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....

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:
 * Kingdom of Connacht:
 * Kingdom of Desmond:
 * Principality of Wales:
 * Kingdom of Scotland: User:Colgan dog
 * Uí Donnell:
 * Uí Néill: User:Person67

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:
 * 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:
 * 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:
 * 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:
 * Republic of Riga:

Poland

 * Duchy of Greater Poland:
 * Duchy of Pomerania:
 * Duchy of Legnica:
 * Duchy of Mazovia:
 * Duchy of Łęczyca:
 * Duchy of Sandomierz:
 * Duchy of Sieradz:
 * Duchy of Lesser Poland (Vassal of Bohemia): User:Nkbeeching
 * Duchy of Silesia:

Russia

 * Principality of Polotsk:
 * Golden Horde: 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: User:Poofoster
 * 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: User:DRAFIGO13
 * 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:
 * 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:
 * 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:

Peruvian Civilizations

 * Chimu - User:Mato0900

Australasia

 * Maori Ancestors: Vivaporius (talk) 00:42, October 7, 2019 (UTC)

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 2 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 afterwards. 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 pound 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.
 * Māori: The first of the Māori waka (large ocean-going canoes) descend upon the island of Te Ika-a-Māui (North Island), establishing small settlements along the coastline. These settlements are built within the area christened Tāmaki Makaurau (OTL Auckland) by the Māori, and comes to serve as the center of Māori expansion throughout the rest of Te Ika-a-Māui. Māori hunters seeking food encounter a wide range of viable prey, chief among these being the gigantic moa, of which a single specimen carries enough meat to feed several individuals for a day. The leading kaumātua (respected Māori elders) instruct the hunters not bring undue harm to the creatures, instead only taking into captivity as many as are needed by the inhabitants of the villages on the coast. New arrivals from the northern Polynesian islands bring taewa (Māori potatoes) with them, helping to establish a staple crop in the fertile lands of Te Ika-a-Māui, helping to establish a permanent source of food familiar to the Māori palate. The cultivation of taewa near reliable sources of water witnesses the growth of small communities known as pā, fortified villages located on hills near the new crops of potatoes. Many of the Māori men repair and rebuild many of their waka and replace the sails to return to sea and begin fishing, looking to find some good sources of fish and seaweed for their families back on the mainland. Some others too instead seek to explore other parts of the island, and determine new sites of settlement for their people as more Māori are expected to arrive in waves from their recent migration from Polynesia. It is unknown when these new arrivals will appear, but the elders concern themselves with the goal of preparing the way for them, so as to ensure that when their fellow men and women do arrive, they will be at home on the island.
 * 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
 * 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 &/or trade agreements with the Republic of Venice and strongly support the Ghibelline family of the HRE.
 * 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 towards 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. 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 border regional,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.