cookie.png


 * Lordship of Myrebeke(PU With Brabant):
 * Duchy of Limbourg (PU with Brabant):
 * Duchy of Cleves:
 * County of Hennegau:
 * County of Guelders:
 * County of Holland(PU with Brabant):
 * County of Namur:
 * Country of Hainaut:
 * County of Liege:
 * County of Cambrai:
 * County of Dalhem (PU with Brabant):
 * Lordship of Mallines:
 * Lordship of Hertogenrade (PU with Brabant):
 * Lordship of Valkenburg
 * Bishopric of Utrecht:
 * Princely Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy:
 * Frissian free lands:

Baltics

 * Livonian Order:
 * Teutonic Knights: jade090706
 * Republic of Riga:

Poland

 * Duchy of Greater Poland:With Blood and Iron (talk) 23:49, October 15, 2019 (UTC)
 * Duchy of Pomerania: With Blood and Iron (talk) 23:49, October 15, 2019 (UTC)
 * Duchy of Legnica: With Blood and Iron (talk) 23:49, October 15, 2019 (UTC)
 * Duchy of Mazovia:
 * Duchy of Łęczyca:
 * Duchy of Sandomierz:
 * Duchy of Sieradz:
 * Duchy of Lesser Poland (PU under Bohemia): User:Nkbeeching
 * Duchy of Silesia: With Blood and Iron (talk) 23:49, October 15, 2019 (UTC)

Russia

 * Principality of Polotsk:
 * Golden Horde:
 * Nogai Khan: User:KawaiiKame
 * Principality of Chernigov:
 * Principality of Moscow:
 * Principality of Murom:
 * Principality of Pereyaslavl:
 * Principality of Rostov:
 * Principality of Ryazan:
 * Principality of Smolensk:
 * Principality of Tver:
 * Principality of Vladimir:
 * Principality of Yaroslavl:
 * Republic of Novgorod: User:Tenaciosu-san
 * Republic of Pskov:
 * Kingdom of Ruthenia:

SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

 * Principality of Achaea: Reximus55
 * Duchy of the Archipelago:
 * Kingdom of Albania (PU with Achaea):
 * Duchy of Athens:
 * Bulgarian Empire:
 * Voivodeship of Wallachia:
 * Byzantine Empire:
 * Despotate of Epirus:
 * Kingdom of Hungary: Bel of the illusions 19:55, October 9, 2019 (UTC)
 * Banate of Bosnia:
 * Banate of Severin:
 * Kingdom of Serbia:
 * Duchy of Syrmia:

ANATOLIA & CAUCASUS

 * Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (Ilkhan vassal): 77topaz (talk) 21:33, October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Beyelik of Ankara:
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: SolaceEaSw (talk) 20:16, October 13, 2019 (UTC)
 * Beyelik of Eshref:
 * Kingdom of Georgia:
 * Vilayet of Gurjistan (Ilkhan vassal): User:Candiesrgood
 * Beyelik of Karaman:
 * Beyelik of Kastamont:
 * Beyelik of Lâdik:
 * Beyelik of Menteşe:
 * Sultanate of Rum (Ilkhan vassal): 77topaz (talk) 21:33, October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Beyelik of Sahib Ataids:
 * Empire of Trebizond:

INDIA

 * City of Calicut:
 * Chauhan Caste:
 * Chola Dynasty:
 * Delhi Sultanate: User:AshokSurya
 * Gohil Dynasty:
 * Hoysala Empire:
 * Thikana of Goa:
 * Kalinga Ganga:
 * Kutch State:
 * Lakhnauti Kingdom:
 * Nagvanshi Dynasty:
 * Thikana of Modasa:
 * Soomra Dynasty:
 * Vaghela Dynasty:
 * City of Venad:
 * Yadava Dynasty:
 * Chandela State:

CENTRAL ASIA

 * Chagatai Khanate:
 * Ilkhanate: 77topaz (talk) 21:33, October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Nabhani Dynasty (Oman):
 * Rasulid Kingdom (Yemen):

Nepal

 * Ahom Kingdom:
 * Kingdom of Chutiya:
 * Lohara Dynasty (Kashmir):
 * City of Dakhinpara:
 * City of Gilgit:
 * Chand Kings:
 * Raj of Yatze:
 * Kachari Kingdom:
 * Kamata Kingdom:
 * Khas Empire (Nepal):
 * City of Patan:

East Asia

 * Goryeo Kingdom:
 * Kamakura Japan: Feudy McPlagueface (talk)
 * Yuan China: Vivaporius (talk) 00:27, October 10, 2019 (UTC)

Indochina

 * Kingdom of Dai Viet:
 * Kingdom of Dali (revolt):
 * Hanthawaddy Kingdom (Pegu):
 * State of Hsenwi:
 * La Na Kingdom:
 * Kingdom of Lavo:
 * Kingdom of Muangs:
 * Kingdom of Myinsaing:
 * Kingdom of Ngoenyang:
 * Kingdom of Phayan:
 * Sukhothai Kingdom:

Indonesia

 * Dharmasraya Kingdom:
 * Lamuri Kingdom:
 * Langkasuka Kingdom:
 * Kedah Kingdom:
 * Majapahit Kingdom:
 * Manjung Kingdom:
 * Melayu Kingdom (Collapsing):
 * Srivijaya Kingdom (Revolt):
 * Pahang Kingdom:
 * Pasai Kingdom:
 * Sunda-Galuh Kingdom:

North Africa

 * Banu Kanz (Disorganized):
 * Banu Sulaym (Disorganized):
 * Hafsid Sultanate:
 * Béjaïa Emirate:
 * Kingdom of Makuria:
 * Mamluk Sultanate:
 * Maranid Sultanate: Poofoster
 * Zayyanid Sultanate:

East Africa

 * Kingdom of Abyssinia:
 * Sultanate of Ajuran:
 * Kingdom of Alodia:
 * Kingdom of Bunyoro:
 * Kingdom of Damot:
 * Daju Kingdom:
 * Sultanate of Ifat:
 * Kingdom of Kilwa:
 * Sultanate of Shewa:
 * Sultanate of Warsangali:

West Africa

 * Kingdom of Benin:
 * Kingdom of Bonoman:
 * Kingdom of Mali: Oh, I didn't mean to push that button! † Oh, well leave a message I guess  13:41, October 4, 2019 (UTC)
 * Mossi People:
 * Kingdom of Nri:
 * Kingdom of Waalo:

North America

 * Jarldom of Greenland (vassal of Norway) --DRAFIGO13 (talk) 20:40, October 13, 2019 (UTC)
 * Colony of Vineland (vassal of Norway) - 

Peruvian Civilizations

 * Chimu - User:Mato0900

Australasia

 * Maori Ancestors:

1295
WELCOME TO MERVEILLES DU MONDE.

''' After spending 17 years travelling across Asia, Marco Polo returns to Venice. In tow, he has a wealth of gemstones and knowledge of distant lands. From the Ilkhanate to the court of Kublai Khan and the boundless deserts in-between, Polo catalogs his discoveries in a series of journals. Though they have yet to be published, these journals will change the world. The Venice he returns to is locked in a state of war with Genoa over Alexandretta. The two maritime powers engage in colossal naval battles in the eastern Mediterranean. '''

''' The War of the Sicilian Vespers is entering its 13th year. What had been a fight for independence against the French house of Anjou has mutated into a war between two disgraced powers: the excommunicated king of Aragon and the humiliated Angevins. This year, the Treaty of Anagni is signed, hoping to put an end to this destructive conflict. Sicily is returned to Anjou, James II of Aragon is allowed back into the church and marries the daughter of Charles II of Naples, and reparations are made. However, the Sicilian people are extremely unhappy at being back under the thumb of Anjou. They begin to flock to the banner of regent Frederick of Sicily, who intends to return the island to Aragon. As the year goes on, it becomes clear the war is not yet over. '''

''' After a succession crisis nearly led to civil war in Scotland, Edward of England was invited to arbitrate the dispute. He took the opportunity to name himself Lord Paramount of Scotland. That was only a few short years ago and already the Scottish are chafing under the English yoke. They find a common interest with France after hostilities break out with England over Gascony. In an effort to curb England's multiple invasions, an alliance is formed between France and Scotland. '''

''' It has been nearly a half-century since a Holy Roman Emperor has been named by the Pope. This seemingly endless interregnum allows new powers to grow in the Holy Roman Empire. The Swiss Confederation forms in the Alpine states while Bohemia exerts its hegemony over Poland, threatening the supremacy of the King of Germany. The Habsburgs, in the meantime, continue to expand their influence through the region, having recently acquired Austria and Styria. Adolf of Germany, elected because his vassals wanted a weak king under whom they could expand with little recourse, seems preoccupied with seizing the title of King of France. He declares war, though Pope Boniface VIII orders peace, threatening Adolf of Germany with excommunication. With war averted, his vassals begin to consider whether he is really fit to rule. '''

''' After years of attempts to unify Poland, Grand Duke Przemysł is coronated as King of Poland. He becomes the first King of Poland in 219 years. Though he wishes to avoid conflict with the neighboring Bohemia, he intends to stand his ground should Wenceslaus II of Bohemia make a move. However, he is largely preoccupied with the consolidation of his realm in the event he does have to raise a force against Bohemia. '''

''' Denmark is in an age of decay. A long line of kings making poor decisions and being undermined by cunning vassals has led to the King becoming increasingly disdained by the counts. After a plot by the rebellious Archbishop Jens Grand is foiled, the bishop is arrested and imprisoned. When offered release in exchange for fealty, the enraged bishop responds, "Rather than bend to his will, I would rather that the king sliced me apart joint by joint than submit to his commands." He is kept in awful conditions. When word of this reaches the pope, it is unlikely he will be very pleased to hear this. '''

''' The Ilkhanate is on the precipice of great change. Its Buddhist practices are being abandoned in droves. Ilkhan Baydu, who is supposedly a Muslim, has taken to wearing Christian iconography. However, word of the military exploits of Mahmud Ghazan reach far and wide across the Ilkhanate. The son of Arghun Khan and direct descendant of Genghis Khan, Ghazan has a claim on the throne. Baydu is hesitant to do what is necessary to prevent Ghazan's meteoric rise. '''

'''The newly-installed Khalji dynasty reigns in Delhi. In the five short years since their rise, they have made a name for themselves for being notably far more ferocious in their wars against Hindu India. Sultan Jalal-ud-din Khalji has been preparing for one of his largest invasions yet: a raid against the capital of the Yadava kingdom.'''

'''The Majapahit are building an empire on the island of Java practically from scratch. After the fall of the Melayu Kingdom, Indonesia's rising power seemed to be the Singhasari Kingdom. In 1293, they challenged and beat a Mongolian invasion of Java, but the battle significantly weakened them, allowing Majapahit to seize their lands. Now, only two years after seizing the island of Java, Majapahit begins its expansion throughout Indonesia.'''
 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa" The Duke is Dead, Long live John II. John II being the Second son his father and the only live son left. His father was the Duke of Brabant who fought With County of Loon and many others to gain his fairly bought inheritance over the Duchy of Limburg and Hertogsrade. Although this was bad for with the standing of Holy Roman emperor. While at the same time creating the Brabantine way of both fighting and partying. With duke John I being famous for drinking together with all his subjects after battles and being a great Ruler during battle and afterward. John the victorious' peacetime work has not to be forgotten he has not only earned prestige for Brabant and his dynasty, he has also centralised the state around Brussels. This change Made it so the Capital was now on the Zenne. Not only this he also Created a lot of Poems and Songs as he loved the joys of life while being true to Faith, The christian faith. With even his Death showing the life he led, one of joy. As John I died due to a wound which he got during a Tournament in France. John I being one of the greatest poets of his age and his lands, with his use of a language understood both by the Dietsch and German speakers of the empire although his love for the language east of the Rhine is clear. With Duke John II being the son of Duke John I and his second wife Margaretha van Dampierre, who was the Daughter of the Count of Flanders and Namur. This and all the other recent marriages and inheritance makes it so the house of Flanders has a lot of Connections to the Foreign Kings, Dukes and Counts.And with John's II Sister being the Wife of Henry VII of Luxembourg Who is a very important noble in the Holy realm. John II first act as Duke of Brabant, Limburg and Hertograde is creation of the Council of Brussels. Which is a Council where minor and mayor Nobles can go to give ideas, ask questions, go to trial. The option of trial is when there is a big dispute mostly under nobles which hasn't been able to solved on their own. In some cases the trials can also Represent lands and people against their protector noble. The Duke first act on matters of territory is to offer the prince-bishop of Utrecht 23,000 Brabantine pounds for him and his successors to be Lord of Myerebeek.(mod Response) With this deal, the military of Utrecht could focus on their core territory and stop funding an undefendable plot of land, that has no value. Utrecht would also ease border tensions in the region. His majesty also ask to the lords of Mechelen if there is the possibility of building a minor mansion in the lands of Heyst ten Berge for his majesty as he wishes to have a location to admire at the lands from the mountain. for this Duke John II promises to employ Workers of Heyst so it becomes even more prosperous, with the investments the duke wants in the manor and town.(Mod Response)Workers even being set to work even now with the new look at the sea which has to be defended from with, cities like Antwerp and Brussels getting some streamlining of the rivers. Antwerp being invested in the most as it is the Brabantine access to the Great English Channel.
 * MOD RESPONSE: Interested in the revenue a scenic mansion could generate for Mechelen, the Lordship accepts John II's request to construct the Heyst ten Berge mansion. Perhaps a little too excited, a few members of the court attempt to draw plans for the mansion. They range from mathematically impossible to downright ugly, though the Lord's daughter draws up an absolutely stunning locale.
 * MOD RESPONSE: Archbishop Jan van Zyrick of Utrecht agrees to sell the title of Myerebeek to Brabant, on the condition that if his descendants should die out, the land would return to the Church.
 * Ui Neil: Domhnall mac Brian Ó Néill is restored to the throne of Tir Eoghain. Upon his restoration he intends to seek out a truce with the Earldom of Ulster and the Lordship of Ireland in general to cease raiding and pay tribute but is deposed again before he can make the offer and he is forced to flee to the Earldom of Ulster first before travelling to England and along with around 50 of his supporters who followed him forms a mercenary company recruiting some more fellow Gaelic soldiers which offer services to King Edward I (Mod response). In Ui Neil itself the new King Cuidightheach mac Brian Ó Néill who was brother of Domhnall launches cattle raids on the Earldom of Ulster and contests aggressively Hibero- Norman settlements of Ui Neil lands with attacks on settlements. Some small port facilities are made at Derry to allow ships to dock.
 * English Diplomacy: His majesty Edward I accepts the help of this Gaelic soldier, who sought reconciliation with the crown rather than petty revenge like so many of his peers. Especially with the situation in Scotland growing increasingly volatile, the crown's hold on Ulster is critical, now more than ever.
 * Yuan China: Temür Khan continues the extensive economic reforms of his predecessor to help reinvigorate the Chinese economy following the conquest of the empire more than two decades prior by Kublai Khan. New tax codes are instituted to ensure a fairer collection of state funds from the population, as well as reforming the manner in which the troops are paid. To combat the threat of hyperinflation within the economy, the emperor passes laws restricting the production of paper money to 250,000 individual bank notes per year per province over a seven-year period. All prints will only be given enough ink to fulfill the demand, and will be required to maintain strict quotas relating to the regulation of printing at their facilities. Unique stamps will be issues to each of the printers, as well as a unique type of ink that can reveal a counterfeit note when exposed to sunlight. The Mongol hosts residing within China proper are encouraged to settle down within the cities of the empire and integrate into the culture of the Chinese people, helping to curtail any major strife between the two ethnic groups of the land. While few wish to do so, some have migrated south to enjoy the luxuries and benefits of Chinese life and technology far from the steppes of Mongolia. Elsewhere, due to the devastating effects of Kublai's invasion of Vietnam, Temür acknowledges that more time is needed for the army and navy to recover from the consequences of that campaign, allowing for a complete overhaul of the military's operational doctrines in the south, and the recruitment of new manpower to replace the losses. Seeking to capitalize on this state of affairs, the emperor takes the opportunity to professionalize the armed forces, and completely rebuild the navy from scratch, allowing for a more effective means of projecting power throughout the East Asian region. Beginning with the army, while he acknowledges the tactical superiority of the Mongol forces inherited from his predecessor, Temür believes that there is more to be gained from developing a multi-ethnic army that draws upon all of the various peoples dwelling under his rule. Likewise, to encourage loyalty to the state and increase their morale, regular pay is introduced for all branches of the army, moving away from the mandatory service that his fore-bearers had maintained for centuries. For the purposes of better structuring the army, Temür calls upon some of the brightest military minds within China to help reorganize the army in a logical and practical manner that blends the best aspects of Chinese and Mongolian military doctrine into a singular command system. To this end, the decimal-based military units of the Mongolians are utilized for the new army, with units divided into groups of 10 (shí), 100 (bǎi), 1,000 (qiān), and 10,000 (wàn) soldiers each, while the traditional Chinese provinces and commanderies are organized into military regions governed by a civil magistrate and a military officer, both of whom are directly appointed by the emperor. Each of the military regions will be assigned a number of wàn based on regional and military need, while campaigning armies will be designated as jūntuán, or "legions", under the command of a professional military officer appointed to the role by the emperor. Lowe-ranking soldiers of the first rank are to be compensated in the paper currency of the empire at a rate of 100 wén per month of service, while higher ranking officers of the lowest rank are to be paid one guàn per month of service. Regarding the reconstruction of the navy, the emperor commissions the building of new warships to replace those lost in the war with the Vietnamese a decade prior, as well as the recruitment of sailors to help man them once they have been completed. Sailors will be paid at a rate of 70 wén per month of service, and 100 wén while out at sea in active service. It is hoped that these reforms will help to encourage enlistment in the new military of the empire, while ensuring a measure of discipline now that pay is to be provided at regular monthly intervals. By the end of the year, approximately 150,000 "New Army" soldiers have been trained to fill the provincial garrisons in the south, while the old units are transferred north and west to garrison the less hostile quarters of the empire. In the regions of Mongolia and Turkestan, fortresses are rebuilt and garrisoned with old style troops, and their families moved out into the frontier territories to help encourage the Sinicization of the land and its integration into the wider empire of China. Due to the extensive depopulating of the region thanks to the previous campaigns of Genghis Khan and his successors, Temür Khan commits to the re-population of the conquered lands by relocating thousands of Chinese families to the area. He pairs them with local surviving families to help them learn how to cultivate the land and which crops are robust enough to flourish in the region. Likewise, the Chinese families are encouraged to share their culture and language with the locals, and share with them the benefits of accepting the Chinese way of life.
 * Kingdom of Portugal: A ship is sent with 500 men and 500 women to explore what waits across the ocean and settle upon any land they might find. [Mod Response Needed]. King Denis writes a beautiful Poem to his wife. He also wishes to buy some Naval Blueprints from Castilian [ Castilian Response Needed].
 * MOD RESPONSE: Even the best ships you could manage at the time could hold maybe a few hundred men at most. Regardless of the number, however, with little direction or goal, the crew mutinies and the ship is lost at sea. The family to whom the captain belonged is shunned in the Portuguese court.
 * Kingdom of Naples: With the Sicilian Uprising, Charles II amasses a Fleet of 30 galleys and an army of 20,000 Neapolitan Troops and begins an Invasion of Sicily with Charles II landing in Messina while the Neapolitan Fleet prepares to engage with the Aragonese Navy. With the Invasion of Sicily underway, Charles II requests an alliance with the Venetians promising to support them against the Byzantines (Venetian Response Needed). Meanwhile, Charles II also requests the support of the Papacy and the Kingdom of France as a means to enforce the Treaty of Anagni they signed as Charles II also sends a message to the King of Aragon, James II asking for his support in crushing the rebellion as a means to uphold the treaty he signed as the Treaty stated that Aragon would support Naples in reclaiming Naples (French, Aragonese and Papal Response Needed). In order to speed up the process of reclaiming Sicily, Charles II also calls for the assistance of the Principality of Achaea in which is a de facto client state of the Kingdom of Naples (Achaean Response Needed). With this, Charles II continues his efforts in putting down the Sicilian Revolt and to restore order in the region.
 * Papal Response: The restoration of status quo is of paramount importance. He grants his favor to Naples in its quest to put down this rebellion.
 * French Response: No, LMAO!
 * Achaean Response: Prince Florent of Hainaut personally leads his principality's levy to assist his suzerain's efforts.
 * Lordship of Milan: His Lord, Ottone Visconti passes this year on August 8, 1295. He is succeeded by his grandnephew Matteo Visconti. As lord, Matteo’s first act is to reorganize the military of Milan which had grown very lackluster and unimpressive over the last 10-15 years. He also begins to look to reorganize the economics of Milan. The first step of which is to find multiple trade partners within the HRE and/or Italy. Proposals are made to Genoa and Venice as well as any HRE state. (Mod response) (Venice Response) (Genoa Response). The Milanese also further expand their income by producing wool linen, as well as the large amounts of Merchant travel resulting in a somewhat new thought of Merchant banks. Matteo begins to prepare for a major fair to take place in 1297 for the 20th anniversary of the defeat of the Della Torre any and all are invited for this event, direct invitations are sent to the Pope, and the Lords of every North Italian nation, as well as major HRE people such as the Hapsburgs and Bohemia’s Lords. This is viewed as a major opportunity for an expansion of the Milanese markets as well as an opportunity to assist in the reorganization of the issues that are currently occurring in the HRE. Blacksmiths in Milan produce more iron plate than chain mail as it provides better protection for the wearer as well as requiring less physical labor. Matteo declares neutrality in the Sicilian conflict and requests all other northern powers to do the same and leave the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily to themselves. The divide between loyalty to the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor continues with debates occurring often among Matteo’s advisors as to the best course of action.
 * Duchy of Brescia: In Brescia the same debate launches as to whether loyalty to the pope or Holy Roman Emperor is more sensible. Travel between the two towns is slowly increasing as many merchants see an opportunity in Brescia for the ability to gain Milanese wares and products without having to deal with Lord Matteo directly who is viewed by many as an unknown rude man.
 * Mod Response: Piacenza is willing to act as a middle man between Milanese and Genoan trade. Situated between the two powers, Piacenza would seek to gain greatly from this deal. Montferrat and Verona also accept.
 * Italian Response: The Pope, Montferrat, and a couple other Italian states will not attend the anniversary, as the Geulph faction of Italy supports the Della Torre family.
 * Genoa Response: The Republic of Genoa is disposed to sign trade agreements with the Lordship of Milan. This will supply you with products imported from the Middle East and the Black Sea as long as a tax is paid for each merchandise with origin just mentioned. With the condition that the Lordship of Milan refuse from signing diplomatic and/or trade agreements with the Republic of Venice and strongly support the Ghibelline family of the HRE.
 * Milan Response: The lordship replies stating that they will not put themselves on either side of the Venice Genoa war and thus do not accept the demands put forth.
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: King Henry II unveils a massive defensive plan, which will if enacted begin the beginning of constructions of massive castles overlooking each of the port cities. After heavy consultation and persuasion,the various nobles agrees to the law citing the need for more defenses. The plan is expected to take 20-30 years to complete but will be well worth it. This means that most of the military budget will go into constructing these castles.


 * Kingdom of Denmark: The young Eric VI is the first year of directly ruling Denmark, having had his mother as regent until 1294. Settling the case of the regicide of his father King Eric V, among the conspirators Jens Grand had been imprisoned in Soborg Castle. Wanting to finish the Grand affair, King Eric sends Archbishop Martin of Dacia, canon of the Ribe Cathedral, as his messenger to Rome to explain the situation to the Pope. Both his Government and the Danish people want the matter to be settled peacefully, and ask the Pope to take into consideration Grand's treasonous behavior. They are even willing to compromise in a reasonable way based on what the Pope would consider appropriate, but without damaging the security or stature of the Danish royal court. So Eric hopes to settle the matter of Jens Grand directly with the Pope by negotiation. (Mod Response for Papacy) His other concerns in the first year of his reign are restoring the power of the Danish crown as much as possible and bringing nobles in line, and reasserting Denmark's role as a Scandinavian great power. He ordered the court to cancel a lot of the extravagant luxuries that they engaged in, in order to cut expenses greatly and get the government more money. New taxes on the nobles and the peasantry are also conceived and would be implemented soon in order to maximize income, particularly from the nobles in order to bring them under control. Eric also sets in motion plans to use the money to mobilize additional soldiers for the army, expand the fleet of ships, and build a series of fortresses. This plan is expected to be executed over the next several years to decade.
 * County of Holstein: At present the area is divided into several smaller states since the death of Adolphus IV of Schauenburg and Holstein in 1238, the most prominent of which is Holstein-Resndsburg and Holstein-Kiel. Finding the divisions inefficient, Danish King Eric is beginning an effort to reunify the Holstein area and consolidate Danish control over the region, which will also improve Denmark's position.
 * Papal Response: The Pope, furious at the treatment of the bishop, orders Eric VI to release Jans Grand at once. The Kingdom of God on Earth is far more important than the petty squabbles of decadent lords.
 * Ilkhanate: The incumbent Ilkhan Gaykhatu is assassinated by a group of conspirators led by the military commander Taghachar. Taghachar installs Gaykhatu's cousin Baydu as the new Ilkhan, considering him controllable and intending to use him as a puppet. However, Baydu's second cousin once removed Ghazan also claims the throne and starts a military campaign against Baydu with Muslim commander Nawruz aiding him in exchange for Ghazan converting from Buddhism to Islam. Baydu's position looks doomed after Taghachar deserts him and joins Nawruz. However, Baydu, who is officially Buddhist and strongly sympathetic to Christianity is able to sway Nawruz to join him by promising to also convert to Islam upon the end of the conflict. Baydu and Nawruz's combined forces defeat those of Taghachar and his fellow conspirators against Gaykhatu and kill Taghachar. Enraged by Nawruz's betrayal, Ghazan attacks Nawruz instead of Baydu and manages to kill Nawruz, but is killed by some of Nawruz's followers in turn. Remaining Nawruz loyalists try to convince Ghazan's teenaged brother Öljaitü, another convert to Islam, to claim the throne, but Öljaitü eventually signs a peace agreement with Baydu, consolidating Baydu's position as Ilkhan. With Nawruz dead, Baydu decides to ignore his earlier promise to convert to Islam and remains officially a Buddhist, though to appease Nawruz loyalists and other Muslim commanders he commissions the building of several mosques in the Ilkhanate. However, Baydu also allows Nestorian Christian missionaries from the Ilkhanate's vassal Armenian Cilicia into the Ilkhanate; he hopes these and later missionaries will be able to convert enough residents of the Ilkhanate to Christianity that he can publicly convert to Christianity, which would strengthen relations with European Christian nations. After the end of the succession conflict, the government works on developing the economy by resettling Afghans from the east of the Ilkhanate to work on farms in the more fertile western and northwestern parts of the nation, expanding the workforce and increasing the agricultural output.
 * Armenian Cilicia: Nestorian Christian missionaries from Armenian Cilicia travel into the Ilkhanate, hoping to convert some of the populace to Christianity. Some Cilician officials, having heard of the recent conquest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Crusader states of Tripoli and Acre by the Islamic Mamluk Sultanate set out toward the Ilkhan capital of Tabriz in the hope of persuading the government to invade the Mamluk Sultanate.
 * Sultanate of Rum: In the hopes of consolidating his power and preventing the secession of more beyliks, Sultan Mesud II expands Rum's military and starts bribing local Turkmen leaders in order to keep them loyal to the Sultanate.
 * Kingdom of Sweden: The nobility of the Kingdom of Sweden, newly Christianized and caught up in the religious fervor, pushes for a Third Nordic Crusade against Finland. The nobility envisions Swedish forces carrying the Cross all the way east to Muscovy. To that end Birger, King of Sweden, begins levying taxes in order to raise funds for a third crusade east against Finland. The King and nobility of Sweden is also outraged by the treatment Archbishop Jens Grand has received in Denmark, and the King sends a Swedish Diplomatic Envoy to Denmark to find out what is happening and to hopefully resolve the dispute between the Papacy and Denmark [DANISH RESPONSE NEEDED]
 * Danish diplomacy: Denmark responds that the issue is being resolved and that Jens Grand will be released as the Pope asked but placed under surveillance.
 * Chimu: After the Fall of the Huari Empire, the Chimuenese occupied the Mochican and the Sicán cultures between 1000 and 1200 AD. Roxhivi Chao starts to rule in 1295. The Chimuenese expands 31 miles to the south.
 * Mali Empire: The history of the revival and growth of the Empire centered at Mali, following the origins and reign of that legendary, illustrious ruler Mansa Musa, has been related to us primarily through the writings of Ibn Battuta a generation after the fact. I had taken a personal interest in this era, comprising the expansion of the empire from the Atlantic to Lake Chad, since I began my research in the University of Timbuktu. This era was later recounted by local historians of Mali, up until the Crisis of the 16th Century, but none were as close to the events themselves than the version brought to us by Battuta. The Empire of Mali had grown into a powerful nation by Mansa Sundiata, comprising a full military of 80,000 men across all his vassals. Unfortunately, a series of civil wars between his children caused a decline of the Kieta Dynasty, until the throne was seized by a rebel slave named Sakura in 1285. Sakura was described as a wicked and ruthless tyrant, being constantly paranoid of any check against his absolute power. Of course, this may be an exaggaration, or conflation against the later usurper Somaoro, who was defintely much worse. In reality, Sakura treated the keitan royal family with immense respect, allowing them to still reside in the court at Niani, or other parts of Mali proper. He also revitalized the military from its previous decline, and opened up important trade routes from Timbuktu and Tragaza through the important trade partners of Morocco and Egypt. Sakura greatly fortified the Malian position in the Kebbu province, surrounding the declining Wolof Empire, as well as gradually expanding the territory of the empire eastward behind the domains of the Songhai. Musa himself was the son of Fagelaye and Sogolon, and grandson of Abu Bakr the brother of Sundiata. Musa, however, was severely crippled from birth, and proved unable to walk even into his adolescence. This fact, especially after the death of Fagelaye, brought great shame to the progeny of Abu Bakr, and made them a laughing stock among the Kieta family. Instead, great honor and emphasis was given to the children of Kolokan, Sundiata's sister. Sologon bravely put up with the mockery of Kolokan for many years, but one day in 1295 she could not take it anymore. She fell on the young Musa in tears, begging to know why he still could not walk. Musa comforted his mother, and promised that, by his unconditional love of her, he will do it. Supporting himself on a baobab branch, gifted to him by his childhood tutor Ospreia, he pulled himself upright under the shade of a dogon tree. A few hundred yards away, his mother was being harassed by the sons of Kolokan, jeering her as the lesser of the Kietas. When all of a sudden, a fist flew through the air and smacked one of the sons of Kolokan down to the ground. It was Musa, and by the footprints behind him, he had indeed walked all the way from the tree to the scene of the attack.


 * Georgia: With uncertainty over the Ilkhanate's leadership being resolved, King David VIII affirms Ilkhan suzerainty over Georgia (specifically, its eastern half). To his delight, his consort, Mongol princess Oljath, gives birth to a son; he is named Anastasius (ანასტასიოს, Anasṭasios). He sends his younger brother, George V, to the court of his maternal grandfather Beka I Jaqeli, the Prince and Atabeg of Samtskhe, where he will be groomed to become regent for his nephew.


 * Kingdom of Hungary: During the 1295th year of the lord, tragedy has struck the King Andrew and his family, his beloved wife Fenenna of Kuyavia passed away at the beginning of the year. While still in mourning his council advised him to take a new wife, preferably one of the Hungarian Oligarch’s daughters. He takes to wife Catherine, the daughter of the powerful magnate, Amadeus Aba. By the end of the year she is with child proving a fertile women of her young age. Most notably he arranges a betrothal between his daughter Elizabeth and the son of the Croatian Magnate Paul, Paul the younger. This move seems to secure the support of the ancient and influential Šubić family, and draws a key supporter from the Angevin claimants to the crown of Hungary. Notably Amadeus Aba campaign against the formerly rebellious magnate Ratos, increasing the size of his domain within Hungary capturing the land near the end of the year. Meanwhile, the fortifications alongside the Mongol borders are strengthened under a surprisingly united front presented by the Magnates and the King, with new castles and outposts being built along with garrisons being placed. The king begins to build up his levies strength and moves to increases the defenses of Esztergom and his demesne.  Amadeus in the northwest continues to consolidate his power moving cautiously against the Mongols building forts along the border with the Golden Horde. The growing power of the Serbians also has not escaped notice, and many of the lords bordering them has begun to make preparations for a possible Serbian invasion. SECRET: The Hungarian King in Response to the Wallachian invasion extends an offer to the Bulgarians to invade the lands of Wallachia that once belonged to them and promises them all the lands they take shall be there's (MOD Response)
 * Mod response: The Tsar of Bulgaria accepts this invitation to invade and annex part of Wallachia, although they cannot contribute all their available military due to ongoing wars with the Mongols
 * Wallachia: Among for a resistance group for the regional south constana,they killing most of hungarian occuper on the northwest the prince is launching an war against the hungarian occupation vassal.
 * Meanwhile, we built Castle Defenser on the regional border and the army is ready to beat out of it
 * Republic of Genoa: Shortly after generating the War of Curzola, the citizens of the metropolis and its colonies fear a possible incursion by the Venetians. To avoid losing positions in the Aegean Sea and that the commercial empire that Genoa has established along the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea is not severely affected by Venetian galleys, the Duke has financed with the help of local banks and with the Byzantine Empire support for the construction of a fleet of 60 galleys to block the port of Candia located on the island of Crete and force the Republic of Venice to sign the peace a change of withdrawal from any commercial activity located in the Sea Black (Venice response). Meanwhile, the Ghibelline families in the capital continue to face the Guelph families, events that had been going on for almost a cycle around Italy and the HRE. This led to the vast majority of Genoese territory (except the colonies) plunging into a civil war between families on both sides causing the weakness of government power and the Duke (at that time in the hands of the main Ghibelline families).
 * Principality of Achaea: In the Latinokratia, Achaea has largely been reduced to an Angevin vassal despite its important heritage following the Fourth Crusade. One of the remaining crusader states in the world following the loss of Acre earlier in the decade, Achaea is ruled by Isabella of Villehardouin and her husband Florent of Hainaut. Isabella works diligently to promote local administration of the Principality while Florent focuses his efforts abroad, leading an Achaean contingent to fight on behalf of the Neapolitan Angevins in the War of the Sicilian Vespers. While Florent is away in Italy, Nicholas III of Saint Omer - a prominent Achaean noble - convinces Isabella to have her daughter betrothed to Guy II de la Roche, the young Duke of Athens. As Isabella consents to the betrothal of her three year old daughter, Matilda, Nicholas travels to Athens to personally convince the young Duke to accept the hand of Matilda in betrothal for marriage (Mod Response). Domestically, Isabella works to improve relations between the local Frankish nobles and the predominantly-Greek population.
 * Guy II of Athens is willing to accept this marriage, as long as Isabella gains dispensation from the Pope, as well permission from her liege Charles II
 * Nogai Khan: An agreement between Nogai Khan and Tokhta, (the de jure ruler of the Golden Horde), is reached, with Nogai to rule the lands of the West and Tokhta to rule the lands of the East. This peace is brokered due to increasing pressure from the Hungarians who are mounting fortifications at a rapid pace. As such, Nogai is to command the Armies of the West under his banner, tasked with defending Mongol lands at any cost, by any means. The hasty construction of castles and other fortifications along the border by the Hungarians can simply not be tolerated under any circumstances, thus Nogai Khan raises two tumens (20,000) of cavalry, riding in suddenly and killing construction engineers and laborers, overwhelming the workers and the garrison in sheer size and number, leaving many structures half-completed before riding off to the Great Hungarian Plane, devastating the land by raising, burning, and looting the land after eating various farm animals they come across. The cavalry engages in hit and run tactics, destroying supply lines and killing small contingents of Hungarian soldiers. "This is punishment for threatening Ulug Ulus, for threatening my domain." Declares Nogai. One tumen (10,000) of infantry is also raised, surrounding the half-constructed castles in an attempt to starve out anyone who remains and defend the newly acquired border territory from any counterattack. To properly destroy the half completed castles, siege equipment is ordered to be built, with craftsmen and engineers put to work in the center of Nogai's domain, expected to be completed by next year. Nogai Khan calls upon his vassals, the Russian principalities, to aid him against the Hungarians, noting the power and the glory that can be obtained through this Invasion of Hungary. Nogai Khan also offers Ruthenia to invade Hungary with him, offering to divide the nation in secret. (Mod response, please, for Russian vassals and Ruthenia.) With some Bulgarian troops pulling back from the border, a concentrated offensive is made from all sides to attack the Bulgarians while they are weakened, attempting to push them out of the border region. As wars rage on in the West, we seek to trade with our neighbors Genoa, who we share a land border with in Crimea.
 * Mod response: the Slavic principalities are less interested in glory of attacking Hungary, but nonetheless provide the required support as proper of their vassalage


 * Kingdom of Scotland: As 1295 rolls around, the situation in Scotland reaches a breaking point as a mob of people storm into Stirling Castle, with the support of the military, and murder King Bailol, while Robert the Bruce is crowned King of the Scots. In his first act as King, he assembles the troops, around 6,000 of them, and divides them into two groups: Group A, which is made up of 2,000 men and will stay at Stirling Castle, and Group B, which is made up of the rest of the troops (4,000). Group A is left with significant supplies and weaponry to last a potential English siege of the castle. We send group B to Kincardine and begin building up enough rafts for all men, after this Bruce awaits the English to make their move. In the meantime, we develop the roads of Scotland and irrigation to help sustain agriculture. Ports are also expanded upon and the Scottish navy is posted to make sure trade is not disrupted and that the ports remain defended.

1296
NOTICE: STARTING TODAY, ALL TURNS WILL ROLL OVER DAILY AT MIDNIGHT EST. You may continue to post in 1295 for the next hour

'''As the first King of Poland in centuries, Przemysł has captured the attention of the Eastern states of the Holy Roman Empire. Not all of this attention is positive. A plot, likely by Brandenburgers, to capture Przemysł alive goes horribly awry, and the king of Poland is accidentally slain by these would-be kidnappers. Poland is once again without a king.'''

'''Marco Polo, ever the dutiful Venetian, joins the war against Genoa. He commands a galley with a mounted trebuchet and sails with the Venetian fleet. However, he is pinned down by the Genoan fleet and captured by the city-state.'''

'''Jens Grand manages to escape from Danish captivity with the assistance of a cook. He flees to Bornholm before making for Rome in the hopes that Pope Boniface VIII will hear him out.'''

'''Seeing the establishment of defenses against England as an act of war, Edward I rallies 7,000 soldiers and marches them on Scotland. The assassination of the Scottish King alienates many Scottish lords, who refuse Robert the Bruce's call for war. Fears of a second Great Cause are quelled when Floris V of Holland, another claimant to the Scottish throne, is murdered in a plot orchestrated by Edward I. The English king supports John Hastings, the only other credible claimant to the Scottish throne left standing. They invade Dunbar in April.'''

'''Naples' early move to crush Sicily spooks the populace of the island, and they declare Frederick king. The invasion of Messina ends in defeat for Naples (83 vs 95). The notable absence of Aragon was a major factor in such a close battle. Though the invasion is repelled, Naples is able to land elsewhere on the island, where they can regroup and continue their siege if they so choose.'''

EVENTS DEPENDENT ON AN ALGO ARE INCOMING.

'''NOTE: All algo results can be found on the talk page of this article. All wars from 1295 are up to date.'''
 * Kingdom of Sweden: The King of Sweden uses the newly gained taxes to raise, arm and armor a Royal Army of 7,000 men. This army is supplemented by the newly-made nobility's feudal levies, for a Swedish army of 15,000 men, the core of which is a force of 5,000 heavily armored cavalry. Birger also begins helping to improve the towns of Sweden, building roads to link the various towns and villages and also granting Royal Charters to leaders of certain towns to formalize their authority as burghers. Trade with continental Europe is also encouraged, with Swedish traders being encouraged to sail the Baltic coast plying their goods. Upon hearing of the flight of Jens Grand, the Swedish diplomatic envoy to Denmark is reassigned to visit Pope Boniface VIII to offer his service to the Holy Father in solving the Danish problem [MOD RESPONSE NEEDED]. The King also commissions the construction of a large fleet of "Viking" clinker-built ships to establish Swedish naval dominance. Additionally, hearing of the vacancy of the Polish throne, Birger sends diplomats to Poland to speak to the Polish nobility and to advocate electing Birger to the Polish throne. These diplomats are given large amounts of gold to use as bribes. [MOD RESPONSE NEEDED]
 * Poland has absolutely no interest in having the Swedish king elected their king, as they have protection from Bohemia already
 * Eastern Georgia: David VIII sends the news of Anastasius' birth to the Ilkhan court. He also proposes a deal in which former Georgian territory (Caucasian Armenia and Shirvan – the latter of which correspondings to ethnic Azeri lands in the Transcaucasus) are returned in-exchange for: affirmation of Georgian vassalage, the extension of Ilkhan suzerainty to Western Georgia and Trebizond via a future conquest, systematic annual tribute, and increased Christian missionary activity – though the last clause is secret ( ILKHANATE RESPONSE NEEDED ). To consolidate his claim to the Pontine region of Anatolia, he claims the Trapezuntine throne through his maternal grandfather, Manuel I of Trebizond. Meanwhile, the King implements several reforms to strengthen the Georgian state, which has been in a state of decline since the Mongol invasions of the mid-thirteenth century. He codifies tax laws – with both coins and grain being permissible forms of currency and valid mediums of financial exchange. He continues to use Mongol coinage, though he begins to mint Georgian coins again – incorporating both Byzantine and Persian motifs. He establishes a royal monopoly over the large copper reserves in the Kartli region. On the issue of defense, he doubles the number of men in the Royal Guard (monaspa) to ~10,000; the latter constitutes the only regular army Georgia. This feat is achieved by hiring more mercenaries, and by promising young noblemen (knights) generous land grants upon the completion of their service. He also expands the role of Amirspasalar in the procurement of military goods. In Tbilisi, guilds producing such goods (armor, lances, sabers) receive government sponsorship in an effort to standardize them – though the majority are still procured by lords.
 * Ilkhanate response: The Ilkhan Baydu accepts this deal. In a gesture of goodwill, he sends a company of Afghan farmers from the east of the Ilkhanate to aid Georgian farms and improve their agriculture.
 * Ilkhanate: The Ilkhan court in Tabriz hears from the Cilician officials who journeyed there in 1295 (led by Cilicia's abdicated former king Hethum II). They describe the recent conquest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Crusader states of Tripoli and Acre by the Islamic Mamluk Sultanate and urge the Ilkhan to invade the Mamluk Sultanate so that these areas may be returned to Christian control. As the Ilkhanate had previously invaded the Mamluk Sultanate with Christian aid in the 1260s but had been repulsed, many Mongol officials in Tabriz are also supportive of such an invasion, partially for reasons of revenge. Hearing this, the Ilkhan Baydu decides to start planning an invasion. He realises that, to avoid the same fate as the 1260s invasion, a greater Franco-Mongol alliance would be important. Baydu orders a diplomatic mission, consisting of Cilician missionaries and Mongol diplomats, to launch on a ship from Armenian Cilicia. The mission first travels to the Kingdom of Cyprus, whose royal family also used to control the fallen Kingdom of Jerusalem. The diplomats ask the King of Cyprus to support the invasion of the Mamluk Sultanate in return for the territory of the former Kingdom of Jerusalem being returned to Cypriot control if the Mamluks are defeated. They explain how a naval attack from Cyprus combined with a land-based attack from the Ilkhanate would outflank the Mamluks and aid their chances of success. Finally, they request that a small number of Cypriot diplomats accompany them on the next leg of their journey, as they intend to travel to the Papal States and think the presence of Cypriots would help convince the Pope to support their cause. (Cyprus response) Meanwhile, in preparation for an invasion in several years' time, Baydu starts to manoeuvre soldiers and military resources toward the southwest of the Ilkhanate. A few commanders are sent to the east of nation in order to recruit Afghans and Turkmen into the army, with the dual goals of increasing the size of the army and aiding the integration of the various ethnic groups in the Ilkhanate. Some ethnic Persian soldiers are also sent to the east to help secure the eastern border as some of the population of this region is being shifted away.
 * Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia: The mission to obtain Christian aid for the invasion of the Mamluk Sultanate departs on a ship from the port of Tarsus. King Thoros III commissions the improvement of the port of Tarsus and the expansion of the nation's navy. Nestorian Christian missionaries from Cilicia continue to travel through the western Ilkhanate, converting some of the populace.
 * Sultanate of Rum: Sultan Mesud II managed to stabilise the internal politics somewhat by securing the loyalty of several Turkmen potentates within the nation. However, he continues to receive criticism from other Turkic leaders as well as local Mongol officials and his political status does not appear to be entirely secure. Hearing that the allied Georgia is interested in invading Rum's rival Trebizond, he starts to develop the military in the east of the nation. However, he keeps most of the military in the centre and west of the country to keep other beyliks in check.


 * ' Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa" A Hill, a hill that is what his majesty John II has his architects under guidance of his bastard brother John of Mallines from who he got the permission to build this mansion in the first place. Some designs by members of the Mallines court being verry enthousiast some imposible due to physics, others to just make John II spend a life time of money so that they can reap the benefits from the taxation and import duties of the materials needed. While some briliant architects are looking for designs they do find one major issue which was already known when permission was given to build. Although at this point the duke and his architects taught less of it then they do now, this issue being that mountaintop is not as flat nor as biog as expected which meants it is nearly impossible to not need to build into the mountain side if one is to get a great mansion worthy of a Duke.The mansion designing and building being calculated to be five to ten years long depending on the excact design and other circumstances that cannot be helped against. While the duke personally requests to the Lordship of Mallines to accept the coat of arms of Heyst Ten Berge officially as even with its use, it has no legal recognition. (Mod response).As the heyst swan is one of the best know symbols of the area. Myerebeke once a small enclave of Utrecht has its right to lordship passed to the dukes of Brabant, This making the Brabantine Royal tittle longer and more glorious. John II Duke of Brabant and Limbourg, Count of Dalhem and Lords of Hertogen Rade and Myerebeke being the bigger of the title with alot of lesser tittles being present as well.While Myerebeke is part now of the Brabantine dynasty his majesty has decided to not put it into the royal arms due to its size and importance of the town. While this is happening, the Duke himself is looking into manners to improve the army of his realm where he and his nobles decide that for the current moment. The army will be based around a core of Knights who are heavily armed and protected professional but lesser armed bow and pike men. This undesiveness yet on the proportions of bowmen compared to pikemen and man at arms is due the Gastraphetes, a Greek variant of the crossbow which some want to use in combination of the Longbow. With the duke also looking into how to possibly use city and town guards during warfare, as they would know their city better then anyone army in the realm. Although quality and size can greatly depend on the city size and economic prosperity, as the wealthier and more populous can provide and keep a bigger city guard. Although cities like Antwerp do not only need the money for direct guards, but for the building of protective defences like walls and ditches, and for some smalller cities cheaper wooden pike walls after the ditches. Although John II knows that there is another enemy that is not man, but in fact, Nature. As due to the low altitude of Brabant it has often smaller and medium size flooding along its coast, although it is less then it could be due to the Hollandish county of Zeeland which gets floods first before they can hit Brabant. Masetrieth one of the farthest corners of the Brabantine realm. Our duke proposes to the Liege Government to a Renovation of the Basilica of Saint Servatius. This would show both states loyalty and greatness toward to the faith and the papacy.(Mod response)
 * The Lord of Mallines accepts the new coat of arms
 * Prince Hugh de Chalon of Liege accepts the donation from the Duke to renovate the Basilica
 * Kingdom of Naples: Despite the Sicilian Victory at Messina, a Force of 50,000 Neapolitan and Achaean Troops manage to land in the city of Catania and under the command of Phillip I, Prince of Taranto the Third Son of Charles II of Naples the Neapolitan and Achaean Troops march toward Palermo via the cities of Enna and Caltaniassetta with the objective of capturing the capital city and forcing the self-proclaimed King of Sicily, Fredrick II to surrender to the King of Naples. Meanwhile, with the French refusing to provide aid to the Kingdom of Naples, Charles II requests the support of the Kingdom of Aragon to deal with the Sicilian Rebels as well as placing additional pressure on the Kingdom of France given that the King comes from the cadet branch of the House of Capet and that it would be vital to aid Naples against the Aragonese (French and Aragonese Response.) Meanwhile, with the daughter of the Princess of Achaea set to be married to the Duke of Athens, Charles II states that he would allow such a marriage at the condition that the Duchy of Athens reaffirms its Loyalty to Charles II in order to uphold the Treaty of Viterbo in which the rights to the defunct Latin Roman Empire where handed over the Charles II’s father, Charles I, meaning that all of Frankish Greece was to accept the suzerainty of the Angevin King of Naples in which currently is Charles II (Mod Response).
 * Guy II agrees to uphold the treaty. Pope Boniface grants dispensation due to the level of consanguinity, and Guy proceeds with his marriage
 * Kingdom of Denmark: King Eric VI planned on releasing Jens Grand anyway under surveillance, but now that he is out of the country then in some ways the problem has solved itself. He sends a messenger to Sweden, thanking King Birger for his concern and assistance, and that this is hopefully the beginning of a stronger relationship between the two kingdoms. (Swedish Response) The new tax laws are beginning to be implemented in Denmark from the start of this year to raise money. Another phase of the plan also begins, as Eric VI invites many of the local Danish magnates, the nobles, who are the most prominent debt holders and opponents of the King to the Danehof (parliament) to discuss setting up a new Royal Charter (sort of a constitution) for his reign. However, after the prominent nobles arrive, they are immediately imprisoned by the king's troops and put to death for treason, for conspiring against the crown. Following the execution, the properties and wealth of the Danish magnates are seized by the government. This effectively solves Denmark's domestic debt problems in one blow, and the influx of new revenue is being put to use in paying off the foreign debt holders, mainly north German states. Paying the foreign debt will take years but the burden has been eased with the effective erasure of the peskiest Danish nobles that held some of the debt. Moreover, the position of the Crown has been strengthened with this removal of the most powerful and influential political rivals in one stroke. The new taxes are also being collected, with nobles being taxed more heavily than the peasantry, both as a way of gaining the people's loyalty and keeping the remaining nobles under control. Eric also begins increasing the size of the army and navy, planning for a total strength of 20,000 troops eventually. Some ships will also be built in the future.
 * County of Holstein: Having secured his own position in Denmark, Eric VI decrees that Holstein will be reunified to undo the mistake of decades ago. Henry I, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg, is now given the old title of Count of Holstein, in return for his loyalty to the Danish crown. Adolph VI and Gerhard II, the counts of the other states in the region, are allowed to keep their titles and wealth and are given positions in the Count of Holstein's court. The state's relationship with Denmark is defined as the Count visits Copenhagen to speak with the Danish monarch, and they agree that part of the proceeds from Holstein's taxes and tariffs will go to Denmark. Also the Count of Holstein will provide Denmark with military assistance whenever it is necessary, including German troops for the Danish army. Henry I begins raising a modest army of his own to defend the state, and the construction of a castle started by Adolph VI also continues.
 * The nobles revolt against your act of treachery, and appeal to the Pope for support. Pope Boniface excommunicates Eric, depriving him of office of a Christian kingdom. The nobles support his Christopher for the throne, and seize control of Zeeland with 10,000 troops
 * Bohemia: Welceslaus II and his wife Judith von Hapsburg have twins, Margeret and Ottakar.  King Wenceslaus II sensing an opportunity to secure more power in Poland raises a levy of 10,000 troops, and moves into his lands in Krakow with the Army following the death of the king of Poland, and the Mongol invasion of Hungary. Wenceslaus II sends a letter to the Polish nobility offering to protect them against the Mongols but in exchange they must recognize him as overlord of Poland, and begins fortifying his position in Krakow and improving his fortifications in along the Bohemian mountains (Mod Response). He also calls upon the Polish lords to join him and prevent the Mongols from ravaging eastern Europe again. (nate approved this on discord)  Wenceslaus continues to promote the urban development of his Bohemian and Polish holdings. Efforts to improve trade routes between Lesser Poland and Prague are made, along with major efforts to improve the economy of the his holdings. To further encourage loyalty amongst his subjects, and to secure the confidence of the other Polish holdings Wenceslaus writes a new Royal charter outlining extensive freedoms and privleges of the guilds, Burghers, nobility, and cities in exchange for the promise to provide troops, and taxes to the crown, along with removing internal barriers of trade within his realm. Wenceslaus II sends a letter to his ally Emperor Adolf requesting imperial support against the Mongol threat saying that if Poland and Bohemia fall the HRE will follow, He sends out letters to Rome for the Pope, and to King Andrew requesting that they ignore the words of the Heathen Mongols reminding them of the death and destruction brought by the Mongol invasions and asking that King Andrew remain steadfast promising to support them in fighting against Noghai Horde, along with requesting Papal support in the form of the Holy Teutonic order to assist in the protection against the godless Noghai. Further, in a public address to the Polish nobles reminding them of the destruction Noghai himself carried out not ten years ago during the third Mongol invasion of Poland. Wenceslaus promises to act as the proper overlord of Poland and protect it at all costs, promising to not take the title of King until after Noghai has been defeated. A secret envoy is sent to the Hungarians and Wenceslaus promises to commit to the defence of the Hungary once control over Poland is secured. The 10,000-strong army is trained and armed with a mix of pikemen, bows and cross bows, that mobile, and fixed large shields, to contest the Mongolian arrows, while light cavalry made up of freemen are created as a scouts and skirmishers employing Mongol or steppe bows, to support the heavy cavalry of the nobles who will be used to attack the Mongols quickly. A string of new fortifications are started along the Bohemian Mountains, and along the Vistula River and lesser Poland all leading to the great fortress of Krakow while forward fortifications are also built all with moots and stakes to prevent cavalry from being as effective. Krakow is heavily fortified, as construction of newer outer fortifications taking advantage of the mountainous terrain of the Carpathian Mountains. Food and grain stores along with the new harvest are brought across the Bohemian and Carpathian Mountains to prevent the Mongols from taking them, while levies are raised on the Polish dukes to bring up the forces to 18,000 (approved by nate). Plans are also laid out to begin a scorched earth policy of the Polish countryside with Polish subjects being evacuated west or to major strongholds to deny Noghai the use of the land. Furthermore bridges are destroyed along the Vistula, and places that can't be fortified are abandoned and burned to prevent their usage by the Mongols. Plans to send troops to help defend the Danube fortifications are made. 
 * Poland accepts Wenceslas as their overlord until they can elect a new king. 
 * Adolf of Germany and the Livonian Order both agree to send support to Bohemia, amounting to 7,000 infantry, 900 cavalry and 200 knights
 * Hungarian Diplomacy (Secret): We humbly accept any help we can receive from the King of Bohemia and Poland against the black Adders, that are the Mongols trying to bring down christiandom.
 * Kingdom of Portugal: The King tries another attempt to colonize with 1,000 people both male and female but now the destination is OTL Senegal [Mod Response Needed].
 * Please stop trying to colonize this early.
 * Mali Empire: Mansa Sakoura was indeed a paranoid ruler, mostly out of the constant suspicion of being overthrown in a new rebellion similar to how he seized control. Still, the economic reforms he implemented should not be overlooked. Sakoura standardized the foreign caravan trade, funneling the exports of Mali from Niani out from local capitals of Ouagadougou and Gao, onward from Timbuktu through outer vassals of Tragaza and Agadez. This trade was crucial to restabilize the imperial finances, which was disrupted in recent civil wars. He also began to standardize a system of currency across the empire, based on their most valuable commodities. The Mithqal, worth the same as the Arab Dinar, was set to 4.5 grams of gold. One unit of salt, equal to three grams, was set to one-sixth of a Mithqal. Finally, one copper bar was set to two Mithqals. With this new source of finances, Sakoura created a new private army of mercenaries in his personal demesne, as his personal body guards. Slaves was also a key source of revenue exported from Mali, and Sakoura particularly was known to brutally suppress the slave population using his personal military. Meanwhile, Musa quickly grew very popular and beloved since he gained the use of his legs, and was known to be both incredibly strong and handsome. The sons of Kolokan were very jealous of this attention, and compelled Musa to take up a job as a common cow herder near Niani. While tending to these cows, suddenly a great lion came from the wilderness, threatening the cattle he was in charge over. Not hesitating a second to protect his kin, Musa flew into a rage, and grappled with the lion to the ground, stabbing it through the heart with his knife. This act tremendously increased his popularity across Mali proper, seeing him single-handedly take down a lion.
 * Yuan China: Reorganization of the Chinese military forces continues, with the formation of new army units throughout the country under the new organizational system instituted by the emperor. The army is divided into three groups; the imperial army, which shall remain mobilized and train regularly outside of the capital city of Beijing, and campaign with the emperor during times of war; the provincial army, which comprises all garrison units spread throughout the empire and subordinate to their civil and military governors within their respective provinces; and the reserve army, a special corp of trained reservists who reside in the large fortress towns of China near the capital, and with enough manpower to replace the losses of the imperial army as needed. Another 200,000 soldiers have been trained for army service, while approximately 30,000 cavalry are drawn from the Mongolian hosts for army service at the behest of the emperor. On the naval front, the construction of new warships and patrol vessels has proceeded somewhat smoothly, with shipwrights building dozens of new craft every month to fulfill their quotas. They are allowed a measure of freedom in how they approach the fulfillment of the commission given to them, granting them sometime to ensure the vessels are properly seaworthy rather than rushing them into service as Kublai Khan had in the past. These ships are to be grouped into units known as wei, each of which shall consist of 50 vessels, 5,000 sailors, and 1,500 marines, allowing the flotillas enough manpower to deal with piracy in the waters surrounding China. The sinicization of the western provinces continues under the auspices of the local Chinese bureaucracy appointed over the population by the emperor. Seeking to encourage the adoption of Chinese customs and ideologies, the emperor has transferred several thousand Han families into the west and paired them with local families, with the goal of ensuring that the Chinese population will thrive using the tried and true methods of agricultural cultivation in the region to survive, while likewise urging the local inhabitants to adopt Chinese customs. The integration of the local inhabitants into Chinese society remains slow, though some are warming up to their new neighbors, though they remain wary of the Mongol patrols in the region who maintain a vigilant guard against any threats of rebellion. Several young Chinese boys are handed over to the Mongolian hosts by the emperor to help build a new source of expert horsemen accustom to Mongolian warfare and equestrian culture. The emperor wishes to see a broader source of horsemen for the army established outside of the steppes of Mongolia, and more adapted to the needs of China as a whole, though without sacrificing on the experience gained by his men during his predecessors campaigns across all of Eurasia. In the spirit of his fore-bearer's ideal of encouraging multi-ethnic and multi-religious cooperation, Temür Khan permits the construction of churches, mosques, and shrines throughout all of China in line with the local traditions of the inhabitants of those lands. He himself takes up calligraphy and study of the Bible, taking particular interest in the latter after the book was given to him by a member of the court who had been in the company of the foreigner Marco Polo a few years prior. Seeking to better understand the culture and religion of the traveler's homeland, Temür has several Christian theologians appear before him from the neighboring lands, and educate him on the religion and its teachings. Aware of the old "Church of the East" which had at once been present within China, the emperor is fascinated with the concepts presented within Christianity and its theology. Plans to urbanize the north are laid out by Temür Khan, as the Mongolians within his court find themselves more and more enamored by the riches of the Chinese people and the luxuries afforded to the by their sedentary lifestyles. Wishing to see the glory of Karakorum restore, Temür Khan and his entourage journey to the distant city to see it in detail, and plan out how best to proceed with its restoration. Architects are commissioned with the goal of expanding the city, developing its irrigation system, and developing several smaller towns and villages in the surrounding region to cater to the needs of the Mongol population. These are in turn given tracts of land to graze upon for their herds, while they are encouraged to sell their excess goods in the market town strategically-placed within the province of Mongolia. This in turn helps to fuel the economic growth that will soon be vital to the future growth ans survival of Karakorum in the north. Several other urbanization projects are laid out for the region of Manchuria, while there exists plenty of fertile land capable of supporting a string of new cities envisioned by the emperor for the northern territories. Though some do exist in the region, most are only temporary encampments which lack much of the modern conveniences enjoyed by the Han peoples of the south. Likewise, many are not connected by any permanent roads or supported by any imperial services that would otherwise help the region better integrate into the empire as a whole, as well as be a more productive province.
 * Nogai Khan: The siege equipment ordered last year has completed construction and is sent to the Hungarian border to destroy what's left of the fortifications, assisted by one tumen (10,000) of infantry, with the goal of the complete dismantling of the border castles. With the Polish King dead and two claimants to the Polish throne emerging, Nogai Khan proclaims himself as the King of Poland, declaring himself to the Polish lords as the ultimate protection from the Mongols. Not only will the Poles be safe from Mongolian invasion under his rule, the Kingdom of Poland shall increase massively in both size and power, being Nogai Khan's primary title upon being crowned King. Upon Nogai Khan's coronation, the Kingdom of Poland shall be the suzerains of the Russian Principalities. Nogai Khan also promises to convert to Catholicism, being baptized into to the Catholic Church during his future coronation, saying he now sees the light of the Lord. (MOD RESPONSE, PLEASE) An offer is made to the Hungarians, Nogai Khan shall cease the Mongolian Invasion of Hungary if King Andrew recognizes Nogai Khan as the King of Poland over Wenceslaus II and Birger. A force of five tumens (50,000), three tumens of cavalry and two tumens of infantry are raised by Nogai Khan in preparation to face the armies of Wenesclaus II on the battlefield. Additional siege equipment is ordered to be built in the center of Nogai's domain in preparation for the new campaign. With victory over the Hungarians achieved by destroying their fortifications and raiding their countryside, we secure our conquest by leaving one tumen of cavalry to fortify and consolidate the conquered land, with one tumen of cavalry and two tumen of infantry, one carrying siege equipment march upon the mountain passes of Krakow to defeat the Polish defenders. Two tumens from Nogai's domain, one tumen of cavalry and one tumen of infantry each march from the west into Eastern Poland and upon finding it burned to the ground, march upon Plock, the ancient capital of Poland, surrounding the city in an attempt to capture it.
 * Władysław the Elbow-high rallies the Polish duchies to support Wenceslaus in fear of the Mongol aggression
 * Kingdom of Hungary: The great and most holy Kingdom of Hungary has been stricken by a plague most foul, the Mongols, may the devil take their bones, have in an unprecedented and most foul move struck at our peaceful land thinking we are fools and they will triumph where they have failed miserably. They as a nest of the foul demons released by Mephistopheles and all his great demons think they shall come and achieve a victory with their vile sorcery. They shall find no reprieve from god facing an endless emptiness, and the people shall like the Jews flew to the Danube as the Jordan. And just like the Egyptians their animals shall die if they drink, and they shall find no reprieve in the eyes of god having their supplies and great weapons destroyed. And should they attempt to ride up to our cities, just like Lucifer at the silver gates they will be thrown down. The great people of Hungary will not stand, like the Archangels of god they work and will destroy this heathen army. In great blessings a son is born to the King, named Géza. He is healthy and thus succession is secured to the Arpáds. To his great benefit he is named Palatine of Hungary by his Son-in-law Andrew III. Secret The King worrying about a future Mongol invasion sends word to the Knights of St. John hoping to enlist their help against the Mongols should they invade again Mod Response. [End Secret] He also orders the baptism of his son Gezá, with great ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Esztergom. He begins to plan an assault against the treacherous Wallachians mustering up an army of 8,000 soldiers and posting alongside the mountains awaiting an attack.
 * Banate of Bosnia: Taking advantage of the distraction the Mongols have posed to the Subič, the Kotromanič family has begun to consolidate their power within the kingdom, winning over many lords to their sides and seizing some lands from the Subič, perhaps notably the Bán begins to fortify his defenses, perhaps appearing to prepare for a war of some sorts. As he begins to expand his power he notably encourages the spread of Catholicism and beginning to form connections with Italian states and the western part of Europe.
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: King Henry II visits the construction sites of the five forts of the new defense plans and for a day works there as a normal worker as well. Meanwhile, the king orders that from this moment onward all actions and wars are to be recorded and kept under surveilance in the Royal Library.
 * Republic of Genoa: While the blockade in Candia continues, the Duke and his affiliates have sent diplomats with a request for help to Constantinople (who had already suffered a looting in the fourth crusade influenced by Venetian interests) to block the Strait of the same with the aim of frustrating the Venetian merchant ships the attempt to trade within the Black Sea, leaving Genoa with almost all of the trade between it and the Mediterranean Sea. On the other hand, focusing on the Western Mediterranean, the heart of the Venetian influence in this region was in Palma de Mallorca and Tunisia, in order to finance such incursions into the respective cities, the duke has asked Milanese bankers (Milan Response) a loan to finance the construction of a fleet of 45 galleys and 4,000 men to dock on the coasts of Palma de Mallorca and take the city with the main objective of monopolizing the passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Western Mediterranean. However, the fact that Genoa is in a period of boom, the opposite is true within the metropolis, the continuous confrontations between the Guelph and the Ghibellines worsened with the passing of the months, both have very economic and diplomatic policies Opposites favoring the HRE or the Pope. Families like Fieschi and Grimaldi, allied to the Guelph, argue that the treaty with Milan and Constantinople should be broken, and peace signed with the Republic of Venice tending to have policies more in line with the interests of the pontificated states and the city state of the rest from Italy. While families such as the Doria and the Spinola allied to the gibelins maintain that giving up sovereignty to the HRE would greatly benefit the course of the war for the respective families that they entail knowing that Genoa is considered an important source of income.
 * Milanese bankers happily move to finance and work out the loan with the standard interest rate of 1.4 percent compounding bi-yearly. (Genoa response)
 * Ui Neill: Domhnall mac Brian Ó Néill bends knee to King Edward I of England and accepts his new title as Chief Justicar of Ireland Duke in Eiru with all landholders in Ireland being his vassals. Domnhall returns to Ireland to assemble an army for operations in Scotland and to reclaim Tir Eoghain. Domnhall on his return has his brother surrender Tir Eoghain to him as the opportunity to be the first lords of Ireland excites the Ui Neill clan. Domhnall assembles some 2,500 soldiers from the Lordship of Ireland now including Tir Eoghain and leads them to the Scottish highlands where he breaks them down the army into eight groups and has them raiding and burning villages and food stocks in the western coastal Highlands unless they decide to support John of Hastings. Rather than try to fight a field battle the goal of these troops is simply to hold the Scots in the highlands.
 * Chimu: The Chimuenese continue expanding to the south, while sacrifices are made to the gods. War stories about Roxhivi Xao in the Villages located in the northeast of Huarmey.
 * Kingdom of England: Seeing a golden opportunity in front of him to quell Irish people and use their forces against the Scottish Usurper  Robert the Bruce, Edward Receives the warrior Domhnall mac Brian O Neill and offers him terms of alliance: "Acknowledge me as your overlord, and I shall name you Duke in Eiru and my Chief Justiciar in Ireland, to be the first Lords in Ireland under the Overlordship of our Grace, take back your stolen throne and lead your armies and those of your irish countrymen against the Usurper Bruce in Scotland". Anglo-Norman Lords are called into the Parliament of Ireland, where they acknowledge O'Neill as Duke in Eiru. With the O'Neils as their vassals, the English plan to wage a two-front war on the Scottish, and pinch the Scottish Armies between the force of Irishmen in the highlands, tasked with gaining the allegiance of the local lords and Clans for the Claim of John Hastings as the English Army invades from the south. After the acceptance, Domhnall is invested as Duke in Eiru. With the Irish invading the highlands, the King calls up his armies and begins plans to assemble armies numbering up to 20,000, including 2,000 longbowmen. The Primary force of 7,000 begins by engaging with the Scottish "Group B" of 4,000 Soldiers. However, Edward works on engaging 1,000 longbowmen before the battle to bring his forces up to 8,000 men. Edward begins plans to move the Stone of Scone into his warcamps, where he hopes to assemble enough Scottish Lords in order to declare John as King and crown him on the stone before the stone is taken back to Westminster. Letters are sent to All Scottish Lords requesting their allegiance, or at the very least, their neutrality [Mod response needed on how many extra troops this gains, and how many lords pledge to John, if any]. Robert the Bruce is named as a Usurper and a Murderer, and declared an Outlaw by Edward in his role as Lord Paramount. Letters are sent to the Pope petitioning him to declare the coronation as invalid, while a separate, officially totally unrelated letter is also sent to the Pope with the promise of constructing a Grand Cathedral in Westminster, and asking for a "Cardinal of Good Repute" to be sent to bless the first stone of this new Cathedral [Mod Response Needed for the Pope].Elizabeth Hastings, John's daughter, is betrothed to Edward, Prince of Wales and an agreement is made to pass the succession of the Scottish throne to Elizabeth in the case that John's cause is won (to be approved by a friendly Scottish Parliament, of Course). IN order to finance these wars, Edward calls a parliament. However, unlike previous parliaments, Two Knights from the shires and two Burgeses from the Burghs were called to sit in their own power as representatives of the commons and not simply assent to the decisions of the Magnates. The Lords themselves were drawn first from the successors of the barons who signed Magna Carta and new Lords. This sets a precedent for future parliaments. The Franchise of forty-shilling freeholders was established. This is a monumental event in English parliamentary history, as Edward for the first time has a mandate to collect taxes from the entire population. The parliament met and granted Edward the Lay Subsidies he asked for to fund the war and the Grand Cathedral in Westminster and an additional subsidy to construct a cathedral in Rome, should the Holy Father Assent [Papal response, please].
 * Lordship of Milan: Lord Matteo and his wife, Bonaccossi Bonacosta, have their seventh child Zaccaria. Their eldest son Galeazzo continues to be trained for leadership and has begun to take the blade quite well alongside his younger brother Luchino. Both are trained by the marshal at arms of Milan. The soldiers in Milan have gotten very accustomed to Galeazzo’s leadership and many view him as a very capable commander. Lord Matteo begins to focus on the income and economy of Milan with our wool output being increased as well as armor being produced to the point of surplus. Lord Matteo starts suffering from an unknown sickness toward the end of the year. In his place his eldest son Galeazzo begins to reign in his place as he is bed stricken. Galeazzo looks to further refine the Milanese economy through loans and using the army as a mercenary troop. (Interested countries, please respond.) Galeazzo sends messages to all currently at war factions for potential loans or hiring the Milanese army as mercenaries. Galeazzo states that he will continue to train the Milanese army to be stronger and better. However, they require field experience. The army is to be paid weekly, by standard wages.
 * Danish Diplomacy: A representative from Denmark says King Eric VI is interested in hiring mercenaries to help put down a rebellion by nobles.
 * Kamagura Japan: Prince Hisaki, Shogun of Japan finally disperses the Japanese army formed against the Yuan invasions years prior. The last of these forces leave dissatisfied having not been compensated properly for their help against the Mongols. This while engendering some issues between the Shogun and the Daimyo of the Japanese home islands does not lead to full scale rebellion. Prince Hisaki has still left the country free of a foreign invader and the Emperor still on the throne and regardless of how the Daimyo feel about the compensation the Prince is a national Hero. Shogun Hisaki returns to Kyoto noticing that an eerie calm has descended over the country. There is no plotting, no feudal wars being fought, the empire is at peace for the first time in decades. Hisaki convenes with his council consisting of his brother, father, and two sons about how to restore a sense of normalcy to Japan and decides the invitation of all the major daimyo of the war will be invited to the Imperial court to celebrate and settle grievances in serious council meetings for one month. The Shogun makes clear moves into trying to find a way to start fixing the economy was to take precedence and as the council meets and decides on how to conduct trade and ease some of the restrictions on trade put in place to fight the invasion off. The nation makes clear forays into more thoroughly settling the north and south islands with settlers displaces for various reasons being sent to the far north and far south to settle more land. The dissatisfaction of the Daimyo does lead to some fallout as Emperor Fushimi begin to take new council from a small group of northern Daimyo looking to influence the Emperor toward their direction, hoping to secure some sort of favor or imperial assistance at court or help with developing home territories. The Japanese trade fleet now with relative peace on the waters begins probing out toward Korea, the nomads to the north and even discreetly toward the Yuan attempting to law low as trade options are explored. Japan remains politically isolated from the world with outside of its trade forays as no proper diplomatic channels are open to any nearby nations.
 * Principality of Achaea: With the War of the Sicilian Vespers rolling over to another year, Prince Florent of Hainaut is still overseas in Italy leaving his wife, Princess Isabella of Villehardouin, solely in charge of the Principality. With the approval of her liege and the dispensation from the Pope for a royal betrothal to take place between her daughter, Matilda, and Duke Guy II of Athens, the Princess makes preparations for the eventual union, to occur in a few years once Matilda has grown older. Meanwhile, domestically the Princess works to build up the principality's administrative capacity by convincing local Catholic church leaders to open their walls to instruct prominent Greek scribes in the Latin language. While Isabella refrains from making this mandatory, it is strongly encouraged as the scribes would need to do business in Latin. Other efforts are made to help speed along the process of conversion to Roman Catholicism among the population, including providing greater funding to local Catholic churches (which, at least in part, subsidizes their educational efforts). With Nicholas III of Saint Omer, the Marshal of Achaea, successful in arranging one diplomatic agreement, he puts his services to use by travelling to the Court of the Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos, which is under the Achaean influence. While there, Nicholas urges Richard Orsini to become a bailli for Isabella and Florent, which would grant the Count Palatine greater influence in Achaea but also reiterate his realm's status under Achaea (MOD REQUEST, noting that this happened IOTL). The current arrangement of Isabella as a domestic administrator, Florent as a military leader, and Nicholas III of Saint Omer as a diplomat is serving Achaea well, as each develops greater knowledge in their respective areas.
 * Orsini accepts to become bailli
 * Kingdom of Scotland: With the war raging, Robert the Bruce officially strips Edward I of his title of Lord Paramount, and also says that he did not kill John Bailol, the mob did, and that his crowning of King was an act of God. With the English arriving at Stirling Castle, the 2,000 force there readies for the siege and are told by Robert the Bruce that they will never surrender, and will fight to the very last man. Robert the Bruce announces the taking up of Edward Bailol, John Bailol’s son, as his own son and heir, and will raise him as his own. On the issues of the feudal lords

1297
'''Following the recent Neapolitan defeats in Sicily, Frederick III mobilizes his forces in a counterattack, marching on Calabria. While he is there, he attempts to stir revolts and gather support along the way. This includes appeals to many Italian city states for aid against the Angevins.'''

'''Austria pledges support for Bohemia, sending another 5,000 men to Bohemia's aid. The lukewarm attempt by Adolf of Nassau to provide aid is met with concern in the Holy Roman Empire, with some believing Germany could have spared more. His seizure of the Margraviate of Meissen as an imperial fief confirms their belief that the Emperor is more concerned with personal gain.'''

'''The setback in Hungary, along with the subsequent invasion of Poland, leads to disquiet in the Khanate's ranks. Wishing to avoid a repeat incident of the trouble with Hungary, some of the Khan's generals wonder if Poland can be held. Others are concerned with the Khan's recent switch to Christianity.'''

'''A Portuguese child with a case of wanderlust attempts to 'sail around the world.' He disappears with his family's boat for several months before returning. When asked what he saw, he refuses to say. "Just don't go out there," he says. (Stop trying to explore the world in 1295.'''

'''Due to the civil conflict in Genoa, members of the Grimaldi family seizes control of the Rock of Monaco, and break it off as independent from the republic. Francis Grimaldi appeals to King Philip of France to recognize him as the first Prince of Monaco, as a French vassal.'''
 * Kingdom of Sweden: Upon hearing of the excommunication of Eric VI, the massacre of Danish nobles now known as the "Blood Feast" and the subsequent uprising by the surviving nobility, Birger decides he must intervene in Denmark. In a speech to a gathering of Swedish nobles and clergymen, the King declares he can no longer stand by whilst a madman and heathen sits on the Danish throne and plunges Sweden's southern neighbor into chaos and civil war. The King then reads the Papal Bull officially excommunicating Eric VI aloud to the gathered nobles and clergymen, declaring that it is their duty as Christians to aid the Pope in removing Eric VI. After a ceremony in which Birger and his son, Magnus Birgersson, are blessed by the Archbishop of Uppsala Nils Allesson, Birger personally leads his army of 15,000 men south toward Skane. He sends several messengers to the Danish nobles and their forces gathered at Zealand with a letter. In his letter, Birger offers to help overthrow Eric VI and install Christopher on the throne so long as Christopher and the nobles name Birger's son, Magnus Birgersson, as Christopher's heir to the Danish throne [MOD RESPONSE NEEDED]. The Swedish government begins encouraging Swedish immigration to the newly conquered Finland, with the government providing free transportation to Finland via the newly built ships. The Swedish clergy under Archbishop Allesson also begins encouraging priests and monks to begin moving to Finland to help Christianize the population. The clergy begins establishing parishes throughout the Finnish territories and begins building churches and chapels. Numerous towns in Finland are also granted Royal Charters, naming their leaders as Burghers in the newly made Swedish nobility and helping to integrate the Finnish territories into Sweden as well as making the Finnish leaders loyal to the Swedish King. Additionally the lands of defeated Finnish chieftains are awarded to loyal Swedish nobles, who are also encouraged to move to Finland to help solidify Swedish power in the area and help oversee the integration of Finland into Sweden. The queen, Martha of Denmark, also makes plans for a highway to connect the Finnish town of Vaasa to the developing Swedish road network in order to link Finland and Sweden and provide for immigration to Finland without ships.
 * Christopher accepts aid from Sweden. Being unmarried, he would be willing to make a marriage alliance with Eric in order to facilitate his desire for dynastic union
 * Swedish Diplomacy: Birger would be happy to form a marriage alliance. He offers to marry a female relative (daughter, niece, sister) to Christopher or for Birger's son Magnus to marry a female relative of Christopher.


 * Bohemia (and Lesser Poland): Wenceslaus II applauds his men following the Heroic defence of Krakow. However, upon hearing of the defeat at Plock, Wenceslaus II leads a contingent of 8,000 men to aid the the Polish forces under the command of Wladislaw the Elbow-High who are in a fighting withdrawal across the river burning down bridges and burning the city of Plock as they withdraw across the vistula to slow down the advancing Mongol forces. The forces sent by Austria and the HRE are used to reinforce Krakow.  The forces pull move to secure western poland. The Light cavalry carry out skirmishes and harrass the over stretched and forces of Noghai's horde to protect the rear and flanks of the forces  The passes to Krakow remain protected to prevent an encirclement by Mongolian forces, and  Envoys are sent to Italy to secure loans and contract Italian mercenaries, While envoys are sent to western Europe to call on  the Catholic rulers and freemen alike of Europe to aid in the defence of Christiandom. The Envoys are accompanied by Bohemian and Polish Priests who spread the word that Noghai is a false catholic, and the agent of heathens bent on ravaging Europe, and burning Rome to the ground, noting the historic Mongol massacres in eastern europe.  Efforts to repair and strengthen the defences of Krakow and Lesser Poland continue, while masons, and craftsmen are sent to help the Polish nobles reinforce their own defences. Wenceslaus orders more troops levies from Bohemia to help reinforce the defences bringing the army to 25,000 bohemians and poles, 5,000 hapsburg forces, and 7,600 imperial forces.Following the victory in the carpathians and the successful withdrawal from Plock Wenceslaus begins drawing up plans to attack the Mongols rom his position in lesser Poland with all the troops being pulled together and efforts to recurit more mercenaries increasing specially from the HRE. He also calls on his hungarian allies to assit him in expelling the Mongol threat from Poland.


 * Mali Empire: As the trans-Saharan caravan trade prospered, Mansa Sakoura was able to redirect much of these growing finances toward the growth of the military. Having fully recovered from the chaos of previous civil wars, the full military of the empire has reached a capacity of over 90,000 troops, although this is largely scattered among the sixteen imperial magnates. While Sakoura himself mostly focused on strengthening the demesne in Mali proper, many individual nobles took on their own adventures, expanding the borders of the nation far eastward into OTL Niger. Sakoura is often accused of being very indulgent ruler, especially among his treatment of women. He acquired four wives among the daughters of military nobility, in addition to a host of concubines routinely taxed among the slave population. Supposedly, this brought many accusations against Sakoura for being in violation of the tenants of Islam, although it is unlikely West Africa was so concerned with piety at the time. Meanwhile, a story concerning the honesty and wisdom of Musa took place at this same time. Kolokan complained one day to the Wife of Sakoura, that Musa had exceeded such popularity an prestige above her own children. Sakoura's Wife, being a malicious and crafty woman, assured Kolokan she would find a solution to this problem. She hired three witches of Ouagadougou to be disguised as old women, and proceeded to glean sorghum from the fields of Musa's mother, Sogolon. They had hoped to provoke Musa into a rage, and show harm to these old women for stealing from his mother. As soon as Musa saw the witches of Ouagadougou gleaning from these fields, he proceeded closer to them, and the old women began to flee. However, Musa cried out that the should not withdraw so quickly from a public field, from which he is willing to share with their company. This made the witches of Ouagadougou marvel greatly at Musa's wisdom, and this act of generosity made him even more esteemed across all of Mali.


 * Kingdom of Denmark: With the outbreak of armed conflict between the Danish Crown and the nobility, King Eric decides to set sail. He, the royal court, and his supporters leave Zealand by ship and first travel to Aalholm Castle on an island south of Lolland, which they set up as a military garrison loyal to him at the mighty fortress, and then continue on to Sønderborg Castle on the coast of southern Jutland where the Danish court establishes its provisional seat. In letters sent out across the country to other towns, King Eric denounces his brother Christopher as an illegitimate usurper and traitor who became a puppet of corrupt magnates and foreigners that are trying to sell off Denmark. He portrays himself as a defender of the peasantry and also appeals to loyalist nobles, saying that his actions were only directed against the corrupt traitors and he was defending the kingdom from abuses by these greedy usurers and magnates. Any rebels that persist will be hanged, but those that surrender will be allowed to keep a fraction of their former wealth, as a sign of Eric's magnanimity. The Pope, far away in Rome, is being deceived by these devil worshipers. He also condemns his former ally King Birger for opportunistically siding with the corrupt nobles in trying to destroy his country, and that the rightful king will confront all traitors as well as foreign threats. Not only are the magnates abusing the people but they are traitors giving away parts of the country to Sweden, say Eric's messages circulated by his supporters. Eric travels across Jutland and rallies support among the people and the loyalist nobles, raising an army in the process, which is gathering at Sønderborg and other fortresses in southern Jutland. Some 9,000 troops are gathered so far, and is expected the numbers will grow in time. In the meantime, Count Henry I of Holstein, an ally of the Danish king to whom he owes his position, also acts as a loyal vassal and sends 2,500 German troops from Holstein to join the Danish army at Sønderborg, ready to fight for Eric against the rebels and the Swedes. Henry also makes diplomatic overtures on Eric's behalf, asking other north German states and representatives of other countries throughout Europe for support and to hire mercenaries to fight for the rightful King of Denmark. (MOD RESPONSE) This includes hiring Italian mercenaries as per the message sent out by Milan last year. (MILAN RESPONSE) For now no attempt is made to attack Zealand, but instead King Eric is first consolidating his strength and making sure that the rest of the kingdom remains loyal to him. More of his propaganda is circulated to peasants and nobles alike through his messengers, making sure to emphasize that Christopher is selling out all of them to tyrannical magnates that want to overburden the peasants and to foreigners that want to conquer the country, and that Eric is the only one standing up for them to protect the people from this tyranny. Nobles are promised a part of the spoils of the magnates' wealth for siding with Eric. It is expected that large parts of Denmark will remain loyal as Christopher and these rebels have never been popular.
 * County of Holstein: As a loyal vassal Henry I continues to aid King Eric, sending Holsteinian infantry to assist him in war, and also begins gathering support diplomatically from other north German states. At home, the county establishes more small towns in order to develop Holstein, having been unified from among several different smaller counties recently by the Danish king.
 * Some northern German states have collective mercenaries of around 1,700 men
 * Lordship of Milan: We continue to retrain the military and Milanese bankers are extremely grateful for the continued business internationally. They begin to discuss having a set interest rate among the various merchant banks, large debates occur with the eventual number being settled on as 1.4 percent compounding bi-yearly for the first ten years then doubling to 2.8 percent compounding bi-yearly for the next ten years, then doubling again for the next ten years, etc. The Milanese army continues to be reinforced by the the thousand lances, an Italian mercenary company based out of Milan, who the vast majority of are medium to heavy cavalry. The large banking industry of Milan causes less men to be needed in the fields which allows for increased men to the milanese army and the majority of these men don’t actually join the feudal army but rather many join the thousand lances. A proposal is made to the Bohemian and Polish government by both the thousand lances and Milanese bankers to assist in their battle against the Mongols by financing a loan and hiring the Thousand Lances. (Bohemian response) The loan in Genoa follows these new restrictions. Matteo Visconti recovers from his sickness early this year and is very impressed with his son’s management of the nation that he asks his son what he would like as an honor for serving Milan so well, his boon request is actually to be able to lead the thousand lances and become a true mercenary until he is to take the throne as to be able to get the opportunity of leadership in the field. Matteo laughs stating, I can try but I don’t know how mercenaries would take to a noble leading them. Matteo sends the request and it is happily accepted by the thousand lances with Galeazzo being appointed as one of the officers of the company.
 * Bohemian Dip: the Bohemian envoy accepts the deal and tells the lancers to head for Hungary to assist the Hungarians against the Mongols there.


 * Georgia: King David VIII is praised by his peers for the successful reacquisition of the South Caucasian region – which includes portions of Armenia, and the region of Shirvani – through diplomatic terms. While some nobles were initially skeptical of the deal, the recent shift to Christianity in both the Ilkhanate and the Golden Horde have dispelled opposition to closer Mongol–Georgian ties. Traditional Georgian wares such as wine, felt, enamel, and metalwork is sent to the Ilkhanate as tribute. David VIII implements a sales tax to further boost the Royal Treasury – which together with comprehensive tax reform, and control over copper and silver reserves, alleviate any financial stress due to systematic tribute. David VIII mounts an invasion of Imereti, which encompasses western Georgia. He raises 25,000 troops, of which: ~5,000 are members of the Royal Guard, ~10,000 are naqivchaqari (Georgians of Kipchak/Cuman descent), while the remainder consists of feudal levies. The troops are led by David VIII himself, keeping them motivated. Due to the desire to avoid bloodshed, he forbids looting from captured towns and urges them to remain chivalric and disciplined – reminding them that God is watching, and any misdemeanor might endanger not only themselves but Georgia as a whole. David VIII sends a letter directed to Constantine I, with whom he is related, urging him to surrender to ensure the smooth reunification of Georgia. In exchange, he will continue to administer a portion of his current realm as a duke. Tbilisi is pre-emptively fortified and left under the temporary control of his grandfather Atabeg Beka Jaqeli; he uses this as an opportunity to teach the young George V how to manage the state. He also assures the well-being of his granddaughter-in-law Oljath and Prince Anastasius. Meanwhile, a mission is sent to the Golden Horde praising Nogai Khan's conversion into Christianity (despite some animosity with the Catholics). ALGO-RELATED INFORMATION SENT VIA DMS.
 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa" Duke John II who is the son in law of king Eduard of England, asks his father-in-law for the possibility to have english longbow man visit Brabant and Train the first troops. This is so that the Flemish longbow men like his english companion will be professional like no other archers is. While the Brabantine army and nobles will in return teach the English of the experience of the Battle of Worringen and what it means to be a noble army. While as he asks for the English bowmen, John II does also request that he can use a variant of the royal coat of arms of England combined with the Brabantine lion. (Player response) As His majesty wishes for Brabant and England to be brotherly nations, a brotherhood of faith, culture and royal lineage. Brabant even though not by blood related to the angles or the saxons, are still quite similarly cultured.There are other lands and crowns with wich Brabant is related to By marriage or by blood, Lands Like Luxembourg, Flanders and Mallines. Mallines being connected by blood of his fathers bastard son. This Bastard son Being John of Mallines, the local Lord of the lands. But due to being a bastard and not a legitimate son of His father John I, he does lack some legitimacy. He's not an official Member of the House of Brabant, and that's why John II of Brabant requests to the sacred Emperor to recognise John of Mallines(Mod response). This move came after His majesty duke of Brabant and John Lord of Mallines met once more to discus the Mansion being build. The Mansion being Build on Heyste ten Berge, as John of Mallines belives this could create welfare in the surrounding area. And the duke beliving this could show the glory of the Brabant realm and the friendship between the lordship and the duchy. The plans for this mansion being finished the mansion being based upon the Palace and specificly the Hall of Aachen the residence of Charlemagne. As Brabant want to Restore the greatest but yet at the same time most forgotten title the Dynasty Holds, Dukes of Lotharingia. As Lotharingia title was gained by the Brabantine dukes after the realm of Loraine badly enough fragmented. It still exists - the title - and so does the hope on restoration of the lands that were once held under this title, The lands of the name giver Lothair II. Although John II knows that for this hard work and preparation is required, to once more show the authority the Dynasty once held. Like showing why he in fact holds the title, why he's worthy of it. What he has done for the church and which behavior make him like Lothair. With the need of a future and an economy to hold this economy, the duke looks into possibilities to make the economy able to withstand any hardship. But how the duke cannot tell as it is a secrecy of royalty
 * The Emperor would recognize John van Mallines if the Pope legitimizes him
 * Wallachia: The troops are killing the Bulgarian invaders, and killing all of the territorial border. The prince forgave the prince of Hungary and literally saved Hungary from the Bulgarian invaders.
 * They're killing the Bulgarians on the Hungarian border and the south border of Bulgaria. Wallachia is now free, the Bulgarians are out of the territory. Meanwhile, the Wallachians push the Mongols to the northeast.
 * Kingdom of Naples : With the failure of the first two Invasions of Sicily and the Sicilian counter-invasion, King Charles II manages to cluster an Army of roughly 45,000 men mostly composed of new recruits and elements of the Neaopolitan-Achaean Force that previously invaded Sicily, placing his troops at a fortress near the city of Potenza and sending a small contingent of 5,000 men to lure the Sicilians toward that Fortress. With the French and Argaonese remaining neutral and the Pope only have sent political support, Charles II turns to the Frankish Greek States asking all of the Principalities and Duchies to provide a Combined Army of 30,000 men to aid the Neapolitans in crushing the Sicilian Rebellion (Achaean and Mod Response Needed). Meanwhile, Charles II sends another plea to the French asking for their support against the Neapolitans. For one final time as he states that it would be in their interest in aiding Naples due to the King of Naples ties to the French nobility (French Response Needed). With Fredrick III attempting to invade Naples, Charles II attempts to rally the people by stating that Fredrick is attempting to make Sicily and Naples puppets of the Kingdom of Aragon and that if the people would not help the King fight back against the Sicilians, Naples would indeed fall.
 * The Duchy of Athens provides 5,000 men, the rest of the duchies don't recognize Neopolitan overlordship
 * MOD NOTE: 45,000 fresh recruits after nearly a generation of warfare is a little iffy.
 * Republic of Genoa: The outbreak of a civil war in the city of Genoa and its surroundings is imminent. Francisco Grimaldi, leader of the Grimaldi family and an important ally of the Guelph, takes control of the castle of Monaco claiming national sovereignty from the Republic. Such atrocity is frowned upon by the duke and the important families that govern the metropolis that, to prevent the loss of Monaco's fortress strategy, redirect the incursion of 45 galleys that will be made to besiege Palma de Mallorca. This unexpected maneuver of the Spínola and Doria families required by surprise the newly rented mercenaries and even the captains of the fleet established in Candía who had to reduce the number of galleys (approximately 25) stationed near the Venetian port to exercise a siege of the Rock of Monaco in order to dethrone Francisco Grimaldi. The siege is carried out 18 days after Francisco Grimaldi has usurped the Rock of Monaco, under the command of Lamba Doria, the Genoese army has 65 galleys and 5,000 troops stationed in total in each of the galleys armed with crossbows, bows, spears, halberds and especially swords. Spies loyal to the Ghibelline cause report that the fortress does not have more than 2,000 troops stationed in the defense of it. However, it is believed that Francisco Grimaldi recruited a handful of fierce Ligures (indigenous people of the region) for personal protection and of his family. While the battle continued, messengers from Crete reported that the fleet blocking the port of Candia was mostly destroyed by a coalition of Venetian, Greek galleys and Muslims mercenaries in minor quantity. This defeat meant a precipitation of the Genoese military authorities that did not have the surprising attack of a coalition, significantly frustrating the possibility of a new incursion and weakening the supremacy exercised by Genoa over the colonies of the Aegean Sea. Luckily, Lamba Doria was not told about the failure in Crete, so the moral in the battle of Monaco remained stable.
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: The King accepts the Ilkhanate's proposal but will only send support and a limited amount of men and not join the war until the defensive plan is finished. Meanwhile, this year sees the completion of the royal library in Nicosia which is formally inaugurated by the king.
 * Kingdom of Hungary: Although the mongols, in their most evil ways managed to break through the defenses at the Carpathians, their attempts to sully the lands of Hungary have been repulsed by the army sending the army of 20,000 into retreat just like the foul roaches they are. With the Mongols into retreat into the Carpathians, and reinforcements arriving from Milan and Bohemia the armies are organized to launch a three-pronged attack on the Mongols in the mountains using our greater knowledge of the terrain, the army is lead by the general Matthew Csák, and George Baska along with Roland Borsa both generals who defeated the incursion of the mongols into Hungary ten years ago under heralding odds. However, Hungary is blessed by good news as the Queen Catherine falls pregnant, and by the end of the year she manages to give birth to three children, although unfortunately one of them is sickly and unhealthy and more tragically the pregnancy had been especially difficult and Catherine passes away before the end of the year. She manages to give birth to two daughters, Elizabeth and Constance although Constance dies three days later from a sudden chill and finally a son named Béla. The king is in grieving for both his wife and his lost daughter, but to his benefit his good father Amadeus and the last of his sons died in the battle, and the lands have passed to his eldest son and heir Géza. Adding their fortune to his demesne. The King offers a betrothal between his son Géza and Margaret of Bohemia to Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and Poland, to unite our two nations in alliance. (Bohemian Response Needed). With the death of Amadeus Aba, Matthew III Csák is appointed to the role of Palatine of Hungary.
 * Bohemian Dip: The Hungarian offer is accepted.
 * Bohemian action: hearing the news of the Hungarians attacking the Mongol forces in the mountains, begin raiding and harassing the Mongol invasion force stuck in the Carpathians, while also working to establish a line of communications with the Hungarian forces, to better coordinate the slaughter of the Mongols. Bohemian, Polish, and German Cavalry charge the mongol forces that fall behind before withdrawing ahead of mongol advances. while archers harry the Mongol forces from cliffs or protected areas.  10,000 Bohemian troops join up with the Hungarians to assist in Ejecting the Mongols from the Carpathians, while 6,000 troops remain to defend Krakow. An envoy is sent to the isolated mongols offering them the chance to leave with their lives,but without their weapons. (either mod or KK response, please.)
 * Ilkhanate: With the Kingdom of Cyprus offering only limited support, the diplomatic mission of Mongol officials and Cilician missionaries to gather allies for the war against the Mamluk Sultanate travels onward to the Papal States, where they seek an audience with the Pope. They describe to the Pope how the Muslim Mamluks have brutally taken over the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Crusader states of Tripoli and Acre and ask for military support from the Papal States, in exchange for which the former territory of the Kingdom of Jerusalem will be given to Papal control at the end of the war. Specifically, they ask for naval support which, when combined with the land-based invasion by the Mongols would allow them to outflank the Mamluks. Effectively, they propose the launching of a Tenth Crusade. (Mod response) Meanwhile, in Tabriz, the Ilkhan Baydu hears that Eastern Georgia has started an invasion of Western Georgia and sends a small battalion of soldiers to assist Eastern Georgia (about one-tenth of the total Ilkhanate army). The rest of the military continues to gather and fortify in the southwest of the nation in anticipation of the conflict with the Mamluk Sultanate. Baydu also hears about how the Nogai Khan has led to the Golden Horde's army into a potentially disastrous situation in Hungary and Bohemia; he sends an envoy to the Golden Horde's eastern Khan Toqta, describing how Nogai has mismanaged the Horde's army and is wasting their troops, and encourages Toqta to declare independence from Nogai. (Mod response) The government continues to develop the Ilkhanate's economy and agriculture by resettling some Persians and Turkmen into the Fertile Crescent in the west of the nation. (Mainly Nestorian) Christian missionaries, now comprising both Cilician and Georgian individuals, continue to travel around the Ilkhanate, particularly in the capital Tabriz as they hope to convert a large enough congregation that they can found a Nestorian Church there.
 * Armenian Cilicia: With popular former king Hethum II still away on the Mediterranean diplomatic mission, King Thoros III is the victim of a coup d'état by his and Hesud's brothers Sempad and Constantine. Thoros is killed and Sempad declares himself King of Armenia. Most of the populace and government officials aren't really happy with this, but with Sempad having the support of Constantine and some of the military they decide to acknowledge him as King for the time being. Sempad continues Thoros III's previous plan of developing the navy and the port of Tarsus.
 * Sultanate of Rum: Sultan Mesud II sends some of his military to the southwest Ilkhanate to aid the preparation for the war against the Mamluks. He also continues fortifying the border with Trebizond in anticipation of a future war launched by Georgia. The government also works on road infrastructure in order to link Rum's cities together better and increase the unity and stability of the nation.
 * Lordship of Ireland: Unless the Highlands has sworn loyalty to John of Hastings and ended the war then Domnhall mac Brian Ui Neill as Chief Justicar of Ireland continues burning and raiding the Highlands. The Parliament of Ireland is formed in the same style as England with two knights from the Shires and two Burgess from each of the Burghs for the Commons with voters all being freeholders of forty shillings and the Lords made up of peers of Ireland. Only areas under the King's peace are currently represented in the Parliament of Ireland. Petitions are heard by Parliament and they can advise but they have largely the same powers mainly over the right to tax as England.
 * The Duke of Eiru as Chief Justicar of Ireland announces a new alternative version of the feudal charter all lords agree to in Brehon law instead of Norman law which Irish lords who wish to can agree to instead of the existing feudal charters based in Norman law. Still independent Gaelic lords are offered if they submit to the King's peace and fulfil feudal obligations as vassals to the Duke of Eiru they will be appointed freeholders of their land, members of the nobility, allowed to continue to live under Brehon law though accepting Norman law as supreme in lands with Norman law (Mod response on whether any of the Gaelic lords swear fealty). The Ui Neills now ruling Ireland in the name of the King continue the use of the Gaelic language and customs.
 * Yuan China: The emperor reorganizes the system of currency within China, introducing a new set of currency throughout China known as the jiaochao. The jiaochao is divided into two types of currency, the guàn and the wén, with the guàn being the larger of the two units. By degree of the emperor, the jiaochao shall have an exchange rate of one guàn per ten wén, while the wén shall serve as a direct paperback conversion for the zinc cash coinage of the empire. The jiaochao shall come in denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 guàn, and the guàn divided into sub-units of 100, 200, 300, 500, and 700 wén. All silver currency through China is to be confiscated and minted into silver taels, which themselves shall be minted into denominations of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 taels. Each tael shall have a conversion rate of one tael per 1,000 cash, or 100 guàn. The new monetary system is organized in such a manner that payment for services will be easier to conduct without having to move the vast amounts of coinage required, and likewise make the purchase of goods and services in separate parts of the empire much more feasible by simply using paper currency to exchange services backed by the silver deposits of China. The new financial stability afforded of the new monetary system witnesses a boom in economic growth throughout China, as the backing of the silver tael and the universal acceptance of the jiaochao allows for a more uniform transfer of wealth throughout China. The Yuan Chinese navy continues to grow, as the goal of reaching fifty wei of fifty ships, 5,000 sailors, and 1,500 marines each by 1310. At the present, the navy consists of fifteen wei of 600 ships, 75,000 sailors, and 22,500 marines, down from its height of several thousand vessels during the reign of Kublai Khan. The shipyards of China are fully turned over to the construction of naval vessels of varying types, with the construction of the junk being of primary importance as the redevelopment of the Chinese navy following the defeat in Vietnam becomes a central part of the new domestic policy of Temür Khan. The army continues to expand, with more than 150,000 newly-trained soldiers joining the new model army forces of China. At the moment, there 380,000 troops, 30,000 of which are cavalry, trained and organized under the new system of force management within Yuan China. Nearly all of these are placed within the units of the imperial army, the primary power projection force of the empire, while others have been garrisoned around Beijing as an active reserve policing the capital and operating as a readily-available pool of replacements in the event of losses in the imperial army. Within the courts of Temür Khan, the work of the Christian monks invited to stay in China continues apace, with the teachings of Nestorian Christianity filling the daily routine of the emperor during his personal time in the palace. He receives lectures on the concepts of Christianity foreign to Chinese culture, as well as arguments on the beneficial aspects of the faith should they be incorporated into the Chinese system of government. Temür Khan invites several of his wives and children to sit in on the lectures, allow with high-ranking members of his court, who are intrigued with the ideas promulgated by the Nestorian monks. While some disagree with a few of the aspects promoted by the faith, the Christian view of death and the afterlife is viewed somewhat favorably by the participants, while Temür Khan in particular is fascinated with the scriptures and prophecies in the Book of Revelation. A few of members of his entourage murmur if Temür is the "son of the bride" foretold within the final book of the Bible, and suggest that there may exist something of political and social value by incorporating these teachings into the political structure of the empire. Up north, the construction of new cities and infrastructure in the region of Mongolia and Manchuria continues, with the city of Karakorum serving the nexus of trade and commerce in the region to spreading out as urbanization and cultivation of the land is encouraged by the state. In Manchuria, the government establishes a network of planned communities where the urbanization of the region will be focused. The center of these developments will be focused around the community of Acheng (OTL Harbin), while good land and wide spaces exist to support the settlement of people into the region. Approximately 30,000 people already leave in the surrounding territories, with another 15,000 to be moved there by Beijing by the end of the year. Out west, the integration of Chinese culture into the lives of the existing locals continues, with more funding pumped into the development of irrigation and land development by the state to establish a new series of urban centers in the region of Xinjiang.
 * Kamakura Japan: The various courts held between the Shogun and his Daimyo begin to show the falling out between the Daimyo and the Shogun. The thoughts of another Daimyo potentially seizing the title of Shogun begins to come up. While Prince Hassuki managed to lead Japan to victory over the Yuan, his issue on payment to his Daimyo lords was the primary motivator. It has become clear to many that the Shogun is not as powerful and illustrious as it was believed before. While the country still operates on a somewhat normal basis, the country as a whole begins to see these divisions begin. The Imperial family is left more defended than usual as many look to curry the favor of the Emperor in support of their claim to the Shogunate. Whoever holds the Emperor hold the Shogunate. As it looks like many Daimyo will potentially ride to war again the local economy is stimulated as artisans and smiths begin working on equipment to supply the samurai and various other soldiers. Swords, spears, battle standards. The Kamakura area begins fortifying itself as well to defend its claim to the Shogunate and a more thorough assessment of the Kamakura lands and its known allies is taken. Emperor Go-Uda himself begins assessing his own array of admittedly small allied Daimyo and prepares at the very least to defend himself adequately before conflict breaks out. The Dewa, Hojo, and and the branch minamoto clan the Ashikaga all begin their own buldups to seize control as Shogun and begin assessing their own allied forces as well. A short meeting between the emperor and the current shogun results in attempts to maintain the peace with the next year slated to bring the competitive daimyo to negotiations at the capital in Kyoto. As some of these things develop for one of the first times, the naval forces of many are assessed as the wide range of territories controlled by the Dominant Daimyo families seem to need the ships for the possible war. Further settlement of the northern reaches is conducted with some towns and farming plots established in Hokkaido. Treaties of friendship and cooperation are signed with native Ainu peoples to the north with many invited to trade with the northern communities.
 * Principality of Achaea: The war in Italy continues into another year, and in the peninsula, Prince Florent of Hainaut begins to grow weary of the conflict's poor outcomes. Privately, he begins to express frustration as his suzerain, Charles II of Anjou, particularly in his inability to bring allies into the conflict to crush Frederick, the would-be Aragonese usurper. Florent's core contingent of highly-trained Frankish knights continues to remain most intact despite the setbacks, but many of the paroikoi levies have died on the fields of battle. By the end of the year, Florent has resolved to request leave of the conflict in order to return to Achaea in the next year. In Achaea, baili Richard Orsini (Palatine Count of Cephalonia and Zakynthos) now takes over much of the administrative work that had been undertaken by Isabella of Villehardouin. The Achaean princess then focuses heavily on promoting the Roman Catholic church alongside the Archbishop of Patras, John. With the permission of the princess, the baili sends seasoned diplomat and hereditary marshal of Achaea, Nicholas III of Saint Omer to France, where he is tasked with recruiting French knights (particularly the second and third sons of middling nobles) to relocate to Achaea and become eligible for new titles and baronies: many of the original crusaders' dynasties have fallen barren and will soon be without clear heirs. Domestically, Richard Orsini works to promote the "Frankification" of local Greeks. Especially important is instruction in Latin for Greek dynatoi, or prominent men. Construction of fortresses continues as does training of local militia, although Orsini is more careful than Isabella was to ensure that the trained troops are loyal to the Frankish cause.
 * Nogai Khan: Upon the capture of Plock with the withdraw of Polish fortress, Nogai Khan crowns himself King of Poland in the ancient capital, converting to himself to the Catholic faith by baptism and forms a defensive position upon the river Vistula. In order to counter the devastation left by the Polish, a supply caravan is established from Nogai's domain. Seeing the final battle coming soon, he calls his allies, the Byzantine Empire, to arms against Wenceslaus II.
 * Byzantine Response: Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos is initially hesitant to aid Nogai Khan as the newly-Catholic Khanate could easily become a weapon of the Pope. However, he also is elated that the otherwise heathen Mongolians have found salvation in the Lord, regardless of if they follow a Pope or an Ecumenical Patriarch. Furthermore, he fights against the barbarian claimants of the Western Roman Empire. The Emperor provides 15,000 troops to aid Nogai Khan.
 * Kingdom of England: With Dunbar Secure and the largest part of Robert Bruce's army defeated, Edward leaves 4,000 men to lay siege to Stirling Castle [ordered to simply wait the 2,000 defenders out and try to taunt them into a sortie]. This year, reinforcements numbering 10,000 men arrive from England, and join up with the rest of the English army, now numbering at 16,000 men strong  as they march for Scone and then Edinburgh. The First intention is to obtain the coronation stone, which they do without much resistance, and then they march right for the capital to take it [Battle of Edinburgh in Algo Please take the Scottish capital, Robert the Bruce should be sieged in Stirling Castle, so he's not in Edinburgh]. A force of 30 men is sent to try to find ways to infiltrate Stirling Castle and abduct Robert the Bruce, with the intention of later putting him on trial as a Regicide, a Usurper and a Traitor. With the vast majority of Scottish Lords remaining neutral, Edward sends them letters reminding them declaring any acts of the So-Called "king" of Scotland to be null and void and reminds the lords that his forces are simply there to maintain order and capture the outlaw who provoked England first. Messengers tell the O'Niell Clan of the neutrality of the Lords and instruct them to move his forces to group up with Ingram de Umfraville, a Scottish Chief who pledged his allegiance to John Hastings, and use their combined forces to join the siege of Stirling Castle, where Robert the Bruce has hidden himself. John Hastings sends out letters to all Neutral and Loyal Scotts that once the Bruce is captured, that a Parliament is to be held in Scotland to regularize the constitution and the succession of the Kingdom.
 * Republic of Venice: Pietro Gradenigo, current Doge of the Republic, faces major internal problems since the war does not go in the favor of Venice. The navy and the already expanded Arsenal of the Republic come with an increase of ship building to sustain the large naval battles. SECRET unrest inside Genoa is used to reach out to other Italian State, in Particular Florence, Cyprus and Milan, to fight Genoa directly. In return, Florence and Milan would get an opportunity to get access to the see with few to no tariffs at that along with a monetary compensation. Cyprus would be allowed to keep the Genoese colonies on the island. CYPRUS/MILAN/FLORENCE RESPONSE, PLEASE) Secret end. A force of 2,000 men is gathered to defend teh homeland, manning the new ships or supporting allies. Trade is increased despite the war, especially with the Dalmatian cities (Ragusa in particular, to which a large influence both political and economically). Within the next three years, a massive labour force is set to build another 200 galleys, especially to guard Candia and the entrance to the Adriatic sea. Some otheher 30 ships are sent towards the Aegean possessions of Genoa, to siege those out, using similar tactics to the Genoese blockade of Candia. (more to be coming maybe)

1298
'''As Bohemia prepares for the inevitable Mongol attack, Austria attempts to rally more troops. Adolf of Nassau blocks this move, believing he would need the armies to invade France when the Pope died. With even the Habsburgs helping Bohemia, their historical enemies, it becomes clear Adolf of Nassau is not fit to be King of the Germans. A council of electors convenes to depose him and find a new king. Albert Habsburg is elected as the King of Germany and the titular King of the Romans. War erupts between Nassau and Austria to restore Adolf as King, but quickly ends with his death. This episode in the long saga that is internal conflict in the Holy Roman Empire is exactly why the Pope has not crowned an Emperor in decades...'''

'''Silver is found in Kutná Hora, Bohemia, leading to a silver rush. Though they are unable to take advantage of it as in OTL at the time. Those who are first on the scene become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.'''

'''After taking up residence in Reggio Calabria, the army led by Frederick III begins to dig itself in, constructing siege weapons at the castle. Cries to remove the Angevins from power continue to reach far and wide through Naples. He requests aid from Aragon, being a member of House Barcelona. Pope Boniface, reading the news elsewhere, loudly groans and dusts off his book on excommunication proceedings.'''

'''The Sultanate of Rûm, in a state of free-fall since the Mongol invasion, becomes increasingly unruly. Especially with the recent adoption of Christianity by Baydu, the Muslim nobility and population begins to ally with powerful local Muslim figures, such as Osman Gazi.'''
 * Kingdom of Sweden: King Birger's army arrives in Skane and crosses over into Zealand. Archbishop Allesson of Uppsala travels with the Swedish army, as Birger intends to have Christopher crowned in Copenhagen by an agent of Rome. After crossing into Zealand the Swedish army links up with Christopher's army of nobles, forming a combined Danish-Swedish army of 25,000 men. In Copenhagen Birger and the Swedish and Danish nobles quickly arrange for the coronation of Christopher. In a highly public ceremony Birger and the nobility of Sweden and Denmark witness the crowning of Christopher as the King of Denmark by Archbishop Allesson. With Christopher crowned as King, Birger intends to march the combined army into Jutland to besiege the pretender Eric VI in his stronghold at Sønderborg Castle. Christopher, under pressure from Birger and his Danish noble allies, dispatches a letter to all of Denmark, proclaiming that as King he will respect the rights of the nobles and bring peace and Catholicism back to Denmark. He also urges all nobles to rally more troops against the pretender Eric, reminding the nobles that Eric had invited other nobles to a feast under the guise of safety and massacred them all, a treacherous and dishonorable act undeserving of a King. Christopher pleads with the nobles to use their own expenses to raise more men. [MOD RESPONSE ON SUCCESS OF GAINING MORE NOBLE FORCES] Moreover, priests and monks are dispatched throughout Denmark, including into Jutland, to preach to the peasantry that the excommunicated Eric VI is a servant of the devil and that it is the duty of all Christians to remove him from power. This inflames the local peasantry against Eric and guarantees the loyalty of the Danish peasants to Christopher, the Papal-recognized King. The newly built Swedish navy of military clinker-built ships sets sail for the fjord to safeguard the crossing from Zealand to Jutland. Christopher, meanwhile, uses the Royal Treasury left behind by Eric to hire 5,000 Pomeranian mercenaries, with Birger using the Swedish fleet to transport them to Zealand, bolstering the allied forces to 30,000 men. The Swedish government begins a census, aiming to accurately account for how many people live in which areas to figure out a better tax system. Additionally, the Swedish monarchy centralizes the revenue stream, mandating that royal tax collectors must accompany nobles collecting taxes and decreeing that harbor masters must be appointed by the crown. Additionally, the crown begins taxing Swedish iron mines to accumulate a large reserve of iron for production of armor and weapons. The Crown also invests in iron mines, helping to expand certain mining operations.
 * The majority of Danish nobles support Christopher


 * Kingdom of Denmark: As the rest of Denmark remains loyal to King Eric VI, the royal court hopes to isolate the magnates' republic on Zealand and have it collapse from with in from internal pressure and its lack of support elsewhere in the country. Eric ignores the false coronation of the pretender and foreign puppet Christopher, having his agents infiltrate Zealand and spread messages among the population there to demoralize the rebels, that the rest of the kingdom has united behind Eric and that the magnates are seen as traitors and Swedish puppets. This is part of Eric's strategy to exert pressure on the besieged nobles, in spite of the Swedish support they receive, and get some of them to capitulate or at least become more paranoid. Agents also try to assassinate Christopher, other noble leaders, and Swedish commanders. A message is also circulated that in light of the greater urgency of the Swedish invasion, King Eric is willing to grant a full pardon to any noble that reaffirms their fealty to the true king and renounces Christopher, and will even allow them to keep their wealth. (Mod Response on result of all these efforts) The Danish army at Sønderborg swells to 17,000 Danes in total as more troops arrive from other great Danish lords showing their loyalty to the King, in addition to the 4,200 North German troops, for a total of 21,200 men in the main Danish-German army. Messages arrive from other towns and castles in the area that record that Swedish and traitor army is moving towards Jutland, and Eric's loyalists decide to confront them at Sønderborg when they arrive. Meanwhile, the Danish navy employs 500 vessels of various types, mainly merchant ships that are being used for military purposes, to not only monitor Swedish naval movements but harass and attack Swedish ships, in order to cut the enemy army's supply lines, cut communications between the forces and the mainland, and isolate them once they land on Jutland. (Mod Response) King Eric intends to take full advantage of being on home ground, the terrain, and his control of most of the country outside of Zealand. The mighty Aalholm Castle also serves as base for a lot of these operations, being located between Zealand and Jutland. In meetings with his officials at Sønderborg, Eric announces the signing of a new Royal Charter, a new document that at once acknowledges the role of the loyal great Danish lords in society and requires the annual convocation of the Danehof (parliament), but also firmly establishes the powers of the King and his right to decide on vital policies, including taxation, war, and diplomacy. The wealth of the previously executed magnates is also continuing to be used to gradually pay off the kingdom's debt to the north German aristocrats
 * (can we get a Mod to look at these numbers. Idk how the Danish army ballooned into 21,000 from 11,500 last turn. 
 * In OTL Denmark deployed 30,000 troops and 1,000 ships for a war in 1219. -Majestral
 * (The Danish "king" has no support from his nobles and is on the run. How is he paying for all these soldiers and recruiting them without any noble support? And the "war" you are referencing was the Battle of Lyndanisse, and I haven't found any numbers for the Danish army besides "several thousand" 
 * You will have to cut down the number slightly -Mod
 * Also a mod has previously said there are only about 1700 north German mercenaries
 * To clarify: A clear majority of Danish nobles are in open revolt against the King, based on his treacherous actions in 1296. Given the structure of feudalism, with the key nobles in rebellion and trying to overthrow Eric, the Danish levies would be significantly smaller than during a more favorable period. -Rexmod.
 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa" Brabant, Lotharingia what is the difference many ask in the realm of his Majesty John , that is simple explains John II "Lotharingia is The realm of which Brabant is the centre of". The Duke begins to order to making of Statues of John I his father who was one of the greatest men since the fall of the great power of Lotharingia. With John II hoping to get his father gets to become a blessed ruler, as in the mind of his lands specifically Brabant he is the bringer of glory , but even more Joy to those who accompany him into victory.Just must admit the aproach of his father is different then his , John II believes in diplomacy, with John II making it so Old German of the Brabantine dialect as the language of the to be hold foreign interactions.As the best language for use is the language that the people speak, although Latin is still preserved for the Holy See. John II asking the pope himself in a formal letter to recognise John of Mallines (a lot of Johns in the lowlands) as a legitimate son of his father.(Mod response) This would in return recognise John of Mallines as brother of his majesty John II , which would improve John of Mallines standing in the Brabant dynasty he's unrecognised in it. John II who has already been called John the peaceful and John the speaker, due to John II effort to bring peace and glory. While this all his happening something else happens too , His Majesty gets another Child twins even. The twins being one boy and one girl, the son being called Hendrick of Brabant and the girl Cate of Brabant, this giving John II a girl that he could marry out to foreign houses and help relations with.John II looking into even different ways to marry into the house Luxembourg , as John II wants to combine the two houses as his majesty wished for the union back of the two largest duchies in Lotharingia, to restore the title that once ruled these lowlands. Mainwhile in Heyst ten Berge , The duke himself begins digs the first shovel for the creation of the Lordly foundations of the small but grand mansion that shall be. With things like proper roads also being build by his majesty so that there is proper transport for the required material. Infrastructure for Heyst provided by his majesty of Brabant , as He wants to give his bastard brother the city he deserve the ruler of a Hill. The army of Brabant, Nobles and men at arms are getting trained with the number of men of arms being increased with 500 in just a year. This increase in numbers is due to the duke allowing now all levels of nobility to become a knight or men at arms , and due to the fact that anyone who is able to pay for their equipment can become a men at arms. These loser restrictions does in the beginning decrease the quality of men at arms slightly , but increase the general fighting force. As some men who would before just become pikemen and archers now become men at arms. The duke looks into making it so instead of a soldier providing buying their own weapons , that they pay their local noble of who they are assigned to , with it both being for archers and pike men.The pikemen will get their pike given to them and arches get extra strings,bows and arrows.This move would make it so that weapons can be provided more by need then by wealth.
 * The Pope legitimizes John of Mallines
 * Bohemia-Poland: With the threat of Nogai still present Wenceslaus II calls a meeting of the Polish Nobility calling upon them to formally recognize him as King of Poland so as to prevent a heathen and a Mongol at thatfrom claiming the title, He promises reinforce the rights of the nobles, the cities, and the burghers (mod response, please). Angered by the pettiness of King Adolf, Wenceslaus II supports the candidacy and subsequent election of Albert of Austria as King of Germany. Wenceslaus sends an impassioned request to Albert to come to his aid with an imperial army as a final battle against Nogai's horde seems inevitable, promising to once and for all claims to Austria, and to provide the HRE with a stalwart protection against the heathens of the East (mod response, please). Nogai is denounced as a heathen and a false Christian, feigning piety to carry favour. Raids into Nogai controlled territory by light cavalry continues from Lesser Poland still firmly under Bohemian control harassing Nogai attempts to establish caravans. The Vistula is heavily reinforced as possible crossings are blocked off or burned so as to force the mongols to attack through Lesser Poland whose defences continue to be improved with a new string of forts being established throughout the area to prevent the mongols from being able to roam freely in the area, all the fortifications are within a few hours distance of each other and food and grain stocks are moved elsewhere. A portion of the levies are steadily replaced by professional mercenaries.Siege equipment is also brought up to Krakow in the forms of catapults, and battering rams. more weapons, and shields, and armor are made with the metal workers in Bohemia, Silesia, and Krakow banging away day and night. special emphasis on pikes and crossbows are made. Arrows and bows are made. Stores of Grain are kept under strict guard.  The Kutna Hora mine is proclaimed property of the King and plans to set up a royal monopoly on it are laid out prohibiting the private exploitation of the mine (planned not carried out yet also OTL moves just to be carried out slower). Meanwhile, more loans are taken to sustain the war effort. Wenceslaus realizing that the conflict needs to come to an end and that his subjects need peace and to return totheir life decidesto lay siege to Lublin to cut off the Mongol supplies completely and to draw  Nogai into a battle while The coalition forces are at their highest marching with 40,000 troops (between Austrian, Bohemian, and Hungarian). He leaves 20,000 troops to defend lesser Poland and the lands west of the Vistula. Setting up stakes on the flanks and fixed shelter for archers he prepares the camp while staying close to the hills to prevent an out flanking. more to be added later 
 * Albert Habsburg sends 15,000 troops against the Mongols
 * The nobles haven't finished electing a king yet, but nobody recognizes the Mongols
 * Mali Empire: Mansa Sakoura began implementing some attempts at centralization in Mali, which was the greatest contribution to his unpopularity. He issued a tax across the empire to the middle and lower nobility, requiring them to contribute military towards the imperial army directly controlled by the Mansa. Even though the nobles that were represented in the Gbara were exempted from this tax, it nontheless caused a very negative reaction against Sakoura, and a general increase of support for the Keita family. Independently, some nobles continue to lay conquests to expland Mali's borders eastward into OTL Niger. In order to properly secure control over the trans-Saharan trade routes, Sakoura knew it was necessary to maintain peace across all the Sahel and keep the wealth of Mali flowing. Mansa Sakoura sends messangers by caravan routes to the Maranid dynasty of Morocco, offering to create a formal alliance between the two nations for the purpose of maintaining trade along the Sahel, and ensuring Morocco gets all the imports they require from Mali (MOD RESPONSE). Meanwhile, the sons of Kolokan had finally reached the peak of their jelousy for the popularity and strength of Musa. As Sakoura was centralizing his control over Mali proper with the use of his slave army, the sons of Kolokan fabricated a story where they accused Musa as using his strength and popularity to lead support of the Keita family, in conspiracy against the emperor. Outraged by this story, Sakoura ordered that Musa and his mother Sogolon shouold be exiled from the empire immediately. Musa vowed that he would seek revenge on both the proginy of Sakoura and those who falsely accused him, and he would one day return to live in Mali again one day. He did not say this to spite people for his own glory or dignity, but rather for upholding the dignity of his mother who he was devoted to.
 * Papal States: This year, Pope Boniface VIII and the Catholic Church have declared John I, Duke of Brabant, Limbourg and Lotharingia, Count of Dalhem and Lord of Hertogen Rade and Myerebeke a Servant of God. His life and works are currently being investigated by the Church. The Church has also issued a papal bull denouncing Mongwai as a heretic for trying to claim the Polish throne.  The Pope and the members of the Church have unanimously voted to elect Richard of Cornwall, who is pro-Guelph as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (MOD RESPONSE) . In the Italian peninsula, we accept Milan's offer to manage our banking accounts. We accept the invitation for an invitation to invade the Holy Land, and to regain the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
 * Richard of Cornwall is dead
 * Wallachia: After the battle with the Kingdom of Hungary we lost them but Bassarabia demanded to conquer an unknown place on our territorial called 'Moldova' and moldova became a vassal of our territory.
 * Yuan China: The development of the Lingbei (Mongolia) and Liaoyang (Manchuria) provinces continues under the direction of the imperial government in Beijing. The focus on encouraging the local inhabitants of both lands to settle down on the fertile plains of the provinces continues, with land grants made to those who take up the offer to accept the government's request that their families cultivate the lands around the new urban centers. Acheng grows rather rapidly, with the 45,000 inhabitants moved into the region developing the surrounding territories and developing the irrigation canals for the new farmlands in a swift manner. Utilization of the Songhua River for these purposes serves as the primary factor in the city's rapid growth, and witnesses more Chinese subjects from the south migrating into the north where new lands await them far from the overpopulated provinces in the south. A major road is build from the capital city of Liaoyang to reach Acheng, helping to facilitate trade between the settlers in the north and the Koreans in the southeast, who are eager to benefit from the new sources of trade revenue in Liaoyang Province. The Jurchen are inticed into settling down in the areas surrounding Acheng, as the city's wealth becomes more abundant with time. Many of these nomadic groups take up hunting game and selling it to the inhabitants of Acheng as a stable source of income for their families, which in turn allows them to purchase the materials needed to build permanent homes within the plains of Manchuria. This in turn gives rise to new settlements further north in the region, and new centers of trade and commerce for the Yuan imperial government in Beijing. Within the protectorate of Korea, seeking to further integrate the realm into the core territories of imperial China, the emperor instructs some of his sons to marrying into the local ruling families of Korea as a means of solidifying their ties with the ruling elite of the peninsula, and beginning the process of transitioning power away from the puppet government there and into the imperial courts of the emperor. Given the current political climate of region, the Yuan rulers get their way, and the sons of the emperor are married into the ranks of Pyongyang's aristocratic elite. Several beneficial arrangements are made on behalf of the Koreans to encourage their continued good behavior, and bringing them deeper into the fold with the emperor of China. Elsewhere, the settlement of the western territories neighbor Chagatai Khanate continues apace, with the formation of new settlements within the regions of Tibet and and western Mongolia. However, due to the presence of the Chagatai warriors on the other side of the border, there is concern that the Chinese settlers in the region may attempt to flee back into the Han heartlands in the east. Not wishing to allow this to happen, and viewing the khans of Chagatai too weak to appropriate serve as a buffer against the forces farther west of China, Temür Khan authorizes the reclamation of the Chagatai Khanate into the wider empire of the Yuan dynasty by right of his Mandate of Heaven. The Chagatai being Mongols rightfully belong within the Mongol-rule lands of Yuan China, and as such, the emperor rationalizes that he by extension has the right to govern them directly as subjects of his realm. To this end, Temür Khan mobilizes the campaigning forces of the imperial army within Zhongshu Province to begin the march into the neighboring khanate. This force continues of fifteen corps, with ten corps of infantry and another five corps of Mongolian cavalry, for a total of 150,000 troops. The 20,000 provincial troops near the city of Turpan are instructed to block the passageway into China to prevent the forces of Chagatai from escaping into the empire, with half of the force sent to reinforce the city of Lop south of Turpan. The 50,000 provincial forces assigned to the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs are instructed to keep watch from their highland vantage point, and report on any movements from Chagatai's forces. Trapped within the northern and southern mountain ranges of the western basin, Chagatai's army is to be routed as far west of Samarakand, where they are to be butchered in the typical Mongolian fashion by Temür Khan and his army. As he leaves for Samarakand, the emperor is provided with a crucifix blessed with holy water in the name of the Virgin Mary of Bethlehem, which the Nestorian monks say shall bring his army victory on the battlefield. Given that he will be facing fellow Mongols, Temür Khan accepts the gift as he believes he and his men will need all of the divine support they can receive. Back home, the separate venture of developing the naval forces of China continues, with two additional wei added to the fleets of Yuan China. The fleets are divided into three regions, and assigned to the port cities of Ninghai, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou, where they will patrol the waters for pirates and maintain a customs patrol for any trade goods into the empire. The marine forces of China are further developed, with a third corps of marines added to the navy's terrestrial forces, and assigned to the port city of Ninghai to provide the manpower for any boarding operations conducted by the Yuan navy. Karakorum continues to grow into a major urban center, with its population growing from 10,000 permanent residents to more than 50,000, as more infrastructure is added to the city to help encourage year-round habitation. Mongol families settle down within the city walls during the winter months for protection against the elements, though as time passes, their traditional yurt homes are replaced with those of wood and stone, and their residence within the city walls becomes more permanent with time. Further west, the settlement of Uliastai is selected the next location to be developed using the imperial coffers, due to its location on a major cavaran route passing through the north. Seeking to develop the land and settle its people in year-round habitats, the Mongol governor of Lingbei sponsors the construction of new walls around Uliastai to provide protection for its people and encourage them to reside within the walls throughout the year.
 * Kingdom of Hungary: Having defeated and repulsed the demonic hordes of Nogai Khan, and his foul ilk from our beautiful lands, we have to decided to support our faithful allies and sending an army of 10,000 men to support the war within Poland and help them defeat the Mongol Menace. We maintain many troops at the border in order to guard against incursions from the Mongols and Wallachians who have shown great aggression in their foul movements. Within the lands on the Danube they begin to increase infrastructure and roads for the people to travel and move about on. The Ban of Croatia is appointed after the death of the former, with the new Ban being a member of the Subič family. Curiously they begin to fortify their positions especially along the borders with Serbia and Bosnia. Matthew III Csák begins to implement a new tax plan relieving some of the burdens off of the Nobles in attempt to gain further support from the Magnates and Nobles. Within Croatia begins to support some trade charters in order to bring in more revenue from trade along the Adriatic sea. Ladislaus Kán is appointed the master of horse in an attempt to bring him into the fold and tie him closer to the Crown.
 * Lordship of Milan: The large loans going out alongside the expansion of the Thousand lances causes large amounts of increased search for mercenaries by the Milanese to base out of Breccia, or Milan itself. This causes the hiring of the Long spears early in the year, a mercenary company from throughout Italy with numbers around 6,000 the vast majority being heavily armed foot soldiers. These forces are sent to Poland to reinforce the numbers there. The Bankers continue to enjoy this time in the spotlight with large rivalries beginning between the Florentine and Milanese bankers. The Milanese travel to Venice to discuss the financing of a new fleet. The celebration of the defeat of the Della Torre is cancelled as Matteo comes down with another sickness.
 * Lordship of Ireland: Having helped win the war in Scotland Duke Domnhall mac Brian Ui Neill returns back to Ireland and establishes his seat in Dublin. He sends envoys to Aedh Ó Conchobair (King of Connacht), Domnall Ruad Mac Carthaigh (King of Desmond), Toirdhealbhach Mór Ó Briain (King of Thormond) and Aodh Ó Domhnaill (King of Tyrconnell) requesting that they submit to the crown and feudal obligations while allowing them maintain their own laws within their own lands (Mod response). The Chief Justicar goes to Parliament this year to ask for permission to raise taxes of two shillings on every hide of land (10% of the land's supposed income in a year) and one shilling on every one pound (5% of the value of the property) of movable property to pay for the maintenance of the King's peace. (Mod response). Port facilities at Dublin are expanded at the expense of the Lordship to encourage trade.
 * Desmond and Tyrconnell accepts, Connacht and Thormond refuse and sign an alliance with each other
 * Parliament can be decided by Lx
 * The Irish Parliament Approves of the land tax in Ireland, especially in light of the need for money to deal with the rebellious Lords in Connacht and Thormond.
 * Principality of Achaea: Prince Florent of Hainaut, having resolved to inform his suzerain, Charles II of Anjou, about the departure of his contingent approaches the Angevin king of Naples. Relying on the traditional Latin requirement of four months of service being owed per year in the field, Florent states that his men have met their obligation for the decade. Attempting to leave Charles on a good note, he wishes the Angevin ruler well in his combat and - having heard that Nicholas III of Saint Omer is in France recruiting knights - orders the marshal of Achaea to approach the French king to ask him to intervene on Charles II's behalf (FRANCE RESPONSE). Obligations thus met, Florent and his men return to Achaea via the port at Glarentza. While the fighting had been tough, few knights had perished against the Sicilian upstart army. The same cannot be said for the Greek levies, however, with more than a few peasant families finding out that they were now fatherless. Seeing this, Isabella of Villehardouin - ever looking to bring the Orthodox believers into the folds of Catholicism - requests the Archbishop of Patras to open up alms for surviving widows even if they were not yet Catholic. The Archbishop consents to this request, and a mild strain on church resources is noted for the next few years. With Florent back in country, baili Richard Orsini returns, as is customary, to his own fiefdom - the County Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos. Before his departure, however, Florent publicly thanks Orsini in a sign that he intends to keep the County Palatine within the Achaean sphere. As Venice and Genoa continue to fight, Modon and Coron (the Venetian outposts on the Peloponnese) become something of a flashpoint in Achaea. Many Greeks have left these two cities for the Achaean countryside to avoid being conscripted or pressed into service for Venice. While Florent welcomes them, it remains to be seen how Venice reacts. With war over, the treasury slowly begins to recover as one-off expenses are drawn back.
 * Kingdom of England: After a series of victories against the Scots and the capture of Robert the Bruce, Edward puts him on trial for Regicide against John Balliol and Treason against Edward for rebelling against his rightful overlord. Bruce is found Guilty and sentanced to death and sent to London to await execution. Meanwhile, Edward sends his irish forces back to secure the nation now that the Scots are reasonably subdued, save for a small holdout in Edinburgh, which remains under siege by 16,000 men.  The remaining 4,000 that took Stirling Castle are ordered to look out for pockets of resistance and rush rebels. As well, from their number a small faction of 500 are sent in various directions to try to locate the Bruce Brothers. Once the capital is taken, Edward intends to summon a Scottish Parliament and crown John Hastings King. However, Edward makes it clear to John in Private that the coronation is contingent on the marriage of Elizabeth, his daughter, to Edward's eldest son, Edward. A plan is drawn up to divide John;s English and Scottish holdings, with his sons inhereting his English lands and peerages while his daughter Elizabeth should inherit the Scottish crown jointly with Edward Prince of Wales. Lands are confiscated from the Bruce family as punishment for their treason, and the four Bruce Brothers are declared Outlaws and all should. Scottish Lords from the entire nation are to soon be summoned to re-affirm their allegiance to Edward as Lord Paramount, once Ediburgh is taken. As spoils of war, the stone of destiny, the stone of Scone, is taken to England, only to be returned for the coronation of a Legitimate Scottish Monarch. Thus, this affirms Edward's Overlordship. In the meanwhile, edward searches for a  way to legally pass the succession offto Elizabeth Hastings instead of her brothers while marrying her to Edward. Meanwhile, edward looks to strengthen Trade connections wtih both Barbant and Denmark.
 * Ilkhanate: Pope Boniface VIII expresses support for the diplomatic mission's plan for a Tenth Crusade. Satisfied, the diplomats travel back towards the Ilkhanate. On the way, they stop at Cyprus again, where the King of Cyprus now declares his nation will give full support to the invasion. The diplomats land at Tarsus in Armenian Cilicia and report to the Ilkhan Baydu in Tabriz. With two European navies to support the invasion, Baydu sets a date for the invasion to begin late in the year, and spends the time beforehand planning out strategies with the commanders from Cyprus and the Papal States. He commits six-tenths of the Ilkhanate's military to this invasion. Meanwhile, hearing about the instability in Rum, Baydu removes the current Sultan from his position and replaces him with a more assertive and hardline individual. He sends one-tenth of the Ilkhanate's army to the new Sultan of Rum to solidify his position; with one-tenth of the army still supporting Eastern Georgia/Gurjistan in the war against Western Georgia, the remaining two-tenths are spread around the Ilkhanate proper to defend while the bulk of the army is invading the Mamluk Sultanate. Several Mongol officials work on recruiting Afghans in the east and Turkmen in the west into the defensive military. Some of the Nestorian Christian missionaries in the Ilkhanate travel to Rum in the hope of decreasing anti-Christian sentiment there, while the rest focus on Tabriz. The envoy sent to the Golden Horde continues to wait on a response from Toqta Khan about their proposal in 1297. (Mod response) A few months prior to the invasion, one of Baydu's consorts gives birth to a daughter, Elathin (he already has four children born prior to 1295: the sons Qipchaq, Ali and Muhammad and the daughter Yol Qutlugh).
 * Armenian Cilicia: King Sempad commits two-thirds of Cilicia's military to aid the Ilkhanate in their invasion of the Mamluk Sultanate, and sends out several ships from Tarsus to aid the navies of Cyprus and the Papal States in their part of the invasion. Concerned at the growing instability in his northern neighbour the Sultanate of Rum, he sends a group of Christian missionaries there in the hopes of decreasing anti-Christian sentiment in the region.
 * Sultanate of Rum: Due to the increasingly rebellious actions of Muslim nobility in Rum, the Ilkhan dismisses Sultan Mesud II for his incompetence in stabilising the Sultanate. The new Sultan appointed is Kayqubad III, who is a Muslim but loyal to the Ilkhanate and has a more assertive and hardline reputation. In order to increase security in the Sultanate's capital of Konya, Kayqubad III brings back soldiers from the border with Trebizond and the southwest Ilkhanate until two-thirds of the army is in the central part of the Sultanate around Konya, leaving one-sixth near Trebizond to potentially support a Georgian invasion and sending one-sixth to accompany the Ilkhanate and Cilician forces attacking the Mamluks. In order to pacify the Muslim populace and prove the Sultanate's loyalty to them, he funds the building of new mosques in Konya and Sivas. However, Kayqubad III also reminds the Muslim nobility of the Mongol principle of religious and ethnic equality, threatening any who discriminate against Christians or Mongols with punishment. Particularly troublesome individuals are arrested, with Kayqubad III focusing on individuals associated with Osman Gazi, though he leaves Osman Gazi himself alone to prevent him from becoming a martyr or hero figure. He accepts the aid of Christian missionaries from the Ilkhanate and Cilicia to help decrease anti-Christian sentiment among the Muslim population.
 * Chimu: The chimunese expand 15 miles to the south. The "Rodenpinaca" and "Dorianis" villages are founded. Due to the lack of resources, the Chimuenese are currently in an economical crisis. The lack of tributes, starts to concern Roxhivi Chao.
 * Republic of Genoa: The battle of Monaco continues, both sides suffered considerable casualties although neither obtained a permanent advantage. A battle in which it was predicted that it would end in a few months, became a battle of attrition with a duration to date of more than a year. The casualties are among hundreds but very few tears of family members are shed in the homes of the late Genoese because many of the losses affect the pocket more than the heart. As blood flowed in the Rock of Monaco, the lower-middle class began to suffer from discontent and restlessness. After the defeat in Candía, the Genoese army ceased to possess the power enjoyed by the previous years, however, the Duke and the noble families of the Ghibellines have already taken action on the matter to rebuild the fleet. One of the measures is to make Admiral Benedetto I Zaccaria return to Genoa to contribute militarily to the army, for this he was sent messengers to cross the enemy lines and go to Constantinople where the admiral had helped Andronicus II Paleologo against the Venetians. Although one of the two galleys returning from Constantinople was sunk by Venetian galleys, the admiral managed to safely reach the capital of the Republic. As soon as Benedetto arrived in Genoa, the Duke has assigned him the task of building a fleet of no more than 50 galleys to defend the metropolis against a possible Venetian invasion. As the city did not have the funds it had before the war with Venice, mainly due to its blockade, the duke has ordered raising taxes to complement the financial losses generated by the continuous shipwrecks from Kaffa or the Aegean Sea. In countermeasure, the Duke has sent diplomats to Constantinople to sign an alliance with the aim of declaring war on the Republic of Venice if it carried out a war against the Republic of Genoa (Mod response as Bizantine Empire).
 * Byzantium cautiously allies with Genoa, as long as they can keep trade with Venice
 * Nogai Khan: Nogai graciously thanks Byzantium for the 15,000 troops. Having been rejected by the Pope, and the being shown the good will of Byzantium, Nogai now recognizes the Ecumenical Patriarch, converting to Eastern Orthodoxy. Now reinvigorated by his new faith and by his allies on the battlefield, Nogai is determined to lift the siege of Lublin, which is ruled by Lev I, King of Ruthenia, and goes out to engage the armies of Wenesclaus II with a force 55,000 strong to defend the land of Lev I, striking at night, finding gaps in their lines and punishing them brutally. Evading and encircling the enemy.


 * Georgia: In spite of initial drawbacks, the campaign to take the strategic town of Zestaponi is successful. Now with the enemy forced into a rout, the Georgians proceed to take the western capital of Kutaisi. About 24,000 Georgian troops (of which ~5,000 are members of the Royal Guard, ~10,000 are horse–archers, and the remainder feudal levies) split into three armies are sent. They are accompanied by Ilkhanate troops (which constitute one-tenth of their total numbers). The Georgian-allied forces press into the enemy rout, using their superior mobility (being all-cavalry force) to reach Kutaisi as quickly as possible – so as to prevent enemy forces from recuperating. The city is then besieged from three sides; a few contingents of horse–archers are sent to guard the perimeter and prevent any reinforcements from reaching. A variety of siege engines are used, including battering rams and siege towers (which allow them to scale the walls) – and most importantly, counterweight trebuchets. Incendiary arrows are also used by the horse–archers to set fire to wooden structures inside the walls – thus weakening the enemy defenses. To further legitimize his claim to Imereti, David VIII is coronated for the second time in Tbilisi. He declares the reunification of Georgia, accusing his cousin of being illegitimate, and promises to lead it into a new Golden Age. To get the support of the clergy, he gives generous land grants and funds to the monasteries – especially the prestigious Gelati and Ikalto monasteries (which preside over academies and are important centers of culture). Meanwhile, commerce is encouraged with merchant and craftsmen guilds in the capital flourishing. Products traded include felt, wool, wine, enamelware, metalwork. Cotton production in Shirvani is promoted while traders begin to exploit Georgia's position near the Western terminus of the Silk Road to acquire raw silk (though the majority of manufactured silks are from either Greece or Italy).

1299
'''Frederick III of Sicily attacks the Neapolitan advance forces near Potenza. They successfully lure him towards the castle, where Naples' forces lie in wait.'''

'''With Nogai Khan's invasion of Poland becoming a point of contention among his more cynical generals, along with his conversion to Christianity, many of Nogai Khan's forces are beginning to become disinterested in the war. However, this reaches a tipping point when Toqta Khan, rival to Nogai, challenges the leader for control of the Khanate, raising 30,000 men to aid him.'''

'''Bohemia's back-and-forth through Poland leaves the Polish people incredibly disheartened. Polish natives begin to leave the armies, uninterested in what future Wenceslaus holds for the Polish people.'''

'''Outraged at the violence against Muslims committed by the Ilkhanate, a revolt in Baghdad springs up. The rebels quickly take the city and prepare to hold out. Many others flock to the Mamluk banners. Others still flee to India with a wave of Buddhists.'''
 * Kingdom of Sweden: With the siege of Eric's outnumbered and isolated army trapped in Sonderborg Castle continuing, the Danish and Swedish leaders meet to discuss strategy. In order to address the issue of supplies, King Birger orders the Swedish fleet blockading Sonderborg Castle to also begin transporting supplies from Sweden to the Swedish camp. This is to help mitigate the fact that the surrounding countryside is now stripped bare. A constant stream of supplies begins arriving steadily and reliably in the Dano-Swedish allied camp, effectively solving the supply-related issues. Additionally, the Danish nobles are asked to provide more supplies from their holdings and the Danish nobles are also asked to raise more feudal levies [MOD RESPONSE ON WHETHER THEY DO]. Danish nobles are also sent to gather supplies from the countryside. The nation unites behind King Christopher, now recognized by nearly all of Denmark as the rightful king. Most of the countryside and the peasantry are now firmly under Christopher's control, as the peasants support Christopher as the rightful King. Additionally, to make up for the previous losses suffered during the winter, King Birger sends a letter to Queen Martha in Stockholm asking her to dispatch more men. The Queen turns to the Finnish territories and hires 6,000 additional Finnish tribal warriors as mercenaries and dispatches them to Sonderborg to help with the siege there and to replenish the Swedish numbers. To help pay for these mercenaries, Sweden asks Milan for a loan [MILAN RESPONSE NEEDED]. Seeking to weaken the rebel Eric's forces in the castle, the allied army besieging the castle begins dispatching agents to infiltrate the castle by scaling the walls alone at night. These agents are then instructed to burn the granaries and supply dumps of the castle garrison. Additionally, the King begins construction of several siege engines around the castle, specifically trebuchets. The trebuchets are ordered to fire dead and rotting livestock into the castle along with wooden barrels full of human feces in the hopes of spreading disease amongst the crowded castle. [MOD RESPONSE ON THESE EFFORTS, PLEASE] *SECRET* King Christopher also makes an offer to the German mercenaries in the castle. Christopher offers to pay them double of what they were promised by Eric if they open the gates to the castle and/or fight for Christopher, or if they manage to hand Eric over to Christopher's forces. *SECRET* King Christopher also publicly promises leniency to any followers of Eric in the castle, saying that his fight is only with the rebel Eric and that he does not wish to spill Danish blood. The King also points out to the men in the castle that Eric has been officially excommunicated and as such they owe him no allegiance and by fighting for him they are jeopardizing their entry to heaven. [MOD RESPONSE ON SUCCESS OF OFFERS]. 
 * Milan response: Multiple Milanese bankers are dispatched to finalize the details of the loan.
 * Levies raise an additional 2,500 troops. Diseases spread in the castle and spread to various parts of Jutland
 * Kingdom of Naples : With the Sicilian Army successfully being lured towards the fortress, the Army of Charles II (45,000 Men) await the forces of Fredrieck III at his fortress near Potenza as Charles II’s Army prepare for a seige while his son Robert heads to the Papal States and France to seek the support of the Pope and the King of France while Phillip begins assembling a new army this time composed of volunteers as he also assembles a new Neapolitan Fleet of 45 Galleys  in Naples in preparation for a Naval Offensive against the Sicilians. With the Greek States withdrawing their forces , Charles II looks for new opportunities for support and turns to the Kingdom of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Hungary (Given that Charles II’s wife is from the ruling house in Hungary) as the King asks for the support of these nations against the Sicilian Rebels (Hungarian and Cyprus Response needed). With this Charles II in his fortress awaits the Sicilian Armies as his troops prepare for a long siege.
 * Kingdom of Denmark: With the rebels only having control of Zealand, the peasantry responds to the call of rallying against the nobles, as Eric and his supporters portray the war as being against the abuse of the nobles as well as against the foreign Swedish invader. The fact that the Swedes did not take the castle and the Danish Army is heroically making a stand against the foreign invader is extolled by Eric's supporters traveling in the countryside, rallying the peasantry to their cause. Most of the peasantry does not support the occupying and invading Swedes and rallies to the rightful King in response, also not having a good view of the magnates. Having executed the most powerful and influential nobles that had the biggest assets to begin with, the remaining nobles do not have significant holdings, and since the Danish court took direct control of the executed magnates' properties and wealth many of the lands have been placed under direct control of the Crown. The Danish-German force at Sønderborg continues defending from Swedish attacks, using different tactics to fight the siege, heavy patrols continue overnight to stop any attempts by Swedish infiltrators to enter the castle, as well as the castle itself remaining under heavy guard. Peasant levies and volunteers from other parts of the country, and forces sneaking out of the castle at night, raid the Swedish camps, targeting their food, siege engines, and other supplies in burning. Meanwhile, Danish ships continue harass and raid Swedish vessels from the various islets and islands of Denmark. The Danish navy also remains loyal to the King and carries out its attacks to sabotage the Swedes' supply lines and communications, which are especially important now that the Swedes are becoming isolated in a drawn out siege in Denmark, far away from their homeland. (Mod Response on success of the naval raids) Agents also continue efforts to stoke paranoia and infighting among the remaining nobles that back Christopher, targeting both the usurper and enemy commanders with assassinations and circulating offers for the remaining nobles to be pardoned of the crime of high treason for siding with the foreign state of Sweden if they realign themselves with the King – moreover, it is emphasized that Eric only had a problem with those magnates that used their wealth to oppose the Crown, who were all executed, and the remaining nobles would be allowed to keep their wealth and titles. (Mod Response on the success of the sabotage efforts and offers) King Eric does not want to do damage to the Danish kingdom and would prefer that the nobles rejoin him to expel the Swedish invader, now that the foreign power is occupying Danish land.
 * County of Holstein: Count Henry and other nobles in Holstein, owing their positions in large part to Eric, continue supporting the King with their 2,500 native Holsteinian troops, in addition to the 1,700 mercenaries from other North German states that they helped hire on Eric's behalf.
 * Mali Empire: Mansa Sakoura was greatly pleased by the alliance established with Morocco, one which would would last all the way to the end of the dynasty. The Atlantic caravan trade route had been secured, not only protecting the vast income of Mali's exports, but also allowing faster communication to the Atlantic, although this latter trait would not be realized for some time. Sakoura then sought to establish a similar alliance with the Mamluk Sultanate of Cairo, ensuring that the eastern Caravan Trade is equally protected going from Mali across the Kanem and Fezzan plains to the Nile Delta [MOD RESPONSE]. This would be crucial for Egypt's perspective, as the lucrative exports of Mali's gold, copper and salt was indispensible for Egypt's livelihood. Sakoura also sought to contact Egypt for the sake of diplomacy to the Abbasid Caliphate residing in Cairo. It appears that the criticism against Sakoura's piety had some merit, possibly arising from a questionable use of his female slaves. For that reason, Sakoura offered a military alliance as well, such that if the Caliph or any of the Holy Sites are in danger, he will send whatever support he can. On top of all this, Sakoura made preparations for making pilgrimage to the holy lands of Mecca and Medina himself, as is customary of all Sunni Muslims. Late that year, Sakoura placed his son Somaoro as viceroy in Niani, and led a vast caravan of his wealth across the Sahara desert to Egypt. Meanwhile, Musa and his mother Sogolon journeyed for many days until they settled in the Kingdom of Gobir, just out of reach of the borders of Mali pressing into OTL Niger. Musa was entertained as a guest by the King of Gobir, and allowed to remain in his realm as he continued to grow and mature.
 * Marinids of Sultanate: We call Mali empire for Mali supporter for supporting our conquest of granada and restoring of it we need a mali supporter soldier warrior that could beat our invader neighbor European (Player Reponse) 
 * Mali response: Mansa Sakoura sends 7,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry to the aid of our ally, for the good of Islam


 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa"John of Mallines is recognised as legitimate by the papacy, he is now recognised by the pope as a son of duke John I of Brabant. John II and John of Mallines are recognised brother in the face of the papacy, But john II now asks the holy roman emperor to recognise this fact too(Mod response).This request has been repeated as the emperor has told that only after a papal recognition would he recognise John of Mallines as legitimate.With this action duke John II informs his now Brother, that if he seeks independence. Or resist the overlords of Liege that the Brabantine Nobility would support this move fully.As Brabant belives that mallines is in fact the centre of the lowlands,Not the most powerfull state but still centraly located and rich.The Mansion of Heyste ten Berge keeps being build with Wool being imported from England to make the great woolen wall carpets and other woollen items , and a specialy made woolen flag of Heyst ten Berge for the local lord.This Symbolic gift is made because John II just made sure that Heyst could in fact fly this flag.The duke wanting to rule Lotharingia once more , begins to ask foreign powers such as France, England ,Bohemia and the Papacy to recognise the title and lands of Loharingia duke for John II and his descendents(English, French, Bohemian and papal Response). With the Hollandish noble house just having died out  ,John II of Brabant asumes the tittle of Count John II of Holland and Count John II of Zeeland. With this John II Promises new rights to cities like being allowed to build a wall and have a own town guard , but also the right to have locals nobles and people of importance represent their city to the duke.For the Merchants he promises to listen more to their advice have less import and export fees and even none for goods going from Holland to the others parts of the Brabantine Realm. While for the Nobility John II promises that he or his succesor will create a form of Noble,merchant and city representation towards the duke, and possibly give some jobs to just nobility.Duke John requests that first of all the Hollandic and zeelandic Nobility recognises him John II of Holland and Zeeland(Mod response).The duke of Brabant John II also requests from the papal states , England, Scotland, France and any other states to recognise John II as count of Holland (Papal,English,French, and scotish Response).Duke John II even asking the nobility to ready their arms for if need be , that some Brothers in Holland Reject the office of John II ,This being aided by millitary reforms making it so that the Brabantine army is ready for the going. Lotharingia is on John II mind a union of feudal states under one Duke who treats all fair and just.
 * Edward, king of England, recognizes John of Mallines as Count of Holland and Zeeland
 * Emperor Albert Habsburg legitimizes John of Mallines
 * Jarldom of Greenland: Jarl Eric orders a secret meeting for all inhabitants to beld held in the village of Bratthild to discuss the future of the jarldom and other things.In the meeting it is decided that if Norway is attacked by an foreign power,greenland will declare indepednece.Other things decided is that a commite on how to best adapt to the weather is to be formed.
 * Papal Response: We do not recognize John II as Count of Holland, Lotharingia, and Zeeland, due to the fact that John does not rule over these regions.
 * Lordship of Milan: Matteo Visconti makes a proposal to the Bohemian king Wenceslas II to have Matteo’s second daughter Beatrice and Wenceslas’ eldest son be married to bind the two countries more truly and increase relations even further. (Bohemian response needed) The money continues to flow throughout Milan with the access to Bohemian silver allowing for better control of currency, which leads to better business. The war between Venice and Genoa causes some minor concerns in Milan as the Milanese don’t want to choose a side but would rather focus on their own matters. A debate springs up between farmers near Piacenza as to where exactly the boundary between the two nations lies. This is a matter which has yet to be settled with a couple Milanese farmers going and discussing with mercenary groups to end the drama by pushing into Piacenza land. Nothing comes of this as of yet but the drama makes a still sick Matteo even more nervous. Matteo ends up recovering enough to lead his nation again in August of this year. These various sickness worry Matteo’s family as well as many members of the country. In Poland the Italian mercenaries are getting highly valued experience and Matteo’s eldest son has been promoted to where he leads a third of the Thousand lances into battle. As for the Danish conflicts the Bankers declare they will not assist the excommunicated king and instead only finance either the nobles or no one.
 * Bohemian Dip: In an effort to improve relations with Milan an engagement between Wenceslaus the younger, and one of the Lord's daughter's is made, and a request to hire milanese artists, architects, and bankers to the court of Wenceslaus.
 * Milanese Dip: We happily accept all of these and propose Catherine who is 13 and already extremely pretty as a potential prospect for the engagement.
 * Republic of Genoa: Although these two years have been tumultuous for the Republic, a period of relative peace has produced the satisfaction of the heart of the duke and the main leaders of the armed forces of Genoa. However, that does not justify that the Genoese army does not debate lowering its guard especially in the Aegean Sea due to Venetian robberies towards the merchant galleys, not counting the site in the Rock of Monaco, the war with Venice has stalled at one point dead by which neither side has organized a significant contest to gain some advantage over his rival. Because of this, the duke and families have gone to Pisa to sign a "pact" between the republics whereby Pisa will stop financing the enemies of the Republic of Genoa (Venice, Sinucello della Roca and secretly Monaco) and will pay tribute to Genoa due to its economic crisis in exchange for Genoa providing protection in case of any invasion or attack on Pisa and free access and circulation through the Western Mediterranean. Having gained an important advantage in the fight for the Rock of Monaco (Mod response as Pisa), the Duke has ordered Benedetto I Zaccaria and supported Lamba Doria on the site of Monaco along with 48 galleys that were built the previous year and another 65 which are planned to have built for the new next year. Meanwhile, although the tax increase has come to cover part of the losses, the money collected does not cover the expenses generated by the construction of galleys and the increase in the arsenal to equip troops and mercenaries. Therefore, the Genoese bankers have informed the main Milanese banks to apologize for not paying the daily fee of the loan of 1296 (Milan response).
 * Pisa submits to the demands of Genoa without a struggle
 * Papal States: We refuse to crown Albert I of the House of Habsburg, our reasoning being that he is a Ghibbeline. We want the interregnum to continue as long as it could possibly be. In Southern Italy, the Pope recognizes Frederick III as king of Sicily. As for the Swedish-Danish war, we send the Swedes our blessing, but opt out of fighting. We officially recognize that the fief of Ireland has a duke. We start to train our men with swords, cannons, and ships to prepare for the "10th Crusade". We are also worried about the transition from a maritime republic to a monarchy.
 * Crown of Aragon: following some years since Frederick III began his campaign against Naples, James remained Idol in hopes of gaining much time for preparations and decision making well aware of the move he was proceeding to make. in James mind following the Sicilian resentment to reunify with Naples that it would be worth defending the sibling and member of the House of Barcelona that rules over the island territory still. These thoughts spark a thought with a message relayed to the Papacy for a new treaty to be signed in Zaragoza between the Papacy, Aragon,Sicily, and Naples. The treaty includes recognition of Frederick III as King of Sicily, Recognition of The Kingdom of Sicily, and The House of Barcelona's rule over Sicily (Player Response). The marriage between Isabella remain steady with a bond set up with Castile between the Houses of Barcelona and Trastamara. Beyond this, a new spark for scholarly efforts within the church and abroad attract James to allow the funding for what will be called the University of Zaragoza. The foundations are put in place and construction efforts begin. Crop Production is expanded amongst countryside as land develops further. Profits from trade continue to increase the accumulated wealth of Aragon. Plans for the construction of a widely established road network stretching across from along the coast of Aragon which would in Barcelona, connect to a secondary portion of road that would lead to Zaragoza and branch off to various portions of the kingdom from that point in efforts to increase connectivity and efficiency this project is led by the De La Rosa family who have recently risen to modest wealth in the portion of development even assisting in the construction of the University of Zaragoza due to their fortune.
 * Republic of Venice: Seeing the Genoese coming closer with the Byzantines, the Doge and the governing oligarchs seek for allies. For one, the Greek state of Achaea is asked for an alliance, or at least minor aid to secure the routes from the Adriatic sea to Candia (ACHAEAN RESPONSE, PLEASE). Another option would be help from the Kingdom of Naples, though they are not expected to be able to answer properly, regarding their war in Sicily. However, the Napolitalians are offered to hire 30 Venetian manned ships to fight for around 35,000 gold ducats (NAPLES ANSWER, PLEASE). Seeing smaller harvests in Central and Western Europe and a need for cloth with rising populations all over Europe, the Venetian colonies and Venicia itself encourage the production of grain and linen for export, giving lower taxes to farmers and manufacturers who produce said products. In Candia in particular, grain and olive oil are used for export, while linen are primarily produced in Italy. SECRET The war with Genoa demands new tactics, and the Venetian high command agrees one two things: the halt of any active attacks and the bounty on any ship with a Genoan flag. A bounty on any Genoan war or merchant ship is given, with 100 Ducates given upon the captain, five ducats for every additional captured crew member and 500 Ducates for every ship that can be handed over to Venetian authorities. The Venetion warships themselves are kept on their own territory, luring small Genoan parties into the Adria and fighting them there on home terrain. SECRET END The talks with the Milanese bankers go well, it is planned to expand the Arsenal itself rather than the fleet, where the number of new ships would be cut to just 120, while the Arsenal receives a majority of the funding. Lowered interest rates are asked for, in exchange for a free access to the sea for Milan for 15 years (MILAN RESPONSE NEEDED) Attempts are made to unify the lands that were previously under the rule of the Doge as Duke of Istria and Dalmatia. The Pope is asked to permit the annexation of the Istrian peninsula, including the area around the Gulf of Tireste (PAPAL RESPONSE NEEDED). Meanwhile, pressure is put on Padua and Verona, with forts and garrisons being built and manned near the border to their lands.
 * Papal Response: We permit the annexation of Istria and Trieste, but on one condition, which is for the Serene Republic maintaining the republic status.
 * Neapolitan Response: We accept the Venetian offer.
 * Bohemia-Poland: Following the loss at Lublin, Wenceslaus II undergoes a profound change having nearly falling to the sword a few times during the battle. He takes the time to speak and interact with the survivors of the brutal battle, and furthermore he makes the decision to send a small parcel of money to assist the families of the deceased, and to assist the Polish in returning to normalcy. He returns to Krakow were  trying to  disbands the levies but keeps some small garrisons of rotating levies and mercenaries along with an expanded royal guard made up predominantly of the members of the lower nobility to garrison and protect his domains. He thanks King Albert for his support and extends a formal gesture of friendship by suggesting an engagement between one of each of their children, as well as promising to come to the aid of Albert should he call on it (mod response). He also makes overtures to the Polish nobility in particular to Wladyslaw Elbow-High in the form of making him a member his court, and by granting him extra lands though being careful not to grant any estates that might increase his power base. He calls a great meeting nobles of both Bohemia, and Poland and presents to the them with a Charter akin to the English Manga Carta, enshrining the rights of the nobles, guilds, and burghers and promoting regular Sejm sessions to consult with the great houses on the ruling of his domains, and He also goes about trying to improve accessibility to basic needs such as justice, and churches. Wenceslaus II commissions the construction of a large Fortress in Krakow and stronger fortifications along the Vistula, and along the border between Lesser Poland and Ruthenia. He also commissions for the construction of new churches, and infrastructure overall. Construction of the Kutna Hora mine begins with exploitation of the silver begins slowly but steadily, plans to build a mint are made as well. An envoy is sent to Nogai Khan asking the Mongol to reach a peace agreement (KK response). Efforts to improve and promote a growth in trade and a restoration of agricultural productivity lead to the continued and expanded promotion of settlers from other parts of the HRE to settle in both Poland and in Bohemia.
 * Emperor Albert agrees to solidify an alliance, and offers his eldest son Rudolf to marry a daughter of Wenceslas that he chooses
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: With defensive fortification production going well, and with the recent front opened last year by 4,500 Cypriot, it is re-upped by an additional 7,500 forces to land at Gaza with the Papal forces. With the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar both stationed in Cyprus, they've managed to once again aid in the now more thought-out and planned crusade, as a way of taking revenge for the recent losses in the region as well as to better than stance as a religious military order in Europe. They both are armed, 1,500 each, and aid in the conflict by helping the southern front alongside Papal and Cypriot forces. Combined with the Papal States, this brings total troop numbers attacking to 20,500. The naval forces also aiding the conflict number twenty-two strong. Although losing the territorial legitimacy over the Henry II's claim as the King of Jerusalem, the recent conflict in the 10th crusade have allowed for his legitimacy to be seen effectively, especially with the support from the eastern power that is the Ilkhanate and the western support from the Pope himself. Known Muslims in the Kingdom are exiled to the Sultanate of Rum as the Kingdom begins transitioning into a theocratically-based monarchy.The defensive fortification production slows down slightly due to the concurrent crusade, but are still expected to be completed by 1330.
 * Kingdom of England: After their stunning victory in Scotland and the sack of Edinburgh, Edward Convenes an assembly of all Scottish Lords who renew their fealty to him at Glasgow. The Question of the succession did come up, but Edward realized something. While Scotland needed a king...eventually...where's the hurry really to crown one. Proper protocol must be followed you see and the case of Edward Balliol has not been sorted just yet, especially with an auspicious anniversary year just around the corner: 1300. Edward Balliol's case is solved rather quickly, mind you, with the boy receiving a Royal Pardon in exchange for renouncing the Throne. As such, he is not executed alongside Robert the Bruce, who draws his final breath this year in London as the axe fell upon his head. With that, the Scottish Lords  all pledge their Loyalty once more to the Lord Paramount of Scotland, Edward. Partly out of fear of what shall happen if they do not. The Lands of the Bruces are officially confiscated and forfeited for treason and redistributed amongst the Loyal Lords, Especially Ingram de Umfraville who is given the Earldom of Carrick as a reward for pledging early.  Meanwhile, legal Scholars research on which mechanisms may be used to eventually unite the Scottish and English crowns. Edward Issues a writ of summons for a Scottish Parliament in December for a sitting in March 1300 to begin to discuss the Kingship and the Succession to the Scottish Throne. The English army keeps a small presence in Scotland, while 4,000 troops are sent to Ireland to help deal with the Rebellious Lords who refuse to bend the knee and swear fealty to Edward. Along with the Army are sent messengers describing what happened to Edinburgh, which was a city of Rebels. Meanwhile, peaceful relationships with the Dutch are pursued and plans are drawn up to both subdue the remaining independent Welsh Principalities and the Irish petty kingdoms to make Edward the undisputed Ruler of the British Isles.
 * Kingdom of France: Having been at war for almost nine years now, but failing to take any action for only God knows what reason, king Philip the Fair decides to finally take initiative. Seeing as France has ownership of most of the fortified points in Gascony, Philip simply sends a force of 12,000 men to capture the rest. They are under Charles de Valois, Guy I de Clermont, and Raoul II de Clairmont, and are instructed to seize points along the Garonne river, then place 3,000 men in garrison at Bourg to prevent taking of the town. 10 galleys are put in harbour at Bourg to block any English fleets. [Mod response svp]
 * Edward I, having pacified Robert's Rebellion up in scotland, is alarmed that the French King has, seemingly for no discernible reason, seen fit to invade and take ownership of the land that rightfully belongs to the Duke of Guyenne, Edward. As a vassal, and given that Philip has seen to give no reason as to why the lands are confiscated, Edward can only assume that this is to consolidate Royal Power in France as an act of Tyranny. Quickly, Edward gives orders to fortify Guyenne and orders the local administration to raise 10,000 men in levies. The English King issued an editct demainding that the Coastal towns of England provide them with one ship each due to this invasion, to be commuted for a cash payment if necessary (i.e., I just demanded ship money except unlike Charles I, I actually want the ships). For the moment, no taxes or duties excepting ship money are expected from the Scots, but they are told to prepare to muster for war should it drag out very long. With the new ships, the English fleet, carrying 5,000 men to reinforce them from the mainland. Plans are drawn up to land another 5,000 at Pas-de-Calais to fortify the English positions there before meeting up with allies. The Scottish Lords are told that in light of this French aggression, their coronation might have to wait. Letters are sent off to all French Lords claiming that Philip "the fair" is acting in a tyrannical manner and only wanting to take Guyenne for himself, even while Edward was a faithful vassal in his French holdings. Edward makes the case for all French nobility and rise up against this injustice, taking special note to invite the Count of Toulouse, Duke of Burgundy and Count of Auvergne, hoping to leverage them onto the English side, stoking fears that their lands may be next on the confiscation chopping block. "Protect your rights and join me in fighting against a tyrant who shirks his dues as feudal overlord by attacking his innocent vassals!" Edward places specific emphasis on the fact that Philip, King of France, provided no justification except seemingly "Because I can"(paraphrase) as the reason for breaking his feudal vows to protect, and not attack, his vassal.  [Mod response required]
 * Kamakura Japan: As the various daimyo have spent years preparing for war the Shogun officially takes his stand hoping to disarm the rebellious Daimyo. Shogun Hisaaki marshals 25,000 men and marches the army against the Dewa family which has taken the only steps towards overt seizure of the Shogunate. the Dewa had mobilized nearly 10,000 of their own troops but with their recent alliance with the Ashikaga and Hoko families it has become clear the Dewa are the ones having curried enough favors to establish themselves as the main successor to the current Shogunate hoping to replace Kamakura with the Dewa. The initial plan would have been to march on the Capital and seize the Emperor and thus the mantle of Shogun. However, with the Kamakura Shogun barreling down on him, the usurper began his campaign. Now with 23,000 of his own and his allies forces the two armies meet within distance of the Imperial capital. As the battle is joined the Emperor not wishing to go to either side willingly and ironically against the wills of the Shogun brings together his own forces and allies. 10,000 men are levied as Speak militias with nearly 5,000 Samurai in support and about 3,000 samurai cavalry as well. Bringing together the various families not pledged to either side, the Emperor joins the battle late in the day slamming into both sides. The war officially becomes three way however, as the battle ends, it's clear none of the belligerents have secured a decisive or strategic victory. This, however, brings the Shogun, the Emperor, and the Dewa clan to negotiations in Kyoto about various roles and demands. They spend the rest of the year negotiating which grows ever more heated as the council of nobles is convened as the negotiations were on going turning into all the Daimyo accusing each other, forming secret alliances, and looking to explicitly exploit the incoming warring states period and take frontier and fringe daimyo and attempt to become relevant. The weakening of the three main combatants has left a clear power vacuum as it effectively puts everyone on the same playing field. As the negotiations break down at the end of the year, Emperor Go-Uda solidifies his coalition and declares himself independent of the Shogun managing to implement proper taxes on the manorial system and various daimyo who declare themselves for the Imperial restoration movement. With the declaration of Emperor Go-Uda the Shogun Hisaaki denounces this as do the Dewa. However, as other Daimyo begin to mobilize on eachother, the Sengoku period has begun.
 * Principality of Achaea: This year is a year of continued investment in the local administrative efforts. Led by Prince Florent of Hainaut and Princess Isabella of Villehardouin, the principality continues to recover from the costly war effort in Italy. Nicholas III of Saint Omer, the marshal of Achaea, returns from France with a stop in Venice. While there, he seeks to negotiate the transfer of Modon and Coron from Venice to Achaea, promising that the ports will remain open to Venetian commerce (VENICE RESPONSE). This is done as Genoa aligns itself with Byzantium in the alliance forged in 1298 - effectively closing off any opportunitites for Achaea to remain neutral in the conflict between the two trading powers. Meanwhile, Florent decides to visit his future son-in-law, Guy II de la Roche, Duke of Athens. While in Thebes (the capital of the Duchy), Florent works on behalf of his daughter, Matilda, to promote even more trade between the two crusader states. As more Orthodox priests and Greek dynatoi learn Latin, the Archbishop of Patras initiates a reciprocal learning process, so his priests can learn Greek.
 * Nogai Khan: A glorious victory has been achieved against the Coalition of Central Europe in Lublin, proving Nogai's prowess and power in the battlefield, finding a reborn confidence in himself and his men, when before he was uncertain he'd even make it out the battle alive prior to engaging the Coalition, but all his fears are now killed with all the men he killed in the battle. Though victory has been achieved, the will to continue the war in Poland has waned, further compounded by the news of Toqta Khan, the very man Nogai was instrumental in placing to the throne, is raising an army to conquer his lands. In light of this, the Polish diplomats are accepted into Lublin to discuss and form the Treaty of Lublin, with Hungarian, Austrian, Byzantine, and Ruthenian diplomats also invited to attend. As the Treaty commences, hostilities between the two sides ceases, both losing the will to wage war. As such, Nogai leaves Poland to reenter his domain, upon which the Russian principalities reaffirm their loyalty to Nogai, praising his conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy and his victory against the Catholic heretics in Lublin, with some even hailing Nogai Khan as "Tsar", promising to devote their forces to help Nogai defeat Toqta on the battlefield. News reaches Nogai that Temur Khan's forces are besieging Samarkand, and urges Toqta to unite with him to defend Samarkand lest the Yuan Dynasty descends upon a divided Golden Horde next. (MOD RESPONSE, PLEASE) Nogai's army spends the year preparing for war, whether against the armies of Toqta Khan or Temur Khan, they are ready to defend from any and all forces who wish to destroy them and their Khan.
 * Lordship of Ireland: After receiving 4,000 troops from the Scottish campaign the Duke calls up 4,000 soldiers from Ireland as well to fight Connacht and Thormond. Broken into three forces with 2,000 English and Irish soldiers starting at Limerick, 2,000 at Kinvarra, Galway and 4,000 at Athlone. The Duke states his desire to seize half of Thormond as a preventive measure against an invasion by Thormond leaving the west of it still under Gaelic rule. The forces at Kinvarra and Limerick start advancing along the coast to Lahinch and Clarecastle with infantry screening the flanks inland and cavalry as outriders. In the event of a field battle the attack goes with longbows on the flanks and men at arms in the centre for defence or longbows firing first if they're in close formation followed by a cavalry charge in attack unless they're not in close order then a cavalry attack first. Once arriving at Clarecastle and Lahinch construction of ring forts begins and takes a week with a four-metre ditch and embankment followed by a three-metre palisade and inside a wooden keep. 50 men are left to garrison each ringfort and the armies move cross country to meet up but first establishing another two ringforts at Monreel south and Derula leaving 50 men at each. Having cut the Kingdom of Thormond in half the remaining 3,800 men work their way back and begin securing the eastern half of the Kingdom of Thormond with aggressive encastellation. The 4,000 at Athlone stand ready to respond to any incursion by Connacht or the other Gaelic kingdoms into the Lordship of Ireland.


 * Georgia: With the fall of Kutaisi, Constantine I and most of his court are captured. They are brought to and detained in the border city of Gori, though it is stressed that as relatives of the King (both are members of the Bagrationi family), they will not be harmed and treated with respect and dignity. The rest of Western Georgia is expected to fall with limited resistance (MOD RESPONSE). Despite growing tensions between the Ilkhanate and the Golden Horde (specifically between Baidu and Nogai), the Georgian clergy praises its (nominal) conversion to Orthodoxy. About 5,000 cavaliers, most of which are young and/or landless martial nobility, are sent – under their own volition – to aid the Ilkhanate in Baghdad. The young George V is sent to observe so that he can gain experience from war. Minor administrative reforms are enacted in Imereti: regions are redrawn with some being consolidated and others split, though most dukes and other administrators remain power as to appease them. With the success of the horse–archers, a new body known as the Naqivcharaqi (though distinct from Georgian Kipchaks) is established, which will complement the heavily-armed Monaspa. It will consist of 5,000 regular troops. Many Georgian Kipchaks nevertheless join to acquire prestige. They are generally stationed outside of the capital and serve to ensure order within the hinterland – contrast, the Monaspa ensure order within the capital and have a dual role as bodyguars.

1300
'''The dawn of a new century is marked by Pope Boniface VIII declaring a jubilee year. This marks the first Christian jubilee, and is aimed at promoting unity among Christendom and the forgiveness of sins to pilgrims who visit the holy city of Rome.'''

'''With Naples' victory in Potenza, Frederick III marches his army back to the south of Italy. He is emboldened by Pope Boniface VIII's abrogation of the Treaty of Anagni and recognition of Frederick as rightful King of Sicily. His forces continue to occupy much of southern Italy.'''

'''In northern Italy, the war between Venice and Genoa continues to rage. This has opened an opportunity for the Milanese to serve as bankers to much of Europe. However, the number of loans being issued by the bank houses of Milan are quickly growing to be vast. In nearby Siena, the Gran Tavola bank fails which leads to a chain reaction and a speculative crisis. Many creditors fear that the costly wars in northern Europe and southern Europe will prove too costly. (Currency debasement penalty for Milan, Genoa, Denmark, Bohemia, Papal States, and Sweden).'''

'''With Bohemia experiencing economic troubles and a lack of credit, the election of a king of Poland is a much closer-run contest. Władysław the Elbow-high, who nominally supported Wenceslaus of Bohemia, comes only a few votes shy of Wenceslaus. The nation remains under split occupation, however, with the Golden Horde still possessing parts of the country.'''

'''The Golden Horde has its own challenges, however. Toqta Khan begins to make serious progress against the overstretched Horde, with his forces riding towards Sarai Batu, the capital of the Khanate. As he has gone unchallenged this past year, he has gained greater momentum as well with his troops now numbering 35,000.'''

'''Like its fellow Horde to the north, the Ilkhanate is also experiencing severe challenges. In the Sultanate of Rûm, the arrival of Muslims from Cyprus along with the Armenian Christian missionaries leads to a boiling over of tensions. With Kayqubad III's reliance on Mongol traditions, rather than Turko-Persian culture, he sees his realm fall into a civil war - led by Osman Gazi.'''

'''Elsewhere in the Ilkhanate, the unchecked revolt in Baghdad has led to the formation of a temporary theocratic Muslim government based out of that city. The Abbasid Caliph, a puppet of the Mamluks, calls upon all righteous Muslims to engage in subversion and internal war against the Christianizing Ilkhanate. The call is taken up by Öljaitü, brother of Ghazan.'''

The Indian subcontinent sees a small change in the balance of power, as Delhi annexes Gujarat.

'''The scene after the Battle of Sønderborg is one of absolute horror. According to a priest in the castle, the battlefield is strewn with frozen corpses huddled around burned-out fires, putrid fields of bones from human and animal alike, and objects of any kind with bite marks or teeth left from where some soul grew desperate and hungry enough to eat anything for nourishment. If rumors are to be believed, murders of crows circle the devastated castle. Dante Aligheri would write later on this event, depicting Erik VI as an Antichrist. Sønderborg remains in a dire situation, with Swedes and Danish nobles regrouping to finish the job off.'''

'''As soon as John I of Holland had died, the vast majority of nobles in Holland and Zeeland recognized the Duke of Brabant as the successor. However, John of Hainaut, the regent of Holland, refused to accept this change of dynasty, and mounted 800 retainers in Den Hague. He also began to raise considerable defenses in Hainaut in case of having to fight Brabant on two fronts.'''


 * Kingdom of Sweden: Having decided that the army cannot maintain the siege of Sonderborg Castle for another brutal winter, the allied Dano-Swedish force of 36,000 men decides to relocate north temporarily to regroup and resupply. Before they move north, however, the army makes sure to send raiding parties to every village, town, farm and market south of the Tonder River. These raiding parties seize any supplies Eric could use from the local peasantry and burn whatever they cannot carry, including crops and animals. The raiding parties thoroughly strip the land bare, effectively preventing Eric from resupplying his forces. With no supplies, Eric's forces in Sonderborg stay in the miserable condition they emerged after the battle. The allied army will then be able to effectively finish off Eric and his starved, battered forces. Laden with supplies plundered from the lands south of the Tonder, the army moves north and camps at Aabenraa. Before leaving, Christopher and Birger also leave dozens of sentries, spies, and riders around Sonderborg castle to monitor Eric’s actions and also report if Eric’s army leaves the castle. Once at Aabenraa the army again sends parties of raiders but to destroy all bridges over the Tonder and sends men to guard the few fords over the river. The army also fortifies Aabenraa, building makeshift fortifications around the town and digging trenches as well as placing stakes around Aabenraa. Additionally, scouts are regularly deployed to patrol the lands south of the Tonder river to continue informing King Birger and Christopher of Eric’s forces’ movements. The Dano-Swedish army plans to effectively trap Eric beneath the Tonder river, where, without supplies or funds, his men will starve. Additionally, by blocking the river the Dano-Swedish Army prevents Eric from communicating with the rest of Denmark and prevents him from raising any more men. Meanwhile, the Danish and Swedish allied commanders learn from their mistakes at the First Siege of Sonderborg and begin amassing a huge amount of supplies at Aabenraa, aiming to have a supply train with enough to last them three years. Additionally, the army takes this time to rest and train. The army also begins cutting down trees to begin constructing siege engines, specifically trebuchets, battering rams, and siege ladders, with the army planning to return to Sonderborg Castle and besiege it in 1301. While the army regroups and resupplies, King Christopher holds Court in Aabenraa, where he hears petitions from peasants, disputes between different towns, and does his best to resolve the situation, under the supervision and counsel of the Danish nobles. King Christopher’s actions in running the Kingdom solidifies his appearance as the King of Denmark, whilst Eric, trapped and starving at Sonderborg castle, seems only a rebel. The Swedish fleet is also concentrated near the coast near Sonderborg Castle, preventing any resupply efforts from the sea. News of the Pope’s blessings reaches the armies, and the morale of the army is raised as King Christopher receives a Dannebrog personally blessed by the Pope himself. A letter with the Dannebrog reads: “As God sent you the first Dannebrog in the Year of Our Lord 1219 to defeat the heathens at the Battle of Lyndanisse, so to do I now send you this Dannebrog to carry into battle against Eric the Anti-Christ and his anti-Christian forces.” The Dannebrog is proudly displayed, and the receipt of the Pope’s gift and blessings raises the army’s morale incredibly high, with many Danish and Swedish nobles and soldiers resolving to fight to the end to dethrone Eric the Heathen. Additionally, news reaches the men of Milan’s refusal to send funds to Eric, further bolstering morale and confirming King Christopher as the rightful King of Denmark. Priests are again sent throughout Denmark to spread news of the Pope’s blessings and gift to King Christopher and further weaken Eric’s support from the peasantry. Now viewed as the anti-Christ and now known by nobles and peasant alike as “Eric the Anti-Christ”, the peasants of Denmark pledge their loyalty to Christopher, who is seen as heroically attempting to fulfill the Pope’s desire to dethrone Eric.


 * Georgia: The fourteenth-century in Georgia begins with a general sense of optimism and renewed confidence in its future. Having successfully reunified Georgia, as well as securing lost territories in Armenia and Shirvani, David VIII is bestowed with the title of "The Great" by the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch. To portray him as a merciful and morally just leader, David VIII frees Constantine I and his court – restoring them their property and wealth while granting them control over khevis (second-level administrative units that are under duchies). This move nevertheless garners much awe and respect; even from Western nobles originally resisting reunification. As per tradition, David VIII continues the patronage of the Gelati and Ikalto monasteries – especially the former, where Queen Tamar the Great's remains are purportedly held. The Georgian army is reduced to regulars; the Monaspa (Royal Guard) and Naqivchaqari amount to 10,000 men each. The forces that constitute the Georgian expedition to the Ilkhanate is replenished and remains stable at ~5,000. The settlements of Batumi and Tskhumi (or Sokhumi) are to be heavily fortified; meanwhile, two fortresses are built in Sumqayit and Gagra, respectively. The rich mineral wealth of the Kartli (copper) and Imereti (silver) regions begin to be more heavily exploited, which together with the incorporation of new taxable subjects have resulted in a recovering Treasury. As a result, the veterans of the War of Reunification are relatively well-paid – though some are also paid in land grants, particularly in the region of Shirvani. A ban is placed on the outflow of bullion (though there are some exceptions) to facilitate the recovery of the Georgian economy. To further expand the tax base, commerce – in particular, external trade – is encouraged. Merchant and craftsmen guilds in the capital of Tbilisi and the port of Batumi proliferate. The main trading goods continue to be wool, felt, wine, and enamels. However, cotton cultivation is encouraged and workshops begin to manufacture silks (using raw silk from the East) due to the vacuum left by the receding Italian merchant republics.
 * Kingdom of Denmark: Having emerged heroically victorious over the Swedish and their auxiliaries, King Eric and the rest of his troops regroup with the Danish navy on the coast nearby and leave Sønderborg for their other fortress of Aalholm Castle in southern Lolland by ship as a large Danish naval attack is launched on the Swedish fleet to keep them occupied. The court reestablishes itself at Aalholm, as word of the devastation caused by the Swedes and the remaining nobles supporting Christopher reaches the other parts of Denmark, causing further hatred and fear of the Swedish invader for the deliberate destruction of the land and causing unnecessary harm to the people. Despite the dispute with the Pope much of the clergy likewise continues to remain loyal to the King, including Martin of Dacia (as in OTL), understanding that the Pope has been deceived by the devil-worshiping nobles and the corrupted Swedish king, and that Eric is in fact doing God's work. Despite all of their empty festivities and celebrating, Christopher and the nobles remain thoroughly unpopular and King Eric is received by the people as the rightful king when he arrives on Lolland with his troops, setting up his court at Aalholm Castle. Eric's preachers and supporters that are traveling throughout Denmark and spread word of the victory at Sønderborg, that in spite of being vastly outnumbered, Eric and his Danish army heroically stood firm and defeated the Swedes, and how can anyone be defeated despite having the advantage and claim to be truly on the side of God? The Swedish foreign invader and the traitor Christopher is only viewed with ever more disgust among the peasantry as the magnates' rebellion has only brought destruction to the land. King Eric and his forces, arriving at Aalholm Castle, recuperate from the losses and begin preparing Aalholm and the rest of Lolland for the inevitable Swedish attack.
 * Kingdom of Sweden: The sentries and spies left around Sonderborg Castle notice the increased activity within the castle and discover Eric the Anti-Christ's army moving out of the castle. The sentries quickly send riders to notify King Christopher and King Birger, who rapidly concentrate their forces, break camp and march south to confront Eric's army in the open. Out of the 36,000 men, 3,000 are sent to secure Sonderborg Castle, abandoned my Eric, to cut off his escape and retreat. The 33,000 men of the allied Dano-Swedish army then ambush Eric's unsuspecting, weakened and tired forces after they leave the castle. Caught out in the open, Eric's diminished forces must now face the allied army in an open battle with no castle to hide behind. Additionally, the blockade by the Swedish fleet means that Eric cannot escape by sailing away, as he has done so cowardly in the past. There is no escape from God's wrath. The Dano-Swedish Army, rested and resupplied and with their morale raised by the Pope's blessing, prepare for battle with Eric the Anti-Christ.
 * Yuan China: The siege of Samarakand continues, with Temür Khan ordering his men to continue entrenching themselves around the city and killing any messengers and spies that attempt to escape. The offer of support from Nogai Khan is accepted by Temür Khan, who believes that the support from his fellow khan was directed by Christ himself. Though a hard fought battle, the outcome in favor of his army has convinced Temür Khan that the crucifix handed to him by the Nestorian monks was indeed imbued with the holy power of God and the Virgin Mary. With such divine intervention on his behalf from the Lord Jesus, Temür Khan resolves to completely accept Christ into his life and become a warrior of God in Asia. He instructs the Christian clerics captured during the campaign into Chagatai to baptize both him and his men in the nearby Zeravshan River, and orders his men to join him in the baptism as well, proclaiming that Jesus Christ has given their enemy into their hands, and that with Christ, the rest of Asia shall follow. Thus, high off of their recent victory, the Mongol and Chinese warriors with the emperor shout in favor of the proclamation, and jump into the river as well, likewise believing that the battle was given to their emperor by Christ, and that the defeat of the Chagatai Mongols was the result of their being forsaken by Tengri. To commemorate the result, the emperor instructs that a small Christian shrine be constructed on the battlefield, and hands it over to the Christian leaders who baptized him in the river. Temür Khan rationalizes that the Heavenly Father Tengri and the Earth Mother Eje must surely have been Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary all along, with several of his generals stating that they likely withdraw their blessings from the Chagatai Mongols for failing to acknowledge this truth, and thus sent the Yuan armies to destroy them for their impertinence. This belief is encouraged by the Christian monks present within the Yuan forces, who see this rationalization as an effective means by which to introduce the Christian faith into Mongol ranks and spread it among the Chinese. Temür Khan sends a letter back to the imperial court and his fellow Christian sympathizers within its ranks regarding the victory at Samarkand and his public conversion and baptism into the faith. While he notes that the soldiers with him have fully embraced the faith, but warns the court that there may be those within the ranks of the commoners who do not respect his position as emperor well enough to properly remember their place within the hierarchy of Yuan-dominated China. As such, Chinese soldiers who had been fond of the Christian faith after it was reintroduced into the empire by the Mongols fifty years ago, have been reorganized into wholly Christian units, and rotated into the imperial army and reserve forces surrounding Beijing in preparation for the emperor's return. Back in China proper, the development of the continues as usual, with new towns and infrastructure being developed to accommodate the new lands in the north under the provincial administrations there. The Liaoyang province continues to encourage the development of settled communities in Manchuria, with new roads and inns being built to help accommodate the influx of trade from the south, as well as the movement of nomadic settlers from the north. These individuals are attracted to the possibility of earning a decent income from the new urban expansion programs in Acheng and the surrounding environs, as well as the rural development to help sustain the towns going up within the central basin region. In the Lingbei province, several thousand households have settled down within the walls of Karakorum and Uliastai, where trade into the region has prompted a large amount of wealth to be spread into the province for the people to attain for themselves. This has attracted many Chinese subjects to migrate into the region as with Manchuria to take advantage of the new opportunities available to them in the area. Naval expansion continues as usual, with a seven wei of vessels and crewmen added to the fleets of China. Another 200,000 Chinese soldiers have been drilled in the new system of military doctrine in use within the Yuan army, and are assigned to their various posts throughout the country by the Ministry of War. Several of the units consist of mixed ethnic groups speaking the common Han Chinese language, and are assigned to the two northern provinces where they will begin garrisoning the new towns under expansion there. In particular, one of the 10,000-man strong wàn assigned to the Lingbei Province has been composed of a nearly equal mix of Mongols, Han Chinese, Koreans, Yue, Miao and Uyghurs, all speaking Mandarin Chinese as per the direction of the Ministry of War. It is hoped that this system will become more widespread throughout China, serving as an example of the empire Temür Khan wishes to build. Within Korea, the integration of that protectorate into China proper continues, with Korean bureaucrats being sent to other parts of the empire to staff offices in distance provinces, while more and more Koreans are sent to Beijing to partake in the imperial examinations and administer Korea using the Chinese system of governance. Marriages are officiated according to Chinese rites and laws, and more and more of the Chinese jiaochao currency is being pumped into Korea as the only permitted form of financial transaction between Korean and Chinese merchants, helping to further economically integrate Korea into the empire. 50,000 Chinese soldiers are assigned to Korea for the protection of the peninsula against Japanese piracy, and are sent there along with their families and belongings. Several Korean families are given financial incentives to move into China proper, and adopt Chinese language and clothing as a means of qualifying for land grants from the government.
 * Maraninds of Sultanate: the sultanate of Morocco send among 10,000 cavalry and a group called 'The Almoradivs' are gonna conquered South Iberia and unified become 'Realm of Almoradivs' the Marinids to south conquer north of Algeria with his troop most of Moorish beating the Spanish on north border most of are defeating is basically what is call 'The Reconquestia' in Morocco the scientific Moorish establish an university called 'university of Rabat' for philosophy. Meanwhile, they arrive to Egypt for helping the allies and come to ceremony
 * Delhi Sultanate: With the Chagatai forces busy fighting China and having repulsed numerous Chagatai invasions, Alaudding Khilji sends a force of 40,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry led by Almas Beg to invade the Chagatai and besiege Kabul. Another force of 150,000 (50,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry) led by Nusrat Khan Jalesari is sent westwards to invade the Ilkhanate in support of the Mamluk Sultanate and to answer the call by the Abbasid Caliphate for a jihad. Another force of 50,000 troops remains in the Delhi Sultanate area under direct control of the Sultan. The force under Nusrat Khan marches into the Ilkhanate virtually unopposed because most of the Ilkhanate's forces are involved in the West. The forces of the Delhi Sultanate are seen as liberators in the Muslim majority territories and start recruiting soldiers from the territory of the Ilkhanate on the pretext of the jihad that was declared by the Abbasid Caliphate. Nusrat Khan's forces swell by an additional 12,000 irregular troops. Nusrat Khan's forces besiege and raid Balkh, Herat, Zarani and move towards Nishapur. (No need to give me a strike, I know the algos haven't been completed but this would be the likely outcome because the Delhi Sultanate used tactics similar to the Mongols and were able to brutally crush all the Chagatai invasions during Alauddin Khiljis time. I will change my post according to what the mods tell me). The non-Muslims in the Ilkhanate area (that has been conquered) are killed or captured, their valuables confiscated by the army and their property distributed among the local Muslim population. The local Muslim population helps the force led by Nusrat Khan by providing much needed grains and other food items. These wars are successfully funded by the loot gained during the invasion of Gujarat and Devagiri along with some contribution from the treasury. Meanwhile, diplomats are sent to the Mamluk Sultanate to strike an alliance with them (MOD RESPONSE). Another group of diplomats are sent to the court of the Sultan of Bengal, requesting an alliance and to ask him to contribute forces to help in the Jihad against the Ilkhanate(MOD RESPONSE).
 * The Mamluks accept the alliance, as does the Sultan of Bengal. The Bengal Sultan, however, declines to send troops halfway across the known world. -Rexmod.
 * Republic of Venice: The economic crisis in the other Italian city states make action by the Doge and the Council are necessary. The formerly Genoan dominated aspects of the Mediterranean trade like the selling of wax, fur, fish and oil are now seek to be taken over by Venice as well, with massive increase in wax, olive oil and grain production in Candia and the Aegean possessions of Venice, while fishing and textile production are increased in the Venetian homeland. The offer from the Achaean principality is seen as a necessary and comparatively small sacrifice in order to win the upper hand in the conflict against Genoa with Achaean aid. The ships that were hired by Naples arrive this year to support their war against Sicily, and with this the treasuries of the Venetians filled in the process. A monetary reform is implemented as well, where paper money notes becomes an official part of the currency. A 50 and 100 Ducate note is implemented. The notes are all printed with a special silk with a stamp and a serial number on it, to avoid fakes being handed in. The notes can be handed to the bank, where the officials check the serial number and then return the note into gold ducates. The expansion of the Arsenal begins and the production begins to be streamlined, not only for ships but also for arms. Planned is a large secondary Arsenal more inland, away from the harbor, where many weapon manufacturers and blacksmiths would produce arms, nails and tools according to state-regulated norms, so that a high quality and fitting measurements can be assured. The piracy campaign against Genoa continues, with Corsican and French Pirates being hired to harass Genoan ships in their home territory and receiving a small payment for every returned Genoan captain or ship (MOD RESPONSE ON THE SUCCESS). SECRET Vague plans are drawn for the conquest of Rhodes, which would include a siege and then, with Achaean aid, storming the smaller possessions of Genoa and the Byzantines in the region SECRET END
 * Mali Empire: Sakoura arrived to Egypt in great ceremony, and visited in Cairo to meet personally with the Abbasid Caliph. He made his circumlocutions around the great Kaaba in Mecca, and threw the sacred stones at the Rock of Shaitan. Unfortunately, his stay in Egypt was somewhat rushed by the political unrest taking place at the time, as the entire Middle East was erupting in chaos over the invasions of the declining Ilkhanate. In fact, many contemporary historians don't even mention the arrival of Sakoura at all, overshadowed with these other events. In spring the next year, Sakoura returned towards Mali across the valleys of Fezzan and Kanem, but unfortunately never returned to the realms of Mali. As he was passing through the Bornu Empire, his servants rushed a him with knives and stabbed him to death. Much speculation continues over this unexpected event, and most of our information comes from a speech made by Mansa Musa after he came to power. Reportedly, this began the ongoing rivalry between the House of Sefawa and the House of Keita, as the Kanem emperor bribed the servants of Sakoura to have him assassinated. As soon as the caravan arrived back in Mali proper, a revolt erupted with the purpose of putting the Keita family back in power. Somaoro, the son of Sakoura, fled from the city of Niani unharmed, and disappears from the historical record for some time. With Musa in exile, the Keita family installed the eldest son of Kolokan into power, and crowned Mansa Gao in July that year. Mansa Gao was generally regarded as a very weak and quiet ruler, allowing the princes of Mali to continue their decentralized power they largely enjoyed in the past. Mali honors her alliance with the Egypt, as well as the call to arms by the Caliph. 3,000 infantry and 500 cavalry is sent by caravan to aid Egypt's jihad. Individual princes continue to expand their domains east, into OTL Niger.
 * The Kingdom of Portugal: The King promotes ship development and tries to improve his ships. He makes the development try to by more long distance then Merchant.
 * Jarldom of Greenland: We begin building a central longhouse in the middle of the capital to serve as a community gathering and town hall,Next besides there is a request board for the civilians to request stuff.Meanwhile,we begin building a port and some ships to make sure we have ships ready for any situation.
 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa"Some of the Nobility in Holland has chosen to betray the cause of John II of Brabant, While the county of Zeeland supports John II of Brabant as to prevent the County of Flanders and the English navy to destroy the islands they Hold. Duke John II who had readied his nobility since the death the of the Hollandic count, and shortly after the pikemen, archers, men at arms and the Gastraphets. Their numbers are far greater then that of the nobility but they do not have the same quality of weaponry and defense as their noble brothers, but their quality has slightly increased due to what many call arms fonds. Army Fonds being where 10% of someones pay is kepth for the unit so it can provide for any new item like pike and chest plate , alltough quality may be slightly lower then original. The Army of the Realm totaly 3,500 men marches from Den herzogenbosche to Dordreghte and then further to Rotterdam. Rotterdam being the economic hub of the county without which Holland cannot survive while at the same time being only 15 Miles from the Capital of Des Hages(the Hague). While we call on John of Malinnes to aid Brabant in the defences of brabant,defending the inner area's of Brabant. The city guards in the south of Brabant are ordered to prepare all their defence and recruit as many people as they can. Some 500 troops going to the area to defend.Due to this conflict the building of the Mansion in Heyst Ten Berge is stopped for the while being as the funds are needed for the war in action for food and new armour of the duke.The city of Antwerp even tough also in the war begins to have even more profits as the Schelde river is now even more open and less worried about Flemish and Zeelandic wars, Antwerp slowly growing in Power, prosperity and population. The colours of Red white Red are flown all across the English channel as Antwerp is trade that will never end.Not a naval fleet but merchant ships are the Lotharingian manner of greatness.
 * Ilkhanate: With Georgia successfully reunified, the one-tenth of the army that was there is recalled back to Tabriz. The one-tenth accompanying the Sultan of Rum is also recalled, so now four-tenths of the army is in the Ilkhanate proper (henceforth referred to as the defensive army) and six-tenths is in the Mamluk Sultanate. The defensive army is commanded in Baydu's absence by his eldest son Qipchaq (OOC: it appears not to have been historically recorded when he was born so I don't know what his OTL age is, but I estimate he's around 20 years old in 1300). Qipchaq commands the entire defensive army to attack the Theocracy/Caliphate in Baghdad. The army besiege the city and attempt to raze it. The defensive army then fortifies a line from Tabriz south to Ahvaz while Qipchaq sends envoys to several foreign leaders. Specifically, he sends naval envoys to Milan, Venice, Naples, Achaea and the Byzantine Empire (through the Cilician port of Tarsus), describing how the Christian Khan Baydu's land is being assaulted by a jihad of Muslim infidels from India and asks for their military support to help defend Christianity from these heretical attackers in a new Crusade. (Milan response) (Venice response) (Naples response) (Achaea response) (Mod response for Byzantine Empire) Qipchaq also sends an envoy to Yuan China through Toqta Khan, in which he congratulates Temür Khan on his conversion to Christianity, proposes an alliance between the Christian khans of Baydu and Temür and asks for military support against the Muslim jihadists from the Delhi Sultanate. (Yuan China response) Meanwhile, in the Mamluk Sultanate, Baydu's attacking army has been besieging Damascus through 1299 and building siege equipment. When Baydu hears the Papal and Cypriot militaries have landed at Gaza and Georgian support troops arrive at Damascus, he launches a final full-on assault of Damascus, attempting to raze the city before marching south towards Jerusalem.
 * Armenian Cilicia: Hethum II arrives back in Sis from his journeying on the diplomatic mission of the Ilkhanate and is appalled to find Sempad has murdered their brother Thoros III and taken the throne for himself. A lot of the military that remains in Cilicia quickly turns to support Hethum II instead of Sempad. The final nail in Sempad's coffin comes when Constantine betrays him to Hethum II in exchange for clemency for his part in Sempad's coup. Sempad is imprisoned and executed, while Constantine is indeed granted clemency but exiled from the court in Sis. Hethum II becomes King again, though he says he intends to abdicate once he finds a suitable heir. He allows the use of the port of Tarsus for Qipchaq's various diplomatic envoys.
 * Sultanate of Rum: Sultan Kayqubad III pulls back the remaining troops from the Trebizond area so five-sixths of the army is under his command (with the other one-sixth accompanying Baydu's army in the Levant). He fortifies the cities of Konya and Sivas and shifts his centre of government from Konya to the eastern city of Sivas. As a final attempt to avoid all-out war with Osman Gazi, he attempts to convince one (or several) of the Muslim nobles he'd bribed before to assassinate Osman Gazi, in exchange for which the nobleman will receive a fief comprising most of western Rum around Konya. (Mod response)
 * The Byzantines lend 2,000 troops to aid in the Crusade for Jerusalem
 * With the Kingdom of Naples busy with the Sicilian Revolt, King Charles II states that Naples won't be able to provide aid to the Ilkhanate for some time.
 * The attempt to assassinate Osman fails
 * Achaea declines to aid the Mongol Ilkhanate in their "crusade," citing Ilkhan Baydu's heretical Christology.
 * Yuan China Response: The Emperor of China agrees to the alliance proposal from the Ilkhanate.
 * Kingdom of Hungary With the repulsion of the Mongols from Poland and Hungary, many of the troops are returned to Hungary. Along with a civil war breaking out in the lands of the heathen mongols who try to deceive faithful Christians with honeyed words, that are empty as their moral fiber. Many lords and others along the border take the opening presented by the current distraction of the mongols, they begin to rebuild and fortify their lands blocking off passes along the Carpathians and creating watchtowers to alert them of any mongol presence. Many of the people who fled the countryside during the mongol invasions return to the plains and the abandoned villages they left behind. During the Mongol and Wallachian Invasion the Kán géns was hit especially with the Lord and his heirs all passing away leaving his lands to the appointment of the King. Due to the majority of troops who died being from the lords along the border dying these lords are exceptionally weakened and with the King losing very few of his personal retinue the last of the holdouts of magnates are brought into the fold. Matthew III Csák is cautious in advising the King to bid his time and be careful around the lords. Word is sent to the most holy father in Rome requesting most humbly for an official coronation and installment of Andrew III to the throne of Hungary. He offers the most holy, a gift of gold as a token of appreciation sending them it to fuel their most holy mission. Papal Response Needed.
 * Papal States: We humbly accept the gold and thank the Hungarian domain for this donation.
 * Lordship of Milan: Following the crash of the Bank in sienna, Milanese bankers immediately react by travelling to Bohemia and working with the Bohemians on taking advantage of the Bohemian Mineral wealth to create a much stronger currency. The Milanese banks also begin to discuss recalling all loans that don’t have direct advantage to Milan. This results in demands for repay in Collateral from Genoa, Sweden, Venice and a re-discussion of the current standing with the Papacy, (Discussions can be done on Discord then respond with answers here.) There is a second large issue occurring this year in Milan as the debate as to where Milanese loyalties lie between the Pope and HRE. With Matteo and company deciding to support the HRE and specifically the Bohemians with publicly announcing their support for the HRE and the Bohemians. Della Torre loyalists become majorly upset with a potential war on the horizon between the two forces.
 * Kingdom of Sweden: Upon hearing of the Milanese demanding repayment, the Swedish Kingdom quickly offers up its large reserve of iron. The Swedish Queen Martha offers to repay the loan's in iron along with 5% interest rates.
 * Republic of Genoa: Due the Republic is subject to pay the claims established by the Milanese bankers, the Genoese bankers, together with the city of Genoa and its colonies, are willing to pay 60 galleys full of silver coins to pay the debts accumulated since 1296.
 * Milan: Knowing how much this would hurt the Genoese Republic the Milanese state that they will rather take it in the form of silks and goods from around the world over time with no interest rate during this period as long as it is paid in a ten-year time.
 * Kingdom of Naples: With the Neapolitan Victory at Potenza, Charles II now with 50,000 Men and a small Flotilla of over 50 Galleys launches a counterattack against the Sicilians through a two-pronged assault with a small force of 15,000 Men under Prince Phillip being sent to march against the positions of Fredrick III while the remaining force of 35,000 Men under Charles II himself supported by his Flotilla of 50 Ships land between Taranto and Montescaglioso behind enemy lines in order to trap the forces of Fredrick III in Southern Italy and force their surrender. Meanwhile, Prince Robert moves forward in recruiting another force of 10,000 Men as a reserve force while heading to Achaea to request the support of 10,000 Troops from all of the Frankish Greek States (Achaean Response Needed). Meanwhile, with the Genoans establishing an alliance with the Byzantines , the Kingdom of Naples proposes an alliance with the Venetians in order to counter the Genoa-Byzantine Alliance and as a means to achieve Charles II’s goal of restoring the Latin Roman Empire or Empire of Romania in which Charles I’s failed to do so. However, shortly after leaving for Achaea, Prince Robert’s wife ,Yolanda of Aragon unfortunately passed away resulting in Charles II deciding to arrange a marriage between his son (Robert) and the Titular Latin Roman Empress , Catherine of Courtnay (Mod Response for if Catherine accepts) as a means of legitimizing the Neapolitan claim to the Throne of Constantinople.
 * Empress Catherine Courtnay agrees to this very tactical marriage
 * Achaea, having served its liege for the required period for ten years time, declines to send further troops to the Italian peninsula.
 * Republic of Genoa: It has arrived in 14th century and debts are accumulating in the Republic. To respond to the demands of the Milanese banks, the Duke together with the local bankers have managed, with much sacrifice, to fill 60 galleys of silver coins to pay the Milanese debt with interest that he dragged since 1295 (Milan response). Taking care about the international relationships, the tumultuous wars that have devastated the Genoese population and economy must end once and for all. With the aim of ending the devastating struggles that occur in the Aegean Sea because of the war with Venice, the Duke has proposed a non-aggression pact for an indefinite period for which the act that can action that could cause a long conflict is prohibited term either for economic purposes (assault merchant galleys, besiege cities, allocate rewards for sunken galleys), strategic purposes (usurp islands), and military purposes (support with troops to allies with the aim of attacking Venetian or Genoese cities or ports) between Genoa, Venice and the respective allies of the newly appointed (Venice response). Turning to internal issues, the site of Monaco has been lifted at the end of this year, it has been recognized sovereignty by Genoa. Francisco Grimaldi, together with the Duke of Genoa and the main leaders of the Spinola and Doria families along with some members of the Ghibelline and Guelph families have signed an act where the Rock of Monaco and its surroundings will be recognized as an independent state, denominating as Principality of Monaco and will not depend economically and militarily on Genoa, leaving Monaco exposed to a possible invasion of neighboring states. While negotiations flow between Genoese, the island of Corsica (under Genoese rule) was isolated from the commerce of the Western Mediterranean and even from the metropolis itself because of Sinucello della Roca. Lamba Doria, under the orders of the Duke and Spinola family, commanded a fleet of 20 galleys with the aim of overthrowing the tyranny of Sinucello. Upon arriving on the island, Lamba Doria encountered little resistance from the faithful of the tyrant and managed to arrest him without any major inconvenience. Sinucello della Roca was put in prison in Genoa where he spent the rest of his days.


 * Bohemia-Poland: Wenceslaus II implements a monetary reform introducing the Groschen , while the construction of the Prague and Krakow Mints are completed. The Kutna Hora Mines are steadily expanded thanks to an end of hostilities with Nogai and Wenceslaus's edict forming a crown monopoly on the mines goes into effect. The new currency weighs approximately 3.5 to 3.7 grams of silver proving much thicker then the italian denars. Circulation and distribution of the new currency is strictly controlled as to avoid a devaluation of the new currency and to bring confidence to the new currency. Negotiations with the Milanese over debt renegotiations continue with Wenceslaus offering the Milanese installment payments in silver based on a new rate pegged to the stronger Groschen without interest, and to allow for the Milanese currency and banking system be backed by Bohemia's silver and gold reserves through the creation of a Bohemian Bank under royal charter. Construction of the University of Praga, and the university of Krakow begin. Still feeling responsible for the senseless loss of life at Lublin, and after many nights without sleep in the still being rebuilt St Mary Basilica Wenceslaus II decides to take up the cross to Jerusalem, he calls upon polish, Bohemian, and German who wish to save their soul to join him in the journey to Jerusalem. He sends an envoy to Rome stating his intent to join the new crusade. He founds the Chivalric Order of Saint Wenceslaus after his ancestor Wenceslaus I of Bohemia. Wenceslaus II sets out from Krakow with 5,000 men marching overland from Hungary Wladyslaw Elbow-High is proclaimed regent in his absence and his son Wenceslaus begins his training to become king someday under the tutelage of Wladyslaw. Construction of Wawel Castle (fotress) continues, as does the construction of new fortifications at Gneizo and Gdansk. An offer is made to expand trade with the Hanseatic league in an effort to expand trade with the Baltic sea. Gdansk's customs are greatly expanded and Germans are encouraged to settle the still heavily depopulated areas of of Bohemia and Poland from the previous incursions by mongols. Overland trade routes are improved. The betrothal of Wenceslaus the younger and Catherine di Visconti is approved, along with the betrothal of Agnes the twin sister Wenceslaus to Rudolf von Hapsburg. To further improve his standing with the Polish and Silesian nobility he also proposes a marriage between the minor Duke Henry VI of Wroclaw to his daughter Anne, and to betroth one of his daughters to Stefan the son of Wladyslaw (mod response).
 * Duke Boleslaw the Strict, the regent of Henry, agrees to the marriage of Henry to Anne
 * Wladyslaw the Elbow-High agrees to betroth his son Stefan to Princess Magaret of Bohemia
 * Crown of Aragon: To some shock, the proposal to establish peace through a Treaty of Zaragoza is ignored prompting James to be placed in a corner. The decision is decided and preparations are made. Following the confirmation of Frederick III’s legitimacy to the crown, James II request the blessings of the papacy to pursue a campaign in support of Frederick III (Papacy Response). For time to come, our men totaling 30,000 strong with 10,500 being that of Cavalry are sent off to Sicily in which there, they would be supplied at the position of Taranto. Ensuring supplies remain at large for the journey ahead, 45 ships are stationed around the Neapolitan coast off the coast of Naples and Salerno preventing supplies of goods to reach Naples from the main ports of entry. This fleet is left in the hands of and is entrusted to Roger de Lauria. These ships of course would target Neapolitan Naval Vessels as well during this lengthy campaign at sea. Due to the recent financial dilemma in Europe accompanied by a newly risen war effort, The Expansive Road Network Project sees delays to ease the costs over time. Beyond that The Family of De La Rosa continues to contribute to the construction of the University of Zaragoza. The Crown’s Army accompanied by the Sicilian Allies lay siege to Benevento after a march northward. The army is divided into two portions in which the northern side, 12,500 men are sent to lay siege on the Northern end with the remaining army laying siege to the southern end. Seeing that there is a river that runs through the city, it is hinted that this may become problematic if forces engage on one end resulting in the plan that if the Siege results in the army’s being able to break through, the opposite end’s forces would allow for the city and the enemy’s men to fall.
 * Papal States: We agree to give the Aragonese their blessings and wish them the best of luck with supporting Frederick III.
 * Naples: With the arrival of Aragonese Troops, the Neapolitan Forces cancel their plans to land south and quickly move to Benevento to engage the Sicilian-Aragonese Force with 50,000 Neapolitan Troops under Charles II moving in to lift the seige while the Neapolitan Fleet engages with the Aragonese Fleet with the objective of eliminating the Aragonese Fleet and trapping the Aragonese Forces in Southern Italy.
 * Nogai Khan :Nogai Khan engages the forces of Toqta Khan at Sorai Batu with a force of four tumen (40,000). The defense of the Polish lands gained in the Coalition War (Mazovia and the lands east of the Vistula) is granted to Lev I. One tumen of Russians rise as the Orthodox Legion, serving as Nogai's reserve in case anything goes wrong in Sorai Batu, leading to closer cultural ties between the Russians and Nogai's Horde, fostering cultural exchange between tribute and liege.
 * Kingdom of England: With the war in France heating up, Edward puts up more pressure for the coastal towns and counties provide more ships for the English Navy, as more conflict with France brews. In light of this, new men are chosen by Edward as the Guardians of Scotland, pending the coronation of a new king, with the current favourite being John Hastings. Internally, the English people prepare for more years of war in order to defend their trade interests and their rights in France. Messengers are sent all around Europe looking for allies against the French in their war of aggression. In Scotland, however, the lords enjoy a short reprieve. Edward does not wish to push his luck by demanding armies for his War just yet, at least not until Scotland has a crowned king. As is being spoken, the Lords and commons in the Scottish parliament are busy writing their own version of Magna Carta, which would hopefully regularize the position of the King of England, King of Scotland, and the overlordship that the English King has.The King moves to Scotland to deal with the Scottish Parliament and leaves the war in France, for the moment, to his Lieutenant of Aquitaine, John St John. More men are raised in England and are transported to Calais to reinforce the English Positions. The English forces,knowing how expensive it is to transport horses across seas, elect to transport infantry and longbowmen into Calais and into Aquitaine as priorities. This leads to a total force count of 10,000 local Aquitaine forces raised last year, 5,000 raised this year, 5,000 reinforcements from England (20,000 in Aquitaine total sent, with 4,000 in losses mean 16,000 men), with 10,000 men in Calais total, the 5,000 sent last year plus the 5,000 this year. of this 26,000 men, a full 6,000 are longbowmen, with 2,500 in Aquitaine. Despite the recent losses, the English decide that keeping the fort of Rouen is too costly, and the majority of English forces retreat onto their ships and leave a force of 4,000 to garrison the city, knowing there is not enough supplies to feed everyone. Nonetheless, the English regroup with their new reinforcements, making their forces number 12,000 plus 4,000 garrison. the 12,000 men, including the new reinforcements, set out to attack French-held forts in an effort to lure the french into dividing their forces and breaking the siege of Bourg. Specifically,  they sail down and lay siege to Bordeaux. Regardless the 10,000 men stationed in Calais are divided in two forces, a smaller force of 4,000 and a larger force of 6,000. The Smaller force is sent to ask the Count of Calais for his allegiance while the Larger force is sent to Rouen to siege the fort. The Goal is to retake parts of Normandy for a possible second purpose to reclaim lost lands and titles.
 * Kingdom of Scotland: Parliament convenes for the first time in Glasgow, opening on the Monday after Easter. The summoned parliament meets and first acknowledges Edward as their Suzerain overlord. They then begin a few debates: the first is on the succession to the Kingdom. Some support crowning John Hastings, but opposition does exist to the idea. Everyone knows that even if an alternative King is found, then it would still, in essence, require the consent of Edward. Remembering what happened with Robert the Bruce, no Scottish lords wish to try for independence again. As such, they settle on perhaps establishing a Magna Carta for Scotland, to curb the powers of Edward to simply demand taxes and armies, as well as have more control over their new King. Edward first pushes back on the idea, but then realizes that it could be the way to increase his power in Scotland, especially by playing the rival lords off one another. This works for a few months as each of the Lords wishes special privileges not afforded to the others. Parliament reaches an impasse in August and the King Dissolves Parliament, promising to reconvene once the war in France is finished. It is hinted that the King might actually agree to a Scottish Magna Carta should the Lords continue to support him with troops in the war with France. Nothing concrete yet though.
 * Principality of Achaea: The jubilee year, declared by the His Holiness, the Pope, is met with great celebration among the Achaean nobility. A large delegation, including both Prince Florent and marshal Nicholas III of Saint Omer, alongside many other nobles, barons, and knights, travel to Rome on a pilgrimage to celebrate and receive absolution for their transgressions. At home, Archbishop John of Patras uses the opportunity to strengthen his efforts to proselytize among the Orthodox population. Many converts from the Orthodox church become members of the local system of Roman Catholic churches, encouraged not only by the Archbishop but also by Princess Isabella of Villehardouin - who has now learned the Greek language after a few years of covert study. Her ability to converse with the local population has endeared her to many of them. After Prince Florent of Hainaut has returned from Rome, he receives word from Nicholas of Saint Omer that the cities of Modon and Coron have been ceded by Venice to the Principality. The Prince immediately travels to these new additions to his realm - for now, they are to be held as a direct barony of the Prince and Princess. In exchange for the new cities, Florent and Isabella sign a mutually-beneficial agreement with Venice, regarding the common foes of Genoa and Byzantium.
 * Lordship of Ireland: Following the successful capture of half of the Kingdom of Thormond and their swearing of fealty the half of the Kingdom taken by force is given to others while the remaining part of Thormond is allowed to live under Brehon law. We send the 4,000 English troops we had with us to France alongside 4,000 troops drawn from Ireland to France mostly consisting of infantry to support the English campaign in France.
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: With defensive fortification production going well, the naval forces aiding the conflict is increased by five. Although losing the territorial legitimacy over the Henry II's claim as the King of Jerusalem, the recent conflict in the 10th crusade have allowed for his legitimacy to be seen effectively, especially with the support from the eastern power that is the Ilkhan and the western support from the Pope himself. Known Muslims in the Kingdom are exiled to the Sultanate of Rum as the Kingdom becomes transitioning into a theocratically-based monarchy.The defensive fortification productions slows down slightly due to the concurrent crusade, but are still expected to be completed by 1330. The push towards Jerusalem after sieging Gaza continues. Diplomatic missions to find supporters and/or additional forces from Europe is done, with the kingdoms of Castile and Portugal being asked to provide armies to help aid in the liberation of the holy land (Castile and Portugal Response Needed).
 * Papal States: We celebrate the year of our lord 1300 by having a Golden Jubilee. We hope that this event unites Christendom and ensures that the pilgrim's sins are forgiven. In the political world, two Papal ships are docked at the port of Acre. The total of troops on both ships equals to 5,500 men. We send our blessings to the belligerents of Sicily and Aragon. We request to Charles II to put their foot down and sign an armistice. We are grateful to receive the gold donation from Hungary, as we believe this can help us recover from the collapse of the banks. In the religious world, we condemn the Waldesians for splitting for the Church and forming their own denomination.
 * Neapolitan Diplomacy: Charles II agrees to stand down and will recognize Fredrick III as the King of Sicily and the rule of the House of Barcelona over the island.

1301
'''Aragon's involvement in the War of the Sicilian Vespers is seen by many in the circles of the Pope as being illegitimate and a violation of the limited mandate to secure Sicily for Frederick III. How the Pope reacts remains to be seen.'''

'''Andrew III of Hungary dies and his son Gezá is proclaimed king - but has yet to be formally crowned by the Archbishop of Esztergom with the Holy Crown of Hungary in Székesfehérvár Basilica. Whether or not a challenger will rise up remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the Angevins of Naples are in no position to make a bid for the throne.'''

'''The French have defeated the English in northern Gascony in two battles at Bourg. Meanwhile, the English have begun to amass a moderate-sized force in northern France. This war, which is only just beginning, is looking like it will be quite costly to both nations.'''

'''The economic situation has been somewhat resolved in northern Italy, as Milan has called in many of its loans. However, what's good for the banker isn't good for those who had previously sought loans. The lack of credit - a way of life that had just begun to emerge in the past five years or so - hurts many nations. (Milan escapes currency debasement, as does Bohemia which issued a new pure currency). Meanwhile, Venice and Genoa heat up their naval rivalry, with Venetian piracy efforts drawing the ire of many nations, but being effective against Genoese shipping.'''

'''The civil war in Rûm continues to heat up, as the overstretched Ilkhanate has failed to make any major changes to the situation. Indeed, the foiled assassination attempt against Osman Gazi leads many to believe the Ilkhan's puppet government is unable to govern this Muslim nation. Ultimately, Kayqubad III ends up being killed in a skirmish outside Konya.'''

'''In a bloody battle outside of Samarkand, the siege has been broken and the Chagatai Khanate lives to fight another day. Meanwhile, in the south, Kabul falls to the Delhi Sultanate with token resistance: the bulk of the Chagatai forces had been busy fighting the Yuan Chinese.'''

There is general unrest (although no revolts) in both Scotland, where some Scottish veterans such as William Wallace support the young Edward Balliol's claim to the throne, and in Yunnan, China.
 * Kingdom of Sweden: Having emerged victorious over the forces of Eric the Anti-Christ, the Dano-Swedish Army wastes no time in chasing down his remaining forces. With Sonderborg Castle captured by Swedish troops and the coastline blocked off by the concentrated Swedish navy, Eric the Anti-Christ has nowhere to run and is soon chased down by Birger’s and Christopher’s forces for a final confrontation [MOD ALGO, PLEASE]. Meanwhile, an offer is made to Eric’s remaining 5,000 men giving them the option to not die fighting for a losing cause. If they hand over Eric the Anti-Christ, dead or alive, they shall receive royal pardons and be allowed to go home to their farms and families. They shall also receive a Papal blessing absolving them of any sins or blame for fighting for the Anti-Christ. Eric’s soldiers are also reminded that they are outnumbered more than seven to one, including 8,000 heavy cavalry [MOD RESPONSE ON OFFER] In domestic affairs, Queen Martha’s management of the nation whilst the King is waging war leads to highly efficient bureaucracy as the Queen fills position based on merit, not on noble birth. The Queen also continues encouraging immigration to Finland, promising lands to any who decides to immigrate. This solves the problem of Sweden’s landless poor, as many immigrate to Finland to receive farms and land. The policy of immigration to Finland also helps to integrate Finland into the Swedish domain and helps to Christianize Finland.
 * The last troops of Eric mutiny against who they perceive to be a tyrannical king, and hand him over to Christopher in Sonderburg for judgement, ending the Danish civil war
 * Mali Empire: The general lack of historical references to Mansa Gao's reign would suggest that he enjoyed a relative peace for quite some time, after the more brutal years of internal conflict wrought by Sakoura and his family. The sheer prestige of the Keita dynasty from the progeny of Kolokan helped to ensure the Empire feel more unified, although in reality it was more decentralized between local princes than the previous ruler. Gao was known at least to have begun many projects that weren't finished until the reign of Abu Bakr II. Since a large section of Atlantic coast was annexed from Walo since the reign of Sundiata, Gao began the steady creation and construction of a large navy along ports at this location. Of course, ships along the oceanic coast was minuscule at this time compared to the fleet of ships meant to navigate waters within the Niger and Senegal Rivers. Prior to any close and continuing contact with Iberia, archaeologists suggest that Mali's early navy were similar in construction to Polynesian ships, taking what was essentially river barges and adapting them to bluer waters. Domestically, Mansa Gao began the reform of Mali's agriculture, and greatly expanded both the root and sorghum fields across Mali proper near Niani. At this early stage, of course, this restructure of agriculture was primarily only seen in Mali proper. Finally, Mansa Gao instituted the construction of the greatest and most principle work of Sahelian style architecture, the Grand Mosque of Djeane. This mosque would slowly be built on and added to over the next ten years.
 * Kingdom of Naples: With the decline of the Neapolitan Forces and the war getting costly, King Charles II sues for peace and states that he is willing to acknowledge Sicilian Independence unwilling to fight the war any longer (Aragonese and Papal Response needed). With support for the war faltering and the Capital on the brink of revolt , Charles II sends Prince Phillip to Milan in order to recruit some Milanese Mercenaries as a means of helping Charles II’s maintain order in Naples and as a last ditch effort to maintain his position as King of Naples (Milanese Response needed). With the Kingdom of Naples unable to secure the Hungarian Throne and less options for Charles II’s the King makes preparations to flee if necessary as the situation seems hopeless. In his castle in Naples , Charles II sends a letter to the King of France begging for the support of the Kingdom of France given that Naples has exhausted its manpower and is no longer able to continue fighting (French Response needed). With this Prince Robert , Charles II eldest son and his heir to the throne is sent to France with his wife the Titular Latin Roman Empress , Catherine I as a means for Charles II’s successor to maintain his claim on the Throne of Naples if he ever gets ousted. Meanwhile, once Phillip is to finish with his affairs in Milan, he is to head to Achaea as part of a secret mission which will only be revealed later.
 * Milan Response: We laugh at the request to recruit mercenaries for simple duties such as maintaining order and state that should they want Mercenaries for a real cause they can notify us.
 * Papal States: The Pope is glad that we are on the same page on ending this bloody war.
 * Maraninds of Sultanate: The troops had a strategy to reforming al-Andalus with their Berber army so we could stop them we send among 10,000 troops in Canaan for helping Egypt and help our brother states ally.
 * Lordship of Milan: The tensions between farmers on the border of Piacenza and Milan reaches a breaking point with Milanese farmers demanding action from Matteo, with the 3,000 Long Lances as well as the Milanese standing force of 1,000 and 1,000 additional Italian mercenaries from around Northern Italy being hired. Of the 1,000 standing force 500 stay at home to make sure there are no back-door maneuvers, then the other 4,500 move into Piacenza with Matteo’s eldest son, Galleazzo leading the forces. Having been a veteran of war in Poland the Long Lances are no stranger to fighting. (Mod responses needed for algos and idea of Piacenza forces). The new motto of Milan and House Visconti has become Hic Stunt Serpentes, (Here be Serpents) Due to the Long Lances base in Milan they have adopted there own version of this with Hic Stunt Dracones (Here Be dragons) The long lances banner has a similar image to that of House Visconti except it’s a three-headed Dragon eating a human. Whilst Galleazzo is away Matteo begins to make minor recoveries from his sickness. In Milan itself the Bankers reorganize themselves into three banks so as to have the best regulation systems possible. The Largest bank, The Nationalibus Ripa. The National Bank which focuses on the handling of contracts for Milan and given by the Milanese government as well as currency regulation, and standardization. The smallest bank, The Mercenarius Ripa. The Mercenary Bank which focuses on the handling of hiring Mercenaries as well as being the official bank of the Long Lances. And the bank in the middle, The Internationalibus Ripa. (The International bank) which handles all affairs with Bohemia as well as the rest of the HRE and other non government sponsored dealings.
 * Swedish Diplomacy: Sweden asks that a team of merchant-bankers be sent to Sweden to help Queen Martha in creating a Swedish National Bank
 * Milan Diplomacy: We happily send members of The Internationalibus Ripa to assist in the creating of this new Swedish National Bank
 * Republic of Venice: With the success of the piracy policies against Genoa, the trade with Achaea, Spain, France and the Greek and Anatolian states, many of whom were trading with Genoa, the Venetian merchants hijack their markets and flood their domain with cheaper and better goods. Especially linen, textiles, salt, grain and spices are sold for low prices. Furthermore, a large scale boycott against Genoa is requested to the allies of Venice, in return for discounts on Venetian goods like salt, textiles and spices (NAPLES, MILAN, ACHAEA RESPONSE NEEDED). Piracy campaigns continue, and Genoan ships are looted if they enter the Venetian parts of the Mediterranean. In the Italian peninsula, the flourishing but very small city of Padua is reached out to, giving them the opportunity for Venetian protection. Under this protection, Padua would still have its own Signore as the de facto ruler, however the city would benefit from the Venetian wealth, protection and law (MOD RESPONSE NEEDED). The request from the Ilkhanate is met with mixed feelings, though 10,000 men could be hired if needed (ILKHANATE RESPONSE, PLEASE). The expansion of the Arsenal continues, and the second Arsenal starts to be built. Additionally, a University is planned in Venice, to increase the prestige and the importance of the city. Paper money continues to be slowly adapted by the merchants.
 * Padua accepts protection from Venice if they will aid their conflict against Verona
 * Milan Diplomacy: We accept this deal.
 * Duchy of Brabant: "Harba Lorifa"Duke John II the Hollandic Hainaut forces are scattered near The Hague, After which, Duke John II visits The city and its streets. While at the streets the army is ordered to open the population with open arms without violence, to come as a form of economic and military occupation of the Hainaut dynasty. Duke John II promises that for one year the tax will be reduced by 10% and all taxes on goods within the realm will be done away with. The Duke also promises amnesty to all nobles administrators and nobility who surrender.John when coming to the City hall of the Hague Holds a party just his father John I did after the battle of Woeringen, with food and drinks for anyone who attends.This is done while he's crowned Count of Holland and now not only de jure Count of Holland but also De facto.Even tough most of Hollands accepts John II of Brabant as Count John II of Holland and Zeeland,His full tittle now being "Duke of Lotharingia, Brabant and Limbourg, Count of Holland, Zeeland, and Dalhem and Co-lord of Maastricht and Lord of Hertogenrade and Myerebeke".But the war has not yet ended the House of Hainaut still has the want to fight,The Duke offers the County of Hainaut a truce to make a peace treaty ending this war (Mod response). Even if The nobility and John II want peace they know it isn't yet there so force of 2,000 march south back to Brabant and Hainaut, While 1,000 troops stay in Holland to make sure the order is accepted and administration continued. Altough John II does not yet call Lotharingia returned he does openly state that the reunification is an event that has already begun and cannot be stopped. With these wars the Many in the Brabantine court do begin to notice that John II is in general getting bolder then ever before fear is not anymore in his name, he's even bold with culture he write and make people write minnelied a form of music that is formal yet jolly.The works on the Heyst Mansion are resumed once more with speed and material being halved for the moment being as some is needed for the war. Law is written everywhere in the realm and the Duke decided that everywhere in the realm Brabantine dietsch should be used, although not standardised the duke does give examples on how to write certain things and he has a administration of linguists to help with inventing new words and helping to translate books from Latin, French, etc. As information is seen as one of the goals of the Brabantine realm.
 * Count John of Hainaut agrees to draw a truce with Brabant, although not fully accepting defeat
 * Jarldom of Greenland: With the new port being finished, more and more people begin working as fishermen which brings in a much needed food supply. This leads to a minor population boom with the population rising from 2500 to 2604. Meanwhile plans to build a road between the eastern and northern settlements begins to be laid out
 * Teutonic Knights: The year starts out with a new town called Lobenicht being founded which becomes a hub for fishing.The grand-master Gottfried von Hohenlohe starts ordering the recruitment of people from the country side and starts training them to become knights to expand the military. The grand-master has also ordered the construction of a port in Balga. The Grand-master offers for a trade Alliance with Livonian Order and Riga (Mod Responds Needed).
 * The Livonian order and the Archbishopric of Riga agree to a trade alliance, which goes in competition with the Hanseatic League and Novgorod for trade in the Baltic Sea
 * Kingdom of Hungary: The death of King Andrew III is greatly mourned within the Kingdom, with the ascension of his young son Géza who is only five years of age, leaves some instability within the realm. With all of his nearest adult relatives dead, Csák III Matthew takes up the title of regent utilizing his prerogative as Palatinate of Hungary to do so. The request is sent to his most Holiness to authorize the investiture of Géza III as King of Hungary and Croatia, either by permitting the archbishop of Esztergom to crown Géza as King. [Papal Response Needed] Many of the fortifications along the borders in the Carpathians are built up under the guidance of the Monarch and with his funding, putting them directly under the control of the crown holdings. In attempt to increase the economy Csák III Matthew seeks out a trade deal with Bulgaria and Serbia in order to bring more revenue into the coffers and the nation. [Mod Response needed for Serbia and Bulgaria] Roads are constructed along the areas along the Danube to the plains in attempt to connect the food being transported into the major cities. On the outskirts of Esztergom an abbey known as the Abbey of Saint Elizabeth begins to focus on studying academic studies in pursuit of good, seeking to provide education to others, and opening a path to better understanding good. While small they attract the attention of several noblemen and magnates who provide them with patronage. They begin to grow in numbers although it remains meager.
 * Chimu: The economical situation in Chimu is starting to stabilize. Tributes, are made more often by the orders of Roxhivi Chao. The Chimuenese, expand 5 miles to the south.
 * Bohemia-Poland: Wenceslaus in a letter to the Knight's Templar implores them to assist in reaching the holy land to partake in the crusade against the Mamluks. Having secured Templar help in getting to the holy land Wenceslaus Ii and his 5,000 troops embark on Templar ships boarding for Holy Land to assist in the fight against the infidels. Wenceslaus II begins writing about redemption and about the struggles of mortal man to understand the will of god. Furthermore he touches on Human suffering drawing from his own experience witnessing the carnage at Lublin, and Krakow and how some of his subjects deserted him due to growing despair during the campaign. In Bohemia and Poland Wladyslaw Piast's regency in the absence of Wenceslaus II runs relatively smoothly with the new currency and Sejm helping provide a strong economic boost, and confidence amongst the nobility and cities. construction of the Castles at Gdansk, Gniezo continue while the construction of Wawel Castle (Krakow) remains the priority of the Regency. The military education of Wenceslaus the Younger begins with the boy being trained on horse back, and in the art of swordmanship ,and in the military arts. His education is also expanded to include theology, geography, an understanding of the crown and its duties, along with the languages of Polish, German, Italian, and Latin aside from his native Czech. A strong bond forms between the heir and Wladyslaw, with Wenceslaus the younger adopting many of the mannerism of the Polish noble and trying to emulate his strong sense of honour and chivalry. The regency continues to promote trade with the Hansa, as well as with the Teutonic order, and envoys are sent to the distant Lithuanians in an effort to open them to trade and to open up diplomatic ties with them. influence over the Silesian region is increased through the engagement between Henry and Anne. The university of Praga is completed making it the first university in central Europe. production from the silver mines in Kutna Hora continue to grow in output of production while the minting and distribution of the groschen remains strictly controlled leading to a steady rise in the reserves of the Bohemian-Polish crown. Generous donations are given to the church however for the construction of new churches, monasteries and convents. Money is also given to the cause of converting the Pomeranians in the duchy of Pomerania a fief of the Polish crown, and to the settlement of Germans, Poles, and Bohemians into the region. Bohemian metal smithies and artisans begin to gain prominence due to the increased demand for their employment either in the production of weapons or for goods such as glass and jewelry. Agricultural growth also begins as the scars of war continue to fade. Trade continues to grow. The Bank of Praga is founded under a crown monopoly, the new bakn approaches Venice and  Milan to help the implement reforms similar to theirs to start implementing bank notes as a way of fomenting internal business. Jews are also welcomed to settle in Bohemia, Poland.
 * The Knights Templar will send 8,000 knights to help take the Holy Land
 * Kingdom of Cyprus: Defensive fortification production goes well. Seeing a short loss in the Siege of Jerusalem, diplomacy is sent to Bohemia, the Teutonic Order, Portugal, and the Holy Emperor in asking for support armies in the crusades (Bohemian, Teutonic Order, and Mod Response Needed). With the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller building their armies last year, a second Battle of Jerusalem is conducted with a total Cypriot, Templar, and Hospitaller sending an additional 7,000 to aid in crusades. The Knights Templar agree to help in assisting Bohemia-Poland reach the Holy Land, sending the Knights Templar navy to help move the soldiers, and shortly afterwards, landing all combined forces in Gaza and starting a second Battle of Jerusalem.
 * Teutonic Diplomacy: We agree to send 3,000 Knights to help take the Holy Land
 * Republic of Genoa: Attempts to negotiate peace with the Republic of Venice have failed. Shipwrecks and looting towards Genoese galleys continue (but on smaller scale) and the important Genoese merchants fear losing Acre and Gaza. In response, the Duke has ordered Admiral Lamba Doria to nominally establish a fleet of 20 war galleys near the Strait of Gibraltar to loot and sink any Venetian merchant ship that approaches it with the aim of cutting trade between Venice and the ports of the Atlantic Ocean. On the other hand, due to the saturation of troops and warships in Genoa, the Republic has opened a service of mercenary galleys with the aim of stopping maintaining an army that generated significant losses to the metropolis. The Kingdom of France has offered to buy a fleet of 100 Genoese galleys to which they sailed to Perpignan where French soldiers along with Genoese embarked towards Bourg where they hope to anchor the English fleet stationed there. Meanwhile, Genoa's economy begins to flourish, silk production workshops receive small incentives thanks to the huge amount of demand in the metropolis and abroad, the "industry" construction begins to take on more and more prestige and the tensions between the pro-Ghibelline and pro-Guelph families are being reduced to give way to a period of peace and harmony within Genoa (due of the recent division between the Guelphs). Slowly, The Republic of Genoa is expanding its purchasing power, along with naval power in the Western Mediterranean and commercial in it.
 * Kingdom of England: Reinforcements arrive from Ireland and England, with 8,000 more troops arriving in Northern France. 4,000 remain in the foothold England has while 4,000 join the forces sieging Rouen, now totaling 10,000 men. Meanwhile, to try to alleviate Tensions in Scotland, Edward personally reminds everyone that Edward Balliol renounced the throne last year in exchange for a pardon. However, talk of a Scottish coronation lead Edward to conclude that it is better to deal with this general unrest now rather than later. Edward sends a letter to the Scottish Lords "I would love to crown a King now, but I cannot in good conscience do so without the approval of a Great Charter for Scotland securing the rights of both the people, the Lords and the King" (essentially providing his support for a Scottish Magna Carta and making the argument that a King should not be crowned before it is finalized).  John Hastings is granted the title of "Chief Guardian of Scotland" in preparation for his coronation after the signature of a Magma Carta, granting him most powers of a King without the official title yet. Edward reminds the Scottish lords in his letters of his intentions to call another Scottish Parliament in order to proclaim a Magna Carta for Scotland once the war for France is over and reminds them of the failure last year's attempts were. "We need to do this right", he ends the letter. Attempts are made to secure Edward Balliol to more publicly and once again renounce the throne with the English garrisons in Scotland. Meanwhile, forces in France regroup and begin to siege Bordeaux, with 12,000 sieging the city in an attempt to get the french to disingage their sieges of North Gascony and Bourg. 4,000 men remain holed up within the walls of the city defending Bourg as they hole up within the walls of the city. With Dominance of the seas, the English essentially ensure a steady supply chain to the men within the city. The Sieges continue from last year (Rouen and Amiens, now with 10,000 and 4,000 sieging respectively after this year's reinforcements)
 * Kingdom of Scotland: The Scottish Lords look at the words of Edward with a grain of salt. while he wasn't outright hostile, he did come off as very confident. Nobody knows what William Wallace's reaction was, as he retains the title of Guardian of Scotland, but makes no mention of Edward's letter. Looking at the prospect of a Scottish Magna Carta, the Nobility begin to form factions as to try to increase their bargaining power and avoid another failed parliament. The delay until the next parliament also gives them time to formalize their proposals, although major disagreements between the five emerging factions each asking for their rights at the expense of others. The Church faction is led by the church, which sees the Scottish Charter as an opportunity to increase its secular power, the Burguess faction led by the men of the city of Glasgow, and four other factions each led by [noble families asking for different rights], alongside an influential Loyalist/Royalist faction favouring the powers of the king of Scotland. This divides the loyalty of the Scottish Lords, with the disagreements sometimes fanned by English envoys. Regardless, many people are interested in what happens when a parliament is finally called.
 * Nogai Khan: Having defeated Toqta Khan in the field of battle, Nogai now reunifies the Golden Horde under one banner, his banner, proclaiming himself as the rightful Khan of all of the Golden Horde, and with no opponents left to challenge him, he secures this right by right of conquest, by right of victory, and there are more victories to be won for Nogai's friend and ally Lev I is dead. With his death, the need to protect Lev's former lands is paramount, as such, a small contingent of Nogai's forces, (2 tumen) go to Ruthenia to defend from any potential opportunistic invasions, mainly focusing on the Polish lands East of Vistula. Rebuilding of the nation commences, with the most physical rebuilding taking place in Sarai Batu, as reconstruction efforts are implemented, focused on making the capital a shining city of religion, culture, science, trade, and power. As such grand temples and mosques are established throughout the city, with these religious institutions also serving as places of learning. Cultural exchange between the Mongols and the Russians continue to thrive as Russians begin to settle down in Sarai Batu, working alongside Mongols in reconstructing the capital, mainly members of the Orthodox Legion who fought alongside Nogai against the traitorous Toqta. Orthodox priests crown Nogai Khan of all the Golden Horde and baptize him, completing the three full submersions at his coronation in Sarai Batu, the sight of his victory. . The ever ambitious Nogai, however, needs even more wealth to make Sarai Batu and his Golden Horde Heaven upon Earth, so he sets out with an army of 8 tumens strong to the besieged city of Samarkand, seeking to sack it and plunder it of its vast wealth, taking the exhausted Chagatai forces completely by surprise, demanding immediate surrender to Nogai, lest Samarkand burn. Back at home, siege equipment is once again constructed.
 * Kingdom of France: Seeing this war over Gascony escalate into an all-out conflict, King Philip instructs the leaders of Normandie and Picardy, as well as minor lords in the Loire, to raise 20,000 troops, with 10,000 from Normandie, and 5,000 each from Loire and Picardie. These armies are to have a large portion of light cavalry. Philip asks the lords in Burgundy, Champagne, and Occitania to provide whatever troops they can in the fight against England [Mod Response SVP]. In addition, 28,000 troops are sent into Aquitaine in order to reinforce the already existing 10,500, bringing the total troops in Aquitaine to 38,000, 15,000 of which is put to the task of laying siege to Bourg. With the arrival of 100 ships from Genoa, the English troops are unable to leave the town, and a wall is constructed from collected stone to prevent the escape of any English soldiers, or longbow fire. The other 23,500 is sent to crush the English armies sieging Bordeaux. Near Rouen, the strategy is different. A 5,000 man garrison of infantry as well as a token force of heavy cavalry is placed in both Amiens and Le Havre, blocking supply routes to the army at Rouen, and the 10,000 army remaining is tasked with harassing English supply lines with the large amount of light cavalry, but specifically told not to engage in pitched battles with an English army of more than half its size. The army would be well informed of the enemy army's size due to extensive scouting by the light cavalry.
 * Champagne and Occitania gives their full support to France and sends a total of 12,000 troops, including support from Queen Joan of Navarre. Duke Robert II of Burgundy, however, is less inclined and only sends 3,000 troops
 * Principality of Achaea: Having travelled to Rome last year and witnessing the crusader zeal that is permeating throughout Europe, Prince Florent of Hainaut consults with Archbishop John of Patras. Convinced that Baydu Khan is a heretic, Florent is unwilling to engage in that crusade effort but wants to prove his own crusader qualifications. After much discussion, Florent convinces Archbishop John to sanction a holy war against Mentese, the Anatolian Turksih beylik across the Aegean Sea. Florent raises the forces of his vassal barons and calls upon the Count Palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos (who recently re-swore vassalage to the Princiaplity), the Duchy of Naxos (who remains a vassal), and the Duke of Athens, Guy II de la Roche - Florent's son-in-law-to-be - to join the holy war against Mentese. Any reluctant nobles are personally visited by marshal Nicholas III of Saint Omer, who has become quite the diplomat among the Achaeans (Mod responses). From the Achaean lands directly, Florent raises 3,000 well-trained knights from the various baronies. He then uses the collective navies of the Frankish crusader states at his disposal to sail across the Aegean to land near Halicarnassus (OTL Bodrum). The Frankish Greek crusaders then meet the army of Mentese (numbering around 2,000) on a Turkish plain. Two thirds of the heavy cavalry would lead a charge into the Turks' right flank while traditional men-at-arms hold the bulk of their forces at bay. Pikemen would also be present among the crusaders' forces, to prevent enemy cavalry charges. The remaining one-third of cavalry would guard the right flank of the attackers' side. Additionally, the coastlines are blockaded to prevent an escape of the Turks by sea, but to enable the potential evacuation of crusaders should the battle turn against us. Back in Achaea, 8-year old Matilda, the principality's presumptive heiress, continues to be educated in Greek, largely under the tutelage of her mother, Isabella. Isabella relies on her personal popularity among the native Greek population as well as their mutual hatred for the Turks to keep the peace domestically.
 * Guy II of Athens agrees to contribute as much military as necessary for fighting the Turks
 * Lordship of Ireland: An Assize of Arms is passed requiring the practice of the longbow once a week by all freemen over the age of 12 and appoints the Constables to be responsible for ensuring it occurs. Taxes are raised to support the war.
 * Ilkhanate: After Qipchaq's forces are repulsed from Baghdad, they recuperate in Tabriz, though a small envoy remains behind at Baghdad with a proposal of a treaty of non-aggression in which Öljaitü would be given sovereignty over most of Iraq in exchange for ceasing hostilities. (Mod response) From a combination of gathering together the local forces defending several smaller cities, more Mongols and anti-jihadist Persian peasants, he is able to expand his defensive army from 25,000 to 60,000 troops. (OOC: Viva explained to me that given its population the Ilkhanate should have about 160,000 total troops rather than the 80,000 to 100,000 I had previously been assuming.) Qipchaq's defensive arvy marches east and attacks the Delhi Sultanate's advancing troops in Nishapur while allied troops from Yuan China cross the Himalayas and attack the Sultanate's homeland. (Yuan China response/confirmation) Qipchaq on behalf of his father also sends an envoy to Nogai Khan, congratulating him on his victory against Toqta Khan and proposing an alliance between the two Christian Khans against the Muslim invaders from the Delhi and Mamluk Sultanates and asks for military aid against Delhi. (Nogai Khan response) Meanwhile, Baydu's army of 30,000 leaves Damascus for the time being and marches south, joining the 18,000 troops from Cyprus and the Papal States, the 2000 troops from the Byzantine Empire, the 8000 Knights Templar and Hospitalier and the 3000 Teutonic Knights in launching a second attack on Jerusalem. The 15,000 soldiers garrisoning Aleppo remain in place for the time being and focus on recruiting new soldiers, expanding to 20,000. All of the Ilkhan's family members other than Baydu and Qipchaq (i.e. his consorts, his sons Ali and Muhammad and his daughters Yol Qutlugh and Elathin) are evacuated from Tabriz to Sis in Cilicia, with a ship prepared to evacuate them further to Cyprus if it becomes necessary.
 * Armenian Cilicia: King Hethum II sends 5000 troops north to aid the Sultanate of Rum and accepts the Ilkhan's family members into his palace in Sis. The rest of Cilicia's military focuses on fortifying the cities of Sis and Tarsus. Hethum II selects Thoros III's 12 year-old son Leo as his future heir.
 * Sultanate of Rum: With Kayqubad III dead, Baydu appoints Mesud II to serve as Sultan of Rum again. Realising war is unavoidable, Mesud II gathers a force comprising 10,000 soldiers from Rum, 5000 troops from Armenian Cilicia and 5000 from Bohemia to attack Osman Gazi's base of operations, the town Söğüt. If successful, they will raze Söğüt to the ground.